Chapter Two: The Blade Lures Love
Avery arrived at her first tournament dressed in her black clothing and entered, presenting her invitation.
"Welcome madam," the man at the door said. "Compeditors are to talk to the man at the desk to the right," he explained. Avery went inside and over to the desk.
"May I see your invitation?" the man at the desk asked. Avery presented it. "What name shall I put you down for?" he asked.
"Madam Clandestin," Avery applied.
"Very well Madam Clandestin. Please wait over there and I shall announce who you are up against shortly. You will be presented with a blunt foil ,o,emtarally." Avery made her way over to the area indicated and took a drink from the passing servant. She drank lightly and watched as other compeditiors arrived.
"Goodevening ma'am," said a voice. Avery turned and looked at a man standing next to her.
"Good evening sir," Avery answered politely.
"Are you here to observe?" he asked, his dark brown hair shifting as he smiled at her.
"No, I am here to partisipate," Avery replied.
"Partisipate?" the man asked. "How very interesting. A rare sight indeed to see a female fencer. My name is Acel."
"Madam Clandestin," Avery replied, not wishing to reveal her true identity to anyone.
"A pleasure Madam Clandestin. I hope you do well," Acel replied.
"To you too, Acel," Avery said. Acel kissed her hand lightly and walked off, his heart fluttering at the thought of Madam Clandestin.
As the tournament progressed, many people were sure Madam Clandestin would not be successful, and didn't give her any credit for her victories. But soon, their minds were changed as she reached the finals and got ready to take on the popular Acel, the champion of the previous year.
"En garde," Acel said, looking at her in all seriousness, but his emotions running away with his mind. He could not resist the mysterious woman in black, but the fight soon proved both of them were very evenly matched. Neither Avery nor Acel could hit each other. Finally, Avery managed to trick him and landed the winning shot, claiming to her the victory of not only the fight, but the tournament. People were shocked.
"Very well played Madam Clandestin," Acel said.
"And very well done to you, Sir Acel," Avery answered.
"Would you allow me to buy you a drink to toast your celebration?" Acel asked.
"Only one, for I must be off home shortly," Avery answered. Acel passed her a wine and then held up his own.
"To victory," he toasted.
"To victory," Avery answered, clinking her glass to his. For once in her ten years of training, the eighteen year old Avery felt her heart this man. She didn't know what these feelings were, but she drank her drink while talking casually with Acel until her dirnk was finished.
"Well Acel, I do hope we will meet agian, but the time has come for me to fly," she said.
"Please, will I ever see you again?" Acel asked.
"If not at another fencing tournament elsewhere, then here in one year," Avery repleid.
"So it shall be," Acel replied as he led her to the carriage out the back where Renee was waiting for her. Upon their return to Damien's house outside of town, she showed him the money she had won.
"Well done Avey, and now it is time for you to travel and find your way in the world." Damien said.
"I am sorry to go dear Damien, but the time has come. And thank you Renee for all your help." Avery thanked them. The next morning, Avery, on a horse with some clothing packed and a proper foil and rode away. Avery took her plan to action. Avery travelled from town to town, entering into many fencing competitions of both blunt and sharp nature, and won her way around Frnace. It is true she took some very deep cuts during some fights, and sometimes did not win at all, but everywhere she brandished her foil, it became quite clear that this was a woman of some skill.
Eventually, she ran into Acel again.
"Madam Clandestin, how good it is to see you again. Mind you, I have heard of your many victories. I do hope you know what you are doing with all this attention," he advised.
"I beleive I do," Avery answered.
"And what a scar you have on your arm," Acel notioned upon her.
"Well, it was nothing much. The man certianly paid for damaging me. Now, why are you at this tournament?" Avery inquired.
"I was following your trail of success, and I discovered that you were going to come here. So here I am to see you again," Acel explained.
"Well, my plan is coming to fruition, but I must ask of you one thing," Avery begged.
"You will need to beat me again before I say yes," Acel told her. "But nevertheless, I will hear your request."
"I ask you not to partisipate in any tournament that Lord Taylor Jewell and I will participate in. There is something I need to settle with him," Avery said.
"I will consider it if you shall beat me," Acel replied.
Just at that moment, Avery was summoned to her next fight. Taking her blunted foil, she pointed it at her opponent and held up her left hand.
"En Garde," She called.
And so the tournament proceeded until again, Acel and Avery were in the finals and facing each other. Again, their foils clashed, but Acel was taken in again by her striking looks and black clothing. Avery was able to over-power him and won the fight.
"You have lost the fight, keep your promise to me Acel," Avery said when they had collected their winnings and stopped for a drink.
"I will. But your request makes me wonder who you are. Madam Clandestin. After all, I can only assume the name is a ruse and that you are actually someone else." Acel looked at her as she lowered her gaze.
"I cannot tell you, for I do not wish for him to know," Avery explained.
"I understand," Acel said.
The next day, Acel rode off towards the town where Taylor lived. Asking around, he found out quite a bit about Taylor. However, while he was making his inquiries, Taylor heard of the man who was asking about him and decided to pay him a visit.
In the middle of the night, Taylor took off towards the Inn where Acel was staying and snuck into his room. Pointing a foil at Acel, he questioned him on his interests. Acel did his best to lie his way around the truth and eventually convinced him that he was simply getting an idea on one of the best fencers in France. Taylor took this story for the moment and left. The next day, Acel found a place in town to hide as he watched Taylor prepare to hold a tournament.
Several days later, Avery came back to her home town upon hearing of Taylor's challenge to find a better fencer than himself, be it man or woman. The winner was to recieve anything they wished from Taylor. He knew this would draw out some truth to the mysterious man Acel.
Avery signed up to the tournament under her usual alias and read the rules of the fight. Sure enough, there were to be three fights every day, each taking on Taylor with a sharpened foil and the winner got the item they wished for. In knowing she could get her father's ring back, Avery signed up.
"Good day Ma'am," came a voice as Avery signed her papers.
"Good day. You must be Taylor Jewell, our benifactor and champion," Avery said.
"Indeed I am. And who might you be?" he asked, seeing her dark beauty.
"I am Lady Clandestin. I hope you will be gracious enough to show me around," she said, presenting her hand, albeit resentfully, for him to kiss. Taking her arm, and having no idea she was the little girl he had orphaned so many years ago, he led her about the house. Seeing the many things she knew he had either stolen or claimed from blackmail, until she saw the ring that had been her father's.
"Well Madam, I must be on my way, but do feel free to stop by," Taylor said.
"I have some things to do while here in town," Avery said, and then bid her fairwells. She got upon her horse and rode out to her old home and looked about from a distance. Sure enough, her wicked Aunt still lived there. Avery could see that little had changed in her many years away, and that tonight was the night she would take back her home.
As the sun set, Avery dressed her black fencing gear and set off on foot to the house of her father. Upon her arrival, she saw that there were guards posted at most of the doors, but there was one way in she could still manage, and that was one of the servant's entries. Sneaking into the kitchen, Avery made her way towards the office and searched it. She knew her Aunt's love of keeping things to remind her of her wicked ways, and so she had kept the original will. Taking it, she put it in her pocket and went to where her Aunt was sure to be resting. Sneaking into the living area, there she sat spinning her yarn and humming to herself.
"Good evening Stella," she said, drawing her foil. The old woman nearly jumped out of her skin at the unexpected speaker.
"Great heavens, who are you? And who do you think you are, sneaking into my house?" Stella snapped, having regained her composure.
"Who did you think you were to take it?" Avery asked, stepping into the light.
"I took nothing," Stella replied.
"You used your brother's death to claim his fortune and possessions. And now I am here to take them back," Avery pointed her foil.
"I don't understand," Stella whimpered at the sight of the sharpened foil.
"Do I not look familiar to you Stella? Or should I say, Aunt Stella?" Avery scowled. Stella's jaw dropped and she took several steps backward.
"Avery? It cannot be!" Stella shrieked.
"But it can. I have the will that states everything belongs to me," Avery held it up. Stella leaned forward as if to take it, but one swish of her foil and she backed off.
"What do you want Avery?" Stella asked.
"I want you to stay in your room and if anyone asks, you are housing me while I await my turn to duel Taylor Jewell. When I defeat him and kill him, I shall have you kicked out of this house, never to return. If you so much as try to stop me, I shall slit your throat and leave you for dead." And so it was that Avery hid at her old home. All the servants beleived that Avery was merely a guest and that she would leave in the near future.
After a few days, Taylor summoned her to duel. No one had yet defeated him and Avery was determined to be the first. Leaving the house, she rode to the manor of Taylor Jewell and was met with politness form the servants and attendants. The people gathered around as both Avery and Taylor took their positions.
"What is it you will take with you should you win?" a judge asked.
"I will take the ring of the Roseman family," Avery answered.
"How do you know?" Taylor asked.
"Figure it out! En Garde!" Avery said, her stance wide and her blade pointed after it swished dangerously in the air. Taylor, worried on who his opponent really was, took up his stance. Avery jumped forward, her foil flashing quickly and dangerously leaving Taylor very little time to plan his next defence before Avery struck again. Finally, he found a way to switch and began his offensive movement. Avery was far too fast for him, and soon she was attacking again. Taylor stepped sideways and tried to strike Avery to the side, but she ducked out of the way. There were two quick slices from her foil, but Taylor also dodged. Finally, they clashed blades and both stepped forward and looked at each other closely.
"Who are you?" he whispered.
"Someone you owe," Avery answered before pushing him backwards and slicing forward quickly. She then turned to one side and lowered her defense. Taylor went to attack, but the movement caused him pain, and he saw that he had been cut across the chest twice with a large X.
"You lose," Avery said.
"We do indeed have a winner." the judge called as he stepped toward Avery. Taylor growled his fury at having lost. He stood up and walked over towards one of his servants.
"Follow her wherever she goes until you know who Madam Clandestin is. There is something familiar about her." The servant did as he was told and followed her. As the ring was given to Avery, she placed it upon her finger and it glinted in the light.
"I, Avery Roseman do hereby take back all that is mine from Taylor Jewell, the killer of my father and theift of this family ring." Holding up her hand, she showed it to all. Everyone knew at once that she told the truth, for they could see Beau Roseman in her features and the ring they knew of him to possess. Before anyone could say or do anything, Taylor had disappeared through a passageway from the instant he heard Avery's real name.
The day ended in some confusion, but Avery returned to her home in fine spirits and before the sun was down had sent her Aunt on her way.
Shortly there after, there came a knock at the door, and one of the servants showed in Acel.
"So, you are really Avery Roseman, the girl who disappeared so many years ago," he said, stepping into the room.
"I thought I had asked you to stay away?" Avery asked.
"I was here long before you were, to discover what was going on. Taylor nearly killed me for it, but I managed to avoid his wrath."
"But you disobeyed me. I asked you to stay away so Taylor Jewell can't use you as a weapon against me. I have stirred the fire to burning point. He will come after me with a vengence and you will not be able to stop him," Avery explained. "It will most likely be a duel to the death and nothing will stop him."
"But there is something I want from you now," Acel said. "Even if it isn't forever."
"I will hear your request," Avery answered.
"I want you to marry me," Acel said, falling to one knee. Avery, expecting almost anything but that, was stunned. "I've loved you since I saw you Madam Clandestin, and even though I now know you are Avery Roseman, it changes nothing for me. Please marry me, so that we can be together, in life and death."
"Let me think about it," Avery said. She turned to the fire she had been stoking and poked it about a bit.
"Please Avery, I love you more than I can say," Acel continued.
"Please Acel, give me some time." And for the night, Avery wandered the house, considering the proposal.