I shook off the pain and drew my sword downward, using the advantage of my height and strength.He wasn’t quick enough to block me this time, and the crowd gasped as the power of my swing found a weakness in his armour, and my blade cut into his shoulder.Unfortunately for him, it was his sword arm.
His blood coated my sword, and it pumped out slowly from his shoulder.I withdrew to wait for him to concede, but to my surprise and admiration, he swapped his sword to the other hand.
He fought back hard.His skill with his non-dominant hand was astounding.But my slice to his shoulder was hindering him.He was losing too much blood, and so I bided my time.He only struck me once more, but it had no power to it, and I could see he was fighting to stay upright.I didn’t want to strike him with my sword again.It would bring our fight to a faster end, but I feared another blow would kill him.I deflected his sword repeatedly until he paused, swaying side to side.I stopped and watched him warily.He lowered his sword and placed the point in the dirt, leaning heavily on the hilt for balance.He nodded to me and then to his captains, who watched us from the balcony.
The crowd’s applause roared.My eyes caught the moment he wavered, his legs buckling beneath him, and without thinking, I lunged forward and caught him just before he hit the ground.
‘Thank you,’ he mumbled, leaning heavily on me.‘You are an amazing swordsman, and I’m honoured to have fought you, sir.’Two soldiers came to take him from me and escort him from the arena.
It was just me and the ugly giant left.
While I waited for the last fight, a soldier brought me a flagon of water and a bowl of chopped fruit.There was also a familiar honeycake, and I wondered how that had gotten onto the plate.I turned my back and lifted my visor enough to drink deeply while nobody was watching.I was hungry and needed the energy, but I didn’t want to risk anyone seeing my face, so I left the cake untouched.
Ugly Giant and I were called back to the arena and told to leave our swords.We walked towards Atlas and Torgrin, who were waiting in the middle of the arena.The crowd remained hushed in the presence of their commanding figures.
‘This will be your last chance to prove your worth,’ Torgrin informed us.
When his gaze shifted to me hiding behind my helmet, I felt nerves gathering in my chest.
‘You will have your choice of weapons.If you can get to it first, of course.’He gestured to the weapons littered around the arena.
‘You will do your best to take down your opponent.Remember, this fight is not to the death.All you need is for your opponent to concede.’Atlas’s eyes bored into the ugly giant as he said this.
‘Remove your helmets,’ Torgrin ordered.
My stomach dropped like a stone.
Ugly Giant removed his helmet while I remained still.
‘Take it off,’ Torgrin said, his voice low but unyielding.
I shook my head, resisting the urge to step back.
He stepped closer, his jaw tight, eyes locked on mine with a sharpness that sent a chill down my spine.His silence felt like a weight pressing down on me, daring me to defy him.
This was it.They would call me Cursed.They would drag me to the dungeon and the hunt for my mother’s killer would be over before it had even begun.
I held my breath as he lifted the helmet from my head.I hadn’t found a moment to braid my hair before donning my disguise, sounkempt strands of long, golden hair cascaded down my back.Torgrin’s forceful gaze locked with mine in a silent exchange.
There was a collective gasp from the crowd and a ‘Holy fuck!’from Atlas.
My eyes remained fixed on Torgrin’s.He was so close I could see flecks of amber close to his pupils floating in a sea of obsidian.He smelled like the forest and rainstorms.I shuddered to think what I smelled like right now.
Fear, probably.
He stepped back, still holding my helmet, and his spell on me lifted.I looked around and saw hundreds of eyes silently watching me.A woman’s voice called out.
‘Swordmaker!’
Another woman’s voice joined the call, and then dozens more.Soon the entire arena was chanting and stomping their feet.
‘Swordmaker!Swordmaker!Swordmaker!’It appeared that my reputation as a woman blacksmith had spread during the two months I had lived here.
Torgrin’s head tilted up to the iron balcony where Lord Warwick was standing, taking in the chanting crowd.His daughters were studying me with wide, curious eyes, and their little raven-haired brother was up against the balcony stomping his feet, chanting loudly with the Murus people.
Lord Warwick peered down at me.Two deep lines appeared between his eyes.As our gazes met across the arena, I guessed at the question he was asking me with concerned eyes.
I gave him a slight, sharp nod of my head.Now that it appeared I wasn’t going into a dungeon somewhere under the fortress, I wanted to fight.
