The King's Peace (72 page)

reposition and found ourselves smiling at each other. He was very good. I'm sure he could have killed Larig even if he'd had both hands. I couldn't get near him. He couldn't get near me either.

We kept moving and fighting. Neither of us left any opportunity for the other to get in close. I don't think I ever fought anyone better. In battle, of course, there is usually so much else going on that even if one is unhorsed someone will generally interrupt an individual fight. Single combat is something that is sung about much more often than it actually happens. I had trained with my friends, and I had fought in all of

Urdo's great battles and innumerable skirmishes, but I never had a fight like that one with Conal Fishface. He didn't talk at all when he was fighting. Indeed I think it is the only time I ever saw him when he wasn't talking and making light of everything. He fought as if it was what he was made for. Somehow it was a very joyous thing, so that I could not stop smiling as each new move followed from the one before, and I countered it or attacked in turn.

We might have fought all day if I hadn't slipped on the mud and gone forward too fast and got a slash in under his guard and cut the top of his thigh. As soon as he saw the blood he stopped, and I stopped, raising my sword.

"First blood!" I cried, loudly. "I have the victory! Elenn is avenged." The crowd erupted in a great cheer.

"Indeed, I apologize to the Queen of Tir Tanagiri for the insult I gave her," Conal shouted. He dropped his sword and put his hand to his wound. "Still sure you could have killed me?" he asked me, quietly. I could have laughed for his pride, but I did not.

"I have never had a worthier opponent," I said. "But I could have spitted you then if I'd wanted to. Come on, let us go and bow before the king."

Conal limped forward towards Urdo and Elenn. If Elenn was angry, she did not show it.

She stood unsmiling.

"Again, I apologize for the insult I gave," Conal said.

"Justice is done," Urdo said. Elenn bowed to Conal, and Father Gerth-mol, beaming, pinned his herald's twig back on. Elenn took her scarf from my arm.

"Thank you for fighting for me," she said. I cleaned my sword.

"You fought very well," Veniva said.

"Oh yes, didn't she!" said Darien. I beamed at them both.

It was at that moment that Morthu came running onto the field, looking shocked.

Limping a long way behind came Ulf, with ap Theophilus beside him. Morthu ran up towards Urdo, hesitated, then came on when Urdo signaled to him to do so. The crowd fell silent again.

"Come quickly!" he said. "Ulf Gunnarsson has been fighting Morien ap Gwien of Derwen! It was a duel. Please come! He has killed him. He has knocked his skull in with his ax!"

Morthu looked shocked, but underneath I thought he was pleased.

Kerys began to scream. Veniva slowly and carefully started to pull down her hair. Her face was expressionless. Darien looked shocked. Urdo took a step towards me. I just gaped at Morthu, trying to take in what he had said. He took a step back away from me.

Morien must have challenged Ulf. Ulf had tried to find me to get me to stop it. It wasn't surprising that he had killed Morien. Morien had never been any good with arms. He wouldn't have accepted first blood. My little brother's ridiculous pride had got him killed at last.

I should have done something to stop him. I thought he'd talk to Urdo, but he was more stupid than I'd thought. Crazily, the idea danced through my head that if anyone in the ala had to kill my brother it was just as well it was Ulf: I couldn't eat with him anyway.

It was only then that I realized what this meant. I wouldn't be with my ala. I was Morien's heir. I would have to leave, leave the ala, leave Urdo and Darien and all my friends. There was nobody else to do it. I would have to go. I couldn't be Urdo's praefecto any
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longer. I could cheerfully have murdered Morien myself if Ulf hadn't been stupid enough to do it for me. I felt as if the world had gone dark. I walked off with Urdo and Veniva to see the body and hear justice done. Ulf came up to us, his face set in strong lines of desperation. Urdo spoke to him sternly, making sure that the fight had been fair and that Morien had challenged. I heard ap Theophilus confirming that it had all been so. I said nothing, what could I say? I couldn't really blame Ulf for Morien's idiocy. He had tried to find me to stop it. My face was wet with tears, but I stood beside Urdo as calmly as I could and listened to his judgment that Morien should not have challenged over a matter that had been justly settled, the gods strengthened the arm of justice, and Ulf bore no blame in the death. I think Urdo knew I was not weeping for my brother but because I had no desire to leave and take up the duties and responsibilities of the lordship of Derwen.

It was five years before I rode beside my king again.

Jo Walton lives in Wales.

The King's Peace is her first novel.

Jacket art by Julie Bell

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