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Whose shoulders we stand on, and our elders’ shadows we walk in.

May it bring peace, for the liquid we drink has no enemies.

May it honor the past so that we may learn from it.

May it freshen the road our ancestors traveled to be here with us today.

May it nourish the continuity of life, to purify and to sustain our souls

May it be a tribute to our hosts, on whose hallowed ship we stand in

May it uphold the birthplace of the great Katáne civilization

May it bless the unborn, our future leaders, our future heroes and heroines

May it continue the struggle to be a free, proud, and productive people,

May it bless those who will not let our legacy and our efforts for progress die.

May all who agree with this blessing say BARAKA!’

The warriors repeated the last word with such enthusiasm that the ship vibrated under their feet.

They iterated it three more times, with the Riders joining in.

As the room erupted in cheers and whiskey tumblers slammed down, Élisa leaned over to her man. ‘The blessing has been spoken and is now set in stone. Those Hawk Hunters will fight to the death for Killen. They’ll even lend theirkoyato him during battle and sacrifice themselves for him. They cannot be averted from their cause.’

Riv raised an eyebrow. ‘I thought we Sablemen are staunch-devoted, but you Katánians are wild.’

His woman narrowed her lilac eyes that blazed with pride. ‘Our blood runs feral and fierce. Every morning, our enemies wake. They obsess about how they’ll out-soar our slowest K?str?ls. Yet they’ve no hope because the only alternative is death.’

‘I tremble in my mag boots.’

Élisa poked him in the chest. ‘But you, Edenites, defeated a contingent of Katáne’s Hawks. Making you, in my eyes, the most formidable force in Pegasi.’

Riv grunted. ‘We were ensconced in our ships when we did so. I dare say we’d not survive a battle in person. You alone are a giant predator with chrome wings that can rebuff my lasers and talons sharper than obsidian that would cut through my meta suit.’

She gave him a coy look under her lashes. ‘You’ve nothing to fear, lover; you get a hard pass.’

His eyes smoldered, and he leaned in to growl into her ear. ‘Hard, you say, eh?’

She blushed and play-slapped his chest once more. ‘Cool down,Inomorati.’

‘Later?’ he chanced with a wistful turn of his lips.

She nodded with a half smile. ‘It’s a promise.’

It took longer and later than they’d hoped before they found themselves alone in Riv’s stateroom.

‘Hell, that was a long night.’

‘First time I’ve seen Killen let loose this much,’ Élisa added with a laugh, followed by a cry as she slipped off her shoes.

Her toes hurt from all the dancing and carrying on they’d indulged in the last few hours.

After the libation, Mirage had organized a feast to be sent up from the galley.

More wine, whiskey, blessings, and toasts were shared.