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Without the wrist-comp, no one could track her. Arielle’s mouth went dry as she stared at the vat, feeling truly vulnerable for the first time since last summer. She forced down tears.
Rassa lowered the orange mask over his face once more. Then he pulled another mask and a spare robe from within his own and thrust them at her. They were bright red for T’amm.
“Put these on.”
Shee donned the mask and robe. The mask’s narrow eye slits hindered her vision.
Without waiting for her to get adjusted, Rassa grabbed her wrist, yanking her deeper into the temple. The next chamber held altars where holographic Azzaros cleaned animal sacrifices, mostly birds and snakes. From there they entered a dark tunnel sloping downward. Arielle barely detected Rassa’s outline ahead of her. It took every ounce of self-control not to retreat. She should escape and come back with help. But if she ran now, she’d lose Dirk forever. She believed Rassa on that account.
After an interminable hike underground, the tunnel inclined toward sunlight. They emerged in the middle of a forest, the pyramids nowhere in sight. Nor any other distinguishing landmark.
Again, she resisted the urge to run, to save herself. Rassa had her with an invisible leash. So, she tried to recall the landscape around the Triplet Geysers from her arrival. There were mountains to the southwest, but the tunnel hadn’t led in that direction. Hadn’t there been a forest to the northeast?
A short walk led them to a meadow with a stream running through it. Beside the water waited a private aircraft. Rassa hurried to it and opened the door.
Arielle halted. “Where are we going? And what do I have to do to save Dirk?”
“Once we’re in the air.”
“No.” She crossed her arms. “Tell me first.”
He growled and motioned her to get in. “I told you I don’t need you. I have Dirk. If you want to keep playing games, I’ll leave you here and your chance to save him will end.”
If she clubbed him with a branch and stole the aircraft, could she use it to track Dirk down and free him? She indulged in the fantasy as she approached the aircraft, which gave way to revulsion as she passed Rass to climb inside.
He jumped in behind her and forced her to the back seat.
“Where are we going?” she demanded, fists clenched.
For answer he locked the doors.
He lifted off, clearing the forest, then turned southeast. Ten minutes later, they flew over the pyramids and Triplet Geysers. Other aircraft took off nearby as those in attendance began the trek home.
She studied the other aircraft, hoping to spot Instructor Zelo and Tiru, but they’d be on the ground searching for her and Dirk by now. Would they be able to track her at this point?
But that didn’t matter right now. Rassa had her. And if she was to escape with Dirk, she needed to figure out what he had planned. “Tell me about this ritual.”
The Azzaro smirked as he focused on the landscape. “After the setting of K’inn’s sun we hold a Lusus, a competition between two teams.”
Within minutes, they were alone once more. No one else traveled a similar flight path.
“Unlike Akanna Caarus’ son, no one volunteered for sacrifice the following year. The akanna, not wishing to order anyone’s death, instead devised the Lusus to determine the chosen. Two male potentials are chosen, and teams composed of their friends and family members fight for them. At the Lusus’ conclusion, the losing team’s potential is sacrificed.
“I’m giving you the chance to compete. Win and Dirk will be spared.”
She gaped at him. She had to play in a game with Dirk’s life as the prize. And if she somehow emerged victorious, that meant someone else died in his stead.
“It won’t be easy to win,” Rassa said as though he was her coach trying to prepare her. “But I’m granting you the chance.”
They descended toward an old airport, with one enormous building surrounded by a half dozen smaller ones, all in various states of deterioration. Arielle couldn’t imagine the place saw regular traffic, yet a variety of aircraft sat in and around the hangars.
Rassa landed on a cracked runway that was narrowed by encroaching greenery. He guided the aircraft toward a hangar, parking out front. Three armed Azzaros emerged from the largest building. After Rassa climbed out, the one with a long nose climbed in and yanked her from it.
“What? Afraid I’ll take the aircraft and run you lot over with it?” she snapped, rubbing her sore elbow.
“Silence.” Long Nose glared at her.
Rassa split off from them without a word. Arielle opened her mouth to demand to see Dirk, but Long Nose prodded her with his gun toward the main building. The other two surrounded her and led her inside.
A huge pen area filled with prisoners took up most of the interior. Many of the prisoners were Azzaros, but she saw other species as well. A Macab, a few Malsain, and a Traga in his own confined area.
What was this place? The prison-like atmosphere was strange considering Azzaros abhorred imprisonment. If someone committed a crime, the Azzaros used rehabilitation and other punishments.
So, what was Rassa doing with these prisoners?
Toward the rear of the cells, Dirk sat on a cot staring at the floor. There were no obvious bruises on him, but he was too far away for her to be sure. She took a step toward him, but Long Nose blocked her path, motioning with a glare for her to follow. She hesitated, eyeing Dirk a moment longer before following the front guard.
How and where had Rassa captured Dirk?
The armed Azzaros led her out a side door, not passing anywhere near Dirk, and into one of the smaller buildings. A private corridor with minimal lighting led to secluded cells. The guards forced her into an unoccupied cell with a cot and a stone basin holding a little water.
“When is the Lusus?” she asked.
The guards departed without a word.
“Hey!” she shouted after them, smacking her hand on the bars. “Rassa promised I’m involved.”
Was there even a Lusus? Was it all a trap to punish her for escaping last summer?