A Girl From Nowhere (The Firewall Trilogy #1) - James Maxwell Page 0,89

you?” Taimin asked. “Or is there no point finding out . . .”

“It’s always good to know a man’s name, even if it’s just for a short while. I’m Vance.”

“Taimin.”

Vance nodded at the other occupants. “The skalen over there is Rathis. He’s some kind of leader, so the Protector considers him quite a prize. He’s also the only skalen so he gets along with everyone. Stay clear of the trulls, especially Sarg—the one missing half an ear. There are a few thieves among the humans, but most are all right.”

“And the bax?” Taimin’s eyes were on the stocky bax, who watched him back.

“The different groups pretty much keep to themselves. You’re safe for the moment. If we don’t get along in here, they stop giving us food.” He gave Taimin a meaningful look. “No one wants to fight on an empty stomach.”

“They make us fight each other?”

“Sometimes,” Vance said. “As a rule, humans never fight humans. Most often we fight creatures from the waste.”

“How does it work?” Taimin asked, still watching the bax. “Knowing that you might have to kill someone you’re in here with?”

“The odds aren’t high I’ll fight any particular prisoner. And one thing about the bax over there: they hate the Protector even more than we do. It’s not their fault they’re here. In a strange way, we’re all on the same side.”

“They plan to attack Zorn,” Taimin said.

Vance raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps. But if you think they started the fighting, you’re wrong.”

Taimin tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“Everyone in Zorn who isn’t a fool knows the truth, they’re just too afraid to say it out loud. Bax . . . skalen . . . they all just want to be left alone. It’s the Protector who started stirring things up—raiding, burning settlements. It’s almost like he’s provoking all-out war. He says that anyone who isn’t human doesn’t deserve to live.”

Taimin stared into the distance. The skalen, Syrus, had told him war was coming. Vance now said it was the Protector who was to blame. Of course the bax who lived in the Rift Valley would fight back. He glanced at the bax in the prisoners’ quarters. If the Protector was the aggressor, then perhaps they were victims as much as the refugees on the plain.

“Why are you here?” Taimin asked.

Vance shrugged. “I stole something from the Protector. Here, have some bread.”

Taimin’s stomach heaved, but he forced down the hunk of pink razorgrass bread, following it with more water. “Is that what you did, before you came here?”

“Steal things?” Vance gave a short laugh. “No, not me. Although I can’t say the same for some of the others. I was a weapons trader.” He held up a hand. “Before you ask, it’s a long story. They’re going to make you fight soon, you know. They might give you a day or two but not much more than that. Are you up to it?”

“Why doesn’t Galen just kill me?”

“Where’s the sport in that? By now the whole city will know you killed the commander’s brother. Seeing you publicly carved up satisfies his reputation in some strange way. No doubt he will enjoy your struggles.”

“So he’s going to bring me out and his soldiers will overwhelm me, but in front of everyone?”

Vance snorted. “No, you don’t have it right at all. They’ll certainly give you a fight you can’t win, but the odds can’t be too skewed or the crowd will feel cheated.”

“How long have you been here?”

“A lot longer than you. So far I’ve won my fights. Still, they’ve taken my measure now and I won’t last much longer. A word of advice: when the assessors come, highlight your weaknesses and hide your strengths.”

Taimin reflected for a moment. His situation was dire, but he had to find a way to survive. “Thank you, Vance. For the food, and for the information.”

“The guards called you a wastelander. I know my way around a sword but I can’t say the same for the others. I don’t plan to die in here, so it makes sense for those of us who can fight to band together.” Vance gave a wry smile. “It also increases the chance that it’s worth getting to know you at all.”

As Vance had predicted, the assessors came the next day. Taimin did the only thing he could. He removed his boot and sat on his pallet as they approached, neither looking up nor standing. He tried to tell himself that he was feigning weakness, but the