Chapter 4

Adam duels

The next four days Adam trained and sparred with fellow soldiers as a means to enhance his fighting skill. He also trained with Nolan, in magic combat, increasing in his knowledge of the Ancient Language, the language that the elves used when they traveled to this land many years ago; it was also used to preform magical spells.

On the fifth day he rolled out of bed refreshed and energized. He belted his sword to his waist and slung his bow and full quiver across his back. After a leisurely stroll through the city he met up with Trey and Austin by the southern main city gate.

"Hey." Said Austin, he too had his sword strapped to his waist. They had planned on going to the training grounds to spar with each other.

Trey sluggishly walked up beside Austin.

"I'm restless. Let's hurry and go to the training fields." Said Trey, tapping the hilt of his sword, which, for the time being, he had switched with his axe.

The unruly clatter of fighting reached them from the field: the loud clang of steel clashing on steel, the solid thump of arrows striking padded targets, the rattle and crack of wooden staves, and the shouts of men in mock battle. The noise was confusing, yet each group had a unique rhythm and pattern.

The field was taken up by several soldiers that stood in an even formation holding their shields up charging at their opponent outfitted with swords, spears, maces, flails, and staves. Nearly all the fighters wore armor, usually chain mail and a helmet; plate armor not as common. Behind the sparring soldiers, a broad line of archers fired, in unison, at gray sackcloth dummies or padded targets.

"Okay. Who goes first?" Asked Austin. He wasn't one too immediately offer his assistance until he knew who he was fighting, but even though he knew Adam, who always seemed to change his fighting strategies so it was almost impossible to best him.

Trey, always the first to take action, said."I'll go."

He stepped forward and proclaimed," I claim the right of trial by arms. Draw your sword."

He wants to fight me. Adam thought to himself.

It's a harmless duel. The other part of him said.

Adam reluctantly stepped forward. They faced each other, circling an imaginary circle. Trey drew his sword with his right hand; his sword was longer and thinner than Adams, but just as sharp. Adam slid his sword out of its polished sheath and held the black blade point-down by his side. For a long moment they stood motionless, man against man watching each other.

Trey moved forward with extreme caution. In a blur of motion Adam jumped at him, slashing at his ribs. Trey reflexively parried the attack, and their swords met in a flashing shower of sparks. Treys sword was swatted to the side as if it were no more than a fly. Adam did not take advantage of the opening, however, but spun to his right and struck at Trey's other side. Trey barely blocked the blow and backpedaled frantically, stunned by Adam's sudden ferocity and speed.

Adam attacked again as Trey became, at the worst time possible, distracted by his thoughts, but this time he swung at Trey's head. He ducked under the razor-sharp edge. But then why was he…toying with him? For a few long seconds he was too busy warding Adam off to think about it, and then he realized, he wants to know how proficient I am.

Understanding that, he began the most complicated series of attacks he knew, most of which weren't even real moves at all, but those he made up that instant. He flowed from one pose to another, recklessly combining and enhancing them in every way possible. But no matter how inventive he was, Adam always blocked his attacks, matching him with effortless strengths.

Suddenly Trey's hands weighed down on him and his attacks became slower, but still he pushed on. For several hours they went on, blocking, attacking, attacking, and then blocking. But Trey couldn't find a weak point on Adam.

Trey went to attack again, hopelessness telling him that his move would only be blocked, when suddenly, without notice, he felt a cold metallic surface touch his neck.

"You're dead!" Adam exclaimed, he hadn't even broken a sweat, and lowered his sword. Trey smiled and whispered, "Dead." Adam looked down to see a dagger, which Trey must have taken out as they fought, pressed against his side.

Trey sheathed his sword and turned to met Adam's gaze."Shall we always end a fight with a tie?" Trey hissed between large gasps of air.

Adam shrugged, but somewhere deep inside he was thinking, never. Adam became suddenly aware that they had drawn a crowd, which now applauded Adam's advanced combat skills.

Austin was next to Adam, patting him on the back."Incredible, excellent swordsmanship." He commented. "Now, what do you say that you and I battle."

Adam laughed and stopped in his tracks. With a swift jump backwards he lunged at Austin, who expertly dodged the attack and jumped to the side, unsheathing his sword in the process. The green blade was even more marvelous when by itself, but with the sun's reflection it had no comparison with any jewel.

They faced each other, swords drawn and in defensive positions, awaiting for the other to make a move. Adam was first to attack, he flung his sword overhead then jumped a good five feet off the ground, aiming for Austin's head, the blow would have caused instant death, but thankfully they had applied wards to their swords, and themselves which would allow no harm to come to them if the attack was deadly.

Luckily Austin parried the blow and returned an attack to Adam's unprotected ribcage. Adam jumped back as the sword harmlessly rubbed the surface of his tunic. He then turned and did an unexpected move. He jumped through the air and somersaulted over Austin's head, striking him in the shoulder, his wards preventing harmful damage, otherwise, allowing a small scratch. Austin ducked too late as Adam landed behind him.

Austin flashed his sword around his back catching Adam unawares. The sword glanced off the tip of Adam's sword, startling him. He lurched back then stopped and took in his surroundings. Austin stood on a small bump in the training field, the sun to Adam's right, which meant that if he could maneuver Austin in the opposite direction, he would be facing the sun.

He knew that Austin was confident he could defeat him. He was sure he did not disregard his abilities, but however conscious he was of his skill and his desire to improve. Those experiences had shown him that he would be easy to defeat, even if, intellectually, he might know better. His confidence, therefore, was his weakness.

He sidled forward a few feet and twitched his sword, causing Austin to lurch slightly. But his face, however, remained impassively blank. A moment later, Austin charged him, as if he was going to tackle him and drive him to the ground.

Adam sprang backward, edging to the right, so as to begin guiding Austin in the direction he wanted. Austin stopped short several yards away from him and remained as still as an animal caught in a clearing.

Austin crossed the intervening distance between them with a single bound and began swinging his sword with heavy, looping blows that he blocked with quick thrusts of his sword. Adam let him attack without opposition, as if his blows were too strong for him to do anything about, other than defending himself. With every loud, painful jolt to his sword and shoulder, he retreated farther to the right, stumbling now and then to give the impression of being driven back.

And still he remained calm and composed.

He knew the opportune moment would arrive before it did, and once it had, he acted without thought or hesitation, without attempting to be fast or slow, seeking only to fulfill the potential of that single moment.

As Austin's sword descended toward him in a flashing arc, he pivoted to the right, sidestepped the blade while also putting the sun squarely at his back.

The tip of Austin's sword buried itself in the ground with a solid thunk. Then he turned his head so as to keep his gaze on Adam, and made the mistake of looking directly into the sun. He squinted and his pupils retracted to small, dark dots. While Austin was blinded, Adam stabbed his sword into his chest.

"Dead!" Adam shouted by mistake. He quickly slumped to the ground, sweat coated his skin with a shiny film.

Austin joined him and, over the noise of the cheering spectators and Trey's congratulations, said, "Perhaps you are the best warrior out of us all."

Adam mockingly laughed, hoping not to increase Austin's complement to make it seem that he was bragging. But somewhere deep inside he was thinking the same thing. After several minutes of resting he stood and with a swift jab Adam sheathed his sword and walked away, causing a hush to spread over the crowd.

Austin smiled teasingly at Trey then strode off after Adam. Trey shrugged and ran for the showers, he had been offered an opportunity to fight Adam again and decided that their duel was just practice; the real fight would come in several days.