Aphrodite's Acolyte (20 page)

The captain whispered to himself. “You met as enemies and now are friends. The best bonds are formed in such a manner. Well done, Fidel. Well done.”

Abby stopped the duo shortly after leaving the training ground. She mockingly asked, “Is play time over?” Fidel and Noxater looked at each other and smiled appreciatively. Abby's voice turned flat and absolute as she said, “Okay, I challenge the winner tomorrow then. I also need practice.”

The corners of Fidel's lips turned up in a smirk, his voice flat. “Challenge accepted.”

Abby smiled and nodded, then pulled her daggers and spun them in circles, faster than Fidel's eyes could see. “I look forward to it then!”

Fidel watched as she worked the blades quickly and with precision. “Can I change my mind?”

The smile on Abby's face grew. “Sure, as long as I get to tell the camp you refused a female challenger.”

Fidel laughed. “I would rather get beaten by a girl in public than be mocked in private. We're on!” The trio laughed together and headed over to the mess tent to get some nourishment.

Fidel watched Abby on the way. He questioned his mind on  how the match would go the next day. He seriously thought he was not going to win. He considered Abby's temperament and grew worried. All he could do was shake his head at his prideful acceptance of the challenge. He knew Abby would do everything to win. That  scared him.

Abby turned around and caught Fidel staring. She noticed the slight concern on his face and chuckled. “Don't worry Fidel, I won't cut you.” Fidel shrugged his shoulders and puffed out his chest, displaying a false air of confidence. His only thought was,
Thanks
.

The next day, the trio met at the training field. Abby dressed in her usual black leather gear, while Fidel wore his metalized brown leather outfit, a set of gear he had not been covering with his usual blue and red travel robe lately. Fidel's dress this day differed from the previous as he was wearing an emerald crested belt, a gift from his Puldechran father.

Abby was in the middle of the field, executing many spurious attack routines. Her movements grabbed more than the attention of Noxater and Fidel, who were standing on the side of the field.

After a few moments of admiration, Noxater turned to Fidel. “Good luck, elf. Yer goin' to need it wit' that one.”

Fidel looked down at Noxater, whose face was serious. Noxater nodded and shrugged in an apologetic manner, a slight grin on his face. Fidel sarcastically thanked Noxater for his vote of confidence and headed into the makeshift battle arena.

Abby saw the less than enthusiastic approach and started her taunts. She smirked. “Are you ready to lose to a girl?”

Fidel replied, “About as ready as possible. Let's do this!”

He held out his staff with both hands, parallel to the ground. Abby slapped both daggers on the staff, the couple's official handshake for the start of the bout completed.

Abby came in quick, her arms moving faster than the eye could see due to her emerald crested daggers. Fidel moved just as quick, his alloyed metal staff picking off a dagger high and low. He spun the staff over and over, keeping it moving and using it to control the quick rogue's movements by advertising his intent. Abby fell for the ruse, attacking opposite the direction of the spins in efforts to penetrate expected holes in the elf's defenses.

The speed in which the elf could reverse directions on his spins and block the daggers shocked Abby, as-if he was expecting her attacks.

After a few slashes, she figured out the elf's routine. “Clever elf!” she called to Fidel.

She changed her routines to unpredictable movements, giving no consideration to Fidel's staff twirling showmanship. Fidel found himself struggling to defend against the woman's onslaught of stabs, jabs, and slashes. On several occasions, he barely got the staff up to block and ended up hitting her fingers instead of metal, her blades within an inch of striking. Abby took the blocks in stride and continued to work the elf high and low, waiting for him to slow down just enough to strike.

Abby forced Fidel to back step over and over, forcing the elf to defense. Fidel spun the staff, blocking the woman's incessantly hungry blades from striking home. Abby changed her routines so much the elf wasn't finding any break in her offensive. Metal clangs rang throughout the field and the cheers from the warrior onlookers clearly showed favor for the human female. Fidel smiled at the thought of the men cheering on the woman, something inside him happy about the acceptance of this particular female.

Abby came in high with both her blades aligned to Fidel's shoulders. Fidel saw his opening and dropped to his knees, spinning his staff low in the process. Abby was off-balance and unable to spring when the staff made contact with her shins, tossing her hard to the ground, a move she should have anticipated by the agile elf. As she hit the ground, her daggers flew free from her hands. Fidel hopped up and placed his staff over the rogue's head, offering an easy surrender. The look in Abby's eyes told him there would be no easy win.

As Fidel launched his final strike, Abby used both her legs to push off Fidel's shins, his deathblow landing in the dirt where Abby once resided. Abby rolled over and retrieved one of her daggers. Fidel gave chase and continued striking at the rolling female. Quicker than he anticipated, Abby continued to roll and somersault across the field, dodging every attack he made, and was able to retrieve her final dagger in the process.

Fidel spun the staff over his head, intending to use a method of attack to land his staff parallel to the ground and sideswiping an opponent, a very difficult maneuver to defend, for most. But most are not a seasoned late twenties human rogue. Abby dropped into the splits as Fidel's staff howled over her head. She jabbed her daggers below the elf's waist, the metal clang of her daggers on the elf's enchanted leather. Fidel looked down at the rogue as she kept her daggers in their hit scoring positions, one in his kneecap and the other in his groin. He dropped his staff where he stood as the crowd cheered at the rogue's victory.

Fidel offered a hand to help Abby to her feet. Abby accepted with a grin on her face. Once Abby was to her feet, Fidel held her arm up and showed her off to the contingent of onlookers. The cheers went louder and the applause of the camp clearly agreed with the winner of the match.

Captain Sizod, standing on the sideline and watching the last half of the fight, called out to Fidel and Abby, requesting their presence in his tent. Fidel and Abby brushed the dirt from their attire as they made their way to the captain's tent with Noxater in tow. The dwarf mocked Fidel all the way, until Abby asked if he would like a match. Noxater's response was simple as he completely avoided the question, “Oh look, we're here!”

The trio entered the tent and the captain welcomed them. He offered up a thank you for allowing him to witness the trio's battle abilities over the past couple days. “I know how to best use you in tomorrow's assault on Pravas. You won't serve us well in the organized advances. No offense, but you are not military attackers. You have a solitary method which means you need solitary goals.” The trio looked to each other, at first wanting to refute the captain's observations but each coming to the conclusion his assessment was fair.

Fidel placed his staff in his pack. “Where do we fit in?”

The captain pulled out a rather detailed map of Pravas' compound and went over the details of the attack and their corresponding goals. Fidel was assigned to take the field of battle first, directing attention to himself and goad the enemy army to surround him with as many soldiers as possible.

Noxater was instructed he would take the eastern flank, specifically the minotaur camp. Abby was assigned the task of sneaking past all guards to release Cap from his imprisonment. The rest of the assault was explained, the advancing being slow and absolute with no intention of enemy survivors. The trio agreed with their roles and left Captain Sizod to finish the plans.

The trio of warriors made their way toward the mess tent to get a bite to eat for lunch when a familiar voice was heard from their rings. “Fidel Austempes, your friend's company has been entertaining but surely we can make an arrangement.” The trio stopped abruptly as the taunting voice of Pravas Medeis jabbed at them.

Fidel took up his ring and responded, his voice a low growl, “I'm listening.”

Pravas made her offer, “You have an amulet in which you used to steal my efforts. The return of the amulet will free your elven companion.” Fidel looked to Noxater and Abby, both of which shook their heads in disagreement with the offer.

Fidel nodded in agreement but continued to entertain the deal. “If I return the amulet, you would free Cap? That sounds like a fair deal. But what of your uses for this amulet, sorceress? What is your intention then?”

The trio heard the witch cackle. “My designs are my own, Fidel of Harlow's Hovel. I will rule this land in time, do not doubt that! Perhaps you need some more persuasion!”

Fidel, Abby, and Noxater heard Cap's screams through their rings, a clear sign of Cap's imprisonment and torture by the vile hag. Fidel could feel his anger rising as his friend's screams were being broadcast over the rings. Abby placed a hand on Fidel's shoulder, reminding the elf of his commitment to the group. His heart and mind were torn between rushing to his friend's aid and keeping to the plans set forth just a few minutes earlier. Cap's agonizing shrieks resided after what seemed like several minutes.

Pravas' voice returned over the magical intercom, “Do we have an accord?”

Fidel swallowed hard, knowing his voice was going to transmit across several kingdoms. He feared the crushing blow to his friend's psyche as his words fell on Cap's ears. He imagined the look of disappointment in his father's faces as he was going to reject a friend over duty. He stood frozen, his eyes filled with salty water, the subsequent tears rolled down his cheek. His heart fell to his stomach. He couldn't speak. He couldn't bring himself to reject his friend. He slowly brought the ring to his mouth, his lips quivering as he struggled to find the words. He stared at Abby with a look of helplessness. Abby nodded her head in understanding, offering strength to his conscience.

Fidel found the strength to respond. “I...”

A dwarven hand reached up and pulled Fidel's hand from his mouth, placing the ring to the dwarf's lips. “Now ye did it Pravas! The elf is en route wit' bright verdigris eyes and contempt in his step! Prepare yerself for thee wrath of Fidel the Dwarf Beater! He has made his choice. He carries thee amulet ye seek.”

The dwarf looked into Fidel's eyes, his orange orbs easing the elf's ire. The dwarf signaled to the elf to deactivate the ring's transmissions. Fidel complied then stood visibly shaking in the company of the dwarf and human companion.

Noxater smiled at Fidel, “Is called a ruse, elf. Ye don't always have to be honest with yer enemies. Actually, ye should avoid it when ye can.” With the last remark, the dwarf gave a hearty slap on the elf's back. “Now let's go to thee Captain Sizod, I believe 'is will change thee strategy of thee forthcoming battle.”

The trio returned to the captain's tent and filled him in on the details of the exchange. Captain Sizod gave a very sympathetic look to Fidel after hearing the news. “I've been in that position before, Fidel. Choosing duty over love is not an easy decision. I appreciate your adherence to your honor.”

The captain and Noxater spoke for a while, discussing the possibility that the lack of Fidel's arrival could lead to Pravas' taking the offensive and marching on the camp. The group formulated defensive plans to fortify their current position. Scouts were doubled within the hour to keep a consistent flow of reports regarding the silver camp's activities. The trio, still hungry, made their way to the mess tent to eat their lunch.

The next day, the troops from Puldechra and Harlow's Hovel arrived. Regiments of thousands densely populated the camp and expanded the borders. Fidel, Abby, and Noxater spent the entire day sparring in the training ground, Fidel showing the many spell directing abilities Methvas taught him back in Harlow's Hovel.

Noxater faced off against Fidel and requested Fidel to use his magic. Fidel and Noxater exchanged a few blows and parries before Fidel unleashed a paralyzing spell through his staff. As Noxater's axe slammed into the staff, he felt the energy transfer from the staff to his axe, then up through his arms. His axe dropped as he could no longer control his arms. The look on his face turned up in surprise as the magic filled his body and rendered him unable to move.

The elf stood over him and smiled. “That's my favorite!”

The dwarf could only sit helpless for a few minutes until the spell wore off. Finally in a sitting position, the dwarf could respond. “Aye, elf, that one is definitely good fer melee.” The dwarf rose back to his feet and retrieved his axe.

The primary assault group continued to spar for the rest of the day, Abby and Noxater allowing Fidel's magic to both aid and defeat them at will so the elf could gain more focus. The regiments of the new arrivals often stopped by and watched for a few minutes. They commented quite often on the colorful flashes emitted from the magically charged staff every time Fidel blocked or attacked.

That evening, the trio sat around the main fire of the camp, talking with the various brave allies joining them. Fidel noted the feeling of the eve of a major battle. The soldiers all recalling their loved ones and their reasons for fighting. The mood was heavy with burden but absolute in direction.