by Philip Read
The crowd is going crazy over my smooth, fast, flaxible acrobatic style though, it has a flamboyance to it and within 5 minutes the big man is on one knee on the floor panthing and covered in sweat and purple bruising from internal but superficial bleeding. He can barely stand but I lift him up to his feet and the crowd goes wild as I give him a drink from my gord and a pat on the back before calling for the next opponent.
I fight 16 more times consecutively after that and it a lot of fun for me, relaxing in a way I needed. Fight after fight I use the same style and almost always the same format of going in brawler style first, take a few punches, give a few before resorting to palm strikes and chops and my flexibility. Strength and striking power I have and I make sure all my opponents know I do in the first few seconds of the game before resorting to pure skill.
By the time I finish the 16th fight I’m utterly drunk and my gord is empty yet the constant fighting has kept me alert in a paradox that seems to be working for me. The drunkenness at times seemingly helping me make utterly brilliant moves I otherwise wouldn’t have even thought of as a sober fighter. They eventually run out of fighters willing to face me and I exit the pit to collect my winnings to the adoration of the feekle crowd.
I walk to the organiser’s booth through one of the side doors with my entourage behind me. Om is using an ominous aura to keep most of the crow at bay while Galen and Hale flank the women who seem to be chatting incessantly. They were some of my loudest supporters and Ingwe has a little grin on her face, though that could be from the alcohol.
I reach a counter to collect my winnings and the sour face man that faces me reminds me that some of the people here lost money and I could have an attempted stab in the back.
“Name.” He says with a drawl putting quilt on paper.
“Hiro.” Om ways at me shoulder and the man scowls a bit further before writing it down then signaling for someone to escort us.
In another room I’m handed a shoulder bag heavy with gold bars used to denote a hundred gold in these parts of Pangaea. I wish I had this when I bought Ingwe’s brother and the other slaves, ‘fucken’ merchants. But at least I made sure their slave soul marks were removed before sending them home.
By the time we leave the pit grounds there are rumbling and whispers about a ‘Hiro’ amongst the fans.
*
“Hey.”
I turn and find the shady Soal standing behind me with a little grin on his face. The man isn’t simple for managing to get this close without me noticing, now that I think about it he really is more than he tries to make himself seem isn’t he?
“Hey yourself.” I say indicating the others to go on ahead.
“Where are you going when you leave this shit hole?”
“We are going home.”
“Can I come with you?” He asks seriously, the smile disappearing from his face.
I look at him a moment at that, the man is in a dark cloak with patches on it but it’s clearly well made and intentionally designed to look tattered. He is either a spy a thief, both, or I don’t know, a shady person. And we still don’t know why we were attacked by assassins on our trip and why we ran across such powerful mimics.
“Why?” I ask him straight up.
“I made to much many betting on you, I don’t think I’d last long as a wealthy man here.”
That actually makes sense, whoever organises those fights probably lost a lot of money tonight but the spectators had the time of their lives and it will definitely bring in more businesses in the long run. If he isn’t backed by someone, as the first person to bet big on me when everyone was sure I’d get hammered and the odds were still good he probably made a killing.
I know Om made a killing betting on me and teaching the women yo bet. My mate now has coin of her own for the first time in her life and the pride in her aura makes me wonder how I overlooked her need as a hunter to be a provider. It’s just that now she hunts more than just glass deer, pythons, brown moles or whatever else her people like to eat.
“Will you betray me?” I ask the short athletic man only 2m away from me, he is weary this one.
“Not without letting you know first.” He says smoothly, I grin. That’s actually a respectable answer.
“Meet us on our way out of town tomorrow an hour before dawn.” I say and walk away, I feel better. Fighting is a great way of getting out of a funk.
Chapter 73
Sachihiro
Im in a state of worried bliss because my tiny beautiful daughter has been born and though not at home she has been born on Sandaria. I’m worried because I know the dangers and cruelty in the world and for some reason seem to recall all of them at this particular moment as I hold her in my arms.
We are in a tiny cabin in the a mostly disregarded territory of Sandoria, though it has much more traffic now than it did a few years ago. Jelena, Astrid, Ava, Helena, Elga and some other women all made sure to keep me and the other men out during the 2 hour birth process but now its all done and looking at this tiny thing I feel proud of Ingwe.
I have no idea what to name her yet, I’m discovering I may not be very good at giving names. I look up from her at Gaia and Om with a silly grin that I can’t seem to whip off my face. Gaia giggles, Om nods knowingly, his son already born and almost a month old already.
I kiss the forehead of the little naked creature in my arms and she wiggles and yawns, her big black eyes facing me but seemingly looking through me. “I have to find her a name.” I say and feel the nods of everyone around me.
There is an old custom of my people that you find the name of a child if you want it to have power, Vigdis’ name was found, Dishna’s wasn’t but this little bundle of joy here will definitely have to have a traditionally found name. And so I start walking towards the light of the sun even as it is about to enter its twilight stage on this part of the world.
My friends walk a ways behind and to the sides of me for protection against sudden attacks and preditors. “We are looking for a name for you my baby girl, a name with power. You will be strong and happy and very very clever.” I tell her in my arms as she looks at me tiredly before going to sleep.
She only cried initially after the birth and suckled like an old hand at the activity before being given to me to know. Her mother is probably now asleep but I saw the little glimmer of worry in her eye when she passed me our daughter. Daughters are not as valued as boy children by her people and she may think she has failed at something but I think I aura of joy when I took this tiny person alleviated a lot of that anxiety.
I feel personal coming towards us from the trail as they project their aura to keep wildlife away I assume but I keep walking. Turning the bend I notice six men carrying logs and a little girl with them all stop suddenly at the sight of me. I also stop not to be threatening, I feel good today, really happy, but this is the world.
“Greetings warrior.” One of the men calls out, a wide short man whose stature, bulk and size indicate he is most like a half human half dwalf, a rare but powerful combination.
“Greetings.” I respond in fluent unaccented Sandersonian.
I see their surprise at the fluidity of my speak, they clearly see a Tribesman before them yet Tribesmen are known to have a thick accent. Something a lot of us can’t really hear in ourselves.
“We live in a cabin in the area and are just passing through, we want not trouble.” He says with a log still on his shoulder and the little girl wide eyed behind his leg looking at me.
I nod, “I am also just passing through with some of my friends, but I’m afraid your cabin is occupied at the moment.” By their auras its obvious they’ve been living there and they built it themselves judging by how deeply the place feels like them.
My statement is greeted with silence though and a spike of fear from one of the men behind the speaker, and a bubbling aura of possessive violence from another. I smile at them slightly amused and more fear blossoms from another of the men as the half dwalf drops his l
og gently.
“And why is that?” The tall dwarf asks as he rises and faces me. His voice colder and his eyes harder.
I giggle, I can’t help myself but I seem to be agitating the people facing me. A birdcall by Hale asking whether they should intervene rings out from the sparce woods around us and I shake my head in the negative.
“My daughter was born today in your cabin and I am grateful for the shelter it provided, we will be out of your home shortly having played any reparations necessary for the inconvenience.” I say and bow my head slightly.
The half dwarf relaxes some by his woodsman’s axe is still within quick reach. My baby wakes again with a yawn even as it fully becomes dusk, a golden crimson dusk today accompanied by three moons. She cries a little and protests in my arms, I frown as I reqd her body language but follow her direction moving towards the people before me.
They tense up slightly at me movements but stay relatively still, all my weapons are visible and within easy reach but my arms are occupied. The dwarf grunts and parts from my path pulling his daughter closely with him, the others part as well but I make a beeline to one of them. The one with the fear response and I see its just a boy, a human boy with fists clenched in sweaty palms.
My baby reaches out her arms again and I frown but hold her up towards him. I am very aware that two of the six men also have hands on axes now but my initial assessment of them is that those axes won’t kill me before my friends slaughter every single one of them if they try anything.
The boy gulps audibly in the silence that has resulted from my actions but still holds out his hands for the baby. It is an instinctive human response to care for a new born of almost any species. As he takes her his fear reseds slightly and becomes a deep worry as he adjusts her weight and supports her head. Then it becomes calm as he sighs and looks up from me curiously, I’m also looking at him curiously.
“There is no need for the to be any animosity between us, please accept our apologies for invading your cabin.” I say looking at every single one of them in the eye.
They are all tense and have given each other enough space to swing freely, not simple woodsmen these. One of them I missing and eye and has a cruel scare along his lip, he is also very old for an unawakened and doesn’t know how to hide it, yet he still seems strong and healthy.
The other is also a half dwarf but leaner, much leaner than I know this people to be yet his bone structure is telling. He carried no log but a basket which is now at his feet, the others also look like hard men but tired hard men. The little girl is reading the situation and is worried but her eyes keep going to my daughter with curiosity.
“Yes, there is no need for animosity between us, you can have the use of our home until your wife is again ready to travel.” The dwarf speaks again, trying to relax him arm which keeps twitching towards his axe.
I notice the aura of peace and wonder that has been slowly building and turn to look at the boy again, he smiles up at me holding my girl in his arms protectively. My frown deepens, what the fuck is going on here?
“What’s her name?” The asks as she closes her eyes with a yan falling asleep again.
I’m silent a moment as I watch all this unfold.
“Aurora, her name is Aurora.”
Chapter 74
Sachihiro
Our arrival into the Tundra sees an increase in our pace and excitement in our blood. A lot has changed yet again we all notice as we travel on roads leading from Sandorai to the Tundra directly with traffic busy on them. The sight of other Tribesmen making the journey to and fro is heartening as they stop and greet us with jubilation and questions.
They walk with us as we now take it slow and enjoy the soft grass and rich soil of home, some going ahead and taking word of our eminent arrival to Paradisum. A lot of Southerners give us looks as they pass on carts or horses, or they get out of the path if moving to slowly.
The path is actually flat red grass that the fae brought from somewhere instead of a dirt path it would be expected of an unpaved road. The other Tribesmen and women tell us the recent going ons in the tundra, talking about advancements in Paradisum, Hilton, Viper’s Nest, and little villages that are turning into towns even with little populations to speak off.
They speak in whispers of going ons in the Dawn and how some of the Ancient beasts have been known to now venture out of the huge mysterious forest and walk openly in the streets of Paradisum. An occurrence that is unheard of in all of Sandaria before this year.
They speak of arena fights and the deaths that have been honoured, recorded and sang about in what is becoming a tradition known as The Sagas as every fight that takes places is painstakingly scribed in as much detail as is possible and kept in tomes at the fighting arena archives while copies go to the museum.
Though our population numbers are low and our way of life changing at a radical pace they speak of our funeral songs recorded in books and our histories available for all to peruse even as we keep telling stories in the long-houses to our young and each other during rivalry. There has been an influx in all kinds of peoples coming to the Tundra even with all the challenges and death matches that are designed to discourage them, especially from the orcs running from the mountains.
An embassy is being built by the Sandersonians right outside the south western Paradisum wall where other large houses have already been marked for construction. Already the city is changing and yes seeing all this change around is bittersweet. But I am heartened by the news that the Council of Chiefs has decided to let no foreigner live within the other cities deeper in the Tundra without being mated to a Tribesman or woman.
I may be a snob or elitist but I want the Tundra to remain ours, I want us to enjoy it with only the few we choose to let into our true histories. And Paradisum is perfectly located to be a gate that ensures no one from the south moves past the city without us knowing.
We are greeted by a patrol that has been established by the Council of a sort of army units. The unit is all attired in beautifully inlaid leather and sinew breastplates reinforced in some metarial i cant immediately identity, on horses with javelins strapped to their sides on sheaths. At least trading with the south is providing us with horses, I think as I look at the patroy unit of 12 men and women that look competent and alert but with that Barbarian playfulness as they interact with us.
I recognize none of them but I stay at Ingwe’s side holding Aurora in my arms trying to analyse their equipment on a purely academic viewpoint. Like Ingwe and the other Alderman mates I’m walking barefooted on the soft unyielding red grass that is our path and I’m glad I am. Its a very interesting experience walking on the grass and I notice even the horses don’t leave more than slight indentations to indicate their passing.
*
Its a further two days before we finally see Paradisum in the distance and there is already a small procession of family and friends waiting for us by the beautiful wooden and metal gates. I smile as I think of my family and all my girls waiting for me ahead, its really good to be finally home.
*
Kuyoki stands with both Saya and Dishna on either side of her holding their hands waiting for me, I know them by their auras among the crowd of people and backslapping welcomes. I have Aurora in my arms and my left hand on Ingwe’s wrist pulling her forward even as I smile at the people that recognise me and try starting to talk to me.
My heart is pounded in my chest loudly like a drum and my hands are clammy as I think of this reunion. I have fear induced cramps in my stomach that are very unBarbarian like. I see them as someone gets out of my way and my mouth is suddenly so dry before a soothing presence clears me of this fear.
I look down at my baby girl and smile, “thank you.” I say in Japanese. I debated with myself and with Ingwe what language to teach her first and we settled on Japanese because it will set her up for the most outside the box thinking. I look up again with a radiant smile and and practically run to my children as I feel like a great w
armth will errupt out my chest like a geyser at the sight of them.
Before I know it I have the two rascals in my arms as I’m on one knee with my head between them. All four of us are holding each other tightly and I have absolutely no idea what to say, they are so big. I hold them back and look at them, “you are so big now.” I say in wonderment.
Vigdis puts her fists on her waist and puffs up her chest, “I’m a big girl now. Mama Kuyoki says so all the time.” She says and I can’t not smile at that, spirits beyond but I’m blessed.
I hold up Aurora from the folds of my chest and she looks around curiously with big eyes and grasping hands. She looks adorable and she is making wondering baby noises.
“This is Aurora, she is my baby and she is your sister to love and help protect.” I say to both girls as they stare at the baby with wide eyed wonder.
“For us?” Didi asks reaching out for Aurora and playing with her hands and face. I’m cut to the core to hear my baby speaking the language of the tribes.
“Yes, for us.” I say and pass her to Saya who is trying to pull her from my arms.
I get up and look down on my mate with a happy smile, my first mate.
“I am grateful for your presence here in greeting me my love.” I say to her with a deep bow.
“It is my duty to see to my husband’s needs is it not?” She asks coolly.
“No, it is not but it is something I truly appreciate, your presence and affection. I hope I find you well and in good health.” I say taking her hand in my own.
She clenches her fingers around mine, a good sign that as we interlock fingers like the lovers we are. The whole time our eyes don’t wonder far from each other.
“Are you in good health?” She asks moving slightly closer before looking at the children playing with the baby proudly. Saya keeps stealing glances at me and grinning, she is so adorable.