Read Online The First Blade of Ostia by Duncan M. Hamilton - Free Book Online Page B

appreciation. By now Bryn was tingling with excitement. He was on the verge of winning his first duel in the arena. Despite his nerves and the spectre of self-doubt lurking in the back of his mind, he had been in complete control from the outset. He had been foolish to get so nervous. This was what he was made for, what he had spent his life preparing for.
    They reset and Bryn went straight at his opponent. Nozzo was still fatigued after the previous point; the brief respite of the reset had not been enough for him to catch his breath. Bryn had no intention of allowing him to do so now. He pressed in, sure that the duel was all but over. He had proved to himself that Nozzo couldn’t keep up with him. So focussed was he on his attack that it wasn’t until he could feel a point pressing against the material of his doublet that he realised he had been an over-confident fool. He hadn’t even noticed his opponent’s attack. He bit his lip to stifle his anger with himself.
    He cursed himself as he walked back to the line, furious at his stupidity, but also realising that an important lesson had been learned. As they saluted and took their guards, Bryn could see that his opponent was still tired. Bryn had lost the previous point rather than Nozzo having won it. There would be no overconfidence this time, no mistakes.
    The Master of Arms gave the command and Bryn went forward. Smooth, controlled, precise; just as Bautisto always said. A feint with his rapier and a thrust with his dagger was all that it took. A resigned look fell over Nozzo’s face as he was forced to accept defeat at the hands of a debutant. He displayed good grace in their final salute before Bryn hurried off the arena floor to talk with Bautisto and Amero. Every fibre of his being was electrified by the experience, but he could not shake the lingering disappointment of having conceded that point so foolishly. Few of the spectators paid him any attention, but he did not care; he was now a duellist.
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    ‘ I t’s good to see you, Renald,’ Kristo dal Ronvel said.
    Renald nodded and smiled, but did not get up from his seat in the Bannerets’ Hall lounge. ‘Likewise.’
    ‘What brings you to the city? You’re hardly ever here, even when the parliament is in session.’
    ‘Some business to attend to,’ Renald said. ‘I thought it would be nice to catch up with some old friends while I’m here. I’m not likely to be back before the next session in autumn.’
    ‘Well, I’m glad you got in touch. It’s been too long.’
    Renald was too experienced a soldier to launch straight into his true purpose; he would manoeuvre first. He allowed the conversation to flow along, pandering to dal Ronvel’s overly nostalgic disposition. They had been friends once, comrades in arms. Renald supposed they still were, but he found as he got older he had less time for friends, only for those who could be of use to him. He gently steered the conversation along, until when dal Ronvel finally asked him about Amero, it seemed as though it was his idea entirely.
    ‘Oh, you know how young men are,’ Renald said. ‘I still remember all too clearly what we were like at that age.’
    Dal Ronvel smiled in agreement. ‘Fighting, boozing, and whoring I expect, if he’s anything like my two lads. Has he joined a regiment yet?’
    ‘Sadly not,’ Renald said. ‘Young fool’s taken it into his head to enter the arena.’
    Dal Ronvel raised his eyebrows. ‘How do you feel about that?’
    ‘How do you think I feel? He’s a Banneret of the Blue, so he must have some skill. However, I won’t have him making a public spectacle of himself, or making a mockery of our family name.’
    ‘So that’s what you wanted to meet me about.’
    Renald nodded. Dal Ronvel had never been a fool, but he was disappointed that his subtlety had gone to waste. ‘Not entirely, but I’d be very much obliged to you if you could help me knock this whole ridiculous charade on the head, sooner rather