Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I'm unprepared for the bright red, vigorous male that raises an arm and waves us down from across the valley, or for the hulking male a few steps away from him with the thick neck and strange fur patterns. He looks to be a formidable opponent, and I immediately calculate the best way to get him off guard. A leg sweep, perhaps? A thumb dug into the underside of one arm or between the ribs? Is he part praxiian or something else?
"Ho," calls the bright red male—an a'ani. He's covered in tattoos and his dark hair is shorn short, but there's a cockiness to his expression that tells me that he is a gladiator. When he looks at me, he sizes me up at a glance. I recognize that look, and I am determined to show no weakness. Him being a'ani already tells me much—the ancient race is cloned for grunt work, but if he's a gladiator that means he is crafty and skilled, and one to watch out for.
I don't like it. It immediately sets me on edge, and I instinctively move closer to Aidy, wanting to protect her.
"Looks like we found a few new friends," he calls out, a big grin on his face. There is a smaller female at his side, one with dark skin and fascinatingly beautiful curly hair. She holds a spear and has two long plank-like things tied across her back, as does the a'ani male. "Greetings! I am Thrand and this is my lovely mate, Nadine."
Nadine nods at us, her gaze watchful, as if she is deciding if we are friendly or not.
"And this is U'dron, but his mate is back at camp taking care of the kits." Thrand gestures at the thickly built male with the strange fur pattern.
I indicate myself and then Aidy. "I am called Corvak, and this is my mate, Aidy." I eye U'dron suspiciously and decide to get the biggest question out of the way. "What sort of splice are you? Mesakkah and what else?"
"I am no splice," the man claims, speaking in a strange tongue that the embedded translator in my brain picks up.
How does one battle an opponent there are no records on? What are his weaknesses? His strengths? What if he has hidden abilities, like the poison barbs of the Threshians…but wait. There are no battles.
There are no tournaments here, no gladiator competitions.
I do not know how to get over this.
"We're so happy to meet all of you," Aidy says at my side. Her voice is sweet and full of smiles, and my mate extends her right hand out to them. The human female takes it, and they move their joined hands up and down.
Then the human female looks at me again. "Has anyone ever told you that you look like someone?"
I shrug. "I am a splice. I imagine I look like a great many someones."
"There are many splices at Icehome. You are in good company," Thrand says.
"And they all have better manners than Valmir," April pipes in.
Valmir just growls.
I decide I like April.
Nadine steps forward, pulling a pouch off her waist and holding it out. The scent is that of dried meat, and she offers it to Aidy. "Are y'all okay? Because you look rather rough, no offense."
I bristle at her words. We look like survivors. We look like warriors. To my surprise, Aidy smiles and then begins to cry. She steps forward to take the bag, sniffing. "It's been a long few weeks."
"Oh, honey," Nadine says, and pats my mate on the shoulder. "I can only imagine."
They share an impromptu hug, and when they pull away, Aidy is smiling. I am not. I should be the one comforting my mate. The fact that a human stranger gives her more comfort than I do eats at my gut. I am not enough for her, and the realization wounds me.
I am not programmed to make friends. My memories are all of competitions and battle rules. I am made for rivals. But…there are no games here. I must keep reminding myself of that. These people are allies. They are not enemies, and I should not view them as such.
"Now that everyone's met again, can we please focus on me and my broken ankle?" Valmir snaps. "I'm not going to be able to walk back to the village. It's healed wrong, and trying to put pressure on it is like being stabbed over and over again."
"I'd like to stab you over and over again," April mutters.
I do like April.
Even though we just packed up and left the cave, we retreat back to it again. Nadine directs U'dron and Thrand in the making of some sort of platform, using their flat sticks for the bottom. April repacks bags, and I am left to sit with my mate while we snack on Nadine's food. I am not hungry, but if I do not eat, I think Aidy will stop. So I slowly chew on pieces of jerky and watch my mate.