Chapter 23 Decision Made

Kari pouted as he followed Nevis through the manor. The beta had been teasing him endlessly about his bruised lip and the fact that he now smelt like Ryedir . It wasn’t like he could do anything about the fact that he spent all of last night and most of this morning curled up against the alpha. And that not quite kiss was enough to have him tripping over his own feet at a mere thought, let alone Nevis mentioning it.

Apparently, the beta was mostly amused because Kari became a blushing, fumbling mess every time he brought it up. It was an unusual reaction for a pleasure slave, to say the least.

Still, Nevis talked more than normal and kept a watchful eye on Kari. The beta didn’t once comment on the marks on his neck, however. Kari had to wonder if it was about what happened yesterday. In light of Ryedir’s teasing, he had temporarily forgotten his woes but it all came back to the front when he had left the other man’s presence and could think clearly again.

He bit his lip in thought. He remembered what happened at Ilwe now.

The haunting images lurked just below his conscious thoughts. He didn’t know what to do. It tore at him. He had killed all of those soldiers to protect that town, to give them a chance to escape further back behind the front lines. And in penance for his actions, he had used his very life force, intending to die alongside those he had killed.

Yet here he was. Alive. How, he didn’t know.

All he knew was that he couldn’t just offer up his life again. That offering had clearly been rejected because here he stood, alive and well.

Did Yhieris decide that his life was not enough in recompense? Was that why he was now a slave? To serve his penance for taking the lives of the Niamrean soldiers at the mercy of their commander?

Because that’s who Lezzker was: The commanding general of the Niamrean army, should he choose to step onto the front lines. The staff of the manor were very proud of their accomplished master and had eagerly filled Kari in on his accomplishments when he asked.

Not only was he a renowned general and tactician, the alpha was also a Grandmaster of Blades. Apparently the normal title was Blademaster, like Jaid had earned. You had to fight and either evenly match or beat two other Blademasters to earn the title. Ryedir had sought out and defeated all current Blademasters in Niamrea, earning himself the title of Grandmaster. He was only the sixth person in Niamrean history to do so.

Kari could believe it. He remembered the way Ryedir seemed to move as though dancing once he had taken up his sword. He fought with a feline grace that was as breathtaking as it was deadly.

Yet Kari stood there shaking in the corner, useless and a hindrance. He was completely defenceless without his powers and it frustrated him.

If Yhieris had other plans for him, then he best learn how to defend himself. He would ask Ryedir tonight, he decided. Then stumbled as a picture of ice covered in blood flashed across his vision. He pushed it away along with the guilt.

No doubt it wouldn’t stay back for long but he was nothing if not determined. He would learn how to fight without help. He knew his power was coming back, but he was resolute. He never wanted to be that powerless ever again. Any combat skills would only enhance his use of his ice anyway.

The omega caught a glimpse out of the corridor window overlooking the training grounds and stopped in his tracks.

Jaid sparred with another man, which in itself was not unusual, but the alpha’s weapon of choice was. The other man held what was no doubt a dulled practice blade but Jaid was completely overwhelming him with what appeared to be a long, slender pole of wood.

Kari watched, open mouthed as Jaid soundly beat the other man, disarming him with ease and knocking him off balance to fall heavily to the beaten dirt of the practice ring. The pole looked light enough that even Kari with his small frame could handle it.

“I want to learn how to use that!”

*****

"I want to learn how to fight!"

Both Trois and Ryedir turned to look at him in surprise.

Kari hadn't meant to interrupt but now he had made up his mind, he was determined to see it through. Which apparently involved grand entrances and blurted statements. He flushed in embarrassment, still standing in the study doorway uncomfortably, when both of their surprised expressions turned sceptical.

The omega took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. He wasn't going to back down on this. Ryedir gestured at his lap and Kari walked forward to sit on it with a pout. It wasn't until he sat at his master’s lap like a good little slave did Ryedir speak.

"And just why would a pleasure slave need to know how to fight?"

Oh, he hadn't thought about it from that perspective. He looked up at Ryedir, mouth open and about to speak, when he noticed the hint of amusement in the man’s eyes. Curse it all, the alpha was teasing him. Kari huffed and looked away with a scowl before answering.

"Because I don't know how and if someone else comes to attack, I'll just get in the way again. You only got hurt because you wouldn't let them get past and try to use me against you." He hunched slightly, tensed, and his voice sulky at being forced to tell the alpha what he most likely already knew. "I don't want to be some weak little omega that can only sit around looking pretty. That's not who I am."

The alpha took a moment to reply, "What you are is a pleasure slave. You are expected to be pretty." Kari finally turned to face him with a glare but was stopped by the small smile on Ryedir's face. "But that does not have to be all you are. Assassination attempts are unfortunately a fairly routine occurrence here, so knowing how to defend yourself has merits. However, will you panic again when put back into a combat situation?"

Kari stared at Ryedir with wide eyes. He wasn't sure, in all honesty. He wanted to deny it, defiantly wave away all doubts over his capability, but those memories were still fresh in his mind. The omega flinched as he remembered the blood and the screams and desperately tried to push the memories away. He looked down at his knees trying to think of how to respond as Ryedir waited for an answer.

"I don't... I can't..." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as it threatened to overwhelm him. "I can't let it control me. I can't let that happen again." He shrunk in further on himself before quietly whispering, "I don't want to be weak like that ever again."

A large warm hand hooked under his chin and forced him to look up into golden eyes.

As the alpha searched his face, Kari felt himself relax at the touch and start to lean into it. He forced himself to stop reacting and stay still even while his omegan instincts screamed at him to lean closer and take any offered comfort.

The hand fell from his chin and the alpha dismissed Trois until after dinner. He left with a small bow and a lingering look at Kari. The beta had an odd expression on his face, almost a mix of consideration and curiosity.

"I thought you had ways to defend yourself." Ryedir waited until the door clicked shut before speaking quietly. He ran careful fingers over the glittering silver tattoo on Kari's left wrist and sent little shivers down the omega's spine at the contact.

"I can't use it right now." Kari refused to look at the alpha again. "It's still healing. It's there, I can feel my power but I cannot access it at all. I want to learn how to defend myself outside of that. I don't ever want to be in that situation again."

The hand tilted his chin again, forcing his head back up to face the alpha. Kari was able to muster up a glare this time although it came out more like a grimace.

"I'll personally train you on how to defend yourself but you have to tell me what those memories are. I need to know what you are reacting to and why."