Chapter 2: Mage's Duel

Chapter 2: Mage's Duel

"You're in for it," Arandiall warned.

"Oh, we'll see about that," Numair said vehemently.

***

The next day Numair, Thom, and many gawking spectators lined up in the outdoor fencing courts. Wards created by all the mages at the palace (save Thom and Numair) were set up to keep them from blowing up the place.

Thom of Trebond, despite his age, had only a few gray hairs in his auburn mop and a fine moustache. His eyes gleamed violet with anticipation. Not in years had he had such a challenge! A duel with a black-robe mage! He would take a while to beat. (***Ego ego. Great mages seem to have great egos to match***).

Numair Samalin had his black hair (plenty of gray in this mop) pulled back in a horsetail, and he looked every bit a sleek as Thom. Black fire studded with silver danced around his fingertips, eagerly awaiting the duel. Thom had a reputation, he did. He may take some time in beating. But it would most likely be no different than Tristan, or Inar Hadensra at worst.

"Begin!" the king yelled. He would be quite interested in this, though he would likely have to intervene, so he brought with him the Dominion Jewel just in case. Suddenly the courts lit up with magical fires, black-silver and purple firing everywhere. Then it cleared, and you could see Numair covered in burn marks, clothing in an indecent mess, and Thom stuck up to his neck in a giant ice cube. He shouted a word, melting the ice and throwing shards at Numair, which turned into miniature dragons. Numair conjured up his own flight of dragons, and they attacked each other instead of plaguing him. Thom then raised his hands, gathering purple flame in them and throwing it down on the ground. A giant crevasse opened up under Numair's feet. Numair then preformed a fancy trick, giving the crevasse a life of its own and making it squirm about. Thom fell in, and Numair closed up the crevasse. Some cheered, but Numair knew the contest was far from over. Thom emerged from underneath Numair's feet and grabbed his ankles, sending an electric pulse through his body. Numair then ripped Thom from the ground and coated him in rubber.

This exchange went on for some time, and neither seemed to tire. Finally Thom yelled, "Enough with the childsplay!" his voice deepened to a booming roar. "I summon Alanna of Trebond, shaman of the Bloody Hawk, my twin!"

Thom pulsed with a deep violet, and with one last cry, a woman his age appeared beside his, wielding a sword. In fact, she looked almost exactly like him, save for the hair and the loose burnoose she wore.

"You called me, brother?" she asked. "What the hell for?"

Thom glared at his sister. "I'm having a Mage's Duel. You- sister, will help me."

"Hey. I used to dunk you in the fishpond, Thom, I'll do it again." Her gaze wandered. "Any old friends? Hey Jon, I'm still pissed off at you. Even after you became king, you still wouldn't let me be a knight! Blast you, chauvinist! I can't believe I ever thought you attractive!"

The duel was momentarily forgotten. Jonathan glared at her. "I'm not the one who had an affair with the King of Thieves!"

The color rose in Alanna's face. "You know I'm sensitive about George! Don't speak ill of the dead! And I'm not the one who let his cousin plot against the King and Queen right under his nose! You wouldn't even believe me when I suggested it to you. And then look what happened!"

"And you had to run off to the Bazhir with one of my best knights! I ought to charge him with treason!"

Alanna was yelling at the top of her lungs. "Oh, yeah! You touch Gary- you even touch him, and I'll tell everyone about your little affair with Delia! And Josiane! And half of the ladies at court! I'll have you remember, my dear Prince, when you tried to court me!"

Jonathan was yelling right back. "What about your little bout with Raoul, eh? Had fun with him? Alanna of Trebond, you never could fight. Your swordsmanship was lousy, you could barely handle a bow, and you couldn't ride without falling off! I couldn't pronounce you a first-year page, let alone a knight! All you're fit to do is sit in a parlor and do embroidery!"

"Oh yeah!" Alanna was shaking with fury. "I'll have you know, king, you liar. You didn't have a vision from the gods, who gave you the Dominion Jewel. I gave it to you! I traveled to the Roof of the World, and battled Chitral for it! I made it appear as if the gods gave it to you, because if I said I won it you'd never believe me! Without it, you are no great mage, Jonathan!"

"Filthy liar!"

"Oh yeah!" Alanna held out her arm, palm up. "Come to me, Dominion Jewel. Come to the one who won you, come to the one who battled the elemental!" and the Dominion Jewel flew out of Jonathan's pouch to rest in her hand. "You're not getting it back, Jonathan, until you pass the law that females can become knights, with exactly the same rules and conditions that the boys get. I mean it, Jon, I swear by the Goddess as her Chosen." She put it safely in her belt pouch.

Numair cleared his throat. "I believe we were having a duel?" he said mildly.

"Oh, yeah," replied Thom absently. "Your turn."

Numair raised his hands in the air, black fire speckled with silver gathering in his palms. "I call upon thee, bound to aid me in my duel, Duke Roger of Conte!"