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“I am your Magnar,” I shouted to them, my voice defiant. “Many of you balk at change and yet, twice in less than three days, we’ve almost been defeated because we’re living in the past without proper technology. The world is leaving us behind, and those who would ally with Braxia seek to control us.”
The men nodded, grave expressions on their faces. Even Raylor nodded, a troubled look straining his features. My gaze turned to my woman, and I pointed a hand towards her.
“You demand that females be kept as slaves to your pleasures, as broodmares because you think them inferior creatures. And yet, we all stand here because my female allowed us to see our foe when we’d been sitting blind, taking fire from cowards. Her blade still drips with the blood of the one she has slain. Do you see weakness in this female?”
The men eyed her with a disconcerted admiration and a confused form of respect. She was challenging everything we’d come to expect from females. But how could it be otherwise when we indoctrinated our own females from birth that they were inferior beings, only living to serve men’s needs? How could they show their true worth when any independent thinking on their part, or display of autonomy, would be severely punished?
“Braxia WILL change,” I continued, pivoting on myself to look at every single one of my men. “I willnotlet us fall into darkness and become vulnerable to external threats. And yes, major changes come with pain. But as the Ancestors are my witnesses, if I have to beat change into you, then I will. And those of you who oppose my ruling, I am here,” I said, spreading my arms wide. “Any and all challenges will be accepted.”
“For Braxia,” Krygor shouted. “Long may be your reign!”
“For Braxia,” the voices of the men shouted back.
I walked back to Torvin who had regained consciousness. Breath shallow and eyes filled with pain, he watched me with a glimmer of resignation.
“For your crimes, you will not receive a warrior’s funeral, but will rot here, feeding carrion eaters. May your fate serve as an example. Any and all who would betray me and Braxia will face the Magnar’s mercy… and find none.” Raising my battle axe again, my gaze bore into Torvin. “Your punishment was for your crimes. But this is for my Lissy.”
The back of my battle axe shattered his groin. Torvin’s strangled cry died as soon as it began. His body shuddered, and his eyes turned glassy. Lifting my head in the deadly silence around us, I made eye contact with three of the remaining Fifteen present in the clearing. Two averted their eyes, fear and resentment burning within. The third held my gaze with a strange air of acceptance.
Turning back towards Ravena, I took her hand. “Let’s go take care of our fallen,” I said to my men, and led my woman back into the forest.
The trip back home had been quiet and solemn, the successful hunt bittersweet. To my relief, we had sustained far fewer casualties than we’d first believed. Guldans had not been shooting to kill but to stun. I could speculate a number of reasons why they would have done so. Without Ravena’s intervention, we would have fallen, stunned by invisible enemies, laying helpless while being trampled and devoured by the joarkals, leaving no evidence of the Guldan’s treachery. In one fell swoop, they would have eliminated the heads of all the clans that opposed an alliance, leaving room for a puppet Magnar they could manipulate at will.
I still seethed that we’d failed to capture a single Guldan alive. Nevertheless, their corpses constituted irrefutable proof of their meddling and of their attack on Braxia. In light of the magnitude of the evidence, the two Guldan Ambassadors had no leg to stand on when I expelled them from Braxia. Where Ambassador Tellin made a last ditch effort, asking me not to condemn all of Guldar for the failings of the few, Ambassador Zorak didn’t argue, graciously accepting their dismissal.
Too graciously.
Even Raylor Caldes showed eagerness to escort the Guldans back to their ship. This incident had been yet another severe blow to Clan Caldes. After the disgrace his first-born son Gerwin had brought upon them, being indirectly responsible for the death of many Braxians was the last thing he’d needed or wanted.
But the Guldans and Caldes’ woes ranked pretty low in my list of concerns right now. Although she hadn’t spoken them out loud, Ravena’s mind overflowed with unanswered questions. They were sensitive topics I hadn’t planned on raising with her until we’d had a chance to see where this relationship was headed. I didn’t want to talk about Lissy, didn’t want to tell her about the shameful things I had allowed, and the horrible crime I had committed. But Ravena was my soulmate.
Aside from battle rage, Braxians possessed no psi abilities. However, even though I couldn’t feel the Tuning like she did, every fiber of my being screamed to me that she was the one. I wasn’t in love with her—yet—nor was she with me, which made having this conversation now all the scarier. Through the eyes of love, she might be more inclined to forgiveness and acceptance. Regardless of my reluctance—and yes, my fears—I needed to be the one to tell her. The longer I delayed, the more likely she’d discover it on her own, maybe in an even darker light.
Ravena followed me quietly as I led her by the hand to my private quarters. My pulse picked up as we walked to the patio at the back of the bedroom. I often had meals on the smaller, dark stone table by the railing overlooking the plaza. This time, however, probably sensing the need for privacy, Muna had laid a snack for us by the larger table near the water fountain, directly carved into the mountain face that blocked off the front and right side of the patio. A long dark-grey stone bench ran along each side of the table, covered with a comfortable dark-red, water-resistant cushion.
I invited Ravena to take a seat. For a moment, I considered sitting next to her but then decided to sit across from her. Not knowing how she would react to my confession, I wanted to give her some space.
She pulled her long braid in front of her, slowly stroking it while staring at me with a serious, expectant look. I cleared my throat, my stomach knotting with rising anxiety.
“It appears you are meant to forever be my savior,” I said, in a pathetic effort to lighten the mood.
Ravena smiled and then nodded in acknowledgement.
“You not only saved many lives, but you are helping my people open their eyes about the worth of females, just like Anton did about the worth of hybrids. For this, I can never thank you enough,” I said, with genuine gratitude.
“It will be a slow process,” she said. “I wish Guldar’s Emperor would be as open-minded as you. I know what great challenges you face with these changes, and I respect you all the more for it. You’re a good man.”
I snorted, wondering how much of that respect would remain in a few minutes.
“No, Ravena. I’m a lot of things, but not a good man. I have allowed and done terrible things. The kind of things that haunt you forever and can never be undone.” I rubbed my face with both hands, wishing I could draw Ravena into my arms and bury my face in her hair instead, in search of comfort. “Yes, I am making much needed changes. Sadly, they come way too late for far too many innocents,” I said, the familiar pain of Lissy’s death crushing my heart.
“Innocents like Lissy?” Ravena asked in a soft voice.
My heart skipped a beat, and my stomach dropped. Did she already know? My eyes flicked between hers, trying to assess what she knew.
“You dedicated your final blow to her,” Ravena explained. “Who was she? And who are the Fifteen?”
Sorrow, shame, and fear of the contempt I would undoubtedly read in her eyes once I’d confessed, twisted me inside. Taking in a deep breath, I took the plunge.
