CHAPTER 8

The recruit examinations began the next day.

Danalla was fixated on the sword. It's doubtful she even imagined there was any other way to fight and that she had blotted from memory the manner in which my mother had once defeated her. All her troops were required to fence well, but that was all. They received no training in any form of unarmed combat or self-defence, an oversight I believed would be the self-appointed jeddarra's downfall.

We were to fence round robin style, four days in succession. The four winners would achieve the honour of advancement into the ranks of the jeddarra's militia for immediate deployment. Those who lost every bout or were otherwise deemed unsuitable would be returned to their homes. The remaining recruits would immediately commence training to improve their skills.

There was no doubt about where to place myself. I did not wish to win advancement into the militia – I had no interest in fighting for Danalla's cause, which would mean leaving Kantos when he needed me. I aimed for middle ground, to demonstrate just enough skill to stay in for advanced training.

When the examination rounds were over, I had contrived to place myself seventh. Training sessions would begin the next day. I still had no plan, except the vague idea that somehow I would have to challenge Danalla to a duel. Lara had told me Danalla was skilful with the sword, though unscrupulous. The practice would be useful.

On each of the four days of examinations, I visited Kantos to give him his energy meals. I saw with relief that there was no sign of infection and he daily grew stronger. I knew it wouldn't be long before he regained his lost mental abilities and recognized me.

After the placements were announced late on the fourth day, I had just given Kantos his evening meal through the bars when Wenda approached. "You have done well, Dara. He looks much better." She added with a lascivious smile, "Soon one of us will be able to make use of him." I didn't need to read her mind to understand her meaning.

"He's mine," I said without thinking, rising to my feet.

She snorted in scorn. "You're a recruit. You do not qualify."

"Then I will fight for him."

She raised an eyebrow. "Unheard of. It is not done."

Every inch the princess, I raised my chin and gave her a long level look. "Try me."

Taken aback by my imperious attitude, Wenda stumbled slightly as she turned away. With a wide-eyed backward glance she stuttered, "We-we'll see about that!"

As I watched her hurry away, I heard a chuckle from the cage. "Well done," Kantos Kan remarked. "But do I have any say in the matter?"

As I turned toward him, I remembered what I had blurted out so unthinkingly. Hoping my blush didn't show through the dye, I answered, "Unfortunately, no. Men are considered chattels here."

Relaxed against the bars, he nodded thoughtfully. "Then if I cannot choose, I shall hope you win the bout."

I stared at him, shocked, my mind churning. If he didn't know who I was, how could he be so – so –

"Fickle?" he offered.

Gasping aloud, I said, "You know me!"

He grinned, tapping his forehead. "Hard to miss all that passion."

Stiff from long inactivity, he rose to his feet using his good arm. Standing erect with his hair brushing the top of the cage, he gave me a look so intense my knees nearly buckled. He reached through the bars to touch my short black hair and asked gently, "Cara, what have you done?"

Befuddled by my conflicted feelings, I stammered, "I – well – I couldn't very well come here with red hair, could I!"

"Why did you come?"

I stared at him in bewilderment. "Why would I not? You needed help."

"No other woman would have come to my rescue or made such a sacrifice for me."

Deliberately misunderstanding him, I sniffed. "Hair grows back."

"That is not what I meant and you know it. You are risking your life – for me."

I couldn't say what he wanted to hear, and spoke with some heat, "I am well able to defend myself."

That most patient of men smiled at me tenderly. "I know," he said. "Issus! I've seen what you can do! But you cannot take on all of them at once, or alone." His slid his fingers down my arm and squeezed my hand. "My Princess, have a care. It may take nothing short of a revolt to bring down this madwoman. Tell me before you attempt anything?"

My Princess – the words of a lover. Surely he had misspoken! Still in denial, confused and bedazzled, I could no longer bear to face him. I nodded blindly, spun on my heel, and ran to my room, where the two words whispered in my dreams the rest of the night.

. . . . .

My defiance was bound to have repercussions and when I entered the plaza for practice the next day all chatter ceased and I knew I was in trouble.

Wenda appeared to have recovered her wits and ordered me forward. She glowered at me. "You have been insubordinate, Dara, and must be punished."

I said nothing, waiting.

"Jolah, here," she said, indicating one of the instructors, "desires the man. Since you say he is yours, she challenges you for him." Wenda smirked with the certainty that an instructor would surely defeat a raw recruit.

I considered prolonging the bout because I rather liked Jolah. She had treated us fairly and had better than average skill with the sword. It seemed a pity to humiliate her too soon.

But she also wanted Kantos Kan.

I disarmed her with my third stroke.

Wenda thought it was a fluke, and demanded we start over.

The recruits ducked as Jolah's sword flew over their heads.

"Shall we begin again?" I asked politely, standing at rest with my sword tip on the ground.

Doubt had crept into the faces of both women. Wenda said, "I will do this, Jolah," and drew her own sword. I had never seen her fight and faced her with relish. I'm told that I always fence with a smile on my face, like Grampa Jack. I was grinning now.

She was better than I expected, but after absorbing her style, I played with her shamelessly, cutting her tunic to shreds and finally slicing open her sword arm. I am not proud of it, having deluded myself into thinking a display of prowess would help me to rise more rapidly through the ranks of the sisterhood.

As Wenda stood before me, swordless, half naked, and clutching her oozing arm, I said, "If anyone else wants the man, I'll be here for practice tomorrow," and walked away.

As I lay asleep in my bed in the early hours of the next morning, four guards arrested me, sitting on me when I struggled and binding me hand and foot. Without a word, they dumped me unceremoniously into a dungeon-like cell in the pits below the palace.