by R N Skye
After his second night of operational instruction and glyph and lumen training he was more comfortable with the instructor. Because of the game he had not had a lot of time to consider the instruction from the night before. As he thought about it, it all seemed to tumble into the forefront of his mind. There had been a lot of information on close order defenses and personal protection and which basic glyphs to use; because of his aptitude for glyph mastery additional information was floating around his head on a slew of enchantments that did not require a substrate.
“Instructor,” he said in his mind; he had also learned that the mental interface worked both ways. “Change camouflage to bracer band left arm.” The portrait disappeared and a brass decorative bracer bearing the semblance of a wide fashionable bracelet worn by many of the young men appeared on his left forearm. Shane sat and thought of what he wanted to do first. Then he recalled the energy sapping artifact that the Jehhet University player had been using at the game.
Instructor display a list of Luion machines used to energize the user and de-energize an opponent in hand to hand combat.”
“No such machines are on record as having been created by the Luion or the Elios. There are such device listed as deadly and unethical but are not available to the Instructor. There is only a sub notation of see defenses against Allyants”
“Who are the Allyants?”
“That information is restricted to this Instructor”
“Show me defenses against Allyants.”
“That information is not available at your current level of Glyph Mastery.”
“I wish you had seen the game today. One of the other players had an artifact that was draining other players while at the same time restoring his health.”
“Would you like to review the warball contest that you participated in earlier today?”
“You can do that?”
“I was created to monitor the student at all times when ever passible. As of the present time and since you activated and bonded to me you have been within my observational range.”
“Absolutely, show me the game.”
“It is recommended that I use a non-mental method as this amount of input will be quite draining on you and it is apparent that you have already had an extremely physically taxing day; I also recommend you eating in the near future”
“Remove camouflage and return to the desk and begin review of game.”
The bracelet disappeared and the instructor reappeared as the innocuous brass plate and immediately created the large crystal screen above itself facing Shane. Without preamble a bird’s eye view of the championship game appeared on the screen. Shane watched eagerly as he saw himself score the first two goals; “I was awesome!”
“Please rephrase as a question,” said the instructor.
“Forget it; I was just talking to myself.” Wanting to get to the illegal artifact Shane asked, “Can you play back faster or slower?” Immediately the game was like a kicked anthill. Players and officials were moving around at a blurring speed. Within a few moments it was half time just as suddenly the game was back in motion again. “Slow it down here,” Shane blurted as he saw the red flags thrown by the head official and the zipping motion of the IDAD official trotting onto the field. The fast motion resumed normal speed. “Can you go back a few moments to where a man throws two red flags?” The scene played backwards for a moment then resumed forward. As soon as it got to the part where the IDAD official removed the wrist band from the sleeve of the player and it was in view, Shane said, “stop. See that wristband? It’s the artifact that I was telling you about. Can you show it more closely?” The picture zoomed in so that only the artifact was showing. The screen played forward slowly in the zoomed in view as the plate was examined by the official. “Any Idea what it is?” Shane asked.
“The artifact is not of Elios construction nor is it a known Luion machine. The glyphs are Elios design and would accomplish the results that you mentioned. Prolonged exposure to this machine as the victim would eventually be fatal. Wait one moment while I query the Arc for information.” There was a brief pause. After a few moments the instructor continued, “The Arc has verified that this machine is not of Elios or Luion and was created with in the last five hundred years. While no there is still no information on the meaning of Allyant, the Arc has added basic defense and instruction on this type of attack which will be imparted on your next instruction period.”
Shane’s curiosity was now fully engaged. He stood up and began to pace. Out of habit he placed his hands into his pockets, while doing so he felt a piece of paper. Realizing it was the note that the king’s man had given him at the game; he quickly pulled it out; forgetting all about the deadly artifact and immediately read the note in case it was important.
If you want to live, steer clear of the king and the IDAD.
Meet me at the Ox Horn tonight.
The sun was down and it was approaching late evening. Only wondering for a moment if it was a good idea, his curiosity and sense for adventure overruled his caution. He grabbed his backpack stuffed in his mug, scribes and his notes.
“Instructor camouflage wristband.” The bracer sized bracelet appeared on his wrist and he bolted for the door.
The Ox Horn was known as weekend sports hang out and Shane had even been there once or twice with some of the guys although he rarely drank due to his desire to remain in top physical condition. He knew there was no way he would be able to get there any time soon given the distance it was from the collegium so as soon as he was off the campus streets and on University Avenue he quickly hailed a cab and asked it to hurry.
Ari had already had a drink and a bowl of Roger’s ragoût. The Ox was just starting to get warmed up as the sports crowd was well into their weekend ritual of social lubrication. As he continued to pretend to read the paper he sat in his corner and watched the crowd waiting to see if Ava’s friend would heed the note.
Around the room he noticed a couple of his former agents drinking and conducting business, none of them recognizing him as other than one of many merchants killing time on a weekend at a tavern rather than idling away in the hotel next door. He smiled a little as he was beginning to think of himself as Ari now; liking it. It was nice to go back to something that was more about the game and less bout the deaths; while he had proven time and again that he was an exceptional assassin he had never enjoyed it but at the same time knew that there were times that the death of one would often save the deaths of many.
He cataloged the events of earlier in the afternoon; of the removal of his final elements of the Old Luion artifact movement that were still connected with the crown. He’d known Rosh Tanner for years and had been a main contact on avoiding run-ins with the royal anti-smuggling teams but with the king’s move to swallow up the competition and control the industry it was time to put the wheels in motion to overthrow the crown and safely remove those that had put the ways of doing so in motion.
Ari had arranged for Tanner and his head mage’s family to leave town weeks ago. As a completion to the plan of them getting to safety Ari guided Rosh and the head mage, who he had also pretended to kill right under the nose of Wendell, to a cargo wagon dressed as teamsters then sending them on their way to rendezvous with their friends and family now safely in Luion.
The bar crowd was winding up more than usual with a natural separation of Wonstrowd and U of J patrons lined up and down the bar discussing the closeness of the game; some of the more inebriated beginning to discuss then argue about the cheating calls that had occurred at the end just before the Wizards win. It was at that time that Shane entered the Ox.
As Shane paused at the door seeing if he could recognize anyone a number of the Wizards fans recognized him.
“Hey it’s Chason!” chorused several of the men at the bar. “Drinks are on us.”
Shane smiled at the welcome and his gregarious side showed a bit as he acknowledged them by hailing back with a loud, “Hey guys how about that game!
”
The Wonstrowd patrons welcomed him immediately and soon he was the center of the Wizards fans side of the bar. They sang the school song; several versions simultaneously by several different people; the accuracy varying on the sobriety of the singer. Shane was soon the center of attention as he described in detail and with even degree of embellishment the play by play of his and his team mates. As he was going over the penalties at the end he was interrupted by a loud bass voice.”
“I shay we were robbed by the officials and it wazsh you that sheeted!” rumbled a deep slurring voice.
Shane had scarcely taken more than a few sips of his apple-beer; mostly just to keep his throat from drying out because he had been doing most of the storytelling. He looked over his shoulder and up and up at a tower of a man, who stood fists on his hips, swaying slightly.
“I have news for you monsieur trop grand,” he drawled. The crowd form both sides chuckled at the Luion reference to his height. “I’ve been studying magetech and artifacts for four years and I know a military grade energizer band when I see it, and that’s what the Jehhet handler was wearing. The officials agreed. If you have a problem with that then I suggest you kneel down where I can reach you and I’ll punch you in the jaw.”
As Shane flew across the room onto a table full of Wizard fans his only thought was, “this is going to hurt.”
The fight was on. As soon as Shane hit the table he rolled off and on to his feet. The men at the table had seen it coming and raised their mugs clear of the human missile so the only casualty was their bowl of salted nuts. They cheered him on as he said a polite, “Excuse me gentlemen,” he put his pack on the floor beside them with a, “watch this please,” and then paused at passing serving girl grabbed a mug took a long drink gave the mug back and then waded in to the towering man. It was the best Samedi fight on record at the Ox. The law enforcement showed up and Roger quickly pulled them out of harm’s way and offered them a beer telling them that it was all part of the local entertainment and everything was fine.
Shane hit the giant with everything he had and was quickly rewarded with another aerial tour of the tavern. “This is going to get old fast,” Shane thought as he picked himself up and charge back into the fracas. Shane blocked a hugely telegraphed round house with his left, quickly jabbed with his right, immediately connecting with a roundhouse with his left. This time he was rewarded as the large drunk staggered a little from the blow.
Ari sat back and watched the whole thing with amusement. As he saw Shane reenter the fray for the fourth time he had to agree that Shane was his kind of guy there was no quit in him and he seemed to be enjoying the friendly brawl. As much fun as it was to watch Ari decided that Ava wouldn’t appreciate it if Shane broke his nose; and the fight was definitely headed that direction. Ari got up and joined in on the brawl surrounding Shane and the gigantic man.
Once Ari joined it was pugnacious poetry. He weaved in and out like the weft and warp of the loom of destruction. As the fight wound down Shane caught the arm connected to the incoming fist of the tall man before it could connect once again with is jaw.
“Hang on Trop Grand,” he said catching his breath. “Hang on a moment. I have an idea,” he paused again gulping for air. “You say I cheated, I say I didn’t. What do you say we arm wrestle for it. I could sit here all night hitting you in the fist with my jaw but where is that going to get us? I’m a nice guy and the last thing I want people blaming me for is being the cause of someone having a sore fist, how about it?”
The large man looked Shane over and then looked at his fist then he smiled, “I think my fish…hic… fishtshs could take a little more, but you’re on,” he bellowed; nobody can sheet at arm wreshling and I aint never been beat at it neither.
Sensing a contest the scuffles on the periphery ceased. Tables were scooted out of the way as the crowd gathered around and a sturdy table and two chairs were dragged into the center of the mass of spectators.
“You got a fifty crown bill?” asked Shane.
The giant pulled out a wad of cash and slapped a fifty on the table.
“Well I’m a student on a scholarship so I have a five. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If I win I’ll take your fifty, but if you win you keep the fifty and you get my five. That’s fifty five for you but only fifty for me if I win. And…” Shane held up his hand before the large man could answer. “And… the loser has to tell the winner that he didn’t cheat and the winner buys the loser a beer.”
“Done,” hick-upped the huge drunk.
The crowd erupted with several rounds of wagering, jeering and cheering.
As Shane and the drunken behemoth grasped hands each jockeying for the better grip Shane did the best he could considering the enormous difference in hand size. Shane closed his eyes and imagined the glyphs that he had seen on the wrist band at the game. Once they were in place he infused them with lumen and felt the energy from his opponent begin to flow into him. When he felt he had enough advantage to start the match without immediately losing he said to the crowd. “Someone count one two three go.”
The crowd simultaneously counted down and shouted with a resounding “GO.”
Shane felt like his hand was in a vice being crushed to a pulp as his wrist began to bend and his arm began to move in the direction of a loss; the only thing keeping him in the match was the fact that he had weight trained with so much dedication during the last four years. Keeping his eyes closed he concentrated on maintaining the glyphs and continued drawing energy from his opponent. Slowly the downward motion of his arm stopped and even more slowly went the other way. As the arms returned to the starting point the large man let out a grunt as he tried to regain his advantage. Gradually Shane was able to push the huge arm over the top and down the other way and with a moan the giant’s hand and arm crashed to the table under Shane’s
The crowd went wild Shane received more than a few pats on the back. The tall man just sat there with a look of confusion and exhaustion on his face. Feeling bad Shane reversed the energy flow and patted the big man on the back giving him some of his strength back. When the man seemed to be a little more himself, Shane dismissed the mental glyphs and yelled to the bar, “one very large beer please.” A moment later a large frothy stein dropped in front of Shane. He slid it to the man and said, “per our agreement.” The winner buys the loser a beer.”
The tall man accepted it and took a long draught; slamming it down he said, “And the Wizards won fair and square.” This brought a lot of applause and cheering from the spectators.
Shane got up to go back to the bar and the big man grabbed the money lying on the table. “Hey warball, you forgot your money.”
“Keep it,” Shane said with a grin. “I may not cheat at warball but I do at arm wrestling.” By this time the entire room were drinking pals again and everyone broke out in a laugh and soon celebrating about the game and other shared fond memories and commonalities.
Shane walked to the table where he had deposited hi back pack and picked up. “Thanks,” he said nodding appreciation to the table. The men at the table all hoisted their mugs thanking him for the entertainment and he would never have to buy a drink again if they were ever in the same bar. Shane was about to head back to the bar when he saw a man he didn’t recognize beckoning him to come to his table at the rear of the tavern against the far wall. Rubbing his face as he was now beginning to feel some soreness now that the excitement was over he walked over and took an offered chair.
“Quite the bagarre, son you held your own there for a while; took as good as you got. I saw the way you handled yourself, you’re a thinker; that’s a rare thing to find in a fight, especially in this crowd.”
Shane shrugged it off, “It was all in good sport. Nobody here is out for blood, just blowing off steam. Come tomorrow everyone here will be sore somewhere and by next weekend, winner or loser they will be talking about how the kicked arse and won every skirmish. My mom always said if you get angry you lose. Treat every ob
stacle as if it’s a game and figure out how to win.”
“Smart woman; your mother,” commented the man. “I’m Ruari Desmond” the man stuck out his hand. “Please call me Ari.”
Shane took his hand and retuned the gesture. “Thanks. Shane Chason,” he returned the introduction; the man seemed familiar.
“No introduction necessary,” Ari responded. “After today’s game you’re famous and unless I miss my guess you’ll be a legend here at the Ox for the next century,” he chuckled.
As Shane released from the handshake Roger walked up to the table with an ice filled towel dampened with cold water. Handing it to Shane he smiled, “très bon monsieur that was an excellent fight. You may wish to put this on your jaw I see it is swelling a bit.”
“Thank you monsieur, I apologize if I damaged anything.”
“Not to worry,” he stated emphatically with a wave of his hand. “This is what a Samedi night is all about. Can I get you something to eat?”
“Please,” Shane responded quickly I haven’t had anything but snacks since the game. What do you recommend?”
Roger recommended something light with a glass of wine to help numb the increasing soreness in his jaw. Shane ordered a cold roast beef sandwich and whatever he thought best to drink. Roger hurried off.
“So,” Shane said to Ari as the proprietor hurried away, “I don’t mean to be rude but I was supposed to meet someone here. I don’t see them yet but I don’t want to miss them either. You waved me over here. What can I do for you?”
“You read the note?” Ari asked.
“What note?” Shane cocked his head quizzically not wanting to give anything away considering the serious nature of it.”
“The one I jotted down and gave to you at halftime when the king was meeting with the team.”