The Exiles
Chapter 20
Rob stormed from the keep and walked to the attendant who held his and Aka's swords. Without a word to the man he took the weapon and turned to face the door. Lord Menemoto was the first man out, anger plain to see on his handsome face, undisguised. Aka followed soon after and ran to Rob. The knight unbuckled his sheathe and handed it to her. She gave him a questioning look and he explained, "This will be to the death. If I fall I'll have no need of it, and I'll not have that pig of a man touch your hair."
"You will not lose my love," she said quietly. Rob's look softened and he gave her a gentle kiss.
"How sweet, a final kiss goodbye to your whore?" Rob glared at the majordomo as he came out. The samurai had beautiful armor Rob thought as he looked at the man. The laminar it was made of was dyed a brilliant red. The helmet was the same color, and the mask he put on was as black as night. What a shame it will be stained with this fool's blood, Rob thought to himself. The majordomo drew his sword and advanced on Rob. "I will give you and your whore one last chance to leave this place. You are no warrior, you are a barbarian who knows nothing of battles, or warfare. You are no match for me. "
Rob did not answer. He faced the arrogant nobleman and took a high guard, the bastard sword in a two handed grip. The majordomo laughed and said, "Look, the foreigner is too frightened to speak. So be it!"
With a roar the majordomo charmed at Rob swung the sword down with all his might. Rob watched and waited as the smaller man charged him and swung. He put his left leg slightly behind him and pivoted as the samurai charged, and brought his own sword down. The samurai turned and brought his sword up in an ark to block the blow. The impact was so strong that sparks flew. Rob surprised his enemy though because he continued to press the blades down and twisted his hips. Rob changed his grip, his left hand gripping the blade of his sword and reversed the momentum, and drove the cross guard of the weapon into Heideki's face with a strong twisting motion. The samurai staggered from the blow and Rob kicked him in the chest, knocking him back. To his credit, he didn't fall and brought his sword up to a guard position. Heideki wasn't lagging anymore. The men in the courtyard were sheering his name, but Rob declined to pay them any attention. He stalked his prey, this bastard who dared to insult his beloved like a starving lion. Rob charged forward, his sword once again in a high guard. His opponent roared and rushed to meet him, but this time the samurai lunged, trying to run the knight through. Rob twisted his hips, allowing the slender blade to pass in front of him. Rob once again adjusted his grip on the sword he wielded: once again his left hand gripped the blade with a shout of "DIUS VOLT!", drove the hilt of the sword down, the steel of the bauble connecting hard on top of the smaller man's head, staggering him. Quickly Rob released the blade with his left hand, and twisted his right wrist, twirling the gleaming sword, the blade once again in front of him. Heideki was stunned, and fell to the ground, landing on his stomach. His ears were ringing, black spots swirling in his vision. Suddenly he screamed as pain pierced him though. Rob looked at the stunned samurai lying on the ground. With a double banded grip he drove the bastard sword through the man's body and into the ground. Rob snatched the sword from the fallen man's body who was now screaming in pain. Rob kicked the man's sword away, towards Aka, and silenced him with a final thrust through the neck. No one was cheering anymore.
Rob walked to Lord Menemoto, then looked at the gathered samurai. "Is there anyone else?!" the knight roared. "Is there anyone else who wishes to face me?! Is there anyone else who will insult the Lady Aka? If so. Step forward. If not, then keep your disgusting comments behind your teeth!"
"That is not necessary," Lord Menemoto called out. "Tomorrow we ride out to face Lord Hoji, and we are better served killing his men than fighting among ourselves! Rob, you and the Lady Aka should rest. I have chambers prepared for you in the keep. Rest well, warrior, for tomorrow we fight our mutual enemy."
Lord Menemoto walked to Aka who was now holding the former majordomo's sword. "I wish to apologize for the insults you and your husband had to endure." The lord then raised his voice and shouted, "And if you battle half as well as your Rob does, I know we have nothing to fear in the wars to come!"