Spice of Strength - Chapter 25 - A'mara Books

viking-ventures (69)in #writing • 5 years ago (edited)

25

(Silnaday, cont.)

Elið hadn’t imagined it feeling this bad. That’s why he talked with Tasp as soon as Breckan had told him the fact that Elíaz was still behaving in defiance to Balan orders.

“He still has no knowledge of the truth,” Tasp confirmed. “So, why does it affect you so?”

“Because he’s my flesh and blood,” Elið replied. “I have overseen his education since the beginning.”

“You have invested much. That makes it difficult to see them go their own way,” Tasp agreed. “Not all my children stayed in our organization either.”

“But Elíaz has defied us to our faces. Isn’t that different?” Elið asked.

“All children stand up to their parents eventually.”

“He doesn’t even know I’m his father! Edina never told him.”

“Neither did you. I know the hostility you bear towards Elíaz. It shows,” Tasp replied.

“So, why do I feel guilty now? He is not the first we’ve had to sentence.”

“We can’t let him live now. He is damaging our organization. Belmara and Fashi could easily ask the Curator to put the Edict on us if we don’t adhere to protocol,” Tasp reminded.

“I can’t do it,” Elið said. “I simply can’t.”

“Then go somewhere or stay in your quarters. I will even give him one last chance to avoid the sentence. But you won’t have to do it.”

“It is a small consolation,” Elið said, leaving the office.

Elíaz was doing chin-ups as Tasp entered the sparring room.

“Elíaz! Breckan! Show me what you have this afternoon!” Tasp commanded, throwing shazes across the room to each of them.

Elíaz had barely time to position himself for the catch, which was just as well as Breckan was immediately at him, taking advantage of the momentary distraction of the chin-up bar.

Breckan attacked and Elíaz defended, blocking the striking weapon with a fiery clang of blazing steel. As soon as he could manage it, the defense turned to the offensive, pushing his opponent into a position that better suited Elíaz’s form of attack.

They caught in a bind. “You have not fulfilled your mission,” Breckan reminded him. “Tasp is not pleased.”

“Vissia cared for you. She would have willingly bonded with you!” Elíaz replied.

“Vessels first,” Breckan said, breaking the bind and attacking again.

The battle continued, intensely, as it always was when the two near-equals sparred.

Elíaz knew there were others in the room, but they were generally silent, adding to his knowledge that he was fighting for more than his honor of top student. He was actually surprised that Tasp had even allowed him to fight.

He turned the fight back to being on the offensive, driving Breckan back across the floor. Stamina was Elíaz’s greatest strength. So often, all he had to do was outlast his opponent. But Breckan was different. He had to use every ounce of strength and wits he had, using tricks of the leya to throw his opponent off balance for a split second – long enough to regain the advantage.

Tasp tried to distract him, he could feel it. Thoughts about D’zani! Treacherous thoughts!

Undeterred, Elíaz stepped up his attack until all at once, Breckan was forced to the ground and Elíaz knocked the shaze out of the outstretched hand.

“Elíaz wins,” Tasp said as Elíaz went to sit down. “Please stand again, Elíaz.”

Elíaz returned to Tasp, knowing it was likely to be unpleasant. He had known his honor of D’zani would not go unpunished. The only question now was how bad would the punishment be?

Tasp began talking again. “Once again, I am forced to address something unpleasant. As Balan, we must always look towards our future. We must recruit whenever possible. As we come of age, we must also be constantly looking for vessels to help further our order. When there are not enough vessels within our order, we must look elsewhere. A’mara leavers make the best vessels, of course, but sometimes, we have to look further.”

Tasp looked across the group of about 20 students. No one even moved. “At the Blast 2 nightclub, most of our teenage and young adult members have been keeping their eyes open for ladies who suit our needs. Apparently, we’ve been successful enough at alarming the A’mara that they’ve stepped up their surveillance at the club – which is why last night’s operation was called off. But the first time we have a decent chance of succeeding, it will go ahead as planned.”

Tasp shifted and looked at Breckan proudly. “Sometimes, however, our members manage to find willing vessels without having to be quite so deceitful, which is good – it keeps our profile low and can still fill our ranks – in time, of course. Breckan was successful at finding a probable vessel and using suggestion to make her submit to him – with results?”

Breckan nodded with a satisfied smile.

Elíaz glared at him.

“You’re just jealous, Elíaz!” Breckan taunted.

“He should be!” Tasp replied. “For, Elíaz, too, has found a potential and likely-willing vessel. Yet, he refuses to use suggestion and other tricks of our order to cause her to submit to him. I have tried repeatedly to bring him back into compliance with the guidance of our order, but he repeatedly refuses. Not just fails, but outright refuses. He tells me that it’s about her honor and such nonsense. He sounds too much like Zilan, from what I understand, and look where that got him?”

Elíaz felt uncomfortable, wondering just how far this censure was going to go.

“The thing is, this defiance is only the latest act of insubordination from Elíaz. He continues to push his own way – defying orders to serve a Death Edict on two dangerous shazes in our territory. I have to wonder where his loyalties lie,” Tasp said. He looked around the group of students with a serious look, then his eyes rested on Elíaz again.

Elíaz tried not to squirm under the uncomfortable gaze.

“As simple censures have done nothing, I have to wonder what will explain to Elíaz that we’re serious about this. I can’t think of anything except to declare ‘open season’ on this D’zani with a promise of promotion for the person who makes her submit to him,” Tasp said. “The position of #3 in Towani is a definite possibility.”

Elíaz felt the rage brewing. “You know I will protect her,” he replied through clenched teeth.

“Such loyalty to an A’mara… you haven’t even bonded with her yet,” Tasp taunted. “Unfortunately, I expected that response. As such, you are hereby removed from our order. Collect your belongings and remove them by noon. As of midnight tonight, you have a Death Edict of your own. Congratulations. May your death be swift,” Tasp proclaimed.

Elíaz felt the silence of the room, as the magnitude of the proclamation of the Edict was felt by all in attendance.

“Behold your enemy,” Tasp said.

“My honor is intact,” Elíaz said as he threw down the training shaze, turned and walked proudly out of the training area. Within the half hour, he packed his meager belongings. The last thing he did was strap on his shaze and leave his PCS link on the bed. Then he left the Balan complex.

The first thing on his mind was to find D’zani. He would have to come clean with her. He hoped she wouldn’t be too angry with him. He knew his best chance of survival was to join Zilan or the A’mara and he didn’t know where Zilan was.

NEXT CHAPTER

Other Chapters of this set

Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Building on Promise - Chapter 1

Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10

Spice of Strength - Chapter 1

Maps and Guides

continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
continent of Almara (five maps)
countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
characters, pronunciation and glossary

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Lori Svensen
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