New Cali

by Erik Schubach

  He looked up quickly. “Yes ma'am.” Then looked over at Ingr and said without sincerity but instead the tone of someone desperate to escape punishment, “I apologize for my uncouth behavior, I beg your forgiveness, my Lady.”

  Ingr bit her lower lip, she hated confrontations, she was a lover not a fighter and she just nodded and stepped behind Shanny who was still looking fierce.

  I inclined my head. “Better. Now...”

  I turned to Misty, who was squinting in anticipation of her own punishment. She knew she overreacted and violence is never the answer... until it is. “And you, Squire Misty. The only time a Squire may strike another squire is in training. You insult not only your knight.” I indicated her mother who was looking the dangerous killing machine she was at the moment. “But Wexbury as well.”

  “Yes what he did was reprehensible for an aspiring knight, but what you did was tantamount to assault and we must all take responsibility for our actions.” I knew that her temper only flared when protecting herself or those she loved, and when it came to Ingr... well, let's just say the boy was lucky a bloody nose was all she gave him.

  The boy was smirking now, thinking he had some sort of out I assumed. Misty turned to him and started to apologize, “Raul, I'm...”

  He pointed at her and looked around as he blurted, “I demand satisfaction, you struck a Count.”

  The entire yard went silent. Was the boy a fool? Misty slowly stood to her full height, her eyes narrowing. Mother Luna, how had this gone so sideways?

  Lady Janice said, “For fuck's sake boy, it was over. I know things are done differently in Hell's Gate, but this is Wexbury. Our culture isn't as... volatile as it is out on the sands.” Then she said, “And you cannot challenge anyone to a duel, you are not of the age of consent. We need to have a long discussion about comrades at arms when...”

  Celeste held up a stalling hand studying the squire. “No... if the boy feels slighted, there may be a remedy here. Not a duel of course... but...” She motioned her hand across the practice grounds.

  I blinked at her. In what world could this possibly be a good idea? Of the second year squires, he and Misty were the most accomplished. All of the children in Hell's Gate were instructed in basic blade defense because of all the dangers living in a harsh environment where everything outside is trying to kill them. So they are natural fighters even before they become Squires. And Misty, well she was a special case, with training from her mother, the commander of the Mobile Battalion when we were in Wexbury, and Ranelle, who was master of so very many Gypsy fighting forms. I don't think Raul has seen my girl actually fight before.

  Janice cocked an eyebrow, her bronze skin and flowing black curls made her look as if she and Jezelle were kin. She asked, “A sparring match? First blood?”

  This seemed to be quite agreeable to the boy, as Misty looked down, exhaling as she shook her head. I muttered a curse which I tried not to let the girls hear, “Fuck.”

  Rain snorted and covered her mouth until she could put on a stoic look again.

  Celeste said as she motioned the two squires over, “This, is but a sparring match. Any hints at over-aggression that could seriously harm the other and the match will be called, the offending party forfeits. Raul, this is to first blood only. Choose a blunted weapon.” He already had a blunted practice scimitar on his back from earlier and he drew it and looped it casually in intricate patterns while he hopped on his toes to limber up.

  Then my wife turned to Misty with a warning. “Defense only.”

  Raul called foul, “How is this to be a real match if she can only defend? It'll be over before it begins.”

  Janice was dragging her hand down her face again, I really liked the woman. She was part of the Home Battalion, and has risen to third in command swiftly since her knighting. “Raul, don't underestimate a good defense. Remember your training, and control your emotions or you will get sloppy. A calm mind is a sure hand.”

  I looked at the woman in mock disbelief, and then said to Misty as though I were affronted by the woman who was grinning and biting her tongue, “Misty... what she said.”

  Celeste said, “Hey, Great Mother... she's my Squire, leave the instruction to me.”

  I bowed to her, backing up a step and sweeping a hand toward our daughter.

  Celeste stood tall and said, “Misty... what she said.”

  I slapped her shoulder.

  She snorted.

  Janice said, “Choose your blunted weapon.”

  Misty bowed slightly to her then to Raul in the Mountain Gypsy style. “I'm good, I've an affinity for sticks.” She tightened her hand on her makeshift staff.

  Then all of us knights all turned to look at Verna expectantly, she was usually the scamp who... She looked affronted then grinned and looked around. “Odds are Misty, two to one.” She looked at me. “I assume you're covering all bets?”

  “Why I never...” then I added, “Of course, but I think Raul might have a better showing than you think.” Then I whispered, “Five gold on Misty.” By the Three Sisters, I was betting on my daughter's fight? What was wrong with... Celeste whispered to our musclebound friend, “Ten.”

  Janice waited ten seconds or so as the betting frenzy continued. One Knight called out, “Point of order. Is Misty allowed to use her magics? We all know what she did under the Glass in Avalon.”

  Janice shook her head, it was an obvious answer. “Raul does not hold a spark, so magic use is not allowed.” The betting continued. I hadn't missed Raul's eyes widening at the mention of magic, but then he relaxed when he found she was not permitted to use it.

  I still shuddered at the sheer amount of power which had exploded from my girl the night she ignited, when we were escaping Avalon. It was a little frightening and I had never felt such power except from Ranelle. It is such a relief to me that Misty is such a kind hearted soul or I would worry about the power.

  Janice looked between the Squires, Raul took a kata form I recognized from Shan, it kept the long curved blade diagonal across the body, hand low, protecting the vitals. He nodded.

  Mist just stood up straight, her makshift staff in her hand behind her back, laying along her spine. She nodded and Janice reminded, “First blood.” We and the knights around us all said in unison, “First blood.”

  Then Janice dropped the glove.

  Raul exploded into motion when it hit the ground. He lunged at Misty, his blade cutting a smooth figure eight at his target. The strike was meant to sweep away any defense then return for a slice across the belly.

  Misty barely moved, stepping first right, then left, avoiding the blade, then her hand shot out to grasp the spine of the blade and held it there. She said, “No, you overextend, striking so zealously. See how your footing moved when you went beyond your reach?”

  She sounded so much like Celeste when she was instructing in the practice yard. “You become unstable and someone can grab the broad spine of the blade like this, and you are out of balance so you cannot pull the blade free. You should recognize you over committed and step into it and twist the blade so you avoid this, then pull the blade back to ready position, dragging it along your opponent's leg.”

  She released the blade and he regained his footing and huffed in exasperation then lunged twice with twisting motions of the blade, so fluid that it had Rain cocking an eyebrow in appreciation. I had told them he may surprise them. But as skilled as he was for his age, Misty was faster.

  She just spun effortlessly, like it were a dance move, and she seemed to roll around each thrust. As she pulled back, she kicked the blade to add to his motion and he had to spin backward or open himself up to attack.

  He blinked when he finished the turn and thrust out where she had been. She wasn't there, she had taken a single side step and brought her staff around to rest the tip of it on top of his head. “Better, but do not take your eyes from your opponent until the last instant of your turn, then use your peripheral vision
as you snap your head around to reacquire lest you miss your opponent's counter.”

  The boy growled, impressively, but I saw in that moment he had just lost, as his rage was winning over his sensibility. If he had maintained his composure and remembered his training, Misty would have been hard pressed to defend as he adjusted to her style. He slapped her staff aside and lunged, overcommitting to a more nimble opponent. He would have done significant damage to her had he connected.

  But she simply sidestepped, looped his extended arm, did a flipping roll across his back, and heaved his arm, sending the boy, who outmassed her by at least fifty pounds, slamming to the ground. Then she danced away. “Don't telegraph your moves, choose your moment, it takes half the energy to block or avoid a strike than to land one. Don't tire yourself out by trying repeatedly to land a killing blow.”

  He slapped the ground and made a guttural noise then rolled to his feet. “Shut up and fight!” He shook his blade in rage and raised it over his head with both hands.

  Celeste placed a halting hand on Janice's arm and just shook her head almost imperceptibly to prevent her from ending the match. The boy was too enraged and someone was going to get hurt. He slashed down at Misty, like he was chopping wood, over and over. She stood, the base of her staff planted on the ground at her feet, one arm pressed behind her back, and she just moved the other end side to side like a metronome, deflecting each downward strike.

  Then he lashed out with a leg with impressive speed and struck her in the chest, causing her to backpedal two steps as he pressed the attack, swinging down at her head and I almost called out to stop the match but her staff was already there, stopping the blunted blade inches from her forehead.

  Her upper lip twitched and she gave a little growl of her own, her eyes glinting violet as she struggled to contain her magic. She had realized the boy was out of control and was actually trying to seriously hurt her.

  She spun as she kept her staff in contact with his blade and wound up standing beside him. She flicked the staff down to strike his shin, hard, he gasped and stumbled and then with a swirl, the other end of her staff looped around his blade and she tapped his fingers. I was relieved she used a lot of restraint in the tap, she could have broken all of his fingers but instead she struck them just hard enough to smart. He dropped the blade and she shoved him back with the end of her staff as he fell backwards on the ground.

  She snarled out as she stood above him as he cradled his hand, “You're out.” Then she roared as she raised her staff over her head with both hands for a final strike. I was about to intercept as the boy's eyes rounded when he realized he was in dire peril. I saw other knights starting to unsheathe their blades to intercept Misty's blow.

  But then she stopped, and just placed the end of her staff on the ground and leaned on it with a huge smile as she said, “Just kidding. Good match.” And she offered her free hand down to Raul.

  He just lay there on his back, blinking, and looking between her offered hand and her smiling face which had been a mask of rage a moment before. With confusion painting his face, the boy took her hand and she helped haul him to his feet.

  She saw his confusion and sighed then said patiently, “We're allies. There will come a time where you will protect my back and I, yours. This was just sparring. Knights are all family and we look out for one another. But I do ask that you do not persist in speaking to my girl in the manner which you did, lest it compels me to break your nose. I really hate headbutting, it gives me a splitting headache.”

  He blinked as the knights all murmured about the truth in her words. Then he asked, “Are you right in the head?”

  She shrugged, squishing her lips to one side, making a silly face. Then Misty spit into her hand and offered it, “Allies?”

  I was so proud of her in that moment.

  He regarded her, made a decision then spit into his own hand and they shook.

  We all cheered then I held my hand back toward Verna for our payout as my girl told him, “Welcome to the Junior Regiment.”

  Someone said, “There's no such thing.”

  Shanicia stepped up to us as she countered, “Yuh huh. The King says so.”

  Then she froze when she looked at me and gleeped. She put the dagger of the station of the Great Mother into my waiting hand. Then I sheathed it as she gave me the cutest sorry not sorry look, scrunching her head to her shoulders. Gah she was too cute to reprimand just then.

  I stood tall and said, “Well that was... bracing.” Everyone chuckled.

  Chapter 3 – Announcement

  After that bit of excitement, we went in a group to the bathhouse on the far west side of the keep by the marketplace, where part of Dragontooth Lake was enclosed within the walls of the keep. I noted the steady progression of the additions to the multistory buildings of the Belt which divided the market from Midtown, and new construction in the keep that was creeping up against Cheap Quarter. Plus all the new construction that was slowly revitalizing the Trough as the influx of people continued.

  I also noted as we made our way through the marketplace to our destination that there were even some Avalonians mixed in the crowds of people perusing all the carts and vendors. They were evident by their odd clothing, like the trousers with multiple pockets down the legs and their footwear.

  For as many people from Avalon that resented the occupation, there were even more who clamored for the chance to visit lands outside their home on the frozen tundra to the north. So many made the journey who could handle the “irrepressible heat” of Sparo. It made us grin a bit as the Upper realms of the Lower Ten were quite mild and a bit chilly except summer.

  To be fair, what they saw as comfortable in their own homeland, I saw as shiver inducing cold and was glad to have my spell imbued cloak which kept me warm while visiting.

  I appreciated their curiosity and sense of adventure. I remember when heading outside the gates to Wexbury Minor just down the road or into the forest to scavenge for scrap metal and technology from the Before was a high adventure for me.

  And visiting the other realms was just a fantasy that all serfs had. Envisioning the sights and people of the places we heard about only from the traveling minstrels and bards who used their songs and stories to educate the general populace of the wonder of the world most of us would never see.

  Now I chide myself for forgetting to revel in the splendor of the habitable lands as I travel from realm to realm to arbitrate disputes, or address the needs of the the Altii or the People as politics consumes my life. I never would have thought that I, a simple chicken herder, would have seen all the lands both near and far, that existed in this healing world of ours.

  But as we soaked in the sinfully decadent bathhouse, with the matron of the bathhouse keeping people trying to get a glimpse of the Great Mother at bay, I looked around in pride. Wexbury may not match the realms of Solomon or Highland in decadence and wealth, nor have the exotic fruit orchards of Far Reach, but there were wonders that could only be experienced in my home keep like this.

  It was unheard of for a keep to have public bath houses or Holy Day feasts each week that commoners were allowed to attend. But the leaders of Wexbury, when it was founded, knew that the nobility is only as strong as the people who hold them up. And a healthy populace made for a more productive and successful society. They determined that cleanliness helped to keep sickness away, and others like mother had petitioned to make sure commoners had at least one good meal a week to contribute to a healthier populace.

  Now people came from all over Sparo just to experience our bathhouse, and some of the other customs which were once only available in Wexbury that were slowly spreading through the other realms.

  And that was when Rain and Celeste took the time as we washed up, to explain some of Misty's mistakes and problems with the stances she chose in her sparring match. It chipped away some at her smug confidence in her fighting prowess. It was basically them telling her that she was go
od, but not that good yet. She took it with humility that was good to see as she promised to practice and do better next time. Gack, please don't be a next time.

  And just to make sure her ego wasn't completely dashed upon the rocks, I commended her for how she handled things at the end.

  When we finished up, we resigned ourselves to the obligation of meeting with the Duke and Duchess before meeting in the Great Library for Emily's big announcement. I'm sure Fred and Lucy were going to try to pressure me for some boon that would benefit only Wexbury over other realms again. I had to suffer through it constantly, and had to keep reminding them that I must be fair and impartial about any petition, and though Wexbury is my first love, I cannot show it favor over others lest we cause unrest among the other realms. It is the burden of ruling and they knew it, though it didn't stop them from trying.

  The girls? They were traitorous little scamps as they bid me good luck and abandoned us to face the rulers alone. Misty making some lame excuse, “We're heading to grandma Margret's, just in case she got back early from her visit to Wexbury Minor.”

  The cowards. They read the dispatch when we were at the Hall, mother said she would return to the Keep in time for Emily's announcement. I called out after them as they dashed off into the crowd, “Cowards!” Their laughing was swallowed by the crowds of people my guards were keeping farther than arms length from our group.

  Celeste stated the obvious. “Margret... mom, isn't home yet.”

  I nodded as I pointed out, “They're likely heading to say hello to Misty's biological parents in the Belt, or maybe to visit with Elise Baker. They're enamored with Jace's fiance.”

  Rain added, tongue in cheek, “And likely enamored with the sweet rolls she is always sneaking them.”

  I blushed and grinned as I admitted, “It is how she won my heart over, with those decadent cinnamon rolls when she and Jace came to me for my blessing on their nuptials.” It was tradition for a couple not of the age of consent yet to ask the head of the family permission as the head of household had the right to marry off or sell those under their care. As Jace's father, Corrick the woodcutter was no longer with us, his voice added to the ghostly whispers in the mountains, it fell to me as head of our household, even over mother, to give consent.