Drifters

Dark side of the Moon

Sophie cheered, watching Ebba get hit in the face with a circle blade. The woman reeled a bit, but came back with a quick jab from her dagger.

Ebba's opponent, a man from the Bees, screamed in frustration and tried to slice at Ebba's midsection. His strange weapon hit Ebba's leather corset, doing little more than leave a scratch. Ebba hopped away then back in, stabbing a few more times, and the Bee vanished.

Sophie jumped, fists in the air.

"Your excitement alarms me."

Sophie spun, and beamed at Marie. "Ebba's still in! We're winning!"

"Winning what?" Marie asked. Her tone of voice said she already knew.

"Don't worry, I'm only betting my own money," Sophie said, reaching over to give her a side-hug.

On her other side, Rani spoke up. "I told her to not bet too much, and always have limits."

"How nice."

Sophie looked at Marie, almost shocked. "You don't approve of betting?"

"Betting is fine, it's you I don't trust," Marie said. "How deep are you going? Basic bets, or specific?"

"Basic," Rani said. "Specifics are dangerous unless you've been here years and are positive you know what will happen."

Sophie nodded. "I just said Windwards will win."

Marie didn't look any happier. "And how deep are you going?"

Rani, the traitor, scooted away. Marie narrowed her eyes.

"Well I know Louis has to win, or else they won't be able to fight you next! So it's practically guaranteed!"

Marie stiffened, glaring.

The crowd across from them roared, and Sophie looked down as Nali collapsed and vanished.

Marie continued to glare.

"Two hundred credits," Sophie muttered.

After a moment, Marie whacked her gently over the head. "Do that again and I will find a way of blocking you from spending any money without my approval."

"Yes, ma'am."

Rani scooted back over. "If I may ask, what will her limit per bet be?"

Marie glared. "Ten for unknowns. Fifteen for what's probable. Twenty if you know."

"But if I know what's going to happen-" Sophie stopped as Marie raised an eyebrow. "Thirty?"

"Twenty-five," Marie allowed.

The announcer's voice filled the stadium. "With that, Bees are defeated! Windward advances to the next round against the Drifters!!"

The pictures showed Ebba and Louis bowing, blood flowing down Ebba's cheek. Rani cheered, hugging Sophie. Sophie hugged her back, thrilled to have won.

She turned to Marie. "See? I knew they would-" She stopped, surprised.

Marie's face was ashen. She stared at the arena floor as Louis and Ebba were taken away, breathing fast. Her hand was on the hilt of her cutlass, gripping it so tight her knuckles went white.

Sophie let go of Rani, reaching out to touch Marie's arm. "Marie?"

Rani stepped over, tugging at Marie's other arm. "Sit down, auntie, you're not well."

Marie half-collapsed into a seat as the announcer called a ten-minute break.

"I'll get water," Rani said, and ran off.

Sophie sat down next to Marie. "Are you… afraid of fighting them?"

"No," Marie said, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm terrified."

"But how? You're the best fighter on the whole ship!"

Marie shook her head. "The last time I fought Louis… He won."

"Well, that was a long time ago, I'm sure…" Sophie stopped. "What did he win?"

Marie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "A full night's sleep as I kept watch. We were both so tired. I decided I was too tired to care, and didn't even try to stay awake."

"What happened?" Sophie asked, eyes wide.

Marie was silent for a few seconds. "I can't tell you. But we parted ways shortly after that. Well, I broke his wrist and left him. Regardless, I don't know- I don't know. He's good at hiding his emotions. If he wants me dead… it's what I deserve. If he wants to kill me, I will die."

"No, it's not what you deserve," Sophie told her. "You need to stay alive. We need you."

"Thank you," Marie said softly. After a few moments she glanced over. "If I die, go back to England and slap your mother in the face for me."

Sophie hugged her, seeing Rani on her way back. "Yes, ma'am."

Marie stepped into the corridor and took a deep breath, then let it out and called to Nop. "May I see Ebba?"

No raven appeared, but after a few seconds a door opened. Marie hesitated before entering, taking the time to purge all emotions.

The witch looked over and grinned, to the annoyance of the bird stitching a cut across her cheek. "Here to see how your next opponents are doing?"

"No," Marie said, sitting next to her on the cot. "If you'd allow it, I'd like to fight Louis alone."

Ebba shook her head, smiling softly. "I won't."

The raven hopped. "Fifteen seconds, please! Then you may speak!"

The two women waited patiently as the raven finished, its movements rushed. Marie watched silently as it put tiny bandages on Ebba's face, using the method that would leave a scar. The fact that she wanted a scar on her face told Marie more than any words could.

Finally the bird backed away, flying to the door. "Now you may speak." It bobbed, then left.

Ebba looked at Marie. "Having Louis fight you alone would mean giving up our position in the tournament. He's spent his life fighting to impress crowds; you've spent your life fighting to the death. My money is on you."

Marie… didn't know what she was feeling. "That's not… I wouldn't… He might… What should I do?"

Ebba sighed, rubbing a bruise on her arm. "Nali's been wanting to cross blades with your samurai since we met. Get your cowboy onto a block and we'll see if he's a better shot than me. Asani won't mind sitting out, and I'd like to have someone fresh for the next fight. Everyone will have their own battle; we won't interfere with you."

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After a few moments, Marie nodded. She still wasn't sure what she felt.

Ebba took her hand. "He's not going to kill you. You haven't seen him since you broke his wrist, but he's been watching you on and off for years. He's had time to work through his emotions. To forgive you for leaving him."

Marie looked up. "That's not what I need forgiveness for."

"I know." After a moment Ebba leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I don't know details, but I know. And, as I know most things, I know Louis was chosen out of everyone on his sinking ship because he had a broken wrist."

Marie turned to stare at her.

Ebba shrugged. "Cuts and bruises are common, useless. Broken bones generally have a story behind them. And there's always an interesting story behind a broken wrist." She shrugged again. "You saved his life. He's not angry. You don't have to be afraid of him."

"I'm sorry, but I don't trust you to know that," Marie said softly. "He was only on that ship because I ruined his life. Saving it would only negate one of my mistakes. I made several."

"Well, the fight will come soon enough. What would you like to do in the meantime? Wallow in fear? Drink? Smoke? …Me?"

Marie pushed her off, smirking. "Terrible influence."

Ebba nodded. "Also a distracting influence."

"I'll wallow in fear, thank you," Marie decided.

"In that case, please go elsewhere," Ebba said. "And send Razan to me; his blood looked to be running hot."

"Didn't he reject you already?"

"After a conversation about Innoka, yes. I won't bring her up this time."

"You have no morals, witch."

Ebba moved closer to Marie again, leaning in. "None at all."

Marie looked away, shaking her head.

"Fine, I'll stop," Ebba sighed, collapsing back onto the cot. "Tell me something. What's Louis' real name? He says you're the only one who knows. All my flirting only got him to say it's terrible."

Marie grinned at her. "And what will you pay for that information?"

"Pirate, you have no morals."

"None at all."

Razan watched Innoka fight, seeing no fault in any of her movements. She was strong and confident, and had no qualms about hitting someone in the skull with a hatchet.

The rest of her group also fought well.

Innoka took down a woman who was obviously afraid of her, then sprinted around a block to join Mateo's battle. Together they made quick work of the man from Paradigm, and turned to help the others.

Razan paced, seeing a firefight begin between Chimeg and the remaining Paradigm man. Chimeg was obviously the better shot, but the man was fast, able to dodge. At least, able to dodge until Mateo and Innoka snuck up and cut him down from behind. Chimeg yelled a complaint, then shot at the last Paradigm member.

Antoni was competent, but the Paradigm woman was clearly well-trained. Knowing nothing about them, Razan assumed she must be the leader.

Well-trained she was, but one against four was never a fair fight. To her credit, it took well over a minute for the four of them to whittle her down to the point she was bailed.

Razan smiled as Foxes was announced the winners. He wanted to go congratulate Innoka, but if Antoni caught him alone with her again, things would be… annoying.

The announcer seemed to think the next fight, between the Stars and Seabirds, was going to be exceptionally bloody, so Razan stayed.

He saw Sophie alone next to the barrier and decided to join her.

"Who are you betting on?" she asked, seeing him step down next to her.

"I do not bet," he said. "Risking money to gain what I do not need is stupid."

"It's not stupid," Sophie said. "It's fun!"

"Still, I decline."

"Fine, be boring. I'm betting the Stars will win, and that Rani will defeat Grace."

Razan looked down at the bloodied arena floor. "If Rani beats Grace, I will make you breakfast for a week. If Grace beats Rani, you will make me breakfast for a week. If other people defeat them, the bet is void."

Sophie beamed, holding out a hand. "Deal! I don't know how to cook anything more complicated than a boiled egg, but that's fine."

"I will teach you," Razan grumbled, shaking her hand.

"Excellent!"

The gates slammed open, and eight people rushed into the arena.

The only person Razan was truly familiar with was Keiko, on the Seabird's side. He'd seen Rani climbing when he went to speak to Sophie, and Marie seemed to like Paola's sense of fashion, but all he knew about their fighting styles he'd learned today. The men on both teams were complete strangers to him.

Rani ran into the middle of the arena, her long "claws" held behind her. Grace hoisted a miniature cannon to her shoulder and shot a huge paintball at Rani's feet. Rani dodged, but the explosion when it hit the ground covered her legs up to the knees. Grace had time to shoot one more giant ball at Paola, who was coming around from her left, before Rani got close. The larger woman unshouldered the cannon, swinging it like a club at her opponent. Rani jumped over it, landing close enough to stab into Grace's forearm.

Unlike most people, Grace was wearing armor. She had leather vambraces, which unfortunately did nothing to stop the momentum of Rani's strike. She cursed, punching the smaller woman hard in the ribs.

Rani went flying away, rolling to her feet as Paola reached Grace. Paola had a knife barely too short to be called a sword in one hand, and a pointed metal rod in the other. Grace pulled a morningstar off her belt and swung it at Paola, who barely blocked it with the rod.

Razan glanced at Sophie as Rani reentered the fight. "What happens to our bet if Paola beats Grace?"

"The bet is void," Sophie said, eyes still on the fight. "It's probably void now; I wasn't expecting Paola to help Rani."

"Thank you for the concession." He bowed, then looked back at the fight.

Grace was holding her own, but looked worried. Neither of the other women were as strong as her, but Rani had the speed of a snake and Paola refused to back away. Grace could push Rani off, but she was back almost instantly. Paola held her ground no matter how hard the morningstar was swung.

Suddenly Grace got lucky. She swung at Paola, who no longer had the strength in her fingers to hold her rod, and the morningstar hit her hard in the knee. Her leg, painted from Grace's cannonball, was covered in a blue glow. She fell to her side.

Rani dashed around in the instant Grace took to celebrate, slashing her hard across the chest. Her claws turned the the larger woman's breastplate and shirt to ribbons.

Grace dropped her weapon, cursing loudly as she covered her exposed breasts. Razan was impressed at the inventiveness of the profane tirade she shot at Rani. He noticed, however, that there was laughter in Grace's voice as she bailed. He looked over to find Sophie staring at where Grace had been, mouth agape and face red.

Razan grinned. "Are you quite certain you don't want to join us for a fight?"

"I know she speaks English, but I don't know what half those words meant," Sophie said, shaking out of her shock.

"Really? I understood everything perfectly." He looked back at the arena, watching Rani help Paola to a block. "First she commented on Rani's moral character, then insulted her birthplace, then mentioned her mother in an insulting way, and how disappointed she'd be to learn Rani used claws to attempt to remove Grace's nipp-"

"Yes, I understand that," Sophie snapped. "It's just the words specifically I've never heard before."

"You haven't heard them from Marie?" he asked. "Granted, she doesn't resort to profanity often, but she does know quite a few good phrases in different languages."

"No," she said, thinking it over. "I've heard her use a few more… common words, but nothing as colorful as… that."

Razan nodded solemnly. "True. In all fairness, though, as yet no one has attempted to claw off her tits."

Sophie coughed, covering a laugh. At that perfect moment, Peter came down the stairs.

"What just happened?" he asked. "I heard Grace yelling, but couldn't tell about what."

Razan bowed slightly. "Rani clawed off her-"

Sophie shoved him away, interrupting. "Breastplate! Grace has a leather breastplate, probably cost a fortune, and Rani completely ruined it with her claw blades."

Peter glanced between them, then put his arm around Sophie as he took the last step down to their level. "Sounds like an exciting fight."

"Quite," Razan said, hearing the unspoken message perfectly. He looked back at the arena.

Rani had helped Paola to the top of a block, then darted off to find the men in their group. Paola had switched melee weapons for pistol, and was waiting for a target.

Elsewhere, Keiko was holding her own against the Star's leader. The two Seabird men had ganged up on the other man, and bailed him fairly quickly. They were on their way to help Keiko, but Rani ran up and bailed her with a sliding strike against both calves.

Rani jumped to her feet, laughed as the leader playfully punched her shoulder, and they turned to attack the Seabirds. With neither of the Seabird men having ranged weapons on them, Razan assumed even if they defeated the Stars in front of them, they'd lose to Paola.

If the Stars didn't win, he would be very surprised.

Nop appeared in front of them. "Your fight is next. Be prepared."

Marie managed to remain calm as she walked down to the gate.

She calmly explained the plan to Peter and Razan, glad they agreed without question.

She calmly watched the gate open, and calmly walked for the center.

Marie was calm as Louis came towards her. She watched his feet as they moved towards each other, unable to look at his face.

She calmly stopped upon reaching the center, seeing his boots stop a few paces away.

Hands certainly not trembling and heart definitely not beating so fast it hurt, Marie forced her eyes to meet his.

Louis was smiling, because he always smiled. She tried to see what was behind it, to find what emotions were behind his mask, but it was impossible.

He held out his left hand. "Well, my love? Shall we dance?"

Wishing she could run away, Marie calmly put her hand in his. She felt the pressure of his fingers around hers as he took half a step back, and in an instant muscle memory took over.

They spun, blades clashing between them.