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Caro hunched over a bowl of jelly-like orange goop. The aroma was a mixture of sickly-sweet vanilla and almonds. She tried not to breathe through her nose. Kayarra chatted, whispering when they glanced at her. Their exposed faces revealed their opinion and distrust of her. Well, the feeling’s mutual.
“Do not let them bother you.” Dessa sank on the bench beside her. “To fear the unknown shortens one’s career, does it not?” She raised her voice, glaring at the audience.
Silence reigned for a moment, then the chatter resumed.
“I apologize for my mistreatment.”
Caro sliced a glance at Dessa, distrusting her. “What has changed? Yesterday, you were meaner than a skunk caught in a trap.”
Dessa frowned. “I do not know this ‘skunk.’” She spooned in the goop, licking her lips like it was honey. “Yes, I was...rude to you. I knew not the details of your...situation.” She dipped her head to whisper, “Is it true Imarri stole you from Operations Commander Malo et Dalo?”
Ah, there it is. Caro straightened her spine. Dessa was being nice, hoping to milk information. Oldest trick in the universe.
“What did Imarri reveal?” Caro shoved her uneaten meal aside, craving a coffee or pancakes, something from home and with substance.
“Imarri has not explained your presence, nor must she. Still, to steal you from Malo, race to Maloid, train and feed you...” Dessa hovered her spoon halfway to her mouth. “It is odd, even for one such as her.”
“Then ask her yourself.” No way was Caro spilling the beans.
Dessa’s cheeks darkened to mustard. “Doing so will require too much Jucot wine.” She smiled, leaning back to rub her belly like goop was filling. “Should there be truth to the rumors, then Imarri may have jeopardized the Serratu Kayarra. Etterians do not take kindly to anyone stealing what is theirs.” She slid off the bench. “Come, Caro, I am to train you on the use of the katac-isi.”
Caro sighed. With a katac, smacking someone left a bruise or a broken bone. Adding a blade to the mix could be fatal. She was dreading this because someone was about to get hurt, and she prayed it wasn’t her.
Screaming pierced the din. She stiffened, glancing at the tunnel leading to Veor. Had he done something? She closed her eyes and sent up a quick prayer. Giggling Kayarra chased each other into the cavern. Caro slumped, releasing a slow exhale. Her heart pounded in her ears. A day had passed since she met Veor, and already her nerves were strung so tight she just might snap.
She leaped to her feet and trailed Dessa to the training floor. Spears, swords, and bows shoved in barrels lined the walls. Dessa withdrew a spear and tossed it at Caro. She caught and twirled it, testing the balance. Something weighted the butt of the shaft to compensate for the blade. Going through the techniques required minor adjustments—how far she spread her legs, how much tighter her grip, with more force to her swings.
“Mm, I can see why she kept you, Caro. You have a natural grace...” Dessa smiled.
Caro snorted. “All lies, Dessa. I’m as clumsy as an ox.”
“Ox, I do not know. Grace, I do.” She withdrew a spear.
Without warning, she thrust it at Caro, who deflected it with a flick of the katac-isi. Vibrations at the contact rippled up her arms. She gritted her teeth and raised the shaft in front of her like a shield. Lunge, parry, deflect and repeat while dodging sweeping strikes with the shaft left her dripping sweat. Her breathing grew ragged, her arms weak.
“Despite your grace, Caro, you lack stamina.” Dessa huffed. “And I thought I saw what is special about you.” Holding the shaft like an ax, she brought it down, smacking Caro’s fingers.
She cried out but didn’t release the spear. Doing so would get her stabbed for sure. She pushed through the fiery agony and lunged, thrusting the spear at Dessa.
The female’s eyes widened, and she stumbled back, but it was too late. The blade sank into her shoulder. With a whimper, she collapsed, gripping her wound as green blood trickled between her yellow fingers.
“Enough.” Imarri strode onto the floor and kneeled beside a sprawled Dessa.
Fighting for air, Caro lowered the spear. Her lungs constricted, and lack of food spun her vision. She leaned on the shaft, clinging to it, then winced, her finger twinging. Kayarra gathered to watch the scene play out.
Sure, she’d injured one of them, but she had no guilt. Don’t give a weapon to someone not skilled enough to use it. Accidents happen. Duh. She smothered a giggle. Laughing would get her killed.
She slumped, missing Izzy and her cheerfulness. But thinking about her saddened Caro, summoning tears she hastily blinked away. If she thought laughing was bad, crying would be worse.
Kayarra hurried to help Dessa to her feet, the bloodstained tunic the only evidence Caro had hurt her.
Imarri faced the room and gestured to Caro. “Put away the katac-isi, and let me heal your hand.”
Heal? The witch held one of those black boxes Ayetz had used. Spinning the spear, Caro shoved it into the barrel butt first, then offered her hand to Imarri.
“Perhaps training with the katac-isi is too soon.” She smirked. “This bloodthirsty side of you is a surprise, tewaa.”
Caro huffed. “I didn’t stab her on purpose.”
Imarri pocketed the box then gestured to the multi-colored padded walls. “For that, you have earned punishment.”
“What?” Caro squeaked. Was she supposed to have killed Dessa?
“All wounds must be deliberate. This is how we learn to control our strikes and survive any attack, Caro.” Imarri paused in front of a blue pad. “Punch this five hundred per side.” Before the brown pad, she swung a roundhouse kick. “Do this a thousand times per leg.” She smirked when she glanced at Caro. “And if you’re still standing,” she gestured to the red pad, “knee this for two thousand each.”
“What?” Caro scowled. “Why?”
“After which, we will test your skill with the katac-isi again. Perhaps this time, you will fight for your life.” She sauntered off.
Caro stared after her, everything within her burning, furious, and tingling. If she had her way, she’d stomp out of this warren and find Malo. But she had Veor to think about. She weaved around the staring Kayarra and stopped by the blue pad.
She swung a punch. One, she didn’t know the tunnels well enough to navigate them. Two, nor did she know what dangers lay in wait. Three, making it to the shuttle platform would gain her what? An okayish view of the night sky and freedom just out of reach? And four, who knew how long Malo would take to get here. She could be out there for days.
Punch after punch reverberated through her arms, the satisfying whack of flesh meeting pad merged with the Kayarra in various exercises, grunting, huffing, or cursing. Caro couldn’t make it past a hundred when she drooped. Imarri hadn’t said all at once, had she? Taking a chance no one was paying her any attention, she faced the brown pad and kicked. At least this gave her arms a chance to rest.
The bell tolled for lunchtime. She lurched to the nearest bench and collapsed on it. Her uniform stuck to her; her body was on fire, and her breathing came in gasps. Her vision spun. She slipped to the floor, lying there, uncaring that Kayarra had to step over her.
A cold hand cupped her cheek. “Drink.”
She obeyed, downing the sweetest water she’d ever tasted. Opening her eyes, she blinked at Dessa. “Why...?” she croaked, licking her lips to moisten them. “Why help me?”
“I was not always a Kayarra. I do remember my broodmother’s teaching on kindness having its own rewards.”
Broodmother? Caro rolled over onto her knees and staggered to her feet. “Thank you, Dessa.”
“Now, eat something and finish. Not doing so will bring on harsher punishment.”
Caro pursed her lips. “What’s harsher than this?”
“Thirst or hunger, no healing, denied sleep?”
True. Caro glanced at the pads. “It will take all day.” She studied her palms and bleeding knuckles. “I can’t,” she whined.
Dessa placed a bowl of goop on the table and guided Caro onto the bench. “Do it in manageable sessions. Ten punches, kicks, then knees.”
Gritting her teeth, Caro spooned in the ‘food,’ forcing herself to swallow before her tongue could test the slimy texture. “I can do this. Ten on each side,” she whispered until it took up a litany in her mind.
On the fourth spoonful, her stomach cramped. She ignored it, assumed it was due to the alien or actual food. But when the ache tightened until the goop lodged in her throat and a wave of nausea rose, she knew.
She dropped the spoon and faced a beaming Dessa. “Why? I’m no threat to you. I’m not your enemy.”
“You wounded me, zseera,” Dessa spat.
Bitch? Caro glared at her. “What?” She smothered a groan as a spasm threatened to bend her over. “Little me hurt oh-so-skilled Dessa? Is that it?” She pushed off, using the table for leverage. “I was going to spare you when Malo arrives, but now you can go fuck yourself.”
Limping off with her head held high took all her strength. By the time she reached her cave, the agony blazed, crippling and folding her spine, affecting her ability to walk. She collapsed onto the bed with a heartfelt sigh. Fuck them all. She didn’t care if Imarri punished her for not finishing. She was done with this horrid adventure.
The tears fell. From the pain, her circumstances, missing Malo, she couldn’t say. Her skin prickled, icy then hot, taking turns to churn her stomach. She had nothing to purge, and for that, her muscles spasmed, the pain so sharp it stole her breath.
Hours passed. She slipped in and out of consciousness. Her mind played tricks on her, that Imarri visited her cave, but when the pain remained, Caro dismissed it as a dream.
It was a hot hand on her temple that woke her.
Veor leaned over her.
“Veor?” She tried to sit up.
He held her down. “No, little one, lie still.” He ran a box over her, the cramps easing immediately.
She sighed and melted against the stone bed. “Thank you,” she rasped.
He pocketed the box then offered her a cup of water. “Drink, ensa.”
She did, trusting him more than she should have Dessa. The cool liquid slid down her throat. She sat up and downed the water, uncaring that some dribbled off her chin. The full magnitude of the risk he’d taken settled on her. She sliced glances at the doorway, half-expecting Imarri to storm in.
“You should go. I don’t want you punished because of me, Veor.” She dipped her chin. “I couldn’t bear that.”
“They rest without a care, like damu.” He grinned. “I heard what Dessa did to you. It was...dishonorable.” He rubbed a wound on his upper forearm. It wouldn’t surprise Caro if Dessa had inflicted it.
“I’m so tired, Veor. What’s taking Malo so long?” She snapped her mouth shut, wishing she hadn’t revealed her greatest fear.
Veor captured her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “He will die without you, Caro. For this alone, he will arrive soon.”
She released a breath in a whoosh. Shame enflamed her cheeks, that she’d lost faith, doubted Malo cared. “I know he will. Maybe tomorrow.”
She lay down, resting her head on a folded arm. The box had taken away the cramps, the persistent dizziness, along with the pain in her muscles, but it couldn’t heal a tired soul. Veor drew a blanket over her, then snuck out. She listened, sharpening her ears for sounds that would put him in danger.
Nothing but deafening silence reached her. Only then did she let her eyes close.
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