Honored Vow

in my name.

    Honored Vow

    245

    It took long minutes for the golden eyes to go from molten anger
    back to warm amber-flecked understanding. When he could, he nodded,
    stood, and walked away. Domin followed, leaving me alone.
    Crane was there minutes later to look me over.
    “I’m fine,” I told him.
    He studied my face.
    “Knock it off, I’m fine.”
    He punched me in the arm.
    “What the fuck?”
    “Don’t be a prick,” he cautioned me. “I know you’re tired of fuckin’
    being here, we all are, but don’t get all annoyed that I was worried that
    you were almost killed. I will kick your ass.”
    He so would.
    “Didja hear me?” he asked, flicking my forehead hard.
    “Ass,” I grumbled, rubbing my skin, and then, and only then, I
    noticed the surprise of Yusuke Narae as she sat beside Crane. She moved
    quietly, I would give her that. “What?”
    She looked at me and then Crane and then back to me. “Your tribe is
    different, Jin Rayne.”
    Like I had never heard that before. “Yeah, I know.” I smiled at her.
    “How are you doing?”
    She bowed her head. “I will go and speak to Logan, if you will
    excuse me.”
    “’Course,” I told her.
    When she joined the others—Logan, Domin, Mikhail, and Yuri—I
    turned back to Crane. His smile, the way he lit up, revealed everything.
    “She’s so strong, Jin, and she’s so resolved to her life, and she still
    wants things like kids and a home and to create her art. She’s a painter,
    you know.”
    “Well, Markel needs someone to share his studio with him, foot half
    the bill for the space downstairs. You should tell her.”
    “Oh shit, that’s right,” he said as he gave my arm a swat. “You’re
    brilliant!”
    “I try.”

    246

    Mary Calmes

    AS I was following the procession toward the pit hours later, I felt a hand
    on my arm and turned to find Ebere El Masry, the yareah of the semel-
    aten. I was surprised to see her, even more startled to have her close to me
    before the start of the challenge, so when she tugged me after her, I told
    the others to go on without me. Yuri was going to stay, but Crane urged
    him on and remained.
    I grasped Ebere’s hand, and her eyes filled fast.
    “Rector Vincent is not from our tribe, Jin, he’s a hired killer from
    another tribe. He’s the maahes only in name and is there solely to kill
    Domin Thorne so that then he and Ammon can kill Logan. You must warn
    your mate, because two panthers on one, no matter how powerful your
    semel is, is too many.”
    “He’s fought more than—”
    “But not like them,” she went on worriedly. “My mate is very
    powerful, and Rector Vincent is brutal. I watched them preparing for this
    challenge, Jin, and even sparring in the pit they killed many.”
    “It’ll be all right,” I assured her, even though my stomach was
    twisted into a knot.
    “Logan’s weakened,” she told me. “He’s been through a physical
    and emotional trial, and Ammon has not. And your maahes is no match for
    Vincent.”
    “I appreciate you telling me,” I said solemnly, not as scared as she
    so obviously was.
    She cleared her throat. “If Logan dies… I will do what I can.”
    I nodded.
    “If Ammon dies… will your semel speak for my children? My
    girls?”
    “For your children, and for you, Ebere El Masry, Logan, would
    speak.”
    She launched herself into my arms, which wasn’t proper, but I didn’t
    give a damn. We hugged tight and then she was gone, back into the
    shadows, disappearing the way she had come.
    “God, I’m really glad Yuri didn’t stick around to hear that,” Crane
    told me, eyebrow raised.
    So was I.

    Honored Vow

    247

    If I never saw the inside of a pit again it would be too soon. The way
    people were looking at me, frightened, wary, keeping their distance, that
    was difficult too. I was a reah, but they were treating me like a pariah. I
    should have been warmly welcomed instead of reviled. Only the priest and
    Chuluun came to greet me before we were all seated. Even Jamal kept his
    distance, and I saw the look on the phocal’s face. We were no longer
    friends. I had pulled him through his shift, as well, his power, apparently,
    not as great as he had once thought.
    I was sorry that I had wounded the man’s pride, Shahid’s, as well,
    because as they were members of the Shu, when Logan won, I would need
    to make peace with them whenever I had dealings with the priest. Sitting
    between Yuri and Crane, I looked around until I found Hiroshi