by C. M. Kane
Although she had survived she’d had no way to make a living for herself and her child other than to rejoin the House of Aphrodite where she had once worked. She had been sent straight to Jaxburgs rundown house, it was the only place that would take her. She would never be beautiful again, but she had survived, and her daughter Soola was always clean and well fed, even if her clothing was a little old.
She glanced around the familiar room, at the clean but threadbare furnishings. Margarete had used brightly colored cushions and knick knacks to try to add some color and freshness to the room. Tae thought it was her way of attempting to ward away the truth of what the place had become over the years. Yes, she decided, Margarete was a survivor, she would understand what she needed to do and why she was prepared to do it.
She sat down heavily on the old couch. Feeling a loose spring jab at her, she shifted slightly and began her story. She told Margarete what had happened, leaving nothing out. On an impulse she also told her the basics of what she intended to do about it. Margarete sat, listening quietly, anger and horror flitting over her ruined features, but she never interrupted. When Tae finished she exhaled heavily and waited for her to say something.
Margarete sighed heavily. ‘Damn it, Tae.’
Before she could say anything more Soola interrupted. ‘You can’t go onto the Island, Tae, you’ll be killed! There’s got to be another way. We’ll find it, we’ll find someone who’ll believe us, you’ll see, but you can’t go onto the Island, okay?’
Margarete grabbed Soola’s hand and shushed her gently. ‘You did the right thing Tae. If anyone asks we’ll say we left after Soola’s interview and came straight home. Barry Willard was on his way to one the bars and saw us just before Soola went back for her com-pad, he can verify our story if need be. Whoever killed Miss Bayfour will have no reason to come after Soola, so don’t worry about that. But Tae, Soola’s right you know. What you’re intending to do can’t ever work!’
Tae’s anger at Margarete’s words showed clearly on her face.
Margarete seeing her look continued on quickly. ‘Please, listen to me. The Island is meant to be both a deterrent for people who might want to break the law, as well as a death sentence for those who do. Every last one of those criminals decided to risk their luck, despite knowing the possible outcome. They would end your life without giving it a seconds thought! Why do you think they link vid-balls to the entrants and broadcast it to the general populace to watch if they choose? It’s to remind people that death is the only penalty if they decide to commit a crime. It doesn’t even matter if no one watches it, because we all know it’s there. Tae you’ve seen it, no-one ever survives, the magical one hundred kill’s exemption is simply a clever way to give the participants the illusion of hope, so they’ll continue killing. Soola’s right, there must be another way.’
Tae’s face hardened, of course she knew, but what Margarete didn’t understand was that she had no choice. ‘I’m sorry, but no, there is no other way. I have thought this through from every angle, the only hope I have to get Jase and Mum back is buried on the Island. What would you do if it was Soola that was gone?’ She swung her gaze to Soola who looked ready to cry.
‘Soola, what would you do if it was your mother who had been kidnapped? Would either of you do any differently? Do you honestly think I want to do this? Because trust me I don’t, just the thought of entering the Island scares the crap out of me, but I can feel Jase out there, he’s still alive, this is the only chance I have, slim as it is.’
Soola jumped to her feet and stepped over to her, she dropped to her knees and threw her arms around her friend. Tears streamed down her cheeks but she stayed silent. Tae leant her head against Soola’s and looked up at Margarete, whose eyes were filled with resignation.
She sat there a moment comforting Soola and receiving comfort in return, then softly whispered ‘thanks’. She stood, breaking Soola’s hold. As Soola stood Tae turned to her fully and caught her friend’s arms in her hands, smiling at her with feigned confidence. ‘Hey, don’t fret, I’ve still got a little time to train, I’ve checked and the next batch to be sent to the Island isn’t due to leave for another three weeks, right on caste acceptance day. Now, I’ve gotta go see a man about some training.’ She squeezed Soola’s arms lightly and smiled at her again. Then she walked out before her own tears made their presence known.
Back in the privacy of the alley she leant her head against the cool brick wall, slowly collecting herself and her thoughts. Part of her felt as if she would break into a thousand pieces at the slightest touch. She slowed her breathing and gained control over her errant emotions, after moving her head back she raised her chin, it was time to live with her decisions and their subsequent consequences, no one was forcing her to venture down this path.
She pushed herself away from the wall and strode out of the alley with renewed determination. Once she was in the main street again she jogged straight for Master Brohan’s house, near the training field down from the school. If her plan was to have even the slightest chance of success she would need him onside. He has to help me, he’s my only chance of being able to pull this off, she thought, as she unwittingly increased her pace.
CHAPTER 4
Brohan sat in an old wicker chair on his front verandah looking broodingly at the small oval he utilized for warrior training. ‘Warriors!’ he snorted. He roughly tore off another chunk of warm bread coated in butter and placed it into his mouth. In his eleven years of ‘training’ he’d had a grand total of seven boys and two girls accepted into the Warrior Caste. All of them were now dead, a true testament to his legendary skills as a trainer, he surmised bitterly. Two magpies flew down to sit in front of him, the larger of the two warbled at him hopefully and he threw it some of his bread.
Bloody hell, he thought, is this what I’ve been reduced to? A tired old man who’s now throwing bread to birds, what the hell has happened to me? Despite being seventy he kept himself remarkably fit, he could still wield a knife, sword or Zap gun as well as men half his age. Yet here he was, confined to teaching young kids, most of who never had the potential to be anything more than a factory worker, but whose parents dreamed of the glory and credits their child could bring in. A quick inglorious death more likely, as his training had seemed to prove for nine people. He wondered if any of the kids he was currently training would apply for the Warrior Caste this year.
There were officially only two possibilities: Jason Rames and Trevor North. Both had shown promise, but he doubted Jason had the heart to be a warrior, even though he had potential. Now Jason’s sister Tae, his off the books trainee, she was a totally different matter. He didn’t usually get that many girls training to be warriors, and none had ever been her match. Tae, she oozed potential. It was in her every calculated move, her every decisive attack or retreat in battle. She was a natural, his main problems with her had been tempering her naturally aggressive tendencies and quick temper. He had tried to make her understand she would be more lethal if she combined these attributes with her natural intelligence more. She had listened intently to everything he had said and had soon realized he was right. By thinking first and sorting out a plan in advance she could be far more formidable, and that was the true mindset of a warrior!
He still remembered that first day when she had so audaciously joined her brother on the field. He’d fully intended to tell her to sit her skinny self back down because she’d never been marked down to train in the Warrior Caste program. But, as he was about to speak, she’d stared steadily back at him with those vivid green eyes of hers. They’d held no hint of fear, no questions. She had stared at him unapologetically, never backing down for an instant. Obviously as far as she was concerned she was joining in, and that was that.
Brohan exhaled heavily and shook his head, that type of courage was rare, and something he couldn’t help but respect. He’d never seen anyone, including adult warriors stand up to one of his famous scowls, let alone a slip of a girl. Stuff the
officials, he’d thought, lazy lot of gloating old has-beens, all of who have probably never been in a decent fight in their miserable lives. So he’d let her stay, thinking she would only last a few weeks before she became bored, then she’d be gone. Much to his surprise and grudging delight she’d stayed, and become his most outstanding pupil to date.
He wondered idly what caste her teacher had recommended for her, he knew she was highly intelligent and would have her pick of a variety of careers. Had she heard the news of her teacher’s death? Colin had delivered the terrible story to him this morning. Apparently the poor thing had been standing on her chair and had fallen, breaking her neck. Her boyfriend had found her last night when he’d become concerned after she hadn’t made it home for their date, and wasn’t answering her com-watch. So young, he thought, what a pity.
He’d seen Tae jog past as he was being told the story. She’d had her head down, going who knew where, and from the determined way she stared at the ground, and the fact she picked up her pace a little as she moved past them, she was obviously avoiding talking to him, the rude little snit. He would have welcomed a distraction, anything to get away from the gossiping baker who was relaying the news to him in every juicy detail, along with some tidbits he’d probably invented himself. Brohan had excused himself on some pretext, and had returned home to eat his breakfast in peace.
The two magpies he had been feeding suddenly took flight, the bread clasped firmly in their beaks. He snapped out of his reverie and looked over to see Tae leaping over the fence. He watched her jog swiftly across the practice field toward him, an almost fearful look on her face. Brohan reacted instantly, just as his warrior training had taught him, his face relaxed into an impassive mask as he waited for her to join him.
Tae came to a halt in front of the old warrior and wiped her brow. Now that she was here she wasn’t sure how to word what she wanted to say. She pursed her lips and looked around, suddenly feeling very vulnerable out here in the open. ‘We need to talk.’
He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
Tae frowned and gave her peaceful surroundings another brief look, the long verandah where he sat would become a shady haven in the afternoon. Later on, the training field that now stood empty of equipment would have its regular class lined up for lessons. Unfortunately, all Tae could now think of was that someone might overhear them in some way. That was something she wouldn’t allow to chance, no matter how remote the possibility may be.
‘Not here’ she said giving into her paranoia.
Brohan unfolded his long legs and stood. ‘Come.’ He walked inside the front door of his home without another word, and Tae quickly followed.
She had never been inside Brohan’s house before. There’d never been a need. Training was on the field out the front, and any equipment that might be used was always awaiting them when they arrived. He had never asked for help to put it away afterwards, he had simply dismissed them and they left. She now looked around curiously, wondering what the decor would reveal about him.
They entered into a large open-plan living area. Brohan headed straight for a much used black armchair that sat directly facing a long thin com- screen rod, while Tae headed towards a small couch that sat a short distance away angled towards the chair, but, from the looks of it, had rarely been used. She noticed the students’ training equipment was stacked neatly on shelves and hooks on the far wall. An open door led to a narrow corridor which she thought would hold the bedroom and bathroom areas. Behind the couch another archway opened up to the kitchen. Tae noticed that, from the position of the armchair he used, he would be able to see all entry points to the room, and I thought I was paranoid, she thought distractedly.
She sat on the couch and tried to organize her thoughts as Brohan sat and swiveled his chair to face her directly, he cocked his head to the side and waited for her to start. As she had with Margarete, she once again told her story, this time deliberately omitting Soola’s involvement. Instead she said that she’d heard and seen the Thalien when she was coming home from the swimming excursion she’d taken when she had skipped his class. All the while she’d been talking Brohan sat there, an impassive look on his face.
She went on to tell him her plan of entering the Island and of trying to find, and somehow rescue, the trapped god Loki. She continued, saying how desperately she would need his help if she were to survive long enough to free the god, and that everyone knew Brohan had served time as a hunter on the Island. She pleaded for him to train her so she might learn enough to allow her at least a slim chance at survival. When she finished she sat expectantly, waiting to see what he would say. When he finally spoke it wasn’t what she had expected.
‘No!’ Brohan stood and walked into his kitchen where he poured himself a coffee.
Tae sat momentarily stunned. What the hell? No? There had been no explanation as to why not? No questions asked of her, just that brief one word reply, no! Quickly followed by what he seemed to think of as a curt dismissal.
Like Hell! She thought, her temper sparking she jumped to her feet and followed him. Crossing her arms over her chest she focused what Jason called her most lethal ‘I’m gonna hurt you’ stare on him. ‘What do you mean no.’
Brohan turned to her, setting his steaming mug onto the syn-marble bench top. He leant toward her and said slowly, as if he was speaking to a not so bright child. ‘I said, no.’
‘Why not? At least give me a valid reason!’ She suddenly felt a knife pressing against her throat, resting lightly against her jugular vein. She’d never even seen him draw it! She’d allowed her trust in him, and her own anger to distract her, a stupid beginner’s mistake that she was now kicking herself for. Besides, he moved much faster than she would have thought possible for someone his age.
‘That’s why.’ Brohan said. ‘You’re not prepared for the Island, you’d be dead in a heartbeat. You’re not dealing with children in there, you’re dealing with desperate men and women, and every last one of them is more than willing to become experienced killers. Most are vastly stronger than you, and all of them are willing to kill indiscriminately.’
‘But…’ she began to say, but he continued on, ignoring her interruption.
‘They won’t care that you’re only seventeen, they won’t care that you have this impossible fool’s mission, they will simply end you! And if by some miracle you manage to survive the first thirty four hours then, if you haven’t made your own kill within that time period, well, that’s when your real problems begin. You’ll become legitimate prey for the WLE recruits.
She tried to interrupt again but old warrior held up a hand and continued on relentlessly.
‘All of them hunt on the Island on the orders of their Commanders. It’s a simple way to see who the most effective warriors and trackers are. Each hunter is vying to impress his or her leader with their skills so they may be assigned a position higher than their current one, possibly even aboard one of the god’s ships. That is the ultimate dream of every warrior alive, and it makes them that much more deadly. Any Wolven would track you within an hour after finding out your general location from your nanites.’
Tae flinched noticeably at that. She’d had no idea her nanites could be used to track her.
‘Yes, little girl. Those precious nanites the gods have injected everyone with can show up on any WLE long range scan, not to mention the vid-ball that’ll be following you around, beaming back your every move to our com-panels, all day every day. And if whatever god you’ve pissed off even suspects what you’re up to, they’re going to come after you with their best. Either way spells your death.’
Tae reached up with far more calm than she felt and pushed the hand holding the knife- a wicked looking double sided masterpiece- away. ‘I am going Brohan. One way or another I will be entering the Island. All you’ve mentioned are simply obstacles to be overcome. Now I know what they are I can plan around them. This is why I need your help. Please, Brohan.’
She lo
wered her eyes. ‘Between the two of us I might stand a chance, however small, without you’ she paused a moment before looking at him, allowing him to see the fear in her eyes for the first time ‘my odds plummet.’
Brohan frowned at seeing the mingled fear and determination in her green eyes. Damn it, does she think I want yet another useless death on my hands?
He could not have imagined that when he got up this morning his life would turn from un-ending peacefulness - utter boredom - to being filled with trepidation and fear for the life of this stupid, brave, resolute young woman. ‘Warrior’ his subconscious whispered.
He gritted his teeth in frustration, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. She was sitting there watching him with that same determined look on her face she would get when he gave them a new move to master, or a new battle strategy to learn. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t be swayed from this suicide mission of hers, despite her fear, so he decided that if he couldn’t dissuade her from this foolishness he would give her conditions of his own.
‘Alright, Tae, if you’re so sure about this then I’ll make a bargain with you. I’ll begin training you immediately, but only as long as you meet all of my conditions.’ She leant forward eagerly to hear what he had in mind. ‘You have three days to find a way past the problems of the nanites and the vid-ball, and, more importantly, you have to find a way to dig through around thirty to forty meters of solid rock. You must also find a way to get through a battleship’s force field’ he said. ‘If you haven’t found a solution to these obstacles, as you call them, you will give me your word of honor that you’ll drop this absurd scheme of yours.’
