Recap: "Nova do not stop." She gasped. She closed her eyes ready for her orgasm. She coached Nova through it, telling her to slow down when needed, pulling Nova down close to her and gasping in her ear. She groaned as her orgasm subsided. She held Nova on top of her as she slowly calmed down.
Nova looked up at her beautiful lover. She smiled and kissed her chest.
"Fuck, I needed that." Sabine finally said after coming back to reality.
Nova smiled to her as she pulled the blanket up over both of them. She could tell Sabine were tired, Nova yawned. Sabine held Nova close. "I love you." She said with her eyes shut and her voice already groggy. They both slipped into a blissful slumber.
***
If you haven't read the others before this I strongly encourage you to do so;)
***
Nova woke to Sabine hurriedly getting dressed as Ward waited for her. She ran out of the room unaware Nova had woken up.
She slowly got out of bed unsure of what was happening. She dressed and searched for Dorine who wasn't in her room or the kitchen.
Nova felt a slight panic start to rise. She put her shoes on as she went for the tunnel. Lucia met her halfway.
"Where is everyone?"
"I don't know I was told to come get you by Dorine. Ward and Nyko left in a hurry to get Sab-the Commander."
The pair ventured to find almost all the village people crowded the hum of their panic filled the air. Agnes and Nova made eye contact, she moved to join the pair.
"Nova nice to see you." Agnes said with a smile.
"What is happening?" Nova asked.
"Merchants attacked our food supply we had in the woods, killing three gaurds and taking almost all of it. A guard managed to get away to get a message to us. We are all awaiting the Commander's message." Agnes said.
Nova thought as she saw Sabine make her way up on the higher ground to look out to her people. She spoke in the native tongue as Agnes translated for Nova and Lucia.
Sabine waited as her people bowed to her and quieted. She nodded her head to them. She began she explained the situation and reassured them that they had a backup food supply but it was way less than the one the merchants stole. Hunters have been sent to retrieve the leftover food as well as the merchants. Sabine stated that they would be moving their sacred day faster than expected to lessen the mouths to feed. Some are welcome to leave and join another clan or family in order to keep food.
Sabine got down as the crowd erupted again. All calling after her. Ward prepared his children for the fights. Nyko explained to Nova and Lucia what was expected of the gruesome day.
***
They all met in the arena, the villagers lining the on looking area.
Ward appeared will all his students in the ring. Each had a weapon of their choosing. They all bowed as Sabine stood. She made her way down through the gate.
She spoke to each of the students, all having a final moment with them. She and Ward left as they all took their places. The first pair faced each other. With the sound of a horn they began fighting.
Each pair went on. The crowd cheered, families cried over their loved ones lost, Sabine sat quiet observing tentatively.
A new pair stood in the arena. Sabine spoke to them as she did to every new pair. Nova stared at Sabine as she spoke. The fight had begun Nova could hear the rustling around of armour. A spear nearly grazed Sabine's face as it stuck strong in the wall next to Sabine's head.
Nova looked back to the arena to see the young girl Sabine had talked to days before when they were sparring. Nova felt light headed as everything seemed to slow down. She watched Sabine stand. She spoke in native tongues to Ward then to the girl. Ward got the other fighter out of the ring as Sabine's voice echoed.
The girl yelled back her reply. Agnes explained to them that the girl has challenge Sabine for control. Sabine pulled the spear out of the wall she calmly walked down. She walked to the middle of the ring and gave the spear back.
Sabine adjusted her armour and pulled her tiki mask down she went to another fighter and they handed over their weapon. As Sabine's back was turned the girl quietly came up behind her Sabine moved before she stuck the spear in her back.
It penetrating another. The crowd booed. Sabine gave orders for the injured. The girl kicked dirt at Sabine. Sabine shifted around as the girl took jabs at her. Sabine skillfully dodging each one.
Lucia grabbed Nova's hand as she held it.
Sabine could tell the girl was getting tired she waited for her next jab. She dropped her weapon and took hold of the spear. She pulled it out of her hands as she threw it behind her. The crowd cheered. Sabine took her mask off. They make eye contact. Sabine spoke in the native tongue. "Do you want to die?"
The crowd went silent. The girl broke down in tears. She nodded. Sabine turned around to Ward who came forward and picked the girl up taking her away as she wailed. Sabine was quiet as she thought through everything.
She turned around to the rest of the students. "Do any of you want to willingly die?" She asked. A few stepped forward. Sabine turned to the other groups of students. More stepped forward.
Sabine addressed her people. "With taking volunteers first we will try our best to get through the food shortage. We will go through the numbers and if we don't have enough remaining will fight... anyone can volunteer. Thank you." Sabine said before walking out of the ring.
The crowd stayed silent as they waited for Sabine to reappear. She didn't. Nyko met her in the tunnel of the arena "What do you want to do?" He asked.
"Get viles." Sabine said as she caught her breath. She was pacing. The girl came forward. "Commander?"
Sabine stopped. The girl rattled her chains. Sabine came closer. "I'm sorry." She said.
Sabine looked at her in confusion. The girl explained that she has had a hard life and knew the only honorable way she wanted to go was by her hand.
***
With all the volunteers lined up Sabine passed viles out to them. The people had said their goodbyes. Each swallowed the potion inside. Within minutes each person passed out.
Sabine gave a speech some cried and eventually everyone left. A few stayed behind to help clean up and remove the bodies.
Ward and Nyko embraced Sabine reassuring her. Nova came forward as she searched Sabine's face for an answer. Sabine began crying. "They were children." She said.
Nova held her. "They were children and they wanted to die." Sabine said as she cried. Nova cooed soothing words to her lover. She held her face as she spoke to her. "You put them out of their misery. They are grateful for your mercy."
They put things back in order as a hum from a crowd erupted. In the streets surrounded by a crowd the hunters had returned. Dragging the merchants hog tied behind their horses. Nova watched as the dirt became stained with streaks of blood.
Sabine gave her orders. They were to be taken prisoner and not fed or shown to daylight for three days.
Villagers had already began preparing send offs for the passed children. Flowers were cut and fire wood as chopped.
Sabine noticed a villager struggling to carry too many logs. She took two and walked with them. He persisted for her to put them back in his arms. Sabine helped anyway. She walked around watching and helping anyone that were in need of an extra hand.
The gratitude in their eyes was reassuring to Nova she was glad that they still respected her.
***
With the canoes ready the bodies prepped and decorated with beautiful flowers and herbs. Families of the fallen lit their torches the eldest of each family ignited the canoe and sent it away. They all watched as each one burned and lit up the night. Some singing, crying, others telling stories. Sabine looked over to the last canoe still dark and on shore.
She walked down her feet in the water she knew which child it was. The girl with the spear. Sabine tied a lock of her own hair around the spear in the canoe with her. "I'll always be with you." She said in the native language. She lit the bark over top the body and pushed the canoe into the water to join the others.
She watched as the girl slowly was swallowed up by the flames. The fire taking this form so they can be rebirthed as another. Sabine watched as they all glew lighting the night with their souls one last time.
Nova stood back behind Sabine. She waited. Sabine could feel her presence. She held her hand out. Nova took it as Sabine pulled her close. "I love you." Sabine said as she squeezed Nova tight.
"I love you too." Nova said quietly knowing Sabine were hurting.
***
Sabine was sitting on her bed as Nova came and hugged her from behind. Her wet hair hitting Sabine's bare skin goosebumps spread. "You okay?" Nova asked.
Sabine nodded. "It had to be done. Either they went willingly or they fought." Sabine was quiet for sometime. Nova hesitantly kissed her cheek. Sabine gave her a little smile. "Sorry we couldn't visit your family." Sabine said.
Nova kissed her shoulder. "Its okay we had more important things to do."