“I don’t disagree with you. However, you cannot argue with clan tradition.”
“And maybe that’s the problem. Maybe you should be arguing with tradition.”
“What chance does one voice have?” Carvassa asked.
“You might be surprised. At home, a single voice has started movements that changed the world.” She wasn’t about to give Carvassa an Earth history lesson, but the point was made.
Carvassa nodded. “A singular voice, with plenty of followers can do anything.”
“Usually,” Polly said.
Carvassa walked her to a metal door. “On the other side is the Pit. You’ll walk out to the middle, and wait. Breal will meet you there.”
Polly nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Carvassa put her hand on Polly’s arm. “It has been a joy meeting you, Polly.”
“Thank you. You too. Maybe we can meet again, with less controversy.”
“Possibly.” Carvassa crossed her arms and bowed to her.
Polly repeated the gesture back.
The light to the side of the door lit up.
“It is time,” Carvassa said, and stepped back.
Polly inhaled a breath. “Let’s do this.”
Her brave façade fueled her courage to hit the button next to the light, and the metal opened.
It revealed a pit, all right. It was sandy ground, and if there was sunlight, she would have thought it a beach. Or a desert. Nope, just a round circle with sand. Overhead were stadium seats. The lowest row looked like VIP sections, a little nicer than others as her gaze took in the structure. There were about four rows, from what she could see through the lights that beamed down on the sand, dancing around like helicopter spotlights.
She started to walk in.
The sand, while it looked like normal sand, seemed to have more resistance to it—not dirt, exactly, but she didn’t sink into it like one would when walking on dry sand.
She walked toward the center, hearing the cries of the crowds watching. Did the whole ship turn out for this? Or was that more than just Erzo’s clan?
Most likely, she figured, after all, this was about Breal’s clan too.
She saw that some wore the strips like she’d seen before back on the space station, the ones that she’d thought were bow strips. Others had a medallion that resembled the one that Erzo had shown her as well.
Other than those items, though, it was difficult to tell the differences in the clans. They were all Charro. Well mostly.
There seemed to be some who weren’t Charro at all. The different hues and different builds peppered the crowds. She even thought for a moment that she saw some who were purple, like Phares had been.
All were chattering, a cacophony that added to the surreal feel of being on the floor of this pit, watched by so many. There were tiers of seating, wrapped around by a framework of metal rails and fencing, holding observers back.
It felt more like a cage match with extended seating.
Polly shivered, the scrutiny overwhelming.
Which seemed to create a reaction of laughter.
Didn’t matter what world she was on, fear was always funny, evidently.
The door on the other side of the chamber opened, and out came Breal, dressed in her own combat outfit. Similar to hers, but in a bright pink. She, however, didn’t just walk out.
