(I have no rival)
(Samarkand, 1687)
"And how much trouble can we get in after all?""
"Me and my big mouth," said Clove to herself as she barely managed to duck under a vicious cut that would have half split her in two had she remained on her feet. Or removed her head from her shoulders if she hadn't all but dropped to the ground. Using her acrobat's skills she rolled backwards, springing to her feet at the conclusion of the second roll.
"Hmmm, perhaps this will be a bit more of a challenge for you than I expected," a deep voice that she had already began to really seriously dislike said thoughtfully. "Well you need the exercise anyway. Keep practicing and when you get bored or a little tired go on and take her head."
"Okay, they are enjoying themselves way too much," the English Immortal thought as she parried two cuts and a long lunge that almost skewered her. "Time to find a way out of this."
As she backed up yet again she had three thoughts run quickly through her mind one after the other.
"How DO I get out of this? Where is Katniss?" And finally "How did I get into this mess?"
(Earlier)
"Frankly I'm beginning to think that once you have seen one ancient walled city in the mysterious east you have seen them all."
Katniss nodded her agreement. Once more the pair was comfortably seated on an oversized double chair that gave them plenty of room to sit side by side and to spare. The cushions' rather cracked leather took some wiggling to get just right and now that they had done that both were reluctant to move. Clove leaned her head against Katniss's shoulder and stared at the fire.
"It's getting on into Spring." her companion replied. "I would think we could start moving on before long. The worst of the winter storms seem to be over.
This time Clove nodded. "Anything to get out of our exercise regimen."
That had started after a couple of months of sedentary life. The pair had, as they always did when they found themselves somewhere new, thoroughly explored their temporary home. Samarkand had a great deal of history but was certainly no garden spot, especially in winter. They learned some of that history, did some trading and studied the unfamiliar Sunni branch of Islam that the Uzbeks belonged to. Then they settled into their suite of rooms and pretty much stayed there.
One morning Clove had broken the news.
"Katniss, we're getting fat and out of shape." She did a forward roll that ended with her making an unsuccessful attempt to spring up on her hands and then flip to her feet. Katniss would have laughed except she noted the growing ring around her middle, something she had never had before and something she was not pleased at all to experience. Thus began the training.
Centuries later the pair would be nestled together in a movie theater watching the very first "Rocky" when it had just come out. As they watched Sylvester Stallone running Clove would lean against Katniss and whisper "If we had only had that music back in Samarkand it would have made getting back in shape much easier."
In fact neither of the girls had ever had to set out to exercise. Their very active lives had kept them in top physical form. They were almost at a loss at how to start. There were no gyms and no workout instructors or exercise equipment. So grumbling and groaning they went to work on their own.
Since their rooms lay in the section of the city where the trading caravans paused they did find a source of exercise and training in the places the guards and some of the city's soldiers gathered. Sparring with a two hundred pound grizzled caravan guard or a young soldier certainly helped them shed the weight, regain their speed and agility and get their neglected swordsman ship back up to par. They took treks around the outside of the city and built their stamina and wind back by running. All in all they were happy with the results, although perhaps not with the efforts required.
During that recovery time both girls received numerous offers that involved a traditional exercise of long standing that took place while lying down. Neither of them questioned the other about participation in such exercise. Unknown to each other both of them had felt vaguely uncomfortable for some reason that was not acknowledged in detail by either one about engaging in that exercise. Each preferred to let their fingers do the relaxing when the tension grew a little too strong. That the vague fantasy partner each one thought of during that relaxation time might bear a striking resemblance to their partner wasn't even acknowledged consciously to themselves.
The same day that the pair had agreed they should think about heading east again Clove wandered off by herself towards the non-stop bazaar that sheltered just outside the city walls. She thought of leaving Katniss a note as the Irish girl had left early to go to the archery butts for practice, and to incidentally make a little extra money betting on herself. Clove figured she would be back before the other girl. All she planned on was getting something nice, and portable, for Katniss's upcoming birthday. After all, she reasoned, a girl only turned 158 once.
Okay so neither of them celebrated birthdays. After all this time it seemed a little pointless. But Clove wanted to get Katniss something, something that marked the closeness of their partnership. Maybe something in black silk. They could afford it. An image popped into her mind of Katniss in something made of black silk. And not very much of it. For a moment she stumbled as she forgot anything else, including where she was going.
Her attention was wrenched back to the real world as the feeling washed over her. Someone was here. Another Immortal. Was it Katniss? Then a voice that was bored and yet excited and mockingly friendly all at the same time spun her around.
"Not very impressive at all I must say. Still, perhaps she will provide a bit of amusement."
Two men were standing there, both non-descript although one seemed to be older than the other. That one was advancing while he was speaking. His sword came free in a flash.
"By the way, I am Haresh Clay and this is my apprentice John. Your name is of no importance actually so save your breath. Not that you will need it any more shortly." With that he lunged.
Clove tore her sword free barely in time to meet that lunge. Instantly she was on the defensive, giving ground quickly. After a few minutes during which she barely escaped with her head half-a-dozen times the man lowered his sword and stepped back.
"Bah. She is not even worthy of my time." He waved the younger Immortal forward. "You take her John."
Meanwhile Katniss had finished a rousing archery competition with a number of men, mostly caravan guards and most of them known to her. The last round and been a fierce one between her and a grizzled veteran of many trips across the continent. When she edged him out on the final shoot a cheer went up, mingled with groans of the ones who had bet on the man.
She had just collected her winnings and exchanged a friendly hug with the older man when a strange feeling swept over her.
"What is it Katniss?"
"I'm not sure Yusef," she replied to the veteran guard. "But something is wrong. I can feel it."
"With your companion?" The words were more of a statement than a question. Katniss jerked her head up and down and he went on. "That's not surprising. Comrades get very close and can often know when something is amiss with the other and your bond is stronger than that."
She wanted to ask him just what that last comment meant but now the feeling of unease was becoming an almost panicky feeling. "I have to go."
"I'm coming with you." Yusef set down his bow and loosened his sword. "In fact," he turned, whistled to the others and commanded "Come, there is trouble. Be ready."
Katniss just knew she was going to be embarrassed beyond belief to find that nothing was wrong with Clove when she showed up with a small army behind her. But the feeling wouldn't go away and she knew that her friend was in serious trouble. Without thinking or indeed knowing exactly where she was going she took a turn and headed out, the men at her heels with Yusef in the lead.
Clove was pretty much at the end; the end of her wits, the end of her rope and, she was pretty sure, the end of her life. She was a closer match to the younger Immortal but still not up to his skill. The only thing keeping her alive were her speed and agility and the increasing anger at the derogatory comments thrown her way by Haresh Clay. Not that anger helped her but it did keep her focused and refusing to give up.
A twinge struck her but she didn't dare to look around. Another Immortal was near. Oh God, please, don't let it be Katniss. He'll kill her. She's better than me but he is better than both of us together. And knows it damn it. She wished she could see Katniss one more time but would forego that to keep the other girl safe. Then the familiar voice was shouting.
"Get away from her you son-of-a-bitch!"
And John WAS backing up, uncertainty in his face. When he looked at his mentor Clove spared a looked behind her. Pounding up the street was Katniss, at the head of two dozen men, all armed and all looking ready. She recognized some of them, having gone with Katniss a number of times down to that part of the city where the caravans and their guards rested.
Haresh jerked his head, motioning the younger man to him. He sheathed his sword. "I suppose it's cheating but it looks like you will survive till another day. Watch out for me." They turned and were gone and the Katniss was holding her as she collapsed into the other girl's arms.
"Are you okay?" something in the Irish girl's voice and eyes made Clove even weaker in the knees than her near brush with death had done. She managed to nod.
"Katniss?"
"Yes?"
"If I ever, EVER say anything like 'how much trouble can we get in?' again I want you to smack me.
Hours later, after a bath and several stiff drinks the pair took stock of their situation. Clove had told Katniss all about Haresh and John and the other girl had shook her head in amazement.
"I'm just glad I got there in time."
"Yes exactly how DID you manage that?"
"I have no idea. I just knew you were in trouble and somehow I was able to find you."
"What do we do now?" Clove wanted to pursue her previous question in depth but was a bit scared to do so. Little did she know that Katniss felt the same way.
"I think we head for China."
"When?"
"I want to say 'tonight' but the morning will be better and hopefully we can find company."
(China, 1690)
""Well, there it is. Peking."
As it had turned out the pair had made a loop to begin with as their friend Yusef had been leaving the next day but heading towards India. So they rode along with his caravan to the northern part of that country before bidding him a fond farewell, during which they did their best, according to him anyway, to kill him with passion. Rising early they had left him sleeping with a smile on his face and resumed their journey. It had taken a long time but they had time and had crossed into China itself last year, slowly making their way to the capital. Now here they were.
"Well," Clove smiled. "Let's go see what happens in Peking."
(To be continued)
(Haresh Clay appears in Episode 5X2 "The End of Innocence".)