Page 15 of Sol Survivor

This close to the drum, she spread her legs to handle the shuddering bridge.Before her tumbled the final challenge.The flag twitched, taunting her.Seven feet of gaps and spinning metal separated her from the end platform.Taking a moment to catch her breath, she waited until a gapless path aligned before exploding into action.When her foot hit the moving metal, she lost her balance and had to leap over a gaping hole rolling toward her.She slammed into the side, wincing when her shoulder took the brunt of it.

Panting for air, she splayed her fingers on the metal and watched the impending hole draw nearer.

There was no going back.Farg it.She jumped onto the side of the drum, sprinted high along the top, as far as the centrifugal force would allow her, and landed on the platform.The seconds it took for her fingers to brush the flag’s course fabric sent her plummeting through a trapdoor.A tear reached her ears despite the whistles and thwacks continuing.

“No,” she cried out, having not once considered the end platform unsafe.She landed on a padded mat, the wind knocked from her lungs.They could make the exit gentler, but she doubted they’d soften the blow of failure.

“What does this mean?”Ande asked Erv.

“No one gets the flag on their first try.”Erv’s words preceded him, then he rounded the corner and strode to where she lay under the massive rotating drums.It wasn’t just one but many, tumbling in opposite directions and often changing without warning.“You did well, gal.”

“Vic.”She huffed and rolled onto her side to meet his gaze.Her thigh burned, but she didn’t look away, just pressed a hand to the wound.Wet stickiness warmed her palm.

“You came close.”Ande crouched beside her and gestured to the elbow she leaned on.She twisted to find a piece of the flag.

“A part of a flag isn’t a win, but it’s fargen close.”Erv grinned.“Vic for Victorious?”He offered her his back when he strolled off.“Mm, I like that.Needs something, though.”Pausing when he was halfway across the practice mats, he called without glancing over his shoulder, “Have the medics attend to the scratch.”

“Holy farg, did she get the flag?”Fiona rose onto her toes to see better.Crowded around her were the other captives.

“A piece.It doesn’t count.”Devlin scowled.“Time to spar.Show’s over.”He stomped as he headed for the weights.

Ande helped Vic to her feet.“Can you walk?”

She tested her weight on her leg and nodded.With a last glance, she met Devlin’s gaze across the room.“What the farg is his problem?”

“You were close to beating him.”

Vic spun to gape at Ande.“He got the flag?”

“At his second attempt.”Ande paused by another door, no different than the others.“If you train hard, you might be his equal, Vic.Good thing Carne doesn’t mix genders.Devlin’s a vindictive bastard if he doesn’t win, in the arena or here.”Ande rubbed his shoulder as if he nursed an old wound.

“Right, so don’t get caught in a dark room with him.”

“It’s best to avoid his radar completely.”Ande settled his gaze on Devlin.“Although, I suspect it’s too late for you.”

Chapter Six

The Qaldreth Command Council

Planet of Ivoy

Drafesatontheoutskirts of the training ring, running a cloth along the sword’s blade.The repetitive motion gave him focus and brought him a sense of peace.He raised his gaze to the dome above, its opaque glass revealing the lilac sky misty from a morning deluge.Another thing he’d had to get used to.Water so precious on Qaldreth fell from the Ivoyan sky so much that he longed for sunlight.Never would he have thought he’d find himself in such a blessed situation.If he could send home water, he would.No Ivoyan ships traveled to Qaldreth unless to attend the rite of Uhann, and besides, what would an abundance of water teach the Meorri but to waste?No, it was best he enjoy this time and allow his symbiotes to share his experiences when he stepped foot on Meorri soil.

Thwack.

He lowered his gaze to a male from the mountain tribe.Like a comet, his golden hair trailed every strike he made.He swung a staff, hitting the target with such force, the pole bowed.

“Riermus aac Vaen, where is your sparring partner?”Fumart Dau Lo asked, his hands clasped behind his back.He strolled the grounds, checking each event or exercise.

“At the med-tech, Dau Lo.”Vaen dipped his head in a show of respect.

“I see.”The Ivoyan teacher pursed his dark-orange lips.“Find another.One cannot test one’s strengthandagility alone.”

Newer to the training arena, Drafe had yet to spar with all karu.Setting the sword to the side, he folded the cloth and placed it on top of the gleaming blade.

“I am available,” he said and pushed off the bench, picking a staff out of a nearby barrel en route.

Vaen scowled, made more menacing with his black eyes.“Your training has just commenced.You have not yet earned—”

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