Richard Parker - Elsewhere

“He’s won,’ she thought and was surprised when he did not finish her, instead he rolled off of her onto the ground and softly moaned. She hoisted herself up, the pain in her shoulder making her dizzy but offsetting the pain in her jaw. A shout came from the direction of the bridge and it was only then that she noticed Lacombe’s left thigh was sliced open, the leg nearly severed; blood was everywhere and draining from the Executioner’s body quickly. But not quick enough for de Baard, who with the last of her strength plunged her lone kali into Lacombe’s exposed neck. She watched him die then reached up and quickly pulled his kali from her shoulder. She screamed loudly and her jaw sent another wave of pain through her system. Her body could finally take no more and shut down. She slid into unconsciousness just as the first Massi guard reached her.

ǂ

Tar Nev was the one who actually opened the bridge to Herra, allowing Gwaynn and Monde to step through into the center of the city and the hub of Noble. They appeared in the plaza outside the Grand Hall where Gwaynn once revealed his sparring skills to the Island’s council members. It seemed like a lifetime ago, though it was only a little over two years past.

‘Time,’ Gwaynn thought with a touch of exasperation. The plaza was very busy with people bustling here and there through the courtyard. The few locals who noticed their arrival were staring at them, a little curious and a little astonished, for it was a well known fact that Travelers were not welcome on Noble, at least without invitation.

“You there!” A commanding voice boomed from behind them. “Traveler. Noble is off limits to your kind.”

A couple of Tars were coming toward them.

‘Weapons Masters,’ Gwaynn corrected himself as he recognizing the small differences in their clothing. The lead man was tall and young, maybe a half a dozen years older than Gwaynn himself. His partner was an older woman who meekly followed behind, apparently content to do so.

“We’ve come to see Tar Kostek,” Zarina Monde said and Gwaynn could tell she was slightly offended by the greeting.

“Not just anyone can get an audience with the High Tar,” the man said stopping directly before the Zarina. He gave Gwaynn and his kali a perfunctory glance, apparently dismissing him as anyone of importance, before turning back to the Traveler.

“Who are you?” Monde asked with growing impatience.

The man looked down at her with a frown as if his name was none of her concern. The Travelers were no longer a force in the land and she could not bully him.

“Weapons Master Richtner,” he finally answered. “You were banished from our Island,” he added then reached out and took a hold of Monde’s left wrist. The immediate crowd around them stopped to watch the confrontation curiously.

Gwaynn slowly removed both his kali; the low hiss of the weapons sliding from their scabbards seemed uncommonly loud in the now quiet courtyard.

Richtner’s eyes went a little wide as he glanced over at Gwaynn, surprised.

“You would challenge the Tars of Noble?” Richtner asked.

“You are no Tar,” Gwaynn answered. “And I’d not challenge the good people of Noble, just your hand, which you will lose at the wrist if you do not release her.”

Richtner grimaced and for the first time looked to his partner for support. She was breathing quickly, obviously concerned and a little afraid, but in spite of this she drew her own kali and turned slightly to challenge Gwaynn.

“Perhaps we should call Tar Riley, Norman,” she said, her voice a little shaky.

Weapons Master Norman Richter shook his head.

‘He was in charge of security here in the courtyard. He would handle this. He had it all under control.’

“Stay out of this Martha,” Richter said. “I doubt the boy wants to challenge two Weapons Masters.” And with that he began to pull Zarina Monde away. Gwaynn twirled one kali and began the first move to relieve Richter of his right hand.

“Weapons Master!” a voice sounded from behind Gwaynn, a familiar voice. “If you do not have a death wish I suggest you release the High Zarina at once.”

Richter blanched but did not release Monde.

“Yes,” the Traveler said. “Tar Nev would not be pleased.” Richter quickly jerked his hand away.

Gwaynn smiled and turned to see Tar Endid striding toward him.

“You’ve come to petition, Gwaynn Massi?” Endid asked and slapped Gwaynn hard on his back. Gwaynn grimaced but smiled. Richter went a further shade of white at the mention of Tar Nev’s pupil. As discreetly as possible he began to back away from the group. Weapons Master Martha Simpson smiled to herself and followed.

“Yes, I’ve come to petition,” Gwaynn answered and from the smile on Endid’s face he got the distinct impression the Tar had been waiting anxiously for this day.

There were only two events that could bring the training on the island of Noble to a standstill, one of course was the yearly Competitions and the other was a petition for aid from a Family against either another Family or the High King himself. The Competitions happened every year; the last petition to Noble was over a hundred years prior.

Word spread like a summer grass fire on a windy day. Endid took Gwaynn and Zarina Monde to the large veranda on the riverside of the Great Hall to wait for the Council’s summons and for High Tar Kostek to return from Euter.

“He’s been expecting you,” Tar Endid explained as they all sipped on lemon ice. The drink was a favorite of Gwaynn’s and half of his attention was caught up trying to remember the last time he’d enjoyed a glass.

‘Several years,’ he thought and suddenly wished that Samantha were with him to enjoy the treat.

“Why aren’t you with your students?” Monde asked Tar Endid and Gwaynn snapped out of his dreamy thoughts.

Endid laughed and the sound reminded Gwaynn of Tar Nev. “Oh, I’ve got them running. Running near fifteen miles today. Someone from Mneme quarter will beat the Lady Vio in this year’s run at the Competitions. If we don’t it won’t be from lack of training.”

“Vio,” was all Gwaynn said and smiled. He found himself very anxious to see her again.

“Yes,” Endid said with a slight frown. “My bet is on the Lady Bethany. She’s a third year now and has become very driven in her studies.”

The name tugged at Gwaynn’s mind. “Lady Bethany,” he said absently.

Endid was grinning again. “Yes, she’s Massi and one of your biggest fans,” he added. “She’s likely to want to join you once she hears of the petitio…..”

“That’s enough Tar Endid,” a woman’s voice said from behind them. Gwaynn turned and watched as three Tars walked out on to the veranda.

Endid stopped talking but seemed nonplussed by the interruption. “Tarina Ethelridge…you remember Prince Gwaynn Massi.”

“Of course,” the Tarina said and offered a hand to Gwaynn who was now standing in greeting. Gwaynn took her hand and placed a brief kiss on the white of her knuckles then he straightened up to his full height.

“You’ve grown,” the Tarina commented, thinking back to that crucial council meeting a year…no two years ago. Time was getting out of hand.

Gwaynn did not reply to her comment just turned to the others. Tarina Ethelridge followed his gaze.

“May I introduce Tar Piros and Tar Eichmann, both of the Council.”

“Yes, we all were privileged enough to see you fight in the Grand Hall…extraordinary,” Tar Piros commented while taking Gwaynn’s hand.

Both men were old, well past their prime and the Tarina, though still handsome and much younger than her male counterparts, was still well old enough to be Gwaynn’s mother.