accepted.”
With that, Kal-Nor took his leave. Mahzit wandered to one of the portals, pondering the exchange while he watched the formations of ships gliding above the ocean.
The far horizon was brightening from the rising sun when melodious tones from Sarleni swept into his head.
You made a loud mockery of the northern culture, brother. Tame your tongue!
He felt her brazen rebuke ripple through him.
I heard they sent you out. Ju-bilee told me your mission has begun. She has a message for you, ‘Tell him we expect great feats. His future is challenged’.
She hesitated.
I think your unit is being advanced in order to avoid notice. Kaminaean spies have watching eyes.
The connection snapped out as he literally felt her whip away. She could do that; he couldn’t.
Sarleni had communicated her message and left. The fact was; an official, though secret, mission had been confirmed.
End of subject.
He returned his attention to the expanding horizon. Colors streaked across the heavens in dull tones; then slowly brightened as the sun ascended with the regal splendor of an ancient god gleaming across its creation. The frigid night air had thawed.
To the east he noticed the grav-disk squadron split off, turning sharply back towards the eastern coast.
Their own course shifted southwest and away from the coastline, towards the ocean.
Kal-Nor had disappeared into the ship’s cockpit where the Helandian pilot was seated. Mahzit watched the control panel from his post. He was deep in concentration, examining the charts, when a hand firmly gripped his shoulder.
“She has received new orders. We’re heading towards our instructed destination.”
They approached the open deck and the Commander spoke to the men.
“We’ve been activated. Take inventory of your posts. Prepare for ground operations.”
Mahzit and the Commander began a detailed inspection; armory, rations, the ship’s reserves, or skimpy lack of same.
The Raider failed to veil his discouragement.
“Supplies are minimal. They barely pass code.”
Kal-Nor bitterly frowned as he slammed the storage bin shut.
“We have untested arms and inadequate munitions.”
Mahzit seemed less worried.
“If we carried heavy artillery into unknown territory it might jeopardize our objective. We’re on a search and discover mission. Heavy weaponry could send the wrong message to potential enemies.”
“It is unwise taking on a dangerous venture without being fully prepared.” Kal-Nor squinted, waiting for a reply
Mahzit could not go into further details because Sarleni had only implied and had not given him a lot of facts.
“Probably a rush job,” he suggested, “adequate enough.”
“Our people are never without weapons.”
“So I noted. Armed from birth?” Mahzit taunted the Commander, grinning.
Kal-Nor calmly ignored the gibe.
“Young men of the desert tribes must earn their weapons through rigid tests of courage, one at a time.”
“I’ve heard; fights to the death.”
“Not often. Still, it can be bloody.”
The Commander pulled back the tunic from his shoulder exposing a long, jagged scar dangerously close to his neck.
“The price of being young; we were fighting over the.…”
He muffled his last words through a stiff sneer. Shaking his tunic back into place he grumbled: “Not all that important.”
“Affections of a woman?” Mahzit could not let an opportunity for a spicy story pass.
Their eyes locked, and each officer reflected an unspoken understanding; a chance to divert focus away from the current, dire situation.
The Raider hesitated, stroking his closely cropped beard.
“Only a girl; mature enough and oh, the dangerous, vicious innocence of it all!”
Kal-Nor spoke low and steady, as he recalled his first duel in the training fields long ago. His story was rich with the rugged customs of the desert folk and gave Mahzit a new level of respect for the integrity of the warriors; a deeper understanding for their ways. For to win a duel before peers, was the highest honor. Gaining the favors of a maiden was considered secondary; and only by the lady’s choice. Thus, the stakes are high and the prize is never certain among the desert people.
Mahzit noticed a touch of sadness in the man when he spoke of the near fatal finale of the match.
“She was a worthy woman; right?”
Pride bellowed from Kal-Nor.
“I won my blade!”
He tapped the knife strapped to his side.
“The girl, she was, indeed, thrilled having two virile stallions vying for her favors. In truth, we were crazy boys with the hormones of Jilioes searing through our young blood, willing to fight for any virgin’s affections. And often we did succeed. She was flattered by the attention of the two best warriors from the training fields of the season. Both of us had scored well above the ranks. When we’d begun to dispute over the favors of this irresistible maiden, the clan chiefs took notice right away and the duel was arranged.
“Ah, the innocence of youth: bold and confident in their own invincibility. Eager to sample the fires of carnal bliss: impudent recklessness.”
Kal-Nor bared his teeth grinding his jaw back and forth. His nostrils flared; then the corner of his lip twitched as his eyebrows lifted.
“So we were groveling at her feet, lustfully panting for favors. And she played her seductive wiles, alluding to secretly promised possibilities.
“Too naïve to realize that what she really wanted was rank and riches!”
He laughed a bit too lightly.
“She favored an older man, a noble warrior from another tribe, who had taken notice of her during our duel. Status is everything. The chieftains, the powerful, easily win what they want! Neither was mine, at that time, and the rest.…”
His arms flew up in the air.
“Youth fights for the prize and expects the desired reward of ecstasy from the hands of the lovely maiden. So the myth goes. Though we fought valiantly and nearly lost our lives for her, neither of us won that prize.”
The Commander expanded his chest, thumping it with large hands. “Lush in body with firm breasts; so gorgeous and innocent.”
Mahzit empathically gripped his own chest. “It must have hurt!”
“Oh, painfully so!” the Commander admitted. “Besides, at that age a girl is far too inexperienced to be very…satisfying.
“Regardless of the harsh rejection, we gained a notch up the manhood ladder. Our youth must prepare early for survival in a brutal world. Beasts devour other beasts by the law of natural survival.”
Mahzit reflected on this.
“In Helandi it can be the same. Is not man the most savage of beasts? Life survives at the cost of other lives.”
Kal-Nor’s stubborn pride compelled him to point out differences.
“We of the desert have learned to adapt. And accordingly, avoid enslavement to the governed municipalities. The city-states are