“Alchan, while we were on patrol, we started thinkin’ about what’s next for the Company…” Bryn nodded toward the door. “Maybe we all need more time off.”
“Luykas and I haven’t even started looking into what to do come spring, and it’s right around the corner. We’ll probably take at least another year off. It seems everyone needs more time.”
“Except Kian,” Senri muttered. “That man is dying for some excitement. You know, you could have taken him with you for the rescue mission. I wouldn’t have been upset.”
“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you he died if it came to it,” Alchan said quickly. “Next time, I’ll take him and risk his life, then you can yell at me.”
“Good. I like that better. Kian dying is the last thing I’m worried about. Now, with this over, I’m going to find Mave. She, Jesvena, and Allaina apparently had a very interesting conversation this morning, and I haven’t had the chance to interrogate her about it.”
“That sounds awful. Please, since Mave doesn’t, keep me updated on the situation with the females. I need to know if I have to step in and stop a fight.” Alchan sounded tired, rubbing his eyes as he made his request.
“Right now, it’s the same status quo. The lower females still look to Jesvena and Allaina for order. They look to me about their safety. Mave…is still an outlier. They know she’s the most dominant female, but she’s proven she doesn’t want to make any move to take over.” Senri shrugged. “If she comes to an agreement with Jesvena and Allaina? Well, the females might finally have a representative in the Company, and that’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s terrible for my health,” Alchan said, a rueful smile coming over his face. “But I know it’ll make all of them more comfortable. Just keep an eye on it for me.”
“Always.” Senri jumped up and flew away. Alchan looked down at Bryn again, considering him.
“You know, my brother is spending a lot of time with your female.”
“Aye. It is what it is. They’ve got the blood bond and are using it for trainin’. We’ll see what happens. I don’t care either way as long as she’s happy,” Bryn answered honestly. Alchan wouldn’t want anything from him, and there was no reason to beat around the bush.
“I just wanted to point it out,” the king said softly. “All right. You’re both free to go. Thank you for taking this punishment without complaining.”
“How’s Rain doin’ with his?”
“He’s doing great work. Couldn’t ask for a more obedient Company member.”
“Tryin’ to tell me somethin’?”
“Yeah, if I thought you would listen. I’m heading out. Go home and get some sleep. Good work, Bryn. Make sure Mat knows I think he did well as well.”
“Will do, sir.”
Alchan left him there. Bryn cleaned armor for a long time, waiting for Mat to come out. When the male finally did, he didn’t look like he was just getting finished. Bryn figured he wanted time alone inside with no one bothering him and was fine with that. He could wait and did so, offering silent comfort. Mat didn’t talk as they started walking, so Bryn filled the silence.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just…I have a bad feeling I can’t shake. Let’s just get home.”
14
Mave
On the day of the spring festival, Mave found herself standing before the very field where she trained with Luykas. Over winter, she hadn’t realized they were stomping all over one of the community farms. Now, it was painfully obvious. Luykas stood next to her, chuckling.
“No training today. I told you. We’re going to have to find a new spot.” He didn’t sound annoyed. She was, and of course, he noticed. “Why don’t you just enjoy the spring festival like a normal Andinna?”
“This was going to get my mind off what comes later,” she admitted. “Figured I would do something I’m good at before doing something I’ve never done before. Confidence boost, Senri called it.”
“Of course. Not bad logic but one shouldn’t fight on this day, anyway, so why don’t we just watch the Blackbloods who care about this part of our job and enjoy?” He smirked. She couldn’t help but return it. Even Matesh and Rain were helping bless the fields for the next harvest. She and Luykas were the only two Blackbloods in the entire village who didn’t have a lick of training for it and no desire to learn.
She found Mat and Rain in the crowd, standing with Leshaun and Alchan. Alchan was only there to watch the proceedings. He looked bored. She felt for him. She was there by choice. He probably saw it thousands of times and never got the option to skip.
“I’m going to go see them,” she told Luykas. “Maybe you should find someone else to annoy.”
“I’m not annoying you, don’t lie to me. I’ll follow you, though. My brother looks like he’s about to fall asleep. He hates the formality of some of these functions. Everyone else is having a good time, and he’s stuck in a crowd, which he hates, required to be stuffy and proper. I remember one time he had to do this with Grandmother. He fell asleep, and she whacked him across the back of his head. I never laughed so hard in my life.”
“His grandmother?” She remembered the moment those words came out of her mouth. “The Queen?”
“Oh yeah. She wasn’t afraid to put any of her children or grandchildren in their place.” Luykas sounded wistful. “When she met me for the first time, I thought I was done for. Your father kept telling me she was so pleased to have another grandchild, but I was scared. I was a mutt and born of betrayal.”
“What happened?” Mave softly asked as they walked toward their families.
“She hugged me, then she introduced me to all my aunts. My father was her only son. The royal family is lucky when it comes to having daughters, something to do with the bloodline. Did you know they carry the blood of Lariana?”
“The goddess of life, light, and leadership? Is that an old story, or is it true?” Mave had to really dig for that knowledge. Varon had given her a quick rundown once, but she hadn’t been paying attention for most of it. She didn’t much care for the gods anymore, not since that day in the pits when she cursed them and realized they didn’t care about her or any of them.
“It’s the truth,” Luykas answered. “Sounds crazy, but it’s why the females are so dominant, to lead our people, and males like Alchan are bedrus. The bloodline doesn’t like males much.” He sighed softly. “It’s how our people never devolved into civil war, which with our tempers and strength for war would seem like the obvious outcome. It’s hard to revolt against a female you can’t beat and who commands the loyalty of the gods themselves.”
“Are you saying if you or Alchan has a daughter, she’ll be more dominant than me?”
“Yes, but only Alchan’s. Without a doubt, any potential daughter from him will be the next Queen. Don’t get ahead of yourself, though. Try to imagine him getting along with any female long enough to have sex, much less procreate.” Luykas started to chuckle. “I shouldn’t laugh because the future of our people relies on him having a child one day, but Skies, it’s funny to consider.”
“Yeah, I don’t see it happening,” she had to agree, a grin breaking out. “Then again, I never saw myself with not one but two males, either.”
“True. You are evidence that there really is someone for everyone.”
She thumped his stomach for that. She saw Alchan was staring at them with hints of a smile showing. Luykas was still rubbing his stomach when they were at their destination, each taking one side of Alchan. She and the king stared each other down for a moment before she lowered her chin, the closest thing she could to a bow. She didn’t lower her eyes, but she at least gave him that—respect for the title if not deference to it.
“Oh look, my two least favorite Andinna, here to make me even more miserable,” Alchan said drearily. “Skies, what have I done to deserve this?”
“Nothing. You looked bored, and I know you have the habit of falling asleep at these things,” Lu
ykas informed him, his voice light.
“Once. I was barely an adult, and it was my first time doing this.” He groaned. “Never going to let that go.”
“It was my first time at one of these too, and I got to watch the Queen whack you on the back of the head. It’s a treasured memory.”
“Mave, put my brother in his place,” Alchan ordered, keeping his eyes on the field. She reached around him and hit Luykas’ arm, who turned to stare her down. When she raised an eyebrow, he dropped his eyes. “Perfect. You know, I really like this deal. I can put Luykas down when he’s a pain, and you can keep her in line when I’m trying to lead the Company to victory. All without having to deal with either of you myself.”
“I’m your favorite brother,” Luykas reminded him.
“You’re my only brother. Or sibling in general, since our father couldn’t at least have a fucking daughter.”
Mave shook her head. Over winter, she had figured out the brothers’ dynamic. Alchan was a loner, and it was deeply rooted in who and what he was. She’d developed a level of respect for him. He was hands-off, letting his people do what they thought was right. He didn’t nag her about training. He didn’t bark out orders and lord over anyone. If anything, she felt like he wanted out of the spotlight. Luykas, on the other hand, was much more of a social male. He softened Alchan in a lot of ways.
And she was beginning to see him as a genuine friend. The deal they had was working better than expected. She thought she would hate it, but she felt satisfied when he deferred to her through day-to-day life and confident in his abilities as a commander when they trained.
“I’m going to check on my males,” she told them.
“You’ll do well tonight, Mave,” Alchan said as she started walking away. “I don’t expect anything less from you.”
She and Alchan didn’t see or speak to each other much, but those words were filled with belief in her. When she had earned Alchan’s respect to that degree, she didn’t know, but it felt good.
“Thank you.”
He only shrugged.
Leshaun caught sight of her first.
“Mave, my favorite niece. How are you?” He opened his arms, a clear invitation.
“Leshaun,” she greeted, accepting the hug. She didn’t see him often enough. He was busy for an old male, managing a lot of the background things for the Company that she didn’t care to know about and teaching young Blackbloods so the old ways didn’t die. For a good portion of winter, he wasn’t even in the village, traveling all over the mountains to other smaller villages to make sure everyone had Blackbloods prepared for the spring festival. “I’ve missed you. When did you get back in?”
“Late last night,” he explained, pulling away. He put his hands on her shoulders, taking stock and keeping her from running at the same time. “Mat was just telling me about how your winter went. Sounded very busy for all of you. Remember, if you need anything, feel free to ask.”
“We’re fine,” she promised. “Are you leading today?”
“No. One of Jesvena’s males is a Blackblood, and he’ll be leading. Are you participating?”
She shook her head in silence, receiving a sigh from the old male.
“I should have known. Luykas is a bad influence on you.”
Mat started to laugh. He’d been respectfully silent for the entire conversation, but that had him going.
“I’m certain you think so, but this just isn’t something that interests me. I already learned how to play the flute this winter. Learning how to do this can wait another year.”
“Fine, fine.” Leshaun released her, waving a hand dismissively at her. “Get out of our way then.”
She smiled at him, kissed Mat’s cheek, whispering him good luck, then grabbed Rain for a hug and told him the same.
“Go back with Luykas and Alchan,” Mat told her.
She groaned but found a spot on Alchan’s left. Luykas started to chuckle.
“Told to come back to us?”
“Yeah. Has he nodded off yet?”
Alchan groaned.
Before she knew it, the Blackbloods were creating a line down the middle of the field. Without ceremony, they drew daggers and cut their palms. From her spot, she could see the blood hit the soil. She felt the way the Blackbloods pushed the energy out, turning the blood black, and giving their energy to the land. A few people clapped.
“What happens next?” she asked.
“Whoever is tending this land will till it and plant,” Alchan answered. “That’s all. It helps keep anything they grow healthy and strong, producing more yield at harvest.” The Blackbloods before them started walking to the sides of the field again. “On to the next one.”
“Have fun,” Luykas told him.
“You two aren’t going to join me for the rest? I figure it would look nice for the three most dominant Andinna to be together through this.” His tone edged on desperation.
That made her laugh.
No way in hell.
“Everyone get seated!” Jesvena called out. “Let’s go. We can’t hold the males off much longer, and the children are put to bed. Let’s move!”
Mave found a spot next to Senri in the back of the group. In the middle of the village, there was a small wooden stage made, where she and the other females were performing, naked. Once the sun started to set and the males were allowed back in the village, they were going to be the main show. Senri touched her arm gently.
“You can back out any time,” her friend reminded her.
“We’re…a show,” Mave whispered. “It’s…”
“This entire festival is about a celebration of life, reborn after the long hard winter. No one is going to be drooling on you. If they aren’t dancing, they’ll be enjoying the feast and music. They’ll cheer on the other males who are showing off.”
“This isn’t the Colosseum,” Allaina said, walking by. “On this stage, in the middle of us, you are in the safest place in the village.” Mave looked up to see Allaina carrying her drums. The other female gave a nervous smile, one that betrayed how even Allaina was trying this new getting along thing they were attempting. “Everyone is nervous their first time.”
“How many have you done?” Senri, she knew, had done it for thousands of years, but she had no idea how old Allaina was. “How old are you?”
“I’m thirteen hundred, and because of my training, I started leading festivals for a mativa as an apprentice at two hundred. I’ve seen girls so nervous, they jump off the stage at the last minute. I nearly backed out my first time on stage.”
“You?” Even Senri was shocked.
“Me, though I quickly fell in love with how thrilling it is. I’m beautiful. Why not enjoy it?” Mave had been waiting for her to say something along those lines. Allaina was beautiful, and the self-confidence the female had was aggravating. It wasn’t just self-confidence, it was an air of arrogance the female exuded as if she was better than everyone else.
“And there’s the Allaina we all know and love,” Senri commented, smiling sardonically. “Go on. You’ve met your nice quota for the day.”
“Good.” Allaina was grinning as she walked away.
“Some things change, and some things stay the same,” Mave muttered. “She didn’t insult me.”
“No, she didn’t. It’s a sign she doesn’t hate you anymore. Now, she’s going to treat you like she treats everyone. Don’t expect another heartwarming conversation. I think you caught her off-guard that day.”
“Yeah, I figured that.” They’d made peace, and that was that. Mave hadn’t exactly expected a new best friend.
“Everyone sit down!” Allaina roared from the front. Females began to scramble to their spots. Mave shook her head. She’d never seen Allaina really flex her dominance, but it was apparent in those three words. For the first time since she had met the female, Mave saw how Allaina was picked and destined for leadership. “Instruments up!”
Mave frowned. No one was there yet. She looked
around, holding her flute to her mouth. As the beat started, she saw them.
Alchan led a pack out of the dining hall, mostly males but also a handful of females who’d decided not to participate as well. Andinna came out of their homes, some fighting to keep children in. It was past dark, and this wasn’t for children. Another group of males came out of the woods, and those were the ones Mave found herself staring at.
They were as naked as she was.
She started playing right on cue, quickly forgetting all of them. She could hear them, but they were so distant, they no longer seemed to matter. As a community, they filled the village with the light flute.
Something beautiful. We’re filling our home with something beautiful after a time of darkness.
The sentiment touched her, tears pricking her eyes as they hit the crescendo.
When the song ended, she was relaxed, peaceful. Andinna weren’t staring. They were eating from the banquet and talking, laughter filling the air. Already, couples were meeting in embraces, kissing sweetly.
Then the drums kicked off.
“Now, it gets good. Oh, there are my males. Kian got them all out there this year!” Senri pointed at the group of naked males in front of the stage. Mave looked into the crowd as well, finding Matesh near the back behind the shorter males. Kian was next to him with Willem and Gentrin in front of them.
By the Skies.
Her jaw dropped. The males stomped, a massive boom of them barefoot hitting the earth in unison. Two stomps came in rapid succession next. The drumbeat picked up, and the males followed suit. Between all the stomping, the males found time to rotate their hips and slap their thighs. Their wings beat, creating a large wind boom.
“Oh.” Mave was speechless.
“What’s wrong?” Senri asked softly. “Don’t like the show our males put on for us?”
“Uh.” Not liking it wasn’t the problem.
Then males started to chant in time with their steps and moves, baring it all to the world. The entire thing felt erotic. If Mave could bring herself to drag her eyes from Matesh, she had a feeling she would find every Andinna in the village staring at this.
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