Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4) (47 page)

“They kicked dirt also,” Alex said. “I’m surprised none did that to you.”

“Probably because I killed them too fast,” Cleve said, immediately realizing it sounded like he was teasing Alex. “I meant because of their surprise over my horse and Bastial steel weapon.”

“Where is your horse?” Alex asked.

“With the King.”

All of that was before Terren’s announcement. After it, Zoke was in disbelief. “Won’t Tegry’s people kill him for what he did?” the Krepp asked as he and Cleve walked to Warrior’s Field.

“Many of them probably see it as a victory,” Cleve guessed.

Zoke was even more incredulous. “No Krepp could ever side with Tegry after this. To do so is to be just as dishonorable. If the Krepps found out, they would kill Tegry even before attacking us.”

“Then they’re probably not going to find out,” Cleve commented. “Why is honor so important? I thought the Krepps cared more about Slugari meat than anything else.”

“
They
care about Slugari meat. Not me.”

“But you do care about honor just as much as they do.”

“Because honor is everything. When Krepps are honorable, their family is proud. Their friends are proud. They are proud. But when Krepps are dishonorable, they cause shame to everyone, even other Krepps that barely know them. Honor is what makes a Krepp a Krepp.”

“That sounds like morality more than honor,” Cleve said.

“Morality?” Zoke asked.

“Right and wrong,” Cleve added.

“I’ve never heard this word. How is it different than honor?”

The question made Cleve pause to think. At first he was going to say that honor had nothing to do with right or wrong, but that wasn’t true. It did.

“Don’t you have a word for morality in Kreppen?” Cleve asked, still trying to figure out how to answer Zoke.

“There is a word for right and wrong. It’s
farri
.”

“So what’s the word for honor?”

“I said it.
Farri
.”

For a moment, Cleve was confused. Then he realized what Zoke was saying. “Honor and morality must be the same thing to Krepps. But they aren’t to Humans.”

“Then what’s the difference?”

Cleve tried to think of something honorable that had nothing to do with morality. Duels came to mind.

“Dishonor can be like shame,” Cleve said, knowing Zoke was familiar with the word. “There are acts that cause dishonor, like losing a fight, groveling for forgiveness, and begging for money, but none of these are wrong. They just tend to make us feel shame.”

“They
are
wrong,” Zoke argued. “Begging, losing a fight…these are the acts I was talking about. They cause great shame to friends and family of the Krepp responsible, so they’re wrong.”

“But shame is different from wrong,” Cleve tried, beginning to lose hope. “It’s wrong to kill another Krepp, isn’t it?”

“Yes, if they’re innocent. But it’s the same kind of wrong as groveling. They aren’t different, like you say they are. Killing is just far worse than groveling.”

“They are different to Humans, though,” Cleve said. “Some people don’t care about honor at all, yet they believe heavily in morals. Then there are others, usually proud warriors, who care more about honor.”

Zoke’s mouth was twisted. “I’m confused how you say they can be different when they aren’t.”

Cleve sighed, unsure what to say.

“This must have to do with why you Humans apologize for everything,” Zoke said. “You don’t realize how wrong it is.”

Cleve realized that Zoke’s use of “wrong” didn’t translate correctly. But he didn’t mention it. Cleve wouldn’t be able to undo Zoke’s beliefs, so he felt no reason to keep trying.

Alex was already at Warrior’s Field when Cleve got there. He was sitting hunched over one knee, the other bent against the grass. He seemed to be focused on his thoughts as he stared just past his lap.

Alex’s brother was with the King
. Cleve’s stomach twisted, and his legs stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Zoke asked.

“Alex found out during the announcement that his brother was killed,” Cleve said. “It didn’t occur to me until now.”

Cleve and Zoke approached Alex together. The dark-haired warrior stood when he saw them.

“I’m sorry about Hem,” Cleve said.

“He was a great warrior and leader,” Zoke added. “Very honorable.”

“At first I was furious. But that stopped when it came to me that he was gone.” His gaze was stuck to the grass. “It’s hard to believe.”

“I know how it feels.” Cleve embraced Alex.

“The news is going to kill my mother.” Alex’s arms meekly came up around Cleve. “I don’t believe I have the energy to train today.”

Sneary and the rest of the warriors were there by then. “Form a half-circle,” Sneary said, pointing in front of him.

Cleve and the others shuffled into place.

“No more battle training today,” Sneary said. “Use the time to reflect on what you heard in Redfield. This battle means something to all of us. Tomorrow I want you to tell me what it means to you, and don’t come back here telling me revenge. That’s just a form of rage, channeled and dangerous. And just like rage, it’s more likely to get you killed than do any good. It has no place on the battlefield. Let it ready you for the fight. Let it fuel your eagerness to kill. But when the Krepps and Tegry’s army come to Kyrro, don’t let revenge be the reason to swing your sword or shoot your arrow. It’s not good enough. I’ll hear your answers in the morning. Dismissed.”

While Cleve was leaving with Alex and Zoke, Sneary called to them. “You three, come over here.” He waited until they were close. “Stop ignoring the dueling rules and quit fighting outside Warrior’s Field.”

“How’d you know?” Cleve asked.

“Terren told me about it the first day you talked with him.” For a moment, Cleve felt betrayed. But Sneary spoke again before Cleve could say anything. “He just wanted to inform me it was happening. It’s better that you learn how to fight against what Krepps will really do, anyway.”

“Then why stop us now?” Alex asked.

“Safety. I can’t have anyone getting injured if I can avoid it. Too much of a risk with battle approaching.” Sneary paused to look hard into Cleve’s eyes. “Am I going to have to monitor the three of you, or do you understand?”

“We understand,” Cleve answered for them.

“Good.” Sneary left, walking north to the faculty housing.

The three of them went the opposite way, toward their homes. Cleve asked if Alex wanted to come with him for some company.

“Thanks, but I’d like to be alone for now.”

The image of Alex drinking by himself came to Cleve’s mind. He decided not to mention that alcohol would be a bad idea. Alex was an adult. Cleve didn’t feel right advising him of anything.

But when Effie comes home, I’ll suggest she visit him.

After the three of them split, Cleve entered his room and put away his wooden training sword, then started to reach for the Bastial steel sword on his other hip. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving it anywhere, even in his own home. Training while it was attached to his belt was an inconvenience, but the weapon was too light to be more than that.

Sometimes warriors would come up to him and claim they’d heard about it from someone in Cleve’s group. They wanted to see the weapon for themselves. All would ask to hold it. Cleve allowed them to feel it in their grasp for a few swings. It was all he could manage before nervousness made his hands want to grab it back from them.

A voice from behind startled Cleve. “You’re not going to say anything?”

“Bastial hell,” Cleve said, turning to find Steffen slowly sitting up in his bed.

Steffen put down his book. “Oh, I thought you knew I was here.” He gingerly got to his feet. One eye was swollen and black. There were bruises on both cheeks as well as small cuts. “Did you hear about Welson yet?” Steffen came into Cleve’s room, standing in the doorway.

“Terren just announced it. Are you hurt?”

“I’ll be fine.” Steffen’s voice had an unfamiliar toughness to it. “Do people blame me for not saving the King?” Suddenly his vulnerability was back. His mouth was slightly agape, his eyes longing for Cleve’s answer.

“When I heard the news, I didn’t even think of you being able to do something. I’m sure no one did.”

Steffen’s head began to move, not quite enough to be a nod, but close. “Tegry killed him right in front of me, stabbed him in the…” His voice broke, and he swallowed. “Head.” Then Steffen began to cry. “I’m sorry.”

Cleve didn’t understand the apology, quickly embracing Steffen with a hug. “Why are you sorry?”

“For crying.” He let his head rest against Cleve’s shoulder.

“There’s no shame in crying.”

Steffen squeezed Cleve surprisingly tight, his weeping becoming louder. “Everyone died, even Alex’s brother. Does he know?”

“He knows.”

For a few breaths, Steffen continued to cry and hold onto Cleve. He tried to think of what he could say, soon realizing this wasn’t a time for wisdom. Steffen just needed to feel comfort, safety. Cleve stepped away and grasped his shoulders.

“There will be an end to all of this,” Cleve told him. “We’re going to win this war.”

Steffen nodded and took a deep breath, wiping away the remnants of his tears.

Chapter 33:

ZOKE

The news of the Krepps coming made Zoke feel like a rat had taken his stomach as its new home. Seven days passed since the announcement. In that time, the rat had become more skittish, never at rest. He knew this feeling was from fear and anxiety, but knowing didn’t help.

The Humans spoke confidently about winning, at least the instructors did. No one mentioned the possibility of losing, but Zoke could feel them all considering it. Their smiles and laughs waned. They felt the same way he did. But there was something they didn’t worry about that made him jealous—a sibling on the opposing side.

If I could just fight without fear of Zeti’s safety
.

The only way to get rid of the rat in his stomach would be to go into battle without needing to watch out for her. Nothing would be more of a relief.

Vithos was the only one Zoke could be completely honest with. When they were settling in for the night, Zoke asked him in Kreppen, “Do you really think we’ll win this battle like the Humans claim?”

“I don’t know,” Vithos said. “I can’t say.”

“What do the Humans on the farm say?”

“They’re scared,” Vithos said. “Are you?”

Zoke would’ve lied to anyone else. “I’m scared I won’t be able to save Zeti and keep myself alive in the process. I was lucky in Tenred—there were hardly any Krepps. It was easy to find her.”

Vithos put his hand on his chin. “I know what she looks like. If I see her during battle, I’ll let you know.”

But Zoke wondered what Vithos would do if it seemed like Zeti was in trouble. Would the Elf protect her against his allies? Zoke couldn’t bear to ask.

“I want to kill Doe,” Vithos said.

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“I want to be the one who does it.”

“Do you want the title?” Zoke asked.

“I don’t care about that. I want
vantikar
for my kin.”

“Just don’t let it control your actions,” Zoke said, thinking back to Sneary’s words a week ago, after Terren’s announcement.

The Elf patted Zoke’s shoulder as he grinned. “Don’t worry about me. I won’t do anything stupid just to get it.”

Zoke fell asleep pondering the oncoming battle, and he awoke to the same thoughts.

Eight days since Terren’s announcement.
Two more days.

Throughout the day,
he knew,
two more days
would repeat itself over and over.

They didn’t duel during battle training. Instead, they focused on team combat. It only occurred to Zoke that day that he would miss training with the Humans when he left…if he was still alive after the battle was over.

Zoke always ate lunch with Alex and Cleve. Vithos joined them when he happened to arrive at the dining hall at the same time, as would Cleve’s other housemates. Steffen’s face had taken a long time to heal, still faintly bruised on the edge of one cheek. He’d come in the dining hall while they were eating yesterday.

But today it looked as if Zoke, Cleve, and Alex would finish their meals without anyone else coming in. It was only in the company of the two tall warriors that Zoke could feel completely at ease around Humans. The three of them sometimes were silent their whole meal, not bothered by the lack of talking. But whenever anyone else sat with them, Zoke could tell the Humans had a need to speak with each other. It made him tense, for he worried they would become frustrated with him if he didn’t say anything.

Two more days,
Zoke thought to himself as he ate.