Page 2 of Triplets for the Barbarians

His touch alone is enough to light my skin on fire, but I can’t bring myself to tell him. For years, I’ve been resisting this bond to the point where it hurts my very soul. But Yossul, Fadai, and I agreed a long time ago that we couldn’t risk getting involved, regardless of our feelings. We are the front line of the Fire Tribe. We are the warriors, the fighters, the trained killers, and we are responsible for winning this war. We cannot allow our feelings to get in the way, no matter how intense they may be. But the truth of it is… ironically, it’s been getting harder and harder to resist those feelings.

On the one hand, my friends poke fun at me, asking how much longer it is going to be before I rip the clothes off Yossul and Fadai and beg them to take me. On the other hand, I know that if I do surrender to the bond, it will cloud my judgment.

Sometimes, it's all I can think about. I imagine them taking me, claiming me, filling me to the brim, and making me scream their names in pure, savage pleasure. I imagine a life together, children running around in times of peace and prosperity. But that’s the thing: These aren’t times of peace and prosperity, and the three of us are ready to sacrifice everything to bring peace and prosperity to the rest of Sunna.

We’re the sacrificers.

We’re an offering to the gods of war.

“They have every reason to support us,” Fadai says after a short while. “Becoming allies with the Fire Tribe could keep Opal City independent long after we win the war.”

“We’ve proven ourselves worthy of their support,” I reply. “We opened their eyes to the truth. I only wish we could do the same with the rest of Sunna.”

“Jewel, I’d love it if it were that easy. But the Sky Tribe is too stuck in its ways. They’re fanatics at this point. We cannot reason with them. The Mal, Hadana, and Tallas men have tried, mind you. And the only decent result we could get out of those meetings with Shaytan Hull was a promise of a temporary ceasefire against Sapphire City.”

Had we been present for any of those meetings, I probably would’ve just put a laser beam through Shaytan Hull’s head so I could be done with it. Of course, that would’ve simply given way for some other greedy warlord to take his place.

Besides, the Kreek pack is on their most-wanted list, and for good reason. We’ve made their lives miserable.

“The ceasefire isn’t a long-term solution,” Yossul chimes in. “It’s only a matter of time before they try to come for the city again. I think they’re simply too focused on protecting their remaining starships and defending what cities they still have. But once they launch their starship, they will definitely shift their attention back to Sapphire City.”

Because of this, the city is constantly on alert, and jets and drones fly overhead and over the surrounding regions to ensure the Sky Tribe doesn’t try something. We’re stretched just as thin as they are, and we have fewer resources at our disposal.

The best we can do is project sharp wit and unimaginable strength. Fake it till you make it. It’s a gimmick, and it comes with an expiration date.

“None of us will rest until this war is over,” Fadai sighs from the back seat.

I take out a flare from my backpack and load it into the pistol-like device I built for it. “I’ll fire the signal so they know to disable the labyrinth defenses,” I say. “The last thing I need is to play life or death before I’ve had my sweet plum tea.”

With a dull bang, the flare fires, and it’s bright enough for the city’s tower guards to see. They knew we were coming, so they had their eyes on the sky. Within minutes, we’re driving the buggy through the black maze. The defenses have been temporarily disabled, allowing us free and safe passage toward Opal City’s magnificent gates.

We’re greeted by a small group of palace guards who take us directly to the western gate. I’m getting increasingly nervous as we cross the city and take in everything. The place seems tranquil enough, but ever since they’ve been discovered by the Fire Tribe, the people here have lived in a state of silent uncertainty.

If we know about them, it’s only a matter of time before somebody else finds out. Specifically, the Sky Tribe. We’ve sworn ourselves to secrecy, of course, but Sunna is no different from any other inhabited planet when it comes to the nature of people. Sooner or later, someone will give away the secret to the wrong person, and then all hell will break loose.

It’s a matter of when, not if, and the citizens of Opal City are well aware of that. They’re grateful for our support, but they’re clearly worried about the repercussions later on.

“We really need to win this war,” I mutter as we approach the western gates. “These people are scared, and I can’t blame them. If the Sky Tribe—”

“Opal City will not fall,” Yossul assures me. “We’ve come too far to let anything happen to this place. We’re about to destroy the last of the enemy’s starships.”

Fadai can’t help but chuckle. “Well, we still intend to do that, of course. Once we find the fuckers.”

“That’s not the point,” I say. “Look around you. Look at their faces. Our mere presence here has everybody on edge.”

“We’re at war,” Yossul replies. “The only difference now is that Opal City is also aware of it. The violence was bound to reach their gates eventually. And Solomon would’ve kept them in the dark until then, the mad fool.”

“True. At least they know,” Fadai says. “It’s better to know than to live in the darkness.”

Finally, the western gates open wide before us. Ahead, I see the Kaos Volcano rising like a grumbling giant made of black limestone, obsidian ridges, and sinuous hiking trails along which are abandoned towns and blackwood trees. There’s a thin layer of silvery ash twinkling everywhere. The volcano must’ve erupted sometime in the past week. I can tell the temperature in the area has risen by a degree or two. We’re still in the safe zone, though. It’ll be a few more years before this old mountain splits open and destroys everything around it.

I only hope that when that day arrives, there will still be a city to evacuate and that enough people survive to rebuild it like their ancestors did.

The three widows of Solomon meet us as we pass through the gates. They smile at us.

“Welcome, people of the Kreek clan,” the eldest, Sarin, says. “It is an honor to have you here again.”

“It is an honor to be here,” I say, bowing politely before the women.

---