The Ring

Mik and I shared tense glances at one another, the silence of the room heightening the tension found within, which could be cut with cold steel. Indeed every warrior within stared silently with bated breath at the two of us. My vision narrowed, my arms crossed, and I glared intensely and intently at Mik, who seemed unphased. He seemingly kept his composure and concentration despite such huge attention being devoted towards him. How any man, even one such as bold as Mik, could stay calm under such pressure from his peers is beyond me, but perhaps Mik is no ordinary man. Clear of mind and singularly focused on his task at hand, not a single observer, not the usually boisterous Basab or the quick-witted Tes, uttered a single word, breathed a single breath, lest they disturb Mik’s concentration, and thus invite his wrath.
Then, Mik threw the ring in his hand towards the post several meters away. Should it land on the post without touching its sides, he will win this game of Tihr, of which I have been undefeated aboard the Everlasting Salvation. Nobody, not even our various commanding officers, not even the Supreme Commander himself, could best me in Tihr. Mik previously refused to engage in such leisurely activity, thinking himself a terrible Tihr player. He quickly proved us all otherwise, and now he was on the verge of defeating me. I had not even anticipated him surpassing Quso, another Sangheili Major we are acquainted with, yet he has done just that.
The ring flew with a slight ringing noise in the air, a clear sign that the thrower had a skilled hand. The room was so silent, the ringing was the only noise audible within. The Unggoy, who made the occasional guttural noise here or there, were deathly quiet. The nigh-incessant chittering of the Kig-Yar was also absent. No gasps, no breathing, no whispers, nothing but the ringing. Even the background hum of the ship’s systems seemingly faded into nothingness as the ringing echoed across the hangar, the only suitable area for which to play Tihr, a game requiring a healthy amount of space.
As the ring approached the post, my heart pounded within my chest, and I slightly feared that it would rip a hole through my very skin, leaping out of my body, and running out of the room in a panic. I started to break out in a nervous sweat, and I suddenly felt warm. My breathing slowed, my vision narrowed even more at the ring’s twirling body, and I rubbed my fingers against my forearms. I had noticed every other Sangheili’s sight tracking the ring with a nervous stare. Only in the heat of combat would I see such frayed nerves from so many a warrior.
Then, the ring landed… but not in a place where any would anticipate.
It hit Quso, who stood not far from the pole to confirm or deny that it struck its sides, right in the face. The damned fool stumbled back before falling onto his rear!
“Ahahahahahaha!!!” I cackled, after which many others followed suit. I looked at Mik, who went to one knee, laughing uncontrollably. Then, he fell onto the floor totally, laying on his back, chortling. He had lost this game, but I felt that he was far more entertained now than if he had won.
Category:The Weekly