Revealed (19 page)

Nadiah tried to smile. “That’s very kind of you, but even if he wins, Rast won’t be bonding me.”

“What?” Lydiah frowned. “But then…who will your soul anchor to?”

Nadiah shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t know. No one, I guess.”

“But why—?”

“Even if he wanted to bond with me—which he doesn’t—Rast made a vow to my kinsman, Sylvan that he wouldn’t change the color of my eyes or tie me to him,” Nadiah explained. “He’s an honorable male—he won’t break his vow.”

“But Nadiah, surely Sylvan didn’t know how strong your bond with Y’dex is when he made Rast take that vow. You have to have
someone
to replace my brother or you could die.”

“I know,” Nadiah said seriously. “But even death would be better than being bonded to Y’dex. I decided that long before Rast offered to challenge for me.”

“But does Rast know? Know the consequences of breaking the bond without forming a new one will be your death?”

Nadiah shook her head. “He knows it’s a possibility but I don’t think he realizes how strong the bond is and I didn’t want to tell him. I was afraid he’d feel pressured to do something he didn’t want to do—something he wasn’t ready to do.”

“But, Nadiah—”

“That’s enough chit-chat, girls.” Lady Licklow suddenly appeared at the foot of the platform, frowning at them. “Lydiah, let Nadiah rest and meditate. Your brother and the
human
challenger will be here shortly.” She sniffed. “At least he’s not Kindred even if he
does
look like one of them.”

Nadiah stiffened. The Licklows were deeply into the Purist movement which stated that no off-worlder should be able to marry into a Tranq Prime family and “pollute” their bloodlines. They had a special hatred of the Kindred for doing just that.

“The Kindred are an honorable people,” she said. She was going to add something pointed about how the Kindred would never try to cheat on a contest but the sight of Lydiah still standing by her elbow stopped her. Whatever else happened, the Licklows and her parents must have no idea she knew what they were planning.

Lady Licklow simply sniffed again and moved off. Lydiah followed her mother, whispering a soft farewell as she went. Nadiah twisted her fingers together, wondering when the challenge would start—but she didn’t have long to wait.

“Attention. Attention, please.” Magistrate Licklow was standing in front of the assembled spectators, looking extremely self-important. His rotund figure was draped in a deep purply-blue
tharp
and he wore
vranna
hide boots of the same color. “Attention,” he called again even though everyone had already stopped talking.

Seeing that every eye was firmly fixed on him, the magistrate began. “Ahem. We gather here today for a blood challenge between the esteemed Tranq Prime male Y’dex Licklow and his off world competitor, the human called Rast.”

At this point, Y’dex and Rast both entered the challenge grotto from a small, side tunnel. Nadiah was angered to see that Rast was flanked on both sides by guards.
As if he was some kind of criminal, just because he’s an off-worlder!

Both the competitors were wearing the traditional Tranq Prime male costume of furry boots and a
tharp
wrapped around the waist, leaving the chest bare. Nadiah was proud to see that Rast filled out his outfit much better than her intended. Seeing him in the dark green
tharp
and boots reminded her of when they’d first met, during the luck kiss at Sylvan’s bonding ceremony.
I fantasized about this,
she remembered.
Imagined that he would be the handsome male who would sweep me off my feet and challenge Y’dex for me.
Of course, in her fantasy he had also declared undying love for her and
that
certainly hadn’t happened. But still, at least
part
of her dream was coming true.

Tearing her eyes from Rast, Nadiah examined the
tharp
Y’dex was wearing as well. It was a brilliant blue which looked too bright against his pasty skin.
Perfect,
she thought, staring at it.
A perfect match—the exact color of his best dress tharp. Now if only—

“The challenge of strength is about to begin,” bugled Magistrate Licklow, interrupting her thoughts. “I will now recite the rules. Ahem. The competitors will each be given a
goldur
with which to do battle over the pit of ice and fire. The one still standing on the beam at the end of the challenge is the winner. Falling off on either side constitutes a loss and the end of the match.”

At this point, he reached for two long staffs which were lying at his feet. He seemed to take a moment handling them before giving one to his son and one to Rast.

Nadiah studied the ancient weapons with a kind of dreadful fascination. The
goldur
was straight out of Tranq Prime history texts—used only for kin feuds and blood challenges. Each three foot long staff had a heavy, battering-ram type knob attached to one end and a thin, circular blade attached to the other.

Supposedly each
goldur
was perfectly weighted so that the contestants could keep their balance while fighting on the narrow walkway that ran over the pit, between the hot coals and the icy water.
Supposedly.
But she saw Rast hefting his
goldur
with a frown—from the way he handled the weapon it was plain to see that one end was much heavier than the other.

It was no more than Nadiah had expected. Still, it made her angry to see Magistrate Licklow pronounce both weapons sound and fit for battle when the one he’d given Rast had obviously been tampered with.

“And now,” the magistrate said in his pompous, nasal tone. “Let the contestants cross the pit and the challenge of strength begin.” He nodded at Rast, who hefted his obviously overbalanced
goldur
in one hand and stepped onto the narrow beam across the pit.

Rast walked carefully but with a natural agility Nadiah couldn’t help but admire. He might be human but he
moved
like a Kindred, with inherent grace despite his large, muscular frame. In fact, she was so busy watching Rast she almost missed what Y’dex was up to.

Her fiancée followed Rast across the pit, holding his
goldur
in both hands, obviously using it to balance himself as he walked. Just as both of them had reached the center of the pit with the hot coals to one side and the icy water on the other, Y’dex hefted his
goldur
and used the blunt end of it to strike at Rast’s unprotected back.

Rast hadn’t yet turned around and Nadiah saw what was happening just a split second before it did. She gave a little a cry as Y’dex struck with his weapon. The soft sound wasn’t much but it warned Rast and he braced for the blow. Instead of toppling over into the pit of fiery coals as Y’dex had obviously intended, he jumped lithely and turned to face his opponent, his own
goldur
held at the ready.

An angry murmur was heard from the crowd at the cowardly move and Rast spared a moment to look up at Magistrate Licklow. “Hey, is that how you guys play it here? Hit your opponent in the back before he gets a chance to turn around?”

“Both contestants were in the center of the beam and the challenge had begun,” Licklow said, frowning. “Y’dex’s move is perfectly legal.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Rast muttered. “Just remind me not to do any real estate deals with you guys.”

“What is
that
supposed to mean, off-worlder?” Y’dex sneered, swinging the sharp end of his
goldur
in a dangerous arc.

Rast gave him a grin that didn’t reach his eyes and jumped back. “Just that I don’t trust you any farther than I can throw you, cave boy.” He swung his own weapon but it was clear the poor balance was affecting his aim and he missed.

“Ha!” Y’dex laughed triumphantly. “Is that the best you can do?”

“With this thing, yes.” Rast raised an eyebrow at him. “Care to trade weapons?”

“That is against the rules of the contest!” Magistrate Licklow declared before his son could answer. “The contestants must keep the weapons they were given at the start.”

“Well, isn’t that convenient?” Rast muttered. He used the blunt end of his
goldur
to poke at Y’dex but the other male moved back in time to avoid it and parried with his own, balanced weapon.

For a moment their weapons locked and then Rast broke free with a jerk and retreated a step to be out of reach. Laughing nastily, Y’dex pressed his advantage. He came after Rast, swinging his
goldur
until the sharp edge whistled through the air.

Nadiah gasped as she saw the cutting edge connect and leave a long, nasty looking slash across Rast’s broad, bare chest.

“First blood!” Magistrate Licklow trumpeted triumphantly. “Y’dex has drawn first blood.”

“Yeah and it’s gonna be
last
blood if I have anything to say about it,” Rast muttered. “Hey Y’dex, think fast.” With a quick advance, he swung his own
goldur,
causing Y’dex to hop backwards, losing his balance. One of his feet slipped off the beam and landed in the hot coals below. With a howl, he pulled his burned foot up, pivoted, and splashed it through the icy water on the other side.

“You off-worlder human
scum
,” he growled, stalking towards Rast, his wet boot squelching as he went. “You’ll pay for that.”

“Oh yeah? Come at me.” Rast spread his arms. “Come on, I’m waiting.”

Y’dex glared at him but didn’t move. Instead, he looked up at Nadiah and made a fist. Then, with a cruel smile, he made the twisting gesture that had become so horribly familiar.

She barely had time to think,
Oh no!
before the burning blade slid between her ribs, robbing her of breath and doubling her over with pain. A cry of agony escaped her—she couldn’t help it.

“Nadiah!” Rast turned to her, his face filled with concern. “Nadiah, are you alri—?”

At that moment, when Rast’s head was turned, Y’dex rushed forward,
goldur
swinging wildly. Rast turned back just in time to parry the attack but his opponent’s momentum tore his weapon from his hand and flung it far out into the bed of hot coals.

“Now then, off-worlder.” Y’dex laughed unpleasantly as he advanced on his unarmed opponent. Rast backed slowly away, trying to stay out of reach of the other male’s weapon without getting either sliced or pounded. He was scowling and there was murder in his
 
eyes.

“I warned not to hurt her again. Didn’t that broken nose I gave you yesterday teach you anything?”

“You talk bravely for an unarmed male.”
 
Y’dex swung his
goldur
in a slow, taunting arc. “Come on, human, which do you prefer—fire? Or ice?”

With Y’dex’s attention centered on Rast instead of herself, Nadiah felt the pain ease and then release her completely. She sat up, glaring at her fiancée. Concentrating fiercely she stared at the bright blue
tharp
wrapped around his waist and muttered,
“Now.”

Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the blue
tharp
began inching its way higher up Y’dex’s long, skinny body. Soon the top edge of it was at his armpits. Which meant the bottom edge was considerably higher too.

Rast, who had been scowling as he ducked the other male’s swinging weapon, began to grin. “Hey, buddy,” he said. “You feeling a breeze?”

“What are you talking about?” Y’dex demanded haughtily. “If you think you can trick me with your false words—”

“It’s no trick, cave boy—your ass is hanging out. Uh, among other things.” Rast laughed. “I’d ask if you were a boxers or a briefs kinda guy but I think it’s pretty clear you’re neither.”

Y’dex risked a quick glance down. When he saw his exposed genitals, an outraged expression of embarrassment crossed his face. “How dare you? What have you done to my
tharp?”

Rast lifted his hands. “Not a damn thing—maybe it just doesn’t like you. Or maybe it would rather be a scarf than a skirt—I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Bad time to go commando, though, with everyone from your home cave watching.”

There was a faint sound of laughter coming from the assembled crowd and Y’dex’s normally pale face went blood red. Still holding the
goldur
with one hand, he yanked futilely at the creeping
tharp
with the other. Nadiah couldn’t help noticing that he wasn’t nearly so well endowed as Rast appeared to be—at least from the bulge she’d seen in his pants from time to time.

“Down, get
down,”
he muttered angrily. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve never behaved this way
before.”

Rast shook his head and made a
tsking
sound. “It’s always sad to see a boy who can’t control his skirt.”

“You off-worlder bastard!” Y’dex nearly screamed, his eyes bulging with rage. “You did this somehow, I know you did!” He turned to his father. “Father, he’s cheating! I don’t know how but he is!”

“Cover yourself, son, for Goddess’s sake!” Magistrate Licklow was as red in the face as Y’dex. “Have some decorum. This is not the proper place for such a display.”

“I’m trying! Get down!” Y’dex implored the
tharp
again.

Nadiah couldn’t hide a smile as she leaned forward and concentrated on the
tharp
again.
“Down,”
she murmured to it, sending a message only it could hear.
“Go down. All the way.”