novelxo Chapter Chapter Twenty One
The scene inside the courtyard was one to be remembered. Athinina was squared off with three of the better swordsmen in the castle. The men moved with the fluidity of experienced warriors if with a touch of hesitation toward the warrior queen. The moved simply and without the gusto they may have employed with each other. They were still in shock at the way the very attractive woman in her very scant armor moved and fought. Two of the three were trying without any success to avoid staring at the amount of bosom she had exposed by the mytan. The other had experience dealing with the Tyris and expected an easy, brief exchange of blows before the lady quit.
He moved into the queen with the boar rushes through the brush to find that the queen was no longer there. He stopped and looked around for the missing queen just to find her standing behind him leaning on her blade. Quick wits spared him a blow that would have split his skull. The man moved quickly putting the swan’s call to her. The queen met form for form and soon the man found himself giving ground to the warrior queen. Slowly the warrior moved back and back until he found himself butted against the wall with the queen’s blade at his throat. “You have a dagger, why have you not drawn and attacked me while I held you with my larger harder to wield blade?” asked the warrior queen under her breath.
“My lady I am aware that I would be dead before it cleared the sheath. I am man enough to know when I am defeated.” Replied the warrior.
“Any true warrior draws anyway so at least he would die with a blade in his hand.” Replied the queen of the Tyris.
“We do not waste men or people here my lady.” Whispered Tanis. “Athinina, we value the life of every one of our men, women, and children. It is not so with your people?” asked Tanis. “Of course it is but we also value bravery and skill which I have yet to see here. Maybe there is one better for me to spar with, my lord, to redeem your people?” replied the warrior queen.
“You press a hard fight. It will be difficult to find your match. Perhaps maybe myself?” asked Tanis. As he spoke he removed his jacket and scabbard and drew his blade not realizing he drew the Warmonger. The queen barely waited for the blade to clear his sheath before she attacked. She hit with the power reserved for the gods or the insane. Tanis was pressed hard from the start. Slowly though the strain of travel and the weariness of her past sparing caught up to her and her berserker strength started to fail. Tanis pressed home the advantage until finally the warrior queen lay at his feet with his blade tip at her throat. The fight had not been pretty and the blade in Tanis’s hands seemed to move of its own volition. Many a strike was blocked that should have severed the life from the warrior queen. Tanis found himself turning some of the blows himself that would have proven fatal to the queen of the Tyris.
The queen looked at the blade and her eyes grew wide. “You are a fraud!” she screamed looking at the blade. “You use magically altered blades to defeat me? Are you afraid to face me without the aid of major magic? Do you feel yourself that poor a man and warrior that you must cheat to face a woman?” she challenged Tanis.
“Athinina, I do not know of what you are speaking. This is the blade my stepfather gave to me as child. It is no more magic that you or I.” replied Tanis to this tirade. “If you must accuse someone of cheating in a fight do not look to me. Perrick, maybe but me? I must beg to differ.” Almost screaming at Athinina.
“Do you not bear the Warmonger? Is that not what you wave before my face right this moment? I would rather deal with the scoundrel. At least him you will not be surprised when he does something dishonest. I expected more from you, Lord Tanis Thalin. But considering your bloodline I should not be surprised. Sired by one of the Dread lords themselves. It must be hard to try and be good and civil with that kind of evil within your soul. I hope it destroys you like it did your father.”
“Lady, you wound me. I could have struck you down just now but I stay my hand. I never knew the man that sired me, I killed him. I was raised by the royal family of the elves. I was never his man. I destroyed all that he tried to do with his evil influence and tried to make things better for all of my people. You believe me to be an evil, lying, cheating monster than you had better pack your things and leave for you are not welcome here any longer. I have tried my best to do what is right for all my people. Every one of them! You may depart. When you return do so with a more civil tongue in your mouth!” screamed Tanis.
The look on the queen’s face went flush as Tanis screamed but Clairine knew it was not with anger. It was as she feared. Her lady had fallen for this young upstart. To everyone’s surprise the queen jumped to her feet after Tanis spoke and silenced him with a deep passionate kiss. Tanis reeled back with its passion as she pressed herself to him but finally fell into her embrace. All those watching the scene could not tell if he was reaching for a blade or trying his best to hold her to him. Men looked around for instruction from their officers and they looked to the women of the Tyris. No one had seen this kind of display before and did not know how to respond. It was Artitous that finally reacted to the scene before him. Gently coughing at first then loudly to get the pair’s attention he moved closer to be heard better. “My Lord and Lady. Shall we call an end to the day’s practices or shall we begin them again?”
Tanis jumped back and straightened his shirt and tunic. “By all means my friend. End the practices. The heat must be affecting our ability to think. Let the men go and be refreshed before we work further. Is this your wish my lady?” asked Tanis. The queen smiled down at Tanis, “Whatever my lord feels is appropriate. I await the orders of my liege.”