She opened her eyes suddenly and fixed her gaze on Talis. “You will do all you can do to help me win, won’t you? I really mean it. I’ve known you forever and then some, and if anyone can help me out of this…situation… you’re the one.”
Talis swallowed another gulp of mead, and nodded, unable to break away from the sight of Mara’s earnest eyes. He would do anything to help her, and besides, winning against arrogant Rikar would be more of a prize than the Dagger itself.
If he survived.
5. THE BLOOD DAGGER
As Talis stared up past the stone arena, stars twinkling through the black velvet sky, he could sense Mara stalking up to him. The familiar scent of roses wafted over him, the scent of Mara and the scent of House Lei’s gardens.
“I prayed to Zagros, Nyx, Nacrea, and to Nestria…” He turned and smiled at Mara as she approached.
“What say the heavens?” She stared up at the four moon sisters, her hands reaching out like she could caress the stars.
The moons were splayed across the sky, speaking of a secret. The Diviners of the Celestials would call the moons’ alignment “Three Sisters Conspiring Against the Brilliant One.” The cruel plot against the one of light. Fate was strong today, for or against you. Talis frowned.
He and Mara had been a sparring team for seven years, ever since he’d survived the initiation allowing him to wield the blade at six years old. This was a contest for reputation and favor, and the right to compete in the Arena of the Sej Elders. As Mara hoped for, it would mean she could get her wish and ask her parents to call off the marriage between her and Baron Delar’s son. For Talis, he hoped winning would mean praise and recognition from his father, praise he’d craved all his life.
Mara twirled her twin nine-inch blades, and paused, staring at them with satisfaction. She handled them like pets. “Be careful of Rikar’s twirling strike. Go for a foot sweep if you see him start to spin.”
Talis thought of Rikar’s deadly dances at previous matches, severing heads and breaking bones. In one case the healer couldn’t do a thing to save a boy, even with magic. Talis wanted to be brave, but bloody images of contestants at previous matches flashed in his mind.
“Ready?” Talis aimed his short sword at the arena, and Mara brandished her daggers as well, a look of intense determination flashing in her eyes. They strode into the arena, the House of the Warrior, and smelled air thick with cedar and sweet incense. Hairs stood up along Talis’s arms and he clenched his mouth to keep his teeth from chattering. The dark, silver and grey stones shimmered, catching the torchlight along the tunnel leading into the circular arena.
Inside, a round opening above allowed moonlight to shine onto the sandy floor. Great two-handed swords and halberds and spiked shields were mounted on the stone wall. Torches flickered in between, whipped by the wind. His cheeks stung from the cold. A red circle had been drawn in the center, marking the boundaries of the contest. The arena was quiet and empty, except for Nikulo and Master Jarvis Numerian, a giant of a man, muscles rippling underneath his banded leather armor, a twisted scar marring his otherwise noble face. Talis felt relieved that Jarvis, who was friendly to House Storm, judged today’s match.
“We challenge the undefeated for the right to hold the Blood Dagger,” Talis shouted, and glanced around, wondering where Rikar was.
Nikulo strode forward, his protruding belly waddling from side-to-side, and clapped his leather-studded jerkin. He pointed the bladed tip of his metal staff at Talis and Mara. Somehow Talis didn’t feel so intimidated at Nikulo’s scowling face. Although Nikulo was a fierce competitor, Rikar was the malicious one.
“Do we have a complete team to battle the challengers?” Jarvis spread his arms wide.
Footsteps pounded down the tunnel, and Rikar came charging into the arena, face shiny and proud, hair slick and wet as if he’d just taken a bath. His eyes mocked Talis.
“Do I have to fight these two buffoons?” Rikar snorted.
Talis gripped his sword so hard his fingers burned. We used to be friends, Talis thought. But after Rikar’s father had died, that all ended. Because Talis’s father had refused to grant the Rite of Royal Blood to Rikar’s dead father, it meant the Lords of the Underworld had condemned Rikar’s father to the torture of the Grim March. And now Rikar hated Talis. It was so unfair. Talis hadn’t done anything to Rikar, but Rikar made him feel like he was responsible.
Mara stepped towards Rikar and brought a dagger across her throat.
Rikar chuckled. “This little one can’t wait to get her hands on me. I can’t say I blame her.”
“I challenge you for the right to wield the Blood Dagger,” Talis said. “And the Blood Dagger we shall hold”-he flushed, trying to remember the words-”we shall hold until the spring bud kisses the maple tree.” He raised his sword and aimed at the zenith.
Jarvis harumphed. “Then begin…and fight until one of you are wounded-severe enough to require intervention by the healer. From that, the winner.” He gestured towards the shadows so thick that Talis couldn’t see a thing. “Master Healer Nonce…”
A bald man in a blood-red robe emerged from the blackness and shuffled towards them. He peeled an orange, not even bothering to look up. Although healers cured many wounds with magic, sometimes nothing could be done. The fate of the sword. Talis remembered the boy who’d had his head hacked off. He touched his neck, feeling the blood pulsing through his veins, and swallowed hard. In Naru, law allowed the sword to choose the strong from the weak.
From the crazed look in Rikar’s eyes, Talis knew he meant to inflict as much pain as possible. And Nikulo twirled his bladed staff so fast it hummed. Rikar whirled his curved sword around in a flourish, raised a finger and summoned a huge, shimmering blade above his head. Talis felt his skin go clammy, wishing he could cast magic like that. Memories of his failed attempt at magic yesterday with Master Viridian flashed in his mind’s eye.
“No magic in the arena.” Jarvis scowled at Rikar. “You know the rules.”
Rikar strode towards Talis, spinning his sword deftly. “Your screams will be like honey.”
Talis gritted his teeth and ignored his taunts. He circled around to his left, and Mara followed his lead, staying close.
Rikar’s blade sung as it cut through the air, just inches from Talis’s stomach. Talis clasped a hand to his stomach, almost feeling the steel blade lash into his body. A few inches closer and my guts would spill out onto the sand, Talis thought.
While Rikar leered at Talis, Mara leapt at Rikar’s back and punctured his scalemail armor just above the hip on the side. Blood dripped from her dagger, and for a moment, her face flashed a triumphant look.
Rikar whirled around and kicked Mara on the shoulder, sending her twirling through the air. She fell hard on her back and whimpered. A cold sweat fell over Talis as he remembered her being injured by the boar. He charged Rikar, hoping to catch him unaware, but Rikar just riposted and deflected his sword aside.
Mara pushed herself up and grabbed her daggers, nodding as if she was okay.
Rikar clapped his sword against the bloodied spot on his armor. “You barely pricked me. Next time shove your dagger in a bit harder…” He scoffed, and motioned Nikulo towards Talis.
Nikulo charged, spinning wide, causing Talis to leap back. Talis thrust his sword at Nikulo’s chest, but Nikulo swatted the weapon aside, spun, and slammed his staff into Talis’s shins, knocking him face-first onto the ground. Stars spun wildly in his eyes. To the side, Talis could see Rikar raising his blade. Rikar struck down at him, but Talis rolled aside. Mara this time jumped on Rikar’s back and tightened a dagger against his throat. A line of blood trickled down his neck as he sank to his knees, face red and sweaty.
Rikar growled. With one lightning-quick move, he yanked her dagger arm and sent her tumbling over his shoulder and onto the ground.
Talis jumped up, and quick-stepped away from Nikulo’s bladed staff. Talis parried and spun around, then slashed, but Nikulo knocked the blade away. Nikulo grinned in satisfaction. Talis leapt at Nikulo, swinging his blade at Nikulo’s head. Nikulo raised his staff to block, but Talis kicked his chest and knocked him onto his back.
Mara and Talis charged Rikar in unison. Talis sprang at Rikar, while Mara circled around. We can win, Talis
