“Each day ends when I decide there is nothing more to be learned. It may be after a thousand questions, it may be after one. It is at this time that one of us may choose you. If none step forward, we reconvene the following dawn,” Lea said quietly in that lovely voice of hers. She glanced to something in the darkness beyond. Maybe it was another female. Maybe it was three, eagerly waiting to present themselves to him.
“How long does the Cull usually last?” he asked, trying and failing to hide his anxiousness and unexpected excitement. He heard a creak in the rafters above somewhere behind him.
“Traditionally, a female has made her choice by the second day. Many step away from the event completely by the third,” she warned, though her eyes suggested it would not come to that. At least that’s what he told himself.
“Do many choose on the first day?” he asked hopefully. He dared a charming smile and stopped immediately, remembering the mirror’s unsettling gaze. He should have shaved.
“That is a rarity,” she said carefully, just as he heard steps behind him and a beautiful figure glided across the level above.
The second female moved as though she owned the room, nay the entire city. Her stunning red air caught the light in each bulb and she glowed. It flowed out behind her like a wave of fire and when she stepped up beside the smaller figure of Lea, it came to rest on her shoulder. She couldn’t have appeared more graceful if she tried. Her dress was as black as the darkness around her and it fit snugly to her frame. She exuded confidence unlike any female he’d met before and Erroh was drawn to her. It wasn’t just beauty in her face; it was strength. She looked him up and down quickly and pursed her lips thoughtfully. He hoped she found him pleasing. He also felt like prey.
“This is Roja,” Lea said politely.
He bowed but his eyes lingered on her figure for a moment too long. It was the male in him and he’d been walking the road for so very long. They locked eyes and Erroh was sure he had irritated her. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and bowed deeply.
Then a third entered.
She passed by Roja with barely a glance and took her place alongside Lea. Her straight hair was an unnaturally painted blue and it hung down her long sharp face wonderfully. Like the other girls, she was beautiful, though she didn’t attempt to win his favour with elaborate gowns and overly painted features. That didn’t make her appear any less enchanting. She wore a leather dress and a silver blouse. She exchanged a few whispered words with the host and both exchanged a warm smile. She directed that smile to Erroh and he felt a little light headed.
“This is Lillium,”
She is a goddess, he thought.
He bowed to her and a few improper thoughts crossed his mind. He averted his eyes back to the first deity he had met today, who was busy introducing the fourth girl.
Her name was “Silvia” and she practically fell into the room in her finest white gown. She bounced up beside Roja, evidently far happier to be participating in the event than the rest. Her big eyes glimmered in the light and her beaming smile was contagious. She was small like Lea and she flicked her flawless blonde hair from her face adorably. He wondered if this was a skill she’d perfected, while garnering the attentions of many watching males. She needed no such trick; her beauty was more than enough to hold his attention.
“Hi Erroh,” she said warmly in a northern accent, before smiling at each girl in turn. There would be worse things in the world to wake up to than that smile every morning, he thought. Though waking up beside any of these creatures every morning was likely a blessing from the gods who he didn’t really believe in.
Who needed freedom anyway?
“Erroh, line of Magnus, do you find Roja acceptable?” asked Lea formally when all four girls stood at attention above him. Then something bad happened. The room began to spin slightly. His eyes met Roja’s. The stunning redhead did not blink. “Aye, I do,” he said. That was it. He’d cast his vote. Made his choice as it were. If they accepted him, he would leave this city with a mate.
“And Lillium?” Lea gestured to the blue haired girl beside her.
“Aye,” he said and she tilted her head slightly. If she was happy about it, she wasn’t eager to show it. The room increased its spinning and his stomach spun with it. Stupid cheap alcohol, he thought bitterly and tasted citrus on his breath.
“Silvia?” Lea asked and pointed across to the glorious little blonde.
“Aye,” he replied before returning the contagious smile she offered. It was all he could do as he hoped for the moment to pass. The lights at his feet appeared to glare accusingly at him. He wiped his brow, closed his eyes, and wondered how bad it would be if he was to collapse in a wretched heap or worse, throw up all over this shiny black metallic floor.
Lea looked through him though and spoke “And do you find me, Lea, of appealing taste?”
He fought the dizzy spell with all his will.
Do not collapse, he roared in his mind
A few seconds of silence passed and he felt himself settle. The battle was turning.
He did not faint. So he looked back up.
In his defence, it was only a few moments pause.
The three girls looked nervously in Lea’s direction. The petite girl held herself proudly, the only appearance of embarrassment, was a few seconds of uncomfortable blinking.
“Aye, very pleasing,” he answered awkwardly, shaking the haze from his mind. It was a trivial calamity on his part. He learned in that moment the precariousness of this event. It was an expensive lesson. Though she never said it, he had destroyed any chance of a coupling with her. Her eyes become narrow slits and the old advice his mother once passed on about a “female scorned” came to mind. If looks could kill, he supposed. He thought about apologising for his hesitation, but he just couldn’t find words that wouldn’t make the matter even worse. He couldn’t exactly tell her he felt like throwing up instead of saying she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.
“I’m glad we are to your liking Erroh of line Magnus,” she said. The echo in the room enhanced the disdain in her voice. One female lost, three to go.
“Let’s begin,” she said.
The blue haired goddess named Lillium brushed her hand against the shoulder of Lea and met Erroh’s eyes with a dangerous stare. She didn’t approve of his hesitation either. It was her question to begin.
“Have you killed a man?” she asked.
He swallowed deeply to conceal his surprise. Memories of blood and violence and horror sprang to mind. This was no simple question to ask of any man or woman, yet it was a simple answer. And he did answer reluctantly.
“Aye, I have,” he said. He was a killer. It was something unspoken of, yet she had little difficulty breaking the taboo open for all to see.
“How many have you slain?” she asked. Lea turned to her. If she gestured anything, Erroh didn’t see. Regardless, Lillium stared unblinkingly at him and waited.
“Five,” he replied, just above a whisper, scratching his arm nervously. Five men had died at his hands. Five horrific deeds he locked deep down in his mind with the rest of his most terrible things. He didn’t know which of the females gasped the loudest. He did hear a whispered curse from somewhere above but he had looked away in shame, sorrow, or regret. Perhaps all three. There were some things people shouldn’t ask. There were other things people shouldn’t answer. And there were things people shouldn’t speak of at all.
“Were they deserved, son of Magnus?” asked Silvia the blonde, without the hint of a smile. This was probably for the better, already an uneasy atmosphere had fallen upon the room, and the event had only begun. Nevertheless, it was a fair question and granted him the opportunity to suggest he wasn’t a complete barbarian.
Like his father?
“They were bandits, and on each occasion I had no other choice,” he admitted weakly. Silvia waited for him to continue. “Though death is never justified, they fell upon me. They struck first, I struck last,” he of
fered, and hung his head a little. Justified or not, it was near impossible to explain such gruesome things. He had taken lives; it was not something to be thrown around casually with words.
“You nearly doubled that tally when you first set foot in these chambers,” muttered Lea, casually picking at a splinter of wood on the podium. It wasn’t a question; he remained silent lest he make it worse.
“Would you have killed them had our Primary not hushed your aggression?” Roja the redhead asked. Her voice was commanding and it disguised any shock.
“Aye.”
“Why would you think such an action necessary?” Silvia asked.
Four voices, attacking at once. Slow down ladies, this was difficult to follow.
“It was necessary not to get killed,” he admitted.
“They would not have killed you,” Lea the aggrieved said pointedly.
“I was not aware at the time,” he tried to sound amiable but his head was spinning. It wasn’t from the tainted alcohol. Speaking aloud was an underappreciated art form and he was out of practice. He was not used to questions thrown his way like this.
“You somehow expected no show of force? No exhibition to show your prowess?” Lillium cried out before shaking her head in dismay.
“I honestly had no idea what to expect,” he replied defensively. He was outnumbered. Like beasts of the Hunt, they were stalking their prey. It was all going to end terribly.
Lea sighed as well. It was a terrible empty sound that appeared to echo around the room. “We expect all of your answers to be honest Erroh,” she said derisively. You were right Mea. The Cull is great.
Silence hung in the air. The first barrage of words dissipated and Erroh waited cautiously.
The redhead spoke next. “Have you ever hit a female in anger?” she asked. What was her name again? Roja. That was it. It was a fine name.
“Never, nor would I,” he replied loudly. That should have been enough. It was black and white.
“What if she deserved it?” asked Lillium dangerously. She had beautiful eyes. That they looked at him with murderous intent was a small matter. She was taking Lea’s embarrassment to heart apparently. Relax lady; it was but a momentary hesitation.
“She would not,” replied Erroh confidently. Barbaric as they may see him and his lineage, he would not strike out at a female under any circumstances.
“What if she misbehaved?” the blue haired female added. He sensed a trap. He was clever like that.
“Such as?” he asked, carefully. This was deadlier than walking the road.
“Met with another man?” suggested Lea.
“I would not strike her,” he confirmed resolutely. It was a good answer in his mind.
“He has no balls,” whispered Lillium loudly for the rest of the pack. This was going well.
“I’m sure his balls are just fine,” hissed Roja, glaring at the blue-haired accuser. Lillium returned the expression with equal venom. Interesting. A strange thought occurred to him. What if at the end of the day, more than one female wanted to claim him? He stole a quick glance at each female and wondered a little more. What if they were battling each other for the right to mate for life? Perhaps great games were afoot and he was indeed the prize. He felt a little better about himself.
Then it got worse.
Lea smelled the air and asked a question of her own. It was a simple question.
“Have you been drinking today?”
He thought about lying. It probably would have helped. A thousand excuses popped into his mind but instead he nodded apologetically. It was my breath, you see, from the previous night’s poisons and the matter of throwing up a short time before. These things happen my beautiful friends.
Neither female commented on the question. Their disappointed faces were enough. They’d waited their entire lives to compete in this event and he’d presented himself as a barbaric killer with a fondness for heavy drinking. He felt a terrible sinking feeling all around him and in these chambers; he doubted there was any rope on offer. He waited for the next onslaught.
“What do you plan to do after the Cull?” asked Lillium quietly.
“Return home.”
“That’s a long walk,” she insisted.
“I’ll capture a mount,” he said.
“It’s still a distance,” she snapped without taking a breath.
“Yes, it is,” he admitted, and missed walking the road alone.
She grabbed the rail of the balcony tightly. “What if your mate doesn’t want to move that far?” she hissed suddenly. Beside her Lea winced.
“So you do not want to move that far, Lillium?” he snapped before he could stop himself. Was that even her name? He took a breath and reassured himself that it was. She didn’t answer and the room’s silence became uncomfortable. Lea turned to speak but the blonde interrupted her.
“Come on Lillium, we are all waiting?” Silvia sniggered nastily. Beside her Roja laughed lightly and Erroh thought it a delicious sound. For a few breaths, it was no longer four against one. There were issues here between the females. He thought about Mea’s suggestion of entitlements in the city.
Lea stepped in. “Stop stirring a brew of trouble. Let’s move along,” she said more confidently than before. Perhaps she was growing into her role. Whatever her role in the Cull was, it certainly wasn’t going to be finding a mate. Erroh had seen to that.
“I’ll ask whatever I choose to,” hissed Silvia and folded her arms. It was a fine tactic after receiving a reprimand and though it was a petulant pose, she had very shapely arms. “Lowerline witch,” she added under her breath.
The room felt much colder all of a sudden and Lea’s face changed from confident to anger and then to embarrassment. She tightened her kissable lips and fought what Erroh guessed was a vicious retort. The moment passed and she said nothing.
“Know your place,” growled Lillium slowly and to Erroh’s surprise, Silvia’s veneer of petulance cracked. She stood away from the balcony as if an extra foot of distance could save her from the burning stare of the blue haired female.
“And what place is that?” Roja the redhead whispered from beside her. Though he could barely hear them, there was no denying the challenge she offered. He didn’t understand the hierarchy of this city but he suspected Roja’s status was quite high.
“Apparently it’s by your side,” spat Lillium venomously. Despite her casual appearance, Lillium hinted entitlement as well. Or else she was not easily intimidated. Regardless, Lea was certainly intimidated and she tugged at the blue haired girl’s sleeve gently, just enough to drag her from the brink of argument. Had they forgotten a perfectly foolish Alpha male standing below them?
“Do you surpass the skill of Magnus with a blade?” Lea asked loudly and steered the ship back towards the port. Both females glared at each other once more before turning back to their potential mate.
“He passed on his talents as best he could,” Erroh offered, a little too weakly for his taste. What type of brazen fool would suggest that they surpassed the greatest living warrior in warfare? He knew he was good but Magnus, well, Magnus was something else entirely.
Silvia leaned forward “Fine words from an apprentice.”
“I can hold myself in battle,” Erroh replied.
“We are all well aware of your brutality,” Lea said.
“Like father like son,” muttered Silvia finding common ground with Lea. Their argument lost in the wind.
“I believe Magnus had killed far more by his age,” Roja said pointedly. Erroh didn’t like her tone or her suggestion. Not one little bit. “Erroh is most certainly not his father,” she added.
“No, he certainly is not,” Lillium agreed. Their disagreement forgotten as well.
“Perhaps you fight more like your mother?” Lea suggested. Her eyes were narrow again. Perhaps he should have apologised.
“That’s no bad thing. Elise is a divine goddess of war,” laughed Lillium humourlessly.
“She w
as a divine goddess of many other things as well,” agreed Silvia.
Silence.
He held his tongue and wondered if bolting for the door was still an option.
Then Roja offered him a reprieve. She hissed Silvia to silence as if insulting his mother had insulted her.
“Do you enjoy besting a man with a blade Erroh?” she asked. Her natural qualities would stir any man. She bit her upper lip subconsciously, and tilted her head and looked into his soul.
“I do,” he said and waited for the explosion of words. He was quickly learning this game of words.
“A humble answer,” muttered Lillium.
“But I do not care for fighting,” he admitted hollowly. Was that true?
“Why do you not care for fighting?” asked Lea. As she spoke, she placed her hand gently across Lillium’s own. It was a fine gesture of calming between only the closest of friends. Erroh had embarrassed her and Lillium was fighting her fight magnificently. It was only a matter of time before the blue-haired female threw something heavy at him. Maybe Silvia.
Why did he not care to fight? Good question.
He knew the proper reply. Something about hating to spill blood, or preferring the skill of words above violence, and though these were certainly influences, he said something far more truthful and foolish and regretted it straight away.
“It scares me.”
Like the uncomfortable moments before, this seemed worse than the last. Lillium turned to speak but caught herself lest it become even more unbearable. Lea found great interest in the splinter once more. Silvia clicked her tongue a few times and fell silent, caught in a great many deep thoughts no doubt.
Eventually Roja said it.
“Are you a coward?”
He hid the awkwardness with a defiant smile.
“I may very well be.”
She tried to hide her amusement. “What type of man admits he’s a coward to prospective females?”
“A brave man?” joked Erroh. At least he was still swinging. His father would always have a place for him in his army though he’d still have to earn it. Maybe he’d be given an elite group of fighters to wage war upon twenty thousand faceless foes. That campaign would probably have more success than this event. His eyes fell upon each of the females. They didn’t appear terribly impressed with his wit.
Spark City Page 9
