The Black Horseman (The Temple Islands Series)

by Richard D. Parker

  “The boy watches without a care,” Arsinol growled, both men aware that Gwaynn almost never looked at them, and when he did it was if he did not even recognize or care that they were present. “He looks to be very comfortable, probably feels quite safe,” the King added, his anger at the man to his right growing.

  “Yes, but Nev is ever watchful,” Navarra answered, nonplussed by his King’s anger. Arsinol looked and sure enough the Tar was staring at them both. Arsinol blanched slightly. He did not like the look of the man’s eye. Something about his face said that he should not be made an enemy lightly.

  Arsinol turned his head and raised a hand as if scratching his nose, to hide his mouth. “Everyday with that man makes Gwaynn harder to kill. The Massi Prince must not be allowed to return home. You should have killed him by now. He has twice slipped through your fingers; perhaps you are not so deadly after all.”

  Navarra turned to the Deutzani King inwardly growing angry, but he was deadly calm on the outside. “I will kill him today, if that is your wish.”

  Arsinol frowned. No, the boy’s death would have to wait. The other families would turn on him instantly if they knew of his involvement in the death of the Massi royal family. If such a thing were to get out, the High King would not have any choice but to openly oppose him, not to mention that Noble Island would also be openly against him. It was not a pleasant thought. The Tars from Noble Island had not gone to war in more than a thousand years, and in that instance they wiped out all opposition and placed High King Mastoc’s ancestors in power. A power they still held to this day.

  “No,” Arsinol said quietly, his face still averted from the watchful eyes of the distant Tar. Navarra was both disgusted and satisfied by the fear he saw in the old King’s face. “I cannot be tied to his death,” the Deutzani King finally added.

  “Death could come from many unexpected places,” Navarra answered, then turned back in time to see B’dall brutalize an upstart seventh year from Tar Carlett’s quarter in a hand to hand bout; the win placing him in the finals.

  Tar Kostek had a fine group of students, with nearly all of them out performing the other students in their age group. The only exceptions were Stephen who struggled with the staff and was defeated by a first year, William, who lost to all the other fifth years in katas and hand to hand, and of course Vio, who had lost early on with the bow. In all other classes, however, Vio was excelling, as were Hotch, Krys and B’dall, even Tam was putting on a good performance, winning the first year crown in katas, the staff and the bow.

  It was Vio, however, who was drawing the most attention at this year’s games. She electrified the crowd early yesterday, narrowly losing to an eighth year of Tar Endid’s in the semi-finals in hand to hand. The day prior she nearly made it the quarterfinals with the staff, and followed it up the next morning by defeating Seth, an eighth year from Mneme quarter in the semi-finals of the kata competition. She not only beat the eight year, she did so convincingly ten hits to five. She became the only third year student in the last hundred years to make it to the kata finals and was very much a crowd favorite because of it. Yes, Tar Kostek and the Deutzani family were having a very successful competition.

  The morning of the kata finals Gwaynn waited outside of Mele camp, hoping for a chance to see Krys or Vio, and by chance, both of them emerged together with William and Tam. They were moving away from him into the fog, which hung over the river, but he broke into a jog and soon caught up with them.

  “Sir,” Krys said bowing his head slightly before he could stop himself. Both Tam and William looked at him oddly, but said nothing and though word of Gwaynn’s true identity was beginning to spread dangerously, most were still unenlightened.

  “Congratulations on making the semifinals in katas,” Gwaynn said to Krys, who’d lost to B’dall in the final match the previous day. Still making it to the final four was considered a great success for any seventh year. “Master Kostek must be proud of all of you,” he added though he was looking directly at Vio. They all beamed in youthful pride, each realizing that as a group, they were doing quite well.

  “Are you nervous about your upcoming match?” he asked Vio directly. There was a formality in his voice that he did not want, but for some unknown reason he felt tense whenever he was near her.

  She shook her head. “Not really I’ve made it this far.”

  “I’ve been watching B’dall closely. He likes to feint in low with his left before coming in for a head shot with his right,” Gwaynn added using his hands to demonstrate. “He favors it.”

  “Giving a few lessons,” a voice came from out of the fog behind him. Gwaynn turned, but already knew it was B’dall. “It’s a bit presumptuous, since you’ve been on the island only a year, and are not a true student. Is the training on Noble Island so poor that just anyone can teach here?” He walked up, purposefully getting close to Gwaynn, hoping to make the newcomer either take a step back or feel inclined to defend himself. But the younger boy did not move.

  “Anyone can learn. Anyone can teach,” Gwaynn answered.

  B’dall only grunted and then turned his attention to Vio. “I will give you a few lessons this afternoon…traitor,” he spat at her, eyes blazing.

  Vio said nothing, just stared back at him.

  “You’ll be fortunate if I don’t break up that pretty face of yours,” he added, walking so close to her that she had to step aside or be run into.

  “I will be glad when he finishes,” Tam said softly, afraid that B’dall might overhear; though he was already lost in the fog. “He is getting unbearable.”

  William shrugged. “He’s been the most dominant student in our quarter for over ten years, which…I guess would go to anyone’s head.”

  “And it doesn’t help to have his King fawning all over him,” Vio added.

  “His King?” Gwaynn asked.

  “I told you I was never going back,” Vio snapped, and Gwaynn held up his hands in consolation. “I’ve already discussed with Master Kostek about the possibility of continuing to train on the Island after my schooling ends.

  “What did he say?” Tam asked excitedly, as they all began to stretch for a short run. Gwaynn joined in without asking.

  Vio looked at the ground. “He said it would be a Council decision but at the rate I was progressing he could not foresee any problems. He was sure Tar Amon would put in a good word about me.”

  “I’m sure he will,” Gwaynn added, and the rest agreed.

  “Remember only two miles this morning,” William said as they all took off down the river together. “No need to tire yourself out before this afternoon.”

  Vio agreed and they all fell in step, at least until she and Gwaynn began to pull away.

  ǂ

  That afternoon the arena was packed to capacity and then some, as the general populace prepared for the match that was the highlight of the entire Competition; the kata finals. The fog had long since burned off, and there was a strong southeasterly breeze clearing the sky, pushing what clouds remained quickly across the deepening blue. Workers were still busy laying down sawdust on the damp arena floor to draw out any further moisture as Vio and B’dall entered led by Tar Kostek. Gwaynn was sitting in the Council’s box with Tar Nev on one side and Tar Amon on the other. Tar Endid, who was selected as judge for the match, was down on the arena floor with the two students, who apart from their dark Deutzani features could not have looked more different. Obviously Vio was female, but aside from that she was lean and wiry. She looked very small next to the broad shouldered and powerful B’dall. Their physical differences necessitated that they each develop different methods of fighting. Vio relied mostly on speed and guile, where B’dall relied on power. It would be a classic conflict of styles. The Tars, and in fact, most of the more knowledgeable spectators, were eager to see the distinct techniques clash.

  The air in the arena was electric as both students and Endid walked to the center of the floor, Vio testing the footing as she went. It’s pa
ssable, she thought as together the three bowed to Tar Amon and the rest of the Council, then in unison they bowed to all four corners of the arena. The crowd grew very quiet as the two students stepped back and bowed to Tar Endid, then to each other and without a word the fighting commenced. Vio immediately darted in for a quick surprise strike, but B’dall was ready and though he had to retreat, he managed to hold her off without either scoring a hit. Vio quickly backed away before B’dall could counter, her left foot slipping just a bit.

  Gwaynn, who watched from his seat above, was on edge, far more nervous in the stands than he would have been on the arena floor. He noticed Vio’s foot slip and frowned. The dicey footing would definitely favor B’dall and his lumbering style. Vio would have to be very careful or her opponent would get in a few easy points, and it only took seven strikes to win.

  Vio was thinking much the same thing as she caught and righted herself from the slip, then she circled B’dall, testing the footing once more, which seemed adequate in most places, but she did come across another area which was a cause for concern. B’dall made a move to come in, but slowed as Vio skipped back away from him. Still he came on, quickly realizing that his opponent could not use all of her speed. He maneuvered after her, unaware that he had a slight smile on his face.

  B’dall continued to pursue and Vio continued to attack quickly then pull away, never wanting to get into a long engagement where her opponent’s power could be brought to bear. The first few minutes of the contest were a slow, methodical feeling out of each other’s abilities. B’dall was almost always the aggressor and he finally worked Vio into a small damp area near the back of the arena close to the north wall, and then he moved in very quickly. He attacked and she parried, the smile never leaving his face until she ducked under one of his especially hard blows and made contact on his elbow with her left kata. It was a glancing blow, unlikely to cause any real pain or handicap, but it was spotted by Endid, who shouted and raised one hand for Vio. The crowed cheered, as B’dall backed away then moved in again, now a grimace on his face and with three powerful blows knocked Vio’s right kata aside and came down full force on her left wrist hard enough to break it. A gasp went through the crowd as Vio yelped and dropped her kata, dancing back. She managed to block another blow with her remaining right kata before moving off to relative safety.

  Endid yelled again and raised his hand in B’dall’s favor. B’dall did not hesitate now that he had his opponent at a distinct disadvantage. He rushed in and attacked. Vio, with only one kata, parried, ducked and retreated with no thought of attack, no thought of scoring a hit, only hoping to hold off her relentless attacker. She held her wounded arm close to her body, which hampered her balance and speed. Yet she somehow managed to deflect or dodge a half dozen fast, powerful attacks with one arm before finally scoring another miraculous hit with a kick to the knee of B’dall, who went down with a curse. Vio retreated quickly as he rose and tested his leg. It held but he had to flex his knee several times to drive away the numbness. The crowd roared its pleasure.

  B’dall began to advance once more as the crowd, which clearly favored Vio, continued to buzz in amazement. This time B’dall just continued to press forward, working his way in as close as possible before striking Vio hard on the left hip, and then quickly on the right shoulder, using almost the exact attack Gwaynn had warned her about. She tried to back away, berating herself for falling for a technique she had been told to watch out for, when her left foot slipped out from under her. Her right hand flew up but not fast enough and B’dall’s right kata struck her full in the side of the jaw. Vio saw stars as blood and pain filled her mouth. She was only dimly aware of another blow coming down on her left collar bone breaking it, before another struck the bridge of her nose, and then another on her right shoulder.

  Gwaynn watched with horror as B’dall struck blow after blow, not stopping, not relenting before an obviously defenseless foe. He managed to strike her six times before Tar Endid stepped in and stopped the contest. Gwaynn was surprised to find he was on his feet, not moving, making no sound, just staring at the Vio’s prone body lying on the floor of the arena. She was not moving and at first he feared the worst, but then his attention was diverted as B’dall made another lunge for her, but was held back by Tar Endid, then B’dall backed away and looked up directly into Gwaynn’s eyes.

  “Your next,” he mouthed or possibly said. It was hard to tell with all of the noise in the arena. Some booed, some cheered but it seemed everyone present was yelling something and then Pugg rushed in and was at Vio’s side.

  “Come. Let us leave now,” Nev yelled almost directly into Gwaynn’s ear, but Gwaynn made no move. “We can make our way to the hospital tent and meet her there,” his Master added and gradually he got Gwaynn’s attention. Gwaynn looked at him and nodded. They quickly picked their way through the crowd, followed closely by the Tars Kostek and Amon.

  Their progress was relatively unimpeded because for the most part the crowd remained in their seats, most shouting, booing, cheering or screaming incomprehensibly. Once on the mulch covered ground they were completely unhindered and exited the arena without delay. They reached the hospital tent before Vio and Pugg, and it was all either Nev or Kostek could do to keep Gwaynn from running back out to find her. As it was, he paced the tent continuously, never pausing even for an instant.

  “Quite a scene you’re putting on for a young Deutzani woman,” Nev finally said with a tilt of his bushy head. The comment surprised both Tar Kostek and Gwaynn, who immediately stopped pacing and just glared at his Master.

  “She will be fine,” Nev said leaning close and whispering into Gwaynn’s ear. Gwaynn wondered how he knew, but moments later Pugg pulled back the tent flap and held it in place as two other men brought Vio in on a stretcher. She was conscious, her eyes bright with unshed tears. She broke into a rueful smile, which made her wince, when she spotted Gwaynn waiting for her. There was a bulge in her nose and a good deal of drying blood on her chest and neck, and her eyes were beginning to blacken, but Gwaynn thought she looked wonderful and couldn’t help but smile back. She tried to sit as soon as the stretcher was placed on a table, but a sharp pain in her right shoulder insisted that it might be better to lie still.

  “How are you?” Kostek asked only slightly more worried for her than he was for B’dall, his other student; the one who had lost complete control.

  Pugg moved in closer to examine her once more in the privacy of the tent, keeping her from answering her Tar directly. He worked on her for nearly ten minutes, examining nearly every part of her body, much to her embarrassment. Finally he spoke to her as well the others present. “She has a broken left clavicle and wrist and her right shoulder has a very deep bone bruise, as does her hip bone. She has a broken nose and she lost a tooth, but thankfully her jaw was not broken, other than that I would say she will live.”

  Everyone sighed with relief. But Pugg was still frowning. “Master Kostek, what could possibly have gotten into that boy? I believed he meant to kill her.”

  Tar Kostek shook his head and then rubbing the back of his neck, looked up at the physician. “I’m not sure,” he said and then motioned for Tar Nev and the doctor to follow him outside, leaving Vio and Gwaynn alone.

  “I’m sorry,” Vio mumbled, and Gwaynn could still see that there was blood in her mouth. He turned and from a table behind him grabbed a small linen cloth, then moved back to Vio.

  “Nothing to be sorry about,” Gwaynn replied, desperately trying to hold in his emotions. “Can you open your mouth?” he asked and she complied very gingerly. He carefully dabbed at the blood on her teeth and beneath her lower lip, before she reached up and took the cloth from him and moved it farther back, closer to where the kata had struck her jaw. She pulled away the cloth and it came out bloody so Gwaynn retrieved another for her and this one she held in place for a long time. Gwaynn pulled up a stool, and just sat with her, lost in his thoughts and unaware for a long time that she was crying silen
tly.

  “Is it the pain?” he asked when he finally became aware of her tears. She shook her head negatively and gently pulled the cloth back out of her mouth. It was still bloody but a good deal less so than the previous one.

  “I am no longer Deutzani,” she said after a long moment of trying to control her self, still her voice sounded shaky and weak. “They tried to kill me. I know it was not B’dall’s idea…it came from my King. He was angry when I told him of my intentions to stay on Noble Island and become a Tar.” She watched Gwaynn’s face closely, but did not see the hurt she was hoping would appear there. She began crying once more, this time a bit harder. Gwaynn struggled to find the right thing to say or do, feeling very uncomfortable, but in the end he just sat quietly with his head down.

  “We could never be together could we?” She asked.

  Gwaynn’s head jerked up and he glanced at her, but her eyes held his with such intensity that he found he could not look away. His mind raced as he tried to find a way not to hurt her yet again, but then, like rapids coming upon a deeper channel, his mind grew quiet and he smiled at her.

  “No. I cannot see how,” he whispered. “I will be the King of Massi one day. I’m not sure my people would accept a Deutzani Queen.”

  She lay quietly in her bed, still looking at his face, but now her eyes darted about as if trying to take him all in at once. “I thought a King could do as he pleased.”

  Gwaynn actually laughed a bit. “You’d be surprised. It is not the position of freedom that most think it is.”

  Vio sighed. She’d known the answer to her question even before she’d asked it, but somehow she wanted to hear the reality of it from his mouth.

  “Then I will indeed stay here on Noble Island, if they will have me, and study to become a Tar.”

  “You will make a great one,” Gwaynn answered, sad but relieved that they had past the barrier that had so long stood before them. Without a word he reached out and took her uninjured right hand in his. He squeezed it and she squeezed back hard.