Dress as a male?
“There is no secret to keep, foolish female,” I snap sharply, this conversation now growing tiresome and confusing in equal measure. “My joy for battle is plain for all to see.”
“Oooh!” she exclaims, drawing out the word like it’s a revelation. “You think I meant happy? No, no. I mean... I think you’re a homosexual.”
Her accusation bites harsher than the coldest wind, rooting me to the spot. My grip falters, almost dropping her onto the frosty snow as if I’m carrying an active virus bomb. Rage ignites within me, my molten blood simmering dangerously close to Rush. The female reeks of the most repugnant contempt.
Disappointment surges within me, but I suppress it, hardening my heart, bolstering its walls with forged metal.
Arawnoth must have sent her to test my resolve. Her every word and action is meant to dishonor and shame. But I will not waver. Though she displeases me, I will endure her scorn and drag her before the Gods at the Mortakin-Tok if I must.
“Dracoth...” Princesa mutters, her gaze downcast, likely sensing my fury through the treacherous bond that reveals too much.
“Silence!” I snap, the sound of her voice as displeasing as the howling winds.
Princesa sighs, shifting to turn away in my arms. “I don’t see what the big fucking deal—” But my hand envelopes her mouth, sealing her annoying words and covering most of her head.
She wriggles, her protests weak, but I do not care. My focus is drawn to the horizon—the destiny that calls me forward.
Nothing else matters.
Driven by renewed impatience, I quicken my pace, my steps pounding through the snow with thunderous force. The purple sun fades, giving way to the moon’s cold, watchful gaze. Mounds of snow, piled like wide-based mountains, loom ahead, and I know from my entry into this accursed land that Virennix hunters likely watch from its peaks. However, trusting Ignixis’s words, I decide to continue. My intention to exit their lands is obvious.
The shadows stretch long as we pass the mounds, and instinctively my eyes are drawn upward. The swirling mist shrouds the peaks, but I know they’re there, watching. I release my hold on Princesa’s face, lowering my hand to equip my warvisor.
“I swear on Arawnoth, if you keep doing that, I’ll crush your big, boring head,” she hisses, her voice full of venom as she takes in a deep breath, finally free of my hand.
I ignore the tiresome female, shifting through the vision spectrums. As suspected, high above, three Virennix hunters glare at us, crouched within the snow. Their heat signatures light up in oranges and reds. They make no move to descend, their stern faces merely following my hastened steps. I wave a hand at them, seeking to learn their intentions.
“Is someone up there?” Princesa shifts in my arms, craning her neck for a better look. She must think me mad if she assumes I wave to no one. “I can’t see anything,” she mutters, concern creeping into her voice. “Are we in danger?”
“Danger always lurks,” I reply absently, watching the Virennix hunters return my wave. Seems the old gas-cloud was right once again. “But not here,” I add, feeling some tension ease in my shoulders.
“That’s a relief,” she murmurs, her gaze following mine toward the violet-tinged sky. “It’s getting dark, and my stomach’s growling. I haven’t eaten anything since the ritual either.”
Her words echo my own thoughts. The night will grow colder, and the lack of light will make travel treacherous. I scan the area, my vision flickering between spectrums until I catch sight of a cave half-buried in the snow ahead.
There are no life signs within the cave, so I remove my warvisor, fastening it to my belt to preserve its precious Elerium power supply.
“Little Todd’s probably hungry, too,” Princesa coos, her hands stroking the cyloillar buried beneath her furs. “Oh, yes, you are.”
I force down a groan. She shows that pathetic grub more respect than she does me, her soon-to-be Mortakin-Kai. It’s a disgrace. After the ceremony, perhaps I should return Princesa to Earth. I would lose her powers and some honor amongst the clan, but the idea still appeals.
“We may need to eat your precious Todd,” I remark, scanning the frozen snow and endless sheets of ice for any signs of prey. Nothing moves, not even the faintest trace of life.
“Absolutely not!” Princesa gasps, clutching the possible meal tighter. “Don’t listen to the big, bad Dracoth. I won’t let him hurt you,” she mutters into the folds of her furs as the sound of Todd’s mandibles clicking reaches my ears.
I stand before the half-buried cave, the entrance crusted over with long-frozen snow.What creature made this?I ponder, noticing how smooth and circular the tunnel appears.
Princesa squeaks in protest—something about the cold—as I set her down. Without hesitation, I tear through the frozen layers blocking our path. The sheets of frost melting in my molten grip are oddly cathartic, and in my enthusiasm, Princesa recoils as if frightened.
With the path clear, I press my hand to her back, guiding her inside. The cave offers some respite from the biting winds, but not enough. Her body shivers close to mine, the cold still clinging to her despite the heat I exude. She’s exhausted. It’s obvious: the tired look in her eyes, the plodding steps, the shallowness of her breath. That unwelcome flicker of concern stirs once again, gnawing at the back of my mind like a wyrm turning my brains over.
I activate my wrist console, the azure hues banishing the darkness. The tunnel stretches ahead, winding deeper into thepermafrost. The ice walls shimmer, reflecting the light in a fractured, crystalline brilliance.
“This place is... spooky,” Princesa whispers, brushing snow from her furs. “But pretty.” Her eyes trace the sparkling walls.
“It’s safe,” I reply, eyes fixed ahead, the frozen flakes of snow crunching underfoot as we advance, illuminating the darkness. Safe for her. I fear nothing. Not here.
