Draggah (38 page)

He let his mind delve deeper into his friend
’
s shoulder.  Tiberius felt the bulbous end of the upper arm bone, and the gaping void of the shoulder socket.  The muscles, nerves, and tendons were all stretched to the breaking point.  Some of the ligaments and sinew had torn apart during the injury, and Tiberius could feel his magic pulling them back together, wanting to complete the healing process, but they were too far apart.

Tiberius thought at first that he could magically grow the torn flesh so that it could heal, but then he realized if he did it would leave Rafe crippled.  The temptation to just end the pain was so great that Tiberius broke out in a sweat.  He needed to move the shoulder back into place so that the magic could complete the healing process.

Tiberius tried to move his friend
’
s arm, but the pain flared to such an extent that Tiberius nearly swooned.  He was breathing heavy.  A crowd had gathered around him, watching as he tried to heal Rafe.  They talked quietly, murmuring as Tiberius
’
struggle increased.  Ti had to ignore them, he blocked out everything he could.  His mind was starting to feel the strain.  Tiberius knew if he didn
’
t do something soon, he would lose his control of the magic, perhaps even damage his mind with the intense effort.

He took a deep breath and yanked on Rafe
’
s arm.  Instinctively, Rafe
’
s whole body moved, trying to protect him from the pain of the ordeal.  Tears rolled down Tiberius
’
face.  His body shook from the pain, but he knew he had to keep going.  He couldn
’
t just yank the arm. He had to pull the shoulder away from the body so that it could slide back into place.  Tiberius raised his foot, and put it against Rafe
’
s side, just below the armpit.  Then, taking another deep breath, he tugged on the arm again.

This time the pain raged so white hot that it was all Tiberius could comprehend.  But just as quickly as the pain came, it also began to fade.  Tiberius could feel the healing taking place.  He continued to chant the spell quietly as he sucked in great lungfuls of shuddering breath.  Slowly the pain faded away and Tiberius felt his friend
’
s strength returning.  He let the magic go, ending the spell and savoring the final pull of the magical power slip away like a gust of wind.

When Tiberius opened his eyes a few minutes later, he saw bright, silvery flecks of light around the perimeter of his vision.  Almost the entire tribe was gathered around him.  The sun was setting and everything was quiet.

“
Rafe,
”
Tiberius said in a hoarse croak. 
“
Wake up.
”

Rafe lay perfectly still.  He looked peaceful, at rest.  Terror struck in Tiberius
’
heart.

“
Rafe, you
’
ve got to wake up,
”
he said, shaking his friend.

Tiberius turned to Olyva who was standing up nearby.

“
What did you give him?
”
he asked. 
“
Why won
’
t he wake up?
”

“
I gave him what I had to ease his pain,
”
Olyva said. 
“
He
’
ll wake up when he
’
s ready to.
”

“
I need him now.
”

“
He
’
s been through a lot,
”
Olyva said calmly.

“
I know that,
”
Tiberius said. 
“
I
’
ve been with him.  I felt his pain, but he
’
s better now.  Why doesn
’
t he wake up?
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Olyva said, her peaceful demeanor infuriating Tiberius.

“
He has to wake up.
”

“
Tiswanee,
”
Te
’
sumee said. 
“
It is time for the Ullantee.  Come, you must prepare yourself for the Tuscogee.
”

Tiberius looked at Olyva, but she stood unmoving, staring down at Rafe.  She seemed completely unconcerned with Tiberius or the dilemma he faced.  Tiberius got slowly to his feet.  His legs were shaky and he felt weak.  The ground seemed to shift underneath him, reminding him of when he was a child.  He and Rafe used to spin around and around until the world seemed to spin and lurch around them.  Te
’
sumee took Tiberius
’
arm to steady him.  They moved away from the crowd and Tiberius saw the Rogu preparing a ring of fire beyond the edge of the camp.

He remembered his first Tuscogee and how it had been like a sacred ceremony to the Hoskali.  He realized there was no getting out of the challenge now.  He was the Swanee, the chief of the tribe.  If he was challenged, he was honor bound to meet that challenge.  When he
’
d fought before, Rafe had faced Moswanee
’
s champion and Tiberius had used his magic to aid Rafe.  Moswanee had done the same thing, so the odds were fair, but this Tuscogee would be different.  There was no Swanee to face Tiberius, and no champion to fight Ti
’
s battle.  He would have to face Bu
’
yorgi alone.

Ti saw Filsa and the other women of his harem.  They were all waiting for him, everyone except for Lexi.  He had no idea where she was or what she was doing.  And he didn
’
t know if he would have the chance to tell her how sorry he was, or how much she meant to him.  He felt tears stinging his eyes and he couldn
’
t hold them back.  He didn
’
t have the strength to do anything more than keep walking toward the women who were there to prepare him for the Hallinsae, the fight to the death.  His mind stayed fixed on Lexi.  He felt as if he had lost his best friend and he feared he would never see her again.

Chapter 28

Tiberius

The women helped Tiberius strip out of his dirty clothes.  They washed him and dressed him in the white garments that were reserved for the Tuscogee.  It was a solemn ceremony.  None of the women spoke.  Tiberius was grim faced, his mind far away through the entire ordeal.  None of it seemed real.  He was tired, his body felt as spent as if he
’
d been through the most arduous physical training of his life.  He wasn
’
t in pain.  There was no lingering soreness from his magical spell since his physical body hadn
’
t actually been damaged.  It was a magical link that allowed him to share Rafe
’
s pain, but in his mind it was real.

Night fell and the camp was completely dark.  Food was brought to Tiberius, but he had difficulty eating.  He had faced death before, but it was always a sudden development.  He found that dealing with the fear of death was worse than facing the danger itself.  He felt as if he had a crazed creature deep inside him.  His fear bit and clawed, scratching and scrambling inside him.  He wasn
’
t sure if the fear wanted out, or if it was trying to devour him.

Filsa and the other women fed Tiberius the Ullantee.  It was a special meal reserved for those who might die.  He was given the best cuts of meat from the Tamaka horde, special vegetables that were rare on the great plains, and more of the flat bread which was a staple of the Hoskali diet.  Tiberius didn
’
t taste any of it.

Then the weapons were brought to Tiberius.  As the Swanee of the tribe, he was expected to insure the ancient brass swords were ready for combat.  The women polished the golden blades until they were as bright as mirrors.  Tiberius picked one up and his spirits sank even lower.  He had never been skilled with a sword, but the ceremonial brass swords were extremely heavy.  Even if Tiberius wasn
’
t exhausted, he wouldn
’
t have been able to wield the heavy weapons effectively enough to best an opponent.

“
Bu
’
yorgi is a dangerous foe,
”
Filsa said quietly. 
“
Why not name Te
’
sumee as your champion?
”

“
Rafe is my champion,
”
Tiberius said grimly.

“
He is unfit.
”

“
Then I will stand against Bu
’
yorgi myself.  No one else needs to die on my behalf.
”

“
Then you will call down fire from the sky to defeat him?
”
Filsa said hopefully.

“
No,
”
Tiberius said. 
“
I can
’
t.  It
’
s too risky.  If I lose control casting that spell, many of the Hoskali could be hurt.
”

“
But you must find a way to defeat Bu
’
yorgi,
”
Filsa said, and Tiberius heard a note of desperation in her voice.

“
I will,
”
Tiberius said.

“
Let me fight him,
”
said a soft voice behind Tiberius.

He turned around, his mind not believing what he was hearing.

“
Lexi?
”

She had the Wangorian blade in her hands.

“
If you die, then I should too,
”
she said. 
“
I won
’
t go on without you.
”

There were tears sliding down her face.  In the light of the fire, Tiberius thought she looked more beautiful that he
’
d ever seen her before.

“
No,
”
he said, but he couldn
’
t hold back the smile that broke out across his face.

“
I
’
m not joking,
”
Lexi said. 
“
You
’
re not a killer Ti, but I
’
ve seen your opponent.  He won
’
t hesitate to cut you to pieces.
”

“
He
’
s not more fierce than a Graypee,
”
Tiberius said. 
“
He
’
s not stronger than the Draccon.  We defeated the trees, Lexi.  We survived the Tamaka herd.  We were victorious in the Tuscogee against Moswanee and Ummar.  We didn
’
t come through all of that to die now.
”

“
Tiberius,
”
Lexi said, stepping close to him,
“
this isn
’
t a game.
”

“
I know that.
”

“
Then you know Bu
’
yorgi wants to kill you.  He won
’
t be expecting me.  He
’
ll underestimate me.  I can get close to him, Ti.  I
’
m fast, faster even than Rafe.  I
’
ll cut his heart out before he even knows
…”

Her words trailed off.  Tiberius put his hand on her shoulder.  They both knew she couldn
’
t stand in for him.  Tiberius was sure that having a woman as his champion would be met with shock by the Hoskali.  He could practically hear Te
’
sumee saying it wasn
’
t their way.  It might not have been a bad idea if Tiberius could have protected her with magic, but since Bu
’
yorgi was facing Tiberius alone, it wouldn
’
t be fair if Tiberius worked magic outside the circle of the duel.

Lexi covered her mouth with her hand, and for a moment Tiberius was afraid that she was going to break down.  He wanted to be strong for her.  He wanted to face the Tuscogee with strength, not red faced from weeping, but he didn
’
t think he could hold back his tears if Lexi fell into his arms crying.

“
It will be okay,
”
he said.