The Son of Thunder

Chapter Six

Warrior stood without weapon, as did Lightening, though he had several fastened in his costume. They were both in the fighting stance.

"Come at me," Warrior directed.

"I prefer my opponent to attack me."

"Lightening, your opponent is not always going to strike you first."

"You'd be surprised."

"Lightening, what do you do if they don't strike?"

"I sit in the Playground until Shawna gets tired of waiting and then I let the prisoner go and get whipped by Beast for disobedience."

Warrior straightened. "Am I missing a detail?"

"Yes, but strike me. Don't think on it."

"Is it futile to argue with you?"

"As futile as it is to argue with Shawna."

"What happens when you argue with Shawna?"

Lightening was not wearing his mask and Warrior could see his expression shift. The arena was so much quieter when it was barred against the public.

"Tell me. I argued with Shawna in the past and had to abandon my home over it."

Lightening wasn't proud of his youth. He wanted to repress the whole bloody history. Warrior touched him with his calloused fingers. He stumbled back. Shawna occasionally expressed concern for his moods, but it wasn't a condition he was used to.

"I hated Star Children and I hated myself for being one," Lightening said finally. "Beast shunned me and ridiculed me for it."

"I'll share a secret with you, Lightening." He leaned in and Warrior whispered, "Beast is an ass."

Lightening laughed freely. Neither had struck, nor did either prepare to strike. Warrior was standing close enough to Lightening that he could smell the bacon he'd eaten for breakfast.

"I don't like him," Lightening said. "But when I was young, his approval was important to me." He dropped his defense and the adrenaline flooding his chest ached his heart. He found his mother's birthcross on impulse.

"The old rashaman of the Star Children was captured. He was to be killed for some trivial matter. Probably not even true. I was," he paused, thought a moment, "eleven when this happened. I'd only seen Star Children at the fights. I thought the peace-lovers hypocrites to come so religiously to executions. But I'd never examined one closely or talked to one." Again, Lightening paused. No strain from memory now. It was lucid emotion.

"I had been killing for three annae. Innocent people for all I can remember. I'd gotten used to it. I enjoyed it. I went to the cell to ridicule the old man." He lowered his voice, embarrassed. "I didn't know what a rashaman was, much less a Prime Rashaman. I only had the most basic knowledge of Star Children then. I didn't care that I had rashaman blood. I took it for granted. I always do. I came in full warrior garb, expecting him to plead for mercy."

Lightening was taken by a spasm. He sank against the bars of the Playground. "He asked me if I knew my mother. Offended me by the question. He began telling me of Constana the Great and I was wordless with wonder."

"Constana the Great was your mother?"

The question shocked Lightening into the present only for a lapse. He had to adjust his mind to understand Warrior.

"Then you're Rasha, the first Priest of the Star Children. Your legend is infamous."

Shawna should have told Warrior that. Lightening had no interest in satisfying his curiosity. The voices were calling him back.