Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #17 August 2015 | Page 46
***
As Padraig started signing his second song,
Phelan barged in throwing open the tent followed by
Ceowulf’s squire. Padraig stuttered to a stop. Into the
sudden silence Phelan’s voice was loud. “We have
need for a Brehon. There is to be a duel to the death.”
“I have friends here. I wouldn’t want them to
run into trouble.”
Blacky glanced at his companions then grinned
widely. “She thinks we’re trouble.”
Righty nodded.
Padraig looked to Elise as soon as his father
had caused him to stop. He saw a quick involuntary
look pass across Elise’s face as she heard the news. It
looked like fear.
Lefty was in a fighting stance. “Can’t we just
deal with her?” he asked.
As Padraig walked down the steps off the
stage, his father reached him before Donnal could, and
Padraig noticed that Donnal was dragged away by his
companions. Over Padraig’s shoulder he saw Cerridwen give him a thumbs up sign.
Elise stood upon her chair, and her voice
carried over the hubbub caused by Phelan’s announcement.
“I call the competition to an end. I will announce the winner later, but first it appears I have
Brehon duties to attend to.”
***
The three scouts had spread out in the clearing.
They carried short swords only, so as Andarta slowed,
she was glad there wasn’t a bowman or a spear to
meet her. They awaited ready.
“Where are you going in such a hurry boys?”
Her glance took in that the one in the middle
was leader, the one on the right was a veteran, and the
one on the left was looking to the other two nervously.
“What’s it to you?” The one in the middle
asked, she labelled him Blacky for his long, dark hair.
Lefty looked nervous; Righty was placid, ready for
anything.
Andarta drew her sword. “Deal with this!”
Blacky gestured with his chin, and his two
warriors started to circle to her left and right.
Andarta decided that Righty was definitely the
most dangerous, and therefore the one to take first.
She feinted left, causing Lefty to jump backwards,
then launched herself at Righty with a furious set of
moves. He moved sinuously through his defences and
riposted, which caused Andarta to skip backwards.
Lefty stood poised, looking for an opportunity, and
Blacky calmly watched.
Righty clicked his neck from one side to the
other, rolled his shoulders, and advanced. She went
on the offensive again. Overhand, stab, block, swipe.
He countered, and she disengaged, breathing heavily.
His expression had not changed, but his eyes flicked
to over her shoulder and she ducked and rolled just
in time to avoid Lefty’s clumsy sword thrust. As she
came up her sword flicked out, Lefty was too slow to
block and her sword met the flesh of his wrist instead
of his sword. As his hand, still holding his sword,
tumbled to the ground he stared at it in horror and
looked almost grateful as her sword took him high in
the chest.
As he slid off it to slump to the ground, she
saw that Blacky was unamused. He s