Intermix Nation

The crowd, once raucous and rowdy, instantlygoes silent. Khanto and Adamek, mere feet away, face Solomon andbow. Adamek’s gaze lingers on the ground. He looks up, seekingNazirah out, locking eyes with her. She knows he sees the panic onher face, the trembling of her chin, the fear there. But shedoesn’t look away.

She can’t.

Not from those green eyes that are makingeverything so heartbreakingly, confusingly, beautifullycomplicated.

Everything slows down. The Khan and Adamekface each other and nod slightly, touching their swords together.Nazirah watches with baited breath. And she waits. Neither makesthe first move.

Her heart beats once, twice, threetimes.

Just when Nazirah thinks she can’t takeanymore, when she’s teetering on the precipice of collapse orinsanity or both, they start to battle. And Nazirah is ruthlesslycatapulted into the present.

The swordfight is terrifying. Khanto,vengeful titan, attacks Adamek viciously, relentlessly. Adamekskillfully blocks each blow. But the Khan gains ground with everycut, forcing Adamek to retreat in defense. Nazirah grips the edgeof her seat, knuckles white and bloodless.

“Why isn’t he attacking?” Aldrik shouts.“He’s just blocking him, for fuck’s sake! He’s not even trying towin!”

“Is that true?” Nazirah asks Solomonsharply.

“It does seem rather … one-sided at themoment,” Solomon responds.

“I hope that bastard gets his head lobbedoff!” Aldrik rants. “That will teach him a lesson!”

The Khan begins screaming at Adamek inDeathlandic. “Solomon, what’s he saying?” Nazirah asks.

“Lord Khanto is upset that Mr. Morgen is notattacking,” he translates. “He says that by going easy on him, Mr.Morgen prevents the Khan from honoring his father.”

“This is easy?” she asks, bewildered. Itcertainly doesn’t look like Adamek is going easy on the Khan. Ifanything, it looks like he’s losing.

The Khan attacks again, enraged, trying toslay Adamek. Adamek sidesteps the blow a moment too late. Khanto’sblade cuts into Adamek’s fighting arm. Adamek drops his sword,falling to his knees. Khanto peers down at Adamek. He grinssadistically, licking blood off the flat of his blade. There isnone of the warmth in his eyes, none of the humanity that Nazirahsaw two weeks prior. There is only sinister hate and the evil,all-consuming need to kill. To avenge. Is this what Adamek lookedlike, right before he murdered Riva and Kasimir? Is this what shewould look like?

Khanto does not make it a quick death.

He spits in Adamek’s face. He hunches overhim, speaking so low that only those closest to the field can hear.Nazirah looks distraughtly at Solomon, hoping he will translate.But Solomon only stares at the Khan with great sadness. Nazirahtries to stand up, irrationally thinking she can somehow stop itfrom happening. Cato holds her back. She struggles against him.Khanto raises his sword, preparing for the final strike. He bringsit down swiftly. Nazirah squeezes her eyes shut, unable to watchAdamek die.

The crowd collectively gasps. Against herwill, Nazirah’s eyes snap open. She watches, uncomprehending, asthe body slumps forward and collapses. Blood spurts from the neckcavity in waves, deep pulses that spray Nazirah’s face and arms.The severed head rolls towards her, collecting dirt and teeth andsand, leaving a sticky crimson trail in its wake. It comes to astop only a foot away, mouth slack, lips parted in eternal glory.And still, Nazirah ca

It is not Adamek’s head.

Adamek stands, silver sword in his uninjuredhand. The crowd silently watches him pray over Khanto’s body andthen walk resolutely towards the severed head. With hisstill-bleeding arm, Adamek grabs what remains of the overlord bythe braid, lifting it high for all to see. The crowd, once quiet,goes insane. They rise to their feet, cheering and screaming andululating. The surviving Red Lords bow in respect.

But Nazirah ca

#

Nazirah awakens in her room, feeling likeher brain has been slammed with a sledgehammer. Solomon and Catohover above. Her sight slowly sharpens into focus. She tries to situp, but Olag gently presses her down.

“What happened?” she murmurs, holding herhead.

Solomon dabs her forehead with a warmcompress. “Oh, Miss Nation!” he exclaims. “Praise the gods, you areawake! We were so concerned!”

“You fainted, Irri,” Cato clarifies. “Justafter Morgen won.”

“Olag carried you back,” Solomonconfirms.

She fainted?

Nazirah has never fainted before … ever.

She sits up sharply this time, ignoringtheir protests. The cloth slides off her forehead, falling to herlap. Nazirah flings it away in frustration. “Why does my head hurtso much?”

“I tried to catch you when you collapsed,”Cato says. “But you hit your head on the stone first. We think youhave a concussion.”

“And Morgen –”

“He is fine, just fine!” exclaims Solomon.He picks up Nazirah’s discarded cloth, wiping his own sweaty brow.“We had quite a scare at the end, but Mr. Morgen prevailed. He iswith Mr. Slome right now and my best healers are tending to hisarm. He will be perfect in no time at all.”

Nazirah’s head feels fuzzy. Like she needseverything repeated several times and then maybe once more to boot.“The Khan is dead?”

“He is,” Solomon replies sadly. “But he knewthe risk. It is unfortunate that things have come to this, but itis a blessing in disguise. We mourn the loss of Khanto. But we alsolook towards the future, as the Red West allies with therebels.”

“But,” she persists, “how did he win? He wason the floor. I thought for sure…”

Cato supplies a brief, nonchalant answer.“Khanto thought, as did we all, that Morgen was done for aftergetting injured. When he was speaking at the end, the Khan didn’teven notice Morgen reaching for his fallen sword with his uninjuredarm. He let his guard down … didn’t even see it coming.”

“The Khan was not a man of honor today,”Solomon mutters. “His desire for vengeance blinded him, leading himastray from his own code.” He looks at Nazirah. “That was hisdownfall.”

“Thank you for bringing me back,” she saysto them, glancing at Olag. “All of you.”

“I am relieved you are all right,” Solomonsays. “But I should go check on Mr. Morgen’s progress.” He sayssomething to Olag. “Please stay here and rest. I will send someoneup with tea shortly.”

Nazirah smiles weakly, mumbling her thanksagain. Solomon and Olag depart, leaving her alone with only Catoand stiff silence. The pain in her head has subsided to anunforgiving roar. “I can’t believe I fainted,” she says. “Must havebeen the heat.”

“Or the severed head,” Cato respondsquietly.

“Wait until Lumi hears,” Nazirah sighs.“She’ll crucify me.”

“Probably.”

Nazirah, bumbling and ever articulate,attempts to change the subject. “Have you spoken with her atall?”

“Once, a few days ago,” he says, shrugging.“She really seems to enjoy working at the hospital, especially inZima.”

“Really?” questions Nazirah. “I neverpictured Lumi as having a wonderful bedside ma

Cato looks at her, impassive. “Strangerthings have happened.”

Nazirah coughs. “I guess.”

“I think that after what happened to Ani,”he explains, “she finds comfort in saving the lives of others.”

“That makes sense,” Nazirah replies. “Shelikes you, Cato.”

“And I like her,” he says. “She’s myfriend.”

“You know what I mean,” Nazirah presses.“She really likes you.”

Cato sighs. “Why are you doing this?”

“I’m not trying to pry!” Nazirah says. “ButLumi is beautiful, strong-willed and opinionated. She can even besweet sometimes, especially to you. I think you might be goodtogether.”