Chareos walked up the wide stone steps towards the two guards at the top; their spears were crossed, but they lifted them to allow him to pass through into the inner chambers. Three times already he had tried to contact the Earl, to inform him of the deeds of his soldiers. But on each occasion he had been turned away and told that the Earl was too busy to be interrupted.
A servant led Chareos through to the Dining Hall. The long tables had been removed and now the Earl and his retainers sat facing the doors. The first petitioner was already before them, talking of a broken promise in the matter of the sale of three bulls; he had received half the payment on delivery, but the remainder had been denied him. The accused was a nobleman, a distant relative of the Earl. The case was found to be proved and the Earl ordered the money to be paid, plus five silver pieces to be given to the plaintiff to offset the waste of time the case had incurred. He also fined the nobleman twenty gold pieces.
The plaintiff bowed low and backed from the chamber. The next person to be called was a widow, who claimed that her inheritance had been stolen by a man who claimed to love her. The man was dragged into the hall, weighted down with chains. His face was bruised and bloody and he admitted the charge against him. The Earl ordered him hanged.
One by one the petitioners came forward until, at noon, the Earl rose. 'Enough for one day, by the gods,' he said.
A young man pushed through the main doors, the guards running after him. 'My lord, hear me!' he called. The two guards seized the man's arms and began to drag him away.
'Wait!' called the Earl. 'Let him speak.'
Chareos recognised the tall young villager and eased himself forward to hear him.
'My village was attacked by raiders. Eleven of our women were taken to be sold to the Nadir. We must get them back, my lord.'
'Ah yes, the village. A sad affair,' said the Earl. 'But there is little we can do. We followed their tracks to the mountains, but they escaped into Nadir lands and I have no jurisdiction there.'
Then you will do nothing?' the man shouted.
'Do not raise your voice to me, peasant!' roared the Earl.
'We pay taxes to you, and we look to you for protection. But when we asked for it, your men stayed hidden in a wood while our people were slaughtered. Do cowards now rule the Gothir?'
'Take him!' shouted the Earl and the guards leapt on the villager, pinning his arms. 'I want him flogged. Get him but of here.'
'Is that your answer?' yelled the youth. 'Is this justice?'
The Earl ignored him and the youth was hauled away, the doors closing behind him. 'Ah, Chareos,' said the Earl. 'Welcome. Are you ready for the exhibition?'
'I am indeed, my lord,' replied Chareos, stepping forward. 'But may I first say a word about the young man's claims?'
'You may not!' snapped the Earl. 'Logar!' The champion rose from his seat and walked out to stand with the two men. 'I hurt my shoulder during last week's exhibition,' said the Earl, 'and it is troubling me still. But rather than disappoint our guests, would you take my place against the hero of Bel-azar?'
'It would be a pleasure, my lord,' replied Logar. 'Might I suggest that it would imbue the spectacle with greater tension were we to exhibit our skills without masks and mail-shirts?'
'Is that not dangerous?' the Earl queried. 'I would not like to see a tragic accident.'
'There is danger, my lord, but it might add spice to the exhibition.'
'Very well,' agreed the Earl, ignoring Chareos. 'Let it be as you say.'
A page came forward bearing two rapiers. Chareos chose the left-hand blade and moved away to loosen his muscles. He laid his sabre and knife on a ledge, his mind racing. He had no doubt that Logar would try to kill him, yet if he killed Logar the Earl would have him arrested. Mechanically he went through his exercises, stretching the muscles of his arms, shoulders and groin. He glanced at the two rows of spectators, his eye catching the young Lord Patris. The boy was grinning wolfishly. Chareos turned away and approached Logar.
The two men lifted their blades high, saluting each other, then touched swords.
'Begin!' called the Earl.
Logar launched a sudden attack, rolling his wrist in the Classic Chare, but Chareos parried the blow, moving smoothly to his right. Logar's eyes narrowed. Three times the soldier hurled himself forward, and on each occasion was parried. Chareos was growing angry. Logar was making no attempt to defend himself, sure in the knowledge that Chareos could not — in an exhibition — deliver a killing thrust. Twice his blade flashed by Chareos' throat, and the monk knew it was only a matter of time before the Earl's champion found a way through his defences. Chareos blocked a thrust and leapt back, wrong-footing Logar. As the champion cursed and moved forward, Chareos took a deep breath and prepared to meet the attack, knowing now that Logar intended to kill him. But was it the Earl's plan, or merely the result of Logar's wounded pride? Logar's sword-blade lanced for his eye but he sidestepped, spun on his heel and jumped back. Logar swung and grinned broadly. Back and forth across the hall the two swordsmen battled. The spectators could not hold themselves in silence and began wildly cheering every attack made by Logar. Several minutes passed, and still there was no resolution to the encounter. Logar lunged. Chareos only partly blocked, and felt his opponent's sword blade slice into the skin of his cheek.
At the sight of blood a hush fell on the spectators, who looked to the Earl to end the exhibition. But he made no move. So it was the Earl's plan, thought Chareos and anger flared within him, but he held it trapped. He could not kill Logar, for then the Earl would have him arrested and on trial for murder. Coldly furious, Chareos circled, then moved swiftly to his right. Logar lunged forward. Chareos parried three thrusts, then slashed his own blade high over Logar's sword. The point of Chareos' rapier split the skin above Logar's right eye and sliced on across his brow. Blood billowed into the swordsman's eyes and he fell back.
Chareos turned to the Earl. 'Is the exhibition over, my lord?'
That was foul work,' said the Earl. 'You could have killed him.'
'Indeed I could, for he is not very skilful. But for good luck this blow,' said Chareos, pointing to the cut on his own cheek, 'would have pierced me to the brain. Happily there is little harm done; his cut is not serious. And now, with your permission. .' A sound from behind made him spin on his heel. Logar had wiped most of the blood from his face and was running at him with sword extended. Chareos sidestepped and rammed his hilt guard behind Logar's left ear and the champion fell unconscious to the marble floor. 'As I was saying,' said Chareos coldly, 'with your permission I will leave.'
'You are not welcome here,' hissed the Earl, 'nor anywhere within my jurisdiction.'
Bowing, Chareos backed three steps and took up his sabre and knife. He marched from the hall with head held high, feeling the hostility following him.
Out in the courtyard most of the petitioners had remained to watch the flogging. Chareos descended the steps, his eyes locked to the writhing form of the villager as the lash snaked across his skin.
Approaching the Captain of the Guard, he asked, 'How many strokes has he suffered?'
'Eighteen. We'll stop at fifty.'
'You'll stop at twenty,' Chareos told him. That is the penalty for insubordinate behaviour.'
'The Earl did not specify the number,' the officer snapped.