What critical roles each played in the ongoing fate of Second Earth, now even more so, given the existence of an operational darkening grid that crossed the boundaries from Third to Second.
Braulio’s comment had only confirmed what Vela already knew.
Vela, can you hear me?
Samuel’s voice sounded sharp and crystal clear within her mind. Yes, what’s going on?
Vela smiled as she continued to applaud and occasionally stamp her feet as many of the appreciative guests were doing, despite the formality of the occasion.
I want you with me, on stage. Simple as that and you can’t say no. The other warriors have their brehs with them.
Vela gulped. But I don’t belong up there. I haven’t proven anything.
Fuck that. You saved Duncan’s life.
You did.
We both helped and all the other women are here with their men. You don’t get a choice on this one. I want you with me and once I’m on stage, I will refuse to take any of the oaths until you’re beside me.
The audience had started calling out something in a loud chant and it took Vela a few seconds to realize what they were saying. Even the orchestra had ceased playing because of it.
‘Samuel.
Samuel,’ was being repeated over and over.
Do you hear that? They’re calling for you.
That can’t be.
He sounded astonished.
This is for you alone, Samuel. This is your moment to be honored for your sacrifices and for your commitment to service. And you have to remember that Marcus sent out a thousand press releases, detailing your part in Duncan’s rescue and about your grayle, Third Earth power. Like it or not, you’re a celebrity.
A moment later, from the left side of the stage, Luken reappeared and waved at the crowd so that within a few seconds silence had fallen. But the energy among the spectators was as vibrant as ever so that the moment Luken said in a carrying voice, “I give you Samuel Daman, of Phoenix Two, our candidate for confirmation,” another round of applause swept the theater.
When Samuel didn’t appear, Luken frowned and cocked his head as though listening.
He nodded, clearly communicating telepathically with Samuel in the wings.
Luken’s gaze then shifted to Vela and he held out his hand to her. All eyes shifted in her direction and the theater once more fell silent.
Heat crept up Vela’s cheeks, just as Samuel’s voice entered her head again.
I’ve made a decision, my love. I’m not doing this without you. We’re a team.
Vela crumbled inside at his choice of words.
We’re a team, she sent back.
Because she knew Samuel so well, she understood the weight of these words, the depth of the meaning behind them.
Samuel had gone it alone his entire life, now he was joining the Warriors of the Blood and he saw their relationship as a team effort.
Endelle leaned over to her and said, “What are you waiting for, ascender?
You’ve been called. Now, go.” Vela met Endelle’s wooded eyes and saw her compassion, the thing that always surprised her about Endelle, that beneath her outrageous exterior, and way beyond her profane mouth, resided a woman of tremendous compassion.
Vela drew a deep breath and to Samuel, sent, I’m ready.
Go to Luken now.
Luken addressed the crowd once more. “We have a slight change of plans.
Candidate Samuel wishes his breh, Vela Stillwell to join him on stage. Please welcome Ascender Stillwell.” One more fire-in-lungs breath and she simply levitated from her seat. Using a little added power, she kept her skirts of her gown fluttering close to her ankles as she moved swiftly to the stage, turning at the last moment to land beside Luken.
The tank-like warrior smiled down at her and winked. She returned his smile and felt herself relax a little, though her heart pounded in her chest.
The audience grew silent once more, expectant. Vela didn’t care that thousands of people stared at her. Most knew who she was because Marcus had built her up as well, including her unusual darkening ability, so that in a small way she had her own celebrity status.
A certain degree of notoriety had come to her because of her darkening power, because of Duncan’s rescue, and of course because of Samuel’s elevation in rank.
She was a target now, just like all the women bonded to Warriors of the Blood, but so be it. She had become a woman of power, something she’d never sought, but each day taught her more of what she possessed of strength and preternatural resources.
Applause resounded once more, this time for her. She inclined her chin a couple of times, but beyond that, she grew very still, and turned to glance once more at Madame Endelle, the compassionate scorpion of Second Earth. The woman smiled and nodded, her peacock and ostrich feathers waving along with her.
Suddenly, Endelle’s voice entered Vela’s mind. You did good, ascender. You did good.
Warmth spilled through Vela’s heart.
She marveled at all that had happened to bring her here, how hard she’d resisted her course, and how much she’d changed in just a handful of days. She valued Endelle’s approval, the woman who had laid down her life for nine millennia, also with great resistance and unwillingness, but who had done it just the same.
She dipped her chin to Endelle, who dipped hers right back.
Vela smiled once more Luken’s beautiful, resonant voice, addressed the audience one more. “Please join me in acknowledging the service of our candidate with warm applause as Warrior Samuel joins us.” The moment Samuel appeared from the shadows of the curtains, applause thundered through the ornate theater once more. He paused for a moment to acknowledge the appreciation that flowed toward him, for his service as a Militia Warrior and probably more for having endured a decade of imprisonment and torture by a Third entity. He offered a short, slow bow. The applause rose to a peak with this gesture, then settled back down to mere thunder once more.
Samuel pivoted in Vela’s direction.
Her own hands ached now from slamming them together with such force, but she didn’t care. Tears brimmed in her eyes as he came toward her. But he didn’t just take her arm, he took her in a warm embrace and to her mind sent, Oh, my darling Vela, how you saved me.
Vela’s tears fell and more followed.
You did the same for me.
He held her for a long moment. When he finally released her, he took her arm, but kept her pinned to his side as he went through his induction.
The ceremony that followed became a blur of speeches made by Luken and Marcus, of ritual responses given by all the warriors that sent a profound and beautiful array of deep masculine voices into the theater, of oaths to serve Second Earth with all his might for the rest of his years as a Warrior of the Blood.