wins.”
Khaos blinked, surprised. He supposed that he knew he’d hit that number, but hearing someone else say it made it feel suddenly more real. Was he really the only one to have reached that level of wins?
As if sensing his question, Calin nodded his head. “It has been a great many years since someone has held such a streak. You’re the first in a very long time, and so it’s my pleasure to dub you Champion of the Kaspersi.”
The applause was thunderous, and Khaos had to let out a breath. It was overwhelming and the last thing he expected, but the feeling of triumph just seemed to grow in his chest.
When Calin motioned for him to bend down, he did, and smiled at the slight warmth from the fire flowers being placed around his neck. They were a symbol of victory, planted in every spot where the Vekosh raiders had been beaten back from both Artres and Lio. They were forbidden to be picked without permission, so to have a garland of them around his neck like this was one of the highest honors a warrior of Kaspersi blood could boast.
“Thank you,” he said as he straightened up. “This is a great honor.”
“The honor is ours,” Calin said. “Glory to you, Khaos. Today you will celebrate your victories, but tomorrow I will send a shuttle for you, and I hope you will join me in a luncheon in the capital.”
He’d never been to the capital before. It was for those members of the Kaspersi clan who were rich and involved in the politics of Blessini. They met with the leaders of the other quadrants and kept trade and relations working smoothly between everyone. Someone like him would never have been allowed to go even enter the sweeping compound that made up the capital, but now he had an invitation. He was going to be picked up in a shuttle .
“Of course,” he said, shaking off his surprise and remembering his manners. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Wonderful.” Calin gestured to the crowd behind Khaos. “Then please, go and enjoy your festivities. You’ve more than earned them.”
Khaos watched until Calin had disappeared back into the cool darkness of the boxes and then turned. Briselle was standing there, eyeing the garland of bright red and orange flowers around his neck with heat in her eyes. He decided that he very much liked that look.
“You should get cleaned up before you go,” she practically purred, holding a hand out to him. “Allow me to assist you, Champion?”
It was going to be hard to wrap his head around that. Being called ‘Champion’. Khaos had no idea what it even really meant to be a champion of the Kasperi, but he supposed that would be something they’d talk about when he went to the capital.
For the moment, there were more interesting things to think about. Like the way he could see the curves of Briselle’s breasts through the thin material of her tunic and the smile she was giving him that promised he’d have a very good time if he went with her. From the way the crowd was still cheering, he was sure there’d be a good deal of drinking that afternoon, and he was ready to throw himself into it.
The day passed quickly in a haze of Briselle’s long limbs and the drinks and food that people insisted on buying for him. As far as he could tell, no one else knew what the Kaspersi’s champion was supposed to do either, but that didn’t stop them from celebrating him like he was one of their own.
Which he was, when it came down to it.
The Leader and the others in charge of keeping the peace and making laws were far off entities. They were rarely seen and had a sort of elitism about them, considering their positions. Most of the people celebrating that day were people Khaos had known his whole life. His housemates were there for some of it, as well as people he’d grown up with in the orphanage.
Even Mirrigan had stopped by to wish him well and congratulate him on his accomplishment. Having a champion that was one of them clearly meant something to the
Khaos blinked, surprised. He supposed that he knew he’d hit that number, but hearing someone else say it made it feel suddenly more real. Was he really the only one to have reached that level of wins?
As if sensing his question, Calin nodded his head. “It has been a great many years since someone has held such a streak. You’re the first in a very long time, and so it’s my pleasure to dub you Champion of the Kaspersi.”
The applause was thunderous, and Khaos had to let out a breath. It was overwhelming and the last thing he expected, but the feeling of triumph just seemed to grow in his chest.
When Calin motioned for him to bend down, he did, and smiled at the slight warmth from the fire flowers being placed around his neck. They were a symbol of victory, planted in every spot where the Vekosh raiders had been beaten back from both Artres and Lio. They were forbidden to be picked without permission, so to have a garland of them around his neck like this was one of the highest honors a warrior of Kaspersi blood could boast.
“Thank you,” he said as he straightened up. “This is a great honor.”
“The honor is ours,” Calin said. “Glory to you, Khaos. Today you will celebrate your victories, but tomorrow I will send a shuttle for you, and I hope you will join me in a luncheon in the capital.”
He’d never been to the capital before. It was for those members of the Kaspersi clan who were rich and involved in the politics of Blessini. They met with the leaders of the other quadrants and kept trade and relations working smoothly between everyone. Someone like him would never have been allowed to go even enter the sweeping compound that made up the capital, but now he had an invitation. He was going to be picked up in a shuttle .
“Of course,” he said, shaking off his surprise and remembering his manners. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Wonderful.” Calin gestured to the crowd behind Khaos. “Then please, go and enjoy your festivities. You’ve more than earned them.”
Khaos watched until Calin had disappeared back into the cool darkness of the boxes and then turned. Briselle was standing there, eyeing the garland of bright red and orange flowers around his neck with heat in her eyes. He decided that he very much liked that look.
“You should get cleaned up before you go,” she practically purred, holding a hand out to him. “Allow me to assist you, Champion?”
It was going to be hard to wrap his head around that. Being called ‘Champion’. Khaos had no idea what it even really meant to be a champion of the Kasperi, but he supposed that would be something they’d talk about when he went to the capital.
For the moment, there were more interesting things to think about. Like the way he could see the curves of Briselle’s breasts through the thin material of her tunic and the smile she was giving him that promised he’d have a very good time if he went with her. From the way the crowd was still cheering, he was sure there’d be a good deal of drinking that afternoon, and he was ready to throw himself into it.
The day passed quickly in a haze of Briselle’s long limbs and the drinks and food that people insisted on buying for him. As far as he could tell, no one else knew what the Kaspersi’s champion was supposed to do either, but that didn’t stop them from celebrating him like he was one of their own.
Which he was, when it came down to it.
The Leader and the others in charge of keeping the peace and making laws were far off entities. They were rarely seen and had a sort of elitism about them, considering their positions. Most of the people celebrating that day were people Khaos had known his whole life. His housemates were there for some of it, as well as people he’d grown up with in the orphanage.
Even Mirrigan had stopped by to wish him well and congratulate him on his accomplishment. Having a champion that was one of them clearly meant something to the
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