Urgg continued, “He tells that story all the time. I find it hilarious. I would love for one of my tales to be as widespread, but Talvax doesn’t speak of them often enough. She’s not fond of telling my stories, so I have to do it myself. But Monqilcolnen has done that for you. He clearly respects you. He shares your story and now has you added to his system. You’re friends, bonded in some way, maybe even comrades, though I don’t think you have fought together, have you?”
“No,” I said, my tail holding my ankle.
Grunting, Urgg said, “Spill some blood with him and drink with him, then you'll be sworn comrades.”
“What?” Seth asked, laughing.
“Vomit, blood, drinking, and the telling of tales,” Urgg said, counting them off on their fingers. “In Barusian culture, these four mark the bonds of sworn comrades. You and Monqilcolnen are halfway there.”
“I’m not a barbarus,” I replied weakly. I didn’t want to drink or bleed with the commander.
“I doubt it matters,” they said with a wave. “Such things are universal.”
I looked at Seth, and his helpless expression mirrored mine. He stood. “Let me get us food.”
When Seth disappeared to the counter to order our soups, Urgg leaned closer to me. “Mark my words, Wyn. You and Monqilcolnen are close. I know these things. Just drink with him, fight beside him and shed some blood in the process, and all this awkwardness will disappear."
I highly doubted that.
Chapter 10
Why was I invited to this?
I’d made it an entire week working for Monqilcolnen, and I’d only received the eyebrow lift five times. Each one had been enough to send me fleeing from the room. They weren’t losing their potency with exposure. Unfortunately. When I’d scuttled away from him, I’d looked back every time and had seen Monqilcolnen with his eyes downcast and his brow furrowed. The look had been nearly enough to make me halt in my step. Almost.
When my day off finally came around, it was a massive relief. A day without Monqilcolnen. Instead, I’d be able to spend time with Seth and Bobbinvoxlyn, work on my project with Edith, chill with Urgg, help Cencay study for tests, or maybe evencontinue getting to know Camden, though he was always with Noxlyn now, then ending the day in the best possible way—snuggling some cats in the shrine.
But none of that was going to happen. Sadly. Nope. Instead I was in the experience suite. I didn’t even like experiences, unless they were stories, but Seth preferred combat ones, like the one I was currently participating in. And even worse, I was in this suite with star-begotten Monqilcolnen.
This morning Seth had invited me to the experience he and Kalvoxrencol were going to play. Urgg was joining them, as was Serlotminden and Bartholomew. The only reason I’d come was because this was a huge step for Seth. He was leaving Bobbinvoxlyn alone with Talvax. I had no idea how Kalvoxrencol convinced him to do it. Seth, to my knowledge, had never left his child alone with anyone besides Kalvoxrencol, except Vince and Zoltilvoxfyn. He trusted them both implicitly.
As Seth’s close friend, I had to support him, because this wouldn’t be easy. He struggled to take his eyes off Bobbinvoxlyn and had to hold him constantly, but he was getting better, and today was proof.
We were in one of Seth’s favorite experiences, which Urgg had helped design. It was modelled after their home planet, Barus. The rough red rock formations, the red sand, the dusty sky—all added minute interest to the barren wasteland. The goal was to team up and shoot the other team, nothing truly exciting or interesting. This was why I preferred stories. I needed a point to the experience, not simply fun, though I supposed that in itself should be enough.
I shouldn’t be playing this particular experience anyway, because I wasn’t allowed to fire a blaster, but Seth had helpfully suggested I use my non-dominant hand. I was a terrible shot already, and now I was going to be abysmal.
Nonetheless, I’d agreed, even though a certain commander was here.
The teams weren’t even, as there were seven of us. We settled upon Urgg, Seth, Kalvoxrencol, and me, versus Serlotminden, Bartholomew, and Monqilcolnen. I was basically useless, but I thought we had a chance of winning. Urgg was a force of nature, and Seth and Kalvoxrencol weren’t far behind. It was going to be a close match.
I readjusted the tech vest for the millionth time as I followed Seth. We were currently together in a huddle, moving around the rough rocks. Seth and Kalvoxrencol planned to take to the air to spot people at some point while Urgg and I scouted from the ground. The other three discussed plans in hushed whispers, and to be honest, I didn’t pay any attention. Then Seth bobbed his head and grabbed Kalvoxrencol’s hand, effectively ending the conversation. The prince tugged him close and spread his wings, flapping for a few moments before he and Seth left the ground.
I guessed we were starting.
Urgg pulled me close. “Serlotminden and Bartholomew will probably do the same thing, so we are hunting for Monqilcolnen.”
Of course we were. Why was the Crystal always against me? I tilted my head to the side in concession, not fighting, because what was the point? Fate seemed to be dragging me toward Monqilcolnen whether I wanted to go or not.
Keeping our steps light and our shoulders hunched, we moved through the rock formations. Monqilcolnen would be the only green thing in this simulation, besides Urgg, and I merely had to find him. It shouldn’t bethathard, but the more we searched, the more he was proving elusive. Urgg and I walked around, circling the experience, but nothing.
Where was he?
Shots rang out, and Urgg dropped. I was only a moment behind, my soul pounding. I heard Kalvoxrencol snarl, so I guessed someone had shot him or Seth, which meant we were losing. Already. I wasn’t competitive exactly, and yet… I hated the thought of losing, especially to Monqilcolnen. Urgg did some complicated hand-waving, head-bobbing, and body-wiggling movement that would probably mean something to another barbarus of their clan, but I was utterly clueless.
When they darted away, I figured it meant: remain here and don’t get shot, which I could do.
More orange blasts went over my head, and I huddled closer to the rock formation for a breath, then started creeping around. I’d learned at a young age to move almost silently. My childhood hadn’t always been… pleasant, was how I chose to phrase it. Much of it could’ve been worse, but much of it could’ve been better. I would say a good deal of my childhood strife came from my own making, though.
