Artesans of Albia

by Cas Peace

  “Ah, I see. Your men are unruly and cannot take orders. Yes, that is what I heard. I did not believe it because I thought the men of the eastern seaboard were disciplined and successful, but it seems I was wrong. I regret disturbing you, Ky-shan. Clearly, I am wasting my time.”

  She turned on her heel, preparing to stride away, but a shiver of drawn steel brought her up short. She was now facing Robin and saw the frozen look on his face. His voice sounded in her mind.

  What on earth are you up to? He’s drawn on you!

  Trust me, Robin. I know what I am doing.

  She spoke without turning. “Any man who draws steel on me had better be prepared to use it.”

  A metallic snap broke the brief silence as the partly drawn sword was rammed back home. Then Ky-shan snapped, “Pah! I don’t fight women.”

  She turned with a smile on her lips. “You prove at every turn what they say in the barracks. They are right to keep you netted like fish. What is it they call pirates—your pardon, free traders—in the east? Sea wolves, is it? Ha, I think not! Just look at the state of your men, Ky-shan. Sea slugs would be more fitting. No wonder the officers here do not want you.” She turned away again.

  This time she had gone too far. Ky-shan snarled, drew his great sword, and sprang across her path, leveling his blade at her breast. Abruptly she halted and stared into his eyes, ignoring the dangerously waving sword.

  “Well now,” she murmured, “what is this? Would you challenge me?”

  Despite having most of her attention on Ky-shan, she sensed that Robin was beginning to understand. Despite the Hierarch’s express warning about dueling, and her own opinions on the subject, she meant to cross swords with Ky-shan for the right to lead his men. She knew Robin would trust her.

  She almost smiled. Unlike the twin giants and Ky-shan’s son, all of whom had their hands clenched upon their sword hilts, Robin was showing great restraint. He stood unmoving with his arms folded across his chest, watching the scene before him. His expression was calm. She wanted to hug him. It was at moments like these when she loved him the most.

  Ky-shan was anything but restrained. He was roaring.

  “Take back your discourteous words, girl. No one speaks to Ky-shan like that! What gives you the right to come in here, offering the traditional words of friendship and then insulting us? You’re not even of this realm. You’re human! I don’t take insults from my own kind, let alone inferior creatures like you!”

  His men bellowed their support. Sullyan saw Robin cast an uneasy glance at the soldiers outside the courtyard. They had heard the altercation and were gathering to watch.

  “‘Inferior creatures’?” she echoed, the sneer never leaving her face. “Is that the best you can do? I have heard better insults from children. If your sword arm is as weak as your wit, Ky-shan, I will have no trouble besting you.”

  Now the man was dancing with rage, his face suffused with blood. The tip of his sword trembled with the force of his anger.

  “You wouldn’t stand a chance, girl. I’m the best swordsman in the east! I’ve killed real fighters twice your height and strength. If you were a man I would make you regret your words.”

  “Oh, come now, my sex is a poor excuse. But I suppose if you have no stomach for it, then that is an end.”

  His son surged forward, sword in hand. “I’ll fight her, Father!”

  Ky-shan slapped the youth away. “Stay out of this, ignorant pup.”

  The boy subsided, looking sullen, and Ky-shan rounded on Sullyan. “Very well, girl, if you want a fight you can have one. I don’t usually bother with the likes of you, but you need to be taught a lesson. You’ll learn some manners and respect before I’m finished with you, and then my men can have you. They’ll teach you much more than respect, believe me!”

  Robin gasped and Sullyan felt her heart clench with fear before she controlled herself. “Very well, Ky-shan, I accept your terms. But I warn you, when I defeat you, I shall demand a forfeit.”

  “Ha! You can demand whatever the hell you like! If you can defeat me, I’ll pay any forfeit you care to name. But when I defeat you, you’re ours.”

  “Agreed. Captain!”

  Her voice jolted Robin, who fortunately realized what she wanted, although his voice was a croak.

  “Witnessed.”

  Sullyan removed her cloak and jacket, handing them to Robin. Ky-shan’s eyes widened when he saw her rank insignia and battle honors, and wariness showed on his face. He waved his men back to the walls of the compound to make space for the fight. This hid them from the soldiers outside, and Sullyan noticed Robin eyeing the Guardsmen. He would be wondering how long it would be before news of the duel reached the Hierarch. Sullyan could hardly deny inciting Ky-shan. Knowing Robin trusted her, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind, waving him to a position not far from the compound entrance.

  As she drew her sword, Ky-shan positioned himself across from her, his heavier blade already balanced in his right hand. Poised on the balls of his feet, he looked angry and dangerous. Sullyan chose a double-handed grip. It wasn’t her usual style, but when the pirate attacked with no warning, she was glad she had. She blocked the mighty swipe and let Ky-shan’s blade shiver off hers, the two-handed grip giving her stability against his heavier weapon.

  He came back at her at once, and she allowed him to make contact with her sword, jumping away without striking back. She would test his skill and strength and let him spend the first flush of his anger. Moving easily around the space, giving ground as necessary, she made him do all the work. Yet he was not without subtlety and soon realized what she was doing. After a few testing passes which she parried cleanly, she saw him begin to re-evaluate her. She gave him her full attention, anticipating the real start to their duel.

  The pirate lunged at her and she switched to a single, left-handed grip, parrying his thrust and following up with a lunge of her own. The very tip of her sword parted the sleeve on his right arm and she saw a thin trace of blood follow the blade.

  His men saw it too and erupted, roaring their anger. It was only a flesh wound and could hardly have stung, but seeing first blood go to her refueled Ky-shan’s rage. He bellowed and pressed her with a flurry of furious strokes. Sullyan parried smoothly, forcing him to circle, trying to tire him out. Where she could, she sidestepped his lunges, letting him spend his strength on empty air, and then followed up with a lightning-fast attack of her own.

  Ky-shan’s was the stronger weapon, but it was heavier and slower. His thick, meaty fingers weren’t as flexible as Sullyan’s and his control over his blade not as sure. His was a slashing weapon and his style reflected this, more suited to shipboard skirmishes than the finer art of dueling. Soon he began to tire, his breath coming in gasps. She guessed that her level of expertise had both surprised and infuriated him. Sustaining his anger was sapping his strength. As he fought, he gave a series of grunts and cries, whereas Sullyan fought in silence, only exhaling hard during a particularly vicious cut.

  His men were jeering her, yelling encouragement to their leader. Ky-shan altered his tactics and advanced hard on her, attacking with a series of cross-body strokes so powerful they turned his torso from side to side. Each slash was punctuated by a heavy grunt. Sullyan blocked, backing away before him, his men parting to give her room. She was still using a left-handed grip and Ky-shan had the measure of that now, compensating well for the unusual angle of her blade. He was grinning. She moved sideways, parrying awkwardly, sliding away when she could. Ky-shan pursued her relentlessly, pressing home his advantage. His men roared and he swung his sword round to attack her unprotected right side.

  Flicking her sword into her other hand, she ducked his violent swing, thrusting swiftly at his completely undefended left flank. Her blade opened a long, bloody cut down his side.

  Ky-shan staggered, gasping in pain. As his men swayed forward, yelling their anger, Sullyan pursued him across the courtyard, opening two more superficial cuts before he recov
ered his balance. Enraged beyond thought now and egged on by his band, Ky-shan chased her back, beating down on her sword, raining blows as fast as he could. He drove her backward on the icy ground where the footing was treacherous, pressing her so fast that suddenly—she went down. With a roar of triumph echoed by his furious men, Ky-shan raised his blade.

  “NO!”

  As Robin’s cry echoed across the courtyard, Sullyan whipped her weapon upward, catching Ky-shan’s on the shaft. Shivering up under the hilt, it twisted the heavier sword out of the pirate’s hand. The blade flew sideways, ringing across the compound until it came to rest at his stunned son’s feet.

  The men fell silent, crowding in a tight ring around their leader. Robin surged through them, shoving urgently, but then stopped, dumbfounded.

  Sullyan lay on the frozen ground, breathing heavily. Above her, Ky-shan stood immobile, staring down. He too was gasping for breath, perspiring freely. His face was grey with fear, for the tip of Sullyan’s weapon rested lightly against the artery inside his right thigh. One tiny thrust from her and the vessel would be severed, ending his life. Ky-shan couldn’t afford to move a muscle and Sullyan’s sword didn’t waver.

  She stayed where she was while her breathing slowed. Her eyes never left the pirate’s, and his stayed locked on hers. Robin didn’t move either, unsure what would happen next. The men around them were intent on the scene, hands clenched into fists. They were, Sullyan knew, one step away from tearing her and Robin to pieces. One word from Ky-shan was all it would take.

  Her breath restored, she disengaged her gaze from Ky-shan’s. Delicately giving her sword-tip a tiny push, she reminded him how close he had come to death. Then she lowered it, keeping it ready nonetheless. Her left hand was behind her, supporting the weight of her upper body. Now she brought it round and wordlessly held it toward him.

  Silence.

  Ky-shan’s breathing slowed. He was still studying her, and she hoped he could see the respect in her eyes. She had tricked him more than once during their fight, and she knew that if they fought again she wouldn’t be able to use the same tactics. She had used his anger, prejudice, and disbelief against him. The cuts she had given him were all designed to heighten his rage while not doing him too much harm. But had she judged him right? Would he recognize what she had done?

  His frown deepened and she experienced a pang of doubt. Then he gave a huge snort, took her proffered hand, and hauled her roughly to her feet.

  With the tension broken, sound returned. One of his men retrieved Ky-shan’s sword and handed it to him. He took it by the blade, sheathing it with a ringing snap. Sullyan wiped her blade clean and did the same. The pirate regarded her, one hand clamped to his bleeding side. She placed her own hands on her hips and returned his speculative gaze.

  His voice was rough. “You tricked me, girl.”

  “You allowed yourself to be tricked.”

  He snorted. “It wouldn’t happen twice!”

  “Irrelevant, my friend.”

  Ky-shan’s eyes narrowed. “Very well, you have won your forfeit. What will it be?”

  His men muttered and he gestured sharply for silence. They subsided, but Sullyan felt their resentment. She gazed around at the sullen faces before replying.

  “The right of command.”

  They erupted, roaring in protest. Ky-shan shouted them down, wincing as his wound stung. He turned on her, disbelief plain in his eyes. “The right of command? Have you lost your wits?”

  She stood her ground. “Do you really so enjoy being cooped up in this compound that you are willing to pass on the chance of gaining respect and battle honors? Think carefully before you reply, my friend, for this is your last chance. You may have his amnesty, but the Hierarch cannot let you return eastward now, not with battle imminent. Nor will he permit you to take part in the fighting without an authorized officer in command. I tell you this, Ky-shan, and hear me well. I am your last hope.”

  Ky-shan didn’t immediately reply, and his expression was pensive. Then he frowned. “If you’d told me this from the first there would have been no need to goad me into fighting you.”

  She inclined her head. “That may be so, but would I have won your respect? I think not. It was worth the exercise, my friend.”

  “Exercise? If that was exercise, then I’d hate to see what you call work!”

  “Our Witnessed agreement means that you will see exactly what I call work.” She held his gaze, repeating, “I claim the right of command over your men.”

  That provoked another outpouring of dissent, especially from Ky-shan’s son. Sullyan, unmoved, assessed the loudest protestors and noted their faces.

  Ky-shan glared them into silence. “I gave my Witnessed word and I stand by it! Anyone who disagrees is welcome to take it up with me personally.” To emphasize his meaning, he placed his free hand on the hilt of his sword.

  Sullyan faced his angry men. “I understand your resentment and I am prepared to make you a bargain.”

  Ky-shan cut across her. “That isn’t necessary, Lady. I agreed to the terms and I will fulfill them. This rabble will obey me, at least!”

  She turned back to him, speaking for his ears alone. “Maybe, Ky-shan, but the right of command is not enough. I desire your loyalty, and I know that loyalty must be earned. We are going into battle and will be risking our lives. I will not hazard my safety or my Captain’s on a company unwilling to obey me.”

  She raised her voice. “The bargain, gentlemen, is this. You will afford me your total obedience for the next seven days. Total obedience, mind! If at the end of that time I have failed to gain you success and honor on the battlefield, I will personally guarantee that you will be paid off and allowed to return to your homes with your amnesty intact. There will be no disrespect or dishonor.” She paused to let that sink in, noting the discontented mutters.

  “You can’t seriously expect us to take orders from a woman.”

  The voice came from the back of the group. Sullyan didn’t see who had spoken. Ky-shan was about to reply, but she got there first. “Do you have a wife, friend?”

  The voice was grudging. “Yes.”

  “Then you already do.”

  It was a gamble, but it paid off. A few sniggers ran round the group and there were no further comments.

  “Well?” she prompted. “Do we have a bargain?”

  Ky-shan favored his men with a black look, but Sullyan knew she had them. No one would demur. Ky-shan’s son certainly wanted to, but he was the only one who might have dared.

  Ky-shan lost his patience. “Have you lost your tongues?” he roared.

  “We agree,” was the multi-throated reply, although some spoke with more conviction than others.

  The pirate turned to Sullyan, bowing stiffly. “It seems you have your bargain, Lady.”

  The men dispersed, drifting off in groups to mutter about the agreement and the validity of Sullyan’s victory. As they did so, she heard the soldiers outside the compound being ordered back to their drilling. She thought she caught sight of a venomous smile and the dead, white eyes of Commander Vanyr. Beside her, Robin shivered.

  Sullyan ushered the wounded pirate toward one of the doorways leading off the compound. When he protested, she said, “You need my help. It is the least I can do. I gave you the wound, now let me deal with it.”

  He shrugged and led her to his private quarters. With a barked command, he sent his sullen son running for hot water and cloths. Sullyan helped him remove his sweat-soaked shirt, and then explored the long cut with expert fingers. When the water arrived, she cleaned the wound thoroughly before glancing at the pirate.

  “This needs stitching.”

  “Just bind it. Stitches will pull and I can live without that.”

  She straightened up. “I can do better, if you will permit.”

  He didn’t understand. Allowing her gaze to rest on him, she slowly dilated her eyes. Untrained as he was, it took him a while to realize her meaning. Then he gas
ped in comprehension.

  “What rank?”

  “Master-elite.”

  His mouth hardened before his expression cleared. Then a strange noise rose in the room and Sullyan smiled. The pirate was chuckling.

  “By the Triple Sea, girl, you’re full of surprises!” He gasped with pain between snorts of laughter. “You didn’t need to use that sword of yours at all, did you? Go on, then. I’ve had no training, but I don’t suppose that’ll make any difference to you.”

  As Sullyan placed her hands gently on the man’s muscled chest where the long, red slash gaped, she probed for his psyche. Ky-shan sat still, his eyes wide, while she used his strength as well as her own to stop the bleeding and encourage the flesh to seal. When it was done she eyed her work critically, Ky-shan squinting at the half-healed welt in amazement.

  “It will still need binding and treating carefully for a couple of days until the flesh is stronger. But it should hold for now.”

  He looked up at her, the first glimmer of friendship twinkling in his eye. “My thanks, Lady.”

  She grinned, watching him accept a fresh shirt from his son and slide carefully into it. “Now, will your men be ready to take the field tomorrow at first light?”

  His head came up in surprise. “Tomorrow?”

  “Unless you need a day to rest, of course.”

  Her innocent smile didn’t amuse him. “First light it is!”

  “Are your men armed and mounted?”

  He turned his head and spat. “We are all well-armed, Lady, have no fear of that. But Vanyr, that misbegotten spawn of a sea snake, requisitioned our horses for his own men.”

  “Let me take care of that. I will stop by the horse lines and pick good mounts for your men. Be sure to have them ready by dawn, Ky-shan. I do not care to be kept waiting.”

  She turned to leave and Robin made to follow. Ky-shan caught at his arm and she barely heard his question. “Can she keep her side of that bargain?”

  Robin’s reply was sure. “The Major never makes promises she can’t keep. She won’t have to, though, I can assure you. Just make certain your men know the meaning of the word ‘obedience’. It holds a special significance in any company under Major Sullyan’s command.”