The Dark Ages of the Synakoy; The Past Forgotten, Wolfheart [top ebook reader .txt] 📗

are, and they all start around the same age. That must be tough; to be marked on progress by your age and your peers’ age.
He came into the ring and winked at Kai, who rolled her eyes and looked back at the field.
“Stance.”
They complied.
“Load.”
Kai was slightly faster than the boy at this, which surprised Ky.
That will only help her, however, if they were based on speed as well. It’s not right now.
“Aim.”
Again, they complied. Ky noticed the boy tilted his bow at the same angle as Kai this time.
“Fire.”
Kai released her arrow a second faster. When her second arrow landed beside the first she'd fired, Kai fist pumped in victory. The boy’s arrow fell right beside hers.
“Cool shot.” She said.
“Tie.” The archer master said. “Now, archery isn’t just about accuracy. If you can only hit one target in five minutes, that does the warriors no good at all, and gives the archers on the other side a chance to remove a few of our slower archers and less practiced warriors. Speed alone, however, won’t do much good. Five arrows in a minute aren’t useful if only one arrow strikes an arm or leg. Therefore, in this round, the child who shoots the most arrows the farthest shall win.”
They’re taking this in stages…
Kai winked at the boy, who shook his head and took stance.
“Load and fire when ready.”
Kai loaded, aimed and fired off four arrows in the time that the boy fired three before time was called. Two of her arrows were halfway between red and blue. One was at the base of the red. The other was at the foot of the blue. Two of the boy’s arrows were between green and blue. The other was right next to the blue stick.
He turned away from Kai, looking rather downcast.
Kai put a hand on his should, making him look at her. “Thanks for taking it easy on me, Blake! But next time, do your best!”’
“That was my best.”
She frowned. “Really? Because I don’t think it was. Let’s practice again together sometime. I could learn from a humble boy like you. Just because we met yesterday doesn’t mean you need to go easy on me, though!”
He smiled and nodded, then bowed to his teacher and left the ring, knowing he lost.
The archery master signaled another girl, closer to Kiyoshi’s age than Kai’s. The young lady stepped into the ring with a proper stance already.
“Apply speed and accuracy as before and from this point on. This time, the goal is to hit the colored cloth on the sticks.”
Kai got in stance.
“Load and fire at will.”
Kai loaded just as fast, but took longer to aim than the older woman, and got out only three shots to six when the archery master said;
“Time.”
All of the woman’s shots had hit flags; three on red, two on blue and one on green. Kai had hit all red, but only one arrow had done more than skim a corner, and it laid on the ground with her other two.
The woman looked down at the younger archer, who sighed and shook her head.
“That was great for your age. How long have you been using long bows?”
“Since around ten, actually…”
Everybody began to mutter. The master archer gasped. Tenzik shook his head.
“What?” Kai looked confused. “What’d I say?”
The woman shook her head. “Nothing, child. We’re just a little unsettled by the news. Children should be allowed time to play before they become adults. You must have lived hard.”
Ky shook her head at the misunderstanding, and knew she must sort it out with Riviera later.
“This challenge is complete.” Tenzik retook the stage. “Kai is a fourth level archer. Next, she will be tested with knives. Please remain in the ring.”
The woman archer stepped out of the ring and sat back down. Ky shivered when she noticed a toddler grab at her tunic, and was pulled into her lap as she set down her bow.
Women have a dual role as mother and soldier? No wonder most of the women choose archery; it’s half the likeliness they will be killed and leave their children to the fathers!
The dagger master she’d chosen the blade from was a lean, thin man. He pointed out a boy around her age. The boy stepped up and leered at Kai. Ky was sure she heard him say something about Kai minding her place.
“My place?” Kai sneered back. “You mean above arrogant boys who make-believe they’re a soldier?”
The master didn’t correct either of them; he just began to explain.
“Daggers and knives are the assassin’s weapon, the hunter’s tool and, often times, the weapon of choice for a rogue. They are weapons of skill, speed and utility. They are the squire’s first blade, and the knight’s last resort. The dagger depends completely on the person using it whether it is a tool of chaos and misery or honor and courage. The way you fight hand-to-hand with a dagger is different than a sword, mace, scythe or staff. It is unique, fast and about making small, well-timed pressure slices, stabs and feints. Throwing a knife applies the skills of an archer and a rogue.”
He paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. “There are rules to a duel that do not apply to war and assassination. If you even begin to disobey these rules, you will be disqualified and severely punished. Do not aim for vital areas such as the neck, wrist or veins. Check your dagger now – if it is sharp, you must switch out the blade or sheath it. You will be permitted to sharpen it later.”
Kai and the boy checked the blades. The boy sheathed his, making sure it was strapped where it wouldn’t come out. Kai frowned and sighed; her blade was obviously dull.
The point isn’t to injure your opponent here; it’s too out strike him.
“This is a fight with daggers; not with your fists or legs. Any martial arts either opponent knows must be kept strictly to their weapons.” The boy rolled his eyes. “It is end match when an opponent is unarmed, calls out defeat or is unable to stand and strike back.”
The man looked the two over closely.
“Face your opponent.”
The two faced one another.
“Fight.”
Kiyoshi couldn’t keep track once the two fell on one another. They grappled for the other’s blade. In a few seconds, however, Kai had the boy to the ground with his blade hand behind his back. Her machete was to his neck.
“End match. Kai’s the victor.”
Kai released the boy, who snatched his blade and stomped off the stage in fury. A second boy came to stage.
“Same rules apply. Face your opponent.”
They faced one another.
“Fight.”
They fell at each other again. This time, Kai had to break free from him twice and resorted to knocking his blade from him with hers.
“End match. Kai’s the victor.”
The girl stood, panting. The boy smiled and bowed, then left the ring. The master called in another boy, only he was around seventeen. Ky didn’t like this. She had to force herself to remain where she was as the boy checked his blade and let Kai cool down.
At least they’re letting her breathing ease.
“Face your opponent.”
They faced one another.
“Fight.”
This time, the boy avoided her, grabbed her arm and twisted her blade from it before she could move. His blade was to her throat.
“End match. Rynvik is the victor.” The boy released Kai.
Tenzik spoke again “Kai is level three in dagger fighting. Both may step out of the ring.”
He waited for Kai to rejoin them.
“Great job.”
“I really hope I never have to fight anybody hand-to-hand faster than him…or bigger than that second boy.”
Ky smiled. “They’ll teach you to handle both types better.”
She nodded, looking distracted. The sweat on the child concerned Ky, however.
“You’re going to catch ill. Go talk to Riviera about changing clothes or getting into a blanket. You need to dry that sweat.”
“Ivory. Choose your weapon and step into the ring.”
“But…Ivory is going to fight…”
“Go on, Kai. Ivory will be fine. You shouldn’t miss much if you hurry.”
She nodded and left toward Riviera. Ky watched as they spoke, and Riviera led her toward the closest wagon, where a woman sat sipping on tea. There were medical supplies there, already out and prepared for an accident.
Then a man began to speak, directing her attention to the ring, where Ivory stood holding a katana. Honestly, Ky wasn’t surprised. She had plenty of practice with the weapons.
But didn’t she say something about having to become used to each blade and how it handles? That’s a brand new blade.
“Swords are an ancient weapon, dating back to a time of chaos and destruction. Once used to annihilate our people, they are now prized as the weapon of the knight, king, ninja and warrior. They were once used by the Synakoy; now they are used by our people. In sword combat, the opponents must make powerful, accurate strikes. They must have proper form and know the feel of the blade. That is why, in duels of the sword, each must choose a blade they understand. To even things out for Ivory, I will not permit any of her opponents to use the blade at their sides. Remove them now.”
To Ky’s interest, his students did so. They bowed formally.
“The match will end when an opponent is unarmed, declares defeat or is unable to counter their opponent. An attempt to injure or kill your opponent will disqualify you, and will earn a swift and severe punishment. Allow me to remind you this means no stabbing, aiming for veins or vitals such as the neck, stomach, lungs and heart. Aim for the sword – not the person. This is a duel, not a battle.”
He called up a girl and handed her a katana similar to Ivory’s.
“Fight with honor.” He told her. “And do not harm her.”
She bowed and joined Ivory in the ring.
“Face your opponent.”
They faced one another, both choosing a different stance.
“Fight.”
At first, the two circled one another. Then the girl, her blade to her lower left parallel to her hip, charged Ivory. The teen dodged her, turned the katana to hit her back with the blunt side and knock her down. By the time the girl turned around to get up, she had a sword to her nose.
“End match. Ivory takes victory.”
She helped the girl up, smiling.
“You’re new at this?” She asked. The girl nodded. “I thought so. I’d listen to your teacher when he tells you not to charge your opponent.”
She blushed. “Thanks. Want to spare sometime?”
“That’ll be fun.”
The girl left the ring to be replaced by a boy with another katana.