Arena
"Savarin, I want to go home. This is boring." The child stared at his nanny with a petulant expression, lower lip thrust out in disapproval, black eyes challenging.
Savarin smiled. Ulinar children seemed to have much in common with Earth children. Both preferred to spend their hours playing with their robotics or friends. Studying was, at best, only tolerated. She pointed to his father, a tall stately figure currently occupying the floating platform above them.
"Council is almost over, Komar. You need to listen to this to learn more about your world and how it works. Your father is discussing the Treaty of Pallas Aketh. Remember when you couldn't go to Aketh space port?"
Komar nodded.
"That was because of the wars. Your father is telling us of how peace may be possible between Ulien and Aketh Minor. You may consider this part of your lessons."
She turned her attention back to the platform. Above her, a scarlet sky cast a hazy glow of light on the council attendants. The Ulinar council had chosen to gather in the open air combat arena to accommodate the crowd. Most of the city had turned out to hear what Ambassador Herad had to say about the peace treaty. Savarin watched Herad limp across the platform, his injuries from a transport attack still noticeable even after a solar week of surgery and therapies.
Despite the obvious limp, he moved with a charismatic grace, and Savarin noted the crowd of Ulinar watching him with the same bewitched concentration she did. His features, gaunt and angular by human standards, were animated with a quiet excitement, and he held the Ulinar captive and hopeful with his words of a negotiated peace with the Akethians.
Savarin felt a warmth rush through her veins. She had loved Herad of Ulinar for a long time, almost since she'd first come to Ulien as his son's caregiver. He would never know of her affections, for she kept them deep within her, hidden among the demons that lurked in her nightmares. But she could dream and admire him from afar, as now, or even in his home, where she moved amongst his other servants.
His recounting of the peace talks was short and to the point, and met with thunderous applause from his audience. Herad bowed to them and to the high council before taking his seat among the other Ulinar diplomats on the platform. The prime councilor rose and addressed the crowd. His voice, amplified by the transmitter attached to his robes, boomed over the arena.
"You have heard the words of Ambassador Herad. All of Ulien prays for an end to this terrible war. The Ulinar are renowned warriors, skilled pilots, and fearless soldiers. But we have more to attend to than battle. Our economy suffers from slow trade. Our numbers decline with the loss of our people and the low birth rates. We are fading, and this war is hastening our extinction. Let us get back to the business of living!"
Savarin rose with those around her, cheering as the councilor nodded in acceptance of the crowd's approval. Even Komar was caught up in the moment, jumping up and down in his seat, clapping his small hands together. She was not Ulinar, but she lived among them, helped raise one of their young, and was affected by their triumphs and their tragedies. Like them, she hoped the great Retribution war would finally end.
She and Komar sat down again as the applause died and the crowd waited for the closing of council business. One of the secretaries stood and read the minutes, followed by the question that always made an Ulinar catch his or her breath with a waiting kind of dread.
"Are there any challenges to the Blood-Kindred Right?"
A heavy silence descended on the arena, long enough that Savarin heard a few Ulinar release sighs of relief. That relief was short-lived as a man, three rows away from her rose. Savarin recognized the bright red hair and ruined face of Marelth, Herad's cousin. For a moment, he turned his head and stared at her, one eye white and blind, the other the deep Ulinar black and glittering with malice.
"I issue challenge!" he shouted to the council.
Savarin felt her stomach drop, and she wrapped a protective arm around Komar. "No," she whispered to herself. She raised her gaze to the platform, saw Herad stand and face his cousin with an expression of both acceptance and loathing.
There was a buzz of whispers and comments around her, bets and speculations being made as to who would win in Arena this time, for Marelth had made such a challenge twice before and lost.
"I challenge the Blood-Kindred Right of Herad, son of the House of Dagass. I challenge for the right to Komar, his son."
$5.00 — Available for download here.