Open by Ashley Fox Page A

General.
    The squires began to move back, clearing the
training yard. Even the archers had broken up, coming to stand with
the others and watch the spectacle. Cade removed his jacket.
    “ You! Boys,
if you ’ re gonna get under my
feet, be useful, never too soon to learn some of your page duties!
Take Lord Knight Caderos’ things! ”
    Lantana
sauntered swiftly ahead. First to come to
Cade ’ s side she took his
jacket, looking far too pleased with himself. “ Cousin, well met. You have grown
since I saw you last. ”
    Cade began to
remove his shirt, untucking and unbuttoning. More people had began
to gather, servants flocking to the sidelines, passing soldiers
calling out bets. Cade passed the shirt to Gos. “ Thank you. Your
name? ”
    “ Gos … er … Gosmore, Lord
Knight Caderos. ” Gos more
had turned a delicate pink and fought not to smile, he looked a
swooning maid for sure. Llew stepped a little closer.
    Cade noticed
him, cocking his head to one side. “ And you. Prince Llewellyn, I believe. I would be honoured
if you would care for my twin blades, as this is a contest of
swords. ”
    “ The honour
would be mine Lord Knight Caderos. You may call me
Llew. ” Cade smiled as he
removed the daggers at his wrists, placing them in
Llew ’ s hands, his muscles
rippled like deeper shadows beneath his dark skin as he strode into
the training yard as he stretched. The blades were warm in his
palms, very old, fine steel. Each carefully weighted to use for
throwing as well as hand combat. The hilts were moulded in the
semblance of ivy, set with hundreds of tiny emeralds. Llew gasped,
knowing these must be heirlooms of the House of Twined Ivy. He
clutched them tight, to be sure not to drop them.
    The two men
faced off from one another. Cade drew out his sword, a high
crystalline ringing, singing forth as he did so. He held it,
glittering, across his chest. There were gasps from the onlookers.
Captain Madder lowered his sword for a moment, his face betraying a
soldiers sweet yearning for good steel. The short blade was a pale
silver, like liquid moonlight, but brighter, sharper. Blue ripples
ran its length where it had been folded in the forge. The lines on
the hilt were simple, elegant, made to fit
Cade ’ s hand perfectly.
Captain Madder spat out his phlegmy shock, assuming his own
stance.
    With a guttural roar Captain Madder charged
forward, bringing his bastard sword down in a brutal swipe. Carried
by momentum, to crash and cause the silver blade to sing. Cade
brought his sword forward, carrying the weight of the blow down,
pivoting on his heel, giving his sword a twist to disengage.
Captain Madder attacked in a brutal flurry of blows, taking the
advantage. Cade retreating but effortlessly deflected each blow.
They circled around the yard in such a manner, getting the measure
of one another.
    Captain
Madder feigned a vicious hack at
Cade ’ s neck, reversing his
blade and sweeping it towards his feet. Cade leapt into the air,
somersaulting over Captain Madder ’ s head, sinking low into a crouch, avoiding the blade
arcing over his head. As Captain Madder turned, he rose, inside his
opponent ’ s defences,
grasping Captain Madder ’ s
arm in a joint lock at the elbow, bringing his own foot to hook
around his legs, with a sharp tug he brought Captain Madder down,
his blade tip resting in the hollow of his throat, arm still held
securely.
    “ Do you
concede? ”
    Captain
Madder held still, tension cording his body. With a gap toothed
grin he relaxed onto the earth. “ Yes, I concede. Mother ’ s tits, can I have me arm back
now? ”
    The onlookers
crowed as Cade let him go. Resheathing his blade and bowing low, he
offered the fallen man a hand up. “ I had forgotten your technique, and your appreciation of
brutal strength. Your battle rage has not waned, it was a good
fight. Though I think you are right, I am a bit rusty. Perhaps I
shall come to the practise yards more often, as it looks like
I ’ ll be