Second Guard (27 page)

Angered now, the guard jumped into the air and swung his right leg around to cut Tali down. She ducked beneath it, but he followed through with a surprise reverse, his heel catching her ribs.
She fell to the ground like a sapling cracked by an axe. When he advanced to step on her chest and finish it, Tali rolled into his legs, taking him down with her. Both scrambled to right themselves
once more.

Tali felt as if she’d been kicked by a horse. Dust from the arena filled her nostrils and she tried to smooth her breathing as they circled one another. Keep moving and push through the
pain, she told herself, calling upon the endurance lessons from Jaden. Her opponent’s face flashed anger, his dark eyes riveted on her own. He’s dangerous now, Tali realized. He just
got taken down by a girl and he’s furious about it.

When he moved again, he did so with a vengeance. This time he used his greater height and weight to barrel into Tali, grabbing both of her wrists and pushing her backward. He slipped a foot
behind her ankle and took her down hard, his strong hands locking her wrists in a move that could easily snap them. A countermove would ensure it. She was trapped. Tali blew a frustrated breath,
then tapped out with her foot. The bell rang to signal the end of the spar, and her opponent dropped a heavy foot on her chest. It was over.

Instead of helping Tali to her feet, the guard turned to raise his hands to the cheering crowd. When Tali pulled herself up from the dirt, the crowd roared even louder. Tali looked around in
disbelief. Chey, Zarif, Rona, Bernat, and the rest of the pledges were all on their feet chanting “Tali! Tali! Tali!” Their raucous enthusiasm spread to the rest of the arena. Tali
grinned, suddenly more grateful than she’d ever been for her Alcazar companions.

She looked for Saraky and gave a small start when she saw Jaden standing next to him. When had he arrived? The two centurios rewarded Tali with formal bows, and her heart swelled with pride at
the acknowledgment. She may have lost the battle, but she had not gone down easily. Her opponent, clearly displeased by this turn of events, gave a customary bow in her direction, then turned his
back and stalked out of the arena. Tali shrugged. That one could stand a few lessons from my friends, she thought, heading happily toward the proud faces of Chey and Zarif.

Chey’s weaponry battle at noon that day resulted in a similar outcome. He held his own and quite a bit longer than the other two Alcazar pledges, but was soundly defeated all the same. He
had taken a particularly bad hit on his upper arm, which Tali insisted on icing while they watched Zarif compete later that afternoon. Both of them had to admit that the horsemanship competitions
were a welcome change from the “ground and pound” battles of hand combat and the “slice and strike” of weaponry.

Each horsemanship course presented a different challenge for the two contenders, who raced each other around the arena, jumping fences, ducking nets, and dodging obstacles. The first to complete
the course and collect three of the Queen’s colorful scarves, which hung from various contraptions, each more difficult to reach than the last, would be declared the victor. Tali knew that
Zarif harbored high hopes to be the only pledge ever to win a battle at the Clash, and if anyone could do it, it was certainly him. His competitor, however, was nimble in her saddle and faster than
light.

The two went neck and neck through most of the course, Zarif just a length behind her in the final stretch. Tali forgot all about Chey’s bruised arm and clutched it furiously. The last
scarf was mounted atop a tall scaffolding. She’ll never reach it, she’s too short, Tali thought excitedly. Zarif will win! But the brave guard made the crowd roar in delight when she
stood upon her saddle, her horse still in motion, to grasp the scarf and claim the victory. Even Tali and Chey could not help but stand and cheer for her, and the crowd gave Zarif a great round of
applause as well for a worthy performance.

While the arena cleared, Tali and Chey made their way down to the outskirts of the walls, where Zarif and the other pledges were assembling. Now that the exhibition matches were over, it was
time for all pledges who competed in the Clash to make an oath before the Queen on behalf of their fellow pledges at the Alcazar. Tali stood between Zarif and Chey outside the arena, fussing with
their uniforms. Tali dusted off Chey’s left shoulder, and scanned her own dull tunic for wrinkles, ironing them down with her hand.

A horn blasted and the pledges filed through the broad mouth of the arena, the small crowd of spectators clapping respectfully. Filing in behind Commander Telendor, the nine pledges marched onto
the field, where Queen Twenty-two, Princess Xiomara, and the centurios of the realm stood waiting.

“My Queen,” Telendor’s voice rang out as the audience hushed. “I present the pledges of the Second Guard.”

“Do you find them worthy of the Oath of Guilds?” she asked.

“I am proud to offer them to the realm, Your Highness,” he answered, then nodded to the pledges.

One by one, the pledges bent their left knee into the soft dirt of the arena, then raised their right hand, touching thumb to pointer finger in the sign of the realm.

“What is your oath?” the Queen asked, beginning the customary exchange. The pledges answered in a single voice and Tali lifted her chin as she said the words, praying she would
always live up to them.

Afterward, the three friends, relieved to have their battles behind them, made a round of visits to their favorite Sun Guild merchants before returning to the arena for the
highly anticipated evening program. The stadium had filled to the brim, as no one wanted to miss the famous Procession of Centurios. As Tali and her friends fought their way through the crowd,
several civilians and guards called out to them with a congratulatory word or a slap on the back. This pleased Tali more than she would have liked to admit, and she only wished that her father and
Nel were there to see her.

A moment after they took their seats, a conch shell sounded the start of the procession. A parade of hand drummers entered first, pounding out a slow rhythm on the drums
strapped to their waists. The crowd leapt to their feet as Commander Telendor marched in, followed by four columns of twenty-five centurios. The arena erupted in a huge roar.

Tali picked out the four Alcazar centurios from the procession, all looking magisterial in their formal Guard uniforms. Jessa’s iron brassard gleamed brilliant with firestones, signifying
her many years of service, as did the armbands of Abelino and Saraky. In comparison, Jaden’s one firestone almost made him look like a boy, though he stood tall and strong, his confidence
evident even at a distance.

When the clamor finally died down, one by one the centurios began to kneel before the Queen and the princess, who had left their dais to stand in the arena. Following Second Guard tradition,
each centurio declared which battle they would compete in the following day to prove their worth as warriors. Some centurios, especially the older ones, handed over their swords to the Queen to
retire themselves from the Guard. The crowd honored these men and women with standing ovations for their service to the realm, and Tali’s heart swelled, hoping one day she might be among the
ranks of these noble warriors.

Their seats afforded them a perfect view of the proceedings, and now that the Queen and princess had left their dais thrones, Tali could well see why the boys were so smitten. The Queen wore a
white gown that seemed to glow under the torches, the bodice cut low, showing off a string of jewels draped around her neck. Her jet-black hair had been piled atop her head in an elegant design of
curls and braids that showcased a gold crown laden with emeralds. Her cousin, Xiomara, wore a similar gown of white in the Moon Guild tradition, though she wrapped herself more modestly in a shawl
of crimson. She wore no jewelry, nor crown, but her long dark hair was laced with red blossoms that matched her shawl and lips.

They’re both radiant, Tali thought, this time with pride rather than irritation. Commander Telendor stood to the right of the Queen, his crisp blue uniform cutting a compelling contrast to
the women he served.

When Jaden stepped forward to take his turn before the Queen, Tali felt her muscles tense. The warrior before her had taught her so much, yet what secrets did he hide from all of them? She
exchanged a quick look with Chey and Zarif as the crowd cheered for Telendor’s son. Their fellow pledges jumped to their feet, hollering with pride. The Queen lifted her arms to hush the
crowd, which instantly obeyed. Instead of taking his knee directly before Queen Twenty-two, Jaden knelt in the small space between the Queen and the princess.

“Centurio Jaden, which of the three tournaments shall you claim this year? Last year you took your first victory in horsemanship. Which shall you choose this time to win your second year
as my centurio?”

Jaden rose from his position and gave a slight bow. His dark hair curled around the edges of his angled face. He is comely, that much is certain, Tali admitted, watching the princess smile shyly
at Jaden. Jealousy pinched Tali unexpectedly, and she pressed the feeling back.

“All three, if you will give me leave to do so,” Jaden answered.

The crowd cheered enthusiastically, and again the Queen raised her hands to hush them.

“I am sure you are aware that only your father,” she said, nodding toward Telendor on her right, “has ever competed in all three battles of the Clash…and won.”

“Well aware,” Jaden said, bowing to his father. “I hope to make the triple victory a Telendor tradition.”

“Then may the favor of the Gods be with you,” the Queen said, putting her hand upon his shoulder.

The crowd would not be calmed after that. Even Tali could not resist the air of excitement. It would be the Clash of Warriors that would be talked about for years to come.

I
s the Clash always this crowded?” Tali asked a coffee merchant from Porto Sol. As a trader, Tali was used to the press of crowds and the
noise that came with festivals, but she was overwhelmed by the great throng of people who had gathered since early morning to witness the final day of the Clash. People of every guild, age, and
size roamed the stalls, spending their coin on breakfast and snacks to take with them for the long day in the arena. Children pulled and tugged on their parents, leading them from one sweet delight
to the next.

“Crowded, yes, but never like this,” the merchant answered, wiping his palms on a wide apron that seemed to accentuate his girth. “Though I will not complain one bit for the
business!” Tali barely had time to thank him for the hot coffee before being swept inside the arena by the wave of people.

All day Tali and her friends watched the Clash under the bright eye of Intiq. The horsemanship tournament took place first. The course had been redesigned for the centurios, with more than twice
the obstacles and jumps Zarif had faced. The horses’ coats had been wiped down with oil to make them gleam, their manes and tails braided with colorful ribbons. The riders themselves, decked
out in their Second Guard uniforms, rode smartly and sharply through the challenging course.