Read Azaria for Free Online Page B

arms. She couldn't tell if it was rabbit blood or not, but a few were grimacing in pain. "Better than some, anyway," she added.
    Just then, Daneel came running up. "How did you do, Azaria? Tiriz thinks he got four and everyone is saying Dogahn got six. Luzon is claiming he got seven. But I don't think he's allowed to count the spear in his leg," she laughed.
    "Daneel!!" Zephia said. "That's not a laughing matter. That's a serious injury. I'm sure he'll have to sit out the Long Race now."
    Azaria hadn't thought of that. Suddenly she was thankful she’d not been injured. The Long Race was the event she’d really been looking forward to, the one she most wanted to do well in. Although Luzon was not her greatest competition, his absence would increase her odds at least a little. She contemplated the rest of the field. There were a couple slightly older girls from Fox Camp whom she didn't know very well, but were rumored to be strong runners. There was a boy her age who was considered a favorite and of course there was Dogahn. She'd been racing against him her entire life.
    After a moment her attention was brought back to an argument unfolding between Daneel and her mother. "...I know, but he's laughing about it. He's telling jokes," Daneel was saying, struggling to defend herself. Azaria smiled, knowing her friend wouldn't have much luck in an argument with her mother.
    "Daneel, it's okay. But you should have more respect for the injured," Zephia harped. "They are the only ones who have the right to laugh at themselves."
    Azaria thought her mother was being a little harsh and decided to save Daneel from digging a deeper hole. She grabbed her hand and interrupted before her friend had a chance to reply, "Mother, I need to wash off before the next games. Come on, Daneel!"
     
    Azaria and Daneel watched the rest of the sun’s competitions with Dogahn and Tiriz. The boys were especially interested in the wrestling matches. Tiriz had high hopes for his older brother Tilik, who did well until he met Dizon, Luzon’s massive eldest brother.
    The favored fighter was a giant of a man, once and half again as massive as his younger brother – a preview of what Luzon would soon become. His dome was shaved clean in the customary style of the family men. Black, tattooed stripes covered much of his skull, beginning just above the back of the neck and tapering to converging points at the top of his forehead. Ugly scars were visible on his face, limbs and torso, trophies of earlier victories. Spread across his upper back were a pair of tattooed eagle’s wings, another family identification. They claimed an ancestor had bred with one of the Birdmen, providing explanation for their astonishing physical prowess. Most believed the claim. The eagle’s wings reminded those who didn’t.
    The match started out surprisingly well for Tilik, but he ended up being no competition for the champion, who beat him so badly he had to be brought off the pitch on a stretcher.
    Despite Tilik’s savage defeat Azaria enjoyed the wrestling matches, but her real interest was with the boy she’d always thought more of as a goofy brother. Her altering perception was confusing. She didn’t understand why she discovered herself suddenly unable to talk to him. She kept quieter than usual, unwilling to join in light conversation out of fear she’d say something stupid or uninteresting. It was perplexing to be caught by this seizure when he’d always been one she could open up to.
    Dogahn also was quieter than usual. He’d hardly said more than a few words to her the whole afternoon. Luckily for them both, Daneel’s mouth was always full enough to keep any awkwardly silent moments at bay.
    However Daneel couldn’t protect Azaria from everything. Later that evening when the results of the Hare Hunt were announced, Azaria and Dogahn found themselves standing awkwardly close together in front of a cheering audience. Fahim announced Azaria had bagged five hairs, as