Eleven women faced fifty-five targets. Some stationary, some rapidly moving, others hidden. Each woman armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows.
"The purpose of this test is to test one's skill with arrows," Lord Dermail explained. "Hit as many targets as you can. Each person is armed with fifty-five arrows, so it is possible to hit all of the targets yourself. Each of your arrows is marked to show that it is yours. Your objective is to achieve the highest score."
"Are you ready?" Dekim asked. Pampered heads nodded in unison. "Begin." Arrows flew from their quivers, bow strings snapped, and the competition began.
"To the left," Lucretia said quietly to her sister as they simultaneously let arrows fly. Hilde nodded in agreement and veered to the left. They were lucky to have been taught archery by their mother at an early age. It would give them an edge in the competition. Relena also had an advantage. She had been tutored in some of the ways to hunt already, and had a particular penchant for archery. Already she led the competition with five targets hit. Dorothy, Sally, and Catherine were doing well, but did not have as much experience as the other three. When all the targets had finally been hit, Relena and Hilde had tied for the most marked with their arrows. Lucretia had a close second. Catherine and another woman tied in third, then Dorothy, Sally, and the others.
"Excellent work ladies," Dermail said. 'You've made it through your first test. Dekim, please see if the courtyard is prepared for the next trial."
*~*
"Fencing is a delicate sport. However, creatures such as these cannot be trusted to comply to the rules of a fair swordfight. It sometimes may be necessary to fight a little unfairly. His lordship has managed to provide sparring partners for you. These women are elven, and will fight you just as they would fight any other opponent. However, we will provide them with much duller weapons, incapable of harming any of you. Your objective here is to last the longest against these elves," the Count explained. He motioned with his hand to a guard standing near a door. "Bring them out," he commanded. "Yes, sir," the guard said. He opened the door and eleven elven women marched out in a line. Sally took notice of each of them as they walked by her, trying to decide which would be the first to witness the might of the steel of her blade. What she noticed, however, was not contempt or rebelliousness, but sadness, sorrow, longing. Every woman who marched past with long hair and pointed ears also had a hint of extreme sorrow in her eyes. Except one... short black hair and dark eyes that were ablaze with distrust and hatred. Sally smirked. 'She'll be the one to fight me.' she thought. The guards handed the elven women foils that might as well have been sticks, they were so dull. Much sharper weapons were handed to the ladies. Sally tested her blade in the air with practice strokes. Dorothy did the same. They had both been under the same instruction for many years and were used to certain habits.
"When you are ready, ladies. I expect to see some great talent here," Lord Dermail announced. The women selected their partners and raised their foils. Sally paired off with the short haired woman immediately and watched as her friends chose their partners carefully. "You may begin," the lord said.
"En garde," Sally said with a small smile. Her opponent chuckled as their swords touched. Everywhere in the courtyard, the sound of clashing swords could be heard. Occasional exclamations as someone thrust at the right time or took a wrong step. Count Dekim approached Lord Dermail and stood at his liege's side.
"I do so love this test" the count remarked.
"And why is that, Count Dekim?" the lord asked quietly, without once removing his gaze from a fight he was watching.
"It's a perfect opportunity to be rid of some of the more... disobedient captives," the count said reflectively, glancing at Sally Po and her opponent. His lord smirked.
"But of course. If any fight gets... out of hand," he grinned, "I trust you'll take care of it."
"Of course, my liege. I shall see to it personally," Dekim said with a small bow. Meanwhile, Sally and her opponent found each other more talented than they had initially thought.
"You must have trained for a great period of time to be able to match my talent," the elven woman said.
"I felt it only necessary to learn to protect myself after my husband died," Sally replied. "And you shouldn't be so cocky." The elven woman's eyes blazed.
"Why not, if I have every reason to?" she countered. "I have trained with my husband. And you have not seen the full extent of my skill as of yet." It was true. Even Sally had to admit that, especially for having such a dull weapon, her opponent was marvelous.
"Show me, then," Sally challenged. Step, step lunge. The elf thrust with incredible speed and caught Sally's sleeve, ripping through it and coming into brief contact with the widow's arm. Blood trickled from the shallow slice as the elf brought her sword back to starting position. Sally looked at her opponent, amazed. "Very good," Sally muttered, ignoring the slight pain in her left arm and bringing her foil back as well. "It won't happen twice, however." Their swords touched again and they were at it. This time, Sally vowed to pay more attention.
'She leaves herself very vulnerable when she attacks like that,' the widow thought. She studied the elf's movements. Her opponent seemed to veer to the right, where she could get a better view of Sally's movements and, therefore, know when it was best to attack her. 'She's... going to...' Sally began to herself. Step, step, lunge, just as before. This time, Sally barely had enough time to bring her sword up to glance the blow away from her side. Panting, she dropper her foil to her side. "You observe carefully," the elven woman said. "You have been taught well." She raised her foil to Sally's throat. "But not well enough, if they didn't teach you not to let your guard down." Sally shut her eyes. Heard a clash of metal on metal, and looked down to see Count Dekim, rapier in hand , glaring at her opponent.
"That will be quite enough," he commanded roughly. Sally glanced around. Seemingly, while they were fighting, everyone else had either bested or been bested by their opponent. She had held out the longest. Dekim brought his rapier up as the elf glared at him.
"As I hear it, you are the one who has been causing trouble for my guards," the count stated. "A true nuisance."
"What if I have," the woman snapped back. "You have no right to imprison us here." Sally's eyes widened. The count flushed red with anger.
"If your people hadn't invaded our country, there would BE no problem nor imprisonment in the first place!!" he roared. "Silence!" Lord Dermail boomed. All eyes turned to their ruler. "Count Dekim, rid us of this bothersome creature, ladies, onward to the next test," the lord commanded. Dekim nodded with an evil smile.
"As you wish, my liege." The ladies turned away and began to walk as the elf was pushed to kneel on the courtyard floor. The count raised his rapier. Elven women shrieked and turned away. The elf closed her eyes. This time, she heard the clash of two swords.
"I don't think it's quite appropriate to kill someone because of their race, nor because they are 'bothersome', to put it simply," Sally Po said. Holding down the larger sword with her foil was risky on her part, but she did not want to see this woman killed. Count Dekim growled in the back of his throat.
"And what would a woman know of the matter?" he asked in a dangerously low voice. "I do not see it fit for someone of your stature to be ordering me around. Perhaps your former husband, had he still been alive, would have the authority." "If he were still alive," Sally replied to the stinging words, "you would not hold the position that you do now. Anthony... Count Anthony would still hold his position of authority." Dekim glared, a glare that, at any other time, in front of any other audience, would certainly mean death. Sally knew it was not her place to speak as well as any other person in the courtyard knew it.
"Women should hold their place," the count said in broken syllables. "And learn to hold their tongues." With a rough, unforgiving shove he sent Sally to the floor. "And last requests, creature?" he asked the elf in a rage. The woman remained calm.
"I wish to know your name." The elven lady directed her question to Sally.
"I am Sally Po," the fallen woman said shakily.
"I thank you, Sally Po," the other lady replied as the rapier flew swiftly, sharply, and mercilessly. Count Dekim, his job done, stepped away and signaled to the guards to remove the other elven women. Sally rushed to the defeated elf.
"And... and your name?!" Sally asked, half-sobbing.
"Me... Merian..." the woman answered breathlessly. "My... Wufei..." The body became limp and heavy in Sally's arms. Sally shook her head in disbelief and covered her mouth with a hand.
"If you are quite finished, Lady Po, I would like to continue my trials," the lord said with almost a hint of sympathy. Sally rose while saying a silent prayer for the fallen woman and brushed tears away.
"My apologies, Lord Dermail." The lord nodded.
"Onward."
*~*
"Aim is crucial."
Targets lined up in a row, daggers provided. Not, per say, a ladylike sport, but essential to hunting nonetheless.
"The closer you get to the middle of the target, the higher you rank in this competition," the lord explained. "If you would please take your positions and begin when you are ready, ladies."
"And take a guess who'll ace this one," Relena whispered to Lucretia, stealing a glance at Catherine. The petite brunette had a strange fetish for cutlery and had become talented at using various knives and daggers as means of self-defense. Catherine let the first blade fly. It landed a scarce few inches away from the dead-center of the target. While the others struggled to hit their targets, every last dagger that was placed in Catherine's hand was aimed precisely and landed in the middle of the target.
"All right ladies. You've done exceptionally well," the lord said. "Thank you for the time, the trials are over."
*~*
Later, the women gathered in the large room where the conference had first been held.
"This will be the time for decision," the count, who had rejoined them, said. "His lordship has selected some of you to form our elite group of hunters. My liege," he finished, turning the speaking to Lord Dermail.
"Ladies," the lord said. "I shall put this rather bluntly, for I am anxious to get this whole matter finished. I shall name those of you whom I have chosen. Those of you who are not called may leave. Now then, Count Dekim." The count stood in the middle of the room.
"Miss Hilde Schbeiker."
"Miss Catherine Bloom."
"Miss Dorothy Catalonia."
"Miss Relena Darlian."
"Miss Lucretia Noin."
"Ms. Sally Po." The count sat back down.
"Thank you, ladies. I shall expect my group here in the morning with any items that you may require. I will provide new clothing, those dresses will not do," a brilliant smile flickered across Dorothy's face, "and I expect you to be prompt. Eight tomorrow morning. Until then ladies," he addressed the five vanquished ladies, "and until then, hunters," he addressed the six 'victors'. The ladies filed out of the room, some excited, some crestfallen. The door closed, and the room was once again shrouded in shadows. The lord smiled.
"And now, my plan begins."
:. *~*~* .: