by Thomas Adams
No one, except those that undertook the trials, knew exactly what was going to happen. And, everyone agreed the trial format and tests were likely changed year-to-year. So, sorting fact from rumor was a large part of every aspiring krigers thought process as the date of the trials approached. Wild speculation, educated guesses and hearsay were rampant throughout the barracks in the days preceding the trials.
Grovan cleared it all up for the candidates. He swore all of the candidates in the room to secrecy and then went through all the rules and tasks each candidate would have to complete. The master trials for the sword, this year, consisted of three different bouts against different opponents. Then there was a test of sword forms and techniques from the Runa of Syndros by a panel of three Masters. A bout was considered won when one fighter drew blood from the other or one fighter could no longer compete. Each Master contender must win all three bouts to win the title of Master. Real weapons and armor would be utilized.
Killing, maiming and life threatening blows were not allowed. Other than that there were no other rules. But, even with those rules there were serious injuries and sometimes mortal wounds. It was no holds barred fighting. Each fight was designed to be a real test of skill, endurance and commitment. The candidates would fight against seasoned Sword Masters drafted from those present for the Gathering. This was unusual. The potential pool of Sword Masters was quite large. Grovan told the candidates they should expect the unexpected in their foes.
Brandt was ready. He was fully grown, almost six and a half feet and very muscular from his years of constant training and weapons smith work. So, physically he was well matched against the older men he would compete against. His reach was better than most with his long arms and long war sword. He would have a distinct advantage there. And, his strength was comparable if it came to a really physical slug fest. But, he knew his real advantage was his speed and his archania, although he was not sure he would use the archania for the trials. There were no rules against it but archania was unofficially banned in Vesfalruk.
He was sure at least one of his matches would be physical fight against a real brawler of an opponent. They were sure to test more than just a candidate’s ability with sword or axe. There would be punching, tripping, poking, grappling and everything else. He expected some of the pit fighters here for the Gathering would be employed for this purpose.
Brandt’s endurance was also very good and his speed was better than anyone he’d ever fought at the fortress so far. He knew with all the krigers here for the Gathering he could end up fighting almost anyone. But, he felt confident he was ready. He was well rounded and seasoned since he sparred with as many partners as possible over the years. His plan had always been to be experienced, fast, efficient and a diverse fighter was paying off. Some candidates only ever fought other students and occasionally a Master. That would prove to be a serious liability for those candidates. And, he was not worried about the forms test. He knew more forms than any other student at Reave Hall. He knew more than many Masters also.
He was ready and confident. He was excited. All his hard work was about to be put to a real test. On the other hand, he had only ever been in a couple real fights. In one he had been just a boy and almost died. Even though he felt confident of his skills he knew he would be challenged by the Masters he faced in the trials. These men and women would have many years of experience, fighting was their way of life.
Chapter 24
The Trials
There is no test like the test of man, will and sword against a strong, skilled and courageous foe.
Erik the Colder
***
The rebellion by the human imperials was troublesome and was still draining valuable military and logistical resources from the invasion mobilization. His master demanded the assault on Cinder and Vesfalruk commence soon because the timing was critical. However, the Kûnnabani once called Arngrim couldn’t do everything. The limited abilities in key leadership positions made it hard to effectively mount the necessary actions to destroy all of the troublemakers. The human allies it had to work with were incompetent fools but they were still needed to perform critical leadership and administrative functions. The human soldiers were satisfactory but their leaders, quite worthless and Arngrim could not be everywhere at once.
Most of the Imperium magi were in Kroya babysitting his fledgling undead army. They couldn’t be used to help tamp down the rebellion. Besides, the Kûnnabani didn’t trust the magi. Their skill was paltry to say the least. They were not fit for much more than preserving the undead soldiers. It did have two Haugar and five Revekna now to help it manage the invasion and run the empire. It would have to tap them to crush this revolt. Arngrim sent a mental summons to the Dokköndi scattered about the city. They would be here within moments.
An idea was taking shape the more it thought about the problem. The Revekna were the perfect spies and assassins. They could be, if they chose, nearly invisible to the human eye and their skills tended towards the unobtrusive taking of human life. It would send the Revekna out into the dens of rebellion to gather as much information on the trouble makers as possible. Once all the relevant players were identified it would then dispatch the most loyal human legion, the Revekna and the Haugar on perfectly coordinated raids in the city and across the province.
The Kûnnabani had to wrest the initiative away from the rebels and turn the tables on them.
All of the main leaders of the revolt would be assassinated, killed, if they choose to fight, or captured and destroyed later. This approach would decapitate the rebellion’s leadership and hopefully calm down the rabble in the capital.
If that did not work a more sweeping and ruthless operation would be undertaken. It knew just the thing and the undead army would play nicely in the fallback scheme. If things did not go as planned with the raids it would summon the undead and cleanse most of the royal and upper classes from the city. They would be totally destroyed once and for all. The streets of the capitol would run red with their blood. Then, the newly dead could then be raised to bolster the existing undead army.
As the Dokköndi entered the throne room Arngrim began giving the necessary instruction to start the intelligence gathering and subsequent attacks on the rebels. They would leave no traitorous human scum alive. Worst case, the entire city would be put to the sword. No one would dare raise a hand after such a display.
***
Brandt woke refreshed and with a feeling of anticipation, today was the Trials. This was it. It was here at long last. Years of training and hardship, sacrifice and pain had led him to this day. He glanced around at his band still asleep in their cots, friends and young men now. He had known them for years. They had lived and struggled together. None of them were candidates for the trials today. He was not sure what would happen if he succeeded today. Would Ivar pull him out of Red Band? He dreaded that but was resigned. His path was not theirs.
He looked at the one small window, high on the wall by the door. It was still early, dawn was just breaking. Brotjnar greeted him as he stood and dressed. Brotjnar was in a good mood it seemed. Brandt was determined to succeed and as he prepared for the day, unbidden thoughts of Yfiria slipped into his mind. He still dreamed of her now, not as much as before though.
Sometimes he felt her presence at night as he dozed. But these days, she stole into his waking thoughts more forcefully. It was strange but he’d assumed, with the passage of time, he would think less of her. That was not the case for the last sennight. He thought of her at strange random times during the day. Today he remembered how she looked at the banquet he’d escorted her to, when she visited Reave Hall with her father and the chancellor. It had been a magical evening for him. To be so close to her and to be the center of her world was a thrilling and overwhelming experience.
He could easily remember what she wore, what she said to him and how she looked as she laughed at one of his silly jests or inane remarks. He remembered kissing her hand, the smell of her perfum
e, her fingers entwined in his and the feel of her soft skin on his rough callused hand.
The way she hooked her hair behind her left ear but left the right hanging free baffled and mesmerized him. He needed to know more about her. The graceful curve of her cheek, the delicate arch of an eyebrow, the warm inviting looks she frequently sent his way, the whimsical way her lips moved from seriousness to amusement so suddenly, all of these things plagued his waking and resting thoughts.
While the state of his recall was so temporal his real memories of her, her words, her face, her smile, her grace and charm and her love, he remembered perfectly and they were indelibly etched onto his mind. He sighed and rose from his stretching. Time to stop day dreaming, today was the day. Brotjnar stirred again beneath his cot and their mental connection hummed with the force of the sword’s excitement. The sword again teased him for pining for the lovely young princess. He reminded Brandt there was more important work to do today. Brandt quickly finished his preparations and left the barracks. He turned and walked towards the mess hall. He would eat his fill. It would be a long day. He would need a lot of energy.
***
The sword forms trial was Brandt’s first test. The week prior to the Trials the students and krigers had built several enclosed fighting rings on the practice yard. Each rings’ walls were eight feet tall and prevented casual observation from outside. All of the students not being tested today were given the day off and sent into Tanic. When the time for his test arrived Brandt entered the designated enclosure and walked towards the middle of the small dusty practice ring. It was already very warm and sweat trickled down his back as he patiently waited. Brotjnar put a steady whisper in his mind as Brandt stood in the center of the ring and watched the Masters. He patiently waited for their direction.
Three Masters sat at the table across from the door he’d come though. They were quietly discussing something. He knew only one of the three, Randur. Master Randur was a welcome face. Randur had been one of the primary trainers for Red Band for several cycles each year. Randur appeared to be the oldest Master of the three and had a no-nonsense look, a gray grizzled old veteran with scars all over his face and arms. He stood and said, “Candidate Brandt, welcome. Now please show us the brides dance, falling water, hold the wind and the dive of the hawk forms, in that order.”, then he sat back down in his seat.
Simple stuff Brandt thought. He gave the usual salute and began in the exact order specified. He went through them all easily and effortlessly. He wasn’t concerned about any of these forms. He had them all memorized and performed them with a speed, grace and effortlessness that clearly showed his familiarity with them.
Master Randur said, “Excellent Brandt. Now, show us the baker, loping limbs and something a little more exotic…how about the Reaver.”
Brandt grinned, saluted again and began the sequence of forms. Randur was trying to trip him up but Brandt had seen the Reaver years ago in one of the scrolls in the archives. Randur had also covered those forms once in year two. But, no one ever really used the Reaver anymore and after that one time it was never taught again. Brandt thought it a poor set of forms for any type of fight. But he’d memorized it, years ago, all the same.
He quickly finished and was dismissed by the Masters. They seemed very pleased with his presentation. Master Randur gave Brandt a grim smile as he departed the ring. Randur never smiled Brandt thought. As he left the ring he saw on his challenge card that he had a short break so he decided to stretch and limber up some more. He headed to the ring where his first bout was to be held and started loosening up all over again.
The match was set to start at noon and after stretching for several minutes his opponent showed up and stood casually, leaning near the door to the enclosure. As he had expected he was matched up against a Master Swordsman that looked was a pit fighter. He’d talked briefly to the man days ago. The pit fighter was back at Reave Hall for the Gathering. His name was Kurta. The man was about thirty, over six feet tall and heavily corded with muscle. Kura was a veteran fighter and a survivor. Brandt had heard he was fast too. And, Kurta did this sort of thing for a living so Brandt knew he would be vicious, calculated and very skilled.
After the introductions, recital of the rules and salutes the match started. It was fast and brutal. Kurta did his homework and knew Brandt, despite his youth, was very quick and quite experienced. From the second they started it was Kurta sweeping in with all the speed he could muster and pressing Brandt with a constant barrage of precise blows. Kurta was trying to wear him down and overwhelm his defenses.
Kurta mixed it up as well. Frequent punches and jabs and elbows flew at Brandt. Brandt managed to deflect or avoid most. A few connected with his torso but he did not allow any near his head, neck or hands. Then Kurta tried to use his larger bulk and shield to drive Brandt into a corner but Brandt was too quick and escaped. However, for all his speed and experience Kurta, in the end, was fairly predictable.
Brandt was young, strong, experienced and very well-conditioned. He hung in there and held off Kurta’s powerful blazing attacks. The physical beating was telling and Brandt knew he had to make a move soon. Ten minutes into the fight Brandt detected a few patterns in how Kurta attacked. At the next opportunity, in a sequence he knew Kurta always performed the same, he faked an over extension on a thrust at Kurta’s chest. The thrust he used fit well with the sequence Kurta was using. Kurta saw the minor error and pounced to press the mistake and inflict a match winning cut or thrust. As Kurta moved to complete the sequence he’d already started, Brandt did the unexpected. And, he did it was incredible quickness.
Brandt predicted what was coming and as Kurta’s blow was in motion he was somewhere else. Kurta realized this immediately but it was too late. Kurta tried to move and adjust but he was off balance slightly and a little slow to recover. Brandt stepped forcefully towards Kurta and slammed a shoulder into him, driving him back and further off balance. As Kurta struggled to remain upright Brandt hooked Kurta’s shield with his hand axe and pulled it away from the struggling man’s body. Brotjnar quickly slide in and scored a long shallow cut along Kurta’s ribs.
Brandt immediately stepped back into a low guard of the bride’s dance and waited. Kurta recovered and raised his arm and glanced down at his ribs. A little blood ran down his side. He shrugged and grimaced. It was just a scratch.
The Masters called the match. The two fighters saluted and left the ring. Kurta was shaking his head and muttering under his breath as he left. He didn’t say anything to Brandt as he left. Brandt stood there savoring the match and replaying it in his head. His first win! He was exhausted and battered but he grinned and went to the dining hall for some food. His next test was in the midafternoon during the hottest part of the day. After mid meal he would find a cool spot and rest up for the next match.
***
Brandt’s second test was similar to the first but with an older Master who was extremely patient and technically sound. He was a defensive fighter who wore down his opponent and waited for him or her to make a mistake. Then he would take advantage of his opponent’s lack of experience, their tiredness and inattention and finish them off. Brandt did not make a mistake nor did he get tired. It took Brandt almost fifteen minutes to cut the Master and he was very excited and pleased after the bout.
A fight that length with someone that good was grueling and required an extreme amount of concentration in addition to the physical requirements. After the match he found a cold barrel of water and rinsed of the dust, sweat and grim. He found a cool shaded spot to rest and ate two apples while he waited for his final match.
His last bout was near sunset and he discovered it was to be held underground in one of the large barracks halls. He followed the Master down into the dark cellars that Fridya and he snuck into. He’d come down here with Yfiria and learned his destiny. He’d kissed the beautiful princess down here as well and had not been back since that kiss. It was a bittersweet walk for him.
Dur
ing his excursion with Fridya and Yfiria he’d learned the lower halls and passages fairly well but now, he was at a loss for where they were going. He followed the Master deeper and deeper into the rock under the fortress. Eventually they came out into a large room. It was immense an only lighted with a few small lanterns. There were five other people in the hall.
The Master led him into the large gloomy hall and walked over to a group of two older men in one of the corners. These must be the judges Brandt thought. That left two others. He assumed he would fight one of them. As the three Masters in the corner conversed in low voices Brandt looked around. The hall was very old and it was huge. Even with several lanterns it was dark and shadowy. The ceiling was easily thirty feet high. The room was about fifty feet wide and two hundred long. There were three massive columns down the center of the hall. Each column was a massive block of stone five feet by five feet. The walls and columns were roughhewn stone with minimal finishing.
An attempt had been made to smooth the floor but it was still slightly uneven, damp and a bit slick with moisture. There was also what appeared to be moisture on the walls as well. The whole room smelled a bit foul from the stale damp air. The masters finished their huddle and broke apart. Each one went to a different person. The Master that brought Brandt here approached him and said, “For this test you will have two opponents. Also, we will extinguish all but one of the lamps. And, you can’t approach the judge’s corner. The rest of the rules are the same. Any questions?”