Chapter 8 #2
She laughed again. This hostess thing wasn't as bad as she had expected. In fact, it was kind of fun. “Indeed. Now come on, the next match is ready to start.” Kendra plopped down on a long bench next to Quinn and shoved him with her shoulder.
He slid over, but not before shoving her back while appraising her companion.
“Quinn, meet Reyne. Reyne, meet Quinn.”
“Hey,” Quinn eyed him.
Reyne acknowledged him with a nod and stretched his legs, crossing them at the ankle.
“Who is up next?” Kendra asked.
“Tia and you-know-who.” Quinn said with a slight eye roll and a sly smirk.
Kendra rubbed her palms together in excitement. “Oh good. This should be fun. They are very entertaining.”
The door hissed open.
“Who are you rooting for this round?” Tia asked Kendra as she bounced into the room with Garrett strutting behind her like a proud cock.
“I’m rooting for whoever wins.” She admitted, doing her best to appear neutral. She leaned towards Reyne and whispered, “It’s best not to take sides.”
“I see.”
“I’m rooting for Tia.” Quinn’s golden-brown eyes shone bright with mirth. “In case anyone is interested.”
“No one cares, Quinn.” Garrett dismissed him with a flick of his wrist. He entered the circular ring barefoot and bare-chested, wearing nothing but black trousers and brown leather bracers, his long straw-blond hair hanging down his muscular back, half in braids.
He raised his staff in the air, pumping it up and down a couple times to entice cheers from the crew.
Tia stripped down to a black tank top and snug black pants that clinched her waist and ended at her knees.
She entered the ring, also barefoot, her dark hair still pulled back into a severe ponytail.
She lifted her staff above her head and twisted it around her fingers.
Crew members cheered, including Quinn, who followed up with a loud whistle.
Reyne leaned towards her, his arm almost brushing her shoulder. “Quinn and Garrett don’t exactly get along, do they?”
Kendra giggled at his keen observation. “What gave it away?”
“I’d say it’s quite obvious.” His steel-gray gaze returned to the ring. Tia and Garrett paired off across from each other in the center, each staff held parallel to the floor. The atmosphere crackled with tension as the crew held their breath, watching the unfolding drama with rapt attention.
A second later, eight holographic rings appeared on both staffs. Tia’s rings were red. Garrett’s blue.
A chime announced the start of the match.
Quinn beamed. “Let the game begin.”
Tia and Garrett both bowed in a show of respect, then began circling each other.
Garrett’s movements spoke volumes of his readiness to engage.
His fighting style was characterized by powerful, sweeping strikes and calculated offence, a blend of brute strength and tactical finesse.
Tia, on the other hand, was petite and lean, known for her agility and cunning, relying on quick strikes and evasive defensive maneuvers to outwit her opponent.
Garrett tossed his vertically held staff from palm to palm, grinning as if already won.
Tia's eyes sparkled with a mixture of determination and mischief. She grabbed the middle of the staff and tugged it apart at its center, holding not one but two smaller staffs. She spun them in unison, then raised one in the air.
“Whoa. I didn’t see that coming,” Reyne stated, surprised.
Her arm brushed against his muscular bicep as she leaned towards him. She tried to ignore the jolt that sped up her limb and down to her toes. “Oops. I forgot to mention that. The staff can be separated and turned into double weapons. Everyone has their own strategy.”
He glanced down and studied her. “What’s yours?”
Kendra tsked with a sly smirk. “You know I can’t reveal that.”
Reyne’s laugh was deep and husky and Kendra found it hard to pull her eyes away from him.
In the ring, Garrett swung wide, hitting Tia’s staff with a whack.
They both lost a ring. Tia fought back with her double weapons.
Several more rings were lost before they both retreated.
Tia lost three rings, Garrett two. Those rooting for Garrett cheered, causing him to beam with satisfaction.
“I’m winning,” he announced with a smug grin.
Tia flashed a sweet smile. “Not for long.” She snapped her staff back together, swung it into a vertical position and slammed the lower end on the top of Garrett’s bare foot.
Garrett yelped, then retaliated by swinging his staff down towards the top of her head. Tia dropped to one knee, throwing her staff above her head at the critical moment, bracing it with both hands.
The end of his staff hit the center of hers. Tia stood, sliding her staff across his in an outward motion knocking off three of Garrett’s rings before he was able to pull back.
Everyone rooting for Tia, including an overly enthusiastic Quinn, cheered her on.
Garrett scowled with annoyance. “You had that planned.”
“So, what if I did?” Tia purred.
While the two of them began circling each other, Kendra leaned towards Reyne again, careful to avoid contact with his arm this time. “So, what do you think of the game so far?”
“Is it always so violent?” He glanced down at her, a smile tugging the corner of his lips.
“No, only between those two. But that’s what makes them so fun. You never know what to expect.”
The room erupted in applause. Kendra and Reyne both turned in time to see Garrett yank the staff away from Tia. Holding both high above his head in a cross pattern, he smiled down at his enraged opponent.
Tia kicked him in the shin.
Garrett chuckled. He deliberately pinched one of her red holographic rings with his thumb and finger. “Look, the score is even now.”
“Give it back,” Tia demanded with a scathing glare.
He touched another ring with a grin of satisfaction. “Oh look, I’m winning by one point now.”
“Oh. You…you. You!”
One by one, he pinched the remaining three holographic rings and spoke with a lyrical rhythm, “Winning by two…winning by three…winning by four.”
Garrett tossed the staff back to Tia who caught it just as a buzz sounded. He bowed. Tia swung her staff at his head. He attempted to duck but wasn’t fast enough and her staff collided with his skull.
The room rippled with laughter as Garrett palmed his throbbing temple and Tia stomped out of the ring in a huff. It took Garrett a couple of beats before he managed to stumble after her.
Unable to resist the temptation of teasing her friend, Kendra leaned over the railing. “Hey, Garrett, next time you may want to wear a training helmet. Might prove less dangerous for you.”
Garrett flashed a scowl. Before he could exit the room, Quinn tossed him the item in question—a training helmet. Garrett caught the offensive object mid-air and launched it at a grinning Quinn, who barely managed to evade getting hit by the projectile.
The helmet slammed against the wall and skidded across the floor, causing Quinn to let loose a chuckle.
Now that the main event was over, the crew began to filter out of the room.
“Garrett clearly won by cheating,” Reyne pointed out.
“Technically, he didn’t cheat,” Kendra argued, even though she tended to agree with Reyne.
“As I explained before, there are no rules. Besides, part of the strategy is using your strengths against your opponent. Tia is small, but fast, agile. Garrett is slower, but he has strength and height. He used both advantages this time and won.”
“I confess, I’m quite fascinated.” His smoldering gaze captured hers. “Can you teach me how to play?”
“Me?” Kendra choked on a burst of unexpected laughter. “You must be joking. I’m terrible. Quinn would make a much better mentor.”
Quinn perked up, interjecting himself into their conversation. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Kendra.” He patted her head like she was a child in need of comfort. “You are not that terrible. Besides, a good hostess would offer at least one lesson.”
Kendra tried to swat him, but he scooted out of her reach.
“Seriously, I want to give this a try,” Reyne pleaded. “Will you give me a lesson?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say no, but Quinn had reminded her of her mission—to be a good hostess.
Not just good, but the best. And a good hostess wouldn't say no to a guest’s simple request. Even if said guest was attractive, with mesmerizing eyes and a disarming smile that created unexpected flutters in her stomach.
“Oh, I don’t know, I may have to think about it. ” She teased with an eye roll.
Reyne threw his hands over his chest. “Are you planning to leave my poor heart in suspense?”
Kendra realized that he was baiting her. The cad. “Alright, fine.” She agreed with a dramatic huff. “I’ll give you a lesson tomorrow. One lesson.”
He flashed her a wide smile, baring straight white teeth. “Fair enough.”
As her gaze swept Reyne’s chiseled features, she swore she saw the barest hint of triumph in his steel-gray eyes, but it vanished so fast she could have imagined it. It didn’t matter. She had to focus on her task. “For the last part of today’s tour. I will show you Armathea’s best-kept secret.”
His dark brow arched. “Is it better than the hydroponics lab?”
“Humm, that’s debatable. I'll let you decide.”
After realizing they were alone in the athletic room, she headed for the door. He followed. On her way to their destination, she grabbed a decanter of spicy rum from the war room and pressed two glass tumblers into Reyne’s open hands.
She guided him up a metal spiral staircase, each step echoing as they ascended. At the top, they entered the observation deck—an awe-inspiring circular chamber with a glass dome offered a clear panoramic view of the star-filled space.
The room was cast in darkness, except for soft ambient lights that only illuminated 5the floor.