Zachania (13 page)

“I have to
embarrass this fighter, I have to make him look a fool.” Talon
silently said to himself “I must anger Savarta, enrage him, enrage
him so much that he gives me sterner opposition.”

Talon was
suddenly snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Savarta shout
commence fighting.

Talon traded a
couple of blows to get a feel for his sword before he began his
arrogance. Putting his weight upon his back foot he began to just
defend against Gren’s advancing blows. Talon laughed at Gren’s
attacks, he then quickly changed hands with his sword and began
mocking Gren’s attacks scornfully.

Gren in anger
and began swinging wildly with his sword. Savarta studied Talon’s
tactics but instead of feeling anger himself he began to feel
impressed. He could see the ruse that Talon was doing, but he felt
a little embarrassed at Gren, a man who had been tutored by him was
falling into Talons snare.

Talon carried
on mocking Gren, changing his sword from hand to hand trying to
antagonise him, then suddenly Gren’s patience snapped, he lunged
forward in total rage where his anger made him lose all
self-control. Talon took one step to his side and swiftly brought
his knee up into Gren’s chest, Gren fell heavily onto his knees
with the wind knocked out of him as Talon in a continuous movement
pushed Gren onto his back, and then pointed his sword into Gren’s
throat,

“That my
friend, would be your death!” Talon remarked.

“One for the
men of the south.” Talon added as he turned to face Savarta who was
looking at young Talon feeling how impressed he was with him
“absolute precision of movement” Savarta sighed to himself. He used
his opponent’s anger to defeat him, he angered him till he lost all
self-control then with exact precision he struck and defeated his
opponent.

“Very
impressive.” Savarta shouted as he snapped out of his thoughts.

“How about
another?” Talon teased.

Savarta called
over another gladiator who had been observing Talon’s bout and was
introduced as Troy.

“This man will
give you more of a challenge young Talon, he is a Golheck!” Savarta
answered as he placed a hand on the Golheck’s shoulder.

“Try that act
with me boy and I’ll crack your arm!” Troy warned Talon.

The word
Golheck struck a sudden feeling of nervousness in Talon, “A Rion
sword Champion” Talon thought, feeling slightly awe-struck. Talon
felt nervous but he tried to calm himself, he knew that if he
defeated this Golheck then Savarta would have to include him in the
squad.

Talon tried to
shake the tenseness out of his arms; he looked Troy up and down and
smiled confidently at him.

“This should be
interesting!” Talon remarked before backing off to get into a
fighting stance.

Talon looked at
the Golheck before him, Troy was covered in scars and built like an
ox, and the prospect of beating this man was daunting. Not only did
Talon have to beat the Golheck, he was going to have to injure him
as well, only then could it be certain for Talon to take this man’s
place in the imminent contest.

Talon thought
of the trick he had just used on Gren “will he fall for it, he will
not be expecting it.” Talon thought.

“No a seasoned
champion will not fall into that trap; I will have to rely on my
speed. I must attack him like a hawk attacks his prey, I must be
all over him from the moment Savarta calls commence, and hope to
take him by surprise. Surprise is always the best strategy in
battle.”

The two men
circled each other awaiting Savarta’s call, Talon relaxed his
muscles trying to remember his Grandfathers teachings “to react
with speed you must begin from relaxed” he heard his Grandfather
say.

“I must show
him nothing, Talon thought as he lowered his head towards the
ground “I cannot give him any warning, I will have only one chance,
I will attack on the C of commence.”

Then the moment
came Savarta shouted loudly the words Talon was waiting for

“COMMENCE!”

Talon sprang
like a Lepal cat, he stepped swiftly to the side and with
devastating speed and power he brought down his wooden sword
precisely onto the Golheck’s knuckles. The Golheck dropped his
sword and yelled out in pain as Talon’s blow struck his hand, Talon
followed the action by kicking Troy in the chest which knocked the
Gladiator flying to the ground in a spinning movement, the moment
he touched down Talon was upon him thrusting his sword into the
Golheck’s neck.

“Do you yield?”
Talon shouted victorious.

Savarta ran to
his fighter’s aid after having witnessed Talons blistering
attack.

“Damn it!”
Savarta shouted, “You have broken his hand!” he added.

Talon
apologised to Savarta and Troy.

“He was
scheduled to fight next week.” Savarta uttered as he inspected
Troy’s now rapidly swollen hand.

Talon rose to
his feet as he felt the feeling that he was suddenly the focus of
everyone’s attention. He noticed the look upon the other
gladiator’s faces that had now gathered round “did you see that!”
he heard one say to another.

“Will it not
heal in time?” Talon asked Savarta.

“No the break
is too severe.” Replied Savarta.

“Maybe I can
take his place.” Talon said.

“Don’t be
absurd!”

“Why Savarta? I
have just bested your best” Talon replied arrogantly as he knew his
escape depended upon it.

Savarta sneered
at Talon as he began to wrap Troy’s hand; Talon dropped to one knee
and looked at Savarta with his piercing blue eyes.

“Savarta! I am
serious, take me in his place, I will beat any man they put before
me.”

Savarta looked
back down at Troy’s hand as he found himself remembering the
amazing speed in which Talon had just fought. Suddenly the idea
began to sound like the reasonable option.

“But you’re not
in shape.” Savarta snapped still a little angered.

“Was he in
shape.” Talon replied as he pointed to the injured Golheck.

“You insolent
Wraf!, Get me to my feet Savarta so I may teach this boy a lesson!”
Troy angrily said.

Talon paid no
attention to the Golheck as he rose to his feet and persisted in
asking Savarta.

“Take me
Savarta; I will not let you down.”

“You could be
killed!”

“You know I
will not!” Talon replied confidently.

Savarta turned
to look at Talon long and hard, he thought about the devastating
way and ease that he had just beaten a Golheck “Yes perhaps you
would better anyone.” he silently thought.

After Talon’s
brutal and vicious assault on the Golheck Troy, Savarta had agreed
in theory that Talon could take the ill-fated gladiator’s place,
though it would depend on the General’s permission. Savarta drew a
long hard breath before entering the General’s suite.

“Sir I would
like to ask your permission to take one of your junior officers to
the Kallick Town contest next week.”

“I take it you
mean young Talon when you say Junior Officer.” General Koolga
replied

“Yes Sir I
Do.”

“Don’t be
absurd! Do you not think it is premature, I understand he has only
been in attendance at your classes for a week or so.”

“In normal
circumstances yes sir it would be, however I have just witnessed
Talon defeat one of my finest gladiators, as a result of that bout
we are now one man short from the forthcoming event.”

“One man short,
how does that affect Talon, do you not have reserves.”

“Excuse me sir
if I have not made myself clear, but the man Talon has beaten has
sustained injuries that rule him out of next week’s event and as it
was Talon who inflicted this defeat, I feel that he is the best man
to fill this man’s position.”

General Koolga
leaned back in his chair and threw down his quill.

“I accept your
dilemma Gladiator instructor, but you must be aware that Talon has
a future here with the guard, it is not something I am habitual to…
just contracting out my men.”

A short and
awkward silence fell between them before Savarta thought of another
approach.

“Sir have you
thought of the honour it would be for you and your school, never
before has a junior officer fought in the arena, and it goes
without saying General, that Talon would adorn your schools
colours”

Koolga smiled
at Savarta’s new approach.

“I am well
aware of the facts.”

Excuse my
forwardness Sir.” Savarta interrupted.

Koolga leaned
his head onto his hand as he gave the matter some thought,
strangely he found himself beginning to grow to the idea as he
thought of the glory Talon’s participation would bring to himself
and his school.

“Is he
good?”

“Sir.” Savarta
asked.

“How does he
fight, will he win!” Koolga added raising his voice in
authority.

“Seldom have I
seen such talent in a young man Sir, I have just witnessed him
defeat a Golheck, and he swears to me that if he is permitted to
fight then he will defeat any gladiator that is put before
him.”

“And you
believe him!” Koolga asked laughing gently at Talon’s arrogant
boast.

“Frankly sir I
do!”

“You say he
mastered a Golheck.”

“Yes Sir.”

Koolga smiled
in a proud way and slightly shook his head.

“Young Talon
never ceases to amaze me; he seems to possess a rare talent where
whoever crosses his path, walks away with a very distinct
impression upon them. Your request is tempting Savarta but I must
refuse, I could not risk losing an officer such as Talon to a death
in the arena.”

“Sir may I be
so bold as to inform you that you yourself as a General of the
Empire has the power and authority to put into writing a mercy plea
if Talon is defeated, there would be no death.”

“Go on
explain!” Koolga replied.

“As you know
sir, when a gladiator is bested the victor looks up to see what the
overseer’s decision is, will it be life or death, you have the
authority to rule life or death if Talon is defeated.”

“This can be
done?” Koolga asked loudly.

“It is common
practice Sir.”

General Koolga
rubbed his chin.

“Then this
shines a whole new light on the matter, If what you say can be done
then I will give my permission, as long as it is what Talon truly
wants.” Replied Koolga pointing his finger at Savarta.

“It is Talon’s
wish Sir.”

“Then I will
give you my final decision after I have made some enquiries.”

“Yes sir.”
Savarta replied as he turned to leave.

“One more thing
before you leave, do you know who will oversee at the
contests?”

“Yes sir, I
believe I that General Krustov is on assignment in Kallick
Town.”

“Ah Krustov! My
old friend, come to me in one hour you will have my decree
then!”

Savarta left
Koolga’s office and wandered around the school grounds, it was hard
not to be impressed by the grand buildings and the splendour of the
Palace land guard in their immaculate uniforms.

Savarta soon
began to wonder why a man such as Talon, a man in the Palace
guards, The Empire’s finest, whose future was assured, was willing
to shed his blood in conflict in the arena.

It baffled him
but in his confused state he began to feel a great deal of respect
for the courage that Talon possessed. This after all was a man whom
quite easily would never have to get his hands dirty again yet here
he is willing to risk life and limb in the arena.

Savarta
wandered over to a grassy knoll and sat beneath a four
thousand-year-old yew tree.

He leaned back
and felt the sun caress his face, he could hear birds singing and
the footsteps of passing Palace guards on their way to their chores
but it was Talon’s fate that Savarta’s thoughts held attention
to.

After one hour
Savarta returned to the office of General Koolga,

“Good news for
you Savarta, after my enquiries to General Krustov’s whereabouts I
am willing to grant your request.”

“Thank you Sir”
Savarta replied with a sigh of relief.

“I have already
written a letter to Krustov and I will trust you personally to
deliver it, make sure it goes into his hand!”

“Understood
Sir!” Savarta replied.

“There is also
a letter here for Talon, giving him leave of his current duties so
consequently he can commence his training forthwith; I have given
him permission to lodge at your school until after the
tournament.”

“Thank you Sir,
you are more than generous.” replied Savarta as Koolga waved his
hand at him in a motion that he was excused.

“And, another
thing! Make sure he wears the Palace guard colours and MAKE SURE HE
WINS!” added Koolga as Savarta left.

Savarta went
straight away to find Talon so to give him the good news, He was
found sitting in his room. Talon had been waiting anxiously for the
decision, when Savarta gave him the good news he almost jumped for
joy. Savarta told Talon to pack some belongings and report to the
Gladiator school by evening before leaving Talon alone.

Talon sat back
down on his bed and punched his hand in delight, his plan of escape
was now a reality, once his initial joy subsided he began to feel
cautious, his thoughts reminded him of his Zachanian ancestry and
it unnerved him that every moment he spent in the Palace land there
was a chance that his past would be discovered.

Nevertheless he
was now going to Kallick Town where he would be beyond the great
wall; his scheme was working he thought.

General
Krustov, The Highest ranking General in all of Kratos sat regally
in his grand office, he was busy overlooking his daily reports but
he found it hard to concentrate to what was at hand as his next
appointment was taking up all of his thoughts.