Chapter 12: Sword Dancer
The potential champions descended on the traveler as one, like a pack of starving wolves closing on a deer. The knights were motivated by the false need for justice Richard had given them, while the others were driven by their greed. To them the traveler was a sack of gold to be collected. The muscular loincloth man led the pack a good twenty paces ahead of his fellows, holding his staff at the shoulder like a sword.
Eric was as surprised as everyone as he watched them close on the masked man. When he reorganized the tournament into a battle royale he expected the contestants to break up into smaller groups, whittling down the numbers until only two were left. For sixteen men to gang up on a single man was wholly unexpected, and in his mind unfair.
He also knew that, despite his opinion, it was completely legal. He and Grimsby reviewed the rules of the tournament carefully before finalizing them. Nothing in them prohibited the contestants from joining forces against single opponents.
He leaned back solemnly into his seat. It appeared this masked fellow would be the first to fall.
Any normal person would be pounding at the gates or scrambling up the arena walls when faced with sixteen armed men coming for their head.
But the traveler was not about to run from a threat of this magnitude. It faced larger numbers of more dangerous foes in the east and came out intact. A part of it was looking forward to the fight, its heart beating faster in anticipation of the thrill only combat could bring.
Instead of rushing in or even drawing its bokken the traveler relaxed and started to stretch its arms, pulling one and then the other over its chest before bending down to touch its toes. The move caught its opponents completely off guard. Their frantic charge slowed to a fast stalk and then a crawl, each confused by the apparent nonchalance of the traveler. Even Richard was taken aback, stopping his advance well away from the rest of the group.
"Draw your sword!" shouted the loincloth man, unsure how to deal with the traveler's indifference to its circumstance.
"Be with you in a second," said the traveler as it went into a half split, stretching out its right leg. It shifted over and started stretching the other one. "Don't want to pull any muscles. *crack* Ooh, that was a good one!"
The loincloth man stared blankly at the traveler as it stood up, windmilling its arms forwards and then backwards. The traveler rolled its shoulders a few times then bounced lightly on its feet.
"All right. Let's get this started." The traveler cricked its neck side-to-side and slid into a stance, right hand resting lightly on its bokken. "Well, come on."
"I said draw!" shouted the loincloth man.
"And I said come on!" repeated the traveler. "Are we gonna fight, or you just gonna stand there in your diaper?"
An irate vein bulged on the man's forehead as his face turned red as an apple. "It's a loincloth!"
The traveler thrummed its fingers against the handle of its bokken as the man burst into a full sprint, closing the distance with surprising speed. The other fighters followed, galvanized by the man's charge. People were hollering at the traveler to take action as the man charged in, especially a large group of children, waitresses, and sailors.
The traveler heard the sounds of the arena, but the noise passed over it like wind through a forest. It was focused on the behemoth charging at it. There was no tension in its body. There was no fear. It was like a snake, its stillness belying its readiness. The loincloth man started moving slower to its eyes, as though the air had taken on the viscosity of water. He raised his staff overhead like an ax, ready to smash it down on the traveler's head.
"Ow!"
Again the flat of the sword whacked the top of the child's head. It dropped its bokken to the snow, clutching the growing egg on its crown.
It was cold that midwinter's day. The high forests of the mountains were deep in snow, the gray sky sending down more in lazily drifting flakes. The tree branches were covered with white. It was quiet, all the animals gone into hibernation or to warmer lands.
"Dad, can't you slow down or something?" it asked as it rubbed the spot tenderly. "How am I supposed to hit you when you move that fast?"
The child's father rested his sword over his shoulder. "My speed is not the issue."
"Yeah, but it's sure making it harder on me," said the child, referencing the other bruises its father had created in the past hour.
"The lesson is the same whether I go slow or fast," said the father. "Your blade will undo you just as easily as your opponent's will."
"That's the hundredth time you've said that! What does it mean?"
"Twenty-third, actually."
"Ugh!" The child grabbed its bokken and stood up. "You're not making any–!"
The child was cut off when the tip of its father's sword was suddenly tickling its nose. The child gave a startled cry and stumbled back, swatting the sword away. When did he get that close? He had not seen him move at all!
"You think my speed is what allows me to best you. But it is your own sword that allows me to anticipate your next move." The father pointed his sword to a tree. "Do you see the snow on that branch?"
"Yeah. What about…oh, don't tell me I have to be like the snow!"
"No. You must be the branch."
The child leaned its head back and groaned. "Great…more mumbo-jumbo!"
The father reached out and rapped the flat of the sword on the child's head. "It wouldn't be if you were paying attention."
Grudgingly the child returned its attention to its father, rubbing its head. "All right…why do I have to be like the branch?"
"Because the branch is patient," said the father. "It is still. It does not move until the snow is ready for it, and when it does nothing is wasted. It does not fling the snow to the top of the tree. It follows the path of least effort."
The father smacked the branch with his sword. The snow quickly cascaded down, forming a waterfall of white to the ground.
"The same goes for you. You are the branch, and the snow is your opponent. React only when necessary. And when you react, do so with efficiency and without warning. Act early and you give away your intention. Act late and you will fall. The time for action is not the past or future, but always the present. Remember that, little one."
Melody almost missed it.
The loincloth man reached the peak of his swing when the traveler struck. It darted forward, drawing its bokken in one fluid motion and slamming it into the man's stomach before skidding past him. He doubled over as his feet momentarily left the ground, releasing his staff to clutch his stomach. The traveler then spun around and landed a glancing swing on the back of the man's head. His whole body flinched at the hit. He stood for a moment, then fell over in the dirt and stayed there.
The other fighters stopped hard as the crowd went near silent. Melody was staring in slack-jawed amazement much like everyone else. It happened so fast. How could someone so unimposing take down a man that size with two hits?
Aquata blinked, staring at the fallen man. "What…what just happened?"
"I'm not sure," said Grimsby, holding a pair of binoculars to his eyes. "I think the masked man hit him, but it was so fast I barely saw it. Did you see anything, my queen?"
Ariel shook her head. "No. It was like…like a magic trick."
Melody swallowed, agreeing with her mother. It was like magic.
Eric was just as surprised but nowhere near as confused as he watched the traveler curiously prod the unconscious man's side with its bokken. The king was not the best swordsman in the kingdom by any means, and he would not deny it. But he was not green either. He learned from some of the best, and he could remember their skill all too well. He earned his fair share of bruises to prove it. The traveler performed those strikes without any tell and near flawless form. This went beyond muscle memory to the level of instinct, and that could only come from one place–experience.
Whoever the traveler was, Eric was sure it had been fighting hard and frequently for a very long time. That was not just another competitor down there. It was a genuine fighter.
"Well that was a disappointment," mumbled the traveler. "Figured he could take more."
One of the arena gates swung open. Four white-clothed men bearing an oversized stretcher rushed over to the loincloth man. The traveler stepped back to give them room as they rolled the giant onto the stretcher and, with effort, carried him out of the arena. Their white coats disappeared into the dark belly of the stadium as the gates closed, the tournament claiming its first loss.
The traveler turned back to the remaining fighters. The sudden and seemingly effortless defeat of such a large man had the expected effect. They were nervous now, each shifting on their feet as they waited for someone else to make the next move. Even the archer was holding his bow undrawn, arrow knocked and waiting. The only ones not looking intimidated were Richard and his bodyguards, who remained a generous distance back.
"So…who wants to go next?" asked the traveler, sweeping its bokken across.
None of the men volunteered, instead glancing between each other. Tense moments passed with no one making a move.
The traveler sighed. "Fine. Then I'll get things going."
It surveyed the contestants. It certainly had a selection to choose from. Swordsmen, an archer, a lancer, another giant, and of course Richard and his men. It settled for a pair of identical twins with wooden gladius swords, both fidgeting on their feet.
"You two!" called the traveler, pointing its bokken at them. The two fighters jumped slightly. "You like poetry?"
The men stared back with obvious confusion. "What?"
The traveler cleared its throat and then recited, "Roses are red, for swords you have two. Bet fifty coins I won't need one to whoop you!"
A round of snickers went up from the spectators close enough to hear.
"Don't get cocky, you smart-mouthed ingrate!" the men shouted in unison as their faces flushed. They charged straight for the traveler, swords out to their sides. The rest of the fighters followed suit, their hesitation broken.
A/N: "Mama Said Knock You Out (Undefeated Remix)" by LL Cool J
"That's more like it!" The traveler grinned, its spine tingling in anticipation as it gave its bokken a playful spin. "Let's get this party started!"
The traveler ran straight at the twins as they moved for a flanking attack. It waited until they were close enough to strike, at which point they tried to catch the traveler in a pincer slice at head and torso. The traveler crouched low as their swords passed over its head, punching them both hard in the stomach. They staggered backwards as the traveler threw itself forward into a handstand, pulling its feet in before shooting its heels into their chins. Their feet left the ground as they arched backwards, landing side-by-side as the traveler let the momentum of its kicks bring it upright. Neither of the twins got up, groaning as they clutched their stomachs.
A knight in shining steel armor rushed the traveler from the side, the blue feather on his helm bobbing wildly. He held his shield in front of him as he swung his wooden long sword for the traveler's neck. The traveler ducked under it and hooked a foot into the knight's ankle, tripping him face first over the twins. They let out simultaneous "oofs!" as the knight landed on them, the weight of his armor knocking the wind from them a second time.
"Don't you get hot in that thing?" asked the traveler as it planted a foot on the knight's back, pinning him down. It used its bokken to flip his helm off. "Oh…so that's why you wear it! My bad!"
"Get off me, you ingrate!" shouted the knight as he struggled to get out from under the traveler. A quick rap to the back of his balding head and he stopped moving.
"That makes four," said the traveler as he stepped over the knight and the trapped twins.
Twang!
The traveler jerked its head back as a ball-tipped arrow went flying past its face. It threw itself into a back flip just as another arrow went tearing through the space its head had occupied. The traveler righted back onto its feet to find another knight advancing on it, this one wielding a pair of short swords.
"Prepare thyself, villain!" he shouted.
The traveler spun its bokken around its wrists before catching it. "Show me what you got!"
The man swung in a horizontal chop at the traveler's head. The traveler parried it aside and swung around for the knight's head, only to have its strike blocked by the second sword. The knight pulled his other sword back and chopped down for the traveler's shoulder. It twisted its bokken under to block both, then shoved the man back with a kick to his armored chest.
"Wretch!" spat the man behind his helm. "You would stoop to kicking a man in a duel?"
The traveler replied by rushing in and throwing a spinning sidekick into the knight's chest. He went tumbling back helm over heels, the chest plate of his armor bearing a foot-shaped dent.
"This isn't a duel, Sir Colander-Head!" said the traveler as it advanced on him. "It's a fight! And anything goes in a fight!"
Remora and Riptide watched with interest as the knight got back to his feet before the traveler rushed him. The two clashed swords in earnest, the traveler keeping the knight's swords at bay as it hammered at his armor. Soon the knight looked like a dented can as the traveler lay into him. Another man with a staff tried to literally cut in, but the traveler put the knight between them and then kicked the armored man into him, knocking both down.
"That masked guy isn't half bad," said Riptide as the traveler leapt over a cleaving strike to its legs and torso as the knight got up. The traveler stepped back to avoid a second pair of swings, then leapt and whipped one leg into the side of the knight's head to send him staggering into the staff man once again.
"He's playing," said Remora as the traveler dodged another arrow, giving the knight time to get his feet under him. "He could've taken that amateur apart by now, but he's having fun."
"You almost sound like you admire him."
Remora snorted. "I'd admire him if that kick took the idiot's head off!"
"Think we should have him join us?" asked Riptide. "The Master would have use for someone like him. Even if it's just for parts."
"We don't make those calls." Remora leaned back in her seat. "Besides, this fight's still young. Let's see where things go."
Their conversation ceased as the man with the long staff ran at the traveler's side.
The traveler heard the man coming before it saw him. A quick glance confirmed what its ears were telling it when the man drew the staff back like a bat for a swing at the traveler's head. At the same time the knight pulled his swords back for a twin vertical chop, his legs spread wide for maximum leverage.
"You're finished!" said the knight triumphantly.
Instead of dodging away the traveler rolled back through the knight's legs. The swords missed, but the staff found a target right on the knight's helmet. He stumbled backwards, dropping his swords as he tried to make his massively dented helmet stop ringing. The traveler righted into a crouch and sprung at the knight, throwing its shoulder into the man's back. The hit sent the knight crashing into the man with the staff. The two fell over in a tangle.
"Get off!" shouted the staff man as he pushed hard at the knight's chest. He had his torso free when the traveler swung its bokken into his jaw. The man went limp as a rope as the traveler swung its bokken into the knight's helmet, sending both of them to blissful sleep in the dirt.
Thwack!
Something struck the traveler's right shoulder blade. It spun to see Richard coming straight for it, his enormous bodyguards and a man holding a long staff like a spear close behind. Behind them was a group of three knights and one unusually large fist fighter clustered together. Two knights had long swords deprived of their killing edge, while the third held a ball-and-chain flail. The enormous fighter had metal gauntlets on his arms and metal plating on his legs and chest, clearly intent on using himself as a weapon. Off to the side and further back was the archer, his bow empty after his shot.
The traveler looked down to see a ball-headed arrow lying in the dirt. It scolded itself for getting hit. If that had gotten its head, it would have been a lot worse than a bruised shoulder.
"You're mine!" yelled Richard as he raised his rapier for a thrust.
The traveler charged straight for him, bokken raised to match Richard. At the last moment the traveler jumped, leaving Richard to strike air as it planted its boots on his shoulders and kicked off. Richard went stumbling forward as the traveler sailed over his bodyguards and the lancer.
"You're for later!" said the traveler as it ran towards the other group. It jumped again, flying well over the knights and landing on giant's shoulders. The man stumbled under the traveler's weight, surprised by how heavy it was.
The group's gawking at the traveler's acrobatics was their worst mistake. Immediately it clamped its legs to the giant's head, turning him into a mobile vantage point. Its bokken lashed out left and right, knocking away swords, arrows, and armored hands while cracking heads and striking chins. The traveler wrenched the giant's head left and right, forcing the man to turn as it directed. Every attempt to grasp the traveler's legs was met with a sharp strike from its bokken.
Melody watched wide-eyed at the traveler's balancing act atop the armored giant. The scene was like something out of a tall tale. It moved with a grace and speed she did not know was possible. Every motion flowed seamlessly into the next one, like the waters of a stream slipping around boulders. It looked more like dancing than fighting, the traveler leading the others around the arena in a ballroom brawl.
Yet she could not shake the wariness she felt about the traveler. Something about it unsettled her. Perhaps it was the lack of hesitation it showed as it smashed its bokken into the side of a knight's helmet, caving in the metal and sending the man to the ground. Maybe it was the intimidating appearance of its wrapped head and those black goggles. Surely all of those reasons were true, but that was not the heart of it. The answer eluded her, hovering just outside her comprehension.
An excited cry from the crowd drew her focus back to the fight. The traveler flicked another knight's helmet off before striking him across the chin with its wooden sword. The man crumpled to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut.
Melody felt a shiver run up her spine. She had a feeling the traveler was smiling. It was enjoying this.
The traveler was smiling. It had been a long time since it enjoyed a fight this much. Its senses were tingling, charged by the energy of battle. It felt alive, adrenaline racing through it to give a high like no other. It missed this sensation, though it was too caught up in the battle to realize it.
It swung its bokken hard into the chain of the last knight's ball flail. The metal broke under the force of the impact, sending split links flying across the arena. Without hesitation the traveler whipped the wood sword back into the man's face, ending his participation in the tournament.
"Get off me!" shouted the giant as the traveler swatted away his hands yet again. His legs were starting to tremble from how heavy the traveler was.
"As you wish!" said the traveler. It twisted its legs sharply, forcing the giant to turn hard. It crouched and leapt straight up, spinning in midair as it swung the bokken into the side of the giant's head. The man rocked to the side as though he had been shoved, staggering about and then falling over like a tree. The traveler landed and swept its leg out in a circle, dissipating the energy of its fall.
An arrow shot past the traveler's face. It turned to see the archer readying another shot next to the arena wall. The traveler raced towards the archer with its bokken trailing behind. The archer loosed another arrow straight for the traveler's head. The traveler simply slipped out of the way, allowing the arrow to pass harmlessly by. At distance it was not terribly difficult to dodge.
The archer hastily readied another shot and let fly, aiming for the traveler's chest. Instead of dodging the traveler swung the bokken, knocking the projectile away with a loud clang. The archer was sweating as his hands fumbled for another arrow, only to find his quiver was empty.
The traveler skidded to a stop in front of him. "That's the problem with you archers. You run out of arrows…"
The archer grasped his bow like a sword and rushed forward, yelling like a frightened child as he swung sloppily for the traveler's head. The traveler spun to his left hip and swung, striking the man in his gut. He hunched over and fell on top of his bow, kneeling face-down in the dirt.
"You're outta luck, too," finished the traveler.
"Got you!"
The traveler had been so focused on the archer it failed to notice the remaining four sneaking up on it. It turned up to see Bill and Jack swinging while Richard and the lancer thrust.
A moment's hesitation in throwing itself backwards and the traveler would have been joining the archer in the arena dirt. It felt the wind off Jack and Bill's staves as they struck the dirt. It threw itself into a roll and darted back, getting well out of range.
"Flank him!" ordered Richard, gesturing to his goons. Bill and Jack quickly moved to do so as Richard and the lancer started to close in, stalking forward, sword and staff pointed at their quarry.
The traveler glanced behind it. The arena wall was barely two paces away. This was a bad spot to be in. It had the two brutes on its sides, Richard and the lancer in front, and a solid wall to its back. As impassive as the lancer looked, the vicious smiles on the large men's faces told the traveler they were not going to just back off if it went down. They intended to make good on Richard's threat.
The traveler chewed the corner of its lip. It had to think. If it went after one of them the others would close in. If it used magic…no, no sense thinking about that when it was not an option. It needed a way to even up the numbers. At least get rid of Jack and Bill. How hard could it be to get rid of two muscle-bound gorillas with sticks?
Suddenly inspiration hit the traveler. It had an idea. A crazy, stupid idea that could backfire horribly. But it was just the sort of idea that it needed.
The traveler gripped its bokken in both hands, shifting into its stance. "All right, which one of you is it?"
The bodyguards stopped. "Which one of us is what?" asked Jack.
"The strongest! What else? This fight's been a real bore so far. I was hoping to square up against someone who could put up a decent fight, but the rest were all cakewalks. You two look like you'll fit the bill, but I'm not interested in fighting second-best. So which of you is stronger?"
"That'd be me, of course," boasted Jack proudly.
"Good to know," said the traveler, turning to face him.
"No, it's me!" interrupted Bill, jabbing his thumb into his chest. "I'm much stronger than him!"
"Sorry, my mistake," apologized the traveler, now turning to him.
"You?" scoffed Jack. "You couldn't beat me with my hands behind my back!"
"I could beat you with one leg and blindfolded!" spat back Bill.
The color of Jack's face began to redden. "In your dreams, broom face!"
"You wish, chrome dome!" snarled Bill.
The traveler started backing towards the wall. It had pushed the proverbial carriage down the hill. Now it just had to wait for the crash.
Richard realized what the traveler was up to. "Bill! Jack! Quit your bickering and get him!"
"Are we gonna fight or what?" asked the traveler as it leaned against the wall, drawing lazy circles in the dirt with the bokken's tip. "Just figure out who's stronger and we'll get started."
"I am!" said Jack.
"No, I am!" said Bill. "This ogre's mother would put up a better fight than him!"
The veins on Jack's forehead practically burst as he raised his staff overhead. "You wanna go, bristle brow?!"
"I'll show you who's a bristle brow, baldy!" spat Bill, holding his staff like a bat.
"Don't call me baldy, you backcountry hick!"
"No one calls me a hick!"
"Stop this instant!" shouted Richard.
The two giants ignored him. They closed on each other like bulls in rut, nostrils flared and tempers boiling as they swung their staves with all their might.
It was not a carriage crash. It was a train wreck. Jack brought his staff down square on his partner's head. Bill in turn swung his staff up for Jack's jaw, but he timed it too late and instead struck Jack in his groin. Jack immediately dropped his staff, eyes crossed over as every mental capacity of his small mind vanished. Bill staggered about and then toppled over, mumbling something about stars and birds as his eyes rotated two different directions. Jack gave a high-pitched squeak and fell to his knees, curling up on the ground clutching himself. A collective "ooh" of discomfort went through the stands as every male visibly cringed, including Eric. Even Ariel and Melody cringed, making a loud hissing noise.
Aquata scratched her head. "What happened? The head blow I get, but the other one?"
Ariel shivered empathetically. "I'll explain later."
The traveler winced. "Oh man! I don't even…ooh!" It gave a whole-body shiver. "Ow! Just ow!"
Richard stomped his foot angrily. "You stupid bumbling blocks of…get up! I don't pay you to take naps!"
Neither Bill nor Jack responded, both too out of it for their own injurious reasons.
"Next time pick some smarter bodyguards, Richard," said the traveler as it walked towards him. "These two have got brawn in spades, but they couldn't guard a chair if they were sitting in it."
If Richard could have made steam come out of his ears with how much his blood was boiling, he would have passed for a teakettle. The traveler ignored the cursing from Richard at his disabled men and turned its attention to the lancer. The man had been rather unfazed by the whole thing. He almost looked bored.
"You. What's your name?" asked the traveler.
"Matthias," replied the lancer.
"Okay, Matthias, here's the deal. I've got business with this thing that calls itself a Lord. I've got no quarrel with you, and unless I'm bad with faces you don't have one with me either."
"Correct," said Matthias.
"Good, so we're on the same page." The traveler walked around Matthias, positioning itself so the lancer was between it and Richard. "Here's how this can go down. You can withdraw now and spare yourself some nasty bruises. If you still want a fight, I'll meet you anytime, anywhere. If it's money you're after, I can get that for you too…and legally."
The traveler glanced behind Matthias to Richard on that last word. The man glared back but made no move.
"And if I refuse?" said Matthias.
"I'll respect that decision," said the traveler, resting its bokken over its shoulder. "I'd imagine you've got reasons for doing this just like I do. But…" The traveler suddenly slashed its bokken to its side, causing a puff of dust to lift off the ground. Richard flinched back, but Matthias merely cocked an impressed brow.
"You'll get as much leniency as the others," warned the traveler. "So, what'll it be? Leave on your feet? Or leave on a stretcher? Your choice."
Matthias studied the traveler for a moment then looked at the archer and other men being taken out of the arena. All of them were unconscious, fated to wake up with very sore stomachs or nasty black bruises.
"There's no honor in surrender," Matthias said firmly.
The traveler raised its bokken up, preparing for an attack. "All right, have it–."
"But there isn't sense in fighting a losing battle either." Matthias dropped his staff. "I know when I'm outmatched. The final match is yours, Hood."
The traveler lowered its bokken while Richard gaped in astonishment and anger as Matthias turned to the royal box. "I yield!"
An astonished gasp came from the crowd, followed by polite applause. Matthias bowed to the royal family and then turned back to the traveler. He pulled a small coin purse out of its jacket and tossed it to the traveler. It caught with one hand, feeling the shape of twenty coins inside.
"I'll take you up on that fight one day," Matthias said, touching two fingers to his temple in what the traveler imagined was some gesture of respect. "Until then, swordsman."
The traveler returned the gesture. "Till then, lancer."
Richard grabbed Matthias' arm as he walked past, shaking with anger and disbelief. "What are you doing!? We have a deal!"
"And the deal is off," said Matthias flatly. "Like I said, I know when I'm out of my league."
Richard spat angrily at Matthias' feet. "Coward! He beats up a few boys and you go crawling away with your tail between your legs! And you call yourself a man!?"
"A man…" Matthias chuckled as though Richard told a joke. "I suppose I do."
He glanced back at the traveler, who was trotting towards a group of children waving at it from the stands. It hefted the coins and tossed them, sending the purse into the hands of a brunette woman. "I don't know what the bad blood between you two is, and I don't care. I took your offer on a whim. After seeing what that man's capable of you could offer me a thousand coins and I'd still turn you down. If you had any sense, you'd give up your revenge and follow me out of here."
Richard's lip curled in anger. "You spineless–!"
Suddenly Matthias seized Richard's sword hand, squeezing with surprising strength as he leaned close to his ear. Richard gasped with how hard he gripped, his nails digging painfully into him.
"Let me give you some advice, Avitas," whispered Matthias warningly. "If you plan to go forward with this fight, do not make him angry for any reason. Believe me when I say Hood is on a completely different level from us. You might be a wolf among sheep, but even a wolf knows to hide when a monster comes hunting."
With that Matthias released Richard and walked towards the gate, passing the white-clothed men coming to fetch the archer and Richard's bodyguards. He stepped into the shadow and entered the depths of the arena.
But Matthias did not head for the stands, nor did he leave the stadium. He ventured deeper into the tunnels, weaving through the dimly lit passages. He kept walking, heading for the most isolated section of the arena's interior.
As he rounded a corner the lanterns suddenly went out, plunging the tunnel into pitch black. Matthias stopped, strangely unfazed for such an ominous environment.
"Well?" A pair of glowing teal eyes appeared in front of him, each bearing a pair of vertical black slits. "What did you think?"
Matthias took a knee before the eyes, bowing his head low. "There is no mistake. That's Blackjaw."
A childlike giggle sounded, the eyes narrowing in glee as their owner smiled. "Finally! Found you again!"
"Just you and me now, Richard," said the traveler as it walked towards him. It wiped its bokken across its sleeve before sticking it back in its belt. "Imagine that."
Richard gritted his teeth angrily, clutching his sword so tight the muscles in his hand ached. How he hated the traveler. This was supposed to be his moment of triumphant revenge. The traveler was supposed to be lying at his feet like a man dragged behind a cart, begging for forgiveness he would of course deny it. Instead it was standing there with little more than a bruised shoulder after mowing down fifteen men like they were nothing.
He breathed deep, focusing on relaxing himself. He had to stay calm. So the man could swing a sword and hop around? He was not the victor yet. In a way this was better than having him thrashed by all those men. Now Richard would have the pleasure of doing it with his own two hands.
A hush fell over the crowd as Grimsby stepped forward. "People of Seahaven, I give you…your finalists!"
A roar went up from the stands while the royal family clapped politely. The excitement was at a fever pitch now, as was the anticipation of a truly spectacular display of swordsmanship. The best swordsman in the Alliance would be crossing blades with the incredible and mysterious Hood in a duel for honor, glory, and gold. And, if the rumors were believed, revenge. The match practically sold itself.
One of the gates opened. A group of men clothed in white and blue came pouring out. The first one carried the traveler's knives in one hand and Richard's unsheathed normal sword and scabbard in the other, the metal gleaming as always. Behind him followed no fewer than a dozen men carrying pieces of armor, the gray metal polished so brilliantly it was like a mirror.
Another gate opened and a second group of men emerged carrying an impressive array of weapons. There were longswords, short swords, foils, rapiers, knives, spears, lances, halberds, axes, maces, and even a spiked ball-and-chain flail. They brought armor and shields of all sorts with them. The fanned out in front of the two combatants, presenting their arms for inspection and possible use. A pair of men broke off from the back and ran to the center of the arena, using their heels to draw two lines fifteen feet apart.
The man with the knives and rapier quickly rushed to the traveler. "Your weapons, sir."
"Thanks." The traveler took its knives, looking them over before returning them to their sheaths on its back.
Richard snatched his sword without so much as a glance in the man's direction. The men carrying the armor began strapping it onto him. The fitted a chest piece made from a single piece of metal as other strapped greaves and cuisses to his legs. One man slipped a special articulating sleeve of armor over his entire left arm, complete from pauldron to gantlet. His right arm received a rerebrace, giving Richard's shoulder additional protection.
"Which weapon would you prefer, sir?" asked one of the men to the traveler, gesturing to the arsenal his fellows were presenting.
"I'll stick with this," said the traveler, patting the bokken in its belt.
The man startled visibly. "But sir, that's wood! Surely you would fare better with something more…metallic."
"I know what it's made of," said the traveler as it pulled out its knives, checking the blades again for tampering. "And I know what it can take. Thanks for the offer, but I'm using this."
"Pah! You're either confident or daft!" sneered Richard as his hair was tied back, someone else strapping his scabbard onto him. "You won't last more than five minutes against me with that piece of firewood!"
"I don't need to last five minutes," said the traveler as it put its knives back. "I just need to beat you."
Richard clenched his left hand as his right gauntlet was put on, watching the traveler walk to the center of the arena. He loathed it. He despised it. He hated its wit and level-headedness as much as the humiliation he suffered at its hands. He hated it had been able to hide from him for weeks, only to re-emerge at this tournament with a stellar performance. He hated that it was here in the final round with him instead of bleeding in the dirt. He hated that that Sarah, the woman he was determined to own, was in the stands cheering loudly for it alongside the orphans and her father, not to mention that senile tavern owner and his regulars.
He hated, hated, hated that traveler.
Richard flexed his left hand, feeling the armor move freely with him. He also felt the liquid sloshing about in the secret chamber above his wrist. He gave his hand a few experimental flexes to check its fit before sheathing his sword, pulling out the blade a few inches. An oily film was visible on the metal.
Richard had to force himself not to smile as he walked to his starting place. The traveler could enjoy the glory while it lasted, but victory would be his to claim. It would not walk out of this arena.
In fact, if Richard had his way, the traveler would never walk again.
Ariel watched as the traveler and Lord Richard squared up in the center of the arena. She never was an avid supporter of the tournament. It seemed a barbaric tradition for their otherwise peace-loving kingdom. But she could not deny that part of her was looking forward to the coming match. It was also amusing to see Aquata's reaction to it. Her older sister kept forgetting to blink throughout the battle royale, her eyes bordering on tears as she watched with rapt fascination and awe.
Ariel saw the traveler turn and wave to a group of children up in the stands. She had her eye on this man. He was proving to be an extraordinary swordsman. Ariel had never seen such unique skill or technique before. It was unconventional to say the least, but it was also breathtaking to watch. Regardless of who this person really was under that cloth, he was clearly a strong fighter.
But was he strong enough to beat Richard?
She wrung her dress between her fingertips as she watched Richard bow towards them. He smiled to her, but it only made her stomach twist in a knot. She was hoping this would be the year that man was ousted from the tournament, but fate had not been on her side the previous three. Something about him set off warning bells in her head. She had no evidence to support her wariness. He was always courteous and polite to her. And the other nobility were very fond of him. She just had a feeling. It was the same feeling she had when Flotsam and Jetsam came to her after her treasures were destroyed. It told her he could not be trusted, and she had learned to heed that instinct. The idea of him becoming Melody's protector unsettled her greatly.
That, and she got the distinct impression there was more to this fight than she saw. There was a definite air of animosity between Richard and this masked man. She watched the smile vanish off Richard's face as he turned to face his opponent. He had the look of someone who was out for blood. And now he had an actual sword.
She crossed her fingers, secretly praying for the traveler to win.
"Combatants, are you ready?" called Grimsby down to the arena. The traveler and Richard nodded, neither looking away from the other. "En guarde!"
The traveler slid into a ready stance as it watched Richard draw his rapier, keeping his armored left arm tucked at his side like a boxer. It looked him over for any flaws that would give it an opening. A skewed foot, a loose finger, a lean in his body, or a tremble in his knees.
There was none. Richard had one of the most faultless stances the traveler had ever seen. His body was still as his sword. He looked perfectly at home in that armor. Just looking at him the traveler could tell the man's reign as champion was not merely a title. He kept that spot through skill.
A smile played at the edge of Richard's lips, attesting to his confidence.
The traveler shifted its right hand to its bokken, twisting it over for a quick draw. It had not anticipated Richard donning all that armor. It was not a complete suit, but it was protecting all the important areas the traveler could strike. Only his head was exposed, and the traveler had a feeling Richard would take advantage of that. If you knew where your opponent was going to strike, you could plan accordingly. He was going to rely on speed and technique for attack and defense, not brute strength or durability. Still, that rapier was a rather flimsy weapon. One solid strike and the traveler could probably snap it in half.
The traveler gripped the bokken's handle firmly. It needed to take this seriously. Underestimating Richard would cost more than the match. If it could break Richard's sword on the first blow, the contest would be over without any blood drawn.
Eric rose and walked to the edge of the box, raising his hand. The crowd immediately went quiet. "Ready?"
The traveler settled into its stance, as did Richard. The tension built with each passing second. It wound Richard and the traveler tight as clock springs, bodies waiting for the signal to release. Their fingers tightened around their weapons, shifting their weight onto the balls of their feet.
Eric swung his hand down. "Begin!"
Anyone who blinked might have missed it. The traveler and Richard dashed at each other with incredible speed. Its drawing strike clashed with Richard's thrust in a loud clang of metal on wood. The force of the strikes caused the weapons to glance off each other, sending a few sparks into the air.
The traveler was just as surprised as Richard to see its opponent's sword intact. It was even more surprised to see how quick Richard could move in all that armor.
Richard recovered and slashed at the traveler's neck. It blocked with a slash of its own, the weapons glancing off each other on impact. They spun around for another slash, blades crossing and deflecting again. The traveler spun the other way this time, bringing its bokken up and around in a strike for Richard's exposed head. He blocked with his left arm, cringing at the force of the traveler's strike. He responded by hooking his hand around and grabbing the bokken, thrusting his rapier straight for the traveler's chest.
The traveler released its left hand from the bokken and drew one of its knives, deflecting the rapier away just in time. Sparks flew as metal scraped on metal. The two locked blades, staring each other down as they pushed for footing.
"You're quick for all that steel you're wearing!" grunted the traveler.
Richard smirked. "Aluminum alloy! Not as strong, but a third the weight! And still strong enough for you!"
He yelled and shoved hard, pushing the traveler back. It rushed in, refusing to let Richard take advantage of the brief opening. It swung low for his legs, forcing Richard to step back as the tip glanced off his greaves. He countered with a thrust even faster than the last one. The traveler ducked underneath it and stabbed at Richard's side with its knife, making him retreat again. The traveler pursued him in a whirlwind of knife and bokken, unable to get a hit as Richard either dodged or parried each try.
Richard slashed at the traveler's legs, hoping to end its onslaught. Instead the traveler jumped over Richard in a front-flip, swinging its bokken down for his head. Richard brought his armored left overhead and blocked, the impact making a loud clang. The traveler landed behind the noble as Richard spun in another slash. The traveler leaned back, the blade passing close to its face. It did not hear the crowd gasp at the near hit. It went into a handstand, whipping its legs around like a windmill. Its heel caught Richard's sword and parried it away before twisting over to kick at his chest. Richard brought his left arm into a guard, allowing the metal to absorb the impact. His feet skidded back with how hard the traveler kicked. He thrust again, forcing the traveler to abandon its offense as it backflipped out of range.
Richard flexed his left arm as the traveler righted. "I'll admit I'm a bit impressed! You're the first person in a while to make me sweat!"
The traveler spun its bokken around, working a kink out of its wrist. "Same to you! Keep it up and you'll make things interesting!"
Richard raised his rapier by his head, ready for another thrust. "But if that's the best you can do, then I'll have you begging at my feet in no time!"
"Same to you…" The traveler spun the bokken in a quick figure eight around itself, cutting the air. "Cause I'm just getting warmed up!"
With that the two charged at each other, blades clashing loud enough to be heard across the entire arena.
Sarah watched as Richard and the traveler went at it in earnest. Most of the children were at the edge of the wall peering over. Those that were not tall enough found extra height from the shoulders of their elders. Jenni sat on John's shoulders clutching a gray cloth bundle. Beside them were Isaac and the tavern waitresses, along with a large group of regulars. Everyone was shouting encouragement to the traveler in one form or another as they watched it duel Richard in an awesome dance of swords.
"Go fer his legs, Hood! That's it, lad! Watch his right!"
"Keep your guard up! Look out!"
"Give that bastard one for me, Hood!"
"Ben! Language!"
"Sorry, sir…"
"Get that bastard, Hood!"
"Hey!"
Sarah looked over at Jenni. The girl was shouting louder than all of them. She was practically jumping on John's shoulders as she cheered, clutching her cloth bundle in one arm while the other pumped the air enthusiastically.
"Whip his butt, Hero!" she screamed.
"Oi! Ease up, lil' lassie!" said John as he lifted her off, setting her down to stand on the arena wall. "Me spine's *crack* not that durable anymore!"
"Sorry." Jenni quickly turned back to the fight. "Hero! Get him!"
Sarah looked back to the fight as the traveler whipped its leg up at Richard's head, the noble blocking at the last second. He tried to slash the traveler's leg but it darted away from him, leaving his sword to cut air.
She had never seen anyone fight like the traveler did, much less last this long with Richard. It moved with acrobatic grace, spinning and flipping as it attacked and defended with bokken and knife. It flowed seamlessly from one strike to the next. Richard was perhaps a smidgen faster with his sword, but he could not find an opening to exploit in the traveler's unorthodox style. It was like a flame dancing in a hearth, always shifting unpredictably.
The traveler blocked a strike to its neck before countering with one of its own. Richard blocked the bokken with his sword as the traveler thrust with its knife, forcing Richard to defend with his other arm. The blade grazed over the metal, scraping but doing no harm. Richard raised his foot up and kicked at the traveler, who darted back before the blow could land.
Sarah gripped the edge of her seat. She wanted to believe the traveler could win. She wanted to believe it could defeat Richard. That it could free them from the greedy noble's suffocating hold once and for all.
She turned to Isaac. She saw the same hopeful look in her father's eyes as he watched. But she also saw that he knew what she did.
Richard was not about to play fair.
CLANG! SHLING! CRANG!
The traveler locked blades with Richard again, pushing against him as hard as he gave. Metal and wooden blades scratched and screamed on each other as they shoved. The traveler dug its feet in, knowing one slip would swing the stalemate in its opponent's favor.
"So the vagrant has some actual skill!" said Richard, grinning as he pushed against the traveler. "You're almost as good as me! Almost!"
The traveler pushed back harder. Richard was surprisingly strong despite his appearance. "That's my line! Didn't think a dandy like you'd have any strength!"
Richard scowled. "You want strength? Then try this!"
With a shout he shoved hard, forcing the traveler to take a surprised step back. His armored left hand clenched into a fist and flew towards the traveler's face with unanticipated speed, forcing it to duck the strike.
Suddenly Richard veered his hand over and grabbed the traveler's bokken, his foot coming down on the traveler's own. At the same time he stabbed at the traveler's chest. His thrust came in even faster that before.
The traveler's eyes widened in surprise. It swung its knife over, barely deflecting the rapier away. It avoided being skewered, but not having its right arm nicked at the shoulder. The traveler winced at the sharp pain and wrenched its bokken free. It saw a chance and flipped the bokken over, driving the hilt into the gap in the armor on Richard's side.
It expected to feel bone and leather when it struck. Instead it felt the unmistakable jarring clash of wood on metal. Metal plating inside the vest under the armor, to be precise.
Richard winced at the impact but appeared unfazed. He pulled his sword arm back for a slash. The traveler punched Richard hard in the chest with the hilt of its weapons, forcing him to take several arm-waving steps back to keep his balance.
The traveler checked the wound in its arm. It felt worse than it was. Richard did little more than break the skin. It was bleeding and stinging, but it would probably not even need stitches.
"Not bad," said the traveler as it rolled its shoulders. "Looks like I'll have to–huh?"
The traveler's right arm suddenly started to tremble. A tingling sensation was spreading from the cut down its arm. The traveler looked at its arm in alarm as it started to lose feeling in it. It willed itself to hold onto its bokken, but its hand was losing strength by the second. Moments later the traveler's entire arm went completely limp, the bokken slipping from its grasp to fall in the dirt.
Richard smirked wickedly, slashing his sword to the side. "You were saying, Hood? I didn't catch that last part!"
The traveler cringed under its shemagh, sheathing its knife and picking up its bokken. No matter how much it willed its arm to move the limb remained responsive as a wet rag. It could not feel anything from the shoulder down.
"What did you do to me?" it growled. It sidestepped around Richard, never taking its eyes away from him. The noble turned to follow it, grinning smugly at how loosely the traveler's arm hung.
"What's wrong?" sneered Richard. "Lost your nerve? Or should I say, nerves?"
The traveler ignored Richard and kept moving. It had to get his sword into the sun. Just a bit more and…there! The sunlight reflected off Richard's sword like a mirror, illuminating the surface. It was difficult to see, but the traveler could make out a multicolored film like oil on water.
Poison.
The traveler cursed under its breath. It should have expected as much. Of course Richard would employ such an underhanded tactic. But how did he get it into the arena? All weapons were supposed to be inspected for such things before the fight. Had he bribed one of the officials? Given his nature it was entirely possible, but it seemed doubtful for some reason. It was just too easy.
Then its gaze wandered to the scabbard at Richard's hip. Of course! The sword had not been poisoned! The scabbard was! No one would have bothered to check that! Richard had coated the rapier when he sheathed it before the fight!
"Figured it out, did you?" Richard grinned, giving his sword a playful twirl as he patted the scabbard. "Have you ever heard of curare? It's a nifty little poison the jungle savages use. The dip their arrows in it so even if their prey gets away it won't run far. The amounts they use are lethal, but I've found that a diluted form mixed with several extracts will paralyze the muscles for several hours. Though all I need now is five minutes."
The grin fell of Richard's face, replaced with an angry scowl. "You never should've set foot in Seahaven, Hood! If you'd been smart you would've kept your nose out of my business! Because now you're going to find out what happens to everyone who gets in my way!"
Richard rushed in with renewed vigor, his eyes flashing dangerously as he stabbed for the traveler's head. "I destroy them!"
The traveler grimaced as it swung the bokken to block. This fight had gotten much more dangerous. And its chances of winning much slimmer.
A/N: The traveler's wooden sword cut a path through Richard's bribed and bamboozled troop. Seventeen fighters entered the arena, and fifteen left in defeat. But now the traveler faces Richard, who has stooped to a new low to sate his need for vengeance. With an arm gone the fate of their match is uncertain, but the consequences have become more dire than before.
You may have noticed the other A/N stuck into the start of this chapter. Like I said, the right song will get images going in my head like a movie. In this case, LL Cool J got the movie rolling! Play the song if you want, and hopefully you'll get the same sensations/visualizations I do!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. I do not own the listed song(s). Everything else, however, is mine =)
