Chapter 15
Robin sat up in the viewing box with his friends watching Starfire in the arena below as she readied herself for her first battle. He watched as the box containing the sorals was once again brought out into the arena and offered to the contenders.
"Dude, what's in that box?" Beast Boy asked curiously, leaning on the balcony stone that edged the arena. "Is there like more than one kind of weapon or something?"
Starfire selected a soral and moved away, allowing her contender, a short, skinny, brown haired Tamaranian woman by the name of Beri, to select her weapon. He watched as the two women exchanged words, speaking in low tones but he was unable to hear over the murmuring of the crowd.
Robin shrugged. "I think it's mainly for show. They do like their rituals."
"Tell me about it," Raven muttered maliciously.
Robin looked at her curiously and she shook her head before edging closer to the oblivious Beast Boy. Robin raised an eyebrow at Raven as she took Beast Boy's hand in hers, knowing she didn't like to display affection, even when it was just the Titans around. Raven glanced at Robin, before tilting her head back slightly and pointing with her eyes. Robin's eyes focused past her and looked into the contestant pavilion, where he caught sight of Rundn, his eyes fixed on Raven. Cyborg stepped up behind Raven, blocking Rundn's view.
Robin frowned and made a noise of disapproval, making a mental note to ask her about it later.
You noticed, Starfire whispered in his mind and he looked back toward her. She was concentrating on spinning her soral as she waited for the ceremonial box to leave the arena. Galfore walked beside the ceremonial box before he lifted off the ground and headed toward the viewing box on the other side of the arena.
Mmm, what's going on?
I will speak of it later. Starfire held the soral loosely by her side and turned toward Galfore's viewing box, Beri following her example.
"Are you prepared?" Galfore called loudly as a hush swept over the audience.
"I am ready," Starfire and Beri cried loudly.
"Xhandal!" was the bellow from the crowd.
Starfire spun on her heel and charged Beri, slicing her soral before her. Beri swung her soral up to meet Starfire's. There was a ringing clang as the weapons clashed together. The pair leapt away before Beri jumped forward and executed a series of high and low swipes at Starfire.
Starfire blocked every single one of Beri's hits, before shifting to offensive and slashing at Beri, only to be dodged or blocked in return.
Robin frowned as he watched the battle unfold. Beri had some obvious weaknesses in her attacks and her defense was flawed, but Starfire didn't seem to be exploiting it. In fact, she seemed to be trying to cover it up.
Starfire, are you toying with that girl?
What? she asked momentarily distracted. She turned her head toward him at the same time Beri slashed out at her. Starfire eeped before bending over backward to dodge the hit, Beri's soral slicing through the air just above her chest. Placing both hands on the ground, her flipped her legs over her body and back into a balanced stance as Beri backed away, eyes wide. No Robin, Beri is not a child's object of happiness.
Robin watched Beri mouth something to Starfire, who responded with a very slight nod. Beri leapt forward again, clashing their weapons together once more. No, I meant are you trying to make it seem that she is the better fighter to lull her into a false sense of security?
I will explain shortly, was Starfire's almost curt reply as she dodged a series of left and right cleaves from Beri.
The strange dance between Beri and Starfire continued for quite some time, with Robin getting angrier by the minute. Why wasn't Starfire taking this battle seriously? Why was she allowing it to draw out for so long? She could have made the other girl yield a minute into the fight, but instead she was treating her like some sort of sparing partner, allowing Beri time to recover after hits, or only blocking shots when the opportunity for a riposte arose.
The pair backed away from one another and began to circle slowly and Robin noticed Beri nod slightly and shift her grip on her soral. Starfire charged and there were several more clangs as the weapons crashed together and suddenly Beri was disarmed, both weapons being pointed at her by Starfire.
"I yield," Beri cried before giving Starfire a small bow. Starfire inclined her head.
"Koriand'r wins!" Galfore bellowed gleefully, before turning toward the female contenders. "Who amongst you still wishes to challenge?" Two girls stood, removed their gorgets and tossed them onto the arena floor, before leaving.
Starfire spun on her heel and stalked from the arena, still clutching the sorals tightly with Beri following sedately behind her.
"Wow, that was amazing," Beast Boy said excitedly as they got to their feet to follow Starfire. "Star was so good. That Beri had some nice moves and I was worried there for a minute. Way to go Star!"
Robin glanced at Beast Boy and suddenly realised something. Beast Boy had thought it was a good fight, the crowd was still roaring in approval, even Galfore seemed to be clapping heartily. Perhaps he was the only one that had seen the flaws in Beri's attacks. But that didn't make any sense. He knew he'd trained Starfire to look for flaws better than that.
"Cyborg," Robin said quietly, dropping back so he could walk beside him. "Did that fight seem somewhat… odd to you?"
Cyborg looked at Robin as they trotted down the stairs behind the viewing box and headed for the waiting room. "Odd?" Cyborg frowned. "Well, Starfire did seem rather relaxed about the fight. I would've thought she'd want to finish them quickly. I mean, it wasn't as intense as watching the two of you spar, but, they're just girls."
Raven scowled at Cyborg over her shoulder as they rounded the corner before the waiting room door. She froze and Robin had to hastily stop to prevent himself from walking into her back. He peered around her to see why she'd stopped, his jaw dropping open.
Starfire was standing just out of hearing distance of the guards talking animatedly with Beri, a huge smile on her face. She held the two sorals loosely in one hand. "Friends," she called joyously when she saw them, waving before speaking with Beri once more.
The closeness allowed Robin to get a closer look at Beri. She was shorter than Starfire by a head and was younger too, but not by much. Beri bobbed her head with whatever Starfire was talking about before offering her a shy smile.
"Starfire, what's going on?" Robin asked, a frown etching his features as Starfire touched the girl lightly on the shoulder. Beri's smile grew wider and she bowed before walking away.
Starfire blushed before motioning them all to follow her and leading them into the waiting room. She placed the weapons in the corner of the room and waited until they had all entered before closing the door and turning to face them.
Robin folded his arms across his chest, waiting for her response.
Starfire chewed on her lip in consideration. "There are families upon Tamaran that follow the ways of warrior of old," she began slowly. "To them, a child is still a child regardless of age until they prove themselves worthy in battle."
"And Beri is one of those children?" Raven asked, quietly.
Starfire smiled brightly. "No longer, today she is a woman."
"But she didn't win," Beast Boy said, confused.
"There are many ways to prove yourself in battle, Beast Boy," Starfire replied. "It has been a difficult time for her, as Tamaran is at peace."
"So, you made it appear as though she could hold her own with you for long enough that her family would consider her an adult," Robin stated, suddenly understanding.
"Say what?" Cyborg asked, shocked. "You were faking it, Star?"
Starfire nodded, her eyes downcast. She clasped her arms before her, looking up at Robin through her eyelashes. "Are you terribly angry with me?"
Robin shrugged. "I did wonder. She left herself wide open to so many hits and you just ignored it." I'm sorry I startled you.
Starfire blushed and dipped her head. I should have told you before we started.
"Can we expect more like that?" Raven asked.
"I do not know. I did not know that Beri was of the old families until I met her in the arena and she requested my assistance."
"Hmm, well just let us know first okay?" Robin said, quietly.
She nodded and smiled.
"Hey, do you think any of the contenders will ask Robin to do the same thing?" Beast Boy asked.
"I do not believe so," Starfire replied, walking over to the refreshment table and pouring a drink. "Intentions of xhandal were declared several weeks prior to this event and Robin's abilities were unknown. It is not considered proof of prowess if you beat a considerably weaker opponent as many Tamaranians suspected Robin to be."
Robin joined her by the table and she offered him the small cup, reaching for another one for herself. He smiled and took it from her. So, what's the deal with Rundn?
Starfire sighed and leant against the refreshment table, toying with the cup in her hands. I am not entirely sure. He seems to have a peculiar fascination in Raven and she does not appreciate his attention. Beast Boy has not yet noticed and I am unsure how he will react when he does and Raven does not wish to enlighten him. All through your fight with Galfore, Rundn kept watching Raven and I remember seeing him doing the same last night at the banquet.
Is this going to be a problem? Robin turned and leant against the table beside her.
I am unsure. He may try and make a claim on Raven, but I cannot tell Raven how to prevent it because it will require Beast Boy's assistance. Cyborg seems aware of Rundn's interest and has attempted to be a barrier, but it cannot last long.
Hmm, Robin mused thoughtfully. Just keep an eye on it I guess. We'd better not let Raven go anywhere alone.
"I hate it when you two do that," Cyborg muttered, interrupting their conversation. "We never know what you guys are discussing. How do we know you aren't making fun of us?"
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Cause then we'd be laughing," he replied, taking a drink. "Besides, how do you know we're discussing anything? We could be sitting here in companionable silence."
"Two words," Beast Boy replied, holding up two fingers. "Facial… Expressions... You guys are so readable; we can tell when you're talking. We just can't eavesdrop anymore."
Robin looked at Beast Boy. "Really?" he drawled, a knowing smile forming on his face.
Beast Boy's eyes grew saucer like.
"Perhaps you two should stop picking on Robin and Starfire all the time," Raven said darkly. "How would you feel if they did it to you?" She looked at Cyborg with a malicious grin. "Or perhaps I should just tell Bumblebee how you like to torment Robin and Starfire in your spare time?"
Cyborg paled and began to sweat, while Robin cracked up in laughter.
TTTTT
Robin's next fight was against a stocky Tamaranian by the name of Byrdor. He was taller than Robin was, but it did seem that most Tamaranians were. His shoulder length brown hair was entangled in a band at the back of his neck and he had a patchy mutton chop beard. Like many of the Tamaranian males, he had a scar sliced on his cheek.
Robin pulled a soral from the ceremonial box and stepped away, shifting the soral in his hands to remind himself of its weight. He glanced up to where Starfire sat and offered her a smile. She smiled in return, lifting her hand into a wave slightly. Raven sat between Beast Boy and Starfire this time, Cyborg remaining standing behind like a bodyguard. Beast Boy was leaning on the stone balcony once more.
Robin turned his attention back to the moment and looked up at Galfore.
"Are you prepared?" Galfore bellowed loudly holding up his hand for silence.
"I am ready," Robin and Byrdor roared.
Once again the crowd took up the chant and Robin spun to face Brydor. They began to slowly circle, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Robin narrowed his eyes and closed the distance that he was circling. Brydor stepped back.
Robin frowned and took several steps forward, shifting his grip on his soral and Brydor moved back once more. Robin fought not to smirk, now aware of Brydor's game. He was trying to make Robin charge him. Starfire had mentioned that this might be a tactic used, as some of the best soral defensive moves could be used against a charging opponent. But then she'd also taught him how to counteract those moves.
With a shout Robin charged, dashing toward Brydor and keeping a keen watch on how the man was holding his soral. As Brydor shifted his grip and lifted the blade, Robin acted. He pushed off the ground, leaping high into the air, cleaving his blade sideways. It caught Brydor's blade as he raised it above his head, forcing it and Brydor sideways.
The man spun away as Robin landed before dashing at Brydor again. Their weapons clanged together in a series of high and low blocks, but Brydor's window of opportunity was lost. Now Robin knew the kind of attack he favoured, Brydor was not going to get another charge from Robin. Instead, he would have to be dealt with at close range and Robin was quite adept at close combat.
He dipped and danced around Brydor's swinging blade, dashing in to pummel the man with his feet and smack him around the arms with the handle of his soral, dashing away again before the man could react.
Brydor obviously grew tired of trying to hit Robin with his blade and kicked out, but Robin was faster. He captured Brydor foot between his elbow and chest, before swinging the hapless man around and tossing him away. Brydor tumbled to the ground, his soral thumping beside him in the dirt.
Robin charged the man as he fumbled around for his blade. Robin raised his blade high to cleave and Brydor held his weapon out to block it.
There was an almighty clang as the sorals clashed together and Robin froze.
There was a deafening silence as no one dared to breathe.
"I yield," Brydor screeched, dropping the two halves of his weapon onto to the ground and scampering away.
Robin released his soral as if it had burned him and looked at his hands in disbelief. The soral quivered slightly as it remained stuck fast in the ground.
Something landed beside him and Robin turned to find a dumbstruck Galfore. The huge man bent down and retrieved the broken weapon to inspect it. He examined both edges of the cut closely, before turning and pulling Robin's soral from the ground and inspecting the blade. Robin remained still, unable to believe what had happened.
"Robin wins!" Galfore declared loudly.
The cheering was deafening as the crowd began screaming his name. Galfore slapped Robin on the back heartily, breaking him out of his daze. He glanced up at Starfire, her face was white and her mouth hung open in shock.
"Are there any amongst you that still wish to contend?" Galfore called turning to the pavilion, his hand remaining on Robin's back. Once more there were numerous clicks, followed by thumps as gorgets hit the floor. Robin glanced up. The Tamaranian numbers had dwindled to approximately forty males.
Galfore nodded. "We have one more battle for the day, it will begin shortly," he called before giving Robin a small shove toward the tunnel. He staggered slightly before walking sluggishly from the arena, staring at his hands incomprehensibly.
Starfire met him in the tunnel, her face still white with shock. She reached out and took his hands, clasping them tightly in her own. "Are you well?" she whispered.
He looked up at her in wonder. "It broke," he said quietly, still unable to believe it. "They're not supposed to break. In all the sparing we did, the soral never broke."
"I know," she replied softly, pulling him slightly to lead him down to the waiting room.
"It's the same weapon, right?" he asked urgently. "They didn't give us weaker weapons than what we practiced with?"
Starfire shook her head. "Cyborg is inspecting the broken soral to see if it was flawed."
"I could have killed him," Robin said quietly, dread setting in. "That cleave went straight through. What if he had been blocking a shot to his head?"
"Shh," she replied softly, opening the door to the waiting room and pulling him inside. "Do not think about it. You will only distress yourself. Brydor is undamaged. You have claimed victory your second battle."
She sat down on one of the benches and pulled Robin down to sit beside her, before wrapping her arms around his body. He rested his head in the dip of her neck and she calmly stroked his hair and together they waited for Cyborg's results.