Barbarian's Choice

Barbarian's Choice is the eleventh book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series. Farli and Mardok are the main characters. Bek has one point of view chapter.

It ia available as an audiobook.

## Synopsis

"I might be the only unmated female in my tribe, but it doesn’t mean I’ve given my heart. I’m waiting. I want resonance, and I won’t settle for anything less.

 But when an alien ship lands and a handsome stranger steps out, I know he’s the one. His name’s Mardok and he’s fascinatingly different – and distractingly appealing. But Mardok can’t stay on the ice planet, and he says he can take me with him.

 Now, I must make a choice. Do I stay and lose my mate forever? Or do I follow him to the stars and leave behind everything I know?"

## Plot

It's been years since the humans first arrived on Not-Hoth, and the pre-teen Farli is now a grown woman. But she isn't too interested in any of her young suitors.

Mardok is a mesakkah mechanic running from his traumatic past as a soldier. He isn't happy when the ship, The Tranquil Lady, has to stop on a tiny, icy hell hole in the middle of nowhere for repairs. The last thing he expected was a beautiful wild woman walking out of the snow towards him.

Farli is mesmerized by this strange sa-khui and when she begins to resonate she is overjoyed. Mardok is taken by the forward Farli. But when her pet dvisti, Chompy, comes out towards them, he is startled and shoots him.

Horrified once he realizes what he has done, Mardok takes Farli and Chompy inside. After ensuring Chompy would live, Mardok uses the computer to discover that Farli is speaking an earlier version of his own language, lost to time. The rest of the crew is introduced to Farli over a disastrous dinner, which left Mardok angry and Farli feeling patronized. That night, Farli tells Mardok that they are resonance mates.

The next day, Captain Chatav, a former military man himself, decides that if there are stranded mesakkah on the planet, it is his duty to rescue them. The ship, with Farli and Chompy in it, fly to Croatoan.

They are greeted by a line of hunters prepared to defend the village. However, once Farli explains that she resonated with Mardok, they welcome the crew. After arriving in the village, the captain offers the rescue to Vektal, who asks for a few days to discuss with the tribe. Trakan, a crew member, befriends some of the hunters.

While at the village gathering, Harlow, pregnant once again, collapses - her khui unable to deal with her brain tumor. Maylak says there is nothing that can be done. Mardok offers the medical bay of The Tranquil Lady. As Harlow is being treated, Mardok asks Farli to leave with him when The Tranquil Lady leaves the planet. They are at an impasse.

Mardok and Farli stay the night in the village. The next day, Farli's brothers take Mardok out hunting with them. Farli goes to speak with her mother to discuss if she should leave with Mardok or not.

Sometime during the next three days, Lilah has her hearing fixed. In addition, the Tranquil Lady was used to right the overturned Elders' Cave. While examining the computer, it becomes clear there is a fault and the sa-khui have been living on Not-Hoth for much longer than the few centuries.

That night, Mardok shares with Farli the story of how he was left for dead on a hostile planet during his time in the military. This explains his fear of being left behind on Not-Hoth. Knowing this history and his prior trauma, Farli decides to leave with him.

The next day, Farli says her goodbyes, as no other sa-khui or human has decided to leave. Aboard the ship, Mardok has a last minute change of heart after realizing that Farli would be giving up everything that makes her the woman he loves. He changes his mind and decides to stay.

The village celebrates and the crew stays another night. The next day, there is a sa-kohtsk hunt. Mardok finally resonates back to Farli.

During the hunt, Bek leads the crew of The Tranquil Lady to the crashed slave ship. On board, they find a huge amount of untraceble credits, solving the captain’s financial crisis. However, Bek asks for five humans slaves to be brought back to Not-Hoth. He hopes for them to become mates for the non mated hunters.