Egan, Doris - Ivory 02 - Two-Bit Heroes (v1.0) (html).html by Two-Bit Heroes

Author:Two-Bit Heroes [Heroes, Two-Bit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-09T19:36:30+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

"Children," called Carabinstereth. "Mora tells us that she held back in this drill because she thought Lex's eye protectors might not be strong enough. This is not your concern! Kindly bear in mind that when he's on that mat, Lex is not our beloved instructor, he is an enemy. Our aim is to push those eyeballs right back into his squidgy little brain! If permanent damage and death occur, then joy be to us all. Anyone I catch holding back—"

I was halfway down the line that afternoon. Juvindeth, standing just behind me, pulled off a boot and shook it. A pebble dropped. She said to me, "So, you and Sokol have another wife."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your senior wife. She must be upset about not knowing where you are."

"We don't have a senior wife."

Now it was Juvindeth who looked confused. "That day in the cookhouse, when you said it was your honeymoon—"

Oh. The custom that was not followed here with principal wives. I said, "Well, I'm a foreigner, and since I'm going to be the only wife he ever has, I wanted a honeymoon."

"Oh, I'm sorry. He doesn't look that poor. I guess the sorcery business has its ups and downs."

"Poor?"

"Not to be able to afford another wife. It'll be lonely, just the two of you." She put a hand on my wrist in comfort. "You should move in with his family, if he has any. They'll be some company for you, anyway."

The Ivoran view of things was sometimes disconcerting. I said, "I don't think you quite—"

"Our time's up for today," called Carabinstereth. "You're all doing excellent work. Now gather 'round, because there

are a few things I need to tell you. —Don't worry, Sel, we'll start with you first tomorrow." She gave Selene a wicked look. "Now, I'm going to warn you about something. You've all got friends or lovers in the band, and you all talk a lot. That's fine as far as it goes—but you'll be better off not bringing up your training around the men, even if you've done something you're particularly proud of and want to share it. This is because—and I'm telling you, it's going to happen—some of them are going to want to fool around with you. They'll say, 'Show me what you've learned, sweetie,' or they'll creep up behind you, or some damn thing." She took a swallow from the waterjug. "Now, I'm not going to say that isn't from some deep-seated male urge to sabotage any woman who might be a threat, because it probably is."

Nicely done, Carabinstereth. You know how to win friends and influence people. I looked toward Lex, whose face showed no expression. Our instructor continued.

"But to be honest, that's not all it is. For one thing, they'll think it's cute as the dickens that you're learning this stuff, and they won't believe for a second you could hurt them. And well, for another—it's the way they deal with each other, too. Horseplay. You know how they throw fake punches at each other for the hell of it.

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