GS: I know that.
A: And I know you'd never want to let them down.Especially because this is such a special opportunity for your family.You have a sister on the colony.She'd certainly like to raise her children on the station.
GS: I know.
A: Wonderful.So you'll speak with Alikander again?And you'll mind yourself?
GS: I'll try.
A: It'sgoodthat you have such a strong moral compass.Few people do, even among the flock.You hold on to that,andyou hold on to what your purpose is.God has a plan for you, Mr.Spade.I'm eager to see Him work through you.
GS: [grunts, leaves]
Chapter 18 –Not Here to Make Friends
Weweresupposed to spend more time together on Day Five, so it worked out well that Silver Sea had nabbed the promotional footage for me to share.I'd been intending to invite Araxis over to watch some media anyway, but this was a better excuse.We finished up running through a set of exercises in the hot training room that evening, both of us breathing hard.I was dripping sweat everywhere and had pulled my shirt off, using the damp fabric to wipe my forehead."So," I said as Araxis pretended not to stare, "my handler sent me a copy of the video package with everyone's introductions.Want to come back to my room and watch it?"
He agreed – of course he did – and we decided to meet in my room after I'd had time to shower and he'd put together some food.Iput away the practice blades before scrubbingmyself clean, shrugging into one of the many loose robes that hung in the locker room because there was no way I was putting my sweat-drenched clothes back on.
I was just stepping into the hallway leading up to the main stairwell, the robe belted tightly around my waist, when I set eyes on the other abaya, Andiri of Creche Ena, trailing down the stairs.Her chin jerked up as she saw me, eyes flaring wide as her unbound crest puffed out behind her with a loud rustle.
I stopped, hesitating at the door.That was a weird reaction.
"Uh, hi," I said distantly, the skin at the back of my neck prickling.
Andiri's eyes narrowed as she edged down the last few steps.She slid herself tight against the outer wall of the hallway, as far away from me as she could be, and glared.Her talons – unfiled, sharp enough to cut; I’d noticedthatright away because every other abaya I’d met had kept theirs trimmed back– made hollow ticking sounds on the polymer behind her.
My eyebrows shot up.I held the bundle of my clothes tight against my chest."I haven't seen you around much," I tried, stepping carefully into the hallway and toward the staircase."Do you mostly train at night?Are you used to a different day cycle?"
A low rumble sounded from her throat, but it wasn't distress or contentment.Instead, it sounded like a growl.
I remembered, in a flash, how uneasy Vivith and Araxis had been when we'd reviewed Andiri's file.They'd said she would be unpredictable, dangerous,brittle.I hadn't gotten it then – but I thought I might finally begin to understand.
"Cool," I said distantly, trying for a smile."Well, I'm meeting Araxis upstairs so…" I gestured to the stairs, like she might not know where I was going.
She scowled and then jerked her head down, staring hard at the floor.She was still pressed firmly against the wall, unmoving.Her bare feet flexed against the polymer, her hands jammed behind her back.
I inched forward toward the stairs, keeping my eye on her.She couldn'tdoanything – participants couldn't hurt other participants – but she seemed… feral."Uh," I started, hesitating.
"Just.Go."The words tore out of her, almost a snarl, although she didn't move.Andiri's head was still tilted down, almost submissive except for the way she'd started shaking, like she was barely restraining herself.
So I went.I hurried up the stairs, only looking back once I'd reached the landing.
She was already gone.
Good enough for me.I continued to the stairwell that led to the apartments, which meant that I couldn't flash my thighs at Araxis by going past the kitchen – but he'd seen it all already.And I'm sure he'd appreciate my legs all the same when he met me in my apartment.When I pushed out of the stairwell and into my familiar hallway, though, there was someone already waiting for me.
"See, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist," I said, tone flat.I wished very badly that I wasn't wearing just a robe.I wished very badly that I was holding my swords.
Grigor Spade was leaning against the wall opposite from my door, and the look he shot me when he angled his face my way was pure venom.His stare raked me over, lip curling."This is what I mean," he said, pushing himself up."Can't reason withthat."
"What, because I had a shower and I'm wearing a robe?"I snapped."I hadn't realized cleanliness was such a threat."
He made a tutting sound, shaking his head."It's not the robe, Alikander, and you know it.Shepherd Barreth says,The rightful place of man is–"
"You don't need to quote a Shepherd at me."I didn't want to listen to that shit.What Iwantedwas to go to my room, but I also couldn't compel myself to move further into the hallway, not when the skin of my bare legs was pebbling in the cold, my clothes clutched to my chest, my body screaming that I was in danger.My fingers twitched as I contemplated my wristband.Could I send a message to Silver Sea?Although – of course this was all being filmed.
I had to remind myself that.This was being filmed.
