“Remember everything we practiced.” Ceredes, stern as ever, gives me a small push.
“Great.” I groan and force myself to keep my chin up as I trot out into the circular room. The floor is black and slightly springy. I can work with this.
Ilwen is here, though far on the other side, and waving to the crowd. The arena isn’t anything like I’m used to. The metal walls go straight up, and the cadets form rings overhead that reach as far as I can see, all of them looking down and watching. The only break in the bars is a glass wall high up. I can’t see who’s inside, but I can assume it’s fleet brass.
“Thunderdome,” I whisper to myself. “God, this sucks.”
The circle looks about as wide as a football field. What’s that? 100 yards? It’s plenty of room; too much for just the two of us. But I don’t go any closer to Ilwen. I’m perfectly fine right where I am. She’ll have to come to me for the ass whipping to start, though I hope it’s not my ass on the receiving end.
I can do this. I shake my arms out again. Springy floor, safety measures, Alphas at the ready. It’s not so ba—
A clear barrier shoots up and encloses Ilwen and me in the arena. One glance tells me it’s impenetrable unless I have some heavy fire power. A barrier created by tech, and I can only assume it’ll be in place until the match is over. I’m truly on my own.
“We’re here,” Kyte’s voice reminds me. “Quick and easy.”
I push away my thoughts of everything except besting the pink terror across the field. The crowd is still loud, though muted a touch by the barrier, as Ilwen turns to me. There is no announcer, no real rules, and no referees. It’s just her and me, and only one of us can win.
“No pressure,” I mutter to myself.
She prances across the open space at a quick gait. I try to time her steps, to think ahead like Ceredes taught me to do. Pulling her energy blade free, she twirls it in her wrist and comes for me.
I pull my own and bend my knees, awaiting her onslaught. She doesn’t hesitate and immediately starts a whirling assault that sets the crowd alight with cheers as we start our dance.
Ceredes taught me well, and I’m able to parry and counterstrike, keeping up with her as she comes for me again and again. I lose ground, my defense imperfect but still effective. She tries for one more hard thrust to my side, and I dodge, her blade glancing off mine as I spin and face her again. The urge to throw up a barrier is riding me hard, but I don’t. I want to beat her without that ability just as I’d agreed.
“Oh, fliggy, I’ve been looking forward to this day.” She slices toward me, and I parry again as she advances.
“That makes one of us.” I parry another strike as I continue backing up and try to curve my path away from the wall.
“You think you’re some high and mighty Omega because you’re in a circle?” She shakes her head. “You’re just some low level being from a planet that should’ve been wiped out a long time ago. And now you’re a whore for those Alphasandthe Sentients.” She slices again, her blade barely missing my arm.
“I’m not with the Sentients.” I thrust for her, almost connect, and then she knocks my blade away.
“You may fool Ceredes, but you don’t fool me.” She bares her sharp canines. “I’m doing him a favor by killing you.” She rushes me and I beat her back, then duck low and punch her hard in the stomach.
Skidding backwards, she stumbles but stays upright. When she meets my gaze again, her eyes are full of indignation. I don’t care anymore. I want to beat her, to take her down to the mat and plant my flag on her like I’m some colonialist asshole and she’s the new world.
“You’re going down, bitch.” I do my Ceredes flourish and straighten my back. “Besides, you can’t kill me. Our weapons aren’t full power.” I slice at the floor and only the faintest of marks appears on the black surface.
“Yourweapons aren’t.” She smirks and does the same move, but her sword leaves a smoking slash in the mat, even the metal beneath sliced through.
Shiiiiiiiit.
I brace myself and when she comes for me again, I fight for my life.
31
Ceredes
Iknow it the moment Lana does—Ilwen’s tampered with her weapons. They’re lethal.
“Master Harlan!” I push through the crowd as Kyte drops to a lower level and sprints away. Jeren has already turned into the shadow and is looking for a way through the barrier.
I keep climbing sideways, pushing cadets out of the way until I find Master Rav. She turns from her perch. “What’s going on?”
“Ilwen’s weapons are full power.”
“What?” She turns and peers at the Omegas as their swords flash again and again as the duel reaches a fever pitch. “Pillars! We have to stop the duel. I’ll alert Harlan. He’s in the observation tower.” She jumps from her spot in the stands and pushes through the mass of students on the bottom level until she reaches the ladder to the glass tower.
