Oh said Swordmaster Phillip as his finest student retreated in a way that looked as if he was losing control. But before he could accept that his pupil was about to be defeated by a clever attack, a remarkable thing happened.
Ty thrust at the highest point a legal touch was permitted the tunic just below the face-guard a move which should have caused Henry to move either to his right or his left, as he had no room behind him. Either step would have taken him off line and out of the prescribed area, causing him to forfeit the match, or to lose his balance.
But Henry simply kept his left foot firmly planted a scant fraction of an inch before the end line, twisted his body and slid his right leg forward, allowing the tip of Tys foil to cut through the air just above his canvas tunic. As he slid forward, Henry extended his arm and found Ty running right up against his foil tip.
The crowd gasped as the two combatants froze in tableau. For the briefest second there was no sound in the room, then the Master of Ceremonies shouted, Judges?
Four judges, one at each corner of the combat area, were required to signal a valid touch. The two closest to Henrys end of the floor looked at one another, each unsure of what he had just seen. Henry now sat on the floor, in a full split, one leg straight ahead and one behind, while Ty held his position, his body bowing Henrys blade. This is really uncomfortable, Hal said just loud enough that those nearby could hear.
Embarrassing, really, said Ty.
The Master signalled for the two judges to join him and said, Contestants, return to your positions.
Ty held out his left hand and Henry took it, letting his opponent pull him to his feet. That looked painful, said Ty as he removed his helmet.
Removing his own helmet, Henry brushed his dark brown hair aside and winced. You have no idea.
As Henry reached him, Swordmaster Phillip said, Ive never seen a move like that before. What was it?
Desperation, said Henry. Taking the offered towel, he dried his face. He really is better than I am, you know that?
Yes, said Phillip softly, but not by much. And not enough for you not to contest. He may win, but so may you.
Whats taking the judges so long?
My guess is theyre arguing about right of way. Tyrone was still extended, so you had no right of way, even though he ran right up on your sword-point. Id rule it a non-touch and make you do it over again.
I dont think I can, said Henry with a wince. I think Im going to need to see a healer if I ever want to have children.
Probably just a muscle. Rest for a while and it will heal.
I can feel my left leg is not what it should be, Swordmaster. It feels weaker than it ought to and if I push off, even a little, it hurts like demon fire.
Phillip stepped back. Try to lunge.
Henry attempted a lunge just to Phillips right and lost his balance. Phillip caught him before he could collapse to the floor. He patted the young man on the shoulder affectionately, then said in a loud voice, Masters of the Court!
The three masters who had been taking council in the hall turned as one and the seniormost said, What is it?
We must withdraw.
There was an audible groan of disappointment through the hall from the spectators as the Master of Ceremonies said, Why do you withdraw?
My young master is injured and unable to continue.
Ty and his father crossed the floor. As they neared the judges, Ty said, I can wait if young Lord Henry needs time to recover. An hour if needed, or perhaps tomorrow?
Henry was limping visibly now. He shook his head. No, good sir. I cannot continue and, he said with a wince, I suspect I will not be at my best for a while. He smiled at his opponent. Well won, young Hawkins. Lowering his voice he added, You probably would have won in any event. You really are the best I have met.
Fairly said, returned Ty, and no one has ever pressed me as hard as you. He looked at the three judges, who nodded.
The Master of Ceremonies proclaimed, As young Lord conDoin cannot continue we judge this match concluded. Hail the Champion of the Masters Court, Tyrone Hawkins!
The crowd was obviously disappointed at the lack of a resolution by combat, but after a hesitant start, they cheered loudly. Even if the final touch was absent, the tourney had provided days of entertainment and the champion was without a doubt an exceptional swordsman.
When the applause died down, Ty said quietly, This will come as a great relief to the Kings Master of Ceremonies, for to postpone the great gala would put the man into an apoplexy.
Henry glanced over at the royal box where the King and his family had been watching the finals and saw a visible expression of relief on the Master of Ceremonies face as he moved to stand before the King.
Time to get your prize, Tal Hawkins told his son. To Henry he said, Please, you must let me send a healer friend: he can get you right in a day or two. Those groin injuries are more than annoying; I know. If not treated quickly, they can linger for months, years even.
Hal nodded his acceptance of the offer.
The two finalists and their companions were escorted to the royal box where they bowed before the King of Roldem. King Carol was an ageing man with grey hair, but he still looked alert and happy. Next to him sat his wife, Queen Gertrude, and to her side stood their youngest son, Prince Grandprey, who was only a few years older than the two combatants and was dressed in the uniform of a general of the Royal Army; and his sister the Princess Stephané, resplendent in a gown of softly folded yellow silk, which spread gracefully out to the floor. Her shoulders were bare and her somewhat daring décolletage was hidden by a sheer shoulder wrap of the same hue. Her choice of colours made a dramatic contrast to her chestnut hair and striking brown eyes.
Henry tried not to blush as he looked away from her, then he noticed Ty Hawkins was staring boldly at the Kings daughter. And instantly decided he disliked the victor of the contest.
On the Kings right side stood Crown Prince Constantine, the Heir Apparent to the throne, and the middle son, Prince Albér, the Heir Presumptive. Henry and Tyrone both bowed before the royal family.
The Master of Ceremonies said, Your majesties, your highnesses, the victor and vanquished of todays final match. Lord Henry of Crydee, approach.
As the first among those who were defeated by the winner, Henry was awarded a miniature silver sword. As he knelt to receive the gift from the hand of the Crown Prince, the King said, Shame to end this way, lad; youve acquitted yourself admirably. Still, second is nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe youll have better luck in the next tourney.
Your majesty is gracious, said Henry, accepting the sword and with some discomfort returning to stand next to Swordmaster Phillip.
Well send a healer over to your quarters at the university, and have that leg seen to. You must be ready for tomorrows gala, said the King.
I thank your majesty, said Hal, bowing.
Tyrone Hawkins of Olasko, intoned the Master of Ceremonies.
Ty knelt and the King said, Young Hawkins, I gave the Kings prize to your father many years ago. He gave Tal a rueful smile. That was a day well never forget.
The bout had ended in the death of two of Tals opponents: a trained swordsman from Kesh who had come with one purpose, to kill the young swordsman, and a lieutenant in the army of Olasko who had been among those responsible for the death of most of Tals people.
The bout had ended in the death of two of Tals opponents: a trained swordsman from Kesh who had come with one purpose, to kill the young swordsman, and a lieutenant in the army of Olasko who had been among those responsible for the death of most of Tals people.
The King said, So concludes this contest, and we shall gather in five years to see if young Hawkins can continue his familys achievements. I bid you, good lords, ladies, and gentlemen, a fair day and will welcome many of you to our gala tomorrow night.
Everyone who had been seated rose when the King stood, and led his wife and family from the Hall of the Masters Court. As Ty turned to find Hal staring at him with a narrowed gaze, a man wended his way though the press of folk leaving the building to come and stand before Tal.
But it was Hal who spoke first, Lord Jamison!
James Dasher Jamison, Baron of the Princes Court in Krondor, nodded at the young nobleman and then to Ty and his father. Well, Jim, said Tal Hawkins, this is an unexpected pleasure.
Lord Jamison, also known as Jim Dasher to some, glanced around the room and said, Unexpected, I warrant, but hardly a pleasure. Lowering his voice a little he added, We need to speak in private, Hawkins. Then he turned to Hal and said, Dont wander too far, Hal. I need to speak with you as well.
Moving a short distance away from the throng surrounding the victor, Jim said, Tal, I need to ask you a favour.
What? replied Hawkins. His relationship with Jim Dasher and everyone else associated with the Conclave of Shadows had been a mixed one at best. They had saved his life as a child but exacted a high price in service, and even now, after he had been formally released from their service, they still were a presence in his life. He knew he owed all that he was to them, but there was no tender affection in his sense of obligation.
I need you to keep a close watch on young conDoin over there.
Why?
Somethings coming. I will tell you more tonight, in private.
Very well, but how am I to keep watch over him while hes at the university living in the students dormitory?
We dont let him return there. Jim glanced over his shoulder at the two young swordsmen and their admirers. Invite him to dine with your family at the River House tonight and Ill chance by afterwards to have words with you both. Yes, that would serve.
Very well, again, said Hawkins, nodding his head once, then moving past the dark-eyed Kingdom noble.
Jim Dasher glanced around the room, trying to discern who might be observing him. If Kesh had agents in the room which was almost certain they would be very good at their jobs, which meant that he stood scant chance of identifying them. Still, a moment to scan the room was a little price to pay against the slight chance an agent might make a mistake and reveal himself.
Or herself, he amended as he caught sight of a young woman staring at him, then averting her eyes a moment later. Jim resisted an impulse to sigh; irrespective of her true intent, she had wished to be noticed, and notice her he had. If she was only an ambitious status-seeker, singling out the slightly older, but still very eligible nobleman from the Kingdom for a possible profitable liaison, or a Keshian spy, he had to find out.
Relaxing his expression and attempting to appear merely an interested spectator in the days events, he appeared to meander through the crowd, but made a straight path towards this woman.
A brief distraction arrived in the form of Lord Carrington, a minor court baron attached to the Kingdoms delegation to Roldem, a fussy, officious man with an inflated sense of his ability at diplomacy and a strong appetite for gossip. Lord Jamison! he exclaimed, taking Jims hand for a brief, limp squeeze.
My lord, said Jim trying not to take his eyes off the beautiful brunette he felt certain was a Keshian spy.
Pity young Lord Henry didnt continue, said Carrington. Had a bit of gold wagered on him and it would have done wonders for the Isles to have a champion in the Masters Court. Still, he said glancing over his shoulder to where Ty and Hal still talked to the onlookers, I suppose its the next best, what with Hawkins over there claiming some title or another in the west, even though he now resides in Olasko.
Sensing a potentially long conversation, Jim said, Ive known Talwin Hawkins for years, my lord Baron. His title is not claimed but his own.
Oh? Like every other member of the Kings court in Rillanon,
Carrington wasnt entirely certain what Jim did for the Crown, but he knew it was important and, besides, his grandfather was still Duke of Rillanon. I see.
Somehow I dont think you do, said Jim under his breath, then loudly spoke up. Excuse me, my lord, I must speak to someone over there.
Before the portly courtier could reply, Jim was away from him and heading straight towards a large pillar next to which the object of his attention had paused. The woman glanced at Jim, and a small, almost flirtatious smile crossed her lips. Jim wondered if perhaps he had misjudged the woman: perhaps she wasnt a agent of the Empire but merely a young woman with her eye on a man of position and wealth.
He reached the pillar a moment after she had passed behind it, and she was nowhere to be seen.
Ill be damned, Jim muttered, glancing around. He was very good at keeping watch on someone in a crowd, even across a busy market in a big city, but for the moment, he seemed to have met his match. She was better.
CHAPTER THREE
Mysteries
DINNER HAD BEEN FESTIVE.
At Tal Hawkins request, Hal and Phillip had dined at the River House, a restaurant located in one of the richer districts in the city. Named after the original establishment Hawkins had opened in the city of Olasko years earlier, it enjoyed much the same success and reputation as the original. The food was splendid, the most important personages in the Kingdom came to dine there, and not being a tavern or inn, the dining room was not crowded with travellers, merchants, and foreigners. In other words, the establishment appealed to the worst in Roldemish elitism and snobbery.
To Hals surprise, a healer had arrived before the meal and had used some impressive magic to heal the groin injury and now he was beginning to wish he had agreed to a one-day postponement. He found himself drawn to Ty, though he still was fairly sure he disliked him after the way he had looked at the Princess. Hal was working himself into a fair state of youthful jealousy over a girl he hadnt even spoken with, despite the fact it was a foregone conclusion he was to marry Lady Bethany of Carse.
Jim had acted as host at dinner, despite the invitation coming from Tal. At first Hal and Phillip had been a little surprised, but after the first course of wine and food arrived, all questions of who had made the invitation were put aside. For Hal and Phillip, this was the finest meal they had ever had.
At the halfway point, Hal said, I feel fit to burst, my lord Hawkins, yet I cant wait to see what your next culinary surprise is.
Not my lord, just Tal.
Jim smiled. Our host is being modest. He holds the title of Court Baron in the Kingdom, though he abides in Olasko now, and has a few commendations from Roldem. For years an independent duchy, Olasko had become part of the Kingdom of Roldem as part of a treaty settlement after the last independent duke, Kaspar, had been deposed. Tal had played a major hand in that and as a result was highly regarded in Roldem. He still resided in Olasko, but kept quarters in the River House.