Cynara estimated the precise angle of the bone-hilted blade held in a sheath at Mairva’s waist, and calculated the most economical move to take it. She called upon her combat training and all Tyr’s personal tricks. When she struck, she struck true. The knife’s carved hilt bit into her palm. She writhed free of the startled ve’laik’in’s hold and launched herself toward the First of House Ain’Kalevi.
Astonishment was her ally. The shaauri moved belatedly, and most didn’t move at all. Cynara reached Lenko an arm’s length ahead of the nearest Kalevi warrior and thrust the knife’s point straight up under the First’s bewhiskered chin.
Lenko froze. So did Samit, and the third heavily striped shaaurin beside her. The approaching warriors stopped.
She could just feel Ronan, very far away.
“Listen to me,” she said, her face inches from Lenko’s half-open mouth. “And don’t move.”
Lenko stuttered a protest. Cynara grinned. “If you don’t understand, you’d better find someone to translate.”
The First squeaked, and Ronan’s friend Annukki appeared. She glanced at Cynara without expression and answered her leader.
“I know a little of human tongue,” she said. “Speak.”
“Good. Tell Lenko that I expect him to release me and Ronan. I don’t care what he has to do or say to convince Darja, but that’s the only way he’s staying alive.”
Annukki translated. The remaining shaauri, Kalevi and Darja alike, held absolute silence. They were utterly confounded by this unprecedented and unlawful attack on a leader by a weakling human.
Lenko was frankly terrified. He began to speak. Several ve’laik’i moved. A human voice shouted warning.
All at once the Darja shaauri moved in a mass toward the Kalevi, rumbling sounds that could only be threats. Cynara turned her head just enough to observe Ronan blocking their way as though he could stop them single-handedly.
“Do it now,” she hissed at Lenko. The First cried out again, flinching from the bite of the blade. Kalevi ve’laik’i turned as one to face the Darjai. Two hundred armed shaauri stood opposite each other, only a few body lengths and a lone human keeping them apart.
The surprises were far from over. Samit stepped forward and addressed Cynara gravely.
Annukki’s ears flattened in what Cynara had begun to recognize as extreme dismay. “Aino’Va Samit says,” she translated, “you have right to fight Va Lenko for leadership of Ain’Kalevi.” She hesitated, her ears still firmly lowered. “Va Samit did not have to tell you this thing, Human. It gives great power.” Samit spoke again, and Annukki’s ears pricked. “Va Samit says that if you grant her right, she will fight Va Lenko in your place. But you must give up right to lead Ain’Kalevi.”
Cynara laughed. Lenko whimpered. “One small rebellion opens the floodgates,” Cynara said. “Ki Annukki, tell Aino’Va Samit that I accept.” She fell back and tossed the knife toward Samit, who caught it deftly in midair.
Samit spoke to Lenko, who cringed as if he had lost whatever skill and courage had won him his position. It was clear that he wasn’t going to put up much of a fight to retain it.
“Come,” Annukki said. “Va Samit will soon take leadership from Lenko, and must deal with Darja. She will let you and Ronan depart, but she must go now.”
Cynara searched for Ronan behind the wall of Kalevi warriors. Mairva pushed through with her human friend in tow.
Ronan’s expression was blank, and Cynara knew that she should be terrified of what she saw in his eyes. She felt nothing. Hanno ran up to Ronan and stood trembling, expressing with ears and eyes what Cynara couldn’t.
“Ve Mairva says that there is time to go to Ronan-ja to collect supplies,” Annukki said, “then you must go to forest. Ronan is in madness. Will you help him?”
“Yes.” She took Ronan’s arm. It was rigid and at the same time lifeless, and she felt no response from his mind. ‘Take me back to Ronan’s hut.”
Mairva turned and led Cynara through a gathering of dazed shaauri and onto a path leading away from the arena. Ronan allowed himself to be steered along; his utter lack of mental presence convinced Cynara that he was in a state of emotional shock. He’d have to snap out of it once they were clear of the settlement.