by Vic Broquard
“Sent in enough assassins,” Dana replied.
“I heard. Good job, Dana. Say, I have another critical job for you, my master swordsman.” Zoran just had another idea.
“Name it, sir. As long as it involves swords I am more than willing and ready,” Dana answered. He was prepared to thoroughly drown himself into his work.
“You have heard about out latest Duska, Adrianna Whitehall?”
“Not fully, just what mom’s sent me once in a while. What’s her story? Did she really have Shadow Sickness?”
“Yes, worst case that I’ve ever seen.” Zoran spent a half hour relating her complete story, particularly her key role in their discovering Voss and the rescue of ninety-six more victims. “She is beginning her magic training now and from Zdenka’s reports, she is flying through the useful Adept spells. We really do owe her the Duska fighter training that she’s been denied.”
“No chance that the Witherspoon barons will acknowledge their half-sister and provide for her?” Dana asked.
“Nope, I already went to them. Not a chance, so it is up to us.”
“So how far do we want to take her training? Get it up to the baroness defensive level?” Dana figured that would be the case. Most Duska women only wanted enough skill with blades to be able to defend themselves.
Zoran rubbed his hands through his hair before replying. “Dana, I don’t know. After what she’s been through, she might desire more. I can’t say that I blame her either. Let’s at least get her up to the defensive level of most baronesses for sure. Beyond that, Dana, I will leave it to your best judgment. She may have no desires for more. She may not have the physical ability for more. You call the shots. She is limited in the time that she has for training though. It will have to be after suppers each night and perhaps on Sundays, if she wants to use her day off from studies.”
“Okay, that will free up your time, right? Mom told me that you had agreed to train a new Duska. I just didn’t make the connection. Been gone too long,” Dana replied.
“Right, Dana. I really do appreciate this. There is so darn much going on right now, but I have promised her the best Duska training that we can give, and there is no one better than you, except perhaps Zdenka’s father when he was younger.” Dana grinned, for he’d learned a whole lot from him.
After supper that night, Zoran introduced the two. “Adrianna, this is Dana Aceda, eldest son of Archmage Marek and Akira. He is my Master Swordsman. There is no one as good as he is. I am putting him in charge of your fighter training. After dinner each night, he’ll work with you for a couple of hours. He is free on Sundays too, if you wish to use your day off. Your call on that one. Once you have your Duska fighter training, I’ll work with you on other aspects myself. It is critical that you learn what to do with your lightning fast reactions.”
“Hi, great! I’m ready, Dana. Let’s do it,” Adrianna said enthusiastically.
“Follow me. I have a well-padded training room all set up for this,” he said and led her to the room. He noticed two things about her immediately. One, she was one of the prettiest women he’d ever seen and two, she was his age, twenty. She noticed three things about him. One, he was attractive and well-built and confident. Two, he was a Master Swordsman, Zoran’s best, evidently. Three, he was about her age, she thought. Already she’d heard the circulating scuttlebutt that he had been in love with Wen Meerong of Jing, but that she had accepted an arranged marriage instead. She noticed that he was a little blue. Her many years of tending bar had taught her to read people accurately. It had also taught her more, as Dana was soon to find out.
“All these mats are to soften your falls when you get knocked off your feet. The first things we must learn is to be able to effectively dodge and get out of the way of any attack coming your way. This will be extremely valuable to you when you begin to study the attacking spells, Adrianna. If an enemy shoots a Disintegrate beam at you, your Duska senses will alert you that it’s coming, and you must react instantly to get out of its way. Same thing with Balls of Fire and Lightning Bolts spells. Likewise, sometimes you will be unarmed when someone attacks you either with blades or even their fists. You have to be able to effectively dodge and get out of the way and land so that you can take effective counteractions against your attacker. Got it?” He thought, well, she probably has no idea what’s coming next. Ah well, few actually ever do.
“You bet. Okay, dodge and reposition to take effective counters. Got it. Let me tie up my hair first.” She hastily did so tying up her long raven hair. “Okay, ready.”
Without warning, Dana attempted to slam his open hand into her shoulder, intending to knock her off her feet. He really didn’t want to actually punch her with his fist. She wouldn’t be ready for that for perhaps a week, he thought. Adrianna reacted, moving her shoulder back and down, brought her left arm up hard against his head, flipping him off his feet, and landing a surprised Dana on the mats. “Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay?” She bent over offering him a hand up.
“Well, that was a pleasant surprise. No, you did extremely well. Let’s try some more moves.” Dana began running through all his usual training hand to hand attack strikes. Although he had to use his own Duska senses several time, he still found himself landing hard on the mats four more times.
“Okay, okay, Adrianna. You win. How the heck do you know how to counter these moves?” Dana was very impressed with his new student.
“Tending bar at our old inn. I got all kinds of action there, mostly overly pompous teens and drunks. I had to take care of myself. Am I doing okay?”
“Hey, better than okay, Adrianna. Most beginners don’t get this good for at least a week. Okay, I can see we are going to have to speed this up some. Did anyone ever threaten you with knives or daggers?”
“Sure, several times. Never swords though. I am nervous around them. They are so deadly.”
“Okay, let’s see how you do protecting yourself from knife and dagger threats.” Once more she was quite good at deflecting an incoming thrust. He finally found her weak points and began to show her better alternate moves.
Near the end of the session, she asked, “Are you still holding back on me, since I am new at this? Or is this the best that I should anticipate running into out there?”
“I’m trying to get a feel for what you know and don’t know — what your strengths are and your weaknesses. Yes, I am holding back some. Why?”
“Give me your best shot, really your best shot. I want to see how much more I really do have to learn, Dana.”
“You sure about this?”
“I need to know. How else can I judge my progress?”
“Okay, here goes.” This last time, he used his full hand to hand skills on her and quickly flipped her hard onto the mat.
“Ah ha. I was thinking that I was pretty good, but I can see I have lots to learn yet. Thanks, little help up, that hurt. You are good.”
By the end of the week, she asked, “Can we really go at it on Sundays? I don’t want to take away your time, if you have personal things to do, I mean.”
“No, work is good for me. I love teaching the fighting arts, Adrianna. Sure, let’s meet say at ten.”
Adrianna was a very fast learner, Dana soon discovered. Within a week, she had passed the unarmed defensive actions portion of her training. Now came the more difficult and likely very lengthy period of learning to defend with a blade. Of course, they would begin with daggers. Only when she really mastered the dagger would he suggest moving up to a full sword. For a full week they sparred with wooden daggers and wooden swords, in his case. Then, he took her to the huge, secret display case to match her with her first enchanted dagger.
“Wow! All these are magical?” she asked, blinking twice.
“Yes, we can’t keep up with the demand, but we always have some in reserve for our own defense. It is my job to find the perfect dagger for each person.”
“Aren’t they all the same?” she asked.
“Wow, this one feels very different, sort of comfortable.”
“Yes, this is the one for you.” He then explained more fully.
Adrianna was impressed with his knowledge and skill. “You seem to be able to size up a person and know just the right blade for them.”
“Astute observation. Yes, I rarely make a miscalculation in that department. I know my blades well and the right fit is mostly dictated by the body who will wield it.”
“Wow. Say, I bet that sword can really dole out the damage!” She pointed to the huge two-handed monster.
Dana laughed. “Yes and no. Yes, if the fighter actually hits solidly with it, it can inflict substantial damage. However, it takes enormous strength to wield it and as Zoran always says and which I often prove, in the time that the fighter can get in one strike with the monster, he and I can get in two to four hits with our short swords. He and I are firm believers in using short swords. They are fast and deadly effective.”
“Well, I want to be deadly effective too! You are just going to have to get me there, Dana.” Adrianna nodded to punctuate her declaration. Dana grinned. He liked this spunky young woman. As they wrapped up the evening’s session, Adrianna asked, “Say, do you really play the harpsichord at the dances? I’ve heard all the Seventeen talking about your return to Brn and that you play.”
“Yes, I play in the first and third sets each dance. The viols play on the second and fourth sets so I can get a chance to dance too. So they like my playing eh? Are you coming to the dance? If so, perhaps we can get a chance to dance a bit. Do you play or sing?”
“I like dances, though I haven’t been to many. I don’t know how to play anything, but I can sing along to all the bawdy bar songs that the men always belt out — all manner of ‘get the bar wench.’ Well, they never got this bar wench!” She laughed and Dana did too.
At the dance, Adrianna discovered that indeed, Dana played the harpsichord and saw why the Seventeen raved about it. Further, she found that Dana was also a good dancer as well. Slowly she really began to enjoy being around this man. On the other hand, Dana found himself becoming quite attracted to this incredibly spunky and beautiful young woman. Could love strike twice, he wondered?
Chapter 29 The Abbreviated Fall High Council
During the days and weeks leading up to the Fall High Council, Zoran used his free time to track down the relatives of the recent Adapazan women, namely Anezka, Kamila, Katerine, Reina, Zusa, and Ryba. His plan: see how it goes with these families. Then, he could better advise the other barons who would have to contact the other eighty-nine women’s families. He began with the families of the two armless women, Anezka and Kamila, figuring these would be the hardest to handle.
He found Anezka’s husband, Alan, and her year old daughter Vanda. He was a carpenter in Sobin Creek, Kin Province. His reactions were even stronger than Adrianna’s mother’s had been. “My god! I’ve got to go to her. She needs me now more than ever. So does Vanda. Baron, you must let me go to her. I can help, really I can. I must.”
“I can always use another carpenter. What say you move to Brn for at least as long as Anezka is getting her magic training? You can work for me and earn good wages,” he suggested. Later that day, he watched as the tears of joy flowed from both. Anezka really missed her daughter, even though now she was so helpless to care for her infant. That deal worked out well.
Kamila’s husband, Krystof, in the village of Kusor, Radin Province, was also insistent on seeing her. They had two daughters, two and three, Xenia and Jolana, who missed their mother very much. He was a barrel maker, and Zoran also gave him a job at his fortress in Brn, making barrels to store their supplies in the ever growing subterranean city.
The other husbands were thankful their wives were okay and extremely pleased that they were learning magic now. They decided to remain in their villages and let their wives learn as much as possible, though they all visited them first before reaching their mutual decisions.
Thus, Zoran became convinced that not all of the women’s families would have to be moved to Brn. Now he concentrated on the upcoming High Council meeting which was scheduled to be held on the desert world of Chana, Baron Atir hosting. A week before the meeting, Baron Atir visited Zoran to personally discuss the upcoming meeting.
Baron Atir Makeda was in his mid-twenties, Zoran estimated. He looked much like his father who Zoran had known. He was tall and thin, sporting a full brown beard and moustache. “Thank you for seeing me. Chana is a desert world and we do not have the resources of the other worlds. We cling to our ancient heritage and ways. Yet, I am breaking our traditions and coming to ask your advice.”
“Understood, baron. I’ll do my best and respect your traditions as always.”
“Thank you. Hosting the coming High Council has my brothers and me very worried about security and the dragons. While the browns and we have not had any problems, I am worried about having all of our rulers on Chana. If the reds or blacks try something, I won’t pretend to say that we on Chana could prevent an attack. We can’t. At each of the last two councils, dragons have been involved. Worse, you have been right every time. We have discovered that a number of our young women have simply vanished without a trace. Before I go, I would like to see those that you have managed to save.”
“Yes, of course. I will address this issue at the council. Perhaps I should give the first report at the start of our meeting.”
“Would you? That would be much appreciated. I’ll put you down as the first speaker. What I wanted to bounce off of you is this: how about limiting this meeting to one baron and baroness from each planet? That way, if trouble comes and we are wiped out, each world will still have a pair of barons to carry on. Further, if dragons attack the other worlds while the council is meeting, the home worlds will not be left defenseless.”
“Now that one I really like, baron. Don’t put all our dates in one basket.” Atir chuckled at the old Chana saying. “We should be alert for more trouble. While I managed to put a halt to the latest dragon abduction plot, they are sure to try something else. They’ve been awfully quiet for a month now. Zdenka will be with me and we will do our best to give you as much advanced warning of trouble as we can.”
“Thank you. I will rest a little easier. I am glad that you approve of my caution. I was worried about going to the other barons, who might just say that I was being paranoid.”
“I think a little paranoia about the dragons is a good thing, baron. Never ever take a dragon for granted,” Zoran declared. “How are your subterranean cities coming along?” The two chatted a while longer and then Zoran took him to meet with the six Chana women he’d rescued. Atir nearly cried as he hugged the two who had lost their arms to the dragons. He promised them high paying positions just as soon as they finished their training, which pleased all six, but especially the two who had suffered the most. He also promised to take back their messages to their loved ones.
“It really is criminal — what these dragons are doing to our women,” Baron Atir commented sadly to Zoran as he said farewell. “Thank you for all that you are doing for us. I admit, we on Chana would not be able to give our women the care and training that you are able to provide. I owe you one, baron. I will not forget it.”
Archmage Karel cast his top defensive spells after unpacking his gear and magical rods. He, Jarka, and Dana accompanied Zoran and Zdenka to this High Council at Arad, Chana. Zoran wanted at least another Duska present, in case anything happened to him. Karel had brought a rod for the remaining barons who as yet did not have one. So far, he’d successfully made twenty-five of them, with Zoran retaining ten of them.
Jarka looked out at the city from their second story window. Brown sands of the distant desert crept up to the brown stone buildings of the city proper and even
seeped up to the foundations of the fortress itself in which they resided. True, dates, figs, and palm trees broke up the relatively dismal landscape, adding a bit of color to an otherwise monotonous scene. The large oasis in the center of the city added the only touch of blue, unless one counted the seemingly endless sky overhead. Already, she’d experienced the intensely hot sun here and didn’t much appreciate it. They’d arrived on the outdoor platform and by the time she entered the cooler fortress, she was sweating. “Inhospitable,” she commented to Dana, who agreed.
“Okay, let’s get these rods delivered now,” Karel declared, “that way if trouble comes, more will be protected. Besides, I worry about someone trying to steal them.”
“And I worry about having to protect you,” Dana teased the Archmage, who frowned.
Zoran agreed and began Messaging the barons. For the next hour, Karel was bombarded with thank you’s and many blessings. He was divided on whether he appreciated the funds that some barons donated or their undivided attention and praise. Jarka thought the latter, but wisely said nothing.
The next morning’s opening ceremonies were very subdued. Instead of the usual trumpet fanfares that many of the other barons used, here Baron Atir chose to use simple drum rolls. Of course, he was announced first, followed by the other Neutral barons and baronesses. Next, came the allied groups with Zoran and Zdenka being announced first. The Rehor delegation was announced last. After everyone was seated, all eyes glanced at the visitor’s section. No new Archmages were waiting, though some had hoped that there would be more of them, since only the Archmages stood much of a chance battling dragons.
Zoran rose to speak first. Slowly and carefully, he outlined the summer’s dragon abductions focusing on the pivotal role that Duska Adrianna Whitehall had played. He presented each baron with a list of the names of the women from their worlds and their status, including which Archmage was training them. He detailed Jarka’s amazing work to create an antidote to the reds neurotoxin used to deaden the women’s arms, but pointed out that after sixty-seven days, the antidote could not be effectively used, the arms were simply too atrophied to be saved.