Luke tries to inhale breath. Dante brings up his stick and is about to end the bout with the last strike. Still gasping for breath, Luke holds up two fingers. He flinches, hoping for a stop. “I submit!” He gasps. Dante bows to him. “We are well met, comp. I say thankee.” Luke gets up and walks off the mat. He has been saved from elimination for the time being. But the coveted title of lead is now out of his reach.
Feeling empowered by the bout, Dante feels he is now in his stride and goes onto the next bout. He now changes tactics, going on an all out offensive. He faces Gilfried, Tek and Jasper with relative ease.
“Break!” yells Dotore. “We are down to three opponents. Petronius, Maximus and Dante. You will all fight each other. Two against one. One against one and one sits out. It doesn’t matter which. The only thing that matters is you end this tournament. There can only be one winner. You ken?”
“Ai, Dotore!” shout the recruits.
“Petronius, Dante and Maximus. You will fight in the center. The stakes today are high.” Dotore extracts a bright, gold medallion. In the center of the medallion is an eagle, wolf and crucifix, three powerful insignias of their religion. The boys look on it with wonder. This is an elimination round for the lead. “The role of lead is at stake. Winning the lead is not guaranteed and is at my sole discretion. In my time as Dotore and in my father’s time as Dotore, never has a lead been chosen who did not make knighthood. It is a role of distinction and great honor, a role not to be taken lightly. You ken?”
Petronius, Dante and Maximus look on with wonder, giddiness and nervousness. It is a role they have dreamt of since coming to the rectory. They know what it means. The right to become lead knight is a distinction given to Merlin so many years ago.
“One of you will lead us, whether that day is today, tomorrow or next month. He will lead the others. I too, was in your place many years ago. We vied for the lead position. They gave Merlin, my brother and best friend, this distinction. Despite having several broken ribs, Merlin subdued me and proved himself worthy of the title.”
Dotore pauses. “In the circle now, runts. Today is the day you prove your mettle. Are you ready for a fight?”
“Ai, Dotore!” exclaim the fighters.
“Hold nothing back. Your fellow recruit will not.”
The combatants square off on one another. Petronius and Maximus give each other a conspiratorial nod. They understand it. Both will attack Dante as one and then fight each other. Dante senses it. The slightest of smirks appears and disappears on his face.
Dante squares off against Petronius and Maximus, holding his stick in the middle rather than at the end. A flash of brilliant light illuminates a picture in his mind that seems to burn in his retina. It is is the conspiratorial nod they have given each other.
Dotore holds the white kerchief in the air and looks at the combatants. “When the kerchief reaches the floor, you may begin. Hold nothing back and show no mercy unless your brother asks for it. He drops the kerchief and the moment it reaches the floor; the combatants engage each other.
Petronius and Maximus lash out with simultaneous blows, striking at Dante, snapping their sticks with an all-out blitz. Holding the stick in the middle, Dante deflects each blow.
Maximus nods at Petronius and he returns the nod. Petronius performs a powerful roundhouse vertical strike, which Dante blocks. Maximus drops, pivots and unleashes a powerful backwards kick on Dante. This catches him in the stomach, knocking him off balance and to the mat.
Unfazed, Dante jumps up onto his feet and grabs up his stick. He deflects another wave of relentless blows from Petronius. Dante senses Maximus sneaking up on him from behind for a surprise blow. He must act now.
He deflects a blow from Petronius, and, as he does, he counters with a powerful blow of his own meant to knock the boy off balance. As he does, he moves in for the kill, pushing himself forward and jabbing inside with a devastating blow to his ribcage. Petronius cries out and drops to the floor, stunned.
A fraction of a second later, Dante sidesteps a vicious blow from Maximus. His stick hits the mat, jarring him. Dante steps in and strikes inward, aiming straight for his midsection, hoping for a quick end. But Maximus deflects the blow with his hand and the strike does not affect his balance.
Petronius recovers from Dante’s blow. He engages him, rushing at him full speed. Dante brings up his stick, deflecting a sharp uppercut from Maximus and then pivots, bringing up his left hand to deflect a blow from Petronius.
Maximus strikes another blow at Dante, which he deflects. Petronius strikes Dante, catching him sharply on the forearm. He cringes at the sting, though his forearm is intact.
As Dante is caught in a stalemate, he is unable to stifle the relentless blows from Petronius and Maximus. He feels himself tiring and his arm throbs from repeated full force blows. Dante decides on another course of action.
Maximus continues to pound. So, Dante crouches down to the ground and spins his stick around clockwise. As he deflects Maximus’ blow, he drives his body upwards, and pinwheels himself. He puts the weight of his shoulder into a sledgehammer punch. This catches Petronius on the chin and lacerates his skin.
It is a devastating move. Petronius drops his stick and falls to the floor, unconscious. Blood seeps from the wound. Dotore removes him from the mat.
The split second to perform the move is all the time Maximus needs to unleash a devastating move on Dante. As Petronius drops, Maximus strikes out and catches Dante on the side of the temple, sending him to the ground.
Dante loses consciousness for a few seconds. As he regains his consciousness and opens his eyes, a spectrum of imagery greets him. He looks off to the side and sees an image of Petronius being carried off. As his head moves around, the scene looks like a kaleidoscope where colors take on a plethora of shapes and sizes. Soon the spectrum of imagery takes on form and sharpens. Dante sees the scene emerge in real time.
Dotore holds up his hand to Maximus. “Can you continue, Dante?” He asks.
For the first time, he sees his Dotore. He is just as he imagined him. Average height, sandy long blonde hair, deep, aqua-blue eyes that radiate empathy and intelligence. He notices his scruffy beard and crow’s feet around his eyes. Decades of a disciplined lifestyle hones Dotore’s lean muscles.
“Can you continue, Dante?” He asks again. “If you wish to submit, now is the time to ask. There is no shame.”
“No, Dotore. I will not submit. I can continue. Lost consciousness for two seconds, so I did. But I can continue.”
Dotore nods. A smile runs away from his face. It is a reassuring smile that seems to confirm that everything he had hoped for has now transpired. “Ai, boy. Then finish it. You ken?”
Dante jumps up and nods. “Ai. Will do.” He walks out towards Maximus. Dotore throws him the stick. “You forgetting something, runt?”
Dante looks at it and smiles. He throws it back to Dotore. “Don’t think I will need it.”
Dotore nods. “Ai. So be it then, lad.”
Maximus seems unsure. Something has changed in Dante’s eyes. Dante appears to be looking at him rather than through him. Dante finds it impossible to swallow. Maximus looks at Dotore. Dotore nods at him.
“Finish it!” yells Dotore.
Maximus wastes no time in going on the offensive. He steps inward and strikes out with a quick jab move. Dante sidesteps and avoids the blow and then smiles at him. Maximus lunges at him and strikes again. Dante sidesteps, pivots on his right foot and then punches Maximus in the side, causing him to cry out. Then he re-centers himself, forcing Maximus to continue the offensive.
Maximus twirls the stick around fast, hoping to mesmerize Dante. Dante laughs. Maximus lunges and strikes out. Dante deflects the blow, crouches down, and strikes out with a ferocious right hook, catching Maximus on the right side, causing him to cry out again. Maximus is not sure but suspects he may have broken a rib. He takes a step, and it feels like a dagger is scraping up against his sides. Maximus has broken
a rib. Any confidence he had with starting the final bout has been depleted.
Dante smiles at him again and gestures with a ‘come hither’ gesture. Maximus advances towards him, cringing with every excruciating step. He snaps the stick out lightning fast, hoping for a penetrating move, but Dante deflects it off his forearm. Maximus advances further and snaps out his stick again and again, but to little avail. Dante is at least one step ahead. He smiles.
Maximus watches as the sardonic gleam runs away from his face and with it, his hopes for an easy victory seem to fade away. He grows desperate, advances, and lets down his guard. Dante capitalizes on it. As Maximus steps forward into the assault, he over-compensates and extends himself too far.
Dante pivots and strikes out with a lightning quick jab to his shoulder, causing Maximus to cry out in surprise and pain. He drops his stick. As he does, Dante strikes again; but this time in the ribs. The strike feels like acid running through his joints. The pain is all-consuming and relentless.
His pain is far from over. With two ribs broken, his breathing becomes shallow. Maximus wheezes and drops his stick. Maximus is now vulnerable. Dante grabs him by the hair and brings up his knee into his face, causing a large laceration to appear on his nose. Blood seeps from the wound. Maximus doubles over in agony. He lies on the mat in a bloody heap. Dante moves in for the decisive move and begins his descent with an elbow to the chin.
But before he can deliver it, Maximus still in a foggy haze, holds up two fingers in submission. “I submit.” He croaks. “I submit!”
Dante looks at him in the eye and nods. “Then I accept your submission, brother. We are well met.”
Dante extends his hand to Maximus, who accepts it. He gets up on his feet, still woozy from the powerful blows. As Dante looks around, the crowd explodes into claps and chants, “Dante! Dante! Dante!”
Dotore looks at Merlin, who nods back at him. He removes the gold medallion given to the lead and makes his way into the middle of the room. As he does, Dante bolts out of the room with Cammilia close behind.
The applause abruptly stops, and the boys look around at each other with a stupefied look. They seem to be asking themselves the same question: What the hell just happened and where is he going?
Germanicus approaches Merlin, who smiles and nods. “What the hell just happened?” He asks. “This is unprecedented.”
Merlin laughs. “Many circumstances that surrounds the boy are unprecedented.”
“Where is he going?”
Merlin laughs again. “You, with your sight, miss much old friend. I ken you will soon find out.” He walks away, leaving Germanicus befuddled.
Chapter 42: It’s Over
Dante runs through the streets at breakneck speeds. But he doesn’t worry about tripping over anything. His body seems to be functioning at a high level. For years, he had grown accustomed to life without sight. His other senses seemed to intensify and compensate for his lack of vision. But now that his vision has returned, his senses have not gone back to their level before his accident.
Without looking down, he sees the horse's tether post and jumps it. He sprints for several hundred yards and doesn’t seem the least bit winded. Cammilia runs at his side and lets out a giddy ‘bark’. Though she is confused by his behavior, she shares in his revelry. As Dante navigates through the town, Cammilia soon learns where he is going. She lets out a frenetic bark, anticipating the company of a familiar companion.
Dante runs up to the modest Gallian home. The home is Tudor style, with large porticoes on the top level. A large, lattice gate has been freshly painted, and the light bounces off it, stinging Dante’s eyes. He is not quite used to his new sense. The luminescence from the sun seems to reverberate in his head, causing a dull pain and a little nausea.
He runs up to the wooden plank which seems to be in need of some work. Several of the wooden frames are splintered. The smell of dry rot, fresh paint and radiance is too much, and he vomits. After several seconds, he regains his bearings, reveling in the warmth of the sun. Dante attempts to ring the doorbell. But before he can reach it, he is greeted by Janice.
Unaware his time of Ostra has come to an end, she appears bothered and impatient. “What is it boy?” She asks.
He looks at her and smiles. Tears well in his eyes. “My test is over. And I can see.”
“Oh.” She says. Tears well in her eyes. She embraces him and he hugs her back. She sobs as she holds him. “How I longed to hold and comfort you.” She says. “But it was forbidden. Merlin gave us all strict instructions. We were not to comfort you. We could only acknowledge you. Nothing more.”
“Lady-Mais, may I see Sylvia?” He asks.
“You should be at school, lad. And Lady Sylvia is not done with her schoolin’, so she is not.” She looks at him and sighs. “Oh, your poor lad. I suppose an exception can be made, so it can.” Dante hugs and kisses her on the cheek. She cackles in delight. Dante runs past her and sprints upstairs. “Careful now lad, just polished those stairs so I did.” Cammilia accompanies him.
When he reaches her room, Dante forgets his place and doesn’t bother to knock. He opens the door. She sits at her desk with a mathematics book and appears startled when he walks in. “How dare you barge into my room without knocking.”
“I cry pardon, Lady-Dais.”
She looks at him intently. “There’s something different about you. Is there not?”
Unable to control himself, he grabs her, hugs her and kisses her with passion. She feigns outrage but soon gives into his affection.
“It’s over.” He says.
“What?” She asks.
“My test.” He says. “And my vision is back!”
She pushes him away so she can look at him closer. “How? Why?” She asks.
“The last of the stick bouts. Maximus knocked me down on the mat. Hard. Something broke inside me. I’ve been having these visions lately. For several seconds, my vision returns, along with these pounding headaches. But when I received that blow, my vision returned completely. This was the last of the stick tournaments and it was a test to determine lead. I won.” He says triumphantly. “I won!”
This time, she kisses him back with her passion. “For so long, I wanted to comfort you. You’ve been so pathetic and forlorn. But we were all under strict orders not to give you any comfort. No encouragement. Acknowledgement but absolutely no encouragement. Merlin said you needed to endure it. Are you sure it’s over?” She asks uncertainly.
He nods his head. “Ai. It’s over. Set watch and warrant it, my test is over. A celebration is awaiting me.”
“What are you doing here then?”
He smiles. “It wouldn’t be a celebration without the woman I love most in the world.”
“Oh, Dante. I love you too. Always have.” Tears well up in her eyes and fall down her cheeks.
Dante kisses her. “Are you ready for a celebration?”
“Oh, Dante. I’m not properly dressed. I can’t wear this attire. Wouldn’t be proper.”
Dante laughs. “No one will pay attention to what you are wearing. I don’t believe a woman has set foot inside our school. Your mere presence is more than enough to set everyone on edge.”
(2)
Inside the gymnasium, the boys talk among themselves, perplexed at the bizarre turn of events. Merlin tapes up Maximus ribcage, applying diluted wolf’s bain to the injury. Though it’s the most toxic substance known to man, a small amount acts as a powerful muscle relaxer. It gives immediate pain relief.
When Dante enters the room with Sylvia, all eyes turn to them. Everyone wears the same look of befuddlement on their faces. The event is unprecedented. Never has any female entered the gymnasium. The boys are shocked to silence. Some whisper in hushed tones. None know what to make of the beautiful female who has entered their inner sanctum.
Germanicus approaches Merlin, who is the only one in the room smiling. He seems unbothered by Dante’s faux pas. “A female has entered our domicile,” says G
ermanicus.
Merlin nods. “Ai.”
“This is unusual.”
“Ai,” says Merlin. “So it is.” He laughs. He holds out his hand to Germanicus. Germanicus looks at him, still confused.
“The medallion. Give it to me. We have a ceremony to attend to.” Germanicus nods and hands him it. “Ai.”
“It’s his day, after all.”
Germanicus nods. “Ai. Ken that it is.”
Merlin approaches Dante and Sylvia. As is customary, he bows to Sylvia. “Good day lady-dais.” He says. She courtesies in return. “We are well met.”
“Ai.” She says. He kisses her hand. “I hate to separate you two, but I need to borrow Dante. May I?” Sylvia blushes and Dante smiles.
She nods. “Ai.”
Out in front of the group, Merlin presents Dante with the gold medallion. He places it around his neck. “Take great care with these boys, now and in the future. Someday you will be responsible for their lives. You ken?”
Dante nods. Tears well up in his eyes. With great effort, he holds them at bay. Merlin holds his hand and brings it up in front of the students. “Boys, I present to you your lead. Dante.” For several seconds, it is quiet. The boys are stunned from the presence of a girl and a beautiful one at that.
Germanicus and Petronius clap with vigor for several seconds. Other boys soon join in and the entire group erupts in a loud applause. Hoots, whistles and yells accompany it.
Merlin turns to Dante. “Tonight, there will be a great feast in your honor. You ken?”
“May I bring Sylvia?”
The Test of Ostra Page 25
