by Sarah Lin
Though Fiyu did not consider herself an expert with expressions, she was fairly certain they were unhappy. One of the Archcrafters, a muscular man who shadowed the apparent leader, took a step toward them and struck the base of his pike on the ground.
"Are you seeking death? Why insult the Armeau family like this?"
Immediately Fiyu went completely still, only just preventing herself from slipping into her stealth technique. She was uncertain what the insult could possibly have been, but recognized that they had stumbled into a dangerous social situation. With no experience in this environment, she froze and hoped that Companion Nauda could guide them through.
"We meant no offense." Nauda rose to her feet, placed her staff in a nonchalant position, but her fingers remained tense, ready to wield it as a weapon. "I'm afraid I don't even understand what we've done to insult your family."
"You think a bench is just set in the middle of the city for anyone to sit on?"
Companion Nauda hesitated for just a moment, and Fiyu surmised that she had thought that too, since it seemed senseless to leave a resource unused. Though Companion Nauda was usually much swifter than Fiyu with such things, her moment of confusion was instantly set upon by the group, and it looked as though they would descend and tear her to social pieces.
Before they could, the leader of the group made a calming gesture. Unlike all of the others, his body was completely relaxed, with no outrage real or feigned in his muscles. "I'll forgive them this time, Delarde," Stranger Leader said. "They look like they're far from home, no doubt confused and weary. The Armeau family has enough surplus to be generous."
"You're fortunate." Stranger Delarde stepped back and returned his pike to his side, while Stranger Leader gave them an odd smile. Before he could say more, however, the one Tatian woman stepped up beside him.
"Being foreigners doesn't give them the right to take anything they want. My family would never have done such a thing, not even in our first days here." She focused on Companion Nauda, the muscles in her legs set to advance. "Be cautious, Esaire. If you don't watch them, Tatians will take everything."
"I'll remember your warning, but I don't think they mean any harm." Stranger Leader Esaire gave an expansive shrug that felt like a clearly practiced motion, though Fiyu was just happy that he seemed unlikely to initiate violence. "My father spent time on Ichil, and he said their dark world has little time for our niceties. No doubt the Ichili lady is simply very tired."
Fiyu nodded, but to her surprise Stranger Delarde growled at her. "So exhausted that she can't even hear?"
"I am tired, but not s-" Fiyu cut off as Companion Nauda tugged on her sleeve, pulling her up. Once on her feet, Fiyu felt the slight easing of tension and realized that they must have wanted her to get off the bench. She didn't think it was at all fair of them to have expected her to understand that, but remained silent.
"We've just arrived in your city," Companion Nauda said, "and we are still finding our way. Thank you for your understanding."
"It's no trouble at all. If Armeau isn't strong enough to welcome strangers, who is?" Stranger Leader Esaire gave them another smile, and there was some sort of tension, but Fiyu wasn't sure she understood it. "The two of you seem to be soulcrafters, so perhaps you might even join us in s-"
"That's her!" Abruptly the last Archcrafter in the group shoved a finger toward Nauda. "That's the Tatian who tried to stop me from completing my assignment!"
Fiyu flinched as she finally recognized him, remembering his anger on the road. Companion Nauda set her feet differently and several in the group of strangers shifted in response, but once again Stranger Leader Esaire raised a hand to hold them back. This time, it seemed that Stranger Delarde actively seethed at the command.
"No doubt only another misunderstanding, and as you said, they didn't stand in your way. Perhaps we should formally introduce ourselves and move past such problems." The leader gave a sweeping bow that sent the half-cape on his shoulder flaring. "My name is Esaire ai Armeau. And you are?"
Companion Nauda remained silent, but Fiyu felt certain that she understood this formula, so she spoke up. "My name is Fiyu ai Ichil. I did not mean to steal your bench."
"No trouble at all. And your companion?"
This time when Companion Nauda smiled, Fiyu felt the tiny ripples of smaller muscles moving as well. "My name is Nauda ai Tatian, and I-"
"Liar!" With that cry, the Tatian woman lashed out, flinging a wooden sphere directly at them. Companion Nauda knocked it aside with her staff, all relaxation vanishing, but they only stared at her as she fumed. "You have nothing to do with our family, and no right to claim otherwise!"
"I meant no offense, I only thought..."
"You knew exactly what you were doing, claiming to be part of our family. Just who sent you? They think they can undermine us after so long?"
Though forbearing tension had been building up in Companion Nauda's body, she now released some by stamping one sandal against the ground. "I don't know anything about your family! I may have misspoken, but I-"
"Hold." Stranger Leader Esaire raise a hand, immediately cutting off both of them. "Hauloe, is this really a matter of your honor? A duel is your right, if you want one, but this is your countrywoman... don't you have a more Tatian way of resolving your differences?"
Some of the others in the group laughed inexplicably. Stranger Hauloe immediately shifted her weight, though Fiyu thought that it was an affectation. She stepped beside Companion Nauda and swung her hip against the other woman, sliding an arm around her waist.
"I suppose we could. You said your name was Nauda? Perhaps you wanted to actually join our family?" She spoke with an excessively personal tone and many of the others laughed, despite a lack of apparent humor.
As Companion Nauda stiffened, Fiyu stared and wished that she could be certain how to act. Was this appropriate behavior? In her experience Tatians touched one another an alarming amount for all manner of reasons and this might be merely another case. She was already troubled and confused by the conversation and didn't want to make things any worse with further misunderstandings.
Yet other details couldn't allow her to relax. Though Companion Theo often touched Companion Nauda's back, when he did so, her muscles eased slightly, but now, her entire posture stiffened. There was also a sexual element to the touch that had never been present before, and though Fiyu was still young and the subject baffled her, she had very strong feelings about unwanted touch.
"Let go of her." Fiyu stepped forward, letting her hands fall to her sides.
"This has nothing to do with you, outsider." Adversary Hauloe sneered at her, but Companion Nauda took the moment to step out of her grip. The other Tatian woman cracked the knuckles of one hand and drew cantae from her soulhome. "If you feel so strongly about it, then I'll challenge you."
"Ha!" Adversary Delarde seemed to find the entire thing very funny and clapped his hands together vigorously. "Not the duel I expected, but I'll take it! Enough talking, let's settle this like civilized soulcrafters."
Fiyu took a deep breath and began to gather cantae, despite the odds, but to her surprise the whole group shifted to herd her in another direction. She had heard the word "duel" but still assumed that they would set upon them using their superior numbers. As they walked across the city, she remembered what Companion Theo had told them about concepts of honor on Deuxan.
It struck her as a strange tactic. Though Fiyu lacked Companion Nauda's ability to peer deeper into soulhomes, she thought herself an adequate judge at a glance. The Archcrafter they had confronted previously had a poorly-crafted soulhome, along with several of the others, but the Tatian woman and the other two Archcrafters felt formidable. Stranger Leader Esaire in particular possessed a soulhome with two full floors built from shining silver, an unbeatable opponent for any of them.
As they walked, Companion Nauda came up beside her, but Fiyu spoke first. "I am sorry, Nauda. I did not intend to cause offense and lead us to pro
blems."
"It's not you, Fiyu. They came here looking for a fight and they just needed a justification. This Hauloe especially has something she needs to prove."
"This is to be... a duel? Like at Myufuru?"
"I'm not sure." Companion Nauda chewed her lower lip and looked around them as if desiring to escape the Deuxan group. "I wish Jake had gotten back first. He said that he needed to learn more about how duels work here. I guess we could have used that lesson too."
The use of Companion Theo's travel name reminded Fiyu that they had more than a simple fight at stake. Though their mysterious enemy no longer seemed to be looking for them, she knew that she needed to be careful. Use of her primary skill could cause damage that might offend the Deuxans further, so perhaps the best strategy would be to force her opponent from the ring.
Though the group of Deuxans laughed and jested on their journey, they didn't attempt to talk to Fiyu. She looked for allies, but only spotted Child Senka, who had hidden herself remarkably well on their arrival and now followed at a distance. It seemed that she would need to bear the burden of this duel alone.
Before Fiyu could grow comfortable with that idea, they arrived at their destination: another empty courtyard, this one marked by a circle inscribed on the ground. Because Adversary Hauloe moved to walk into the circle, Fiyu presumed that their duel would take place there. She followed but hesitated at the edge, looking to everyone watching.
"Does the duel end when one of us leaves the circle?"
She had hoped for Stranger Leader Esaire to answer, but Stranger Delarde laughed and spoke first. "Maybe on Ichil, but not here! No ring-outs."
On the other side of the circle, Adversary Hauloe cracked her knuckles again, gathering more cantae. "This isn't going to end until I feed you your own teeth."
Then the duel was to the death? Fiyu frowned at the abrupt brutality, but the jeering Deuxans around her forced her to step into the circle. If this was their custom, then she would obey it, even if it was cruel. After one more look at Companion Nauda, troubled and anxious, Fiyu resolved herself and focused on Enemy Hauloe.
Others had gathered around them, but Fiyu withdrew her senses, remaining alert only for attacks or major movements. This duel would require different tactics than she had first anticipated. Her opponent used cantae like a physical fighter, but she had shockingly little awareness of her surroundings, even compared to her non-Ichili companions.
"Come on!" Enemy Hauloe dropped into a fighting stance. "I'll let you have the first hit and then I'll-"
Fiyu spread her veil over herself, vanishing from sight and briefly shocking the audience. Enemy Hauloe jumped back in alarm, eyes darting over the ground to look for evidence of her movement, but the veil of stealth covered the ground beneath her feet as well and it would be over before she understood.
Stepping beside her enemy, Fiyu released the briefest burst of light she could manage. Her enemy's soulhome fortified her enough to endure the blast, but she flinched back. While she stumbled, Fiyu tackled her to the ground, driving a hand against her neck and drawing back her other hand, preparing a blade of cantae to finish the fight.
Several sensations struck Fiyu in succession. First, she heard a low whistle from home, warning her to stop immediately. Second, her expanding senses identified Companion Theo, standing in the crowd with his body tense with worry. Third, she saw that he was crossing his wrists, urging her not to strike. Fourth, her cantae faltered as she reconsidered her understanding.
The next moment, a fist collided with her jaw and Fiyu slid across the ground. She tasted blood in her mouth, though her teeth remained intact. Enemy Hauloe scrambled back to her feet, mostly unharmed but furious, raising her fists.
"Hold." Adversary Leader Esaire raised his hand again. "This is your win, Hauloe. She had a few nice tricks, but when it came down to it, she didn't have the taste for battle."
How could it be over? Fiyu stared in confusion at the Deuxan faces all around her, some laughing and mocking while a few looked puzzled.
"I expected that to be more interesting," Adversary Delarde said, unnecessarily loudly. "She had a real killer's stance at the beginning, didn't she? Almost like it was a barbarian fight to the death!"
His meaning was obvious and Fiyu whimpered as she fully understood. Their terrible words still troubled her, but it seemed that somehow they had never intended a duel to the death. She didn't understand why anyone would begin a fight and say cruel things if they didn't intend to kill, yet it seemed that this was only another layer of this awful society.
If not for Companion Theo, she would have killed a human being and potentially drawn down greater hatred upon them. That revelation, combined with the loud jeering around her, made Fiyu draw her legs closer to herself miserably. As soon as they noticed, the Deuxans laughed louder, and no matter how she tried to block them out, their laughter was too loud, and the city was too bright, and...
Companion Theo stepped in front of her.
Chapter 13
"So this is the great Armeau family?" Theo put his arms behind his back, projecting an air of confidence even though he didn't fully grasp the situation. He'd seen packs of young court nobles like this before and they preyed on weakness.
"We only happened to stumble across your companions." The leader - apparently Esaire - was the one to respond, because Theo had cast aspersions on the family name by implying their behavior was beneath them. "It was supposed to be a lighthearted duel, but I'm not sure the Ichili understood."
Many of the other Deuxans laughed, only Esaire understanding that Fiyu had been a split second away from killing her opponent. It looked like he wasn't the worst type of noble, but he had let the situation get this far out of hand, which suggested a casual cruelty that Theo found very familiar.
"Did you really let her in here without a clue how duels work?" The muscular Archcrafter who had been called Delarde stepped around him, grinning down at Fiyu. "If it had gone differently, does she even have the money to pay the bloodprice? Do you, girl?"
"I... I don't know what that is." Fiyu's voice was incredibly soft, and Theo knew that she needed support, but things could get a lot worse unless he kept control of the situation.
"What was that? I can't hear you!" Delarde reached down to grab at Fiyu, only to reel back as Nauda struck him across the wrist.
"You've had your fun." Nauda stepped up beside Theo, forming a wall in front of Fiyu, her cantae ready for a fight. "Just let us go in peace."
"Not after that." Delarde scowled and rubbed his wrist, though the blow wouldn't have done any real damage to an Archcrafter. That was no doubt laying the groundwork to begin another duel, so Theo struck first.
"We've obviously caused offense. In exchange for the injury to your wrist, one of your first tier soulcrafters can duel Nauda to surrender, then we can go our separate ways and never trouble you again."
"No! She tried to break my wrist, I want to fight her!"
"As an Archcrafter, that wouldn't exactly be honorable, would it? I'd heard better of the great Armeau family." It had been a solid strategy, but as the words left his lips, Theo realized that he had made a mistake. Esaire had been standing back, only mildly amused by the whole situation, but now his eyes hardened. Apparently that had been an insinuation too far.
"I don't believe I know you, stranger." Esaire spoke in an icy tone that froze the laughter in all his followers. "I don't think that you have the standing to be determining the terms of duels, not unless you're hiding your power."
Theo gave him a conciliatory smile. "Surely it's enough to be a guest in your city?"
"No. No, I don't think that it is. If none of you have standing to determine duels, perhaps..."
In the theatrical pause, Theo considered his options. The group of young nobles wanted a fight, so they couldn't be reasoned out of their fun. Since all three of them were base soulcrafters, they lacked certain formal protections, and while the bloodprice would shield them to some degree, Theo di
dn't want to count on that.
His remaining option was a show of force, which might draw attention. Theo didn't truly believe that Vistgil or the Landguards were tracking him, or that word of a minor skirmish in this city would travel far, but technically it would be an unnecessary risk. Part of him said that, no matter how unlikely, it would be better to sacrifice a little to leave the conflict...
But another part of him heard Fiyu whimper.
When Theo extended a hand to the Deuxan group, they sneered at him. A moment later he created a reverse gravitational field and the sneering stopped as they fell into the sky. He let them fall upward only briefly before he brought all three gravitational fields down on top of them, slamming them back to the ground at quadruple gravity.
Only Esaire managed to resist his field, though he looked startled. A cloak of blue cantae lit up around him, a reinforcement technique that required considerable soulcrafting. Delarde and the Tatian woman managed to catch themselves as they struck the ground, but the entire rest of the group went sprawling, some of them still lying stunned. Theo lowered his hand and stared the leader in the eyes.
Though Esaire wasn't sure if Theo was an Archcrafter, the doubt had been raised in his mind. Arrogant as he might be, he wasn't about to risk his life challenging an opponent who might have a shield wall hiding ascensions. So Theo just remained silent, letting his opponent regain some dignity.
As they did so, Theo looked them over more carefully. The leader of the group had high cheekbones, classically ivory Deuxan skin, and hair cut to be stylistically shaggy. Though he didn't emphasize his badge, his robes and the purple sash over the top spoke of his wealth. The musclebound one called Delarde looked possibly related, and the belt that mirrored Esaire's sash suggested they were allies, so perhaps a family ally. None of the others particularly stuck out to him, just more Deuxan courtiers.
