A Warrior's Sacrifice Read Online Free PDF Page A

settled and the tram was underway.
    Corwin shrugged. "I've been in the city a long time but never a part of it. I don't know where to go," he glanced at his three compatriots, "especially any place that would welcome us."
    Kai snorted but didn't say anything.
    Phae scoffed. "We are Maharatha. There is no place that would turn us away."
    "All right then. Take us there," Corwin said.
    "Okay, I will. It is a bar that my family frequents. They'll know me, we won't have any trouble."
    They exited the tram three stops later. This section of the city was unknown to Corwin. He'd never had the occasion — or the want — to visit. This was where the old Wei families dwelled, where entire buildings or blocks housed all the members of a single Drengin Family. Even in such an august section of the city, the buildings were the same as elsewhere: drab, gray boxes topped with a dome.
    The Maharatha were out of place, four black-clad figures with red trim amongst a sea of olive green. They were given a wide berth.
    Phae strode forward, head up, chest puffed out, wide shoulders squared. She was on her home turf, one of the few who'd "made it," returned for the support and adulation of an entire subcaste. She loved it, soaking up the jealous looks and mandatory acts of obeisance.
    At the bar door, they each typed their passcode and entered. The décor was Republic standard: booths along the outer walls and tables scattered throughout the space in between. Several half walls placed before the entrance could hold drinks or provide cover against invasion. A short bar stood near the back next to an emergency exit. The place smelled like stale beer, sweat, and protein cubes.
    The bar was silent, conversations halted mid word, beer or sporks frozen in place between table and mouth. Phae stepped into the silence, eyes half closed, a smile on her face. "As you were," she said.
    Animation returned to the room, though it was subdued as the Wei, wary of the sudden and unwarranted High Caste attention, pretended to go back to whatever they were doing. It was not at all uncommon for High Castes to wander into a Low Caste bar to cause trouble, and the bar's denizens guarded themselves against the Maharathas' intentions.
    Phae strode to a table nearest the bar. The Wei at the table, all second-tier officers, stood, bowed, and moved elsewhere. Phae puffed up bigger, pulled out a seat, and sat down.
    Kai followed Phae, bending his knees and slouching to hide his true size and stature. It was useless, though, for no matter what he did, he couldn't hide his mass.
    Chahal and Corwin sat down as well, Chahal wearing a nervous smile, Corwin a frown. He wasn't pleased at his situation. He'd never visited a bar, not even as he climbed through the castes. He had nothing to celebrate. Besides, this room didn't have enough exits, and from the angry looks thrown about the room, things might get said and challenges issued. That was not how Corwin wanted to spend what might be his last evening on Earth.
    Phae turned in her seat towards the bar. Scrawled on the plasteel wall above the tender's head was a list of the food and beverages available. It was all standard fare, unfiltered beer and grain liquor, protein and greens prepared in a handful of different yet unimaginative ways.
    Phae raised her hand and snapped her fingers. "Hey! Tender! Three beers."
    Corwin's frown deepened. Phae was showing off. In the Republic, where everything was tracked, logged, collated, and then compared against a daily quota, requisitioning three beers in a single order would get you flagged — unless you were Maharatha.
    She turned back to her Voidmates, smiling. No one spoke.
    The tender arrived in moments, set the beer down in the center of the table, and then ran off to fill another order. Phae grabbed one and took a long pull, smacking her lips.
    Chahal and Kai glanced at Corwin with questions in their eyes. "Go ahead," he said as he made a small gesture with his hand. They both reached