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The two men
faced off from one another. Cade drew out his sword, a high
crystalline ringing, singing forth as he did so. He held it,
glittering, across his chest. There were gasps from the onlookers.
Captain Madder lowered his sword for a moment, his face betraying a
soldiers sweet yearning for good steel. The short blade was a pale
silver, like liquid moonlight, but brighter, sharper. Blue ripples
ran its length where it had been folded in the forge. The lines on
the hilt were simple, elegant, made to fit
Cade
’
s hand perfectly.
Captain Madder spat out his phlegmy shock, assuming his own
stance.

With a guttural roar Captain Madder charged
forward, bringing his bastard sword down in a brutal swipe. Carried
by momentum, to crash and cause the silver blade to sing. Cade
brought his sword forward, carrying the weight of the blow down,
pivoting on his heel, giving his sword a twist to disengage.
Captain Madder attacked in a brutal flurry of blows, taking the
advantage. Cade retreating but effortlessly deflected each blow.
They circled around the yard in such a manner, getting the measure
of one another.

Captain
Madder feigned a vicious hack at
Cade
’
s neck, reversing his
blade and sweeping it towards his feet. Cade leapt into the air,
somersaulting over Captain Madder
’
s head, sinking low into a crouch, avoiding the blade
arcing over his head. As Captain Madder turned, he rose, inside his
opponent
’
s defences,
grasping Captain Madder
’
s
arm in a joint lock at the elbow, bringing his own foot to hook
around his legs, with a sharp tug he brought Captain Madder down,
his blade tip resting in the hollow of his throat, arm still held
securely.

“
Do you
concede?
”

Captain
Madder held still, tension cording his body. With a gap toothed
grin he relaxed onto the earth.
“
Yes, I concede. Mother
’
s tits, can I have me arm back
now?
”

The onlookers
crowed as Cade let him go. Resheathing his blade and bowing low, he
offered the fallen man a hand up.
“
I had forgotten your technique, and your appreciation of
brutal strength. Your battle rage has not waned, it was a good
fight. Though I think you are right, I am a bit rusty. Perhaps I
shall come to the practise yards more often, as it looks like
I
’
ll be staying
awhile.
”

Captain
Madder stood, sweeping the sweat off of his body, giving Cade a
considering look.
“
You
’
re welcome in
these yards anytime, Cade. A good fight, aye, always a good chance
to hone my own skills. I thought I had broken you of those fancy
flips though. You
’
ve got
them back, and then some.
”

Cade cocked
his head, a smile playing about his lips.
“
Yes, and it was that which led to
your downfall, my friend.
”

“
Mmm, I
noticed when I ate dirt. Good way to pop up in
someone
’
s defence, with out
the risky blade work
…
perhaps
I was wrong. But heavy armour affords more
…
I
’
ll
think about it. And if you
’
re staying perhaps you would consider taking on a
knight
’
s duties, teach some
pages, or take on a squire.
”

Cade turned
back to the waiting boys. All, even
Llew
’
s, faces alight with
awe. He silently took back his things, strapping his blades back
into place, giving nods of thanks. He did not put his shirt or coat
back on but folded them neatly over his arm. Captain Madder
addressed the squires.

“
Right
squires, seems you
’
ve had a
bit of fun, go have your lunches now.
I
’
m ruddy
starvin
’
. Remember, a
soldier eats when a soldier can! Tomorrow morning I expect a
breakdown of the fight you have just witnessed, techniques used,
and why I lost! Don
’
t worry,
boys, you won
’
t hurt my
feelings! If you do well I
’
ll teach the feint I used. Go! You want to join me in the
mess, Cade? I know there
’
s
many
’
ll be glad to see you.
And there is a pretty little lad works in the baths now,
I
’
ll introduce you,
eh?
”

Captain Madder tipped a wink, his scar
twisting the gesture into a grimace. Like ghosts most of the
squires had disappeared, two rather disgruntled first years being
left to tidy the area. The crowd was breaking up too, servants
rushing off too neglected tasks, soldiers standing in knots
chatting or heading toward the mess hall to join the others.

“
I told you,
isn
’
t he amazing. That
jump!
”
Lantana beamed at her
compatriots.

Gos was still
staring after them, talking over his shoulder.
“
And did you hear?
He
’
s going to be teaching
us.
”

Llew
frowned.
“
He
didn
’
t say he definitely
would, Captain Madder said teach a page, or take on a
squire.
”

Holver
started laughing, capering about, grabbing
Llew
’
s sleeve.
“
But he
won
’
t! Holm was telling me
about it in the summer! Knights don
’
t really like taking on others squires, they usually train
a few of their own pages, then choose the best amongst them. Not
all squires have knights, some get places with captains and such,
and the Lord General always takes on about four, but some
don
’
t even have a mentor!
So, he
’
ll start with pages!
He
’
ll start with
us!
”

Llew pulled
his sleeve away, lest his lace get ripped, but he did smile at
Holver
’
s antics. He clapped
him on the shoulder, as he had seen Cade do, and started off toward
the main hall to get his own lunch, the others following. He
expected Lantana to look pleased, being
Cade
’
s own cousin would
guarantee her a place, but she didn
’
t. She looked pensive. Maybe it really was all open. He had
heard his father make noises about him serving as page and squire
to the Lord General, but surely he could talk to him. If Cade was
as good as all the rumours, the best, then surely it would suit to
have the Prince Heir trained by the best?

Llew swept his sodden locks out of his eyes
and heaved a great sigh. He placed his wooden sword in the barrel
and got out of the way of the other pages shuffling behind him. His
hands were covered in bruises and scrapes. One particular graze
covered the back of his right hand, his sword hand, it was still
seeping blood and his little finger was stiff and swollen. He
rubbed it carefully, scowling at it.

Training had
started with the coming of the frosts and all too quickly his
dreams of glory had been dashed. He was not having fun. He was
tired, more tired than he had ever been in his entire life. He got
up at dawn, rousted from bed to be herded with all the other pages
and squires then made to run the
entire
length of the
Palaces
’
walls. That was
just the start of the day, and he knew it
wouldn
’
t get any easier, the
squires had to do
two
laps. Then they got to eat breakfast, joy that
that was. He had to eat in the mess hall with everyone else, eat
that disgusting gruel. His stomach betrayed him with an eager
gurgle at the thought of food. After the breakfast it was straight
to the training yard, the lessons he had just finished. More
running around and stretching, they
’
d only been allowed wooden swords in the last couple of
weeks. It was ridiculous, he
’
d been paired with Gos, who was awful. He always missed the
swords but seemed to have an unnatural gift for whacking people on
the hands. A small smile crept across his face as he remembered Gos
missing and whacking Lantana across the head yesterday,
she
’
d emerged with a huge
purple bruise this morning.

Llew raised
his eyes to the sky, thick with grey clouds looming above the
battlements. At least the rain had finally stopped, after weeks of
near continuous downpour and bitter biting hail. Even when he got
to go inside, he was still damp and miserable, forced to listen to
the scarecrow drone on. At least he was spared that today, lessons
had been cancelled. He didn
’
t know why, nor did he care.

“
My stupid
sister, did she and them other girls have to stand there and watch?
I can see she
’
s laughing at
me! I don
’
t laugh at her
when she pricks her fingers sewing, or when she falls over
practising her curtsies. Well, actually I might a laughed a bit,
but it was funny. And why does she have to bring Violet? Hey
Llew?
”
Holver hovered at his
elbow, his face eager to please.

Past him he
could see the girls in question. They had come out earlier when the
rain had stopped, a young maid with them as an escort. The maid was
now chatting with one of the palace guards, leaning on his arm and
laughing at what he was saying. She
didn
’
t appear to even be
looking at the noble girls she was supposed to be minding. Llew
grinned at Holver.
“
I
suppose you
’
re right,
Holver. I heard them laughing when Gos gave me that whack. Maybe we
should teach them a lesson?
”

Holver
’
s eyes went
wide, the corners of his mouth creeping into a nervous
smile.
“
What are you gonna
do, Llew?
”

Gos and
Lantana walked up then, Gos looking decidedly sheepish, and Lantana
giving Llew a knowing look.
“
What are you planning? I recognise that look and I have a
feeling it doesn
’
t bode well
for those fluff brained girls.
”

“
I said to
Llew how it wasn
’
t fair that
they were just standing there watching us and laughing, specially
because it
’
s my sister and
all, so Llew, he said we should teach them a lesson. Right Llew?
Didn
’
t you?
Obviously!
”

Lantana
arched a brow at Llew, and Gos stepped closer, a mischievous light
burning in his eyes.
“
Hey
Llew do you remember in the games room yesterday, Violet was
bragging about her new dress? And the others about shoes and
ribbons and stuff? All that giggling gave me a headache, but
perhaps it was worth it.
”

Lantana knelt down, pretending to adjust her
boot, one hand scooping up a handful of mud, the abundant legacy of
the rain.

“
What? I
don
’
t get it. What are we
going to do, Llew? What
’
s
their new dresses got to do with it?
Wh
…
.oh! No! Mama will be
furious!
”
The confusion left
Holver
’
s face as a grin as
crept across his chubby cheeks, proving his protests
futile.

Llew glanced
over at the girls, thinking of the best way to launch the
attack.
“
Flanking, do you
remember what Madder was saying about flanking, if we did that
we
’
d get more mud on them,
make sure they all get splattered. Right. Gos you and Holver go to
the left, Lantana and I will go right, the girls will think
we
’
ve fallen out because of
you whacking us. When we
’
re
on either side we attack. Show them no
mercy.
”

The others
looked at him, looking nervous and eager, trying to control their
grins. As one they murmured.
“
Show them no mercy.
”

Llew strode
off, Lantana at his heals, trying to look annoyed.
Gos
’
voice rose behind them,
sounding worried and pleading.
“
Llew! I said I was sorry!
”