“I Hachi, will give you a swift death,” he said as he bowed.
“I, Delver Kide, will make you hurt when I kill you,” replied Winn after he bowed.
Eight huh. This guy should be more solid than the last guy. He looks strong. I imagine he is fast, too. There is some reason he is eight and not one. I’ll find out why and exploit it, trying not to show my strengths this time.
“Begin,” shouted the official. Hachi didn’t immediately launch himself into an attack. He waited on Winn. Winn decided to press so he went in with a basic three punch combo. Hachi easily blocked and launched out with a front kick that Winn blocked. It was powerful and quick, but not that quick. Hachi moved back without throwing another blow. Winn decided that Hachi was going to try to wear him down then strike with a powerful blow. Winn didn’t want to wear himself out while his opponent played strike and retreat. He had the real fight coming up. He abandoned the strategy and went after Hachi with the intent of destroying him quickly. He attacked with a vicious kick followed by two kicks and a punch, and to Winn’s surprise Hachi blocked all of them. He is fast enough to block. Interesting. Winn decided to bait Hachi into an attack and then counter. He left his face exposed and went after Hachi with two kicks and a haymaker to his chin. Hachi avoided the kicks, ducked under the haymaker and punched out at Winn’s face. Winn avoided the punch and at the same time connected with Hachi’s midsection with a powerful blow. Hachi was taken by surprise and keeled over. Winn kneed him in the face. Hachi reeled back, nose bloodied, and Winn launched a round kick death blow that connected with the back of Hachi’s head in just the right place. Blood and brain matter flew all over the ring. Again, the crowd was taken aback. After an initial exclamation of shock, they were silent.
Winn was breathing hard, but after a moment he caught his breath. The official declared Winn the winner again and two men carrying a stretcher removed Hachi’s body from the circle. The official called for Ni to approach. She was taller than average and lithe with well-defined muscles, making her arms and legs look chiseled and hard. She had a pretty face, which at the moment was screwed up in a stare of hate at Winn. Strong, but most likely lightning quick. She may test me.
Winn thought they would bow and go at it immediately like before, but instead the official motioned for them to come toward him.
“Ni, it is your right to choose the style of fighting. Do you choose hand to hand combat, or weaponized combat?”
“Weapons, the sword,” Ni said.
Shit.
The official made a motion and two servants pushed a cart out onto the circle. Attached to the cart were deep baskets holding swords and long daggers. Winn saw that there were katanas, tachis, nodachis, and wakizashis. Ni picked first. She selected a utilitarian looking katana with a black leather grip. The sword had a slight curve and was around eight hands long, Winn guessed. Winn picked next and he selected two matching wakizashis. They were slightly curved as well, and the grips were covered with some type of cloth. They were twenty inches long.
“You cannot choose two,” the official said.
“Let him,” Ni said. “It is his dishonor, and he will need them. It will not matter.”
Winn felt the weight of the short swords as the servants wheeled the cart away. They felt balanced and solid. He tested the sharpness and they were indeed sharp. He swung them around, loosening up his arms. It had been a while since he had fought with weapons, but he wasn’t worried about being rusty. He was worried about his opponent. He glanced over at her and she was going through some forms with the sword, and she looked very comfortable with it, like it was a part of her.
“Approach and bow,” the official said.
They approached the center of the ring. Ni bowed first. She didn’t say anything. Winn bowed as well.
“I regret having to kill you.”
“Is that because I am a girl, am pretty, or you just don’t like to kill? You killed the two men easily enough.”
“I don’t like killing girls. I just got lucky to get past those two.”
“I am a woman, so don’t be bothered. It was easy to tell you were hiding your abilities. Did you forget you are world famous? Everyone knows of your exploits. Most people think they were exaggerated. I don’t. I see the killer in you. I know you are a killer. You killed my cousin, Mi Len, when you were but a child. Now she will be revenged.”
Great, she has extra motivation to kill me. I should take her out quickly and be done with it.
“Enough talking,” the official said. “Begin.”
Winn and Ni launched themselves at each other. Swords were flashing faster than the eye could follow. Winn tried to overpower her with powerful strokes aimed at her neck, midsection, and head. Ni had no trouble keeping up, but she was on the defensive. They traded blows for four full minutes, then NI snuck a kick in and made Winn stumble. She followed with a swipe at Winn’s neck. To avoid her blow Winn went down on one knee. She kicked at his face, but he jumped up very quickly and did a back flip, barely avoiding her kick. The crowd reacted with a collective shout, but Ni didn’t hesitate and launched a strike at Winn while he was still in the air. As he landed, he blocked her strike and lashed out at her thigh at the same time, drawing first blood. Ni limped back a little and growled. She ran toward Winn and jumped turning a summersault reaching 7 span in the air. When she was upside down in the air, directly over Winn, she stabbed down and Winn moved to block but only struck her sword with a glancing blow, and the stab that was aimed at Winn’s head sliced into his shoulder. Winn growled in pain and frustration and lost his composure. As Ni landed Winn stabbed at her neck but she blocked the blow. She went on the offensive and swung her sword so fast Winn had trouble parrying her blows. Winn saw an opening after one of Ni’s swing went wide and he ran in close to her and grabbed her in a bear hug. He squeezed as hard as he could, and he could tell her breathing was labored. She screamed in agony as he tried to break her back. She could barely breathe, and Winn thought she might pass out. Ni gathered herself and bit Winn on the shoulder where his wound was. He yelled out in pain and slammed Ni to the ground. She started rolling to get clear of Winn, but he ran and jumped on top of her, and attempted to stab her while she was on the ground. He missed, and she tried to lock her legs around his neck, but he stabbed her calf and she yelped and kicked herself away from him. They both stood up, bleeding from their wounds and circled each other. Winn launched an attack and she parried and aimed a blow at his wounded shoulder. He narrowly avoided it and lashed out at her thigh with a kick. His kick landed, and she yelled out and bent over slightly. Winn did not hesitate, and he launched a cross blow at her neck. It connected, and her head flew off with a clean cut and rolled across the circle and stopped rolling at the vizier’s feet.
The crowd was stunned again, except for the cheering of Jaunty, who leaped down from the stands and hugged Winn. Winn gently pushed him off as the official approached him.
“You have survived your trial by combat. You are found innocent of all charges and are now free. In addition, since you have defeated Ni in combat, you are now the Ni. Number two in fighting skills in all the world.”
“Thank you,” Winn said. “I am glad to be free. I really must refuse the title of Ni. I am not Xi En.”
“Nationality does not matter. You are Ni, whether you accept it or not.”
“Then I don’t want to be Ni, I want to be Ichi.”
The man known as Ichi approached. “You have the right to challenge me, Ni.”
“I challenge you now,” Winn said.
“Winn are you crazy?” Jaunty asked. “You have just fought three matches, and you are wounded. You are not in any shape to challenge Ichi.”
“Yet here I am, challenging him.”
“I accept,” Ichi said.
Jaunty backed out of the ring as the official had them line up.
“This is an honorable duel, not a duel to the death,” the official said. “That means there are no death strikes allowed, and the m
atch is over when one of the combatants submits or is incapacitated. Do you both understand the rules?”
“Yes,” Ichi said.
“Yes,” Winn said.
“Then bow and be ready to begin.” The two fighters bowed and faced each other.
“Begin!”
Winn assumed his fighting stance but Ichi just stood still.
“I submit.” Ichi said.
The official ran up to Ichi.
“Are you sure?” The official asked. “Do you know what that means? The gaijin will be Ichi! You can’t submit!”
The vizier rose from his seat and hurried down to the ring. He strode up to Ichi.
“I command you to fight and defeat this gaijin murderer.”
“I must refuse, for Samir ordered me not to fight Winn Vaux. God’s law comes before man’s law.”
“Did Samir say why?” The vizier asked.
“No, but it wasn’t just me he told. None of the true practitioners of Pho Ren are allowed to fight Winn. Samir has declared him Ichi and has said he would forsake anyone who challenged or fought him.”
The vizier looked at Winn. “Congratulations, you are the Champion of Xi En.”
Chapter 21: Over Sea
September 25, 850 A.A.
After traveling as fast as they could over a four-day period Sarah and her party arrived in Ukida. Ambassador Wells had told her to look for the consulate office and official there named Alban Murtaugh upon their arrival. After asking several people for directions she found the consulate office down by the port area of Ukida. Sarah told the party to stay put. She dismounted and walked up to the consulate door and knocked. A tall, skinny man answered the door and his expression changed to shock when he saw the Queen.
“Your Majesty, please come in at once. I hesitate to say it, but you look very disheveled.”
“We rode here as fast as we could,” Sarah said. “It might not be very ladylike, but we left all but the barest essentials behind. Time is of the essence. You are Mr. Murtagh, I presume?”
“Yes Ma’am, pardon me for not introducing myself. I am Albus Murtagh, chief of station for this consulate. Please sit. May I offer you any refreshment?”
“No, I don’t need anything at the moment,” Sarah said. She looked around the consulate. It was made up of one large room that was designed as an office with a large reception area and space for file storage in the back. It was very neat and clean. Sarah surmised that Mr. Murtaugh was a fastidious and tidy man.
Murtaugh continued. “Ma’am I am glad you made it safe and sound. I have a most urgent communication for you that came just this morning. Your timing could not have been better.”
Murtaugh walked to his desk and picked up an envelope. He handed it to Sarah without a word. Sarah opened and read it.
Your Majesty,
It was with great joy that I read the letter I received from Ambassador Wells which indicated you were coming home to fight for your crown. We greatly anticipate your return. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy for you to join us. Troops loyal to Keyland block our access to the coast to the south and to the north. The best plan we could come up with is for you to sail to the Skalish town of Jurgeston. We risk running into Menegar patrols journeying there and back but we will send a sufficient force to greet you that will be able to defeat a patrol. It will be a long journey back to Alexandra, but it is the safest route we can come up with.
Fleet Admiral Nonce has already dispatched a ship to take you from Ukida to Jurgeston. He assured me it will be one of the fastest in the navy. Please, waste no time in coming to us, my Queen. Your country is in a state of crisis and you are the only one that can solve the situation. May the Almighty bless you and your journey.
General of the Army Jik Coy
Long Live the Queen
Sarah handed the letter to Murtaugh for him to read. When he finished it, he put it down on his desk.
“Where is this ship that the general mentioned?” Sarah asked. “Is it here?”
“Yes, she docked late last night,” Murtaugh said. “Her name is the AMS Swift. Her captain is named Jonas Riving. I will show you where she is docked myself.”
They left the consulate and Sarah went to her horse and mounted and they followed Murtaugh down the docks until they came to a new type of ship, that Bevy told them was a clipper ship. It was the fastest sailing ship yet made. It had sharp lines, three masts, and a square rig. Sarah could tell it wasn’t built to carry a lot of cargo.
As they approached the ship, a man dressed in a captain’s uniform met them at the bottom of the gang plank. He was short, trim, and had an air of command about him.
“Your Majesty, please allow me to introduce myself,” the man said. Sarah gave a slight nod. “I am Fenton Burnbridge, captain of the Swift. Please come aboard. You of course will take my cabin and your party will share my first and second officer’s cabins. We will get underway as soon as you are aboard. I understand the importance of getting you to Aurella as soon as possible. Formal introductions can take place at dinner in the state room once we are well underway.”
“Thank you for your hospitality captain,” Sarah said. “I look forward to meeting you and your officers. Also thank you for understanding the need for us to arrive as quickly as possible.”
“We will set a speed record on this voyage if the weather allows it, ma’am.” Fenton said. “Now Mr. Jacking, one of our bosun’s mates, will show you to your quarters. I shall go prepare to get underway.”
Mr. Jacking lead them towards the rear of the ship and the captain walked off in the other direction. Sarah arrived at her quarters and thought them spacious for a sailing ship. She went to check on the rest of the party and they on the other hand were very cramped. Vant, who was the only male left, not wanting to share a cabin with a female, volunteered to sleep with the sailors on the forecastle deck. In truth he was scared of what Bevy might try to do. Svae and Alana volunteered to share the first officer’s cabin, and Bevy got the second officer’s cabin to herself. She could barely fit into it because it was so small.
The party freshened up and changed their clothes so that they would look halfway presentable. Sarah did not have any clothes that made her feel like a queen. She shrugged and decided what she did have would have to do. She felt the ship lurch when they left the dock and set sail. She was overcome with a sense of relief even though she had no idea what to expect when she got to Aviel. She didn’t know if fighting would be necessary to oust Keyland or if he would see reason when the tide turned against him. She thought and hoped that her presence would cause some of Keyland’s allies, and their forces, to come over to her side, the rightful side. She just didn’t know.
After a while she called for Svae to come to her cabin. Svae came in looking much cleaner than she had earlier that day.
“Your Majesty, you wanted to see me?” Svae said.
“Yes, Svae. I wanted to talk to you about doing a special service for me.”
“What would that be ma’am?”
“It has occurred to me that I really can’t trust anyone until I vet them myself. How do we know that General Coy himself is not a traitor, luring me into a trap? I sincerely hope not, because we have already walked into it, if so. Even if he is on our side, how do I know all his generals, colonels, and so on are one hundred percent loyal?”
“I don’t suppose we will know until we get there, ma’am.”
“Exactly, we won’t know, and we can’t afford to assume they all are. I can’t read minds, and I don’t know the future, so we will have to do the best we can to ferret out those that aren’t loyal and plan to do us harm. To do that, I am going to task you to be my military liaison with Alana and Vant being your assistants.”
“Ma’am what will that entail? I am a soldier, and so are Alana and Vant. We are trained to fight, not to read people to try to ascertain if they are traitors.”
“Svae, there are a few things I know about this group that indicate you are loyal to me beyond question.
You all volunteered for a secret mission to find my husband and you all fought to protect me when the group was under attack. I trust you all implicitly. That is the first rule in letting someone close to you, you must trust them. You may be soldiers, but you are also my subjects, and I need you to be my advisors and to give me your opinions on everyone that claims to be my friend. I also need you to be my protectors. Svae, I am starting from scratch, I trust no one but you and our group.”
“Ma’am, I understand. I will serve you to the upmost of my ability in the way you best see fit, and I am sure Vant and Alana feel the same way. The first thing we will do is take turns guarding your quarters”
“Thank you Svae. The first assignment for you and your team is to read the officers at dinner and take the measure of the mood on this ship. I want to make sure there are not any rebels on board looking for a chance to kill the last Carrington.”
“Yes ma’am. We will start to mix with the crew and make inquiries immediately.”
Sarah stood up and took a step towards Svae. She grabbed her hand and held it.
“This isn’t queenly,” Sarah said. “But I want a hug. You are of my husband’s family, my closest companion, and my most trusted friend at this moment.”
They embraced briefly then Svae left the room. Sarah felt better knowing she had someone on her side she was sure of. She laid down to take a nap before dinner, falling asleep quickly.
A few hours later there was a knock on her door.
“Come,” Sarah said.
Vant opened the door and stuck his head in the room.
“Your Majesty, dinner will be served in the stateroom in ten minutes.”
“Thank you Vant, I’ll be out in a moment.”
Sarah brushed her hair and washed her face. Once she finished preparing herself, she glanced at the looking glass.
“I must be the roughest looking queen ever.” In truth she looked radiant.
Trials of a Champion Page 27
