Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [44]
The High Captain was an imposing bear of a man, with an uncommon breadth of shoulder and thickness of arm. A proud black beard cascaded down over his leather jerkin, and his thick brows slashed across his forehead in a single dark line. But it was his eyes, as blue and deep and icy as a winter sea, that proclaimed him a dangerous man.
At first Rethnor merely took the measure of his opponent. Their swords met in ringing blows as the Captain tested reach, strength, and resolve. The young man matched Rethnor's size and breadth, and he seemed well trained-no surprise in the warrior culture of Luskanbut he was still an unblooded youth with more enthusiasm than battle sense. Still, it promised to be an entertaining fight.
Rethnor lunged, his left-handed sword diving toward the heart of his young opponent. It was an obvious attack, and the fighter parried it easily with a flamboyant sweep that threw Rethnor's sword arm out wide. The High Captain expected this. Before the younger man could recover from the countermove, Rethnor stepped in close-so close the two men's beards were nearly touching, too close for either fighter to bring his sword into play. No problem for Rethnor-he had a dagger ready in his right hand.
With a deft flick, he severed the waist strap that held up the young man's leather thigh greave and then slashed down through the X-shaped side bindings that connected front greave to back. The protective garment flopped down over the fighter's boot, revealing an incongruously thin, bandy leg clad in leggings of faded red wool.
Mocking laughter and huzzahs filled the tavern, and the yOuung fighter's face twisted with humiliation and rage. Rethnor danced back, savoring the moment and fully intending to play out the fight. This young cub had challenged him-him, Rethnor the High Captain, perhaps the finest swordsman in Luskan-and he intended to make the upstart pay for his insolence.
And so Rethnor was not at all pleased when the ring on his sword hand began to tingle with the familiar, silent summons. He needed to end the fight soon, so he might seek solitude before the large onyx stone revealed itself as the scrying crystal it was. Of course, he wore gloves to hide the device. Magic was not highly regarded by the Northmen, and it was imperative that Rethnor keep this secret from his fellow High Captains, but he could never know whether someone who secretly practiced the thricedamned art of magic might be present during such a summons. If such a wretch detected an aura of magic around Rethnor, he or she would have a powerful weapon to use against him.
But of course the young fighter knew nothing of this, and he advanced on Rethnor with deadly purpose. "i'll have your guts to replace that garter," the swordsman promised grimly.
Rethnor's sigh of frustration hissed through gritted teeth. He parried the young man's furious overhead strike and countered with a feint. Quickly, skillfully, he worked the fighter's blade down low. Then once again he stepped in close, this time with his fist leading. A vicious uppercut to the jaw sent his challenger reeling back, both arms flung out wide. Before the younger fighter could regain his defensive stance, Rethnor dug his blade deep into an unprotected armpit. The youth dropped his sword and sank slowly to the floor, a look of surprise on his face.
it was a particularly brutal finale to the fight, but it suited Rethnor's mood. If he could not have the lengthy battle he desired, at least he could give this challenger a lingering death. The young man's lungs would slowly fill up with blood, and he would drown in his own stupidity. The High Captain sheathed his wet sword and tossed a handful of silver