Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength

by Kelly A Nix

  “Don’t worry. They will heal fine and completely before the prince’s pledging ceremony tomorrow.” Deh smirks, misinterpreting Atae’s worried glances at the bathroom door. Atae smiles, feigning relief.

  “Atae,” Deh says. She tugs at the youngling’s chin to force her to meet her gaze. “You are a youngling. You should never have had to face the dangers that you did. But you survived them. I am grateful that you are still here.”

  Deh’s words are meant to comfort her, but shame and guilt surge within Atae. She should have performed better, shifting phase or not. Kandorq should never have touched her, and Salyn should never have found her. Atae lifts the corners of her mouth to hide her inner turmoil from Deh. The hybrid’s feeble attempt does not fool the experienced mother, but unable to do more, Deh relents. She pulls Atae close in a comforting embrace and touches the youngling’s tender face with her soft tail. After a moment, Deh releases her daughter’s packmate and leaves her alone in the bathroom.

  As soon as Deh opens the door, Solum slips in on four furry feet. His battle beast eyes watch his daughter with a concerned gleam, and she smiles at his familiar form. She climbs off the counter and greets him on the floor, rubbing his thick white coat. Atae giggles when Solum licks her face then lays on the cold tile floor with him wrapped around her. It’s been a long time since Solum comforted her like this. He’s always more affectionate in his second form, and she doesn’t mind.

  Atae remembers several nights when Solum snuggled with her as a child. She’d woken from nightmares and called out to him, so he nestled in with her as a battle beast and licked her face to make her giggle. His warmth and strength comforted her, and she felt protected from the monsters of her imagination.

  Now, Atae clings to the familiar protection, basking in the peace of mind her father offers. She stares up at the glittering forest around her and imagines the comforting sounds of her familiar home and training grounds. Soon, she slips into a soundless slumber with Solum’s dark battle beast eyes watching over her.

  Chapter 23

  Solum growls as he reads another disappointing report. He stands from his workstation and swivels to the holographic star map behind him to study it. Solum’s office is small and bare, lacking any of the comforts and luxuries found within the rest of the palace. After Atae’s attack, he commandeered the private room and disposed of all distractions to undertake a mission that is now proving impossible. Solum swipes his hand across the hologram, and a region of the Kaji Empire disappears from the star map. One sector searched top to bottom with no results; the remaining ten enlarge to fill the holographic space.

  Where could the mercenary be? Where is he going? Where did he come from? What did he come for? How did he get through our defenses? Solum frowns at the numerous questions plaguing him but shelves them all when a knock pulls his dark eyes away from the star map.

  “Come in,” Solum calls as he faces the door in front of his workstation. Feku steps into the modest office and salutes the royal advisor with the traditional clenched right hand to his chest.

  “Advisor Solum.”

  “Feku, my packmate, how are you?”

  “I am well. It’s been too long since we last spoke. Especially, since I see your young whelp every day.” Feku smirks as he sets both hands on his hips. Solum smiles and joins the other warrior on the opposite side of his workstation.

  “I agree. And you are doing well with Atae. Every day, I see improvement. She’s far smarter and a much better fighter than I was at her age. I suspect you’re the one to thank for Atae’s sudden change in tactic. One day she is a solid rock of defense, and the next, she won’t stand still long enough for me to land a blow. Should I blame you for my loss a few weeks back?”

  “I may have suggested a few techniques that I knew would throw you off your game. You should have expected as much. Atae will be a force to be reckoned with in battle. She is small, but her strength is in her quick mind and agility.”

  “True,” Solum says. “But she has more power in each strike than any youngling her size has a right to.”

  “She’s too much like her mother,” Feku says. He pauses mid-nod when he notices Solum’s reaction. The royal advisor’s proud smile and jovial dark eyes harden into an impenetrable mask, hiding the pain and grief that surges through him at the reminder of his long-gone mate.

  “Atae is why I am here.” Feku changes the subject. “Have you caught the leader of the mercenaries that attacked her?”

  “No,” Solum says. He grunts at his failure and motions for Feku to follow him to the star map. “I just received a report that Sector One is clear of any signs of the vessel our captive described. And we still have no idea how he slipped our defenses undetected, twice.”

  “It must be some type of new technology. This could be dangerous. Where did he get it? Who else has it?” Feku voices the concerns that plague Solum.

  “We won’t know until we find him. And I’ll be the one that pries the information from his broken body.” Solum clenches his fists with an eagerness to get his hands on this worthless mercenary. He wants information on the dangerous, new tech as it could change the Kaji Empire’s defense strategies. But, more importantly, Solum needs to know what the escaped mercenary was after and who sent him. Fears buzz through his mind, and he bats them away, unwilling to give them substance.

  Were they looking for her? No, they wouldn’t have harmed Atae if that were the case. We know that He has scouts out looking for her or evidence of her whereabouts. Was the mercenary one of His agents? The Gortox isn’t a Believer, but that doesn’t mean the missing captain wasn’t one. Where the hell is he?

  “The Barrier was activated the moment we found out that he’d escaped Planet Kaji.” Solum deactivates the star map hologram. “He cannot escape our borders without passing through one of the ports, and we are searching every vessel. The traders are not happy, but we have confiscated millions of valuable and illegal items. So everyone thinks it’s a standard crackdown on inspections.”

  “That’s a solid strategy.” Feku nods, unwilling to voice what they both know. The empire cannot keep the Barrier up forever due to the resources it consumes, and with the mercenary’s new technology, it may not matter. Feku redirects the conversation back to the purpose of his visit.

  “What is your strategy for Atae? I hear she’ll enter the Gridiron with the rest of her class.”

  “Well, she’s recently decided to enter with Prince Truin in hopes of being chosen as a royal companion. She wants to be his royal guard,” Solum says. He leans against the desk of his workstation, quirking the corners of his mouth. Feku smiles with similar mirth.

  “That’s a noble quest. She has the talent and the drive.”

  Both warriors chuckle at the idea of Atae following in her mother’s footsteps, but Solum frowns when his fond memories sour. They always do when thinking of Roga.

  “Last I knew, she was going to let the Gridiron determine her fate. Let the scoring system tell her where she would succeed in life. What changed her mind?” Feku asks. Solum squashes the pain from his past to focus on the gifts of today.

  “I’m not certain,” he says, “but I suspect it was the queen. Sula has the unique ability to inspire her warriors, and I fear Atae has fallen into her web. Atae has been swept away by the honor and glory of protecting the royal heir. She hasn’t considered the harshness or the duties that come with the position.”

  “Like, what if the royal heir isn’t a Ru-Kai anymore?”

  “So you’ve heard the rumors too. The crests are stirring, and thoughts of circumventing the throne are circling,” Solum says. He grips the desk on either side of his hips and stares at his packmate. Solum does an excellent job of hiding his anger and disappointment in the Crests of Kaji. There were once twelve, but now there are only eleven family lines that have existed since the dawn of Kaji: Fu-Kai, Ru-Ghi, Levia, Lu-Stugh, Helphia, Delva, Fesqov, Qreskia, Renfrosq, Seston and Menkad.

  There are, of course, other fami
ly bloodlines, such as the royal Ru-Kai crest, but none have deeper roots in the Kaji family tree. Each Crest of Kaji has sat on the throne and ruled the Kaji Empire for as long as they were able to hold power. The Ru-Kai line, a descendant of the Ru-Ghi and Fu-Kai families, has held the throne for centuries longer than any crest. Yet even the most loyal warriors must have a worthy leader, and some crests doubt Prince Truin.

  “I doubt anyone is conspiring to take the throne, but this is the first time that the Kaji has had only one heir. King Uta was a fine king, but he died young. He left an heir only by chance and died before holding his son. There are usually several heirs to fight for the throne by proving themselves in the Gridiron. Do you remember the last time the eldest heir was chosen? Now, we have but one choice, and what happens if he is killed or bested in the Gridiron? There isn’t another heir to take his place. The Kaji will not settle for an unworthy king, even if he carries the Ru-Kai name,” Feku says. Solum twists his mouth into a snarl and flings one hand through the air.

  “I know all this. Prince Truin has the potential. I’ve seen it. But he also suffers from the cockiness of youth. I honestly don’t know what will happen. I suspect that Queen Sula has a plan though. His pledging ceremony is today, and she has demanded that every heir of the crests attend. Sula plays the politics of power very well, much better than Uta ever did.”

  Solum’s voice softens as he reminisces about his dead packmate. Feku smiles and remembers how it was when they were all young and stupid.

  “Sula was once Uta’s royal guard, wasn’t she?” he asks.

  “Yes, he named her lead royal guard too. Of course, it was all a ploy to spend more time with her. Even then, she was obstinate. Sula wouldn’t let him get away with anything, and he admired her for it.”

  “Ru-Kai males seem to be attracted to stubborn females. I hear that Prince Truin and Atae met recently, and there was some chemistry. The way I hear it, all he talks about is defeating her in combat,” Feku says. He lifts his eyebrows at the royal advisor, but Solum straightens and scowls at the idea of his daughter having a romantic interest in anyone.

  “That is ridiculous. Atae is too young to consider such things. Besides, the prince despises her. She insulted him on numerous occasions before she realized that he was the prince. He merely wants to put her in her place.”

  “And if I know Atae, he will have a hard time of it. And she may be too young for romance, but he is male. We are never too young.”

  Feku bellows with laughter, and Solum can’t help but smirk.

  “I’m beginning to remember why we haven’t spoken in so long,” Solum says.

  “Okay, okay. It’s good catching up with you, old friend, but the truth of my visit is about Atae.”

  “What about her?”

  “I’m concerned that she is turning sour.”

  “What? Why would you say that?”

  “She is jumpy and unpredictable since her return,” Feku says. They both know that he means since her attack. “She seems fine when she’s active and has something to focus her thoughts and energy on, but when her mind wanders, I fear it goes to dangerous places. She thinks no one notices, and maybe no one else does. But I do.”

  “Have you noticed a change in her fighting style?” Solum asks. He crosses his arms and frowns for fear of Feku’s answer.

  “I haven’t seen her fight. I was hoping to see her in the tournament, but…”

  “But Sloan ruined any chance of that,” Solum says. He raises an eyebrow at the mention of Atae’s rival. “I was surprised to hear you’d teamed them together. Atae did nothing but complain about it over dinner. I’ll admit that I’ve often fueled that fire by using her rivalry with Marqee and Sloan as motivation during training. But partnering them seems-”

  “Risky, I know,” Feku says. “But if they can learn to work together, the four of them will be unstoppable.”

  “Is that what you think?” Solum asks. He narrows his eyes, and Feku rushes to defend his decision.

  “Marqee is a solid fighter, and he’s smart.”

  “And Sloan?”

  “Sloan is the best blade handler in the class.”

  “He’s a wild card, Feku. When they were younger, I used to wonder why Sloan’s family chose to send him to Sula Academy rather than private tutors with his siblings. I assumed it was the typical crest politics and in keeping with appearances. Then I ran into him the other day. It was the first time I’d spoken to him since he learned to shift.”

  “You saw it?”

  “I couldn’t miss it. Anyone familiar with the signs would recognize it immediately. Do you think Sloan’s family knew when they sent him away, or were they just lucky?” Solum says. He wrinkles his nose with obvious disdain for Kaji that would turn their backs on family. Feku shakes his head with a sad sigh.

  “It’s impossible to detect a ferog before they enter their shifting phase, but don’t think his father didn’t celebrate his good fortune. A ferog entering the Gridiron is suicide, but I doubt Sloan’s family will give him a choice.”

  “You’re concerned about Atae’s performance, yet you weigh her down with this liability. There’s nothing she can do for him.”

  “No, but he can help her. She needs him.” Feku implores his packmate to listen, and Solum sighs.

  “Best in the class? I gather he’s trained with his grandfather.”

  “No more than Atae’s trained with you.”

  “I’m not the leading blade master in Sector 3.”

  “All the more reason for Sloan to tutor her. She’s fallen behind, Solum. She’s missed weeks of intense blade training.”

  “Yes, yes. I understand.” Solum throws his hands up in resignation. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t blow up in your face. Atae’s had enough to deal with. Something is definitely off. I’ve had one session with her, and it was…interesting. She panicked and had to pull herself together mid-fight. Still, she took down two battle beasts, and her group dispatched the most competitors in round one.”

  “But she panicked first? She never panicked before,” Feku says.

  “Before that…disgusting beast…” Solum’s fury returns with a vengeance, and he snarls at the thought of that grotesque creature in the royal dungeon placing one finger on his daughter.

  “I know of no other youngling that could have done what she did. She should be proud that she was strong enough to kill a full-grown Setunn and cripple a Gortox. Instead, she seems afraid and insecure. I’m at a loss on what to do for her, Solum.”

  “She doesn’t feel safe anymore.” Solum’s anger bleeds from his body as guilt floods his mind and heart. It was his job to keep her safe, and he failed. While he was trying to track down the intruders, they found his offspring. Solum frowns at his inadequacies then cringes when Feku speaks.

  “Something has to be done. The tournament is one thing, but if she panics in the Gridiron, even for a moment, it could cost her. I don’t know how to fix this, but there has to be a way.”

  “I will think on it, Feku,” Solum says. He nods in agreement as he sits at his workstation. “Is there anything else?”

  “No, my friend. That is enough for one day.” Feku grimaces then leaves his packmate to struggle for an answer.

  Solum stares at the report still open on his workstation as he ponders his daughter’s predicament. She was too young to face death, to face Kandorq. She is afraid of him, but why? He can’t hurt her anymore. Except in her dreams. Solum’s frown deepens as he remembers last night’s terrors. Atae awoke screaming and was too ashamed to tell him why. If Deh had not been there, Solum worries that he would never have known the depth of her anxiety.

  But why is she ashamed? Is it shame? Or is it guilt? Why either one? She should be proud to have fought off the dangers that she battled, yet she does not feel safe anymore. Well, she feels safe when Solum is with her as a battle beast. Atae did not stir once from her sleep after he curled around her last night. He did not leave her side until she woke late this morning
and began readying for the pledging ceremony that commences at mid-day. But Solum cannot be with Atae at all times. Is she afraid without him, now? Why is she not confident in her ability to protect herself?

  “I know fear and panic.”

  Atae wasn’t expecting nor prepared for Kandorq and Salyn. She didn’t know what to do at first and must have panicked.

  “I have learned firsthand the price for underestimating a weak and frightened prey.”

  Atae doesn’t think she protected herself but that her enemies underestimated her.

  “I know what it is to be hunted. I know what it is to fight something bigger and stronger.”

  This feeling of inadequacy haunts her still, even in her dreams.

  “She is turning sour. How do I stop this?”

  Solum considers the few sour warriors he’s encountered over the seasons. They were unpredictable, suicidal, and controlled by fear. What honor they had left was tied to their closest packmate. Once that was severed, they were left to rot in their fear. No, he can’t let that happen to Atae, not his child.

  Solum struggles to remember a young warrior in Roga’s first pack that turned sour after their time in the Gridiron. A giant arachnid took one of his eyes before he managed to kill the disgusting creature. After that, the warrior was terrified of any arachnid, small or large. Roga had no patience for fear and weakness. She was determined to rid her pack of a worthless warrior, one way or another. Roga took the warrior to a planet scheduled for purging whose primary species was a non-sentient arachnid. She told the young warrior to purge the world, and only after every arachnid was destroyed could he return home.

  The warrior panicked and refused the order. He was too afraid to set foot on the planet’s surface, so Roga kicked him off her ship and left him stranded. Returning a month later to check on his progress, Roga found the warrior sitting at a campfire eating a roasted arachnid limb. Solum remembers Roga describing the emptiness in her packmate’s eyes and how much it haunted her even then. But the young warrior’s eyes weren’t empty for long, because they filled with fiery loathing when they found Roga. He didn’t say a word to her as they left the desolate planet behind. In fact, the young warrior never spoke to Roga ever again, abandoning his pack in search of another. Later, Roga told Solum that she didn’t regret her decision because that youngling had earned great success in the king’s army. She predicted that he would be the king’s general one day, and that was worth sacrificing their relationship.