Michael Foster - She Who Has No Name

‘But surely they cannot learn to fight the same as you. That would not be possible.’

‘As you say. You treat women strangely but in Koia, men and women are equal in every way. Do not underestimate any Koian woman, fighter or otherwise.’

‘Strange,’ Samuel said, musing over the matter. ‘Do you miss not having a normal life?’

‘This is my lot and I carry it with honour. It is a normal life to me. It does not seem too different from you being in your Order. Many times in history,we have saved our nation from marauders and the heroes of my bloodline are legend. I am sure that, even if Koia has fallen, my home still remains, high in the mountains and far from the worries of the lowlands. The spirit of my people is indomitable.’

‘Do you miss it?’

‘Of course, but I also understand that I will never return.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

Horse regarded him with all seriousness. ‘It is pointless to think of returning. Our fate has drawn us to this distant land and it is here we shall remain. You have noshipscapable of surviving the return journey to Koia and I feel that,even if you did, our path would follow a different route. Still, my home is what fills my dreams every night. It disturbs me to think that my body will fall here, far from my home, but that is also my lot. My fate is to protect She Who Has No Name. Now, I am the last of many, so the responsibility falls entirely on me. I cannot falter in this task.’

‘If you want to keep her alive for as long as possible, why don’t you just take her and hide somewhere. Why follow us when we are going to one of the most dangerous places in Amandia?’

‘Canyon is in charge. I have faith in his judgement. It is not only to protect her, but to allow her to be reborn at the correct time, in the correct conditions.’

‘And Canyon will decide that?’

‘He will.’

‘How can you invest so much faith in the man? Doesn’t it enter your mind that he could be misleading you?’

‘I am what I am. If I started to doubt his word, everything on which my life is built would tumble. It is unthinkable.’

‘Come then. You don’t need to be alone in protecting your god. We will help you. But I am still fascinated with your fighting skills. I have been thinking long about how I can follow in your footsteps, but I still don’t know where to begin. If you can show me even some of the simplest skills, it may be of value, should we need to defend ourselves.’

‘As I said, you already know enough to defeat the average foe. It seems pointless to start tutoring you from the beginning, and it would take more time than we have to even begin. Your nature is notto bea fighter. You are a magician and,if that is your way, you will only dilute yourself by trying to change.’

‘Magic is not as dependable as you think. There are many times when a magician must rely on his wits or simply run away, for lack of any other ability to defend himself. Come. Show me. Would this be effective?’ Samuel said, and demonstrated by stepping into Harvest Stance and thrusting his fist forwards. He felt foolish, but it was obvious he was not getting anywhere with talk alone.

Horse nodded his head. ‘Effective at breaking your own hand, yes. The principle is there, but if you strike like that,you will only hurt yourself. You must be firm to deliver the blow. Suppleness is for before the strike-to generate speed and to avoid being hit yourself. Often, the one who strikes first is the one who strikes last. Here, tighten your fist or the force will escape there and you will break it.’ He took the magician’s hand and pressed it into the correct shape. ‘Once you get stronger, you can reduce the point of contact to a single knuckle or fingertip-but do not try that yet. The result, if done properly, can be devastating to any foe,penetrating armour, breaking bones and internal organs. I have even seen some of the greater fighters miss their target and still cause fatalities, such was their talent.’

Samuel nodded. ‘You see? There is much you can teach me. Do you ever fight with swords? It seems a strange choice to fight against an armed opponent with only your hands.’

‘I can fight with weapons, but I find the human body to be the most versatile of weapons. A man who can only fight with a sword or spear is useless if disarmed. There is a time and a place for such things. I find too much value is placed on such weapons, even in my own country, when more merit should be bestowed upon the empty hand, which can ultimately prove the stronger. The greatest fighter uses all his skills, not just the ability to punch or jab a stick. Misdirection, confusion, sleight-of-hand-all have roles to play in every battle,not just in our words and actions, but in our movements and where we are looking. The angle of our toes and the shifting of our weight give opponents assumptions, that they do not even realise they are making, about our intentions. The true fighter uses these against the opponents, clouding their ability to think and react, filling their mind with conflicting information and subterfuge. Every attack must be a defence, each defence an attack. You step away to lead an opponent towards you, but escape is not the intention; it is to have them stepping forward where you can trap them. Human nature is one of the best weapons we have. Learn to know and judge others, better than they know themselves, and they can be defeated in an instant, before they have even raised their sword. What follows from that point is merely acting out the motions. Finally, a sword in your hand shouts out your intentions, while an empty hand can be mask any manner of deceit. I could go on all day.’

‘So was all this what you were trying to teach me with the pebble?’

‘Something like that,’ Horse admitted.

Samuel mulled over the thought. ‘Then what would you do if you came against a fighter equal to your own ability, butwho alsohad a weapon?’

‘If all the circumstances leading up to that point were equal, and the sword was of sufficient quality, I would probably die.’

‘Would you give up so easily?’

‘I did not say I would give up, or even that I would lose, Magician. There are many ways to die and still achieve victory.’

Samuel again took time to digest the words. ‘There is much more to fighting than I had assumed.’

There was a creak from the stairs and Horse’s eyes flickered towards them for the briefest moment.

‘There is. Now, I must go,’ he said and started away.

Samuel looked, but could see no one there. He sensed, however, the fading energies of Canyon as the man tiptoed down the stairs. It was perhaps wise that no one had informed the Koians that the magicians could feel their presence. It would be prudent, Samuel reminded himself, that they should keep as many of their secrets as they could away from the man. As Horse had suggested, secrets could be powerful weapons.

When morning came, Daneel announced that he would not be continuing on the journey with them.

‘Your path leads into the deserts and the sand,’ he said. ‘I don’t think I would enjoy such waterless places.’

‘But we are going to save the Empress,’ Eric said. ‘Won’t you help us with that?’

Daneel laughed. ‘I’m not fond of the Empire. I’m sure the Empress is a lovely sort, but I have other plans afoot. I have things to do here and I will eventually need to make my way back home. I am sure you will still beabsorbedin your adventure by then, but I will not be with you. The rest of the way is simple, and you have a week or more before this valley becomes cut off by the snow. The lowlands will be simple to find, if you simply follow the path for another few days. From there, it will not be hard to make your way to Kalid.’

And he wished them good luck and sent them on their way. Balten knew some of the territory on this side of the mountains and,once they found their way to the town of Kalid, he would be able to gain his bearings. The eight of them began on their way upon a string of sturdy ponies, with the Koian god-woman clutching desperately behind Ambassador Canyon. The mountains had not defeated them and their future challenges lay ahead.