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)
"They seem nice," she says in a low voice. "What do you think?"
"Nice," I agree, though the word feels foreign in my mouth. A victory is nice. A good meal is nice. People are simply competition.
Aidy turns to me, arching a brow. She knows me well enough that I cannot deceive her.
"This is difficult for me," I say in a low voice. "I have no memories of friends. Only competitors. It is hard for me to see them as anything but rivals."
Her expression turns sympathetic and she squeezes my knee affectionately, moving closer and pressing up against me. "We'll figure it out. Just…if you get nervous or upset about something, talk to me before you react? I can tell you my point of view and we can compare."
This seems wise. She's not dismissing my concerns, merely wanting to talk them over first. My Aidy is so clever. "I am glad we are together."
Her smile brightens. "We're not doing this any other way. We're partners."
I hand her another piece of jerky and vow to be the best partner possible.
Once the dragging contraption is built, U'dron hauls it outside while Thrand lets Valmir lean on him. I'm not sure if he's simply pretending to be injured worse than he is or if his ankle is truly that bad. The limb is slightly swollen, but I also notice that he seems to be more affected by it when April is paying attention. He makes faces and groans as he's lowered onto the platform with legs—Aidy tells me it's a "sled"—and then U'dron grabs the harness and hauls it along. Valmir holds onto the sides and looks over at April, who is pointedly ignoring him. The sound of their resonance is louder than any conversation and makes the mood of the group awkward.
We walk until it grows dark, and then a tent is pitched. There is no cave nearby so the females pile into the tent to get out of the wind, and we males sit near the fire to keep warm and to watch over things.
As it grows darker, the skies clear and I'm relieved to see that there is no sign of the Northern Lights, the "sky waters" as the snow-people call it. They will think I took the sky waters with me, hopefully, and it will reinforce our story.
U'dron sprinkles a handful of herbs into a warming pouch over the fire, making tea. Valmir eyes the tent, as if hoping that April will appear and fling herself at him. Thrand eyes me.
"How many tourneys?" the a'ani asks.
I wonder how much information to give him, then decide the truth is easiest. "None."
His dark brows go up. "None?"
"I am a new splice. There is nothing to recall in my memories yet save rules and fighting moves." I straighten, glaring at him. "And there is nothing wrong with that."
"I didn't say there was." He puts his hands up. "If you were as famous as Crulden the Ruiner, though, you might have a hard time adjusting to life here. There are no tournaments, no glory, no nothing here. Everyone here has children and wants to live a quiet life."
"Even you?" I cannot imagine what an a'ani child would look like, or how it would act.
"Even me."
"You will like everyone," U'dron says. His tone is mild, unruffled. For an enormous sort, his demeanor is easy. I can see why he is well-liked. "We all get along in the village."
I grunt. I am not sure how I'm going to "get along" with many strangers, but it is not my decision. Aidy will be safer there, so we will go there.
"You don't have to like everyone," Thrand points out. "I don't like Valmir."
Valmir throws a handful of snow at him from across the fire.
I snort, amused by the easy ribbing. This I am familiar with—even gladiators banter amongst one another. "No one likes Valmir."
The praxiian turns his scowl upon me. The others smile, though, and I relax a little. Perhaps this will not be so difficult after all, being normal. Perhaps I will manage to blend in after all, and Aidy will be happy.
"I personally am wondering why you ran away," Thrand comments. He leans forward, arms resting on his knees, a challenge in his expression. "Your bracelet said exactly what was going on."
"I thought it was a tracker." I shrug. "And I thought quick reflexes would get us out of the situation before others had time to attack us." It's a partial truth. The moment I saw the lid on Aidy's pod open, I thought she was a prize, and I was determined to run off with her and make her mine. There was no part of me that wanted to leave it open to chance.
Thrand grunts, considering this. "I might have done the same. But the khui? How did you figure it out?"