As they came at him he struck them each in turn, disintegrating them until only one was left. As it came at him again, he seized it with his own mind, halting its advance.
'Alright, Kale, where are you?'
Then he sensed someone coming from behind to attack and he turned to find nothing again. Realizing another trick he turned back in time to meet the real attacker's ignited kemsticks. The dark clad figure was furiously flourishing double sticks at him. He tried to meet the strikes, but they were so fast the light blurred together like a wall of neon in the dark. How had his attacker masked his presence so well and made Wynn sense other creatures instead?
Wynn was beginning to lose ground in the fight and pushed out with his mind against the attacker. The figure sailed backward through the air, flipped over under control and landed on his feet again. Then he linked the ends of the kemsticks together, forming a staff with kemblades at either end.
The attacker sent the staff spinning at his head. He ducked below as it passed inches over his head and thrust the tip of his blade upward to slice both of the linked hilts. The weapon fell into pieces as the dispersion fields shut down and it spun off to the ground. Wynn looked back to find Kale was gone.
'So, trying to get a little surprise practice in, hmm?' he said to himself as he extinguished his blade with a sly smile and walked back into his house. He was amazed by the young man's ability to disguise his presence and trick Wynn's senses so effectively. I think the trials tomorrow will be very interesting indeed.
WHEN Mirah had prepared the morning meal she called for Tiet, then she walked to their son's room to call him. The door opened, and beyond, in the large room that contained a bed, some personal effects and room enough for personal training-sat her thirteen year old son, Kale, polishing up his personal set of kemsticks. He didn't look up as she came in.
'Good morning, Mother.'
'Are you hungry Sweetheart?'
'In a minute. I have to finish prepping for the trials.'
'Today's the day, are you excited?'
He looked back and smiled then. 'Is Father eating a big breakfast? He's going to need it today!'
'I think your father has been ready for this day since the day you were born.'
'He won't go easy on me, will he?'
'He loves you more than just about anyone. Knowing how much this means, he won't let up at all.'
'Good.'
Mirah turned and walked back to the dining room, leaving Kale to finish his preparations. This day was the biggest day in a young Barudii's life; the trials confirmed one as a man and a warrior, worthy to fight in real combat if necessary.
He had eagerly awaited the coming of this day, his thirteenth birthday, for several years now as he trained side by side with his father and Wynn Gareth. Though they were the only three Barudii known to be living, the tradition of training and trials to manhood continued.
He was looking forward to this. He was required by tradition to fight a group of elder warriors and since Wynn and his father were the only ones available they would be the ones to fight. According to archives on the trials, very few of the young warriors facing the test ever defeated the elders testing them. They only were expected to show their abilities as young men. But Kale had no such expectation; he planned to surprise his elders today.
COMMANDER Zurig looked at himself in the mirrored door of the lift as he ascended to his private meeting with the Vice Commander of Armed Services, Estall of the Aolene clan. He opened his mouth and examined the inner lining of his mouth and teeth which shifted tones quickly to pink flesh from a greenish hue that was not human. His eyes glared, then settled to the appearance of the man Zurig had once been when he was still completely human-that had not been so long ago.
The lift stopped at the appropriate floor of the auspicious Gladstone tower where the Vice Commander had his residence. Zurig was one of the few men able to gain such a meeting with Estall and that was very important. It was exactly the reason Lucin had chosen to use his form for the task. He had told Estall that the meeting was necessary because of dissension that was building within the Council of Twelve and the Vorn constituents under them concerning the rule of King Tiet.
And while there was truly a dissension building among the council, Lucin knew exactly what forces were at work to cause it and was glad for it. Now it was necessary to add another piece of the puzzle for gaining the power he wanted. Everything was going according to his plan.
He walked out of the lift and found the door to Estall's quarters, which just happened to take up the entire twentieth floor of the tower. Two guards were in place at the entrance, but they quickly stepped aside when they recognized Zurig. After all, he was their commanding officer. One of them entered the proper code and the foyer door slid open allowing him to enter. The door beyond was partially of glass and Estall himself answered it.
He motioned for Zurig to come inside as he greeted him in civilian attire.
'How are you doing, my friend?'
'Well, as you know, things are disturbing of late.'
'Yes, I know.'
'I fear things may turn worse than we've expected. The Council has all been challenging the king's decisions regarding the rule of the Vorn. And the rift between the Castillian population and the Vorn population has been growing as well. The word on the street among the Vorn civilians is that they should have someone from among their own race ruling over them.'
Estall listened, his expression grim.
'I don't know how long it will be before the council makes an outright move to disassociate themselves from Tiet's leadership and elect their own.'
'It still doesn't seem hopeless to me,' said Estall. 'The Vorn warriors within the military are still loyal to the king. That has to have a positive influence on the whole situation.'
'I'm not sure that will do it; you may be a bit detached from the men as the Vice Commander. My own observations have been more telling. Behind closed doors many of the Vorn warriors are changing their views about Tiet and that's probably due to their civilian loved ones and loyalty to the all Vorn council.'
'I had no idea it had gotten so far even among my warriors. What can we do, Zurig?'
'Perhaps we can maintain some control over the situation if Tiet were persuaded to make some of the concessions the Council has been asking him for.'
'He'll never give in to those demands!' said Estall. 'Frankly, they're ridiculous.'
'I understand what you're saying, but if he doesn't compromise with them, we could be looking at best at a break between our races again and at worst a civil war.'
'Do you really think they would take it that far?'
'If they feel as strongly about the issues as they're presenting to the public, then who knows what they'll do.'
'They've already created a rift between themselves and the Horva; all the Horva took their families and settled back near Nagon-Toth because of it. It's just racial hatred, pure and simple, and there was never a good reason for it. The Horva made peace with us and they would never attack us.'
'That may be so, but the Vorn still perceive a threat and they're acting on their beliefs; right or wrong,' said Zurig. 'And with Tiet unwilling to break his affiliations with Grod and the Horva, what else can we expect?'
Estall still looked grim as he got up. 'Excuse me a moment.'
He went to the restroom down the hall, leaving Zurig there on the sofa. But he did not remain there. When Estall opened the door of the restroom, Zurig was there glaring at him. Before he could ask the man what he wanted, Zurig's hand smashed into his face.
He proceeded to push him back into the restroom and the door shut behind him. His hand covered Estall's mouth as he shoved his head back into the mirror on the wall; cracking it upon its mount. Zurig's hand then proceeded to morph and push further into his throat. Estall struggled but his old friend had overwhelming strength to subdue him. A lack of oxygen soon claimed him as consciousness faded and all went black.
