“You have only proved by this,” cried Elizabeth, “that Bingley did not do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much more than he did himself.”
“I am exceedingly gratified,” said Bingley, “by your converting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend; for he would certainly think better of me if under such a circumstance I were to give a flat denial and ride off as fast as I could.”
“Would Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intentions as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?”
“Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter; Darcy must speak for himself.”
“You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one argument in favor of its propriety.”
“To yield readily—easily—to the persuasion of a friend is no merit with you.”
“To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either.”
“You appear to me, Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason one into it. I am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have supposed about Bingley. We may as well wait, perhaps, till the circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behavior thereupon. But in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend, where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no very great moment, should you think ill of that person for complying with the desire, without waiting to be argued into it?”
“Will, it is not advisable, before we proceed on this subject, to arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to appertain to this request, as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting between the parties?”
“By all means,” cried Bingley; “let us hear all the particulars, not forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure you, that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places, at his own house especially, and of an evening, when he has nothing to do.”
Darcy smiled, but Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was rather offended, and therefore checked her laugh. Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he had received in an expostulation with her brother for talking such Nonsense.
“I see your design, Bingley,” said his friend. “You dislike an argument, and want to silence this.”
“Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very thankful; and then you may say whatever you like of me.”
“What you ask,” said Elizabeth, “is no sacrifice on my side, and Darcy had much better finish his letter.”
Darcy took her advice and did finish his letter.
When that business was over, Miss Bingley said to Mrs. Hurst, ”How about we be a bit more active this evening. What say the company would enjoy a marshal display of some of our unarmed combat abilities.”
From the side, Hurst said, “That would be a fine idea to get some excitement into this drab evening.”
His eyes flickered to Lizzy as he stood up to clear and areas some distance from the fire for the night's indulgence of some fighting. Miss Bingley moved with some alacrity to the torment circle; and, after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way, in giving her the honor of the first fight. While the other as politely and more earnestly negative, she seated herself. Lizzy was wondering how she was suddenly part of this spectacle when she indeed had not instigated the idea. What gave Miss Bingley the notion that she was willing to fight in mixed company.
Seeming to brush off her rejection Miss Bingley asked Mrs. Hurst with a happy smile. With mage light now lighting up the circle. She moved to take up a fighting stance facing her sister. Both of them were tonight wearing a serviceable amount of leather armor that would be suitable for fighting in unarmed combat in a tournament. This had made Lizzy curious at the start of the evening together. Still, now she guessed this tournament was their reasoning for the armor all along.
But what do I have to do with such, and why did Caroline Bingley ask me to fight first, she thought. As the two slowly bowed to each other with the formality of some kind of battle custom that Lizzy knew not or cared about.
Then taking each of them took a formal pose as the fighting began. As was the custom for unarmed combat in a tournament between friends, no warrior skills or magic were to be used.
Lizzy's initial observations were that Caroline Bingley was undoubtedly the more aggressive of the two sisters tonight. She moved close to her sister and used an uppercut blow with her elbow to her opponent's face. Her sister managed to block this, just as she returned a hit in a close order fighting style with a punch to the other woman's stomach. This managed to connect, but the returning blow from her sister was more deadly. As her armor absorbed the shock, she smashed her elbow down on to her sister's shoulder. The hit produced a deep thud as the woman connected. Then the movements started to get quickly as the two’s competitive spirit seemed to have been lit.
Lizzy put her book away as she was entirely focused on the fight. The two sisters obviously have been schooled in the same kind of combat styles. To her observation, they were following set moves as the two more danced then fought except when they managed to land a hit. Then it certainly seemed real enough, but she wondered if they were pulling their punches. Eventually, some conditions must have been met as the two moved apart as if it was all just fun and games, not real combat.
What was the reason for fighting if they were not going to push themselves, questioned Lizzy in her mind. When I fight my sister or mother, we always have a healer on standby as there was always blood or something broken.
The rest of the noble company clapped politely as Hurst applauded his wife with vigor.
Then at Miss Bingley's insistence, she managed to persuade Darcy and her brother Bingley to have a go.
Lizzy thought with some excitement, now this is a contest that I want to see.
Bingley was in a fighting class while Darcy was a wizard. In theory, unarmed combat should be the province of Bingley. But Darcy looked fit and trim for a wizard. Lizzy started to wonder if he had a second combat class.
That would be too much for this near-perfect but overly proud and pretentious man. To think that he was a legendary wizard while having the time to work on another class was too much to comprehend.
As her mind was considering this, the too started with a burst of energy. Ok, she thought it looks like he has a combat fighting class as well. Does this man not know when not to show off?
Darcy moves quickly and dodges Bingley's first massive charge. That seemed aimed to incapacitate the man in an instance. Now that the two were close, they grappled using each other's vulnerability to an advantage. Lizzy noticed that Bingley got some short punches into the other’s face as if this was him fighting a bear.
Darcy brought his fist up into the other man's chin. This managed to get some separation distance to the very burly Bingley. Now fighting at a distance, Darcy had the upper hand. But Bingley knew both their styles as he tried to move in closer where he had the advantage. Soon the fight fell into a stalemate as each won when they were fighting in their preferred manner.
Eventually, Miss Bingley said, “Enough you two as we don’t want this to go on all night.”
She turned to Lizzy with a knowing smile as she said, “It's alway
s this way. They are so evenly matched.”
Bingley, who had moved back and was smiling with the joy of the contest, said, “Only in an unarmed combat sister. When it comes to armed combat, it's another matter entirely.”
“Well, you are a Legendary warrior,” said Darcy, “if you want to try a contest with me in magic, then we’ll see who's best.”
“No, thank you, my friend.”
“Now that the gentlemen have had their turn. It is time for the women in the party to stand up again. Miss Bennet, surely you must be excited to take part in the fun now!” said the smiling Caroline Bingley. She had a slight mocking twinkle in her eyes as if she was challenging the other woman with more than combat.
Lizzy said with a calm voice, “I am not sure this is my event, to be honest with you. I feel very much lacking in the formal style that you two ladies displayed.”
“Let not be a worry to you, Miss Bennet, as we all can learn at times,” said the smiling Lady in a smooth tone of voice.
“I think that you miss understand me,” said Lizzy, “I’m fully vested in the art of unarmed combat. But due to no formal education, it can be a bit rough around the edges. I think my showing would not be full of the grace you two showed. It would be more...savage.”
“Nonsense, we all do what we can. Have no pride in your lack of accomplishments. None here will deny you for at least trying!”
Lizzy was about to protest more that she did not have a lack of accomplishment but only a lack of a refined style. That the other Ladies had shown in their fight. Giving up on stopping what seemed inevitable, she bowed and said, “Well, then you seemed to have convinced me to give it a try. But I warned you that it will not end with a formal bow. There will be one of us on the ground.”
This acceptance gave a happy smile to three of the party at least. The Hursts and Caroline Bingley. While Darcy seemed indifferent and Bingley was as per usual his kind self. Lizzy moved into the light of the tournament circle with Caroline entering from the other side. The smile on Caroline's face was pleasant around the mouth, but it was the eyes that told Lizzy that it was more than a friendly match.
The starting bow took place, and the two women moved into a stance. Lizzy saw that Caroline was following the same style that she had shown before. For the first few blows, she just tried to mimic her opposition style and was just about able to defend herself. Then Caroline suddenly stepped up the ferocity of the attacks. Lizzy found that several blows in quick succession were coming to her face. Dropping her pretense at knowing the more elegant style, she fell into what she sometimes thought as her family’s manner of fighting. This had been taught by her mother as just raw, simple down, and dirty. You did whatever needed to be done to win and survive, nothing was held back. Everything was a weapon.
Before the match, her hair had been tied behind in a long ponytail. As she was dodging one of the oncoming punches from her ferocious opponent. Who was moving in close fighting structures. She could see the light of eager anticipation in the woman's eyes. In return, Lizzy flicked her hair into the woman's face. Then for a fraction of a second, her hair covered Caroline's eyes. Which was enough of a distraction for Lizzy to dodge to the side and punch out with the side of her hand into Caroline's exposed throat. Lizzy felt the soft exposed windpipe being crushed by the edge of her palm. As her opponent grasped her throat in panic. To try and get her air passages open, Lizzy moved closer and with several quick jabs hit the kidneys and then the side of her knee with her foot.
This had the correct effect that she desired. The other Lady fell to the ground attempting to scream with the pain. But she couldn’t make any sound except to gasp as her throat was crushed. From the side of the tournament circle, Lizzy felt a spell being cast. Then the stands of green power of a healing spell hit the Lady writhing in pain on the ground.
She looked to see that Darcy was the one casting the spell. Next to him was Hurst with a look of annoyance on his face as if he had seen something truly distasteful.
He said with disdain, “Dam low born. You're just like your sister, a filthy scoundrel to fight so dirty. That is unbecoming of a true Lady.
Lizzy looked at the man with forced intensity. With a mock bow of her head, she said, I do apologize, Sir, but I didn’t know that losing was part of the art of combat. Whatever strange world you may live in, where there are unwritten rules to this event, I have no desire to live in. I was taught to take down an opponent with whatever means at my disposal.”
Seeing that Caroline was now recovering, Lizzy bowed and then said as she left, “I’ll be going to see Jane. If you would excuse me.”
Before she could go, she saw Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her. She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man; and yet that he should look at her because he disliked her, was still more strange. She could only imagine, however, at last, that she drew his notice because there was something more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right than in any other person present. The supposition did not pain her. She liked him too little to care for his approbation.
As the power of the healing spell faded Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to her:
“Do you not feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity to pit yourself against me?”
She smiled but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some surprise at her silence.
“Oh!” said she, “I heard you before, but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say ‘Yes,’ that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste. Still, I always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to fight with at all and now despise me if you dare.”
“Indeed, I do not dare.”
Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.
Caroline Bingley was now standing fully healed. To her horror, Darcy was not looking at Elizabeth Bennett with the disgust she had expected. Why, after seeing that woman fight so dirty that it was so unladylike. But what she more saw, or suspected enough to be jealous, and her great anxiety for finishing the work of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her desire to get rid of Elizabeth.
She watched with pleasure to see Elizabeth leave the camp to see her sister. Now was the time to try to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest. She started mocking him for his displayed affection of the woman by talking of their supposed marriage and planning his happiness in such an alliance.
“I hope,” said she, “you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue, and if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after adventures. And, if I may mention so delicate a subject, endeavor to check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which your Lady possesses.”
“Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?”
“Oh! Yes. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle, the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines. As for your Elizabeth’s picture, you must not have it taken, for what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?”
“It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their color and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be copied.”
Chapter 16
Elizabeth spent the rest of the night by her sister’s side. This was certainly better than dealing with the so-called noble party. During the later part of the night, Lizzy’s shield was now only a dome around the ce
nter of the miasma. As the work had gone well with Jane attacking the miasma with her healing powers. Jane’s stream of light had somehow got more solid as if it was concentrating on a cloud of misty white energy.
The retreating green mists of the miasma had revealed the rest of the valley. This was a view of ghastly sight beyond her imagination of anything in this world. All the valley was devoid of any true life, but still, some creatures would haunt her memories. In between the dead tree trunks were thousands of webs of the slimy elastic string that were linking the whole valley into one seeming grotesque organism. The webbing joined what looked like thousands of monsters from the wilderness all around in its web of diseased darkness that had no mercy. All the creatures on the web looked to be barely alive. Their bodies were slightly twitching as the pulse of light moved from the animals. Through the stands of the web into a hole in the center of the valley.
Lizzy said to Jane with a tone of voice showing her morbid horror at the sight, “Are the creatures in the web left by the miasma truly alive?”
Jane looked at her with sad and tired eyes, “No, the miasma is just getting its last bit of the life energy out of its victims. Thankfully this will be all finished today, and I can be gone from this damnable cursed place.”
Lizzy said with a smile, “Well, you only had to deal with the diseased miasma that only wants to suck the life out of you. On the other hand, I had to bear the attention of the party and become part of their Machiavellian machinations for each other's affections. None of which I needed or desire in any form. The only pleasant person in the party has been your Bingley.”
Jane smiled at her sister, “Lizzy, you exaggerate it can't have been that bad…”
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