Page 132 of The Fighter
Willow pressed a drink into my hand. “Cheers, beautiful.”
I knew I should get around and greet more people, but being in a corner with Mila, Jonah, Darlene, and Willow felt safe and comfortable. We joked and laughed until Khan came over with five giant men.
“Mila, your dad asked me to introduce you to some of the men who will be competing in your tournament. This is Chip, Alan, Morris, Conlan, and Phyton.”
Mila gave a polite smile to all the men. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“If you ask me there’s a big chance these are the men you’ll be choosing from. I thought that maybe you wanted the chance to ask them some questions. Three of them are Doomsmen.”
The five men were different in looks and colors but they all had serious expressions on their faces. Mila, who had been laughing and smiling a minute before, was now fiddling with her hands. “Ehm, okay, well, I didn’t really prepare any questions.”
“Ooh, I have a good question for you then!” I whispered it into her ear.
Mila nodded. “Right. Okay. Then my first question would be: how do you feel about my friend Raven joining the police corps?”
They exchanged looks and when no one answered, Mila turned to the first man.
“Chip, was it?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your opinion on women working as Raven does?”
Chip was one of the few Nmen who had trimmed his hair short. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I don’t have a problem with women working, as long as it’s not dangerous work.”
“So, if Raven was your wife you wouldn’t let her work on the police force?” Mila asked.
Chip’s eyes fell on me. “Probably not. It doesn’t seem safe.”
“All right, thank you, Chip. How about you?” she asked the next guy and one by one they all backed up Chip that women shouldn’t work in a place of danger. Only one of the men insisted that women shouldn’t work at all. Mila gave him a polite comment, “Interesting,” before she moved on with what I assumed was a mental note not to pick him.
“What do you know about me?” Mila asked the men.
“You’re the Commander’s daughter.” Morris stood like a soldier with his legs spread and his hands clasped in front of him.
“Yes, I am. What else do you know?”
“You were born in the Motherlands and you don’t like to fight. The Commander wants you to have a strong husband.” Morris gave the three facts like he was reading out a report.
“And are you a strong man, Morris?” This time it was Jonah who asked the question, and there was something about the way he stepped closer to Mila that made me straighten up and pay attention.
“Absolutely. I hold a record for the most bench presses in my unit. I can lift two and half times my own weight.”
“I wasn’t referring to your size of muscles, but your personal strength. Are you loyal and selfless? Do you have integrity and intelligence?”
Morris wrinkled his nose at Jonah. “Who are you?”
Jonah stood calmly and faced all five of the giant men. “I’m Jonah, councilman of the Motherlands and one of Mila’s closest friends.”
The man frowned then smiled a little. “For now.”
Jonah tilted his head. “What do you mean when you say for now? Are you implying that if she married you, Mila wouldn’t be able to be friends with me?”
Morris raised his chin. “She wouldn’t need you. She would have me.”
Jonah’s jaw tensed up and he linked his hands behind his back. “Right, and I’m sure you and I are so alike that Mila wouldn’t feel the difference.”
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard Jonah use sarcasm and irony but it always threw me off because it was so rare among Motlanders.
