Page 73 of Corvak's Challenge

That is because I am trying very hard not to let it show.

"Everyone is so nice," Aidy continues. "Well, except Valmir, but he's consistent, at least." She shrugs and gazes up at me with bright eyes full of hope. "I'd forgotten how wonderful it is to have friends."

And I have not forgotten that I am not made to have friends.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

CORVAK

I stareout at the cluster of huts dotted across the beach, and I am overwhelmed.

The land is strange. The mountains are behind us now, falling away to a steep cliff and then a strange calm flatness. The flatness edges out to the waters, which roil and crash against the shore as if they have a vendetta. It is my first glimpse upon the ocean, and I can stare and stare and there is yet more to see. There are small birds circling over the waters. Chunks of ice drifting offshore. Craggy rocks rising from the distant waters like fingers.

And the people. There are somanyof them. Everywhere I look, there are people on the shore. I see at least two dozen huts and several cookfires. I see people fishing and children running on the sand. Someone points in our direction as we head down the steep path towards the village, and then it feels as if all eyes are upon us.

I do not realize I am clutching Aidy's hand too tightly until she squeaks. Immediately, I am ashamed and release her. "I didn't realize?—"

"It's okay. Just maybe don't grip that hard?" She eyes me with concern even as she slips her hand back into my grasp again. "Don't tell me you're shy?"

"I am not," I bluster. Shy sounds…not very warrior-like. "I am just uncomfortable with so many people staring at us."

"I imagine they're curious. They don't know anything about us, remember? They'll stop staring after a bit." She gives me an affectionate squeeze. "It's going to be okay. I'll be at your side."

Again, I feel unworthy of her affection. Aidy is such a good mate and I am…useless. A gladiator with no tourney to fight, a warrior with no war.

People begin streaming towards us. Thrand and Nadine wave, and U'dron pulls the sled faster, dragging it ahead of Aidy and myself. I deliberately slow my steps even more, letting him pass, but also giving myself a chance to watch the reactions of others as they approach. They are smiling, their faces full of curiosity as they view us. These are not rivals. They would not look at us with such eagerness if we were here to fight them. I watch as a male approaches, one with four arms. Such an interesting build. I wonder if I could ask for more arms, because they would make grappling easy…and then I remember I am a gladiator no longer.

If what they are saying is true, I have been rejected and abandoned here with the other clones. I am not wanted as a fighter. I clench my jaw against this painful realization. Part of me had hoped that we were being misled, that this was a ploy to flush us out and get us to a more easily accessible fighting arena. There is no ploy, though, and I should not be as disappointed as I am.

"I am J’shel,” the male with four arms says as he approaches. He is the first one to move directly to myself and Aidy. He speaks in a tongue that is foreign to me, but my translator implant easilyadjusts it as quickly as it does to Aidy's language. "We are glad you have joined us. All are welcome."

"I'm Aidy," my mate says, and then touches my arm. "This is Corvak. We ran when we were dropped with the others. We thought it was a game of some kind."

"I was not dropped," he replies, an easy, welcoming smile on his face. "I am from the island."

"There's an island?" Aidy asks, tone bright.

J’shel’s smile fades. "No longer."

"Oh." The silence grows uncomfortable for a moment as we stare at one another. Aidy's hand feels clammy in mine, and I realize she is nervous after all.

I clear my throat, nodding at J’shel. "We are glad to be here. Survival alone is…difficult."

The male's face creases into a broad grin. "This I know well. I look forward to hearing your story, and I will tell you mine across a fire sometime." He glances behind him, watching as another male comes forward, this one with impossibly tall, arching horns that seem to point at the sky. Less useful in battle, for all their deadliness. They are too easily grabbed, I decide.

"I am R'jaal of Tall Horn," the male says as he approaches. "Now of the Icehome Beach. This is my mate, R'slind. She is one of your people, and we are glad to see you." He gestures at the solid, pale human female with a yellow mane at his side. The female seems timid, less like my Aidy, and she gives us a shy smile.

"You're a clone, too?" Aidy asks.

R'slind nods. "Everyone that arrived in the same drop is a clone. It was on the bracelet…" She gestures at her wrist. "You didn't get one?"

"I didn't know what it was, so I took it off," Aidy lies easily, touching my arm again. "But the clone thing makes so much more sense than me thinking I was losing my mind."

R'slind laughs. "I can see that. Some of us definitely have more memories than others." She gestures behind her, where there are more and more people gathering and staring at us. "Do you want me to introduce you? I can point out our group. Icehome is actually several different groups all coming together. It'll be confusing at first, but I promise you'll be comfortable quickly."

Aidy glances up at me. "Oh, that sounds lovely, thank you." She steps forward with R'slind, who is immediately approached by several other human females.

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