Page 35 of The Kraken Games

Although the games were nothing like the fights of old, the ceremony remained. And this part at least was serious. Because it was all about Metan.

And sure, there were other ways that young kraken males prepared for Metan, through study of the ancient scripts and through service, but being a warrior was the most honorable. He knew the elders were saddened that Acha had been given this honor in the games and had treated it so loosely, with so little respect.

Kai had promised himself he would honor the spirit of the games. That he would not turn it into a complete circus. That he would not disgrace himself.

And before the games even commenced, he had.

He winced, remembering how he’d succumbed to that girl, how he’d gone and made a fool of himself even after that firsthumiliation, by seeking her out, demanding to know why she’d left him that night.

He could still see the hollowness in her eyes as she’d spat her hatred of kraken at him, a hatred so deep she was prepared to fight it out in the arena.

But why? That question hung over him like a heavy pall.

Gods, he was already dreading the last day of the games. The day he would have to engage in combat with her. The only way he would not have to face her was if he was defeated by another monster first.

And that was just not an option.

There were fourteen competitors, over seven days. Every day he would fight twice.

And each time, he would need to win. Drag his adversary down into the depths of the dungeon, until they begged him to let them go.

And then on day seven he would do the same to her.

Damn it. He’d show her no mercy.

And if she dared say he’d slept with her, well, he’d simply call her a liar. Ridicule her. Call her a whore.

Gods no, he wouldn’t say that about a woman, However she’d treated him, he would not stoop so low, could not…

Oh fuck. Stop thinking about her.

Now, as he saw the cave lit up with a thousand tiny sea creatures in coral branches, he gulped hard.

Yes, he had made a serious error of judgment. But he would keep his counsel, and pray to the gods of the deep that it never came to light.

As he swam into the cave, the elders were there waiting for him in the customary semicircle, Razad on the throne.

Shen was here, of course. And Kai’s own father gave him a nod, the tiniest hint of a smile showing he was proud of hisson. The rest of the twelve were dignitaries, and other important senior members of the community.

There were no women present. They would have a different ceremony for achieving Lieu, the name given to their own time of reaching fertility and readiness to mate.

It had been this way since the beginning of recorded time.

And kraken were deeply traditional folks.

Kai swam to his own seat in the rock, settled his tentacles, then arranged himself atop of them.

The elders passed the conch shell. Razad struck it with the rod of the ancients and light sparked out from it in all directions before he advanced with it toward Kai. Kai felt his chest expand, strength flow through him. His tentacles jerked, and even those with the injuries felt stronger, more integrated than ever before.

Razad sank down in front of him and stroked ground-up holy Leberon shell in a line across his forehead, down the bridge of his nose, around his jaw. He painted it onto his chest and shoulders, then gave him a vial to take with him.

It would be invisible out of the water, but it would bring integration and strength. One-pointed focus. The luck of the deep sea gods.

Kai bowed his head and listened to the incantation of the elders, then repeated the words after them in awe and reverence.

“Egdah hanag.”Fight the good fight.

“Egdah hanag io, ancientes.”I will fight the good fight, ancient ones.

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