“What? Why?”
“We’re not to that stage of the relationship.”
Karat stared at her. “Have you ever?”
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“No.”
“That’s absurd. How do you know you’re compatible? How could he ask
you to marry him without first verifying this?”
“You would have to ask him,” Maud growled.
“What were you doing all that time in his rooms?”
“Helen watched a movie. We talked. It was sweet.”
“So, you took the child with you? We thought you left her in your
rooms… Wait.” Karat paused. “Did you just say my cousin was
sweet? Arland Krahr? The Bloodmace? The Crusher? The Ravager of
Nexus? That Arland?”
“Yes. He was sweet and there was no ravaging.” The way he looked at
her last night gave her no doubt he wanted to. She wanted to as well,
but something held her back. She was like a bridled horse. Every time
she thought about it, something tugged on the reins and made her stop.
Karat leaned back and laughed. “That is so not like him. Poor, poor
Arland. So far gone.”
Maud sighed. “The problem isn’t your cousin. The problem is me. He’s
giving me time.”
Karat sobered up. “Yes, of course.”
“Is there a point in you coming here and waking me up?”
“Yes.” All mirth drained from Karat’s face. “Lady Ilemina requests your
presence at the Ladies Communal this morning.”
Figured. Maud squared her shoulders. She knew it was coming and here
it was. There was no escape.
“Do you have practice armor?” Karat asked.
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“I’ll wear my usual set.”
“Probably for the best. You’ll need it. You have about twenty minutes to
get ready. We’ll need to collect Helen as well. She’ll have the labor duty,
because of the fight in the same area.”
“We’ll get dressed,” Maud said.
#
“Here we go.” Karat stopped by the doorway to a large chamber. The
older sentinel who’d brought Helen to the feast hall waited in the
doorway. Beyond the doorway children played on floor.
The sentinel’s blue eyes sparkled slightly with hidden humor. “Lady
Helen.”
Lady Helen squared her tiny shoulders. “I’m here for repercussions.”
“Indeed.” The older vampire produced a small brush and a tube filled
with blue gel. “You will squeeze some gel on the floor and scrub it with
your brush until all the dirt is removed. You will clean ten stone squares
of the floor. You will remain here until your task is complete.”
Helen took the little brush and the tube, held her head high, and went
inside.
Behind her Maud saw another figure on the floor with an identical brush,
his left arm in a plasticast. Vampire justice knew no mercy.
“She will be fine,” Karat told her. “Come.”
They strode ten yards down the hallway to the large wide-open
doors. Beyond the doors lay a lawn of turquoise grass, flooded with
golden sunshine and bordered by ornamental trees. A three-foot stone
wall encircled the lawn, clearly part of a parapet. Beyond the wall, across
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the stretch of empty air, towers and castle walls rose. They were on top
of a mid-level tower.
Vampire women sparred on the grass with practice weapons. Several
watched the sparring. To the side a table stood with refreshments. A
typical Ladies Communal. They would beat up on each other for an hour
or so, then drink and gossip. She quite enjoyed Communals before she
became a pariah. Once she had proved herself, they were a nice way to
catch up with everyone. Today wouldn’t be pleasant. Today they would
throw her to the dogs, expecting her to cringe and submit. It was a test,
one she had to pass.
Traditions dictated that both genders stayed away from each other’s
Communials. She was on her own.
Karat stopped by the rack of practice weapons.
“We’re going to do this nice and easy,” she said under her breath. “You
and I will spar, then we will drink some fruity drinks, and go back. Don’t
worry.”
They really didn’t think much of her.
Maud tried the first sword. Too heavy. Too long. Too short. Weighted
every minute detail. Their edges weren’t exactly sharp, but you could
draw blood with one. She’d done it before. The blade left a red mark on
the armor. It would fade with time, but it was an easy way to keep score
and many Communals resulted in a long examination of red marks and
whether or not the wound would be fatal if a live weapon had been used.
The main danger lay in being bashed with one. A skilled thrust could also
cause internal injury despite the armor.
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There. She found a blade similar to her own. Karat selected a longer,
heavier sword, then eyed her choice and went for the shorter
blade. Really, now.
Karat strolled to a spot in the grass and hefted her blade.
Maud positioned herself. “I don’t see any vampires from the other
Houses here.”
“This is a Krahr affair.”
“I feel so flattered to be invited.”
Karat swung her blade and took a deliberately slow lunge.
Maud looked at her. “I’m not going to dignify this with a parry.”
Karat straightened and hissed. “I’m trying to help you.”
A red-haired vampire marched toward them, green eyes blazing.
“There is a vampire walking toward us and she looks like she’s about to
run us over.”
Karat glanced over her shoulder. “Faron’s piss.”
“Is she here for you or me?”
“You.” Karat stepped into the vampire’s path. “Lady Konstana. You’re
interrupting.”
“Lady Maud!” Konstana pointed her sword at Maud. “Your mongrel
child broke my son’s arm.”
Oh. That.
“I wonder if you would be so kind to demonstrate to me how she has
done it.” Konstana bared her fangs.
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Around them other people stopped sparring and moved aside, clearing
the space. They had an audience now.
“Konstana,” Karat growled under her breath. “She’s a human and a
guest.”
“As you wish.” Maud said.
“Step aside, Karat,” Konstana ground out.
A muscle jerked in Karat’s face. “Do not presume to order me.”
“Alvina,” a female voice said.
Karat froze.
To the right of them, behind Karat, under a copse of trees four older
vampire women stood. The one who spoke was tall, with broad
shoulders, and a mane of blonde hair cascading all the way past her
waist. Her plain practice armor hugged her figure. Her grey eyes were
cold. Maud looked into them and saw ice.
“Let our guest partake of the Communal,” Lady Ilemina said.
Karat moved out of the way.
Maud walked a few steps farther to right, giving herself room.
“After I break your arms, you will apologize to me,” Konstana said. “For
taking up my valuable time.”
She was abo
ut two inches taller, probably thirty-five pounds or so
heavier than Maud, and the way she held her sword indicated the South
technique, which meant she would favor slash attacks. Right or left, that
was the question. Strike from the left would be better. It was a more
powerful attack.
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Maud tipped her sword up and checked the point. “Is it a habit of House
Krahr to waste time with empty threats?”
Konstana charged, slashing from left to right, aiming for a cut across the
chest. It was a good slash, fast and deadly. Maud parried, letting the
force of the attack slide off her blade, caught the woman’s wrist for a
second, yanking the arm into the perfect position, let go, and thrust her
own sword under Konstana’s forearm. Maud rolled her sword arm up
and over Konstana’s, trapping the vampire’s sword in her armpit. It
happened so fast, Konstana had no chance to react. The redirected
momentum of her own strike twisted her, and she went down to one
knee, Maud’s right hand on Konstana’s wrist, her left flat against the
elbow, locking it.
“You asked me how my daughter did it,” Maud said. “She did it just like
this.”
She hit the elbow. The elbow capsule popped with a loud crack as the
sheath around the joint tore. Konstana cried out. The women around
them winced and made sucking noises.
“Just like I taught her.” Maud let go and stepped away.
The vampire woman struggled to her feet, her arm hanging useless, and
swiped the sword from the ground with her left hand.
“Well fought, Lady Konstana,” Maud said.
The vampire woman unhinged her jaws. “Well fought, Lady Maud.”
“Well,” Lady Ilemina said. “That was quite stirring. I feel myself in need
of some exercise. Lady Maud, perhaps you would indulge me?”
Crap, crap, crap. Maud bowed. “I’m deeply honored.”
“Of course you are.” Lady Ilemina walked forward.
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Six feet six at least. Close to two hundred pounds. Like watching a tank
approach.
Thought skittered through Maud, running too fast. There was no way to
back down from the fight. Throwing the fight wasn’t an option
either. They had too many eyes on them, and Ilemina would definitely
view it as an insult. Winning the fight wasn’t an option, even if it was
possible, which it wasn’t. She couldn’t humiliate Arland’s mother. She
couldn’t let herself be humiliated. It would kill any chances she had for
being accepted, and after last night she wanted Arland more than ever.
What to do? How do I handle it?
Arland’s mother was the Preceptor of House Krahr and she got there
because she was the best leader. Vampires led from the front. That and
the two-page list of titles behind her name meant she would be a
superior fighter. Her strength would be overwhelming.
Maud tested the sword one more time, warming up. She was well
trained, but in a contest of pure strength, especially against a vampire
knight with decades of experience, she would lose. She relied on
surprise and dirty tactics, but thanks to Konstana, the cat was out of the
bag and the open grassy lawn presented no opportunity for ambush,
which meant she had only two things left in her corner: speed and
endurance.
I have to outlast her. That’s my only chance. Outlast her and exit the
fight with some grace.
Ilemina turned sideways, the blade of her sword held parallel to the
grass, raised her hand, and motioned with her fingers.
Oh great.
Maud thrust, light on her feet. Ilemina parried and struck from
above. Maud spun around, avoiding the blade by a hair, and slashed at
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Ilemina’s chest. The point of her blade grazed the armor, drawing a
bright red line for everyone to see.
“First blood!” Karat announced.
Crap.
Lady Ilemina laughed. It was the sound of pure menace.
Maud went cold.
You’ve got this. You can do this. Arland’s been the warlord for the last
six years, with Nexus being his first major command, which means it’s
been six years since Ilemina really had to get her sword dirty.
Arland’s mother charged. Her blade came crashing down, impossibly
fast. Maud dodged. Before she had a chance to counter, Ilemina
reversed. It was a beautiful move, but Maud had no time to admire
it. She dodged again, dancing around Ilemina.
Strike, dodge, strike, dodge.
Thrust. Maud parried, angling her blade, directing most of the force
downward. The kinetic punch reverberated through her arm all the way
into her shoulder. Ow.
A direct hit would break her bones. Maud was sure of it.
Ilemina thrust again and smashed her shoulder into Maud’s.
There was no place to go. Maud barely had time to brace. The impact
took her off her feet. She flew, spun her legs, and rolled to her feet in
time to jump away from Ilemina’s sword.
Arland’s mother chased her.
Dodge, dodge, dodge.
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Maud slid between the blows and sliced a diagonal gash across Ilemina’s
chest. The tip of the sword caught Arland’s mother’s neck. A drop of
blood swelled.
Oh no.
Ilemina charged.
The flurry of blows came too fast to dodge. The blade connected with
Maud’s ribs. Pain cracked in her side, dull not sharp – the armor held.
Ilemina struck again and again. All semblance of restraint was gone from
her face. She tore at Maud with single-minded intensity.
Ilemina’s blade came in a wide horizontal arc. Maud leaned backward,
so far, she almost toppled to the ground. All of the hair on the back of
her neck stood on end. If that sword hit her unprotected skull, she would
be dead.
This is no longer a practice fight.
Ilemina’s slash caught her left arm. Pain hammered into Maud.
She had to survive. She couldn’t abandon Helen.
Hold on, baby. Mommy won’t die.
The same sharp heat that always drowned her when their lives were in
danger swallowed Maud. She lunged forward. Ilemina’s sword whistled
past her. Maud reversed her grip and thrust the heavy pommel into
Ilemina’s throat.
Arland’s mother made a gargling noise and back handed her. The punch
spun Maud around. The sharp tang of her own blood wet Maud’s
tongue. She whirled and sliced at Ilemina.
They clashed across the field, cutting, striking, snarling, turning into a
whirlwind of blades. People scrambled out of their path. One of the
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refreshment tables loomed at Maud’s back. She jumped onto it and
kicked a glass pitcher at Arland’s mother. It took Ilemina a second to bat
it away with her sword. Maud used it to jump aside and dash, opening
the distance.
Arland’s mother bore down on her, attacking, tireless, like a machine.
Another hit. Another.
The world went slightly fuzzy. Maud shook it off and cut another red
useless wound across Ilemina’s side. Ilemina shoved her back. Maud
stumbled, dodging a thrust with not
hing to spare.
I can’t take much more. I have to end it or she’ll end me.
Ilemina delivered a vertical cut, followed it with another. In a split
second, Maud recognized the pattern. Arland’s mother reversed her
blade again. Instead of dancing away, Maud dropped to the ground,
planted her hands, and kicked at Ilemina’s left knee. The knee cap
cracked.
Ilemina snarled and kicked at her with her injured leg. Sweet Universe,
did she even feel pain? Maud saw the boot coming, curled up, took it, and
wrapped her legs around Ilemina, trying to take her to the ground.
Arland’s mother roared, bent down, and grabbed Maud’s arm, dragging
her up. It was like being lifted by a bobcat. Maud dropped her sword.
Ilemina jerked her up and Maud smashed both hands against Ilemina’s
ears. Ilemina screamed and flung her away, like she were a feral
cat. Maud sprinted to the practice rack and grabbed a sword. It was too
heavy, but there wasn’t time to be picky.
Arland’s mother stomped across the field, unstoppable, her eyes fixed
on Maud. Maud bared her teeth.
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Helen dashed between them, her back to Maud, holding her daggers,
and snarled, right into Ilemina’s path.
“No!” Maud screamed.
Lady Ilemina stopped.
Maud almost collapsed with relief.
Rational thought returned to Ilemina’s eyes. “Oh my,” she said.
Helen raised her daggers. “Don’t hurt my mommy or I’ll kill you.”
“It’s okay, my flower,” Maud managed. “We were just practicing.”
Ilemina laughed. “That is beyond adorable. No need, little one. I
surrender. Your mother and I are quite finished, and you’re very
frightening.”
She glanced up and Maud read her eyes. Ilemina knew they had gone
too far. The fight was over.
“This is Lady Ilemina,” Maud said. “Arland’s mother. We must give her
every courtesy.”
Helen lowered her daggers, put her legs together, and bent her knees in
an ancient vampire bow.
Ilemina laughed. “My goodness.”
Helen straightened.
“Are those your daggers?” Ilemina asked.
“Yes.”
“Are they sharp?”
“Yes.”
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“Do you think they are sharp enough to cut a cookie in a half?”
Helen paused. “Yes.”