by Lee Savino
There is a murmur of understanding from our fellow warriors, more than one of them eyeing me because there is truth to his words. Despite the way in which he approached her, they understand why... and they agree.
"She is mine," I declare. What I am about to say next hurts my pride a bit, but it is necessary. "I was wrong about the Tributes." I do not enjoy admitting that I had erred, but it is the truth. I would rather my Pareena know that I have changed my mind than keep my pride.
"How convenient," Arkdhem sneers back. "Now that you have one, of course. Pareena should have been mine." The possessiveness in his voice, the way he casually uses her name, sets off rage I have never felt before.
With a war cry, I hurtle forward, my armor creating a long sword that swings easily in my hand, no longer caring about the rules of combat or challenges. I want his blood.
"No!" My Pareena cries from behind me. "Stop!" I hear the low rumble of the High Commander's voice, feel her frustration and upset when he catches her and pulls her back. "Make them stop!"
21
Pareena
Damn, damn, damn! I'm too late.
Bristling with spines and spikes that make him look bigger than ever, Bogdan is flying through the air at Arkdhem, his weapon aimed for Arkdhem's neck and my breath catches in my throat in fear. I don't want either of them hurt.
Arkdhem crouches at the last moment, avoiding the swing of Bogdan's sword, and he lashes out with his own weapons—knives that scrape along Bogdan's armor with an ear-splitting shriek.
"Calm down," Gavrill murmurs in my ear, holding me securely in place with one arm around my shoulders. Dawn comes up beside me and takes my hand, squeezing it tightly as we watch Bogdan stagger back. My heart feels like it has jumped into my throat. This is exactly what I didn't want to have happen! "They would have to severely damage their armor to do any actual harm to the other."
That is not as reassuring as he obviously thinks it is. I wish I had my own armor that I could don, so I could rush in to stop this madness. Although, watching them, I realize that armor might not be enough. They rush each other, meeting with a bang that makes me wince. Bogdan is bigger but Arkdhem is quicker, and I'm smaller than both of them. I'd be no match for either of their bulk. One blow would throw me across the clearing.
On the other hand, with a Tribute between them, they'd stop fighting, wouldn't they? If only Gavrill would let me go...
Arkdhem lands another blow as he rushes past Bogdan, spinning on a dime to stab his blades at Bogdan's chest and making me shriek with horror. Bogdan staggers back an inch before shaking the impact off and turning, his blade parrying Arkdhem’s next thrust with a hair-raising clang and following it with a rough slash across Arkdhem's chest. Both warriors separate unsteadily.
I realize all the Tsenturion warriors are gathering to watch now. They crowd the clearing, keeping a wide circle around Bogdan and Arkdhem. Most of them have all their armor on too, in case one of the fighters accidentally slams into them, but no one makes a move to stop the insanity.
“This is crazy,” I mutter as the two grapple. I have to admit, I'm starting to feel a little less frantic now that I can see the others are not worried, and especially since I can tell neither warrior's armor is giving way to the damage. “They’re just going to pummel each other until one falls down?”
"Until one of them tires or lands what would be a killing blow if not for their armor," Gavrill says nonchalantly. "So far, neither has done so."
"So this isn't to the death?" I ask, because it looks to me like they're trying to kill each other.
Arkdhem narrowly manages to deflect Bogdan's sword from slashing across his neck.
"No, we cannot afford to lose a single warrior," Gavrill reassures me. That's... kind of reassuring? I guess?
I duck my head, unable to watch anymore. A wrenching noise makes me cry out as I imagine how much damage the spines and weapons could inflict. I didn’t realize I was so squeamish.
It’s because I really care about Bogdan. Arkdhem too, to a lesser extent. Coma dream or no, my emotions have become entirely wrapped up in the Tsenturions.
Is this a dream though? Two burly warriors beating on each other until one succumbs... this is not one of my fantasies. Another screech makes me jump and I let go of Dawn's hand to turn and face Gavrill, grabbing onto his arm.
“Do something,” I implore him, begging.
“They must fight it out. I cannot intrude without insulting their honor.”
“Honor, shmonor. This is nuts! I don’t want them to fight over me!”
Gavrill doesn’t answer me. He turns back to the fray and I stomp my foot in frustration. Dirt flies from the gouged earth. The sky is still blue and pretty but with a soundtrack of battle cries and roars. This outing is the opposite of relaxing.
“Forfeit,” Bogdan shouts.
“Never,” Arkdhem shoots back and falls into a battle crouch again. I'm pretty sure he means it. I don't even want him, dammit!
Screw this.
The High Commander's hold had relaxed to allow me to turn and face him and I take advantage of it. If no one else is going to stop this exercise in stupidity, then I will. Twisting, I slip out of his grip and rush forward.
"Pareena!" He roars my name as Dawn shrieks it. I ignore both of them, running as fast as I can to reach the fighting warriors.
“Pareena?” Bogdan turns, searching for me. But Arkdhem, seeing an opening, morphs a weapon like a club and leaps towards him.
“Look out!” I scream, utterly terrified, trying to run even faster. A millisecond before Arkdhem lands the blow, Bogdan whirls and blocks it with both weapons. With a cry, he surges up, shoving Arkdhem off balance. The smaller warrior slams to the ground, arms upraised to protect himself from Bogdan’s blow.
The blow never comes. Bogdan has already turned his back and is stepping toward me, catching me in his arms.
“What happened?” he asks, morphing instantly from brutal warrior to concerned mate. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to stop this," I say, tears rushing to my eyes. "I don't want you to fight."
Sighing, Bogdan presses his forehead against mine. "You do not understand our ways. He should not have acted as he did."
"I agree with that, but I still don't want you two to fight," I insist, reaching up to hold onto his shoulders, peering at him from under my eyelashes with pleading eyes. "I don't like it. Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m fine.” He lets me inspect his chest, which I know Arkdhem's knives scored, but there's no sign of it. Other than a few smudges on his armor—from dirt, there's not a tear or indication that the nanotech has been compromised—he’s whole and fresh as if he never challenged Arkdhem.
“You scared me,” I half growl.
With an amused smile, Bogdan cups my face, giving a pleased rumble when I press my cheek into his big hand. He doesn’t seem angry that I interrupted his fight. He switched gears immediately to make sure I was fine.
“So that’s it? You concede?” Arkdhem shouts in our direction. The warriors try to shush him, but Gavrill waves them back when he wrenches out of their hold.
“I concede nothing,” Bogdan says, shifting us so he’s facing his former opponent, still holding me in his arms. His body is rigid even though his voice is nonchalant. His hands hold me in such a way he could easily move me aside. His helmet reappears but covers only half his face. “You acted without honor when you approached my Tribute.”
“She should have a choice,” Arkdhem shoots back. "I would be a better Master!"
Oh, no, he didn’t.
“Enough.” I snap out the word, raising my hand before Bogdan can respond. “Stop this. I’m the Tribute in question and Arkdhem is right. I should have a choice. No more fighting, you can just ask me what I want, and I’ll choose.”
The entire field falls silent.
Gavrill gives a cough that sounds suspiciously like a laugh, but when I glance at him, his face is as serious as ever and his armor shows not
hing but a neutral grey. “Very well. Pareena, as the Tribute in question, you have the right to decide the warrior you would like as your Tsenturion Master. We’ll uphold your decision, whoever you choose.”
I raise a brow at Arkdhem until he nods, although the movement is jerky. He already knows I'm not going to choose him, but since he's the one demanding I have a choice and I now have the High Commander's backing, it's not like he can do anything other than agree. I feel a little sorry for him, but he's the one who put himself in this position. I turn back to Bogdan and meet his gaze. He looks a little worried, as if he’s not sure he’ll be the winner in this contest.
Good. He deserves it after scaring me with that fight.
“All right then, I’ll choose.” I pause and draw out the moment. Everyone is silent, but I sense Bogdan’s heartbeat. His face is blank but his suit ripples, betraying his trepidation. “When we met, I didn’t like you very much,” I tell him. “You were cold, abrupt and entirely too closed-off. But you also always took care of me. And even though you have the reputation of being the surliest Tsenturion, I know that you are capable of more feelings. You feel things deeper than most. That’s why you blocked yourself off from the pain. And even though there are other warriors,” I glance back at Arkdhem for just a moment, “who might have wanted a Tribute when Bogdan did not, I will never be satisfied with anyone else. Bogdan is mine. I’m in love with him. I choose him.”
A ripple of approval goes through the watching warriors as Bogdan's love, his joy, surges through me. The black of his armor twinkles and my lips open in surprise as I realize it's no longer pure black but instead is decorated with what almost looks like stars in the night sky. Everything that makes up who he is—his grief, his pain, his surliness—is still there, but so is our love, our bond. It is beautiful.
Gavrill nods. At his side, Dawn claps her hands.
“Oh, yay.” She grins, bouncing a little.
I tip my head forehead and press it against Bogdan’s. “I choose you,” I whisper. “Always.”
In answer, Bogdan tilts his head and meets my lips. I can hear Arkdhem cursing, but I barely notice.
"So that was fun, can we go to the beach now?" Dawn asks.
Bogdan
"Absolutely not." The High Commander and I respond to Tribute Dawn's question at the same time, although I must pull my lips away from my Pareena's to do so. Tribute Dawn makes an aggravated sound in the back of her throat.
"Oh, come on! If there were Vgotha hiding out anywhere in the ocean they'd definitely have taken advantage of the fight to come out and ambush us. None of you were paying attention to anything other than Arkdhem and Bogdan!" She points back toward the water. "An entire platoon of Vgotha could have snuck up on you and none of you would have noticed."
The High Commander and I exchange glances and then he looks back at Arkdhem. I look at my Pareena instead and almost groan when she meets my gaze with hopeful brown eyes. Tribute Dawn is not the only Tribute who wants to go to the beach.
"Arkdhem, you will spread the scouts out through the woods nearest the beach," the High Commander orders, as confident as ever, although I can hear a touch of resignation in his tone. Tribute Dawn makes a joyful sound and throws her arms around him. A small smile touches his lips, echoed in my own expression as my Pareena's excitement rises inside of me.
"Yes, High Commander," Arkdhem says through gritted teeth. He makes an abrupt gesture, signaling to the other warriors to follow his lead. With that one order, the High Commander has reaffirmed Arkdhem's place in our hierarchy, despite my challenge. I cannot be upset though, for my Pareena has chosen me. Perhaps I should even thank Arkdhem, for now everyone knows it. His pride has taken a severe blow and the High Commander must think that is punishment enough.
As the warrior whom Pareena chose to be hers, it would be ungracious of me to insist on more.
"Very well," the High Commander says, taking Tribute Dawn's hand in his. "Let us go to this beach."
It is hard not to be infected by our Tribute's obvious joy, but both the High Commander and I remain on alert as we cross the field. Tribute Dawn was not incorrect in her assessment of the distraction the challenge between Arkdhem and myself provided, but that does not convince me that the water is safe. There is so much of it and the Vgotha are not the only threat. Who knows what lurks in the depths of the waves? There was too much water to fully scan but we know there are some very large creatures residing there, with no way of knowing how close they can come to shore or if they are a threat.
But we do not even make it to the water. The moment the High Commander steps onto the sand, there is a ripple in the air before us, making him shout and push Tribute Dawn behind him, shielding her with his body. I am already doing the same with my Pareena as the rippling intensifies, an image growing and sharpening in the air. Ridges rise on my armor and my helmet encases my head, my battle blade grows in my right hand, ready to defend my Tribute, my mate.
“What’s happening?” Pareena tries to come around on my other side and I push her back. I feel her hands on the back of my waist and realize she is peeking around me. It is good enough. I remain focused on the figure as Gavrill issues an alert to the patrolling warriors: Warning, intruder, beach.
The figure solidifies, remaining slightly translucent in a way. A hologram. The ugly visage grins at us and behind us, Tribute Dawn gasps in recognition.
“Greetings, High Commander.” Antlers grow from his head. Otherwise, his anatomy is similar to a Tsenturion’s, just covered in short grey-green fur. We have seen his face before, when he contacted the High Commander after kidnapping Tribute Dawn, demanding a meeting in exchange for her. It was an obvious trap and one we did not fall for.
“Tor." The High Commander's voice is a deep growl, full of rage.
“You can put down your weapons,” Tor waves a hand at us, sounding amused. “This is only a projection. I thought perhaps you might listen better if you did not feel threatened.”
“Vgotha scum.” The High Commander is seething. “You dare face me after you used underhanded maneuvers to board our ship? Kidnap my Tribute? Hurt her?”
The Vgotha makes a face. "I did not mean to harm her. I did not realize how delicate human females are. Listen—"
The High Commander points his sword at the Vgotha leader. "No! I will not listen to any of your lies. We will not rest until the universe is safe from you."
“I do not wish to fight.” The Vgotha actually seems frustrated. A weakness? I will have to think on it later. Right now, my focus is half on the hologram of Tor and half on scanning our surroundings. I relax minutely when Arkdhem and the other warriors come running out of the forest, heading straight for us.
“You speak as if I care what you wish."
The other warriors slow as they reach us, spreading out to surround the hologram. We need to get the Tributes back to the shuttle. But if the Vgotha can broadcast this message into our midst, what else can they do?
“We are not your enemy,” Tor says. "The—"
“You weren’t until you destroyed our home, our families, everything in our civilization.” I snarl at him, my head jerking around, my rage swelling. "You failed though, you failed to kill us too, and we will eradicate you."
“That is what I am trying to tell you—"
“Enough!" The High Commander strides forward. Tribute Dawn tries to follow him, but Arkdhem fulfills his duties, hooking his arm around her waist and dragging her back as she curses him. At least he is good for something.
The High Commander slashes his weapon through the hologram, a vertical strike that splits the image in half and ends with a crackling screech of metal as the blade finds the source of the image. The last thing I see, before Tor's face blinks out, is murder in his eyes.
"Get the Tributes back to the ship," the High Commander roars, pointing his blade at the ocean. "Warriors, form ranks around them!"
Three Vgotha ships are rising from the water, coming just far enough forward that the
y are out of the range of our shuttle's weapons, and twin fears clash in my chest—mine and my Pareena's. Their doors open and Vgotha warriors jump from the openings, splashing into the shallows. With our bodies between them and the shuttle, trying to use any of our distance weapons would risk harming warriors—or worse, Tributes.
"Go!" I shove my Pareena at Kalexston, who is standing beside Arkdhem, both of their faces grim. Dawn is struggling against Arkdhem's hold, cursing at him, and he twists her around, flipping her over his shoulder.
"Bogdan, no!" My Tribute protests even as Kalexston picks her up and begins to run back the shuttle, mere steps behind Arkdhem. My heart aches at the mournful sound of her voice, but I will not fail her as I failed Harai... she will be safe, even if it is at the cost of my own life.
22
Pareena
I'm going to kill Bogdan.
If he survives this, that is. I'm terrified that he won't. That neither of us will.
The warrior carrying me comes to an abrupt halt, his shoulder jerking against my stomach.
"Into the trees!" I hear Arkdhem shout. Immediately, the warrior under me changes course, heading for the forest. Lifting my head up so that I can see more than the ground, I immediately spot the Vgotha ship flying above us and I push down the scream that bubbles up in my throat. Is it going to beam us up? What will I do if it does?
A feeling of helplessness rises up inside of me, the same way I felt when the doctors told me the chemo wasn't working anymore.
Because I finally really truly believe, one hundred percent with no doubts, that this is all real. I feel it down to my bones. Bogdan is real. Our love is real. This second life, this second chance at everything... it's real. And if I'm about to lose it just when I've fully accepted that I really have it, I'm seriously going to kill someone.