by NAK Baldron
He must not drink much.
Shaya followed him onto the walkway outside her front door. It was late, and most of the Bloody Square was in bed deep asleep. Down in the courtyard below, a sparse crowd mingled. Mostly teenagers like themselves. No doubt celebrating early for the examination tomorrow.
Eight men, two teams of four, played Sankakkei while a group of ten girls watched and cheered. Between throws of the ball one of the teenage boys would run into the crowd of girls and try to steal a kiss. A sort of prize for scoring. The girls would run away, but inevitably one would "fall behind" and offer up a kiss.
"What are they doing?" Ren asked.
"Playing Sankakkei," Shaya didn't look at the game. Instead she focused on the stairwell to the Thieves' Market, where two older men staggered out the door leading two girls half their age by the hand.
"No, I mean the girls. Why do they keep running away and then go back?"
He's so naive.
"They're letting the boys chase them. It's a form of courtship. Surely you had similar customs in the Pearl Nation."
"Sort of," he let his voice trail off. "We don't chase one another. It wouldn't be dignified. If a boy liked a girl, he'd ask her to join him for an outing, and the girl's parents would have to approve of him and his family before she would be allowed to go."
"Did you date often?"
"Oh," Ren looked away from the crowd below. "No. As an orphan with no prospects, no parent would approve of me as a choice for their daughter."
"But it's not as if you were asking to marry their daughters."
"Well, in a way I would have been." Ren looked toward the black void of the night sky. "Ever since the plague, we've had to be careful with bloodlines. We can't risk inbreeding, and this means every mother is in charge of tracing bloodlines. They ensure that any partnership will strengthen the family line. Either through strong genes, great wealth, or ideally both."
"What of passion and sex?"
Ren's face flushed again. "Passion and sex are meant for those who are married."
"Strange," Shaya said. "We don't share your inhibitions. Sex is a natural act, and passion is what makes life worth living. One day I'll choose a husband for political reasons. I'll have children to strengthen and continue clan Kaito, but I'll always be free to follow my passion."
Ren stood mute—his face as red as when they first walked out.
"Your mother would approve of that behavior?" Ren asked.
"My mother died five years ago from an illness." Shaya summoned her face of stone.
"I'm sorry." Ren said. "My mom died when I was two."
"And your father?" Shaya asked.
"I don't know." Ren shrugged his shoulders, and he continued in a soft voice, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "I can't remember what she looks like, but I remember she smelled of lavender."
"I think she would have liked it here," Ren looked up from courtyard to her. "Any time I think of her I think of spring. What about your father?"
"He was killed when I was very young. He always smelled of leather."
Ren placed his hand on hers, as she held onto the guard rail. Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. She remembered her mother's scolding and forced herself back into the face of stone, though she didn't pull her hand away.
"I bet they'd be proud of who you've become, Kaito-Tanken Shaya. You've led your clan with dignity and kept the loyalty of Akio. You carry yourself with honor and the people of Shinzo notice and respect you for it."
His smile was warm and sincere, an odd expression to find on the island.
He's not as young as he looks.
CHAPTER SIX
ADAKU AND ABAZE PUSHED THEIR WAY through the crowd blocking the emperor's courtyard, a rectangular stone garden walled in on four sides. They felt out-of-place because of the lack of greenery. The stone garden was large enough to accommodate five-thousand people and still leave room for the examination platform in the middle. Guards mingled in groups of two sprinkled throughout the crowd, while four lines of guards created a squared off barrier between the spectators and the five Amethyst Examiners atop the wooden platform raised four feet off the stone courtyard.
Adaku was pushed from behind by the crowd of people and stumbled into a man.
"Bony bitch!" The drunken man spat—the stench of ale lingered on his breath.
Abaze's jambiya—an ornate curved dagger—was against the drunk's throat before he could utter another word. "Apologize and kiss her feet, or I'll bathe the stones with your blood."
The man's eyes lost their glossy appearance and his pupils drew into pinpoints, "Apologies mistress," he lowered himself to his knees and kissed her feet. "I beg your forgiveness."
Adaku pushed the man away with her foot and transmitted to her brother, put that away before a guard sees you. We're not back in father's city anymore. You're not a noble prince here.
Abaze heeded her wisdom, "Be gone with you before I change my mind."
The drunk didn't bother to stand up fully before darting away from them into the crowd. The few people who'd taken notice of the encounter turned away from the twins and returned their attention to their own affairs. An examination was a time for celebration, and that meant a few spectators would lose control, drink too much, and likely die. Shinzo was accustomed to blood spilled in the streets to protect honor, though rarely before high noon.
"Damn peasants shouldn't be allowed to attend," Abaze kicked pebbles in the direction the drunk had scampered off.
"Focus on the task at hand," Adaku said, and not for the first time.
She was always keeping her brother's temper in check. Abaze had grown arrogant over the past six years, since their father scolded him for chasing that peasant girl. He found it easier to accept their father's twisted view of the world than stand up to him and claim his rightful place as prince of Zaria.
"We're here to pass our exams and take our rightful place as Amethyst Sorcerers," she added.
Abaze spat at the ground and secured his dagger in a sheath decorated with gold and emeralds found in his father's mines. A forest green sash tied around his waist kept the dagger close at hand and visible for all the world to see. Men weren't considered proper men in the Emerald Nation unless they carried a blade, and honor prevented them from ever disarming. Which led to more than one misunderstanding outside their own nation. It was a major reason they didn't leave the central continent unless required.
"Father says we shouldn't debase ourselves by mixing with commoners," Abaze said. "Even if the Amethyst Examination is open to all of Fencura."
Adaku kept her mind closed off, she knew it was pointless to argue with him about their father's views of the world. Regardless, they were a team. Separate they might pass the examination, but together they were guaranteed to pass. Their instructor from the Amethyst Nation told them so and provided a writ asserting as much. If anything, this examination was a formality.
Abaze wiped sweat from his brow with the tail of his head wrap. The source-light was more intense than normal, but not unheard of for examination days.
"Attention. Attention," a younger woman said from atop the platform. A fellow Emerald Nation descendant.
They'd been warned, to join the Amethyst Nation they'd have to swear allegiance to the nation and put it before their ties back home. But everyone knew it was a formality, not an actual oath backed by blood. The Amethyst Nation had never been known to kill. Besides, no oath they took could override the oaths they'd taken to their kingdom. At best, they could learn to balance their allegiances and only do what was best for both nations.
"Attention!" The examiner's voice dropped to low a rumble, instead of her high tenner. The last echo of the crowd off the stone walls died, and she continued. "Welcome to the examination for future Amethyst pupils. The rules are simple, all are eligible for examination, and to pass, all five Amethyst Examiners must promote you. If you believe yourself ready to pass the trials, step forward and present yourself to one of the three
sorcerers at the stairs.
Abaze pushed aside the men in front. "Make way for your betters. We're here to become sorcerers not just loaf about."
The men looked like they would fight him over the insult, but after a good look at Abaze's demeanor and the calm ease at which he kept his hand upon his dagger, they thought better of it and allowed them to pass.
You don't have to be such an ass to them. Adaku transmitted.
They're commoners. Little better than horse shit, you worry too much for them.
Adaku dropped her argument, it wasn't the time nor place to discuss the finer points of ethics with her brother.
"Watch yourself!" A pale skinned man said, as Abaze tried to push past.
"Father, he hit me." A young man said, about the same age as Abaze, and the spitting image of his father.
"Step aside old man," Abaze said.
The man pulled his shoulders back and pushed his nose in the air. "I demand satisfaction for the insult; apologize to my son."
Abaze unsheathed his dagger, and the flicker of light off the bright steel caused the crowd to step back, creating a circle ten feet across. Duels were common enough on Shinzo that every citizen knew the proper etiquette for such instances.
The man swallowed several times, as if his mouth has suddenly been filled with sand, and he were desperate for a drink of water.
"Teach him respect, father."
"Yes, son," The man whispered, cleared his throat, and spoke with more force. "If you'll apologize to my son and myself, I'll forgive the matter and we can continue watching the exams."
"Honor demands blood," Abaze responded. "Draw your blade and settle this."
"The smallest of apologies—"
"Coward! Draw steel and stand to fight."
There were no options left. Such an insult demanded the man defend his honor, and that of his family's. He dropped the side bag he'd been wearing and from within its pockets produced two thin stilettos. Abaze's janbiya was nearly twice as long, but as the man had two blades, he had a slight advantage.
"Your name sir?" the father asked.
"Abaze of the house Okonkwo from Zaria. And whom shall I have the privilege of killing today?"
The man cleared his throat again, "Shino Ajakan."
Abaze bowed low, creating a perfect 90-degree angle between his torso and legs.
Adaku didn't know how to save the man. Her brother was the most skilled fighter in their father's city, and his tutors said he was easily within the top five fighters of all the Emerald Nation's principalities.
A short man with a barrel chest, and darkened skin from too much sun, stepped from within the crowd. "Can there be no satisfaction beyond blood?"
"No," both men said together.
"To first blood?"
"No," Abaze said. "His low birth next to mine demands ultimate satisfaction."
Shino nodded his head.
"Very well," the short man said. "To the death. All bare witness this is a fight of honor and shall not be satisfied until one of these men are dead. Keep your distance. If one man falls the other will step back and allow him to stand. If one stumbles into the crowd, the crowd will step back and make room for the duel to continue."
The short man stepped between the two men, "Take your positions."
Abaze and Shino touched the tips of their steel together.
The short man touched the tips of each dagger, took one large step back and yelled, "Begin."
Abaze struck more suddenly than a sandstorm. He parried both of Shino's stilettos in one quick twist of wrist, and with another flick sliced Shino's cheek. An inch off from hitting his jugular and ending the duel.
Blood flew off the tip of Abaze's janbiya and into the crowd who let out a gasp. Drawing blood in the first second of a duel was uncommon.
Abaze slid back from Shino, and allowed the man time to register the pain, and just how much trouble he was in. Abaze would end Shino's life at the time of his choosing, but first he'd make the man know he was going to die and force his son to watch on in horror at what he'd brought upon his father. There was always a chance the boy would challenge Abaze after the duel with his father, and he'd enjoy the death of two base-born Sapphirians before mid-morning.
Another flurry of steel rung out across the courtyard and echoed off stone walls. Six guards had come to watch the duel and make sure it didn't devolve into a full-blown riot.
Abaze made contact one, two, three, four times in quick succession working his blade up Shino's arms. Shino dropped the stiletto in his left hand, as the arm hung limp at his side.
"Father!" the boy cried, tears of fear in the corner of his eyes. A stranger in the crowd placed an arm on the boy's shoulder, and he straightened up drawing his face into straight firm lines. What sign of fear had been present a moment before was gone. Even the tears in the corner of his eyes seemed to dry up.
"Die, coward." Abaze lunged forward to pierce Shino's heart, but his blade stopped as it touched Shino's shirt, and let out a loud clink as if it had struck a stone wall.
"Enough!" The same Amethyst examiner stood at the corner of the stage, looking down over the crowd into dueling circle. "Sheath your dagger this instance. You," she pointed to the short man who'd acted as the referee, "take this man to a healer."
"But mistress," the man protested. "This is a duel of honor to the death. I can't stop it, and neither can—"
"Oh!" she screeched, and the crowd covered their ears. "You dare to tell an Amethyst Sorcerer what she can or can't do?"
"No mistress," the man dropped to his knees, head bowed low in reverence.
"This madness is over," she proclaimed loud enough for the whole court yard to hear. "There will be no more duels today. Your honor is second to that of the Amethyst Nation's and we are offended by this needless spilling of blood. Are you here to be examined?"
"Yes," Abaze finished adjusting his sheath inside his sash.
"Come forth and face your trial then."
Abaze did as he was bid, and Adaku followed close behind. Shino was being led away with his son—two men were helping to bare his weight as he walked. Shino's blood loss would cause him to pass out soon.
"Name?" a young sorcerer, no older than Adaku asked. Her voice was pleasant compared that of the sorcerer yelling upon the stage.
"Abaze Okonkwo."
"Name?"
"Adaku Okonkwo."
"Abaze and Adaku Okonkwo, step up and be tested!" The woman upon stage called out for the crowd's benefit.
Abaze limped forward. Shino hadn't been completely helpless. He'd managed to nick Abaze's right calf, which was stained red from blood. Adaku offered her brother an arm to help him step up on the stage, which he accepted on the second stair.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?" Ren asked.
"The first examination." Akio spoke in a flat tone.
Shaya suppressed a laugh, "It's always this way at an examination. Blood runs hot when people drink, and ale runs freely in celebration. Duels of honor are bound to happen."
"Yes, I get that." Ren said. "I mean how did his dagger stop."
"Magic, obviously."
The sorcerer called for the twins, Abaze and Adaku, to join her on the stage.
They stood side by side, close enough to touch but without holding hands. The young sorcerer had retaken her seat, and the panel of five examiners all stared without blinking at the twins.
The crowd murmured. Nothing appeared to be happening.
Suddenly, a burst of green light erupted from their chests and danced between the twins. First encircling the sister then the brother. The stream of light's tail grew longer and longer, until there was a complete spiral of green light circling the siblings. The intensity of the light pulsated, and the color shifted from the bright green of text on a terminal screen to the dark green of pine needles.
The light died as quickly as it had appeared.
Abaze took two large steps away from his sister, tow
ard the examiners. Overhead, a seagull squawked. He spread his arms out to his sides, palms up, and two dark green orbs levitated above his palms. The center-seated sorcerer, an old man with a long white beard and bald scalp which reflected the light like marble, waved his hand and Abaze clenched his fists. The orbs vanished, and he took two steps back while Adaku took two steps forward.
She too stretched her arms out to her sides, but where her brother had summoned two orbs, she produced two flickers of light above her palms. She produced a vibrant green light—like the first spring grass—but she couldn't manifest the light into orbs.
The old man waved his hand again, and Adaku stepped back to join her brother. The sorcerer who'd spoken to the crowd previously rose from her seat and walked to the edge of the platform.
"Adaku and Abaze Okonkwo, are hereby accepted as pupils to be trained to join the ranks of sorcerers."
Thundering applause filled the courtyard and Ren's eye twitched at the deafening sound. The twins were called over to where the four remaining sorcerers sat. A young man on the far left stood from his seat and led the twins down the back stairs. Guards moved ahead of them, and the crowd behind the stage cleared a path for the sorcerer and twins to make their way through. The three of them walked through a set of iron doors at the far back of the courtyard.
After a minute, the applause died down, and the young woman spoke on behalf of the exam, "Who else shall be examined? Step forward and claim your rightful place."
"I have to go," Ren said.
"Step aside," Akio spoke with a true tone of authority. The crowd quickly jumped aside, first from the sound, and then doubly so when they saw who was ordering them.
Shaya accompanied him to the front steps, where guards stood shoulder to shoulder to keep the crowd far enough back. A young sorcerer stood behind the guards, awaiting those who wished to try. He rejected several young boys and girls and a few adults who all tried to be approved before Ren. So many had stepped forward only to be rejected, but Ren was given a nod of approval.
It was Ren's turn finally, but the sorcerer in front who'd allowed the twins to pass and given him the nod didn't look at Ren. He looked at Shaya.
