11
(Fenjaday)
The morning was promising to be a beautiful summer day in Towani City. Obion and Ory sat eating their breakfast in the Wind Rose canteen.
“It sure is nice here in Towani,” Ory said to his maqla. “I could imagine staying here a long time.”
“As could I,” Obion said. “There are few places I’ve enjoyed more than this town.”
Ory watched the abári in his light pink cloak walk in with his wife and chola. They got their food and sat down next to him.
“Ory, did you ever check the surveillance footage of the greenhouses to find out if the leya imprints felt there could be identified?” Cyanus asked.
“No. I thought we figured out who they were from the fact that the Balan are looking for Zilan and his student,” Ory replied, wondering where this was going.
“It seems to be a logical conclusion, but do you have a name for the student?” Cyanus asked.
“No,” Ory realized his failing.
“As they are clearly going by aliases now, it’s entirely possible that the name Zilan is also an alias,” Cyanus continued.
Ory ran his hand over his face into his hair. He realized that he had missed an entire area of investigation.
“I don’t expect you to remember everything yet,” Cyanus said gently.
“I will solve this mystery,” Ory promised.
“Thank you,” Cyanus said.
Elíaz was full of nervous apprehension as he answered the summons. Tension seemed to be following him around at the moment. Students stayed away from him, the older ones seemed to be shunning him. He hadn’t looked for trouble.
He cleared everything else from his mind, then strode confidently into the sparring room. He knew it wouldn’t placate Tasp, but perhaps it would earn some respect.
“I hope you have learned your lesson,” Tasp said coldly, with a tone Elíaz had rarely heard from the man. He knew it was not respect.
“Yes, Mestari,” Elíaz replied customarily.
“Show me what you have,” Tasp said, tossing the young man a scabbard.
Elíaz caught it with ease. He noted that Tasp had already drawn his shaze, the brilliant sword shining furiously.
Elíaz drew his weapon as well, but waited patiently. Time was on his side. He could stand here all day in this stalemate, boring as it was. He doubted Tasp was so patient.
“Come on,” his mestari goaded.
“I know full well that most of the time, the first one to strike is actually the loser,” Elíaz replied as he stood in his ready stance, right leg set slightly behind him.
“Very good, but what if neither begins?”
“Then there was never going to be a fight anyway. My strength is in waiting.”
“How do you know if there is a time when you should begin the battle?” Tasp asked.
“When someone else’s life is at stake. But then, basically the battle had already begun,” Elíaz said. “There is no excuse to be the aggressor.”
“What if you are commanded to begin the battle?” Tasp asked.
“It would depend on what battle was commanded and why,” Elíaz replied. He knew where the conversation was heading and he didn’t like it. Yet, he would not be dishonest in order to save face.
“Well, you refused to battle when there was a Death Edict placed on the heads of two runners,” Tasp said, returning to that matter. “That was an order coming directly from the Curator himself.”
“We did not face a threat in the warehouse,” Elíaz replied.
“That level of direct defiance could some day cost lives,” Tasp censured.
“I am not in the army where blind obedience is necessary!” Elíaz reminded evenly.
“No, but our leader has a reason for issuing orders. Not following these orders can cause problems for everyone. As can disobeying Balan rules on other matters.”
Elíaz felt the conversation drift uncomfortably. He did not say anything.
“Balan protocol has been carefully developed to ensure the survival and even propagation of our organization,” Tasp continued. “Yet, you refuse to follow rules and orders. I could order someone else to finish your work for you.”
“What do you mean?” Elíaz asked. Did he mean D’zani or something else?
“Your feelings have been far too unguarded. Who is this D’zani who occupies your mind so much?”
“You wouldn’t hurt her!”
“No, probably not. But you’ve already identified her as a very good potential vessel.”
“You will not touch her!” Elíaz warned.
“Then you probably had better,” Tasp said, his meaning clear. “Before someone else does.”
Elíaz drew close to Tasp, his shaze still blazing. “You will not touch her!” Elíaz repeated in a low tone.
“Are you really willing to fight me for her?” Tasp said, amusement lighting up his eyes.
“I will defeat you and you will leave her alone,” Elíaz told him.
“And if I win...”
“Not happening!” Elíaz said, swinging the blunted weapon at his mestari who met it in a fiery clash.
Elíaz began an assault of unbridled fury, his goal to disarm and embarrass the man who threatened the woman who was occupying his thoughts so much. Every strike was parried perfectly, often bringing their shazes into a sparking bind. Elíaz’s swings were met, deflected and countered, putting him on the defensive again.
Elíaz hardly noticed the crowd who had gathered to watch the duel. As he continued his assault, he knew he was beginning to weary, but he realized that his opponent was tiring too. Elíaz could not afford to lose; there was too much at stake. The dignity of the woman he knew he loved had been threatened and he would defend her! Elíaz kept going far beyond what he thought he could handle.
“Give up!” Tasp ordered him when they caught in a bind.
“Never! You will not touch her!” Elíaz countered.
“You can never defeat me!” Tasp returned.
Elíaz ignored him and the duel continued. The mestari was tiring now, he could feel it. He tried to ignore his own fatigue and keep going – all he had to do was to outlast the man in front of him… he felt the dip before it happened and adjusted to meet the lowering of defense. A moment later a shaze was flying through the air, landing in the foam pit a dozen feet away, just a steel sword in the foam. The battle had ended.
“You will not touch her,” Elíaz reminded the disarmed man in front of him. He put his training shaze back in its scabbard and handed it to one of the silenced crowd, pushing his way through as he left. He felt their shock and surprise at the entire exchange. Elíaz did not care, thinking only of D’zani and whether she could love him when she found out everything.
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10
Spice of Strength - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
- continent of Almara (five maps)
- countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
- characters, pronunciation and glossary
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. |
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| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
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