Chapter 13: Nobility vs Age
"I am honored to fight you elder." A small whisper was spoken within earshot of the gray elder cat, Yale. This was said in hush tone whilst looking in a different direction. Tension and calm was one in this moment as the words touched the ears of the old cat. Yale smiled as the sounds of quiet praise touched his furry ears. His long life has been filled with challenges and trials. His youth has been long past, yet today he felt as young as ever.
"I want you to know Good Vertus," the elder replied in a similar hushed tone. "I have no intention of becoming king."
"I know what you seek…and I plan to give you just what you desire." Vertus showed his natural wisdom with his comment. The elder did not seek laurels or praise, or comfortable days; the warrior longed for a good fight, a real fight versus a worthy opponent. In the first round of the tournament, Yale was able win without any real effort, in a similar fashion to the panther. Both showed wit and dexterity, acumen and grace. These men were able to recognize this in the other and while their posture and movements as they approached the ring showed serenity and calm, their spirits were a fiery blaze, one only the laguz could feel and smell. Both warriors were upon the platform before Lethe even notice that they had taken position. The announcer felt embarrassed as she turned around to find the men shifting and loosening up for the brawl without her having given proper announcement.
"Well…Beasts….feast your eyes on our favored panther, Vertus; and his opponent, famed teacher of combat tactics, Yale." The crowd was fully aware of this fight. It was the second round of the single combat part of the tournament but finally people in the crowd were able to recognize that this would be the first battle that would actually have a real chance to be impactful, as both beasts possessed a strong and distinct scent one that the laguz could feel and know their serious natures from afar.
"What do you think Giffca?" Skrimir asked the black lion who was applying wine to his cut arm. The wound was in no way severe from Giffca's tussle, but the black general was not one to leave small injuries un-attended and give them chance to become a real pester.
"Yale is no slouch." Skrimir, Kyo, and Kyza turned toward the lion who was still focusing on cleaning his arm's wound. "Yale years ago taught Caineghis, and others, including myself the art of combat." Kyo was stunned, on some level he was aware that if you go back far enough in history that even the legends start out from a humble means; but to learn that the old cat readying himself for battle on the platform was the same master that helped shape several of Gallia's most influential and powerful fighters, came as a shock to the young man. He had stood and sat beside this man during the initial meeting before the cavern challenge, he'd even shared a smile with the veteran as they emerged from the initial challenge. The gray cat looked nothing amazing to the eye. His fur was ragged and partially mangy in select tufts. His frame was slender, even for the general cat class of the beast tribe; and he had a few deep scars adorning his body that visibly were from other laguz or even beorc weapons. All in all he looked like most elderly laguz, a tattered veteran of a hard life fraught with danger and violence. Even though Vertus was of a greater social class, a younger age, and a significantly easier creature to gaze upon; he could sense and tell this man Yale, was special and worthy. Yale liked that Vertus was not a snobby elitist, and looked even happier as he took his opening stance.
"All right warriors!" Lethe called out for all to hear, "Fight hard and show why you should be Gallia's next King." Her words and slapping onto the paved platform gave the signal that the fight had officially started. All we wet with anticipation at the event that was expected to unfold between two tactful warriors.
….
"Are they going to fight sir?" the younger hooded man said to the elder hooded figure still sitting atop the arena. "It has been several minutes and neither beast has moved an inch. These are beasts are they not? Where is the impatient scratching and feral brawling?"
"Steele yourself young one!" the elder replied, "We must not draw attention. The elder was correct in quieting his friend, but the sentiment held in confusion by his younger companion was with even heavy moment of suspended time absent bloodshed becoming a shared thought amongst the audience…At least among the less trained and experienced fighters in view of the battle.
"Vertus knows he has to strike first, because Yale will simply wait, but Yale has no weakness in his posture." Kyza said quietly to the group on the ground. The tiger was correct, Yale was aged, and in no way go to waste valuable energy charging the younger, larger panther. Vertus was fully aware of this from the onset and was content to wait till he felt he either understood the cat's stance and mission or Yale found himself distracted. However, even as the growing confusion and mockery in the crowd toward the warriors rose, none of the words hurled even seemed to reach the wise warriors. Distraction would not be the undoing of the warriors.
Finally, a statement had to be made. Without breaking his posture Vertus spoke, "You really are a fighting genius sir." His words were spoken with a smile born of excitement and respect. "You are forcing me to close the distance and begin our direct exchange and yet your posture leaves me no opportunity to close that distance with absolute safety." Yale smiled without loosening his stance.
"I'm honored as well that you are not only aware of what you speak but that you have put such thought into your movements before you hatch them, you would make a fine leader Lord Vertus." The cat returned the praise he felt equally due to his younger opponent. "I cannot beat you in a fight of strength, stamina, or speed…so its pointless for me to fight with those in mind. Instead I'll try and win with acumen, of which you seem to again be rather adept at Lord Vertus." Both opponents took this moment to bow to the other, something no other pairing had done mid fight at this point. The crowd both jeered and applauded the display of sportsmanship.
"Master Yale, you are my familiar here, no title is needed when you address me."
"The same of you, Lord Vertus." The two could have a lifetime together and seemed to be unable to cease granting the other verbal respect and praise. "Shall we begin?"
"Please." The panther called as he suddenly darted forward toward the gray beast. Vertus as he covered the distance readied his right front paw for a quick slash. The elder cat's ears perked up and he was wise to this jab. Yale dodged just quick enough to clear the blow. Even in dodging the cat was not unbalanced, however all he could muster as a counter do to the sheer speed of the panther was a light tail slap which ultimately would do no real damage to the larger panther even before the panther using his off arm to cover his vital areas. Vertus slide forward and lunged with his hind claws, again the ears of Yale perked up and the wise cat jumped just high enough to avoid the blow. Yale then slashed forward at the panther with his front left claws. The panther was able to mostly dodge the hit with only one claw making contact with the black beast's shoulder drawing blood but nothing even a surgeon would ever care about. Vertus smiled as he the elder took first blood in this contest. As the elder cat jumped back couple steps Vertus darted forward shifter than previously. As he surged the ears of the elder once more perked up; Yale then using leaned back against his tail and used it to vault over the lunging panther despite him being slightly off balance as his adversary made his move. There was no time for an attempted his this time but the cat bought himself a couple seconds to regain composure before the next round.
"WOW!" Kio thought aloud, "He has amazing speed, that old cat might be faster than even Nike." All the more seasoned fighters around the injured cat just shook the comment off as nothing. Even though Nike was the most prone to take offense to the cat's careless words the former scout paid it no mind and chalked it up to naivety.
Skrimir put his arm onto the cat's shoulder and began speaking to the earlier bested cat whom he spared. "Do you really think the old man that fast? He's barely able to dodge the blows. Also do you notice that when he's dodging the attacks of Vertus he's creating seemingly too much space to be able to effectively throw a punishing counter attack that could actually wound the panther." Kyo seemed puzzled by the comments of the red general.
"But…he's dodging the attacks, and he even drew blood!" the wounded cat commented as similar futile exchanges continued upon the platform for all to see.
"That attack only happened because Yale guessed too small a gap." The word guessed shocked the cat laguz. GUESSED. Kyo's youth left him dumbfounded by that comment, surely, the elder fighter was not guessing, he was craft-fully reacting with intent. He had to be making skillful movements designed to provide the panther with a false sense toward victory to lure him to exhaust himself…then Kyo saw it. The panther jumped towards the gray cat once more, and as the distance was closing in and Vertus began to tense to make his attacking motion, Kyo noticed the ears of Yale perk just slightly before the cat made a motion toward defense. Kyo felt dim at this realization, not because he looked the novice in the presence of the men remaining in the contest to become the ruler of the realm, but because the mystery of the shifty old cat's prowess was gone, the veil was lifted, the cloud shrouding his ability to beat the attack of the panther was gone.
Blood was drawn this time by the panther. It was nothing serious or deep enough to inflict real pain upon Yale, but it was enough to give Vertus an added bowl of confidence in this bought. Yale upon notice of the wound broke from direct combat and created space between the two. The panther took the moment to respect the pause the elder sought to create, despite knowing his technique's secret, the beauty of it was not lost upon him, in fact Vertus seemed even more humbled by the mastery of the elder. "Seems I got you that time Master Yale." The two exchanged a smile As Yale licked his cut forearm.
"Aye, seems my prediction was just too narrow that time, a slighter motion and I would not be standing anymore would I Lord Vertus." Yale was in no way angry or flustered that the secret of technique was found by the skilled panther, rather he was flattered and even more excited. "Well…all I can say is don't give me an opening Lord Vertus." Both smiled as they moved to purpose. The panther moved forward and rapid fire threw three attacks that the elder predicted right and put himself clear of harm, yet in order to do so, he was too far away from the opponent to even use his tail to slap or try and trip the larger beast up with. All were amazed at the continued exchange as the blows continued to miss on both sides.
Then just as Vertus made another thrust with his front left paw, the elder's ears perked up and he attempted to maneuver but the arena floor from all the slaughter from the earlier round was beginning to be wet with the blood of fallen warriors. This blood happened to be just wet enough below the old cat that as he attempted to move, his hind leg slipped and he was unable to make his normal defensive movement. The slip was slight, almost invisible to the eye, but as Vertus neared a critical blow with his left claws, he restrained himself, stopping his claws short of the target. This freeze in action was too the shock of many in the crowd, as the panther stepped back from what would have been a decisive blow to the elder many simply were confused and estranged; the roar of the crowd was both a hush and that of violent cries of desire and angst. Yale felt a faint gasp as he stepped back a few himself and the two once more stood at a pause for the moment.
"Why did you not finish me there Lord Vertus." Respect was still in Yale's voice but both confusion and fatigue were found amongst the vocals of the elder as well. His stamina was beginning to fade and he was about to lose his breath. The elder was puzzled by the panther's hesitation.
"You slipped Master Yale." Vertus replied as he pointed at the blood pooled beneath the spot of their previous parry. All in the audience took notice as well and those who failed to notice the slight slip now understood what transpired, though many of the more simple minded laguz failed to understand even then why the panther pulled back from a point of advantage. "You are too worthy to fall due to poorly cleaned blood pooling." He glared at the crew of laguz off to the side of the arena floor who cleared the dead and blood in between fights, the presence of his eyes made all of them turned pale white.
"I admire your respect and honor for me Lord Vertus, but in the middle of a battle such things as slips and falls can and do happen. One must take the rub of the field when it falls in their favor." The cat's words were not meant to instruct but merely converse theory with a man he considered an equal in all things. "Lord Vertus, I am winded…I know you can tell." The cat finally openly began to breathe heavily as he ceased trying to hide his fatigue. Sweat bubbles dripped strongly from his forehead even over the cat's fur. Vertus on the other hand, with youth and stamina on his side seemed fresh as when he entered the arena that morning, save for the light cut on his shoulder. "Let us finish this fight in true laguz fashion with a straight charge." Vertus smiled at his visibly fading opponent, he knew that from this point forward if they continued in the same contest, that the panther would soon rend the cat to death. The noble was more than pleased to agree to such a movement and lay it all on the line, to give an aged warrior a fighting chance.
Yale raised his head and let loose a mighty roar, it echoed forth and tingled the fur of every beast in the audience, Vertus followed suit in similar fashion. All were now aware that the climax of the fight was upon them, and silence fell over the crowd.
The two lunged forward snarling as they charged. Claws open, and move agate they leapt toward destiny. "SHUNK! SLICE!" In a flash the movement was done. Both were halted in their advance and standing on their hind legs as the decisive blow had been made. Yale blocked the panther's right claw with his own right arm and with the free arm for both warriors they together landed blows into the gut of the other. All watched as the two stood eyeing each other as neither gave way, yet both were struck by the other's free arm in the all or nothing charge.
…Blood spurt forth from Yale's mouth as he finally lost composure, he made sure to not cough into the face of his opponent, as he fell to the floor he smiled as his free arm pulled away from Vertus's gut and it was revealed that the old cat in the last moment retracted his claws and simply landed a blunt fist into the panther's underbelly. As He fell to the floor both shifted back and Vertus leaned over and held the cat's head up as he faded. "Why did you retract you claws Master Yale? You could have bested or at least brought this fight to a draw." Spitting up blood and quickly fading, Yale mustered up the strength to speak.
"You…already should have won…COUGH! COUGH! You are…honorable…and robbing the kingdom of a great man…so I can claim…one last pelt…would have been….selfish." Vertus understood as he grasped the fading warrior's hand into his own. Just know…I let you win…HAHAH! COUGH! COUGH!" the cat grew silent as Vertus shared a smile and a wink with the beast. In a couple moments, the life was gone from the elder. Rather than toss him aside or leave him to the cleaning crew, Vertus arose to his feet with the dead slender elder in his arms and carried him off to the tent of the dead. Silence was the tone of the crowd as they understood the magnitude and the respect the warrior was giving his fallen opponent in this gesture. Vertus lay the now at peace body next to the other dead and dismembered corpses and then returned to the group. The hush gave way to excitement, cheers and applause from the crowd as the panther rejoined the group of warriors still active on the arena floor and while no one said a word to the black haired noble, they all found themselves in awe of the prowess and honor Vertus displayed.
Vertus knowing his next bout would not be for quite a time sat down at the back of the group. "I promise you this Master Yale…If I win I vow to be the king you were willing to sacrifice yourself for in this contest." This thought, and the bond he formed with his opponent gave the panther newfound purpose and a greater grander desire and mission to succeed.