Chapter 6: The Letter

The day of the tournament had arrived. Q'Wasim had put on Priyansi's latest armor and was looking at himself in the mirror. Over the thin undershirt and dark animal hide pants, the long mosan scale armor shirt gleamed red in the early morning light coming from his small window. The shirt matched the protective bracers on his forearms.

Long ago, the Kamal tribe had had armor like this but better. The legends say it was light as silk. His current armor, though lovingly made, was not that.

Q'Wasim stood up a bit straighter. Kaxa's worries over the armor's viability were unfounded. He was used to the extra weight. It was hardly noticeable. Really.

There was a knock at his door.

"It's me."

Kaxa.

Q'Wasim hesitated. He did not need another argument right now.

"I'm coming in," she announced. She opened the door.

Their eyes met.

"Hello sister," Q'Wasim said cautiously. "What brings you here?"

Kaxa lifted up her arms and Q'Wasim noticed that she was holding a dark red parcel. "I went to see Priyansi last night."

Q'Wasim's mouth went dry. He had no idea how Kaxa had managed that. With the tournament today, Priyansi would have been surrounded by attendants to help her with all the rituals that needed to be done last night.

Kaxa continued, "I wanted her to convince you to not compete in this stupid tournament, but instead she gave me this." Kaxa threw the parcel she was carrying onto his sleeping mat. It landed with a clatter. "And," she pulled out a piece of parchment, "a stupid love letter." She stuffed a note into Q'Wasim's hands and then without ceremony, turned to leave.

"Kaxa," Q'Wasim began, catching her arm. "Wait a moment."

His sister went still before slowly turning back to face him. "Yeah?"

"Thank you," he said.

Kaxa looked like she wanted to cry, but all she did was say, "Just try not to die, okay Wasi?"

"Of course," he said confidently.

Kaxa closed her eyes and laughed. Then she slipped out of his grip and strode out of the room like it was any other day. The door closed behind her.

Q'Wasim stared at the door for a moment, before looking down at his note.

Wasi,

I was wondering how to get you this armor when Kaxa appeared in

my bedchambers with fire in her eyes. She wants me to tell you not

to compete today. I cannot. I know I should, but I cannot. I want to

believe in you, even if it makes me selfish and a horrible friend. My

only consolation is knowing that even if I told you to stop, you

would see through my lie and compete anyway. So, I am opting to

skip all that and talk to you about this newest armor instead. It is

made from that new sample that you gave me a few weeks ago. I

did not want to say anything before this because I did not think I

would finish testing this new version in time, but I managed it

somehow and now, it is ready for battle. Besides aesthetics and

materials, the other main difference is the cutting technique I used

for the beaded scales. I have to admit I'm quite proud of this

version. I hope it brings you luck.

As High Priestess, I know that the mother goddess and her

servants will choose the next Crimson Tiger, and whoever he is, he

will be perfect for me and Takanda. As Gaven's sister, I am

distraught to be replacing him so soon. And as your friend, I hope

you survive today.

I wish I could say more than that, but again, I cannot. Already, you

using my armor has caused enough controversy. I know you

understand. You always do.

May the mother goddess protect you,

Priyansi

High Priestess of Takanda

Q'Wasim reread the letter.

Selfish.

That was a good word for it. He too was selfish. He knew it, but in this case, he did not care. Q'Wasim went to his sleeping mat and unwrapped the new armor. He smiled. It did look different. Instead of ruby, most of the gems were more of a garnet color. Some even looked black. As it was Priyansi, she hadn't been content with just a random assortment for his official tournament armor. The scales formed stripes, like a tiger. Q'Wasim dawned the new armor with pride. However reluctantly, Priyansi was on his side. She had once again resisted Kaxa's demands and her own conscience.

She wanted to believe in him. She wanted him to win. She had come so close to outright saying it was so. More than the armor, which was a bit lighter and a closer fit, this letter had been what he needed to uproot the doubts that Kaxa and the elder had tried to plant last night.

He felt ready.

Q'Wasim walked out of his room filled with renewed hope.