A Contest of Swords

The smithing competition finally comes to an end as the five contestants take their newly-crafted blades and put them to the test against five oak staffs. It is indeed Master Bertoldo who is declared the winner, and he receives the prize of a silver-plated hammer which you forged yourself in the weeks leading up the the celebration. However, when you meet the smiths at the Tournament Gardens, it is clear that he feels his true prize is to hold in his hand the last sword ever made by Methodius, the culmination of a lifetime mastering his craft.

"This sword was not made by the hand of a Master blacksmith," Bertoldo says, holding it before him with awe written on his face. "Truly, it must have been conjured by a Wizard! And it has never known the touch of blood, Sire?"

It took a few tries, but you were finally able to get the smiths to call you "Sire" rather than "Your Majesty" or some other royal title. "That is so," you reply. "We have been fortunate enough to know peace in Elyssia for as long as I have been King. It helps, of course, that almost no one knew we were here until very recently!"

"I confess, Sire, that I am tempted to cut myself with the blade so that I may have the honor of being the first!" Bertoldo says. "But that would disrespect this great work of art, and so I must refrain. With your permission, Sire... I should like to allow my comrades of the forge to also hold this sword, for now that I know what it feels like to hold the masterpiece of the Great Swordmaker in my hands, I cannot in good conscience deny it to my fellows!"

"You have my leave, Master Bertoldo. I know that Methodius would be pleased that his work is so appreciated."

By the time the midday break is done, the smiths are speaking to you almost as an equal, something you find enormously refreshing as it is a rare treat for you since you assumed the crown. The sound of trumpets summons you and your noble guests back to the tournament stands, and you can feel the excitement in the air as the more thrilling contests are about to begin. The forges and anvils have been removed from the field, and circles have been drawn upon the arena with white flour for the Sword Competition.

Rather than a free-for-all melee, the contest has been arranged as a series of one-on-one duels, the winners advancing to face each other until only two combatants remain - and then, only one. Points are awarded for touching the opponent in vital areas, but the contest can be won immediately if a combatant is disarmed or the referee determines that one has scored what would be a lethal blow. The swords are blunted, but they can still wound or even kill, so the competition is not without its dangers.

As this is one of the more popular contests in the tournament, over sixty combatants have entered, and so by necessity it will begin with many duels at once. Before it may begin, however, the contestants ride past the stands in a parade, as Sir Magnus calls out each name along with their titles and deeds; it takes some time, but it stirs the excitement of the crowd rather than diminishing it. As they ride past, the ladies in the stands reach out to offer favours to the combatants, usually a scarf or handkerchief tied around the hilt of the sword.

Lady Trina is among the last to be announced, and her name receives cheers from the people of Elyssia but much less from the visitor from other lands, who are unused to seeing a woman wielding a sword even in tournament. As she approaches the royal box, you rise to your feet, and the sound of the crowd becomes even more hushed as people wonder what you intend.

A favour should be something made by one's own hand, you had thought after making the offer... but therein lies a problem, as there seemed to be nothing on your person which you made yourself! Of course, you have back at the castle many products of your time at the forge, including some items which would be suitable, but there was no time even to send a servant back to get one. Then it occurred to you... there is ONE thing you carry always which was your own work.

Trina rides up to the Royal Box, and you hold up a hand, bidding her to stop. You then reach for a chain about your neck and withdraw from under your breastplate a small ring, too small to be worn on the finger. It is called the Iron Ring, and it is given by the King to one who has special orders in times of great need. It is therefore offered with absolute trust, as the one who wears the Iron Ring wields the authority of the crown, and their orders must be obeyed as if they were your own. The people of Elyssia who are close enough to see what you offer to Trina gasp and then murmur amongst themselves; all of your people know of the Iron Ring, but few have ever actually seen it.

Even Trina's eyes go wide as you offer the ring to her. "Sire... I cannot accept this!" she whispers.

"It is all I have of my own to give you," you say to her. "I regret that I must ask for it to be returned after the tournament, my Lady; I am sure you understand."

"If I am defeated," Trina says, "the victor may make a claim for it. You know this, Sire."

"Then you know the confidence I have in you, my Lady. Please, take this favour, and may it inspire you to win the day."

Trina lowers her head, and you slip the chain around her neck. Then, to your surprise, the crowd lets out a mighty roar of approval, many of them rising to their feet to applaud this act of chivalry. Trina looks about at the people in the stands as if she has only now become aware of their presence; you are sure she has never received such accolades before in her life.

Then, inexplicably, a shadow crosses her face; it is there only for a moment, but when it is gone then so is the momentary rapture which she felt from the crowd. Lady Trina bows to you as low as she can upon horseback, then dons her helm and continues with the procession across the field.

The first stage of the contest will feature eight duels fought simultaneously; this will take place three more times, until the field of contestants is cut in half. Then, the winners will face off in a series of four matches at once, and then two, and then the final bouts will play out one at a time. It happens that Lady Trina is drawn for the first round, and she faces off against a Germanic mercenary who gave his name as Brando, Strong of Arms. If the armor about his shoulders and biceps is any indication of what lies underneath, he chose his name well! He stands a head taller than Lady Trina, and when they face off in the circle it seems like a contest with a foregone conclusion.

You know better, however.

At the center of the arena stands a large brass gong, which was brought from the far east by Kuranoma Kuma, the visiting Samurai. You signal the man who stands next to it holding a mallet, and he bows to you from the waist and then strikes the gong once, the booming noise echoing around the arena.

And, the contest begins!

You sense that most eyes are on Lady Trina's circle, where she stands at the ready against the mercenary, whose stance reveals that he does not take the fight entirely seriously. Almost lazily, he steps in and swings his sword up toward her left armpit, which would be considered a dismembering blow if he strikes and would end the contest then and there. But Trina not only easily dodges the blow, but counterattacks with a spin of her wrist which very nearly knocks the sword from her opponent's hand!

Brando stumbles awkwardly to one side, **** to steady his grip on the sword with his other hand - which leaves him wide open for Trina to follow through and end the duel. Instead, however, she backs off and allows him to regain his blade and his balance, standing once again at the ready.

The mercenary brings up his own sword once again, more cautiously this time - but once he has resumed his stance, Trina gives him no more quarter. She lunges at him with lightning speed, touching his chest and scoring the first point of the match, and as Brando steps back she moves in closer still, forcing him to the defensive. In another moment, Brando has stepped back out of the circle; another point for Trina.

The referee halts the fight and directs them to stand at the ready once again, and then signals them to start. This time, Brando makes the first move, more directly and skillfully than before, feinting a thrust at Trina's head and then dropping his point lower to stab at the chest. But Trina spins away, knocking his sword aside with her armored forearm, and then she sweeps the edge of her blade down to chop at his neck - stopping just short of contact.

"Winner by mortal blow - Lady Trina of Elyssia!" the referee calls out, and a significant part of the crowd cheers along with you for her victory.

Trina steps back and salutes her vanquished opponent... who stands looking bewildered for just a moment, and then he returns the gesture, though it seems to you he does so grudgingly. Five other duels still continue, but you find you are able to pay only slight attention to them, as the sight of Trina removing her helm to reveal her golden hair and preparing herself for the next contest is somehow far more compelling.