“I can help, at least with your first concern,” said Zoria. “I can contact my aunt’s hive and get you in communication with Vrodas, assuming he hasn’t been sold, yet.”
“You can?” asked Hal.
“Of course,” said Zoria. “I’m surprised you didn’t ask earlier.”
She got up from the bed and went over to her storage chest. After a minute of rummaging through it, she pulled out a long chain with half a dozen white crystals attached to it at even intervals. She set it up in a circle on the floor of her room, and then pressed her fingers to one of the crystals. A few moments passed by, and then the image of an elven servant appeared in the center of the crystals.
The girl recognized Zoria, and their discussion was brief and to the point. The servant girl left for another minute, and when she returned, her image was only displayed by the crystals for a few seconds before she stepped aside and allowed Vrodas to take her place.
“This… is insanity,” muttered Vrodas. “Halrin? Is that truly you?”
Hal grinned at him.
“It is me,” he said. “And it is unbelievable. The magic of the eklids is certainly… advanced.”
“Indeed,” said Vrodas.
A silence passed between them. Hal hadn’t expected to be having such a conversation, and wasn’t quite sure where to start.
“Are you being treated well?” asked Hal.
“Well enough,” said Vrodas. “I was more concerned for you. Willum told me what happened after the trial, and you being sent to the Dragongrounds. He said that you were as good as dead, given the nature of the contest.”
“I survived it,” said Hal. He didn’t care to elaborate more. “Look, Vrodas, I’m with Zoria now. She purchased me as her slave. I’m helping her with a little problem she has, but once it’s taken care of, I’m going back to the surface.”
He held Vrodas’s gaze, at least, as much as he could hold the gaze of the ethereal ghost that represented him within the circle of crystals.
“Halrin,” said Vrodas. “I… can’t just leave. The maug girl who I was paired with… We’ve grown close.”
Hal raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t surprised that Vrodas had made an attachment, but he’d been under the impression that his maug friend hadn’t been all that interested in the girl, originally.
“We could take her with us,” said Hal. “Find a way to raise the money to buy you both from Lady Katara.”
“It isn’t that simple,” said Vrodas. “Xanthia is one of Lady Katara’s trusted servants. She wouldn’t let her go easily. She’s comfortable here, and… so I am I, to a certain extent. My circumstances have changed rather quickly, since you left.”
He smiled. It was an expression Hal hadn’t seen on his face much, at least in the time since he’d known him.
He smiled a lot back when his old lover, Theron, was still alive.
“…Alright,” said Hal. “If you’re sure.” He paused, considering his next question. “What of Willum? Is he still committed to whatever role he believes he’s playing in the Upper Realm?”
Vrodas glanced over both shoulders, ensuring that he had the privacy needed for whatever he was about to say.
“He would turn down your offer just as assuredly as I did,” said Vrodas. “Lady Katara is very close with him. I will pass the question on to him, regardless, but if you do not hear back from either of us, assume the answer is no.”
Hal frowned a little, but didn’t press his offer.
“Fair enough,” said Hal.
For some reason, he didn’t feel as though he was ready to end the conversation. He and Vrodas had been through a lot together. It felt as though there was more that they needed to discuss, though Hal would have much rather done it in person than through the crystals.
“Are you okay, Halrin?” asked Vrodas. “I heard stories about what happened in the Dragongrounds. I can’t imagine the toll it must have taken on you.”
Hal forced a smile onto his face. He folded his hands behind his back, squeezing his fingers together to ward off the trembling.
“I’m fine,” he said. “I gave worse than I got! Compared to the husks, and Aangavar, it was a brisk stroll through the woods.”
Vrodas gave a small nod, but his expression was skeptical.
“Well, if you ever do need someone to listen…” He trailed off, as though remembering their circumstances. “I’m here for you, Hal. Though I’m not sure how much that will count for after you’ve returned to the surface.”
“I appreciate it, all the same,” said Hal.
The two of them said their goodbyes and Hal gestured to Zoria so she could put the crystals away. She sat on the bed next to him afterward. Hal thought she was going to say something, but instead, she just sat there, watching him.
CHAPTER 31
Thirty’s laugh was high pitched and teasing. She ran ahead of Hal through the jungle, naked and bouncing with each step. Hal grinned as he sprinted after her, gaining on her by the second.
They both broke out into the clearing at the same time. Hal fell onto her, trying to wrestle her underneath him. Thirty continued to laugh, the sound shifting to a pleasured sigh as his lips met hers. Their bodies pushed against each other in a hot press of nude, excited flesh.
The tip of the knife stabbed through Hal’s shoulder, and then through his neck. He rolled to the side, making a feeble attempt at holding the blood in as it spilled forth from his wounds. Thirty suddenly looked different as she mounted him. Crimson streaked her face, and a crossbow bolt protruded from one of her eyes.
She stabbed the knife down again, and Hal screamed.
***
“Master!” hissed Zoria. “Are you alright?”
Hal jerked, twisting against the sheets, his muscle memory continuing out of the dream. His eyes flicked open, though the early morning dark of Zoria’s room did little to calm his pounding heart.
“…I’m fine,” he said. The words came out scratchy and halfhearted. His hands were trembling again, and a thin layer of cold sweat clung to his forehead.
“This is the furthest from fine I think I’ve ever seen you,” said Zoria. “What is it?”
Hal didn’t answer her. Zoria changed tactics, sliding closer into him and resting her head on his shoulder.
“You can talk about it,” she whispered.
Hal shook his head, but made the attempt.
“Just a dream,” he said.
“About what?”
Hal wished it was one of the dreams that instantly faded upon waking, but he knew he could still recall the exact details of what it had been about, if he’d wanted to.
“I did so much killing in the Dragongrounds,” said Hal. “But what really gets to me even more is… how I got someone else killed.”
Zoria nodded, her head still resting on his bare skin.
“The girl,” said Zoria. “She would have died anyway.”
Would she have? What if I’d protected her better? What if I’d let her win, in the end?
“You’re the same as me, master,” whispered Zoria. “You’re good at surviving. Good at doing whatever it takes.”
“And putting other people in danger in the process?” asked Hal. “Is that part of it, too?”
“A bit of self-loathing is natural,” said Zoria. “It will help keep you grounded. But don’t veer too far in that direction. You’re still here, and the people who’ve died aren’t. You don’t owe the dead any more suffering than they’ve already taken from you.”
There was a finality to her words that sent a chill through Hal’s blood, but he still appreciated the sentiment. Zoria gave him a soft squeeze, the sensation tender and completely contrasting her harsh philosophy.
Hal managed to get another few hours of sleep before the break of dawn. He dressed and then followed Zoria out for breakfast. Kendri was already sitting at the table, sipping at a bowl of red soup that smelled faintly of cinnamon.
“Oh, you must have had a fun night, sister,” said Kend
ri, in a mocking tone. “Did you get to the truth of what they say about humans? Are they big in all the places you’d expect?”
Zoria flashed a wicked smile.
“I got to the bottom of that question months ago,” she said.
Kendri looked at her expectantly. “And?”
Zoria glanced at Hal, as though asking for his permission. He rolled his eyes.
“Sorry, that’s a secret between a mistress and her slave,” she said.
Hal and Zoria found seats at the table just as Felice brought out more bowls of the strange looking soup. She set one down in front of each of them and stood a few feet away, watching as they each took a small sip.
“Is it okay?” asked Felice.
“Of course, mother,” said Zoria. “It’s fine.”
“I didn’t have much to add beyond seasonings to the broth,” said Felice. “Dinner should be better, though.”
Zoria cleared her throat and nodded. She glanced at Hal and changed the subject.
“I need to head to meet up with the leader of my valkyrie squad,” she said. “It’s at the barracks at the center of the western canton. You don’t mind coming with, do you?”
Kendri let out a scoff before Hal could answer.
“Who asks a slave if they mind doing something?” Kendri wondered out loud. “You should say that you do mind, slave. It might be fun staying here at the house during the day. I’ll be here all afternoon. You could get a look inside my room.”
“Kendri!” snapped Zoria. Hal frowned, wondering if some line had been crossed. The eklids seemed very open about sex, but there also seemed to be a few unwritten rules that he was having trouble getting a sense of.
“What?” replied Kendri. “I could use the practice. I’m not allowed into the night harems until after tomorrow.”
“He’s more than you could handle,” said Zoria. “Trust me.”
The conversation shifted to lighter matters as they finished their soup, with Zoria and Kendri catching up on the neighborhood gossip. None of it interested Hal, or seemed relevant to any of his current problems. He noticed Felice watching him out of the corner of his eye, her attention flickering back and forth between him and Zoria, as if gauging how they acted in each other’s company.
Hal and Zoria left the domicile as soon as they were done eating. The sky outside was overcast, and the air was humid and windy. It reminded Hal of where they were, suspended miles above the ground, in a floating province.
I’ve been in the Upper Realm for long enough for the idea to seem normal.
Elves and other slaves made their way through the streets past them. View crystal displays outside merchant stalls and shops featured attractive, sometimes naked, elven models showcasing clothing or wares. Two female elves mingled together in the middle of a small flower garden next to one of the crystal cart stops, kissing and groping at each other’s bodies openly.
“It’s just up ahead,” said Zoria, tapping Hal’s shoulder to pull his attention back to their route. “And follow my lead if anything happens.”
“What does that mean?” asked Hal. “Are you expecting something to happen?”
Zoria took a deep breath, as though priming her resolve.
“Yes,” she said. “I explained a little of the feud my mother has with Gardius’s mother, but not what it means for us, in practical terms. We’re… not the most popular eklid family in Zelnata. Gardius or one of her friends might attempt something. They know that I’ll be checking in with my valkyrie squad this morning, and they know which barracks I report to.”
“Well, I’ve got your back,” said Hal. He smiled at her and set a hand on her shoulder, noting the tension he felt in her muscles.
It was easy to make out where they were headed as they drew nearer. The building looming in the distance that seemed to be Zoria’s destination was clearly militarized. A heavy iron fence cordoned off the central building, with large pillars set every few feet. The pillars were covered in carved runes, with large crystals studded into them in places that Hal suspected were for more than just decoration.
Zoria approached the front gate, flashing her arms in an odd signaling salute as they came within line of sight of the guard on the wall above. He shouted something that Hal couldn’t quite make out and started to open the gate.
“I need to change into my uniform, first,” said Zoria.
“You have a uniform?” asked Hal.
She nodded, and didn’t elaborate any further. Hal could still sense how tense she was, and decided not to say anything that might add to it.
The interior of the barracks was made of heavy, polished stone that looked like it could have survived a range of disasters. Hal figured that warfare in the Upper Realm, at least between the native eklids, was heavily influenced by the presence of the dragons.
The building was designed to withstand fire and the crush of their claws.
Zoria headed down a hallway, and then through a thick wooden door. The room beyond it was filled with small beds, each with a massive storage trunk at the foot. She stopped in front of one of them and pulled a set of clothes out. She made a frustrated noise, and Hal noticed the thick, crusty, blood stains covering it.
“I take it that’s not the state you left it in?” asked Hal.
Zoria shook her head. Footsteps sounded from the hallway, and a familiar figure entered the room. Gardius wore a tight one piece bodysuit, similar to the one Zoria held in her hands. She brought a hand to her mouth in mock surprise as she looked at them and the ruined clothing.
“Zoria!” said Gardius. “Oh, don’t tell me that’s the only uniform you have that fits you? And what’s that soaked into it. Could it be… pig’s blood?”
Hal clenched his hand into a fist. He started toward Gardius, but Zoria grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.
“I’m not sure what it is,” said Zoria, in a level tone. “But I think I’ll manage. I was expecting more from you, Gardius.”
Hal had to make a massive effort to keep from pulling out of Zoria’s grip and charging the other elf. Gardius didn’t even seem to see him, let alone recognize him as one of the slaves she’d recently taken from the surface.
“Oh, I’m sure you were,” said Gardius. “As I’m expecting much from your sister, tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how she does. Hopefully everything goes well for her.”
Gardius’s words seemed to hit home for Zoria, whose expression finally shifted to anger. She stood up, took a slow breath, and shook her head.
“Are you done?” asked Zoria.
“No,” said Gardius. “I’m not. And I won’t ever be. Keep that in mind.”
Gardius turned and left the bunk room. Zoria let out a breath as the door closed. She brought one hand to her hair and shook her head.
“What did she mean by that?” asked Hal. “What’s happening tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is Kendri’s dawning ceremony,” said Zoria.
CHAPTER 32
Zoria headed through a door in the back of the bunk room, entering a small wash chamber similar to the one Hal had seen back at her family’s domicile. She washed her uniform off as best she could, stripped naked, and then pulled the still soiled clothing onto her.
“You’re going to wear it, even though it’s-”
“Yes,” Zoria said, cutting him off.
Hal didn’t push the point further. Zoria had to wiggle to get the leggings of the uniform onto her, and despite the clothing’s ruined state, Hal still found it to be an enticing sight. Her breasts bounced as she hopped up and down to pull the lower half on, and she had a cute, slightly annoyed look on her face.
She pulled on the top half, buttoned it up, and then nodded to Hal. She looked more like a warrior coming off the front lines of a battlefield than one in reserve, and he couldn’t help wonder if it might somehow work in her favor.
“Do you want me to wait here for you?” asked Hal. “So you can meet with your valkyrie leader alone?”
Zoria furrowed her bro
w.
“Why would it matter?” she asked. “You’re a slave.”
She saw the look on his face and added “You’ll be seen as a slave. Nobody will be concerned with what you overhear, if it’s clear that I have you in my confidence.”
“Alright,” said Hal.
The meeting between Zoria and her superior turned out to be a lot less interesting than Hal had expected. He stood behind her, listening while she recounted the details of her time on the surface back to a short male elf with a clean shaven head.
She went into detail about her first encounter with Aangavar, which coincidentally, had been when Hal had first met her. Her superior asked for more details, particularly related to whether she was the one who had slain the dragon. Zoria’s answers were all factual, but she left out a few details to make her account more flattering.
Hal was grateful that she hadn’t been there for the final fight against Aangavar. It seemed as though crimes committed against dragons were taken very seriously by the elves, and he had to wonder if Zoria would have been welcomed back into the fold of her community as smoothly if she’d been more directly linked to Aangavar’s death.
“Very well,” said the male elf. “Take your leave. Report in for training at the start of next week.”
Zoria saluted her superior, and Hal followed her out. She changed back into her normal clothing, a purple dress with a tight upper half and billowing skirt, and then led him out of the barracks.
“That seemed to go well enough,” said Hal. “At least, after the first part.”
Zoria didn’t say anything. She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. Hal wasn’t sure where they were going, but they passed through a crowded market square. She finally came to a stop in front of a small merchant store with an attractive human girl standing behind the counter.
“That’s her,” said Zoria.
Hal raised an eyebrow. “Who?”
“One of Gardius’s slaves,” said Zoria. “The one I need you to seduce. She works in this store during the weekday hours. Manages the jewelry of Gardius’s family in her spare time.”
Dawning Ceremony (Sexcraft Chronicles Book 3) Page 18