Page 4 of Only Rogue Actions
Asterin moved past Jeffrey and walked over to a woman standing beside one of the tables.The woman paced back and forth, watching the holograms move as the warriors ran, crouched, ducked, and exchanged blaster fire in the maze.Every once in a while, she would nod her head in approval or wince in commiseration as one warrior after another was eliminated.
Just like Asterin, Siya Collier was quite lovely, with light brown skin and long black hair that was wound up into a high knot.She was wearing a jacket over a tactical shirt and cargo pants in the emerald green of House Collier, and a delicate gold pendant shaped like aCwith two hammers crossed in front of it hung from a thin gold chain around her neck.
A large war hammer dangled from a slot on Siya’s black leather belt.One side of the weapon was broad and flat, like a common hammerhead you would use to drive a nail into a board, but the other side was shaped like a thick spike that was perfect for slamming into an enemy’s body.Both sides of the weapon were ringed with razor-sharp edges that would easily tear through flesh.
The hilt was gold, but the hammerhead itself was made of lunarium, a rare, precious, opalescent mineral that amplified psionic abilities and turned them into physical elements like fire, ice, lightning, and wind.As the head of the House Collier Hammers, Siya knew how to use her weapon with brutal, expert efficiency.
Siya never took her hazel eyes off the holograms.“Isn’t it cool?”she said, an excited note creeping into her voice.
“Very cool,” I agreed.“This is the most elaborate training facility I’ve ever seen.”
Siya nodded, still watching the holograms, her gaze flicking from one warrior to another.Vesper and I shared an amused look.Right now, our friend resembled a child in a candy store, staring in delight at all the sweets on display.
“Who’s training?”Asterin asked.
Siya’s face darkened like a storm cloud had suddenly taken up residence over her head.“Roderick and his friends,” she replied, her voice devoid of its previous cheerful enthusiasm.“And he’s going to win, just like always.”
A blackXappeared on one of the two remaining holograms.That warrior’s head dropped in defeat, while the other man raised his arms high in exultation.The holograms winked out, indicating that the training session was finished.
“Who’s Roderick?”Vesper asked.
Siya turned toward us.“Roderick Battis, the heir to House Battis who manages the training facility.He is also a psion, a Hammer, and an excellent warrior.”
“As much as that pains you to admit,” Asterin murmured.
Siya scowled at Asterin, who arched an eyebrow in response.Unexpected tension rippled off them and pinched my telempathy like a pair of sharp fingers.
Siya’s scowl melted away, and she patted the table like it was a beloved pet.“Kyrion is right about one thing.House Battis does have the best training toys.”
Over at the control panel, Jeffrey hit another button, and a faint buzz sounded, like a gate opening.He glanced over his shoulder at Siya.“Roderick and the House Battis Hammers are leaving the maze.Your group can get ready to enter now, Lady Siya.”
Siya nodded at him and stepped away from the table.Vesper, Asterin, and I followed the Erzton lady out of the control room and into the neighboring locker room.
Siya opened a locker, then gestured at the stormsword on my belt.“Verona said to send you two into the maze without any weapons, since this is a test of your truebond connection and not your fighting skills.Instead of teaming up to battle an enemy like the House Battis Hammers, you and Vesper will be separated, and you’ll be forced to communicate, find each other, and reach the center of the maze using only your bond.”
My right hand dropped to the silver hilt of my stormsword, and my thumb stroked over a large sapphsidian jewel that was such a dark blue it almost looked black.The sapphsidian was shaped like an arrow, the sigil for House Caldaren, although Vesper always claimed it looked more like a spade from an old-fashioned tarot or playing card.Other arrow sigils were also carved into the hilt, along with a few tiny stars, and there were several eyes that were a sign of my truebond with Vesper.Curls of silver stretched out in opposite directions to form the sword’s crossguard, while still more curls of silver arced up to cup the base of the lunarium blade.
My fingers clenched around the hilt.The pale, opalescent lunarium glimmered with a dark blue light in a reflection of my psion power, and the entire sword vibrated slightly, like a cat purring against my palm, just waiting to be used.
“Come on, Kyrion,” Siya said in a wheedling voice.“Nothing is going to happen to your precious sword.”
I gave her a sour look, but I plucked the weapon off my belt and passed it over.
Siya slid the sword into the locker, then held her hand out to Vesper.“You too.”
Vesper sighed, but she also plucked her stormsword off her belt and handed it to Siya.Vesper’s weapon was a bit smaller than mine, and three sapphsidian jewels shaped like eyes adorned the silver hilt to indicate her seer power.Several arrows were also carved into the hilt in a reflection of our truebond, while the sword’s pommel featured a sigil that could be interpreted as eitherZfor Zimmer orNfor Nerezza, depending on which way you looked at it.
Asterin waggled her finger back and forth between Vesper and me.“Blasters and tablets too.”
This time, Vesper and I both grumbled.She grabbed the blaster off her belt, while I fished mine out of the holster on my right thigh.We handed over our tablets, and I also removed the silver bandolier of supplies that was slung across my chest.
Siya stowed everything in the locker, then shut the door and placed her thumb on a scanner.A green light flashed, and the scanner beeped in confirmation.
“Just in case you get any ideas about trying to sneak a weapon into the maze, Arrow,” Siya said, a chiding note creeping into her voice.
I clutched my chest in mock outrage just like Vesper had done earlier.“WouldIdo something like that?”
“Absolutely,” Asterin and Siya replied in unison.
