Noble Solutions

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  “Sharpeyes is going to try killing him…”

  “Killed his son and still shows his fa…?”

  “I’ll be putting my support behind Lady Sharpeyes if they break tonight.”

  Sean exhaled. He had a small smile on his face when he realized that it wasn’t all against them.

  “Hmm, it appears that we might have allies,” Mageeyes said softly to the group. “A few mutters are decidedly against the Lord.”

  “Good. We can always use more,” MacLenn nodded.

  It took a few minutes to reach the steward on the door. The man was older-looking with a sour expression as they went to stand in front of him. “Names?”

  “Forged Bonds, but let me give you individual names,” Fredrick said flatly before doing just that.

  “Yes. You are all expected,” he said with a knowing smirk. “Go on inside. The usher will lead you to the ballroom.”

  Mageeyes stared at the two guards. “Both of them work for Lord Sharpeyes, don’t they?”

  The steward gave her a surprised look. “What of it?”

  “Normally, it is a guard for each the Lord and Lady on the door,” Mageeyes said.

  “I’m not privy to what they decide,” the steward said. “Go in. Now.”

  “We are,” Fredrick said stiffly.

  The two guards on the doors had smug smiles as the group went past them.

  Sean frowned at them as he followed the others. Something felt off and it was bothering him, but he didn’t know what it was yet. The doors closing behind him sent a small shiver running down his spine.

  “If you’ll follow me, please,” the usher said as he walked away from the small line of waiting ushers.

  “A moment. Friends are about to enter,” Fredrick said.

  The doors opened a minute later to admit the Bloodheart family.

  Fredrick smiled at them, then turned back toward the usher. “We’re ready now.”

  “Follow, please,” the young man said again.

  As they walked down the halls, Sean glanced at the wisps they passed. I’ll be back for you soon... just wait a little longer, he thought. The wisps all pulsed gently as if they’d heard his thoughts.

  The association didn’t bother looking up, but the Bloodheart family did.

  They were just reaching the ballroom doors when Mageeyes frowned. “I would have thought Sara would wish to speak with us before the party.”

  “She might have problems of her own right now,” Sean replied. “We’ll see her shortly, as it is.”

  “Doubtlessly true,” Mageeyes said.

  The two guards on the doors smirked when the group reached them. They opened the doors without speaking and let them go through.

  As the doors shut behind them, Mageeyes frowned again. “Again, none of Sara’s guards on the doors...”

  Sean looked over the room— it was much busier than the last party he’d attended. “Lots of people here today.”

  “Every noble, even the ones who hate coming to these,” Flamehair said. “Let’s mingle and see if we can’t learn anything.”

  “Stay in small groups, at least,” MacLenn said.

  “Father, I will be with my husband and wife,” Hallie said. “I won’t give away the surprise, but I wish to stay beside him.”

  “Very well,” Julian nodded. “Be ready to answer the questions about your foot.”

  “I am,” Hallie grinned.

  Sean took a deep breath as they split into threes and fours to go mingle. He led his two wives toward a few nobles he’d spoken with before, remembering that they hadn’t been complete asses.

  Chapter Forty-one

  “It’s hard to admit when you are wrong,” Knight Yggdra was saying, “but I can admit that I was wrong to listen to Denmur about you.”

  “Thank you,” Sean said. “Denmur never cared about truth, only about advancing his own agenda.”

  “As we found out later,” Yggdra sighed.

  “I have to ask,” Sean said, “with no insult meant here, but your family name, Yggdra? Do you know about it?”

  “It means ‘great tree,’” the Knight smiled. “Attested to by our crest.” He touched the embroidery on his tunic. “My many times great-grandfather might be the only one who would have known more about it.”

  “Yggdrasil is the world tree,” Helga said. “Your crest looks much like the tree associated with that name in the mythos I came from.”

  Yggdra blinked slowly. “‘World tree,’ you say?”

  “It spanned the worlds, being one of a few ways to reach different planes,” Helga said. “It is rumored that Odin hanged himself from it for power.”

  “Hmm, interesting. Could I interest you in telling me more of this?”

  “Maybe in the next day or two,” Sean said, looking around. “Not sure this is the best topic for tonight.”

  Knight Yggdra looked around, seeing both the curious and hostile gazes in the crowd. “Yes. Sadly, I was in their number not long ago. Let me speak with some of my acquaintances. I’m sure I can mellow a few of them.”

  “Thank you,” Sean said. “Don’t alienate any, though. I figure things will become clearer to people after tonight.”

  The noble hesitated, then nodded slowly. “You are doubtlessly correct. I wish you the best. Dame Bloodheart, a pleasure to see you again.”

  “Thank you,” Hallie smiled.

  As Knight Yggdra walked away, Sean looked around the room to find his friends. Each was engaged in conversation with other nobles, still in the groups they’d separated into.

  “MacDougal, isn’t this interesting,” Carver said from behind him. “Surprised you had the courage to come to the home of the man whose son you murdered.”

  Sean felt his blood go cold as he turned slowly to face Carver. “Finally came out from under your rock, Carver? You hid over the last two tendays. Without Denmur to hide behind, you had to find another. How do the Lord’s boots taste?”

  Carver snorted. “Speak as you will. Tonight, I will have the last laugh.”

  “You think—?” Sean began before a commotion started behind him.

  Turning, Sean smiled when he saw Knight Solanice on his back with Bloodheart standing over him. The room went quiet when they saw the scene.

  “You’ve insulted her for the last time!” Bloodheart snapped. “My wife will not be slandered in such ways, you filth!”

  A handful of armored guards rushed forward. “Stop at once!” one of them yelled. “Striking a guest of the Lord is an affront to him.”

  “Insulting my wife is an affront to me,” Bloodheart replied tightly. “Now, Solanice, do you have the courage to accept that challenge, or will you crawl back to one of the Lords and whimper like the cur you are?”

  Solanice got to his feet slowly, wiping the blood off his lip. “Fight you? Yes. We might as well start a little early. Any weapon but swords, and all Talents can be used. It will be to the death.”

  Bloodheart nodded slowly. “I need a moment to procure a weapon that is not a sword.”

  “I’ll give you one minute,” Solanice sneered. “As for who shall oversee the fight—”

  A gong sounded, and all eyes went to the stairs where Lord Sharpeyes was standing. He was angry— visibly angry— as he stared at Solanice and Bloodheart. “What is this?”

  “I was struck and challenged,” Solanice replied. “I have accepted his challenge. We just need an adjudicator.”

  Sharpeyes nodded slowly. “I see.”

  “Lord,” Knight Yggdra said, stepping forward, “I will volunteer.”

  With a thoughtful look, Sharpeyes nodded again. “Very well. I trust you to know how to comport yourself right now.”

  Bloodheart went up to Sean. “MacDougal, a moment of your time, please.”

  Upon hearing Sean’s name, Sharpeyes looked at him. An evil, happy smile appeared on his lips. “MacDougal, I’m glad you are here. After this duel, we have things to take care of. What are the rules of the duel?”

  �
��No swords, all Talents, and to the death,” Solanice smirked.

  “Excellent,” Sharpeyes nodded. “Steward, bring out my spear. Knight Solanice will be using it.”

  When Bloodheart reached him, he started to slip his ring off, but Sean just shook his head. “Keep it. Helga, let me have your ring, please. We’ll Shape it back after the fight.”

  Helga pulled her ring off, handing it to Sean. “As you wish it, My Lord.”

  Sean turned to Sharpeyes. “Where does Bloodheart get a weapon?”

  “Wherever he can find one,” Sharpeyes snickered. “Maybe one of the women can lend him a knife.”

  “So anywhere? Got it, thanks,” Sean said as he willed the ring into a sword. As it started to take shape, he bent his will on it to make it form into a spear. “There you go, Toivo.”

  Sharpeyes went still, his face flushing. “What is that? How did you get a weapon past the guards?”

  “I’m a Shaper,” Sean laughed. “I had some metal on me and now, he has a weapon. You said he could have a weapon wherever he could get one.”

  The room murmured, and Sean smiled when he heard the majority taking his side in the argument. Sharpeyes glared at his guests, seeming to focus on a few people as he did.

  Knight Yggdra moved over to Sean. “Might I check that weapon?”

  “Sure,” Sean said, handing it over.

  After a minute of inspection, he handed it back. “It is a spear with some diamonds and sapphires. Nothing untoward on the weapon. It is legal for the duel.”

  Sharpeyes’ nostrils flared and he spoke through gritted teeth, “Is that how you see it?”

  “My Lord,” Yggdra replied, “the weapon is sound. There is no plausible reason to deny it.”

  “Your spear, Lord,” the steward said, coming back with the weapon.

  “I need to inspect it and I’ll need everyone to clear the middle of the room. Guards, be ready to form a barrier,” Yggdra said.

  When he left to go check the other weapon, Sean leaned in toward Bloodheart. “It’ll do what your sword would. Make it quick, please.”

  Bloodheart nodded and went to the center of the room.

  “This weapon is also clean and valid,” Yggdra said, handing the spear to Solanice.

  Solanice looked upset as he took the weapon and stalked to the open space in the room.

  Sharpeyes stayed at the top of the stairs, looking down. “Guards, produce the barrier when it is called for.”

  The five guards who had come forward earlier went to encircle the fighters.

  “Fighters, are you ready?” Yggdra asked. Both men nodded and he looked toward the guards. “Barrier.”

  A dome covered the middle of the room. It had a faint golden sheen, but it was clear enough that everyone could see easily.

  Yggdra went to the side, right up against the barrier, to give the two men as much room as possible. “Fight!”

  Solanice vanished from view and the crowd murmured.

  Bloodheart blinked and looked around bewilderedly. “What? Camo? How can I fight you if you hide?” He swiped his spear back and forth as if trying to keep Solanice back.

  Sean smirked, watching Bloodheart’s eyes as he spoke and swung. He wasn’t directly watching Solanice, as that would give things away, but he was pausing briefly as he scanned back and forth.

  “Too bad,” Solanice replied. “Now die!”

  Without warning, Bloodheart slapped his spear to the side, then thrust forward. He tsked when he yanked the spear back and blood coated the blade. “I just missed your heart.”

  Solanice appeared, stumbling backward. His eyes were wide in shock as one hand clutched his chest. “How?”

  “I married a Mageeyes, fool!” Bloodheart spat.

  Solanice hunched and screamed as his body rippled. A second later, his head came up and his body grew. “Fine. Troll, it is!”

  Bloodheart frowned, then nodded. “Harder, but doable.” He rushed to get to Solanice before he could finish becoming more trollish.

  Solanice batted the spear aside with one gray hand. It gashed his palm, but the wound closed up almost instantly. Standing up, now much taller and broader, Solanice laughed. The wound in his chest had already healed. “Now, I’ll kill you!”

  Bloodheart looked grim as he leveled his spear. “Come on, then.”

  Solanice threw his spear at Bloodheart, who batted the missile down, but that brought his own spear low. With the weapon out of position, Solanice darted forward, knowing Bloodheart’s spear would never get high enough to threaten him now.

  Bloodheart snapped it up and a blue arc of light danced along the length of the blade. Solanice never saw it, but he felt it when the weapon punched into his thigh. Bloodheart grunted and was pushed back a few steps as he held the mithril spear firm. Solanice became locked in place, the electricity freezing his muscles. His teeth were bared— he clearly wanted to scream, but was unable to.

  Letting go of the spear with his left hand, Bloodheart bent and grabbed Solanice’s. “Now, I know how to kill a troll: damage the brain.”

  “Stop this! Stop it at once!” Sharpeyes screamed.

  “The duel is to the death, Lord,” Yggdra said calmly. “Both men still draw breath.”

  Bloodheart stepped in, lining the second spear up with Solanice’s eye to let the man see it clearly. “Insulting and hurting my wife... that is why you die.” With that said, he thrust forward with all of his strength. The spear burst Solanice’s large eye like a water balloon before it went deeper.

  Yggdra nodded. “Hmm... he might be dead. May I check?”

  “A moment. My spear would hurt you,” Bloodheart said, letting go of the spear lodged in the troll’s head. With a grim smile, he yanked his spear free, stopping the electricity. When Solanice hit the floor, he slammed it into man’s other eye. “It’s fine. Go ahead.”

  “Truestrike will have your head for not stopping that!” Sharpeyes spat at Yggdra.

  Yggdra sighed and went to check Solanice, who was already reverting back to a Human. “For moderating a duel properly? No. Will he be upset and try to cause trouble? Yes, but again, I did as one should.” He knelt and checked the man’s neck. “Dead. Bloodheart is the winner. Drop the barrier.”

  “Remove him!” Sharpeyes growled.

  Bloodheart stepped forward and yanked the spear free, then tossed it to Sean. “I have to return the weapon.”

  Sean snagged it and spun. With his back to Sharpeyes, he Shaped it back to a sword, then reverted it to a ring. He flipped the ring to Helga as he turned back toward Sharpeyes. “No more weapon.”

  Sharpeyes glared. “Give it to my men.”

  “Give what? The metal? Sure,” Sean said, pulling a fist-sized lump of mithril from his pouch. “Here you go.”

  One of the guards took it, looking at it with suspicion. “It does have diamonds and sapphires in it, Lord.”

  “Confiscate it. We can’t have guests with weapons. Check him for more.”

  Sean laughed and turned his hip to the guard. “Go ahead. There’s nothing in there.”

  The guard shoved his hand into the bag, then nodded. “It’s empty.”

  “Good,” Sharpeyes growled. “Remove the corpse and clean the floor. We have business to conduct.”

  Chapter Forty-two

  As the staff hurried to remove Solanice from the floor and clean it, Sharpeyes came down the stairs. His unfriendly glare turned on Sean and his friends.

  The moment everything had been cleaned up, he went to stand in the center of the room. “First, we have important news: a new Aspirant has been accepted into society. Aspirant Skippy Carver, come forward.”

  Carver stepped out of the crowd and went to stand before Sharpeyes. “My Lord?”

  “Welcome into the ranks of the nobility.”

  “My thanks, Lord,” Carver said, bowing low. “Unlike the last Aspirant to join the ranks, I know proper decorum.”

  “You also know how to kneel for your sponsor,” Sean said sotto voce.r />
  “Quiet!” Sharpeyes snapped. “We’ll be getting to you shortly, MacDougal.”

  “Anytime you’re ready, I am,” Sean said flatly, staring back at him.

  “Before we get to you,” Sharpeyes snorted, “Watercaller and Stoneeyes, step forward.”