With that. Aanden bowed his head and collapsed in a crying heap. Raoden exhaled thankfully-then noticed that the danger wasn't over. Aanden's squad of men was armed with stones and steel rods. Dashe and his people entered the room again, convinced that it wasn't going to collapse on them any time soon.
Raoden stood directly between the two groups. 'Stop!' he commanded, raising an arm at each one. They halted, but warily.
'What are you people doing?' Raoden demanded. 'Hasn't Taan's realization taught you anything?'
'Step aside, Spirit, — Dashe warned, hefting his sword.
'I will not!' Raoden said. 'I asked you a question-did you learn nothing from what just happened?'
'We aren't sculptors,' Dashe said.
'That doesn't matter,' Raoden replied. 'Don't you understand the opportunity you have living in Elantris? We have a chance here that no one outside can ever achieve-we are free.'
'Free?' scoffed someone from Aanden's group.
'Yes, free.' Raoden said. 'For eternity man has struggled just to fill his mouth. Food is life's one desperate pursuit. the first and the last thought of carnal minds. Before a person can dream, he must eat. and before he can love, he must fill his stomach. But we are different. At the price of a little hunger, we can be loosed from the bonds that have held every living thing since time began.'
Weapons lowered slightly, though Raoden couldn't be certain if they were considering his words, or just confused by them.
'Why fight?' Raoden asked. 'Why worry about killing? Outside they fight for wealth-wealth that is ultimately used to buy food. They fight for land-land to raise food. Eating is the source of all struggle. But, we have no needs. Our bodies are cold-we barely need clothing or shelter to warm us-and they continue on even when we don't eat. It's amazing!'
The groups still eyed each other warily. Philosophic debate wasn't a match for the sight of their enemies.
'Those weapons in your hands,' Raoden said. 'Those belong to the outside
world. They have no purpose in Elantris. Titles and class, those are ideas for another place.
'Listen to me! There are so few of us that we can't afford to lose a single one of you. Is it really worth it? An eternity of pain in exchange for a few moments of released hatred?'
Raoden's words echoed through the silent room. Finally, a voice broke the tension.
'I will join you,' Taan said, rising to his feet. His voice wavered slightly, but his face was resolute. 'I thought I had to be mad to live in Elantris, but madness was what kept me from seeing the beauty. Put down your weapons. men.'
They balked at the order.
'I said put them down.' Taan's voice grew firm, his short, large-bellied form suddenly commanding. 'I still lead here.'
'Baron Aanden ruled us,' one of the men said.
'Aanden was a fool,' Taan said with a sigh, 'and so was anyone who followed him. Listen to this man-there is more royalty in his argument than there ever was in my pretend court.'
'Give up your anger,' Raoden pled. 'And let me give you hope instead.'
A clank sounded behind him-Dashe's sword falling to the stones. 'I cannot kill today,' he decided, turning to leave. His men regarded Aanden's group for a moment. then joined their leader. The sword sat abandoned in the center of the room.
Aanden-Taan-smiled at Raoden. 'Whoever you are, thank you.'
'Come with me, Taan.' Raoden said. 'There is a building you should see.'
Chapter 17
Sarene strode into the palace dance hall. a long black bag on her shoulder. There were several gasps from the women inside. 'What?' she asked. 'It's your clothing, dear,' Daora finally answered. 'These women aren't accustomed to such things.'
'It looks like men's clothing!' Seaden exclaimed, her double chin jiggling indignantly.
Sarene looked down at her gray jumpsuit with surprise, then back at the collected women. 'Well, you didn't really expect us to fight in dresses. did you?' However, after studying the women's faces. she realized that that was exactly what they had expected.
'You have a long way to go here. Cousin,' Lukel warned quietly, entering behind her and taking a seat on the far side of the room.
'Lukel'?' Sarene asked. 'What are you doing here?'
'I fully expect this to be the most entertaining experience of the week,' he said, reclining in his chair and putting his hands behind his head. 'I wouldn't miss it for all the gold in Wyrn's coffers.'
'Me too.' Kaise's voice declared. The small girl pushed her way past Sarene and scuttled toward the chairs. Daorn. however, darted in from the side and hopped into Kaise's chosen seat. Kaise stamped her foot with pique, then, realizing that every chair along the wall was exactly the same, chose another.
'I'm sorry.' Lukel said with an embarrassed shrug. 'I was stuck with them.' 'Be nice to your siblings, dear,' Daora chided.
'Yes, Mother,' Lukel responded immediately.
Slightly put off by the sudden audience, Sarene turned to her prospective students. Every woman from the embroidery circle had come-even the stately Daora and the equally scatterbrained Queen Eshen. Sarene's clothing and actions might have mortified them. but their hunger for independence was greater than their indignation.
Sarene allowed the bag to slide off her shoulder and into her hands. One side opened with some snaps. and she reached inside to whip out one of her practice swords. The long, thin blade made a slight metallic scrape as she pulled it free, and the collected women shied away.
'This is a syre.' Sarene said. making a few slices in the air. 'It's also called a kmeer or a jedaver, depending on which country you're in. The swords were first crafted in Jaador as light weapons for scouts, but they fell into disuse after only a few decades. Then, however. the swords were adopted by Jaadorian nobility, who favored them for their grace and delicacy. Duels are common in Jaador, and the quick, neat style of syre fencing requires a great deal of skill.'
She punctuated her sentences with a few thrusts and swipes-mostly moves she would never use in a real fight. but ones that looked good nonetheless. The women were captivated.
'The Dulas were the first ones to turn fencing into a sport, rather than a means of killing the man who had decided to woo the same woman as yourself,' Sarene continued. 'They placed this little knob on the tip and dulled the blade's edge. The sport soon became quite popular amongst the republicans-Dula neutrality usually
kept the country out of war, and so a form of fighting that didn't have martial applications appealed to them. Along with the dulled edge and tip, they added rules that forbid the striking of certain body pans.
'Fencing skipped Arelon, where the Elantrians frowned upon anything resembling combat. but was very well received in Teod-with one notable change. It became a woman's sport. The Teoish men prefer more physical contests. such as jousting or broadsword fencing. For a woman, however, the syre is perfect. The light blade allows us to make full use of our dexterity and.' she added. eyeing Lukel with a smile, 'allows us to capitalize on our superior intelligence.'
With that, Sarene whipped out her second blade and tossed it to the young Torena, who stood at the front of the group. The reddish-gold-haired girl caught the sword with a confused look.
'Defend yourself.' Sarene warned, raising her blade and falling into an attack stance.
Torena brought up the syre clumsily, trying to imitate Sarene's posture. As soon as Sarene attacked. Torena abandoned the stance with a yelp of surprise. swinging her syre in wild two-handed sweeps. Sarene easily batted the girl's sword away and placed a thrust directly between her breasts.
'You're dead,' Sarene informed her. 'Fencing does not depend on strength; it requires skill and precision. Only use one hand-you'll have better control and reach that way. Turn your body a little to the side. It allows for a greater lunging distance and makes you more difficult to hit.'
