by C. M. Lance
Before he could answer he heard, “Nice move. You missed the part where after you trip him you beat him to the ground, but your technique seemed effective.”
Giselle tapped Roxanne on the head. “Unless you’re training for sleeping, you can let him up now.”
Roxanne languidly rolled off and rose.
Sig kipped up to his feet without using his hands.
“Good move. You’re obviously too masterful for Roxanne alone. Why don’t you spar both of us?” Giselle had changed into her gi.
He placed his palms together and bowed toward her. “I obey your command, mighty hunter”, and dropped into a defensive stance. Giselle was one of the best and would provide the kind of practice he needed. He usually sparred two of lesser competence, but Roxanne’s lesser skill set would balance the match.
He felt himself entering the zone as they sparred. His combinations flashed and kept both Amazons off balance. As expected, Giselle occupied most of his attention. She landed several hard blows, but for the most part, he blocked what they threw at him and fought back with strikes that, if he landed them full strength, would have been crippling.
In one sequence, he managed to throw Giselle and then leg swept Roxanne. He dropped toward her, stabbing toward her throat with a rigid hand. As he held his hand at her throat to demonstrate mastery, a kick in his butt knocked him over Roxanne. He rolled, rose to his feet, and looked back at Giselle.
She bared her teeth in an almost smile. “That was a reminder not to dawdle over your victories.”
They continued sparring and Sig held his own, except when Giselle planted one more swift kick in his butt, just before the timer went off again.
They bowed to each other and Sig limped over to his bag. “Can anyone give me a ride? I think my gluteus is broken.”
Roxanne licked her lips and smiled, “I will.”
Giselle said, “I think we’re going to the same place. I’ll take you. It’ll be out of your way Roxanne, maybe some other time.” She smiled at Roxanne.
Roxanne beamed at Sig. “Thank you for helping me with my forms today. I look forward to falling with you again.” She turned and walked away with an impressive strut.
They both watched and then Giselle said, “Get dressed and meet me outside.”
Giselle’s Jeep pulled up out front when Sig jogged out. The top was up. Low gray clouds suggested that the weather forecast might be true.
“Hop in. I’ll bring you back here to your Jeep after work.”
He hopped in, but instead of pulling away as she usually did, Giselle turned to him. “It looks like you were presented with the mating ritual today.”
Sig’s eyes widened.
“I need for you to be aware of something. Since your other self has been on display, several of the girls seem like they’ve gone into heat and will try to bed you. It’s OK with me if you do, but I want you to understand what it involves.”
Sig’s face felt flushed. He didn’t talk with women about mating, especially not a woman about who he harbored similar thoughts.
“Unlike gibbons, Amazons don’t mate for life. Men have one purpose, to help make new Amazon babies. After we’re done, we cast them aside. There aren’t male any Amazons. An Amazon will expend a lot of effort identifying and attracting prime beef-on-the-hoof to father a child. But once done, the relationship is over.”
“That sounds pretty cold.”
“We have centuries of practice at being cold. It’s the way we are. Your Great-grandmother was an exception, but apparently not that much. I understand she ended up leaving your Great-grandfather. Even her love for your Grampa couldn’t overcome her wanting an Amazon baby – not a boy baby.
“Roxanne started on you today. Others will try. You can do what you want, but I want to make sure you go in with your eyes open.”
“Thank you, but why are you telling me?”
“I like you. You’ve helped us without asking for anything in return. And besides, how do you know I don’t have designs on you someday.” She pulled out of the parking lot with a wry smile.
His mind froze. Way too much information to process now.
Chapter 56
Sig’s emancipation to workout with the Amazons included re-admittance to the equestrian facility they kept outside of town. Giselle told him that the Training Master delivered a new horse, more highly trained than the rest of the stable. She thought Sig should check it out, before the rest of the girls had a chance to ruin its schooling.
The Amazons had discovered that Sig rode at a higher level than they did and asked for pointers from him at the barn. It was a good trade. Sig got to ride, working on the horses’ training, and the girls learned new skills. Mary Beth asked Sig to benchmark the new mare’s abilities so he could retrain her when necessary.
He met Merriam, the horse keeper, at the stable. She showed him their new red roan mare. At seventeen hands, smaller than Bjørn and less heavily built, the Hanoverian warmblood moved as if she had springs in her legs.
Sig saddled her and took her around the three-and-a-half-foot jump-training course. She handled like a dream, collecting well, with no sign of refusal. In fact, she showed an eagerness to be airborne.
As he took her around, several Amazons gathered on the edges of the course, leaning against the fences to watch. Most were riders he had schooled before.
He decided to put her through some dressage paces. She performed splendidly until he tried her in a piaffe. She broke down slightly, recovered, and then faltered. He knew that with a little work he could have her performing well. He’d call his Mom and get tips.
He finished and several Amazons along the fence line applauded.
He smiled at them and saluted after he dismounted. He walked the mare to cool her. Two of the girls fell in with him, one on each side. “You really rode her well. I watched Merriam and she didn’t do nearly as well.”
“I didn’t do anything except give the horse the correct cues. Someone has trained her well; the real work will be in keeping her trained and improving her. That’s the fun part.”
“Merriam knocked down a jump and you didn’t knock any down.”
Sig smiled at her. “You don’t need to tattle to me. Merriam is in charge out here, I just help out.”
“I’m not tattling. I’m just saying you’re better in comparison.”
“Oh, OK, but I think that’s the point in me helping out. I’ve had good training from an excellent coach, my Mom, and the Training Master wants me to pass it on to you guys.”
When he unsaddled the horse, one Amazon took the saddle from him, and the other handed him the curry brush before she wiped the mare down with rags. The unaccustomed assistance made him wary. Perhaps they were helpful because of the new mare.
He led the big roan into her stall, closed the door, and turned to get oats for her. One of the Amazons held out a can.
“Thanks.” He poured the oats into the feed bin. She grabbed him around the waist, pressed her chest against his back, and whispered, “Do you give remedial lessons?”
Sig stiffened. “What kind of remedial lessons?”
She moved her hands up to his chest. “You can tell me what I need.”
He groaned inwardly, reached up and removed her hands, and stepped back as he turned. “I’ll have to see you up on a horse, before I know what you need to work on.” He exhaled deeply as he looked into her coal colored eyes. They seemed to be smoldering. “I have to get to work right now. Why don’t you set something up with Merriam? I’d like to have her at any lessons. She said she’d like to learn what I teach you guys.”
The Amazon wet her lips and took a step forward. Sig stepped back. “I have to go. I’ll see you later uh…”
“Isabella.” The sibilant way she said it drew his eyes to her lips.
“Right, Isabella. I’ll see you later. Set something up with Merriam.” He turned and jogged to his Jeep.
Sig started the Jeep but sat for a minute to let things settle. He’d b
een thinking about what Giselle told him. He didn’t think he wanted to be a boy-toy to an Amazon tribe. He wanted more of a relationship - he thought. There was also the taboo thing. Some were from other tribes, were any related to him through his great grandmother? He remembered a saying “incest is always relative but not necessarily a parent.”
After Dad died, Sig had been withdrawn and focused, when other guys were looking to score. The Amazons said he was masterful. He wasn’t.
But, when she grabbed him, she felt so nice.
Crap. He jammed the Jeep in gear, spun it around in front of the barn, and sped off.
Chapter 57
Sig drove to the library. His meeting with Giselle was in an hour, but he didn’t feel like he stretched the truth to Isabella since he needed to organize his research before they met.
Giselle arrived for their review. His research wasn’t color coded like hers, but he was organized.
He described his conversations with the Dean’s former classmates, beginning with Nancy Riley’s observations about wide emotional swings and potential bipolar symptoms. He had confirmation, but no new information from another acquaintance from college days, four ‘do not recalls’ and waited for a response from a seventh.
He noted that Professor Riley remembered the Dean’s white streak from college. “Every time I think of his white streak, something tickles my brain, but never rises to the surface. She also said that she recalled he studied in Europe - England or Germany. He has an Sc.D., not a Ph.D.”
“He did study in Europe. One of his degrees is from a school in Brasov. It’s in Romania, in an area called Transylvania.”
“Transylvania, where Bram Stoker wrote about the legend of Dracula? The source of Gypsy magic?” Sig asked.
“Yup, that Transylvania.”
“Spooky, but after all this time, if there are vampires in the world, they haven’t come out of the magic closet yet.”
“Perhaps there are no vampires, but legends tie Transylvania to Black Magic in many more ways than that. The vampire legend is only one of them. An old cliché states ‘where there’s smoke there’s fire’.” Giselle looked grim.
“There’s another that says ‘all generalizations are wrong - including this one’.”
“How eloquent.”
“I’d rather be erudite. I believe the saying can be tracked back to Dumas.” Sig grinned at her.
“Hmm, let’s get back to our research.”
“OK, I’ve given you everything I have. Do you have anything else?”
She nodded. “He finished his studies in England. I called up his dissertation and found it very… unimpressive. I called the university to talk to his advisor but he’s dead. The department administrator admitted the Dean produced a weak dissertation according to today’s standards, but that ‘the times were different then’ and some more bull puckey. I could tell he wasn’t comfortable with its quality.”
“We already know the Dean isn’t the shiniest car on the lot.”
“Professor Riley said he was either brilliant or he didn’t care. His dissertation seemed like the output of an ‘I don’t care’ personality, but it got him his doctorate. I wonder what the brilliant side of his brain studied while he skated through on the published swill.”
“All right, what next?”
Giselle suggested, “Let’s switch assignments for a fresh view. I’d like to research his undergraduate years here. We know he played chess, maybe I can find some teammates that didn’t make our list. There are yearbooks and other records I can review. Why don’t you take his more recent years?”
“Good idea. I may also look at the two Deans who preceded him to an early demise.”
“What?”
“Something that Riley told me that I forgot to tell you. When the Dean assumed office, he was the third in the post in a year. The other two died of lightning related causes.”
She stared at him for a beat. “You’re kidding. Lightning again?”
“People tend to lean on their strengths and what they’re used to. I see that all the time with you Amazons. People develop tendencies because they’re leaning on an asset.”
“I have observed that you are proficient at capitalizing on tendencies.”
“Are we ready to meet with Professor Herman?”
She thought for a moment. “Not yet, we’ll finish our next projects before we meet with him.”
Chapter 58
Sig called Mom to get piaffe training advice for the roan.
Professor Balcescu answered. “Hello Sigurd, your mother has stepped away from her phone for a few minutes. I saw your name on the phone so I picked up. How are things with you?”
“Going well. I think I’m doing well in classes, my research assignment is interesting, and I’m keeping in shape. How’s Mom doing under your tutoring?”
“She continually surpasses my expectation. Soon the student will become the teacher. In fact, I’m learning investment tricks from her. She’s trading options and going gangbusters, as they say.”
“That’s great. Any other breakthrough?”
“Last week she succeeded in lighting a candle with magic.”
“That’s wonderful.” Everyone can light a candle. Is there anyone who can’t light a candle… besides me?
“Here’s you mother. Nice talking with you Sigurd. I’ll see you in the fall when I return from sabbatical.”
“Hello Sig. Are you OK?”
“Mom, I don’t call you just when there’s a problem.”
“I know, but I’ve had another one of those visions.”
He frowned. “Involving me?”
“Yes, I saw you in a dungeon or a jail. There were some misshapen people and a fight. Someone took your medallion. When the dream fades, your voice says, “Aðalbrandr is part of me.”
Sig waited for more. “That’s all?”
“No, I also see the owl and wolf again, but not at the jail. They’re in the distance.”
“Hmmm, let’s hope he stays in the distance. Jail or dungeon? Not many dungeons in Chicago. I’ll do my best to stay out of jails.”
“In my vision, the jail is below ground, that’s why I call it a dungeon.”
“Are there bars on the door”?
After a beat she said, “I seem to remember bars.”
“The misshapen people, are they small, big, crippled, dwarves, are there a lot of them?”
“Big, I think. Not crippled and there are a few, more than one and less than a half dozen.”
“Misshapen in what way?”
“Ugly, wide, with big knotty muscles, long arms, big hands, big feet, sparse hair, that’s all that comes to me now.”
“That sounds like a nightmare not a vision. Are they a danger to you?”
“No, not me, they’re a danger to you. They go with the jail in my vision.”
“It’s not very clear.”
“I know dear. Fiona says that’s the problem with visions.”
He heard a click on the line. “Hello Sig, Meredith, excuse me for butting in like this but I heard my name mentioned and it sounded like my specialty. You’re telling Sig about your latest viewing?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Let me put it into perspective. Would the last vision you had about Sig have been clear except in retrospect? It involved an owl and a wolf, lightning and a car catching fire, if I remember correctly.”
Sig reflected for a moment. “No, I can’t think of what I might have done to prevent it. Except to be more careful about where I deflected the lightning bolt. Keep it away from cars, my car.”
“Your mother’s description could fit a troll, a mine kobold, or an ogre.”
His life was troll-free, except for Dmitri, a half troll, and he didn’t fit the description. Nevertheless, he’d bear watching.
“What about another demon?”
“It could be a demon. Whoever is set against you has a habit of drawing on demons.”
“Great, just what I need, another
demon adversary.”
“Goes with the territory when you’re a Battle Wizard. You fight against Dark Magic. Dark practitioners command demons. Didn’t your Great-grandfather tell you?”
“Yes, and so has Professor Herman. I just hoped that I’d find my magic before I have to face more demons.”
“That’s still not going well?”
“No, I think Bjørn has more magic than I do.”
“Dark practitioners aren’t going to give you a break because you don’t have all of your magic. Assume that you are going to have to defend yourself without it and make plans based on that assumption. If your magic appears, so much the better, but don’t count on it.”
“Thanks, that’s good advice, except I hoped to wallow in self-pity for a while.”
“I’m sure you were. It’s warm and cozy but not much use. I’ll drop off and let you and Meredith talk.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be clearer.”
“That’s OK Mom. You’ve given me information I didn’t have before.”
“I hope it helps.”
“Me too. Thanks and good luck with your training.”
“I love you Sig.”
“You too Mom.”
He disconnected and stared out the window for a few minutes with a furrowed brow. From Mom’s vision, he knew a little more about approaching danger, but would the information do him any good, or would it only be useful in reflection? Would he be alive to say, ‘Oh, that’s what it meant’?
He smacked his forehead. “Damn, I forgot to ask her about training for the piaffe.”
He picked up his phone, selected Call History, and redialed her.
Chapter 59
The thought of meeting Andras again goaded Sig. He fenced at least two Amazons at a time every day, sometimes three. As he improved, even Bella joined a team.
Just as with Andras, he could defend, but couldn’t get far enough ahead to attack.
The Mary Beth stopped by one day when he fought Bella and Karina, another high-level swordfighter. Mary-Beth watched for five minutes before interrupting. “You defend very well but you never attack. You create a steel curtain of defense, but it has no thorns. Your potential to be a master swordsman, won’t blossom without aggression.”
