Page 62 of Sparked By Starlight
Aqen snorts. “That is why you are restricted to one.”
She snaps her teeth at him, and he laughs as she racks her practice sword. Then he hands her the dagger that matchesmine. She twirls it, testing the balance before grunting her approval. “Good. We’ll fight, terrakin.”
“Good,” I shoot back, shedding my extra layers of fur and leather. I’m not quite brave enough to strip down all the way, but it’ll be easier to move wearing a single layer of sveli. I tuck in the ends of my sash and duck under the rail. Y’len gives me a few pointers for how to hold the dagger before we face off.
We draw a crowd right away. I don’t know if it’s because we’re two females fighting and these poor, lonely guys are enjoying the view, or if it’s because I’m a human, but immediately all of the people who aren’t engaged in a sparring match cluster at the rail to watch.
The extra eyes arehighlymotivating. When Aqen gives the word, I launch at Y’len, and she stumbles backward to avoid my dagger. Aqen hoots approvingly.
“You know how to fight.” Her eyes narrow accusingly as she circles me, more wary now.
“Not with a knife.” This time I have to dodge her swipe.
“You are quick on your feet. Good at anticipating my moves. You have training.”
I grin. “I have brothers. My mother was a warrior and taught us a few things.”
“We’ll see if she taught you well.” She proceeds to give me a major beatdown, turning her blade to the side to smack me every time I leave myself open. Aqen yells pointers from the sidelines, and when I manage to implement them, I don’t do too bad for a beginner. The crowd is definitely rooting for me, cheering when I land a half-assed strike to her hip and hissing when she spanks me with a lot more skill.
At first, I feel bad for turning all her fellow apprentices against her, but Y’len eats it up, grinning wildly and showing off, playing up her role as villain. After I land a lucky blow, she runs straight toward me with spooky alien speed, dagger pointedstraight at my neck. I don’t have time to get out of the way, so in those microseconds, I prepare myself to die, skewered on her blade.
At the last second, sheleapsover my head, clearing the top of it easily and landing with a muted thump behind me. Even the people rooting against her make noises of appreciation and surprise. I turn around to face her, my mouth open, forgetting to keep my blade up. “Holy shit, that was amazing!”
She laughs, whipping her blade through the air. “Just to remind you that surprise is the best weapon. It works even if you are outmatched. That is why you landed your first blow.”
Aqen calls us over to the rail and some of the crowd’s interest dissipates as he spends the next ten minutes giving me tips while I guzzle water. I’m in a full-body sweat, but Y’len is still fresh.
“You’ve been taking it easy on me,” I say accusingly.
She shrugs and chuckles. “You are a worthy opponent.”
“Is that like a nice thing fighters say to people to make them feel better about being shitty?” I ask Aqen. He nods, grinning, and I feel a little joyous flicker of competitive drive come to life. “Put me back in, coach.”
Chapter 28
Nik
The priests have chosen a location for the hostage exchange. It is acceptable, slightly farther from the mountain than I’d prefer, but that is by design. They do not want me to easily supply reinforcement if the exchange devolves into a battle. They’ve agreed to most of my other terms, including the limit of twenty warriors each, although they propose an addition ten from each of us, five for escorting the females and five for transporting the epylium crates.
“It’s reasonable,” Gemeri muses. “And they will be at a disadvantage, fighting on a hostile planet when they are used to the comforts of space.”
“Comforts?” I think of the hard, bare surfaces in my personal bird. The metal benches that serve as seats in the larger transports. They don’t compare to the furs in my quarters.
“On the Eye, it’s always the perfect temperature, the perfect humidity,” he explains. “The air is filtered, the nutrition is optimized. They train hard, but they are soft. They won’t be able to stand against a Usuri-forged warrior.”
“I hope you’re right.” I don’t want to point out that I’ve seen the shadowcloaks fight. They are anything but soft. I cut down quite a few of them during the battle at Loth’Irra, and it wasn’t easy. My warriors are good, but most of them are unseasoned. They have only sparred and haven’t faced true enemies.
The priests’ lives won’t be the only ones lost if the meeting devolves into fighting. I can’t help but think of what Delphie said about going through with the exchange to prevent any bloodshed. The thought makes everything in me revolt, the fated bond still plaguing me with the impulse to imprison her. It has settled somewhat since my claiming bite, but it’s still there, hovering in the back of my head, reminding me that I have not fulfilled my obligation to the goddess and taken her as my queen.
Delphie’s offered to wear my crown even with all my flaws. Is it fair to her to join before I am truly worthy?
Her words ring in my ears.I choose you. I put my trust and faith in us.
I need to do the same. If we are ruling Usuri together, I have to weigh her point of view as much as my own. We are committed to the same cause, and if we work together, I think we can achieve anything.
“Send our acceptance of the terms,” I order Gemeri. “And tell the miners to prepare genuine epylium crates instead of false ones. We can’t jeopardize the exchange with any subterfuge.”
His expression grows troubled as he realizes the implications of my request. “You’re going to exchange your fated one?”
