Chapter 31
Aemere had to hold back, her sword already starting to flake. While it wasn't her best – she'd learnt of her opponent's glyphs in time – it needed to last the fight.
Her opponent's armour sent vibration through anything impacting it with significant force. It took a while for a weapon to fall apart, but the man was a good enough fighter to hold his opponent off until it did.
Not that he was on her level, and even without her sword she could probably subdue him. With the sword would be easier.
She settled into a defensive pattern, and they circled each other. Not popular with the audience, but she wasn't performing for them. Well, maybe to show them that glyphs weren't superior to skill. She never considered the crowd when fighting though, focussing on her opponent. Beating them was the important thing.
Her opponent was more swayed by the audience's opinion, advancing in a threatening manner. She held off responding until he lunged, his thrust straight but lacking power. She swatted it away with a dismissive flick of her shield, and strolled past.
He slashed a little too wildly, angered by her insolence. Catching the blow on her sword, she used his momentum to push his sword against his armour, ensuring hers didn't touch it. Scurrying away, he slashed his shield at her to prevent her following. She hadn't intended to.
His actions grew desperate as he realised he was outmatched. He pressed again, more a charge than a thrust. She realised before he got in range that he intended using the armour offensively, barging into her to weaken her armour. A smart move, stupidly executed.
Knocking his sword high as he closed, she ducked around his shield, crouching and swinging her shield to catch his feet as his momentum carried him past.
The jolt nearly knocked the shield to the ground, taking her arm with it. She pulled it clear before it went. It might have taken damage, but shields were cheaper to replace than armour.
He hit the ground with an audible yelp. The impact activated his armour's glyph, vibrating the dusty surface of the arena into a cloud which left him choking. He rolled away, more interested in breathing than defending himself.
With an unhurried stride she had her sword at his throat before he could scramble free, and waited until he recovered his senses enough to surrender.
He did both, and she offered him her hand. He ignored it, rolling over to rise on his own.
After a polite bow to the crowd to acknowledge their applause, she strolled from the arena planning her next move. She'd nearly completed the required challenges, and had some time before the finals.
Her steps faltered as she approached the exit. Augni stood there applauding her success.
Removing her helmet, she returned his smile. She couldn't help glancing around for his other half, and waited until they were relatively alone before speaking.
'I heard you'd been arrested,' she said.
'We were.'
'And thrown in Firepeaks?' she asked with some doubt.
'That too.'
She couldn't help glancing about again, more warily this time. 'You escaped?'
'Yes.'
'So you're a wanted man?' That could explain his having cut his hair short, and letting his beard grow. She didn't like the beard.
'I like to think so,' he said.
She raised an eyebrow. 'You think it's funny?'
'I think it's unlikely anyone here will recognise me. I'm going by Dagny, by the way.'
'And your worse half?'
His smile slipped. 'Not here.' There was a tension to his words.
'Where is he?'
'I neither know nor care.'
She regarded him a moment, seeing the tightness around his eyes. 'What happened?'
'We had a disagreement over his methods.' His gaze said it had been more than a simple disagreement.
'I'm sorry,' she said.
'No, I am. I'm sorry I recruited you. It threatened everything you're working towards.'
'But it didn't.'
'It could have,' said Augni.
'I'm a big girl,' said Aemere. 'You didn't force me to go along.'
'I wouldn't dare.'
'And it wasn't all bad. So don't worry about it.' Studying his face, she wondered how far she could let her curiosity take her. 'What did you disagree on?'
He shrugged. 'I spoiled his plans to go into prison alone because I wanted to help him, so he'll obviously do better without me.'
Doubtful of that, Aemere withheld comment. 'So he's still off scheming?'
'Somewhere. And I've still no idea what his endgame is. I doubt I ever did.'
'What will you do?' she asked.
'I figured I'd see if anyone was looking for a squire.'
'A squire?'
'Sure. I'd get to travel, see stuff.'
She held his gaze. 'You don't have a clue what to do, do you?'
'Not really. I feel like I did when I was forced out of the guards. I want to fight the guilds in some way, but have no clue how to do so.'
'So I'm your best bet?'
'I hadn't actually thought of it like that. I suppose your moral victory would be one way of doing it. Mainly I missed you.'
She resisted the impulse to smile too broadly. It didn't do to be too friendly with the help. She tossed the shield to him. The sword clanged on top of it a moment later.
'The sword will have to go,' she said. 'See what you can do about the shield. It may also be too damaged.'
Suppressing a grin, Augni nodded a quick bow. 'Aye, yer ladyship.'
'How exactly did you find me anyway?'
'Please,' he said with a slightly offended look, as though finding one person moving about the Tournament sites was no problem. Although female competitors were rare, and he knew she preferred larger venues.
Still, she was happy he was here, that she had someone to share it with. Since seeing her brother the loneliness of her adopted quest had left her isolated, as though it was her against the world. Now it wasn't.