by Reiter
“Yes,” Valian nodded. “... very fine working order.”
“I have added my own enchantments to it, however, as I wanted this conversation to remain inside the family. Let me begin by saying that Pirion is very dedicated to his craft.”
“I think the word ‘exceedingly’ applies here, Father,” Valian remarked.
“So you’re aware then?” the Duke asked.
“Of the spies he’s engaged to watch over his siblings?” Valian mentioned plainly. “Yes, I am aware of them. Though I cannot say I have been briefed fully on all the intelligence they’ve gathered.”
“Stop it, Valian!” the Duke spat, losing his hold on his anger. “Just stop it! You know what’s at stake here. Let us not treat it as if it is–”
“What was my first failure to you, Father?” Valian interrupted.
“Your what?”
“My first failure in my service to your House,” Valian clarified. “What was it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You haven’t failed me.”
“Then kindly wait for me to do at least that before giving me the ‘you’re not doing this right’ speech. Yes, I know Yorlson betrayed me. He’s probably told Lusorra and Evard everything he could think of, and I’m sure his woman had a few other items to offer. Yes, I know what I’m up against. Yes, I know that Evard has had more time being a KnighT than I’ve had being Valian. Trust me when I tell you that I knew going into this that I was the underdog with next to no chance of pulling it off!”
“Then why make the attempt?!” Vaiyorl fired back with equal vigor. “Why put yourself in such peril?! Why are you risking my son after denying me the right to stand by his side?!”
“You’ve never been away from my side!” Valian shouted, bringing both ends of the conversation to a quiet pause. Valian looked around the room for a moment and then looked down, feeling the need to reveal a truth. “And from the moment your wife and children were placed in the escape pod of my parent’s ship... I’ve never been away from yours!”
Frowning to keep from crying, Valian continued. “They came after you before I came to your family... and, Father, they haven’t stopped. You know as well as I do that they won’t stop unless someone stops them. I didn’t ask for the job, but it fell to me... and I will see it done as best I can.”
“But how?”
“My father has taught me the wisdom of long-range thinking,” Valian smiled. “That methodology has been applied here in every fashion we could fathom.”
“We?”
“My contingent... my family,” Valian replied. “The one that has sworn to take up this fight with me. And before you ask, no, you’re not allowed to make that pledge.”
“You were my son before you were their brother!” Vaiyorl declared.
“And I was your protector before you were my father,” Valian said softly. “Not much has changed since that day, Father. Except maybe where I find my strength. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a tournament to win. Enjoy the show.”
“You give a father pride, Valian,” Vaiyorl asserted. “A pride I’m not worthy of feeling.”
“That’s too bad... because you’ve been chosen to receive it. We still don’t know why yet, but man am I getting anxious to see that reason! And I love you too, Father. Keep your guard up. This isn’t over yet.”
“And you son... and you.”
Valian had already turned his back. He did not want to see that face fade from his eyes. It was better for him to keep the image in mind. The tears the man was barely holding in check and the love carried in his stare. Valian would allow that image to cover the pain he felt knowing that his brother had betrayed him.
Stepping out of the room into the corridor, he was received first by Gilestra. “We’ve got a war to win, my Lady.”
“You lead, I’ll follow, my Lord.”
After watching Arva streak between the winning posts at the end of the Sky Race, the gleam on the fighter-craft sparkling like a newborn star, it came as no surprise that the pilot-space-fighter combination would also win the dogfighting contest. At the mid-day break, Valian’s name was still the only one on the leaderboard with sixty-seven points.
Small flags imprinted with the young KnighT’s face – achieved by minor enchantment or the optics in the flag fabric programmed for the image – started showing up more and more in the stands, along with streamers in the Jhormynn House colors.
Several reporters started to make their approach to the box where the Countess Necaltiere was seated, but they were prevented by the Imperial Guard. Lusorra looked up into the Emperor’s Box to see Pelania looking back at her, lifting her chalice to salute the Countess. Lusorra nodded her appreciation.
“Well done, my love,” TrenGal said softly. “Seeding what may yet still be the soil of redemption. The boy has proven he certainly knows how to move. But there is more to being a KnighT, and more to winning a tournament, than knowing how to ride, run, and pilot a fighter.”
“Of course,” Pelania gracefully agreed. “But still, it is good to know that Evard and Lusorra must taste some measure of defeat in this. It will make them both more pliable... should they manage to win this tournament.”
“We are four events done,” the Emperor stated, taking up his own cup of sweet wine. “There are but two more non-combative exercises ahead in the schedule. Then the blood games begin!”
“Ah yes, the Ground Race... and... the Performance Art,” Pelania winced.
“I thought you were a devoted patron of the arts.”
“I am. That is why I find what these champions often perform so horrendous!”
TrenGal laughed heartily while taking hold of his wife’s hand. “Well, take heart, Empress. If I am not mistaken, when I read over the entourages of one of the Countess’ champions, I believe I saw the name Jastri Bunvior.”
“Jastri?!” Pelania asked, sitting up in her chair. “Is the silkray-harp even allowed in the tournament?”
“Unfortunately, no. Enchanted items are strictly forbidden. But I believe she has brought along an acoustic harp for this performance.
“Genius play on Lusorra’s part,” the Emperor continued. “The particular champion Jastri is listed under never had a chance of winning any other event.”
“So she had the man register for a single competition?” Pelania asked.
“My wife sees, but she was not watching,” TrenGal noted. “The Direct Combat, Joust, and Powered Armour Combat events account for half of the total number of points in a tournament. But if someone were to win the other nine, they could force a final bout with whoever has taken those three.”
“That’s his strategy!” Pelania thought as she took to her data-pad. “That’s how he hopes to win!” She opened up the file on Valian to see if there was a listed art form for the young KnighT. No such listing could be found. “Jastri is a musical genius! How will he beat her performance?!
“I suppose that makes the coming event that much more important,” Pelania noted.
“Easy, my love,” TrenGal said, patting her hand. “The boy has proven resourceful beyond his years in every stride we’ve seen. Keep the faith you had when you knighted him.”
“I don’t know how I let you talk me into this,” Ereena hissed as she walked down the tunnel.
“You have to admit, it was an interesting incident,” Valian mused.
“It was a complete invasion of privacy!”
“That’s hardly accurate,” Valian argued. “My father used to say, if a woman doesn’t want to be seen she should wear armour.”
“Just because words come out of a Duke’s mouth, that doesn’t make it inarguable fact!”
“Wrong father,” Valian admitted. “... and in truth if a woman were to wear armour, more people would look at her.”
“So you said all of that to do what?”
“Keep you walking past the point of no return,” he smiled as they reached where Annodia stood waiting. She started hooking up the sensors to Eree
na, but was interrupted by the sound of music.
Jastri was a well-known and beloved musician. She might have been the only person in the Empire more dedicated to her music than her fans were... but that would not have been by much. When she was seen walking out to the stage, people started screaming almost uncontrollably... but one could have heard the buzzing of a gnat’s wings when she took to her instrument and readied her hands to play.
From the first pluck to the last strum, Jastri justified why she was considered a major talent. Even people who did not necessarily think the harp was an instrument to be adored took in her music and swayed with the chords and interwoven harmonies. It was no surprise when she received a standing ovation, and she bowed deeply to the Emperor’s Box and then the crowd.
“We have to follow that?!” Ereena asked before she started shaking her head.
“Sorry I’m late,” Quilori huffed as she came running up to the platform. “I had to see to a matter with Kwebb. That boy is going to worry himself right out of the competition.”
“And he might have company,” Valian whispered. Quilori turned to look at Ereena to see that the young woman was a ball of fright.
“There’s no way I can follow that!”
“You need to find something else to focus on!” Valian suggested.
“Like what, the way they’re going to come after us for trying to follow that with more music?!”
“Is that all you’re afraid of?” Valian asked, trying to make it sound as if the coming performance were of little consequence. The Performance Art competition was only worth three points... but without those points Evard would have to lose one of the three events Valian believed the Master KnighT would dominate. That was always a possibility, but it stood to reason that he needed to be in the driver’s seat of his fate, not hoping for a misstep to come out of Bruntelior’s camp. Still, the fear Ereena had was more than justified; even Valian had felt himself getting lost in the performance a time or two.
“Is that all?!” Ereena barked. “IS THAT ALL?!” Ereena took a step toward Valian, taking in a breath to yell at him. Annodia stepped between them, taking up a position of defense. “And what is this supposed to be?”
Annodia stepped forward, taking hold of Ereena’s face. She kissed the woman on the mouth and held her there for a moment. Ereena put her hands on Annodia’s shoulders to push her away, but her grunt of protest became something of a sighing moan.
“What is it about this woman’s lips?!” Valian thought, feeling somewhat sorry for Ereena.
Their lips slowly parted and Annodia rested her forehead against Ereena’s. “It’s not about them out there,” she whispered. “It’s not about the fear you’re feeling. Neither one are you able to control and just make go away.” Ereena’s eyes remained closed as Annodia stroked the side of her face. “If you need to think of something, think of how it felt when you realized that this man was worth it. When you first started to think that maybe you were wrong about him.
“Listen to Quilori and the stage she’s about to set... and let nature take its course,” Annodia guided. “And if you need a reason to sing, Ereena... sing for me.”
Valian watched as his squire backed away. It quickly became apparent she was not going to be sharing any kisses with him and he nibbled on his lip, trying not to let the disappointment register. As soon as Annodia was clear, the platform ascended. Ereena kept her eyes closed, but her hand reached out. Valian caught it and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“It was the day we cheated on the exercising,” she whispered. “It started there and just kept building. It scares me when I think of how much further that feeling can go.”
“Scares me too,” Valian shared. “But at least we’ll have each other.”
“Damn that woman can kiss!” Ereena exclaimed.
“Tell me about it!”
The platform was halfway up when Valian looked at Quilori and gave her the nod. Activating her microphone, she shot up a photon. It exploded just above the ground and the arena fell silent. Geraldius announced Valian, and Quilori followed directly after.
“Darker times have seldom been seen than the days when the Vythe held these territories,” she started and immediately she could hear responses coming from the crowd.
Valian took the cue and started playing his guitar. He had chosen the twelve-string acoustic for this performance. Electric was always more extravagant, but he was going for sentiment and substance. He started playing, and from the very first bar most of the people knew the song. It helped matters that he had chosen a song where Gylman D’Sympior, the man after whom the building had been named, was attributed with leading the attack force that pierced the heart of the Vythe territory, leading to their removal from the Rims.
It was the sort of song that anyone could sing and enjoy. You did not need to know how to control the Energies nor be well-handed with a gun like the combatants. It was a song of triumph, where those who were so incredibly outnumbered had managed not only to defeat their opponent but drive out the Vythe entirely.
Quilori continued her speech, recounting the events that everyone knew very well. A few were impressed when she even included how the Olasson had withdrawn from the war, leaving the Vohlterran forces vulnerable. She did not skim past that, and sadness registered on her face and in her voice. It was an emotion that was cradled by the notes Valian played.
But then came the voice. The voice the young KnighT had discovered on the first day of Lady Gilestra’s chosen punishment. She had been humming a tune in the shower that quickly turned into song. Valian had stepped into her stall and after she stopped screaming, he had demanded that she finish. In protest, Ereena sang her song. It was during that song that Valian had started putting together how he would approach participating in a tournament. Ereena would be his voice.
The Last Front was a very demanding song, going through several octaves before reaching the end where the singer needed to have mastered circular breathing to do it justice. Ereena never opened her eyes, and her voice never stopped building. She ended the song in an uncustomary manner. It was ill-advised simply because of the strain it put upon the vocalist. Ereena Kodavi never felt any strain. She only allowed herself to feel the fire she had for her friend, her brother, the one man who had yet to fail her. Her last note was strong. It was powerful and she held it, still singing even after Valian had stopped playing. She only stopped when she could no longer hear herself – the crowd was cheering that loudly – and she staggered back into Valian’s arms, opening her eyes to see people on their feet screaming at her, for her. Some of them were crying, and she soon joined in that number.
“Ereena,” Valian called to her and she looked up to see him ushering her to turn and face the Emperor’s Box.
Only when TrenGal rose from his seat did the people start to settle down. The Emperor approached his speaking platform and he turned to face Geraldius. “I realize Sir Valian is ahead on points and can therefore choose when he participates, but I want to make sure that there are no more contestants for this competition?”
“Tic. There are none, Your Majesty,” the man said, bowing.
“Then allow me to relieve the judges of their burden. As it is my right – and one I believe I have never exercised – for the Performance Art competition... the winner is... the House Jhormynn.”
The three performers bowed in unison as the crowd went berserk once more. Annodia did not wait for a signal from Valian. She called for the lowering of the platform. When it finally reached the floor she was on, the rest of the group had made their way to the area. They approached, but did not come too close as Valian turned to face them.
“I believe that takes us to seventy.”
The House Jhormynn cheered as they embraced one another. Valian was the first to pull himself free and find a quiet place. It was not long before his Counsel and his Squire joined him.
“Your plan... it’s working,” Kethgeegan said softly.
“So far,” Valian return
ed. “We have the Ground Race ahead of us... and then the Blood Games begin.”
“I wonder if I can trick them into another bet,” Kethgeegan joked before taking his leave.
Worry compounds the futility of being trapped on a dead-end street. Thinking opens new avenues.
Cullen Hightower
(Rims Time: XI-4907.04)
It was nearly an hour before the judges were done deliberating over the registered complaint. Several scholars were called into the debate, along with the parties registering the foul as well as Sandra McIntosh and Valian Styrke.
“Do you think it would be taking so long if they had been beaten by someone with brown skin?” she had asked.
“I don’t think the complaint would have even been registered,” Valian replied. “But the judging has been color-blind up to this point. Let us trust in that.”
The Lead Judge came forward, deciding to speak instead of handing the decision to Geraldius. “After review of the recorded event, including examination of the vehicle and its pilot, it has been decided, by a four to three vote, that the House Jhormynn has not breached any code put forward by this body. Valian Styrke is therefore declared the winner of the Ground Race event.”
Sandra jumped up into the arms of Valian who spun her around before carrying her away.
“Man, it just blows their minds that a wheeled vehicle could beat out a hover job!” she exclaimed after Valian put her down.
“Not just any wheeled vehicle,” Valian quickly added, “that rolling rocket you and the Twins made for me. I owe you big for that one, Chief.”
“Don’t bother countin’, handsome, we’ll never catch up,” she smiled. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t die trying! We’re up to eighty-five points, baby. Let’s run the table on these wannabes. Show them what the Jhormynn House is made of!”
“Let’s be about that indeed.”
The momentum belonged solely to Valian and his entourage. It was becoming apparent that those who had come with him were beginning to feel more confident about their skills as well.
