“You are to be congratulated, Casmas,” I said. Well, at the least, a fat jolly widow was far more of a mate for him than the aloof beauty, Rosala of Match Urt. But I was not overmuch concerned with his affairs, and prompted him to tell me of wider events. It seemed that the ambitions of Hamal, ambitions I dubbed as insane, to extend its empire simultaneously to the south, the west, and across the sea to the north, had been temporarily checked. There was no joy in that for me, though; for the westward advance over the Mountains of the West had halted in frontier wrangling with the wild men. The southern advance over the River Os, which was the natural geographical southern boundary of Hamal, had been deliberately held up once the back of Nivendrin had been broken. A line would be established and held. Then the whole remaining weight of Hamalese power could be launched unchecked against the island of Pandahem.
Aye, I said to myself, and after Pandahem — Vallia!
“They are strange and ancient people, there below He of the Commendable Countenance,” said Casmas. He shook his fat head. “Old and uncommon beyond belief.” Well, I believed that to be true. All that vast area of Havilfar with its internecine warfare, its complex politics, its intermixed patterns of men and half-men, that whole area known, for obvious reasons, as the Dawn Lands, was terra incognita to me. One day, no doubt, I would visit and traverse those convoluted frontiers and journey among the relics of the civilizations of the Dawn.
But, here and now, a duel awaited me.
Casmas was of the opinion that the betting would be heavy. This surprised me. “But surely no one will give me a chance against Leotes?” Then I hurriedly corrected my slip. “Against Garnath?”
He chuckled. “Normally, no. But such is the fame of Leotes that there have been few duels in which he has been engaged since he wounded Rees. The betting will be on the artistry with which he dispatches you.” Casmas coughed, recollecting himself. “I crave your pardon, Amak. But the way of the world.” And again he spread those plump white hands.
“Well, bet on a victory for me, without side issues. If you discover anyone willing to bet on some fancy way in which Leotes may be seen off, let me know. I will accommodate you.”
He glanced at me obliquely. He was puzzled.
“I detect a change in you, Amak Hamun. You talk almost as though you expect to survive unscathed.”
“As far as the bets are concerned, Casmas, I shall win.”
He chose not to reply, dismissing that as mere wind; and I was content to ride in silence for a space.
Truth to tell the mere arranging of the duel had exhausted my interest in the matter. I yearned to place the fat golden deldys into Nulty’s hand and bid him collect his people and start for Paline Valley, as I myself would begin to discover the last secret of the cayferm. I had no ideas as yet on the best way of doing that beyond seeking out the gul Ornol and bribing him afresh.
The rest of the night passed as the arrangements for hiring the dueling hall were made, the bets placed, and the odds increasing all the time in my favor as people realized I was fool enough to think I could make a fight of it. Casmas attempted to restrain me as I accepted any and every bet. One man in a wine-reeking tavern waved his pewter pot and bet me I could not slice Leotes’ trousers away so that they fell in ribbons. “I will do that,” I said, and then remembered to smile and giggle foolishly. “I will cover your note to a thousand deldys, if needs be.”
Casmas gasped. The fellow, one Jefan from Nulvosmot, a not too savory town up in the northeast on the mainland near the Risshamal Keys, slopped his wine. “A thousand golden deldys?” He looked at me suspiciously. “You can cover the bet?”
“Better, perhaps, than you.”
“I own fish-processing plants, seaweed factories, more slaves than—” He stopped and drank, very flushed. Then he spat out: “A thousand, then! And Casmas is my witness.”
“Done!”
He was typical. I took bet after bet. They were like the chanks of the inner sea, greedily grasping after every last drop of blood. Casmas shook his head and noted the bets, for he would take a commission, and pronounced privately to me as we went to the next tavern: “You cannot possibly cover these wagers, Amak! That is transgressing the law.”
“I can cover them, Casmas. Do not fret. Just make sure you get the best odds.”
So it went on all that night, and the formal challenge by Vad Garnath’s seconds had not yet been given!
This was done first thing in the morning as I awoke from a light sleep. Nulty let them in and the business was concluded without ado. Rapier and main-gauche? Certainly. First blood, as the law required? Why, does that rast Garnath then desire a fight to the finish? It is in his mind. Then tell the cramph he must satisfy the law, that it is of no concern to me. As you wish. No, my fine friends, as you wish, for I will be satisfied with first blood, and will stop then. But the Vad, we understand, will fight to a finish. Him or Leotes, miserable crawling cramphs both.
They were nonplussed, these two popinjays in their fancy foppish dress and their affected manners; but it was understood and arranged and they left. They’d even bet me privately five hundred deldys apiece that I would lose, and in what manner Leotes would cut me up.
“Well, master,” said Nulty. “I know you are a swordsman. But you’ve become a boaster now.”
“True, friend Nulty, true. But to a purpose only, mind.”
Word came during the day that Vad Garnath had obtained a dispensation, seeing the serious nature of the challenge, that the duel might be fought to a finish, if necessary. The strict Hamalese laws would still operate, but much of their sting would be removed. This meant the Vad or Leotes could kill me with impunity. I returned an answer by the servant who brought the message that I would draw first blood.
Then an interesting permutation on the situation occurred in the arrival of a further pair of seconds. These came from Leotes ti Ponthieu, on his own account, challenging me. I accepted at once. “I’ll fight both the rasts, singly or both together!” I bawled out of the inn window at the departing backs of the seconds.
Uncouth, yes, refreshing — well . . .
The impression I had created and which remained was that I had been away taking rapier lessons and was now puffed with pride, more than half drunk. Any other explanation would have been far more sinister. Everyone believed implicitly that Leotes was the finest swordsman in Ruathytu, and would have no trouble with my new skills. They were right on one count; he was the finest swordsman among the sacred quarter rufflers. You know of my feelings about swordsmen. I have reached a certain age and a certain skill, but always I know that one day, possibly, I shall meet a greater master with the sword. When that day comes I look forward to the greatest and most enjoyable fight of my life. Leotes could be the man. He had never been extended here, not even by Rees. I did gamble, in very truth. There is precious little of chivalry or gallantry — strange bedfellows for me, I allow — in any Bladesman knowing he will always win, of boasting he is the finest swordsman in the world, or in two worlds in my case. Such a boaster merely murders his opponents. I faced each challenge as a fresh encounter in which I could be killed as easily as the other fellow.
The lure of easy gold had brought Leotes from Zenicce to Ruathytu. Also, I learned, he had been disappointed in his hopes of becoming House Champion for Ponthieu. So that meant there was at least one bravo-fighter of superior skill left still in Zenicce — and fighting for Ponthieu, Drig take him!
The night of the duel came. I had been to see Rees and Chido and had not spoken of the affair. But they knew. Their concern was distressing to me. I could not explain, but I told them not to worry — a footling sort of statement, by Vox! — and that I would see them as ever the next day. Chido’s father was coming up from their estates to see him, and Rees’s wife and twins, also. I felt a little surprise, not equating Rees with the cares and problems of matrimony and fatherhood.
“Ah, Hamun! Wait until you see my boy, by Krun! My little Reesnik! He is seventeen, a marvel! And” — here a huge, slobbering fatuous smile broke over Rees’s Numim face — “my darling Saffi!” His great golden mane glowed with the last of the streaming lights of Zim and Genodras flooding in through the open window.
“He has talked of nothing else, Hamun, since the news came.” Chido’s rib was mending, but he was still well strapped up.
“And it is fitting that I should, Chido, you fambly! My wife, the glorious Rashi, and my young boy, Roban, will be coming also. We are a family, I tell you, you bachelor scamp, of which any man might be proud.”
Rees was right, too. As a Trylon he had the responsibility of ensuring the line went on, and this Rees of his, this son, would have to fight and scheme his way to his father’s titles, as was the way of Kregen. Any man may begin the long trek of life’s journey in the gutter and by courage and skill and perseverance wind up a noble, a Vad or a Kov, or even a prince or king. Who better should know this than one such rascal called Dray Prescot?
Although, I added to myself as I left, and the addition was made somewhat briskly, I was nowhere near ready to wind up yet.
The dueling hall was packed. Bets were still being laid. The nobles and the Horters and their ladies crammed the seats and stood in every perch. The central space had even been a little restricted to afford more seating. The samphron-oil lamps glowed a mellow even light. I drew the attention of the judge to the decreased space of the dueling area. Before he could answer, Vad Garnath spoke with a contemptuous sneer.
“All the less space for you to run, yetch.”
I didn’t bother to answer.
My friends were there, my enemies were there. I had taken no second, and the judge well understood why. Nath Tolfeyr undertook the duties of a second but without the obligation to cross swords if I fell out. Everything was made ready. The buzz of excited conversation never stopped. These people were betting on the exact ways Leotes or Garnath would cut me up. No one gave any thought to the idea I might draw first blood.
I had insisted that Casmas should sit with Nath Tolfeyr at my end of the mat. He was busily taking bets, not trusting a stylor to do that for him. Next to Casmas sat a little dumpling of a woman, whose fashionable spread skirt revealed fat white thighs. I nodded in their direction. She squealed and gripped Casmas’ arm, and he turned absently, writing busily, and his thoughts came out even as he spoke.
“. . . Five hundred deldys, the odds being — Ah, my dear? No, do not fret. Everything is in perfect order.” And he turned back at a shout to take a paltry hundred sinvers on Leotes taking off my left ear before my right.
I knew the heavy bettors would have talked to Leotes and arranged with him his exact program of butchering me. These last minute wagers were from the marks ripe for the plucking.
The catcalling and abuse I endured! The way these painted and scented ninnies contumed me! All knew I was a weakling, a poltroon, for I had proved it a hundred times in the avoidance of an issue, the bypassing of an insult, the cowardly backing out of a challenge. And now I was boasting away about what I was going to do and taking huge bets on the outcome, backing myself. Well, they said among themselves, when I had lost I had better honor my debts and pay up. If I welshed it would be the Heavenly Mines for me, by Havil the Green!
Leotes stepped forward.
He had chosen to wear his Ponthieu colors of purple and ocher, and this made him a favorite with the crowd, for the queen’s personal colors were gold and purple. I wore plain black trousers, cut short to the knees, boots, and a white shirt from which most of the frilling had been removed. In addition, I had wound around my waist a wide cummerbund of brilliant scarlet. By Makki-Grodno’s worm-infested tripes! Let these ninnies take heed of that, if they could!
“So, Garnath,” I said loudly, over the hubbub. “You send your lackey to do the work first! Never fear, rast-nest, I shall meet you with great joy!”
“Yetch!” he bellowed, going crimson.
The judge demanded more dignity in this serious affair.
“Dignity is for men,” I shouted. “Not for nulshes like these offal of calsanys.”
Well, it was all good rousing stuff. The necessary formalities were gone through. Leotes was too much of a Bladesman to be prompted into anger. He was cool and professional. He said: “I shall cut you up, Hamun the Onker, as you deserve.”
Give him his due. He was a professional.
We crossed blades.
I felt the power in his wrist at once, and searched for his skill. Naturally I was using the finest of the rapiers and its matched main-gauche that Delia had given me. The blades rang and screeched, sliding and licking and parting. He essayed a strong but essentially simple series of passes and attacks. I met them all as the textbooks and the sword-masters prescribed. He smiled. He had heard I had been off taking lessons, and he read this defense as standard salles d’armes stuff. He pressed again, more warmly. Again I held him off without effort. When he committed himself, and it was for real, then I would know.
Our feet stamped up and down in perfect line. Our bodies held in balance, our arms in the regulation poses, rapier and dagger angled just so. The people had been yelling, for they expected Leotes to begin chopping me up at once. Now they gradually became silent and fell into complete absorption with the spectacle. I held him off, then let my dagger slide just that fraction off line that would indicate an opening. He saw it, he feinted and pressed in, and I, confidently expecting a neat lunge finished with a flick to cut my exposed ear, instead barely managed to scrape my rapier up and across as his dagger flashed to my chest.
He leaped back, surprised he had missed.
I cursed. He’d been aiming to remove the last frills of my shirt, a nice showy beginning to the cutting-up process. But he’d almost had me. I could not afford to give any more free openings. Then he pressed in earnest, and I discovered how good this bravo-fighter from Zenicce really was.
He was good — very, very good.