by SM Blooding
Arik did have many questions about those gathering around the table. I gave him as much information as I had, but the man had a very sharp mind. He asked questions I’d never thought to ask.
He also asked about the elders of the Seven Great Families. I didn’t have many answers on how that was going to be handled.
“We will be discussing that tonight, possibly,” was all I could say. “But the elders have no voice in this league.”
“If anyone signs the league papers.”
“Indeed.”
Eosif waited until everyone was gathered. Joshua took a seat beside me, panting. Ryo sat, grinning, on the other side of me.
Eosif took the huge rock at his seat and pounded the table.
The leaders of the tribes stilled.
“Ve are here for two very important reasons.”
Several of the leaders glanced at one another, hiding their discomfort.
“Tonight, ve shall enact the signing of the league papers. They have been written as ve all have requested. Ve shall not be forced to come to one another’s aid if it is believed to be of dire circumstances to the tribe providing aid. However, no family or tribe shall be left out if they truly are in need. All those who sign the league papers, who put their family name to the League of Cities, shall have their call answered should they be in grave peril.”
“Why would we follow you?” someone shouted. “We don’t know you!”
Oki leaned forward, speaking into her microphone. “He earned his place at the head of this table. He proved to be the better leader, the better fighter, and those you do trust chose him.”
The man on the far end of the oblong table, his face nearly in shadow pressed his button activating his microphone. “And who says we trust you?”
Oki didn’t have an answer to that.
I ground my teeth and leaned forward. “Who do you trust?”
The man opened his mouth to answer.
I cut him off. “No one. Do you know what that brings? War. If you want war, then great. Leave this council. We will take note of your family name, your family legacies, and hope you will join us once you see what we truly are intending to do here.”
“You are a war monger!” the man shouted.
Several people nodded.
“How am I a war monger? Have I initiated anything but peace?”
“You overtook a Hand’s refueling station. You took down Sky City. You brought her to the ocean.”
I clenched my fist and breathed. “Let me get one thing straight. I went to that refueling station with the intent to take it, yes. But we were met with minimal resistance because Nix wanted me to have that station. She wanted me to attack her city because Nix brought her own city down.”
That surprised a lot of people.
“Everyone assumed I did it because everyone knew I intended to do so, and then when I didn’t come back, everyone assumed I’d been captured doing what I set out to do.” I met the gaze of those I could. “But the fact remains that I was captured because I was attempting to save one of my own, someone who was trapped behind the enemy line. We saved as many lives as we could.”
“But it is true you created the league so you could hand us all over to the Hands with your treaty,” someone else said.
I glanced at Eosif.
He waited for my answer.
“I . . . ” I paused. How to say this? “ . . . was told I’d been awarded a knighthood, one that I hadn’t earned, hadn’t been given, and hadn’t accepted. And then that information was broadcast to the world so that you would make it a fact. I am not Nix’s knight. I am not a Primus, nor have I ever been. I am and always shall be El’Asim.”
The table and the crowd were both quiet.
“I brought you together so we could find peace. I want only for us to live together. I see around me people who are so fierce, so loyal, so capable of great things, yet who are so filled with fear. Fear of a . . . ” I bit my lips. “Fear of people who think of themselves first, and of you last, if at all. It’s not unjustified. We all know that. But I see in you, all of you, the ability to be so much more.”
The man who’d initiated the attack sat back.
“I will be offered the knighthood again. And this time, Nix will refuse to sign the treaty unless I become her knight, fall under her command, her control. She wants the power of my Family, my fleet, my city, my station. She wants me. But I will not give it to her. I have refused.”
Neira let her hand fall to the table. “Then why are you not leading us, El’Asim?”
I paused, looking at her. “Because the trials showed me something. I am not the best leader. Of all of us who made it to the final round, I scored only better than Iszak Tokarz. Also, I already have too much power. The point of this league was to provide all the tribes with a voice, and I believe, in order to do that, a leader must be had who understands what the voice and that power means to the lesser families. That someone . . . ” I glanced at the dais, seeing my Mother sitting in her chair at the center front watching our proceedings. “That someone is not me. I come from the two most powerful Families. I control the single most powerful Family and have the most powerful Mark.”
Eosif let out a long breath.
“Eosif Novokshorov is the leader you need.” I sat.
“Are you sure you just did the right thing, El’Asim?” Arik asked.
I didn’t look at him, but I nodded and muttered. “You have no idea how much of a good idea that was.”
CHAPTER 37
A DAY OF WEDDINGS
The tribes signed the league papers. Well, not all of them. Several of them left.
Once that was done, through Eosif and Neira’s guidance, a form of justice was initiated. The heads of the Great Families were no longer the judge, jury, and prosecutor. We now had a tentative system in place for a panel of people, who were not affected or close to the case, who would hear the evidence and write a judgment.
The evidence we had gathered against Iszak Tokarz was heard, but the council debated it in the following weeks. Even Arik was pleased with how the system seemed to be working. He’d initially been skeptic, stating that it appeared I’d singled Iszak Tokarz out because the man made me look bad in competitions.
Cheaters did not make me look bad. I set the journalist straight on that one.
However, the time of the games was nearly at a close.
Zara wasn’t the only one getting married. Oki had chosen someone to wed, as had Haji. Ryo was still trying to get Isra to understand that he truly thought she was worth courting.
Keeley and I had grown distant over the passing weeks. She was busy with a new guild of healers, trading information, ideas, knowledge. She had become a leader in her own right, at least in my eyes. She would always be a good and dear friend. I would always love her. But I was glad that she was busy forging her own path.
I couldn’t stop dreaming of a set of doe-like, brown eyes who spoke my language, knew my endearments, and who looked at me like I was an equal. Was it possible I was falling for the little priestess?
Though, for someone who said she wanted to find a way to earn my trust, she was oddly absent.
It really wasn’t that strange. Many couples were getting married. The priests and priestesses were in high demand.
I took in a deep breath and stepped onto the Yusrra Samma from the Zarrifa. It was going to be nice coming home and staying here for awhile.
Ryo and I decided to keep the fleet close to Asim City so I could spend equal time at both. He had taken my Father’s name and our ways with an eagerness I could never replace. He was just happy to be out of Mother’s control.
Mother was supposed to relinquish control of Ino City later that day. I had promised both Mother and Oki that I would be there, but first, I had to be there for Zara. I’d tried to get her to reschedule her wedding, but her response was, “That woman has had no influence on my life to date. I don’t see any reason to change that.”
The skies were surp
risingly clear. The giant medusa of Ino City rode close to us. Air ships littered the skies, as boats did the water.
We were all ready to be done with this great gathering of the tribes.
I walked across the deck and headed toward our command room.
Isra looked at me over her shoulder. Her expression wrapped into a welcome smile. She met me in the middle of room, taking my head in her hands and bringing it to hers.
I rested my forehead against hers and returned the smile, holding her face in my hands.
“It is a good day, sayyd.”
“Indeed.”
“I think your father would be very happy.”
My heart twinged, but nothing so severe as it had several months before. “I hope so.”
“He would.”
I pulled away. “Is everything under control?”
She shrugged. “The skies are quiet, the wind calm. This is a perfect day for a wedding.”
I opened my mouth.
She held up a hand and turned away, heading back to the bay of windows. “No, sayyd. Now go. You will have a hard time being in two places at the same time.”
I flicked my eyebrows at her and left, grinning.
Zara was in the captain’s quarters. She was alone staring at herself, her hands brushing at her skirts.
She looked . . .
I closed the door and swallowed hard, trying to commit this moment to memory. She looked like a woman. Her dark curly hair pinned up loose on her head, falling around her shoulders. Her snug dress was the color of the midnight rose, a pale purple with hints of blue.
She glanced at me in the mirror, her dark eyes filled with fright.
I walked up behind her and put my hands on her bared shoulders, giving them a squeeze. “Are you sure about this, Zara?”
She nodded.
I took in a deep breath and hugged her close, propping my chin on top of her head, catching her gaze in the reflection. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
“I chose him,” she said, her voice small.
“Did you choose him out of love, or because you felt I was forcing you to?”
She rolled her eyes at my reflection. “You really weren’t here to force the issue.”
I let out a dry chuckle and tipped my head.
She dipped and twisted, flailing at me. “You’ll mess up my hair.”
I laughed and took a step back.
She stood there, her hands on her dress. “Do I look okay?” Her voice was stronger that time.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, except that one time when Bahaa—‘”
She hit me on the arm.
“Are you nervous about living on his ship?”
She took in a deep breath and moved around the large room. “A bit, but I’ve spent quite a lot of time on the Kowka. I’m learning their language. Honestly, I think I will be fine.”
“And if you ever need to come back for a drum night, or . . . ” I took her hands in mine. “ . . . or whatever, we’re just a radio signal away.”
“Eosif is excited about that radio.”
I chuckled.
We stared at one another for a long moment.
I wrapped her in my arms, holding her close, her head tucked into my chest. “I wish you had rescheduled so I could be here for your big moment.”
Her arms were tight around me. “Me too,” I heard her whisper, her voice tight. “Sometimes, I’m just so dang stubborn.”
“We could still reschedule. You could wait until I got back.”
She shook her head against my chest. “I can’t. Several of the people coming to the wedding are needed elsewhere afterwards.” She pulled away and brushed at her eyes with an unladylike sniffle. “But you’ll be here for drum circle afterwards.”
“I will.”
She turned away. “Well, you have to go and I need to clean up my mess so you don’t have to deal with my underclothes when you move back in.”
I chuckled. “I am looking forward to coming back home.”
“Give Oki my best and tell her to kick Mother’s—‘”
“Zara.”
She slid me an devilishly angelic smile. “—foot if she ever gets out of line.”
I shook my head and walked to the door. “I will.” I turned. “And Zara?”
She looked at me over her shoulder. “What?”
I grinned. “With all the falcons in the trees, make sure not to wear any of their—”
She let out a shriek and threw a brush at me.
I laughed heartily and ducked behind the door. When the barrage ceased, I opened it again.
She stood beside the long bank of windows, staring out into the blue sky, Sang dipping below the horizon.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, little brother.”
If I didn’t leave then, I would find a way to talk myself out of going at all. I walked back across the deck, flagged the Zarifa to come back around and leapt when she was close enough.
The Ino docks were almost deserted, as was most of the city. It seemed so odd to see so few people in the streets. After months of having too many people within the city, now that it was down to the residents, it seemed barren.
I took the nearest elevator platform to the arena level. It was no longer an arena. It had been transformed. Several people stood to witness the ceremony, all Sakin except for a few of us, all wearing the traditional robes of ceremony, dark blues, bright turquoise, and bright aqua.
The dais had been extended. The elders of Ino stood in their most resplendent robes. Mother and Oki were nowhere to be found.
However, the man Oki had chosen stood with a small band of Sakin men. I think I’d met my future brother-in-law once before, but it was during one of the many nights of celebration. I didn’t remember most of what happened those nights.
A large gong sounded and everyone took their places.
I had no idea where my “place” was, so I headed toward Mokato, my portly older brother, and stood by him.
He grimaced at me and turned away.
This was going to be fantastic.
Mother entered from the back. Her hair was pulled up high over her head, a towering golden network of metal riding over it, huge pearls dangling along her with silver letharan pendant. Her robes were the most intricate I’d ever seen, dark blue and heavily embroidered.
The men and women on the dais and in the audience sank to the ground, placing their forehead to the floor.
I stood my ground. The El’Asim kissed the dirt for no one, including my own mother.
She glanced at my direction, but her face was covered with so much paint, I seriously doubted she was able to form an expression. She stopped beside me and the gong sounded again.
The people rose.
We waited.
The next time the gong sounded, excitement flew through the air. The air filled with the ting-ting-tinging sounds of many small bells. Oki walked out, a smaller version of Mother’s headpiece on her head. Her gown was bright aqua and intricately embroidered. A dark blue sash tied around her waist, the large bow protruding behind her. She walked in small steps, her round chin high, her face painted, but not as much so as Mothers.
She saw me and relaxed marginally. She stopped in front of Mother and glanced at the man she was to wed.
Mother turned and proceeded to wed her daughter to the man she’d chosen. All was quiet through the long Sakin ceremony, and the only other thing I could hear beside’s mother’s loud voice was the soft tinkling of Oki’s bells.
At least I wasn’t in her shoes.
Mother took Oki’s hand and placed her husband’s hand within it. “You now are sworn to look over each other, to act as partners in this great balancing act we call life.”
I smiled at Oki.
Her eyes were on mother.
Mother turned toward the crowd and addressed them. “Today is a great day for many r
easons. I am getting a new son, one worthy of our Great Family as my daughter has seen.”
Oki’s bells tinked a little louder.
Her husband took her hand and tucked it in his elbow.
I reached over and gave her other hand a quick squeeze.
She looked at us both in relief, her bells quieter.
“Today, people of Ino, I also turn over the power of this great city to a daughter who has proven herself again and again a valuable leader and a supreme Ino woman.”
Oki took in a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Ino Oki Nua Kadar,” Mother said a little quieter, “do you accept the responsibilities of this city, to watch over her people, to provide for them before you look to yourself and your betterment?”
My sister looked over the crowd. “I do.”
Mother took in a deep breath and reached over to remove the small headpiece from Oki’s head.
The crowd was silent as they watched.
Oki took the headpiece from Mother’s hair.
Together, they turned and placed their new headpieces on their own heads.
The crowd roared.
I honestly never thought Mother would give up the power, but I didn’t know what Oki had to endure in order for this moment to occur, either. Knowing Mother, it hadn’t been as easy it appeared.
Once the ceremony was over, the dais flooded with well wishers. No one needed me there anymore. I could head home. I pushed through the crowds to brush a quick kiss on my sister’s cheek.
She barely noticed I was there.
Grinning, I made it to the docks.
How had things gone so well? When I’d originally come up with the idea of these games, I’d hoped they would, but I never dreamed . . . I didn’t think it was possible for so many families to come together and unite under a banner of peace.
True, we didn’t have the signature of the Hands on our treaty yet. Nix had refused to sign it unless I agreed to be her knight. Now it was up to Dyna.
I didn’t care. The four queens were scared of the power the League of Cities had. It wasn’t likely that we’d unite in war. No one wanted that.
No. Plenty of people did, but none were willing as to instigate it.
Except for maybe Iszak Tokarz, but we were all watching for him, waiting while the league figured out what to do with him. He would act. Or maybe he realized the futility of it all. I hoped he’d give it up. I knew that likelihood was slim.
