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“Very foggy. Who is he?”
“That young man is Wre
“Is that why the Emperor called me back?”
Lightning looked at me for the first time. “No. Don’t mention it in public-San has work for us. I was also recalled, and I am not at all happy about it, since I had to leave my betrothèd’s side.”
(Lightning is the only person I know who still puts the è in betrothèd.)
“Wre
“He is. He made a name for himself in the town. He’s working his way up through the ranks, and I think being such a fantastic swordsman has made him quite unpopular. Courtiers scent rumors and seek him out to prove themselves, but Wre
“They both look tired.”
“Jant, they started at six o’clock.”
“Shit!”
Lightning gestured at the crowd, “Long enough for the Eszai and the whole of Demesne village to join us. Hush now. He’s such a short boy, I don’t know how he keeps going.”
There was no blood on the sawdust. “Four hours and they haven’t touched each other?”
“They’ve broken a sword each, though. Sh!”
Wre
Wi
They used identical rapiers, damask steel blades with the same length and heft, issued by the Castle to ensure the Challenge is fair. The Challenger is allowed to set the time of the competition, but the Challenged immortal decrees the type of contest. Serein was formerly a fencing master; he had popularized the art across the Plainslands and Morenzia. Three centuries ago, he won his place in the Circle by broadsword combat but since then he has usually stipulated that Challengers use his accustomed rapier and poniard. Wre
Serein flung both hands up and bounded back. He landed in high guard, with both blades pointing at Wre
Serein got low to thrust, but Wre
“That’s three from the left,” muttered Lightning. “He’ll change now.”
That’s what Wre
Wre
If this was me, I would-
Serein jumped and stopped it with just his dagger before it gained momentum.
Well, I wouldn’t do that.
Then he tried to kick Wre
Wre
I gasped. I’d never seen a fencer move that accurately before.
Serein couldn’t turn inside the thrust, and retreated, face sallow. He allowed his rapier point to drop from guard for the first time. It gave Wre
They found new strength, remembering that they’re fighting for immortality. San forbids his immortals to kill their Challengers, although genuine accidents happen now and again. Serein looked furious at how long this was taking, he was cha
Of course, no money Serein’s novices could offer him would lead him to reveal his finest moves. He never taught his students enough for them to Challenge him. But it seemed that Wre
Serein deliberately made an out-of-distance attack, trying to draw Wre
Wre
“It’s only a matter of time…” Lightning said.
Wre
“Serein will stick him like a pig.”
Wre
Serein was lining up a way to end this. He feinted with the dagger, swung his rapier around in an outside moulinet for force, straight down at Wre
And Wre
He caught the inside of Serein’s hand on the grip with his own wrist, forced it aside. His rapier arrested Serein’s dagger and he stretched that arm fully to the other side. He tilted his blade; the tip lowered to Serein’s throat. Serein struggled, stopped. Face-to-face they were so close their chests nearly touched. Wre
Wre
For a second there was silence, and I could tell the same thought was ru
The crowd erupted. A lady next to me put her hands over her ears, the cheering was so loud.
“What timing,” Lightning breathed. “What bloody timing.” He vaulted the low wall and sprinted across the pitch. I got to the duelists first, saw Lightning throw a brotherly arm around Wre
I was suddenly at the focal point, and almost deafened by the crowds. Outside the lit ground the stands were invisible but the applause was like a wall of sound. A chant caught like city-fire and spread through the stands: “Wre