Blood of Fire

by Marlow York

  “You two are like a pair of feral cats fighting over territory,” Saven observed disapprovingly.

  “Don’t compare us to cats.” I sighed loudly. “It isn’t territory we need to fight over, it’s respect. I have no choice about being a slave, but I refuse to be the weaker of the two girls.”

  “Former slave,” Saven corrected. “Don’t stoop to Anza’s level. Perhaps you have not noticed, but the others are beginning to see your determination. I see respect in their eyes when they look at you.”

  I glanced slowly around the group. A few of the young men smiled or gave a polite nod as our eyes met. Saven was right—I wasn’t just a weak slave girl. Somehow, I was gaining status within the group, and, thus, within the clan. This was a good sign. Respect from the Grakkir could help keep me safe when my own physical strength could not.

  I looked to Saven in amazement. The corners of his mouth twitched as he tried to smile.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Somehow, weeks of training flew by. Perhaps it was because my days were so busy that I hardly had time to think of anything besides training in the morning, chores in the evening, and sparring matches with Tarek nearly every night. My body was constantly aching and exhausted, but I was growing stronger and faster every day. Most surprising, however, was how I eventually looked forward to training. Each day meant a new skill, a new sparring partner, another chance to become stronger and prove myself to the naysayers. Though I was never the strongest or fastest among the trainees, I was certainly the most improved. I still couldn’t predict if I would become a Warrior, Scout, or nothing at all, but I felt like I had a chance.

  “To think, a simple Fiero Harvester and slave turned Grakkir Warrior,” I chuckled to Saven.

  “Your parents would be very proud,” he assured me.

  My smile was pained, but I felt like he was right.

  And then the day was finally upon us. The last day of training until the Warriors and Scouts were officially announced. Training went as usual until the very end of the day, when Vondak gathered us around to speak.

  “Tomorrow is a crucial day in your lives,” he said, looking around the group. “Tomorrow we find out who among you is a Warrior, who is a Scout, and who is not meant for life on the battlefield.”

  For a moment, his gaze hovered over me, and I felt a few other eyes turn to me. My heart sank a little, but I made sure not to show my disappointment.

  “Nothing has been announced yet,” Saven said reasonably. “Do not worry about what has not yet come to pass. Only worry about this moment.”

  I straightened my back and continued to watch Vondak and Irlav, my face blank and serious.

  “Though all of you have improved, do not get arrogant,” Vondak continued. “Tomorrow we will also announce your rankings. Those of you who have shown great skill may be trained to be lead Warriors and Scouts.”

  Raerek nudged the tall boy next to him, his only real rival in the sparring ring. The two of them smiled and nodded at each other knowingly. Anza grinned at them too, a smug look she then passed to me. I ignored her and faced forward.

  “Many of you will have supportive roles, but that does not make you any less valuable. Do not be discouraged if you have not yet mastered the skills you’ve been trained to do. If you are accepted into our ranks, you will continue to train on and off the battleground for the rest of your lives, a great honor few are strong enough to earn.”

  I noticed Bjorn was looking at the ground, his lips pressed in a tight line. He and I were not the only ones with grim expressions. I was afraid to ask what would happen if someone was not chosen to be either a Warrior or Scout, but I was certain wounded pride and shame from the village would be the least of their worries.

  “Get a good night’s sleep tonight,” Vondak continued. “This part of your journey may be over, but there is an even greater path laid out for those ready to accept it.” He lifted his chin proudly as he looked over the group.

  “Everyone, dismissed!” Irlav shouted.

  The silence was broken by excited chatter from the trainees as the group dispersed. I stepped over to Bjorn. “Don’t look so defeated,” I told him. “Maybe tomorrow you’ll be surprised to hear you have become a Warrior.”

  Bjorn didn’t take the bait. “No, I won’t be a Warrior,” he said, looking towards the forest. He was just as realistic and blunt as any Grakkir. “At best, I’ll be a Scout. I will be okay with that fate, as long as I am given a title.”

  I nodded understandingly. “So…hypothetically…what happens if we aren’t named Warrior or Scout?”

  Bjorn finally looked at me, his young face aged with grave worry. “It is shameful for any young Grakkir to not complete their training, but the greatest shame is not finishing this training. We would become little more than a dirty joke in the eyes of the village. If we are lucky, we will be granted meager jobs assisting other villagers.”

  “Like slaves?” I asked.

  “More like house servants to the skilled workers. Our families would likely disown us, so we would spend the rest of our lives doing the dirty work of whoever will take us in.”

  I felt my heart sink. “What happens if we aren’t so lucky?”

  Bjorn took a deep breath. “More than one dishonored recruit couldn’t live with the shame, so they ended it.”

  Saven hissed in surprise.

  “You mean…suicide?” I whispered. The word felt dirty and unfamiliar in my mouth.

  Bjorn nodded. “A shameful ending to escape a life lived in shame.”

  I was already living among the most shameful members of the Grakkir society, but Bjorn had much more at stake. He had a family, and they must have been hesitant to let someone as small as him train to become a Warrior. I could only imagine how it would feel if their fears came true and he did fail. He and I were alike in that way; many people had assumed we would fail based on our appearance and background. But, just as I had improved, so had he. We could either let the opinions of others hold us back, or use them to push ourselves to succeed. I liked to think I had chosen the latter.

  Forgetting myself, I clapped my hand on Bjorn’s shoulder. He startled when he saw the intensity of my gaze, or maybe he was surprised to feel the heat from my hand.

  “No matter what happens,” I told him. “Don’t let your life end in shame. You are strong and very skilled, and you will make an excellent Scout. But, if the worst befalls you, live out your fate as proudly as you would if you were a Warrior. If you are a true Warrior at heart, you will not give in.”

  Bjorn gave a small smile and nodded.

  I released his shoulder and smiled back. “I’ll see you at the ceremony tomorrow.”

  I turned to leave, catching Vondak’s eye as I left. His face gave away no secrets, but he gave a respectful nod as Saven and I passed. I nodded back and continued up the path after the other trainees.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  I hardly slept that night. My stomach twisted with knots while my mind raced with thoughts about the ceremony.

  “How do you think you will do?” Tarek had asked me at dinner.

  I set down my fork. “I honestly don’t know. I feel stronger, but I don’t know if it will be enough.”

  “Why do you say that?” he asked. He took a bite and continued to look down at his food.

  “Perhaps my sort of strength is not the type of strength they are looking for in a Warrior.”

  He chewed thoughtfully and remained silent for a long time. I sensed Sarrenke wanted to say something positive and reassuring, but she stopped herself. As much as I appreciated her optimism, we had to be realistic about the situation. It was obvious who among the trainees was cut out of the life of a Warrior, and it was almost as obvious who would become a Scout. Though there may have been a few wild cards among the group, I knew the people who had the final say would not gamble with their decisions. Either you were cut out for the life on the battlefield, or you were not. There was no grey area when the safety of an entire village was at stake
.

  “Humph.” The sound that came out of Tarek’s mouth was the closest I’d ever heard to a laugh. “Well,” he said slowly, “if you have earned the title of Warrior, we won’t have to worry about you becoming too cocky.”

  I suppressed a weary chuckle. “That much we can agree on.”

  Sarrenke looked from me to Tarek, then smiled as she took a bite of food.

  By the time twilight appeared outside my tent, I had already been awake for at least an hour or more. I let Saven sleep, but I could sense his dreams were riddled with anxiety. I couldn’t tell whether his nightmares were caused by his own feelings or my feelings passing to him.

  I stepped outside the tent and inhaled the cool, damp air. I heard Zani stamp his hoof in the paddock, and birds were just beginning to awaken in the trees behind me. Had this been any other day, I might have found peace in this quiet moment before the world was fully awake. But a stress-free life was no longer something I was entitled to.

  I saw Khero lift his head where he slept just outside the door. When he turned to look at me, he held my gaze. We couldn’t accurately communicate, but he probably sensed my anxiety if Tarek hadn’t already told him what was going on.

  “Wish me luck?” I asked him quietly.

  Khero merely blinked in response.

  “You don’t need luck.” Saven slithered out of the dark tent and joined us. He yawned, his huge mouth gaping open to expose his retractable fangs. He flicked his tongue and looked around, wondering if he might be able to sneak up on the deer that was munching grass somewhere in the forest.

  “A little luck couldn’t hurt, right?” I asked.

  Khero growled softly. Saven turned and gave a thoughtful hiss. “Khero is right. Luck is irrelevant. Skill is what you need, and skill is what you have.”

  I smiled at the wolf. The group living in Tarek’s home was a strange sort of family, and they all had their own ways of showing support. I was glad everyone was backing me up.

  “When do we need to be in the village?” Saven asked.

  “A little while after sunrise, after morning chores have been done.” I sighed. It seemed like such a long time to wait.

  “I’m going to wash my face down at the stream,” I said aloud. Though I was no longer a slave and could do what I wished if I abided by the same rules as the Shunned, I was still in the habit of making sure Khero knew where I was.

  The two gods crossed the field with me, the tall, dewy grass swishing against our legs. I wanted to earn the title of Warrior more than anything. I needed the respect and strength that came with the training, but I think a small part of me truly wanted to be included in the Grakkir clan. This realization frightened me. What would Jenassa and my parents think? Would they consider it betrayal, or would they understand my yearning to belong and be proud of my success? I tried to picture the surprise on Jenassa’s face when she saw how strong I’d become.

  I crouched at the stream and splashed cold water on my face. The sudden shock against my warm skin was enough to momentarily distract me from my worries. Khero lapped at the water to my left, and Saven stood to my right, flicking his tongue at the air. I smiled at the unusual place I found myself.

  “If only Jenassa could see me now,” I chuckled.

  “I do not think she would recognize you.”

  I jumped and turned to see Tarek walking towards the stream. For a large man, he was very good at sneaking around, just like Khero.

  “Probably not,” I agreed. I knew he meant no offense, but I felt a little defensive. Did he think that was a good thing, or a bad thing?

  Tarek crouched beside Khero and splashed water on his face. “Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, looking down at the meandering stream.

  I shook my head. “Not much.”

  “Understandable.” He stood straight. “I could hardly sleep the night before my ceremony either.”

  I glanced up at him. It was unusual to hear him talk about himself. “Vondak spoke highly of you during training.”

  The corner of Tarek’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t say anything.

  I looked down at the water. “It’s hard to picture you being a nervous trainee.”

  Tarek hummed thoughtfully. “We are all children once.”

  “No, I mean it’s difficult to picture you fearing something.”

  I saw his reflection move in the water when he looked down at me. “A Warrior is always brave, but being brave does not mean absence of fear. The two live together. It is impossible to have true courage without having true fear.” He paused for a moment. “When you tried to attack me with the old man’s dagger, I thought you were arrogant and stupid. I thought, only a true fool would attack a Grakkir Warrior.”

  I swallowed hard, reliving that moment in my head. I had been a terrified child surrounded by destruction and death. Circumstances insisted I lie down and let fate destroy me, but I had said no.

  “I realize now, that was my own arrogance,” Tarek continued. “You are neither of those things. You are brave.”

  I said nothing for a long moment, silenced by disbelief and gratitude. I looked up at him, meeting his stone-eyes. “Thank you,” I said.

  Tarek gave a short nod. He turned and peered at Khero, who followed him up the small knoll. “Do not take too long,” he called over his shoulder. “It will be time for breakfast soon.”

  I glanced at Saven, who looked down at me. We shared a mutual feeling of astonishment.

  Chapter 20

  “T

  he Warrior choosing ceremony is one of the most anticipated events in the Grakkir village,” Sarrenke told me as we proceeded up the path to the village. “It is a time of great celebration and one of the proudest moments in the lives of a Warrior’s family.”

  “You’ve been to one before?” I asked.

  “No, not in person,” Sarrenke admitted. “But I know about it. Every year we can hear the festivities all the way down at Tarek’s home.”

  “But they have never been allowed to participate?” Saven sounded a little sad. “Maybe that’s why she is so happy.”

  He was right. Sarrenke eagerly trotted up the path, her eyes glittering with excitement. She seemed to ignore the fact that I had not yet been named a Warrior, and the odds of that happening were not in my favor. Though her excitement amused me, I hated to think about how disappointed she would be if I did not become a Warrior.

  The chattering of excited voices reached us long before the village came into view. As we entered the village, people hurried around with a different sort of vigor. This was not the steady flow of energy caused by an average day of work; this was purposeful, enthusiastic bustling. The food vendors were particularly busy, and Lozen didn’t even look up as we passed. She was far too occupied dictating orders to a group of younger men and women as they helped prepare the feast that would follow the ceremony.

  Sarrenke inhaled deeply and sighed with contentment. “Ahh, it’s such a shame,” she said regretfully.

  “What is?”

  “All this amazing food, and we’ll be lucky if we can even steal a taste.”

  “Because I might not become a Warrior?”

  She turned to me. “It does not matter. We are still living among the Shunned. Warrior or not, you aren’t allowed to participate in the party.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks. “That’s…that’s not fair!” I cried.

  Sarrenke shrugged. “Rules are rules. However, since you have an Animal God at your side, they may allow us to eat some food away from everyone else. Surely Lozen will give us something.” Her eyes glittered mischievously.

  It was difficult to hide my anger and disappointment. I had never been the sort of person to seek out large gatherings and parties—it had been frowned upon in order to hide the Ancient Fire—however, it seemed hypocritical to be allowed into the Grakkir clan, and yet not allowed to celebrate with them.

  “I suppose I shouldn’t expect much,” I told Saven glumly. “After all, I’m just a former slave living am
ong the Shunned. Grakkir or not, that trumps any status I may gain as a Warrior.”

  Saven didn’t respond, but I could tell he was sympathetic and just as disappointed.

  We passed through the marketplace until we reached the Elder Hall. The other trainees were already standing in an organized group with the Hall to their right, talking nervously amongst themselves. A crowd had formed to watch the ceremony.

  “Are you ready?” Sarrenke asked me.

  My stomach clenched, but I tried hard not to show my nervousness within the village. Several people had noticed me, and more than one looked skeptical or annoyed. I suspected Sarrenke was one of the few people there who honestly believed I had any chance of becoming a Warrior.

  “The naysayers will be surprised,” Saven encouraged.

  I grinned. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  “Alright. Go stand with the others. I will be watching from just over there.” She pointed to a spot away from the other villagers. I almost wished she would protest her segregation during the event; she was the closest thing I had to a family representative, after all. I’m sure she was used to it though, and thought nothing of standing away from the group and not chatting or celebrating with the other families.

  Saven and I skirted around the crowd and joined the other trainees. As they mingled amongst themselves, it was easy to see who was confident about their fate and who was not. Those who were most likely to become Warriors chatted animatedly and freely about things unrelated to the ceremony, joking and laughing with friends. The others, like Bjorn and myself, were quiet and reserved. I noted that Anza lacked her usual smug confidence. She forced herself to chuckle at one of Raerek’s jokes, but I could see how nervous she was. The two of us had a mutual distinction that made us unlikely Warrior candidates—we were both female.

  “There have been a handful of female Warriors in the past,” Tarek had told me. “But it has been a very rare occurrence. Women can do almost anything in our clan, but most are not physically strong enough for combat. The last woman to become a Warrior died at least seventy years ago.”