15. Carter

FIFTEEN

CARTER

" E nough!"

Pageus' bellow carried over the din of Masari voices. The announcement of my ascendence to the Chieftainship had ignited a fire in the Starlost tribe. I sat on a stone, covered with trinkets, tokens, and gifts from the tribespeople. It had been over an hour, and the Masari showed no signs of slowing down with their accolades.

"The new chief needs to prepare for his duel against Grhoma Jark."

Pageus' eyes dared anyone to refute him. When no voices raised up in opposition, he gave a curt nod before continuing.

"Leave the chief be, and attend to your own affairs. Remember that Jark is not an honorable man, and we may still need to do battle this evening. Keep your spears close and your wits sharp."

The crowd dispersed, albeit with reluctance. I shot a grateful look over at Pageus.

"Thank you. How long do you think it is until sundown?"

He squinted up at the sky and grunted.

"Two hours, perhaps three. It's difficult to tell this time of year."

I nodded, picking up my spear and using it to leverage myself to my feet.

"Have any of our warriors seen him in battle?"

"They have not." Pageus' eyes lit up. "But my cousin is a sky trader, and he's seen Jark spar with some of his warriors. Apparently, Jark favors the Jawcatcher and Drakeclaw."

I frowned at the revelation.

"Those are hunting weapons not meant for battle."

"Apparently, Jark modified his gear to hunt something other than small game. You'd best be sharp, Gro. Excuse me…"

His face split in a grin.

"I should say, Chief Gro."

"Peace Chief Gro," I corrected him. "And I'm not a warrior, and never claimed to be."

"If I could offer you some advice, men like Jark don't get where they are, let alone stay there, by being reckless. His reputation might paint him as an impulsive barbarian, but when the time comes for battle, he will be cagey and careful."

"I was afraid you would say something like that. What chance do I have, really?"

Pageus arched his brows.

"You have an excellent chance. I've seen many duels in my time as war chief of the Starlost tribe, Gro. I have seen fantastically gifted warriors fall to mere novices. I've seen technically sound fighters be overwhelmed by larger, stronger, and faster opponents."

He heaved a sigh.

"Everyone who enters a duel has a chance of victory."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, I guess."

I waited for his laughter to die down before continuing.

"But realistically, isn't there anything you can tell me that will be of actual help?"

"Yes. Don't lose."

He clapped me on the arm. I watched him go, then sighed. I looked around at the Masari. Everyone seemed to know their place, to know their role in the defense. I saw no need to be present.

"I think I'll just go home for a while," I muttered, moving away from the chaos. When I reached the house I shared with Arael, I found her standing at the door, her eyes haunted with worry.

"Is it true?" she asked breathlessly. "Are you the new Peace Chief? Are you really going to duel Grhoma Jark?"

I didn't want her to worry, but I could not face her lavender gaze and lie.

"It's true. All of it."

She nodded, and tried to smile, though her eyes grew glassy with oncoming tears.

"Then you'd better come in and eat something. You don't want to have a duel on an empty…"

She buried her face in her hands. I went to her, putting my arms around her and holding her close.

"It's all right, Arael. It's all going to be all right."

"No, it's not! Jark is a monster. Why? Why did you have to accept the chieftainship? Could you not have refused?"

"Then someone else would have had to face him. At least I have a better chance of beating him than most."

She buried her face in my chest and groaned.

"Just because you are physically larger than him does not mean you are equal. You've only been in this body for a year. Jark has spent his entire life training, fighting, and preparing for duels just like this one."

"Indeed, and he has been training to fight one of his own kind. My alien brain will throw him off and give me a distinct advantage."

"You are trying to reassure me. Please, don't face him!" She put her smooth hands against my cheeks. My heart ached. I wanted to do as she asked, but I could not.

"I have to."

"No, you don't. We can run away, just the two of us. We can find another tribe to join--"

"And if we do as you say, what then?" I shook my head sadly. "We might find safety of the most temporary kind. But what if Jark comes to the new tribe? Will we flee again? Sooner or later, there will be no place to run."

She balled up her fists and pounded me in the chest.

"Damn you! Must you always be so logical?"

"Not always. You make me want to forget all about logic and just feel."

Her face twisted into an inscrutable mask. Arael took my hand, and then led me into the house.

"What are you doing?" I asked. She did not respond. Arael encouraged me to sit down on a divan in our living space. She vanished for a moment, and then reappeared with my Photonic Flute."

"What's this about?"

"Play for me," she said softly. "You are so busy of late, you never get to play any longer."

It was true, I'd spent too long away from my flute. I ran my hands over the smooth carapace, remembering every curve and notch.

I put the device to my lips and blew. A purplish mass appeared between us, which I quickly refined into an image of Arael, smiling.

"Your control has improved at an incredible rate," she said in awe.

"Oh please, I'm hardly all that accomplished. Lo can create some magnificent images."

"You sell yourself too short, beloved."

My heart soared, and my mood shaped the images I created. The Photonic image of my lifemate changed, her belly distending out and her breasts growing considerably heavier. Startled, I dropped the flute from my lips.

"I…I did not…"

She smiled and caressed my shoulders.

"I see that you have many plans for me once you finish with your duel…"

She kissed me, and I put the flute away for the rest of the afternoon.

The sun stretched long shadows across the floor of our dwelling when Pageus came to call.

"Chief Gro? It is nearly time."

"I am ready. I will be on the Hill shortly."

"By your leave."

Arael grabbed hold of me all the tighter when I attempted to get out of our bed.

"I must go, my love."

"I know. But my body does not want to release you."

She held on a moment longer, then let go at last. I slid out of bed and faced her while I dressed.

"You could come and watch the duel."

"No." She shook her head. "Lifemates are strictly forbidden. I will remain here."

"How will you know if I win or not?"

Her lavender eyed gaze grew immeasurably sad.

"I will know. And you should know that you will not be alone in the afterlife for long."

I gasped, and quickly sat back on the bed, taking her hand.

"No! I don't care if there is a Masari tradition about the wife committing ritual suicide after her husband's death. I want you to live, Arael."

"A life lived without your love is no life at all."

I squeezed her hand in both of my own and fixed her with my gaze.

"My love for you will never die, even if this body does. I will love you forever, until the stars lose their shine."

Her bottom lip quivered, and tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.

"Beloved!"

Arael threw herself at me, and this time I wrapped her up in my tightest embrace. Perhaps it would be the last time I would hold her, ever, before oblivion claimed me. If so, I wanted to savor every moment to the fullest.

"Chief Gro," Pageus said from the other side of my door "Forgive me, but there is no time left."

I disentangled myself from Arael. She wiped her tears as I finished dressing.

"Go and fight, beloved. Just make sure you come back to me."

I smiled, trying not to break down on the inside.

I want to live! Oh, by all the stars, I want to live so badly! I want to live so I can be with her.

A stark contrast to the way I'd felt for most of my life. For so long, I hadn't really cared if I lived or died. After all, death would just free me of a galaxy overrun by aliens more powerful and advanced than humanity.

Now, however, I had something to lose. And all of the things that made me feel so angry in my old life just didn't seem to matter any longer.

"You're finally becoming the man I always knew you could be."

I winced at the sound of the familiar voice. I hadn't heard it in so long. I looked up to see the young man in the IHC uniform looking at me, a smile on his face.

"I'm proud of you, son…"

"Is he back?"

I shook my head at the sound of Arael's voice, squeezing my eyes shut. When I opened them again, the image of my long-departed father had vanished.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"The person you talk to sometimes, the one that only you can see. Is he back?"

My mouth fell open, and Arael laughed.

"I'm your lifemate. DId you think we could share our lives so fully without me knowing your every secret?"

I sighed.

"You don't think I'm crazy?"

"No, visions are a blessing from the Precursor Artificers."

"It's Precursor or Artificers, not both, and I'm not sure it was a vision."

"What else could it be? You are not touched by madness, beloved. I know this."

She went to the mantle and retrieved my skybreaker harness and spear.

"Now, go and kill a despot, and be sure to wipe your feet when you return home."