She smiled up at him, running her hand over the leather before tucking the case under her arm. “Thank you. It’s good knowing I’m starting to make progress on the things I will need to be able to do if I’m ever going to really be part of the team.” She lowered her gaze to the ground and then peeked up at him. “I’m going to miss you. I know things are… uncertain right now. But,” her voice lowered, though Levi knew none of the other guards understood English, “I do not plan to be here for the rest of my life. No matter what your elders, or Phillip, think about that. So I’m going to miss you.”
Garfield wound through Levi’s legs and purred, pausing to look up with big eyes. Levi swallowed. He would miss them as well. All of them, even the Ministry agent and Zeynar. He couldn’t force the words out.
Reevaluate the purpose itself.
Blue tilted her head to the side when he didn’t speak, and her smile turned sad. “Are you walking me back to my room?”
He nodded. They gathered their belongings and left the training yard. As they passed the kiti practice area, a group of guards quieted. One by one, they turned their backs. Whether the rejection was of him or Blue, he didn’t know. It was a small thing, and not all guards or other Prizzoli were so quick to show their feelings in such a way.
Blue didn’t even look in their direction. She continued on, gaze ahead. Garfield kept pace with them, though he did slow long enough to bare his teeth at the men.
Just as they crossed into the guest quarters, Blue broke the silence. “What do you do when you are not meditating or practicing? I mean, generally. I can’t quite figure it out. I never see the guards go to any gatherings or entertainments, even though there’ve been a few since we’ve been here.”
“We do not. Usually, if there is a lag in the guards’ schedule, we will use the time in study. With so many new worlds to learn of, the elders thought it best that we expand our own understanding of them as well. Or if we feel additional meditation time is needed, we may do that as well.”
“No hobbies? Things you do just for fun?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
Silence fell once more. Should he find something to say? He’d never had to wonder about that before. There were women who made themselves available when needed, but they understood. He had never had to converse for the sake of conversation. “I have seen Felix carving. It seems relaxing,” he finally said.
“Yeah. He showed me a hawk he did once. Or, it looked like a hawk.” She smiled absently. “And he gave me one he had done of Beast. It was really well done. My List is getting long.”
“List?”
“My List of New Things. Seems like it grows every day.” She let out a small laugh and skipped once. A spontaneous movement. “Maybe you should start a list. Of things you might want to try.”
His thoughts froze. Such an easy statement. A list of things he wanted to try. Was his life so stilted that even the idea stunned him? “What things would be on this list?”
“Whatever you want to put on it. We started on one of mine today, actually. Probably why I’m in such a good mood.” They stopped in front of her door, and her gaze drifted over him, lingering on his now covered chest.
A list. With whatever he wanted to put on it? Something to think about. It was a good thing he had three more days of meditations. He was beginning to believe that the outcome of this cleanse would not be what the Chief Elder had intended.
Chapter 8
MO’ATA
“As a member of the Order, you will tread carefully while you are there, Mo’ata.” Demil’s deep tones fell like bricks with each word. “I understand that she is, in essence, your shopa, but we do not want this to devolve into a hostile situation.” A pause while Demil waited for an answer. “Do you understand that?”
Mo’ata’s fingers tightened on the comm. Provided by the Order, this one was encrypted with a special frequency that would only connect with his superior. “Yes,” he finally said. His response was grudging, but he had to say something. “Have you considered the idea that by giving in to their demands, we are allowing the very thing the Order fights against? They are using intimidation tactics to coerce the Alliance into submitting to their demands.”
“I see Zeynar has been in your ear.”
Mo’ata didn’t reply. The plains of Padilra rolled out in front of him. Golden-green grasses waved in the wind. Silver-tinged clouds rolled by against a periwinkle sky. The mountains of Shardon cut across the horizon like looming portents of doom.
And now he was being dramatic.
“Look, I’m doing what I can, but something doesn’t add up.” Demil sighed. “Remember that. I’m no mind reader like the damned Turram, but I do know when someone is trying to play me. Whether it’s Zeynar, the Prizzoli, the Padilra, or the whole Alliance, I don’t know yet. Keep your damned head down, keep your ears open, and report to me. That is all you are to do. You and Felix both. You make a good team. When I assigned him to you at the start of all this, I wouldn’t have thought it.”
Yes, they had worked well together. And Blue had brought them even closer. She had pushed to bring in Zeynar. She had gotten Jason cooperating. She had pulled Levi in as well. The Prizzoli had remained professionally distant until she had come along. She was the one who’d had Felix learning English before he even knew he’d have a need for it.
Whether it had become official or not, she was his shopa. She was their shopa. The others just didn’t know it yet.
“Mo’ata.” The warning was there. Demil was not pleased. And though Mo’ata was a grown man, Demil had been his mentor, had been there for him after his own fathers had died. He had taken a young man who barely knew what he wanted and shaped him into someone that could make a difference in the worlds.
“Do you care nothing for the situation she has found herself in? That we have put her in?” Shadows moved over the plains as clouds obscured the sun and then moved on. An insect of some kind, possibly one of the monstrous, jumping ones, cricked and buzzed to his left. He was out here on these plains because it was the only place he could guarantee he would not be overheard during the day.
Silence. Then, “What have you found?”
Mo’ata’s hand tightened on the comm and he stepped forward, then again until he was striding across the grasses, expending some of his pent up energy. “Not much. They are keeping us isolated in the guest quarters. We’ve noted a high level of workers reporting to the healer, either through accidents or illness, but have no way to tell if this is normal or not. There are also representatives of different Prizzoli troops arriving. Most have left again after a day or two.” He sighed. They had information; they just didn’t have anything to evaluate it against. “Levi has been ordered to meditation exercises and confinement by the elders. They are allowing him to show Blue their fighting methods for a portion of each day, but that is the only contact we have had with him. She did find out from him that the guard and troop rotations are not happening per schedule, but that could simply be because the regular system has been suspended until Phillip is stable.”
“It is not much.”
“No.”
“Keep at it. Go over the footage and information again.”
“When Levi is done with his cleansing exercises, which should be in three days, I will be able to speak with him, see if he can help us sort through data. He would know best if something was out of place.”
“Will he help you? You are gathering information on his people.”
Mo’ata sighed. “He has already helped us. He assisted in the placing of the cameras and gave us a place to safely meet. When—if—the time comes for more, he will do what he feels is right.”
“Which does not answer the question. You well know that ‘right’ is based more on someone’s view of a situation than what is truth.”
“He will do what is right for Blue and his people. Which is what we want as well, is it not?”
“Fair point.” Demil’s amusement came through cle
arly.
Mo’ata spun and headed back for the village. He and Felix had an appointment with Forrest. They were going to continue their efforts to teach the boy to do more than just possibly survive in a fight. Forrest needed to know how to win. “I will report again when I have more. But the Prizzoli, as a people, are isolated and distrustful. I am surprised the Chief Elder allowed us to stay without more of a fight.”
“It concerns me,” Demil acknowledged. “I do not trust her motives. If what Levi told you is true, there are two outcomes with two different approaches. One, Phillip is not bonded to the crystal, he and the crystal can be cleansed, and he can then be sent, sans crystal, to face justice for those he murdered. Two, he and the crystal have fully bonded, and there is nothing that can stop him, in which case they hope to keep him calm and contained enough that he does not go on another killing spree.” Demil’s tone softened minutely. “After you told me their tales of Brika, I pushed hard to have the Alliance mitigate the terms of your lady’s... imprisonment. It was the best I could do.”
Mo’ata slowed and bowed his head. He had feared Demil had abandoned him in his plea to keep Blue safe. But it turned out his mentor was as frustrated as he. “I thank you for that.” He recalled something Blue had said in the meeting their first night in the village. “I think you are correct that there is something else going on. It was Blue who pointed it out, but if the Prizzoli plan to use her as a sacrifice to contain Phillip, it may not work. She has no sense of the crystals, cannot use them, and would not be able to manipulate the energies at all. Other than to keep Phillip calm, she has no use to the Prizzoli.”
“If the tales of Brika’s Sacrifice and Shardon are more than simply legend.”
“There is some truth to them, you will admit.”
“Phillip,” Demil said.
“Yes. The boy is proof, at least, of the crystal’s powers.” Mo’ata’s mind examined the information, sorted it, and pushed aside what he didn’t need at the moment. Other than his fighting ability, what Demil had seen in him had been a keen sense of strategy. “I want Blue to be brought in as an official member of the Order.”
Silence on the other line. Mo’ata smiled grimly.
“No.”
“You have not heard my reasoning.”
“I know what it will be, and the answer is still no.”
“She has a remarkable mind. She is making much progress in her lessons with Levi. Felix started her with the knife, and even in one lesson, he said she showed promise. She has handled the recent weeks with more poise and strength than most recruits. She is an ideal candidate, and you know it.” As he spoke, the idea solidified for the clansman. Blue had once accused him of trying to wrap her in a “fluffy cloud blanket.” That was because he wanted to protect her. Well, the best way to protect her was to arm her with everything she would need and then keep her close.
He had glimpsed her yesterday, her face drawn in weary lines and paler than normal. Though they were able to talk via the comms and messages, being kept physically isolated was wearing her down.
He had once thought to do something similar to her, to keep her safe. She hadn’t let him. He would not let this happen to her.
“I will think on it,” Demil said, breaking into his thoughts.
“Do. Because we will figure out a solution and get off this planet. And Blue will go to the Academy, and then she will join me in the Order. So, yes, please do think on it.” Mo’ata shut off the comm and headed back to village. Demil needed information in order to make his next move? Mo’ata would get it for him.
The training field was nearly empty by the time Mo’ata made it back. Four guards had gathered at one end, practicing their knife work. The techniques varied from those employed by the clans, or even what he had learned while training for the Order. Two of the guards stepped out, drew their knives—the blades curved down in a claw shape—and faced each other. A third guard, this one a woman, stepped up to the two of them, raised her hands together and let them fall, signaling the beginning of the bout.
The movements and techniques borrowed from the kiti were evident in each opponents’ use of balance and form. He also knew those subtle shifts of weight and fluidity of motion from the sparring he had done with Levi while still on Karran. They had not had a bout since coming to Padilra, and Mo’ata had not been able to persuade any other guards to practice with him. He had attempted to come to the training yard at the same time that Blue and Levi were scheduled, but his “guides” were full of excuses and reasons why that could not happen.
Interesting how the guides only made themselves known when he attempted to get close to Blue, Levi, or Phillip. There were only three days left to Levi’s cleanse, and after that Mo’ata would figure out a way to corner the man. They needed to meet, all of them. Then they could compare and sort their notes and observations.
One of the sparring Prizzoli, a handspan taller than the other and built along the lines of a grimal of Cularna, staggered back, a line of blood appearing on his arm. The slighter man had scored a hit. The pair straightened, stepped back, and bowed to each other.
Mo’ata turned away and headed to where Felix and Forrest waited for him on the opposite end of the yard. As Mo’ata had noted last week, Forrest was growing into a man. A kernel of pride lifted Mo’ata’s heart. Forrest would be a good addition to any prida. Mo’ata would ensure he had all the tools he would need to protect Blue, and in turn, Forrest... Forrest could help him with something. Mo’ata needed to get the other man alone first, which was much harder than it sounded. He didn’t want to do this over the comms, but the guards, and Felix, always seemed to be hovering. Maybe Felix needed to be brought in as well. But, no. Not yet. It wasn’t Mo’ata’s decision to make alone.
He wasted no time once he reached them. “Felix. You and I will spar while Forrest observes.” He turned to Forrest. “Watch closely. We are going to be addressing new techniques today, specifically pressure points. These are generally more useful for defense, but in some cases, when used correctly, you can weaken or slow your opponent long enough to gain the advantage.” He removed his outer armor, needing the added stimulation the danger of an unprotected body would add, and spun to face Felix. The larger man hesitated only briefly, then nodded. Yes, they both needed this to work out their frustrations.
Forrest was about to get an education.
The next half hour was grueling and a bit brutal. Just what Mo’ata had hoped for. Felix landed a blow to Mo’ata’s side, just over a kidney. Not hard enough to incapacitate him, but he would need to watch it for a few days. Mo’ata had gotten the other man in the back of the right arm where the nerves were sensitive, putting it out of commission for a solid minute. Felix fought on, using his good arm to block and striking with his feet. The bout continued until Felix stepped back, arm raised. “Enough.”
Mo’ata straightened. Sweat gathered on his brow and the nape of his neck. He twisted his hair back, pulling it from his collar. Should have bound it properly. Stupid move. If it had been anyone but Felix he had faced, that could have become a problem. The wind kicked up, carrying with it the scent of grass, rain, and dust. A good combination.
Forrest and Vivi stood at the fence, staring wide-eyed. Their expressions were so similar Mo’ata had to suppress a laugh.
“Ready?” he asked, picking up one of the canteens Felix had stashed near their gear.
Forrest swallowed. “Yes.”
Mo’ata did grin at that. “No, you are not. But we will make sure you get there. Felix will work with you first to go over the main points to aim for.”
“Like a punch to the throat?” Forrest’s tone was guarded.
Was that reluctance? “In a fight for your life, or someone else’s, there should never be hesitation. You do what is needed when it is needed. The rules... leave those for games and contests and someone else. Understand?”
Forrest’s lips thinned, but he didn’t look away. Finally, he nodded. “I’ll do what I need to.”
Felix began by showing Forrest each point and the best technique for reaching that point to inflict the most damage and pain. He demonstrated each movement over and over until the younger man could demonstrate at least a basic understanding. Then he moved on to the next. When a third body was needed to properly show Forrest a chokehold, Felix pulled Mo’ata in to the lesson.
The first moon was beginning to rise when a new group of Prizzoli entered the training yard. According to Forrest, who had gotten this out of his guide somehow—the boy was good at getting people to talk and the only one of them to make progress in befriending the guards—they were from the Forank troop and were supposed to take over the village and surrounding lands soon. The guard hadn’t said it outright, but Forrest had speculated that this troop would be sent on its way as well.
One of the men, his hair tied in braids, stared across the yard at Mo’ata. A hound of some kind stood at his side, its gaze trained on Vivi, who stood and moved forward. She didn’t growl. In fact, her ears were pricked forward. The animal must not be a threat, then. Or the man.
The man nodded, let out a low whistle, and joined his fellows, his hound following along.
Mo’ata hesitated for only a moment. The Prizzoli and guards currently in Lianka had made it more than clear they would not welcome him or his inquiries. This man though...
“Greetings,” Mo’ata said when he was a few feet away. The other members of the troop watched as he bowed to the man with the hound. A light scuff and a small chirp, and Vivi landed on his back, climbing to his shoulder. Mo’ata’s teeth clenched. He hadn’t put his armor back on yet. Either the cub had forgotten, or she was being cruel for some reason.
A talk with Forrest was definitely needed.
Holding up a hand to steady Vivi, Mo’ata eased her higher on his shoulder where she could balance more easily.
“Sorry,” Forrest said from behind him in English. “She wouldn’t listen to me this time. She’s just curious, though. I don’t get any sort or warning from her.” Forrest’s tone was partly apologetic and partly amused.
For a Pixie in Blue Page 11