They smiled at his jest.
“No, no,” Qip said. “Beingdifferentmakes you a misfit.” His voice began to rise. “I was cast out of the world I was born into.”
Aradella put her hand over Mekos’s. “We saw that in the Lair. The guide we had hated the Lelys. We don’t want to offend anyone.”
Qip put his hands over his ears. “Do not say that word!” he shouted.
They were shocked at his vehemence.
“Which word?Lair?Lelys?” Tam asked.
“No! The other one.” Darr quickly handed Qip a dark red liquid in a little glass. It seemed to have been prepared beforehand and kept at the ready. Qip drank it in one gulp.
“You mean the wordoffend?” Aradella asked.
They waited while Qip regained his composure. “I apologize. I lived on Empyrea for many years, but I was hidden away for fear that my looks would—” he swallowed “—offend some people. Worse, they might feel sorry for me and that would hurt them. Hurt does not equal happiness or pleasure. And ‘equal’ is everything.”
All five of them were looking at him without a hint of understanding. Yes, he was quite short, bald, and wrinkled, and his nose was rather wide and stubby, but there was nothing about him that would make anyone feel bad. He certainly wouldn’t scare anyone!
“I was deemed to not belong, so I was sent here to Abicis with the other offensive people. All of us are too ugly or too beautiful, too strong or weak, too talented or too...” He waved his hand. “We are toodifferent, so we were sent away.”
“But you are magnificent at creating.” Bree glanced at Darr.
Qip took a moment to calm himself. “Empyreans are not stupid. In spite of our physical oddities, they know how to use whatever talents we have.” He looked at Mekos. “Your grandfather was brilliant with machines so he was put on a spaceship. My friend Cappie is often used. And I have a room full of machines that help me achieve what they need. My work is not offensive, just my physical appearance.”
For a moment, they were quiet, then Mekos said, “If we live through this, you can have a home with us Beyhans. Or in Aradella’s kingdom. You could get a wife, maybe.”
Bree said, “On Pithan, we have women who will take anything male.” Instantly, she realized how bad that sounded. “I didn’t mean—”
Aradella cut her off. “Fox ladies will even take on humans and look what they get.” She reached up to Mekos’s hair and exposed one of his pointed ears.
Her joke broke the tension and they all laughed, even Bree. Darr’s eyes twinkled with blue and green lights.
“So tell us what we need to know,” Mekos said. “Can we do it all in a day?”
“I hope so,” Qip said. “I don’t believe Olina will stop her search for you. Her army is bound to show up here. We are in luck as tomorrow is our Play Day, with no work to be done. In the early morning, you and Tam will train with Darr. He’s seen fights with Sheean so he knows what’s needed.”
“The fights are a regular occurrence?” Tam asked.
“Every week. The play is in the morning and the fight is later. Nearly everyone on the island goes to watch the play, then they stay to see the fight.”
“What happens if a person loses?” Aradella asked.
Qip looked at her hard. “At worst, death. But sometimes it’s merely the loss of a limb or an eye.” Qip looked at Tam. “You two young men can go in together.”
“Are women allowed to participate in the battle?” Bree asked.
Aradella gave a little laugh, then said, “Sorry. It was just an amusing image.” She looked back at Qip. “This monster has the medallion?”
“It’s around his neck. When you defeat him, you can take it.”
“And everyone who has tried has failed to take it?” Bree asked.
“Oh no,” Qip said. “People fight to get the prize money that’s given based on how long he can survive in the ring. No one cares about the necklace Sheean wears. I doubt if anyone knows of its power.”
Ian said, “You sound as though you know this person.”
Qip smiled at his perception. “I knew him before he was labeled a monster. He was a scamp but—” Qip broke off. “That doesn’t matter now. You willneedthe medallion. Do whatever you must to get it.” He pushed his chair back and stood up. “I have to rest now. Tomorrow while the men train, the women will go after the rose.”
