by K R Martin
Her arm blocked his foot, spinning to release a blow of her own. He ducked, his leg reaching for hers. Her deft feet leapt over, somersaulting in the air, before landing, prepared to send another blow. His fist caught hers, and she caught his return blow. She knew they could continue, for quite a long time if they so wished, until they both tired. But they were teaching a lesson, not just sparring to find a victor. She nodded to Deshi, not surprised that he nodded back. If anyone understood it was him. She spun, elaborately, stopping her blow just before striking his chest. His hand was poised at her throat. Applause went up from the men, even some cheers, and Renee and Deshi stepped back, bowing once more to each other.
"I hope you paid attention," Renee said as she turned to the men. "Pair off, and Deshi and I will come around to give our instructions." The men paired off easily, and the field was filled with men fighting each other. By now, she could see the truly dedicated ones start to emerge from those who were interested as a hobby. She and Deshi began rearranging groups, putting them more equal in their abilities, and giving pointers as they went.
"Remarkable as always," a man called over the field. Renee turned to the source of the voice, surprised at the feeling of familiarity. "Then again, I shouldn't expect anything less, Master Deshi." The older man stepped toward them, and Renee realized why she felt such familiarity at his voice.
"Master Sorik! I heard you retired," Deshi said as he stepped toward the newcomer. Renee moved towards them, surprised to see her old sword instructor there, for he had retired before she even turned to piracy the first time, almost four years prior.
"I have, but word reached me of a skilled warrior here as King William's honored guest, and I suppose I was rather intrigued to learn about this person myself." Sorik said as he gave Deshi a gentlemanly bow, Deshi returning in his own flair.
"You do not refer to me," Deshi said with a knowing grin. "Captain Varda," he said as he motioned to her without flair. She stepped towards them, giving Sorik the same eastern bow as Deshi.
"Captain Varda?" Sorik's eyes widened as he bowed before her as well. "I have heard tales of your exploits; they are certainly remarkable."
"Thank you," Renee replied. "I am sure they are all exaggerated."
"Somehow, I doubt that. Your skills in unarmed combat are certainly something to see. I wonder how talented you are with a sword." Gasps and excited murmurs rose from the group who had apparently stopped their own practice to see what their former trainer would do.
"Would you care for a demonstration?" Renee asked as she motioned for Little Wolf to bring her sword.
"Yes. With me." Her body jolted with his remark, and she hoped she covered it well. He had trained her for years, probably knew her style by heart. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hoping the years since they sparred were enough to erase his memory. She opened them, smiling at Little Wolf as she took her weapon from him.
"Very well then," she turned back to Sorik. His eyes seemed to gleam as he unsheathed his own weapon, holding it down. She stopped the chuckle that would have given her away. He had a flair for dramatic himself, holding his weapon at its most disadvantaged before the fight. It gave his opponent a cocky sense of assured victory before Sorik would soundly beat him. He would not deal the first blow. Renee circled him, wondering how long she had to wait before she could attack. What was her favorite attack? That's right, upper left. It was the furthest for his sword to travel, and she thought it would give her the advantage. She was always wrong.
But not this time.
She swung, his right arm her aim. The clang of metal replied as his sword met hers. His sword may have blocked her, but his eyes shone with surprise. It felt good. She continued to attack, swinging her sword for blow after blow, each parried easily. He hadn't lost his edge. Forced to focus on her techniques, she threw in as many she learned from Deshi as possible. Sorik's eyes changed, narrowing, and sparking with a playful glint. He attacked. She blocked, returning the blow. Now it was getting interesting! Continuing to fight, his blows challenged her skills, giving her intellect as much of a workout as her muscles. She couldn't rely on her natural instincts as she continued to play the game of attack and parry.
There! She saw her opening. She swung, her sword easily deflected. Her momentum keeping her body spinning, she swung around, the tip of her sword pressing against Sorik's back. Gasps erupted around them as Sorik's gaze spun to meet hers. She impressed him! Breathing heavily from the exertion she lowered her sword.
"Your reputation is well earned," Sorik said simply as he sheathed his own sword.
"Yours as well," Renee replied.
"I would love to discuss that reputation with you. Sadly I have business with King William today, but I wish to hear of your adventures first hand from you. Perhaps you could accompany me in a trip to town tomorrow?"
"I suppose I could," Renee replied before she could think. She wasn't sure it was such a good idea to spend time with a man who taught her most of her skills, but she had already agreed. She just hoped it wouldn't come back to bite her.
"Excellent! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow," Sorik waved before walking off.
"Everyone, good work today. Keep practicing, and we shall continue working tomorrow." She gave them her bow, smiling when several responded in kind. Wordless chatter lifted from the group as it dispersed.
"You should be careful tomorrow." Deshi spoke at her side. Renee turned to face him, not surprised at the thoughtful expression in his eyes. "He is intelligent, that one. As intelligent as I. I knew you the moment I saw you in Sanskia; there is a good chance he will too."
"I was not wearing my mask when we reconnected," Renee pointed out.
"No. But you were still a girl when I left all those years ago. You have changed much since then." He had a point. She hated that he had a point.
"The day is lovely, isn't it?" Sorik noted as he and Renee strolled through the city's marketplace.
"It is rather nice," Renee remarked, still unsure of this new development. She liked being around Sorik, had missed the older man, but he was smart, and she still didn't know why he requested this outing.
"Are the cities in the east similar to this?" He asked as he stopped at a stall, looking over different apples.
"In some ways," Renee replied. "There are markets, and people haggle over merchandise, but the architecture is different, and the colors much more vibrant there."
"Thank you," Sorik told the merchant as he chose his fruit and passed the coins. As their feet carried them further away, he began to enjoy his apple. "As I said yesterday, your swordsmanship is quite impressive."
"Thank you. Some of the finest teachers were willing to train me, and I will always be grateful to them." She allowed her heart to pour into her words, hoping to convey just how much he meant to her.
"Yes, Master Deshi must be proud to have such a protégé. I know I am." Renee stumbled, her feet barely able to catch her before she fell on the pavement. Sorik chuckled and gently took her elbow, guiding them away from the crowds, towards the port.
"I am afraid I do not know what you are speaking about," Renee tried to explain away her blunder.
"You don't think I would forget the abilities and style of one of my most talented students? Give me a little more credit than that, Renee." The sigh escaped her body before she could stop it. "Although, you have learned quite a few new tricks. Impressive."
"Thank you, Master," tossing aside the facade, Renee relaxed in the present of her former friend. "It has been a few years since our blades crossed. The new recruits are a credit to you as well."
"Ah, flattery from the student, always a way to puff a teacher's pride." Renee giggled at his antics. She forgot how fun he was when he wasn't focused on teaching. When he taught, well, he deserved the reputation as one of the strictest men she had ever met. "But in all seriousness, Renee. What happened?"
They were still too close to people. Nodding her head, she turned their path even further away fro
m the town's center, toward the outer edges of the port. Once the hustle and bustle of the docks had faded behind them, the she felt safe enough to speak.
"I'm sure you've heard of my notoriety on the sea," Renee began.
"Captain Espan Rose. Definitely suits you," he nodded.
"And my last trip back, how we were attacked. I was considered dead." This time he merely nodded in agreement. "I was meant to be dead, but someone decided to make a profit instead." So she told him, most of it, how she was sold, how she returned, and how she now lie in wait to create a chance to save her family. "And now I am trapped. I have returned home to a husband who has been waiting for me, but I can't be near him. For now, I have to find a way to beat Conrad at his game of intrigue and deception, all the while trying to keep his charming daughter from, well, charming my husband to become hers." Renee's feet stopped and she stared out at the sea. "I hate this. I feel so powerless, and yet I know I am the only one with the power to save them."
"You're not alone in this, Your Highness."
"Oh, Master Sorik, I thought we had forgone that title long ago," Renee chuckled.
"True. But in this instance, I believe you should be reminded who you truly are. You are the Queen of Cartiana, and Queen Regent of Espan. You are right that you must do something, and bide your time, for Conrad seems an enemy like none other. We must be cunning and clever, but see, it not just you, it is we. I assume Master Deshi knows your identity?" Renee nodded. "Then you are not alone. You have two intelligent, and skilled, warriors at your disposal. We both have the trust of those soldiers here at King William's command, and that is no small thing."
"You are right, Master Sorik. There are a few in my crew who know my identity as well, and have been performing their own investigations in the shadows. It is beginning to pay off; Ama Lei learned some intriguing information the other day that can be of use."
"Then allow me to help as well. As I said, I have the respect and trust of many people here. I can not only keep my ears and eyes open, but listen to what others are saying. And, letting you know, many are unsure of Conrad and his intentions here. I don't know if any have seen unusual activity, but I can ask around, discreetly of course."
"Thank you, Master Sorik." Feeling content, she began to walk back into the city. "I do wonder, though," she mused as they fell into step together. "In all my time here, I have not heard what happened to the Qilin."
"Your old ship," Sorik smiled as he looked out at the sea. "Well, it's still a closely guarded secret that the Qilin works for his majesty, however, it's not really a pirate vessel anymore. Now, it's focused on intelligence gathering."
"Bartholomew turned spy?" Renee could help the chuckle that escaped her lips.
"Yes he did. Currently, their assignment is to gather intelligence on Retanny. Especially with Conrad arriving to herald in peace, his majesty is a bit worried. Retanny has grown in power, and it worries his majesty; it worries all of us."
"Aside from Cartiana and Espan, Vikieva and Sanskia are the only true free kingdoms not gripped by its rule, though even Sanskia has begun to feel its wrath. Retanny is not an empire to be trusted, especially as the emperor's brother in law is the vilest pirate on the seas. I thought Black Hart and Andre were evil; they cannot hold a candle to Schwarz Feur's villainous ways."
"We will be victorious. You have proven that you can rise from nothing and still claim victory. You have done it once, you can do it again, and now you have even more friends and power at your disposal. Trust us to help."
"I will." Renee nodded with a smile. "But for now, I must keep my cover, which means there are some men who are in need of special training."
"I have no doubt you will whip them into shape soon enough."
"I am following after your example. Those poor men," She said sadly before breaking out in laughter.
"Speaking of whipping pupils into shape," Sorik mentioned, changing the subject. "How are your dual abilities?"
"Oh! Well..." Renee trailed off, hoping he wouldn't push further. The crossed arms and raised eyebrow told her it was futile. "I haven't practiced much since our lessons ended."
"I thought as much. Your skill with the blade has increased significantly, that is without question, but a true swordsman, or swordswoman, always works to better their skills, to grow and improve."
"Now Sorik, to be fair, I have grown and improved in my unarmed training." She pointed out.
"True. But, you're back in Espan, and I am still a Master swordsman here. Your training begins tomorrow. It's my payment for playing spy."
"Aye, aye, Sir," she gave him a smart solute, earning a full-hearted laugh in return. It was nice knowing she had yet another friend to help be eyes and ears at the castle. Perhaps soon she would be able to learn Conrad's moves, soon she would be able to actually strike back. Plus, she wanted to improve her non-dominant hand, and if anyone could help her with that skill, it was Master Sorik.
16
"I see you have managed to impress Master Sorik," Will noted as they wandered through the gardens. "Believe you me, that is no easy feat."
"He is certainly a skilled swordsman," Renee noted.
"That he is. He trained my wife; he was the one who decided to give her a chance, and there are many who are glad he did."
"To have trained such a legendary swordswoman certainly bestows much credit on him," she replied, trying not to allow her pride to show.
"You should be a diplomat," he teased.
"I suppose. But I do speak the truth. He is remarkable."
"That is without saying. Though, I do believe you challenged him tonight." Renee smiled. Sure enough, Sorik decided to test his blade against hers again, especially now he was aware of her secret. She still managed to disarm him. The look on his eyes told her that he would be practicing again. After all, it was rare when a student truly surpassed her teacher.
"It was an honor, a privilege, and an enjoyment."
"I was wondering," Will began as he motioned to a bench. Renee sat and he took a seat beside her before continuing. "What made you begin to perform? After all, you are a traveling pirate, so to speak. Performing at ports seems a little different."
"It is. We did not start out planning to perform, that's the truth of it. After that one battle I told you about where I was injured, we decided to stop in a Vikievan port to trade, and to relax. We all deserved it. I was persuaded to showcase my skills, with Ama Lei’s help, for the town’s mayor. That was also where I discovered that my crew had some interesting talents, and we discovered a way to, well, gather intelligence. After all, being graced with such a performance would put us in opportunistic places."
"And that was your first performance?" Will asked.
"One of many," Renee responded. "It was rough, and simple, but fun at the same time. During the banquet, when the wine and food flowed, so did the mouths. We learned even more information about the pirates, some updated travel routes. That's when I learned that performing not only brought us renown, but also brought us close to those with intelligence. It was a way to learn more, and in turn, we were able to be more productive on the seas."
"And productive you have been," Will chuckled.
"In some ways," she responded before standing. She needed to walk, to move away from the laughter that drew her in. His soft footfall echoed behind her, each step a beat of her heart.
"You have defeated numerous pirates in the eastern seas, and several here as well. As someone who understands, it's an accomplishment."
"Thank you, but there is still more I wish to do." Her voice was soft, and she couldn't fight the yearning deep inside it. A hand gently rested on her shoulder. Her eyes meet her husband's; deep understanding filled them, and she almost wished he understood everything.
"I've never known another woman quite like you." The hand disappeared from her shoulder, and she crossed her arms, staving off the blast of chill. "Well, aside from Renee. I admit it's been... quiet, without her. Almost like I'm just existing. As
ide from my children; they always brighten up my day."
"I understand that. My life was... well, it hasn't been an easy one. I lost the love of my life, and was taken from my home to a world I knew nothing about. But Spera. Seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, just holding her in my arms, it all gives me such peace, even when it feels like chaos and darkness surrounding me."
"How were you able to endure such hardships?"
"I had Spera. I would do anything to protect her." To protect all my children. To protect you. Renee forced the words to remain in her mind, no matter how her mouth wished to cry them out. No, Will had to be told the entire truth of her disappearance before he could be told her identity.
"The men have certainly come a long way," he spoke, his feet beginning to carry him through the paths. Renee felt her feet follow on their own accord. "Granted, Master Sorik has trained them well, but sometimes a fresh set of eyes can bring something new and open an entirely new path."
"Thank you, but like you said all I did was open their eyes. Their skills are their own, and they are improving, tremendously, I might add."
"That pleases me. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous having them train under a woman, but I'm glad they took to you. Granted, I think part of it is due to Renee. She earned a lot of people's respect for what she did, and a lot of men certainly found new respect for women because of it."
"I'm glad she made such a difference," Renee kept her voice soft. She never knew her actions would mean that much, would give other women hope and strength. It was humbling, and yet her chest warmed with the thought. She didn't want the praise, but it gave her excitement that future women would be given such opportunities and respect due to her actions.
