“Tia,” she said, cutting him off. “Please, no formalities. I’m sure you understand.”
“Tia, my lady, please rethink this. What would your brother say if he knew the danger you’d be in?”
“What my brother doesn’t know can’t hurt him, can it? Ser Ajune, I assure you, my bodyguards are quite capable. As am I. No harm will befall any of us.”
Ajune stared Tia in the eye for a moment, before bowing gracefully. “Of course. May Vera be with you tomorrow.”
With that, he took his leave to mingle with others.
“So, who was that?” Vir asked as the party returned to their table, taking their seats.
“Mm? Oh, he’s the leader of the Merchant’s Guild,” Tia replied casually.
The leader! Of one of the most powerful organizations in the Known World?
“And that man over there is the owner of the mining company who’s issuing the contract,” Tia said, gesturing to a man with a handlebar mustache who stood high atop the raised balcony that dominated the rear of the hall.
Vir shivered upon realizing just how many bigshots were in attendance.
This is gonna take some getting used to, he thought.
The man cleared his throat and spoke, holding up a glass of white wine.
“Thank you all for attending this banquet,” he said. His magic-amplified voice filled every corner of the hall, and conversations quietened. Dancers stopped and desperately sought glasses with which to toast.
“Tomorrow will be a great day. Not only for my company, but for everyone gathered in this room. Tomorrow will be a day of plunder, of riches, and personal gain. For too long, these beasts have harassed and murdered my employees. Avians, much like many of you, whose only crime was seeing an honest living. But no longer! Tomorrow, these beasts shall die! To a fruitful hunt!”
The room raised their glasses and echoed, “To a fruitful hunt!”
“No mention of the people about to die tomorrow,” Vason said quietly.
“That’s why they’re hosting this banquet,” Haymi replied, swirling the wine in her glass. “At least those who sacrifice their lives will be well fed.”
“It’s more of a publicity stunt, but Haymi’s more or less right,” Tia replied. “By hosting this banquet, even if several mercenaries perish tomorrow, they’ll be seen as having given back to the community. It’ll soften the blow for the mining company.”
“Alright, well, I’m gonna get some more food,” said Vason, heading off to the platters of food.
“Oh no,” Haymi said, just as he left.
One mercenary who’d been eyeing Tia earlier finally mustered the courage to approach their table. The man was built like an Ash’va, and only the barest veneer of courtesy veiled his true nature—that of a brute.
“Hey there, pretty thang,” the man said in a drawl. “How’s about I honor you with a dance?” He extended his arm out, expecting Tia to accept.
She ignored him, making him turn red. “Now look here. Just cuz ya’ve got a pretty face dudn’t give ya the right to act like a chal. Now c’mon and dance with me.”
“I refuse,” Tia said calmly as she leveled her gaze on the man, forcing him to take an involuntary step back.
“Y-you can’t refuse me! Do you have any idea who I am?”
The man reached out to grab Tia’s shoulder, but before anyone could react, Vir appeared in between them, grabbing the man’s wrist, holding it in place with Empower.
“Didn’t you hear her? She doesn’t want to dance. Back off.”
“Oh? You think you can take me, little man? Let’s see about that!” The burly man raised his voice. “I challenge you to a duel! If I win, the pretty lady dances a round with me.”
Vir stared blankly, hardly believing this was happening. Not even two days ago, Vason had joked about this sort of thing, mentioning how some Sawai had incredibly short tempers. Apparently, these bouts were commonplace at balls like this, and even expected.
But why did it have to be me? he thought, resigning himself to the unpleasant task.
“And if I win, you’ll not bother us again. Deal?”
“Acceptable. We do this right here, right now. We fight to first blood.”
Out of nowhere, stewards appeared with steel rapiers.
“A duel has been announced!” the owner of the mining company said, his amplified voice betraying his excitement. “I’m only surprised it took so long! After all, you are all warriors, are you not? Come! Let us enjoy this spectacle!”
Well, that guy clearly has his hinges loose, Vir thought.
“Look at you, defending my honor,” Tia said with a wink. “I don’t doubt you’ll win, but please don’t injure yourself for my sake.”
Vir smirked. “Don’t worry, I got this.” He’d already analyzed the man’s prana signature. He was a mejai with Lesser Affinities for Wind and Fire. It just so happened Vir was practically built to destroy mejai.
“I couldn’t have hoped for a better matchup.”
The man began precharging his orbs on the sly, but Vir hardly cared. This would be over before it even began.
People cleared the dance floor to give the two combatants room. Vir hefted the rapier, finding it to be completely at odds with his preferred fighting style. Nevertheless, he’d make good use of the weapon.
“The fight shall be to first blood, or surrender,” the mining company owner announced. “Combatants, are you ready?”
They each nodded in turn.
“Then let the better man prevail! Fight!”
Vir’s opponent sheathed his blade and brought out his orbs, one in each hand. Vir hardly noticed.
The moment the fight began, Vir switched his grip on the rapier, launching it with an Empowered thrust at his opponent, who stood gawking in shock.
Vir then followed the blade, Leaping right after it.
His opponent dodged the blade, but he couldn’t avoid the human projectile right behind it.
Vir kicked his enemy, sending him crashing to the ground. Giving the man no time to react, he took his back and snaked his arms around the man’s neck.
Then he squeezed. Tighter and tighter. The man writhed desperately to escape, but there was no escape from Vir’s chokehold.
His enemy’s spasms petered out, then stopped altogether as he fell unconscious.
That was a bit anticlimactic… Thought he’d put up more of a fight.
Vir got to his feet and dusted off his coat, carefully inspecting for damage. If I messed anything up… He didn’t even want to know how much the rental place would charge him.
“And we have a winner! W-well fought?”
Looking around, Vir found no cheers, and only a few solitary claps. The crowd regarded him with looks of awkward amusement. As if they were embarrassed for his sake.
Vir shrugged and returned to Tia as the crowd dissipated.
“I’m, uh, thankful that you defended my honor, Param.”
Vason was less diplomatic. “You do realize that duels are supposed to be fought ‘honorably’?” he said, prompting Tia to look away awkwardly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you either fight with magic, Talents, or your rapier.”
“That’s what I did, didn’t I? I used Talents!”
“You, uh… grappled with the enemy, Param,” Haymi said. “That’s how barbarians fight. At least, according to the Sawai.”
“Oh,” came Vir’s reply.
Giggling, Tia took his hand. “I loved it! That wasn’t so much of a duel as a one-sided beat-down. My favorite kind.” For a moment, her boyish smile shone through, and Vir found himself returning it.
“Again, thank you for defending my honor, Param. Now, may I have the honor of a dance?” Tia said with upturned eyes, and just like that, Vir’s elation was forgotten.
“I, uh, don’t really know how to dance, Tia,” he said, hooking arm with her and walking to the stage. Guess I don’t have much of a choice.