Barbarian Gladiator (Princesses of the Ironbound Book 4)

by Aaron Crash

  Charibda leaned forward and exhaled. She felt the breath leave her lungs. She went to inhale, but she couldn’t...she couldn’t breathe even the thin air.

  Ymir stepped forward, pulled back her hair, and for a second, it was a familiar feeling, erotic, like when Lillee did it. The sex urge flashed through her. Then she felt the knife cut her throat. Her warm, red blood gushed down her chest, staining her seashell cuirass. It felt so warm and wet, and yet, surprisingly, there was no pain.

  Then she knew no more.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  THAT EVENING, YMIR sat alone at his table on the second floor, with some of the weak beer from the feasting hall. He hardly tasted it, and he certainly didn’t feel it.

  Gatha would be pissed he had the beer in her library, but Ymir was beyond caring. The events of the day weighed heavily on him. The Gather Breath Ring was complete, and like the Black Ice Ring, it didn’t do a fucking thing. He could use it as a Focus ring, but he already had one.

  Linnylynn Albatross confirmed that Gulnash had fashioned the Crystal Null Ring under their noses. He was using it to drain the duszas of those he fought to empower himself. Ymir hadn’t mentioned that Sarina Sia had mentioned that the Akkir Akkor might have something to do with her White Rose Society. At this point, they had bigger problems than ghosts and demons.

  The Williminaville professor was researching both the Gather Breath Ring and the Crystal Null Ring. Ymir wasn’t confident she’d learn anything, which was why he was pouring through Circulum again, with a dictionary, checking certain words and paragraphs. He might’ve mistranslated a passage since language was a slippery thing.

  He did see a line he’d missed before concerning the domain of the Storm King being beneath the waves. He’d learned that it was one of the honorific titles of the Ocean Father Divine of certain Aquaterrebian families. It was ancient, but that made sense—the merfolk families were ancient.

  There were loud shouts of laughter and cheering from the feasting hall. Those that had survived were calling out in loud voices, eating, singing, laughing...those orcs did love their fighting pits, however bloody.

  Gharam was already laughing about losing his arm. He’d said it was a shame when an orc didn’t lose body parts because it meant they hadn’t been fighting enough. If you made it to the end of your days with your body intact, had you really lived?

  The Charibda affair was harder to take. Gatha had retreated to her room at the Zoo, and while the rest of Ymir’s women had gone there to comfort her, the she-orc didn’t want their presence. She wanted to stew alone, which was her way, however self-destructive. Her ankle had swelled, and she did nothing for it. Part of her wanted to die. Like how the mermaid had died.

  Ymir and his women were waiting for word from Phoebe Amalbeub, the mermaid professor. She was helping them, but the Aquaterreb teacher was being mysterious. She had to be.

  For now.

  Gulnash and the surviving members of his Gungarr had locked themselves in their rooms in the Imperial Palace. Other soldiers of the horde stood outside their door and on the Sunfire Field, keeping watch. Of course Gulnash knew his life was in danger. Ymir, for the life of him, didn’t know how they could get to the villain. Even Della, the master assassin, didn’t know how they could access the Betrayer. A full assault would bring down the condemnation of the Blood Steppes, for this was the Kurzig Durgha, and though it seemed the Betrayer could flaunt the rules, the host could never get away with it.

  And so, Ymir sat, studying. If only he could figure out how the Gather Breath Ring interacted with the Black Ice Ring. There was a connection.

  Footsteps clacked up the steps, and Ymir turned, surprised to see Jiabelle Josen come traipsing up to his table. Auntie Jia sat, unbidden, in a seat next to him.

  He closed his book because he didn’t want this woman seeing what he was reading.

  Auntie Jia was a tall, severe woman, with the Josen black hair graying. Her eyes were icy blue. “So, here is the prize that has caused so many issues. I guess I should thank you.”

  “Why is that?” Ymir asked. He’d spent the day fighting with men. He might as well spend the evening fighting with women.

  “For one thing, you made it possible for the Josen and Cujan families to come together. It will be the first part of us consolidating our powers. We have plans.”

  “You have plans,” Ymir said. “From what I hear, Arribelle is too stupid to have any plans of her own.”

  “Good thing she’s cruel and easily distracted,” Auntie Jia said with a smile. “Secondly? You’ve proven to be useful in other ways. The Aquaterreb might’ve caused the Sorrow Coast any number of problems, and such a war would’ve affected the Swamp Coast and the Scatter Islands. That would’ve been unfortunate. And so, we have you to thank for that. And then there is this orc business.” She sighed. As if the blood and violence were like a poorly thrown wedding reception.

  “This orc business has been bloody.” Ymir gave her a bored look.

  Auntie Jia shook her head. “I can’t believe you killed that mermaid. Then tossed her body over the side of the stands into the water. You are a savage people, aren’t you?”

  “Savage and cold. Like the Ax Tundra itself.”

  Ymir had cut Charibda’s throat, but he hadn’t nicked the big artery. He’d made a big show of her blood splashing down her chest, however. Then he’d scooped her up in his arms and thrown her supposedly lifeless body into the Weeping Sea. However, Lillee had rushed up with him and cast magic to ease her body down to the water. Otherwise, the fall might’ve killed her. As it was, Charibda wasn’t dead. She was, however, forever changed. The spell to craft the ring had warned them that would be the case.

  Ymir was feeling reckless. And why not? It was a time for recklessness. “Killing Charibda was difficult. I’d much rather murder agents of the Midnight Guild.”

  “What’s that?” Auntie Jia asked with lifeless eyes.

  “It’s a secret organization to stop anything from changing all that much on Thera. One agent tried to get rid of my magic. Others tried to kill me. But you wouldn’t know anything about that. You want change. You are bringing together the Josens and Cujans, blood-feud enemies, for the first time ever.” He watched her carefully.

  She didn’t show him a thing. But her words told a different story. “This is the Age of Separation. It’s been a fine epoch. Not a lot of boys, but we’ve managed to make do. If there was a Midnight Guild, perhaps their goal would be to keep the regions separate while consolidating power in those regions.”

  Ymir put together the rest easily. “You wouldn’t want Gulnash to win. But if Shlak won? That would be Ghrinna’s husband. Surely, she couldn’t be a part of the Midnight Guild. Nor could Cebor, the elf king. That wouldn’t be possible. You three ruling a secret organization. It’s laughable.”

  “And unlikely,” Jia agreed. “All of this is so unlikely. But not impossible. Perhaps this Midnight Guild orchestrated this entire event. Not to kill you, no, because they’d think you were a fine tool to use to kill Gulnash. Perhaps, if you proved not to be unreasonable, you could do other things to improve your adopted continent.” The older woman waved her hand. “But it’s unlikely that I’m part of this secret guild. And if I were, I would never be telling you this. However, I’m curious, all of Thera is curious, about what your plans are when you graduate.”

  Ymir laughed and gulped the weak beer. “My plans. I want to finish at this school. I don’t want my school fucked with. And Gulnash needs to die.”

  “But when you graduate,” she pushed.

  He laughed. “Fuck my graduation. Let’s talk current events. I think Shlak’s actions today at the battle royale will have repercussions to his standings with his own city and the two others. And no one likes his wife either, not after what she did to her two daughters.”

  “Orcs,” Jia said with some distaste. “I say let them do what they want with their desert. The Blood Steppes are a dry plain with few resources and little strat
egic value. Not so with Panseloca. Being a barbarian, you might not know the geography. Panseloca is a city that is half in the Ohlyrran forests and half belongs to the Holy Theranus Empire. It’s the perfect center of commerce for the region. Even the Swamp Coast queendoms do trade there, with the elves, the empire, and even with Reytah, the southern continent. I believe that’s where you get your xoca beans for your little business.”

  Ymir liked her insult. “My little business. Yes.”

  From what Ziziva said, the little business had investors, and they could expand the enterprise to towns up and down the Sorrow Coast. Their sales had made them a month’s profit in a day. While Dillyday had brought the Form magic to keep the sweet cream cold, the contract Ymir had penned made sure he’d always get a cut of every sale. Which meant there was a real chance that one day he’d have the fortunes of a dwarven thane.

  And yet, this money didn’t interest him much. He had it. He could use it. But the real currency of life couldn’t be mined or pressed into shecks. The real currency of life was pleasure, difficulty, and battle.

  Ymir nodded. “And so, Cebor doesn’t need to get his hands dirty. He has made enough contacts in that Panseloca to avoid contact with the orcs. I’m wondering if there are any other dwarves in this Midnight Guild, or were the Ironcoats the only ones.”

  “This secret guild would have to have contacts among all the races on Thera,” Auntie Jia said. “If it existed at all. Which is unlikely.”

  “Very unlikely.” Ymir stacked up the books, making sure the more incriminating ones were hidden from the woman. “So you’ve met me. I’ve met you. You tried to murder my Jennybelle, and I’m showing much restraint, since I’m a savage barbarian from the wild north. You should die for what you’ve done to her, and if you were in the Midnight Guild, I’d tell you that I should kill you all for the worry you’ve caused me.”

  “And why are you showing such restraint?” Jia’s eyes were growing ever colder.

  “For a couple reasons.” Ymir leaned back. “For one, I liked fucking one of the guild’s agents, Siteev Ckins. It was very satisfying. For another? I don’t care what happens on Thera, as long as what happens does not affect my friends or my school. That includes the Princept here, and her reputation. I’m very fond of Della Pennez.”

  “Does she know about the Midnight Guild?” Auntie Jia asked.

  The question was a trap that Ymir deftly avoided. He stood up. “You should ask her. I’ll leave you with this. If the Midnight Guild leaves me alone, I will leave them alone. They have nothing to fear from me. For the next two years, I will be very focused on finishing up my studies here at the Majestrial.”

  He was done talking with the foul woman who had tried to murder her own niece.

  He scooped up the books and took them down to Gatha’s desk. Then he hurried on through the feasting hall, where Gharam roared, sitting with Shlak and any number of orcs, male and female, eating, feasting, and telling stories.

  Della Pennez was nowhere to be seen.

  He was on his way to the Zoo when his women came rushing up the path. Jennybelle grabbed him. “We heard from Professor Amalbeub. She’s at the hidden docks.”

  Gatha leaned on Tori and Lillee.

  He nodded at the she-orc. “Shouldn’t you be resting your foot? You’re not out of the Kurzig Durgha yet.”

  Gatha croaked laughter. “Go fuck yourself. I want to see Charibda.”

  Ymir laughed. “That’s my girl.”

  Tori sighed. “Could we curse less and walk more?” Her voice was slightly slurred. She had her satchel. At the top was a bottle of something.

  Ymir didn’t ask about it. The five of them hurried down the Sea Stair and to the hidden docks.

  Phoebe Amalbeub was sitting on the end, next to a boat tied to the dock.

  The professor stood, her gown clinging to her body. “Charibda is at the StormLight. We’ve...I’ve...the magic isn’t perfect. However, we were lucky to summon an ocean sorceress from the Delphino family, who swam for hours to get there on time. So far, civil war hasn’t broken out with the merfolk in Ethra. However, there has been trouble. One of the ruling members of the Brinnib family, maybe the Ocean Father Divine himself, was killed in some port city. Foulwater, I think it was called.”

  Ymir showed his displeasure. “One continent at a time, Professor Amalbeub. I can’t worry about Ethra and Thera at the same. This continent has trouble enough, with the likes of Jiabelle Josen around. I just spent time talking with her.”

  “You talked to that bitch?” Jennybelle gasped.

  Ymir nodded. “We can talk more later. We’re here for Charibda.”

  “Yes.” Gatha scowled. “Let’s get to her. I want to slap the stupidity out of her.”

  “Go easy on her,” Professor Amalbeub said. “She feels bad enough as it is. Return the water ship back to the hidden docks when you are done.”

  Ymir and the rest of the women clambered into the boat. Ymir rowed them toward the lighthouse with moonlight streaming across the dark water.

  It would be a very eventful night.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  AS YMIR ROWED THE FOUR women toward the lighthouse, they talked about the day’s events and Ymir’s conversation with Jiabelle Josen.

  Jennybelle had a thick black cloak to protect her from the cool night. She sat, arms crossed, facing him. “There can’t be ghosts.”

  “Why not?” Lillee asked quietly.

  “Because if there were, my mother and father would be back, haunting Jia and Arri. To think, they’re joining with the Cujans. It’s gross.”

  “And it shows the power of the Midnight Guild,” Ymir said.

  That hushed them for a moment. The only sound was Ymir rowing through the water. Lillee exhaled. She sat next to the swamp woman, equally covered. “Of course my father likes the Age of Separation. The elves can pretend other races are depraved and evil and that sex is a myth. They can pretend all they want.

  Gatha growled, “They all need to be murdered. Every one of them.”

  Tori gripped her bottle to her chest. Come to find out, it was full of the xoca kaif, her own special blend. Was there Amora Xoca in it as well?

  Ymir was surprised that the freckled little woman was able to eat or drink anything. She did not like boats.

  Ymir oared their craft up to the familiar dock of the lighthouse island. They’d gone there a lot, to pick up their xoca beans and to chat with the old woman who lived there. Damnation Sue’s house was dark. She must be asleep.

  Jennybelle leapt out and tied their boat to the dock. There was a flickering light on the other side of the island, and the smell of smoke filled the air. There was a bonfire over there. Was that where Damnation Sue was? She had a cat, Pussy Face, and she might be sitting by the bonfire with her pet on her lap.

  Tori helped Gatha limp up the walkway. Above them, the StormLight tower flashed, over and over, throwing radiance out upon the sea. The world smelled strongly of the ocean, a salty dankness on the chill wind. One moon, full and round, was climbing the eastern sky. A crescent moon was just rising off the surface, like a hook, pulling at the horizon.

  Ymir had brought his ax, Gatha had her sword, and Jennybelle had the Sapphire Fang because with all the things happening, they just might end up fighting for their lives. He wore three of the Akkiric Rings—the Black Ice, the Winter Flame, and the Gather Breath. Tori had the Veil Tear, and Gatha had the Yellow Scorch.

  Ymir wanted to see about Charibda, but they had to get back to the Zoo and use the Veil Tear Ring, in the same room with the Betrayer, without his coins. If they could find proof that Gulnash had snuck around Old Ironbound, if they could prove that he’d been working with Shlak, then Ymir could kill the Betrayer.

  However, they had to have proof. Or a very good reason. They were all restrained by the rules, rituals, and customs of the Gruul, especially during the sacred Kurzig Durgha. It was one of the reasons why Gatha had been forced to kill her sister.

  First, tho
ugh, they had to talk with the mermaid princess, the woman that had shocked the world by giving her life for Gatha’s. People, right now, were toasting her as a hero in the feasting hall. Issa Leel had sent out sand letters to all the major cities across the continent concerning the day’s events. Word had spread to the Delphino family, and they were also celebrating her victory. Suddenly, most every Theran had to reconsider their opinions on the merfolk.

  Only a handful of people knew she was alive, and Ymir wanted to keep it that way.

  They topped the hill and saw a fire burning on a rocky ledge above the crashing surf. There were blankets there, chairs, and a few tables.

  Tori sipped from her bottle nervously. “This was not what I was expecting. Do you think Damnation Sue set this up?”

  “Not sure,” Ymir muttered. He and the four women made their way down steps to the ledge and enjoyed the warmth of the bonfire. Lillee poured them all wine, and they drank while the fire crackled and reached for the stars. A wave crashed, but they were high enough not to be soaked by the spray.

  A long, slender figure moved onto the cliff edge. A second later, the light showed a naked woman with small breasts and tiny nipples on a torso atop tentacles. Her eyes were black, as were her lips, and she had fangs. Then her black hair turned to its normal blue with the purple stripe. Her slashed throat had already been healed by Lillee, who had started to master healing spells. She looked like she normally did when she was in her kraken form.

  And yet, she had changed in a fundamental way.

  She slithered up on her tentacles, a small smile on her face. “Hello, Ymir. Jenny, Lillee, and Tori.”

  Tori giggled. “That’s me. That’s my name.” What was in that bottle besides the xoca kaif?

  Then Charibda’s eyes fell on Gatha. “Hello, Gatha.”

  The she-orc could only snarl. She couldn’t even get the words out. She snapped her tusks out.

  “I apologize, Gatha,” Charibda said. “But I couldn’t let you die.”