At one end of the room was a group of young teens busy with swordplay, and at the other a swarm of children circled round on ancient carved horses mounted on cart wheels or played at stick-and-ball. I wandered toward my friends and was soon hailed by Renna, who offered me a bout. Time passed swiftly and agreeably. I finished my last engagement with one of Nee's cousins and was just beginning to feel the result of sustained effort in my arm and back when a practice blade thwacked my shoulder. I spun around, and gaped.
Shevraeth stood there smiling. At his elbow my brother grinned, and next to him, Savona watched with appreciation apparent in his dark eyes.
"Come, Lady Meliara," the Marquis said. "Let's see how much you've learned since you took on Galdran."
"I take on Galdran," I protested, feeling hot and cold at once.
"I don't know what you'd call it, then, Mel." Bran leaned on his sword, still grinning. "Looked like you went have-at-'im to me."
"I was just trying to defend " I said, and the others all laughed. "And a fat lot of good it did, too," I added when they stopped. "He knocked me right out of the saddle!"
"Hit you from behind," Shevraeth said. "Apparently he was afraid to confront so formidable a foe face-to-face."
They laughed again, but I knew it was not at me so much as at the hated King Galdran.
Before I could speak again, Shevraeth raised his point and said, "Come now. Blade up."
I sighed. "I've already been made into cheese by Derec, there, and Renna, and Lornav, but if you think I merit another defeat…"
Again they laughed, and Savona and my brother squared off as Shevraeth and I saluted. My bout with the Marquis was much like the others. Even more than usual I was hopelessly outclassed, but I stuck grimly to my place, refusing to back up, and took hit after hit, though my parrying was steadily improving. Of course I lost, but at least it wasn't so easy a loss as I'd had when I first began to attend practice--and he didn't insult me with obvious handicaps, such as never allowing his point to hit me.
Bran and Savona finished a moment later, and Bran was just suggesting we exchange partners when the bells for third-gold rang, causing a general outcry. Some would stay, but most, I realized, were retreating to their various domiciles to bathe and dress for open Court.
Shevraeth stood there smiling. At his elbow my brother grinned, and next to him, Savona watched with appreciation apparent in his dark eyes.
"Come, Lady Meliara," the Marquis said. "Let's see how much you've learned since you took on Galdran."
"I take on Galdran," I protested, feeling hot and cold at once.
"I don't know what you'd call it, then, Mel." Bran leaned on his sword, still grinning. "Looked like you went have-at-'im to me."
"I was just trying to defend " I said, and the others all laughed. "And a fat lot of good it did, too," I added when they stopped. "He knocked me right out of the saddle!"
"Hit you from behind," Shevraeth said. "Apparently he was afraid to confront so formidable a foe face-to-face."
They laughed again, but I knew it was not at me so much as at the hated King Galdran.
Before I could speak again, Shevraeth raised his point and said, "Come now. Blade up."
I sighed. "I've already been made into cheese by Derec, there, and Renna, and Lornav, but if you think I merit another defeat…"
Again they laughed, and Savona and my brother squared off as Shevraeth and I saluted. My bout with the Marquis was much like the others. Even more than usual I was hopelessly outclassed, but I stuck grimly to my place, refusing to back up, and took hit after hit, though my parrying was steadily improving. Of course I lost, but at least it wasn't so easy a loss as I'd had when I first began to attend practice--and he didn't insult me with obvious handicaps, such as never allowing his point to hit me.
Bran and Savona finished a moment later, and Bran was just suggesting we exchange partners when the bells for third-gold rang, causing a general outcry. Some would stay, but most, I realized, were retreating to their various domiciles to bathe and dress for open Court.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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