“Oh,” Gwaynn said, just as surprised as Vio and he moved forward to see if she was all right, but she was already getting to her feet, rubbing her chest and smiling ruefully at Gwaynn. Kostek sat quietly watching, saying nothing.
“Excellent,” she repeated moving back to the center of the mat. They bowed. Gwaynn again moved in, but this time a bit more slowly and Vio quickly made him pay with a similar kick to his chest, followed quickly by a snap kick to the chin. Gwaynn’s head was rocked back and he tasted a bit of blood from a small split in his lower lip. He wiped some blood away with the back of his hand.
“Excellent,” he echoed as he moved back into the center, a return smile now on his face.
They went after each other for nearly an hour, Gwaynn still aggressive but more tempered, Vio still smooth and relaxed, but necessarily more aggressive. Kostek smiled inwardly as he watched. These two were perfect for each other and he knew Vio would be a handful for whoever was matched against her at the year-end Competitions. She was a surprise last year, this year Kostek would be surprised if she did not make it to the finals. It was just a shame Gwaynn could not compete, for he would astound them all.
Over the next week, Kostek continued to watch over their sparring bouts and it was very obvious that both benefited from working with the other. Gwaynn also continued to run with all of the students in the mornings and was improving rapidly on that front also. He was now pushing B’dall, and Kostek’s eighth year student was struggling with the fact that a relatively new student was about to best him at a contest. B’dall, though talented, had always had an inflated opinion of some of his abilities. He was a strong fighter with the katas and at hand to hand, but was less talented with the bow, and though his strong sense of competition kept him near the top in the morning run, he was never a gifted runner. Kostek knew that he was already performing at his peak and with age would do nothing but decline. At last year’s games, B’dall finished second with the katas, fourth with the staff, and third with the open hand, but was tenth in the bow and ninth in the all island run. Against four eighth years and four other seventh years the second place finish with the katas was truly impressive, as was his third place finish in hand to hand. He was a truly gifted fighter, but his strength was power and reflexes, not foot speed. Kostek, however, couldn’t seem to get it across to the youth that knowing what strengths you possess and what strengths you lack was a very important part of knowing yourself, which was the greatest strength of all. Kostek would be interested to see just how his oldest student handled getting taken by his newest.
But Kostek was not destined to see the drama unfold, because the following day four Travelers suddenly appeared outside the Grand Hall, including Zarina Aleecia, the High Traveler, who had long been a friend and ally of Tar Amon.
“This marriage is causing such a stir,” Aleecia said as she and Amon sat on the western veranda, drinking lemon ice and watching the sun slowly set over the waves of the Inland Sea.
“How so?” Amon asked calmly, feigning ignorance.
Aleecia smiled at him. “Coming so soon after the Deutzani defeat of the Massi, and all the shocking rumors that surrounded that episode, people are beginning to talk of conspiracy. Plus the girl is so young,” Aleecia answered with a nod of her head.
Amon face remained passive and he made no comment. Zarina Aleecia, like many Travelers, was long of limb, tall and thin, and very delicate looking. She was past middle age, Amon knew, but she still had a full head of silvery blonde hair that she wore very long, the tips coming nearly to mid-thigh when down, and her face maintained a youthful appearance, helped by her large, bright eyes and small elfish features. She was very beautiful. Amon studied her long, graceful neck as she sucked on some ice, her attention on a boat making it’s way slowly by in the distance.
“You’ve heard none of this I suppose,” she finally said, baiting her friend. She knew Tar Amon well and correctly guessed that he was just attempting to draw out what she knew.
Amon shrugged. “We hear many things,” he replied. “Many disturbing things, but they are as yet unconfirmed and we are not willing to make any decisions based on rumors.”
Aleecia smiled. “Yes, it always pays to be cautious. But one rumor has me very intrigued,” she added, pouring another tasty bit of ice into her mouth. She sat silent for a long moment letting the ice melt of its own accord before speaking again. Amon sat patiently, saying nothing.
Aleecia glanced at her friend, her face emotionless. “The word is spreading that Gwaynn, the young prince of the Massi, escaped with his life during the last hours of the battle.”
Amon nodded. “So I have heard.”
“They say he escaped aboard a trireme, but was lost at sea,” Aleecia added. “Lost heading for the Temple Islands,” she added softly.
“Indeed,” Amon said simply. “If true, the loss would be unfortunate. It would be interesting to find out just how the Deutzani defeated the Massi so easily, and against all odds. It should not have been so.”
“Yes,” Aleecia agreed. “It is also being said that the boy reached the islands and is now in hiding.” She laughed lightly. “But he is not on The Isle of Light, nor do I gather he is on the Temple Island with the High King, and we both know if he landed on the Sinis Island there would be no rumors other than his quick death.
Amon still said nothing.
“And that leaves Helles, Lato or Noble Island, on any of the three I think the boy could have found refuge…if the rumors can be believed.”
Amon took a drink from his cup, the ice melting quickly now. Aleecia watched him closely, but the old man gave no sign one way or another and she sighed. She knew she would get nothing from him now. She was sure the boy was on Noble Island, but she was hoping to get Tar Amon to admit it, so she could offer help.
“If the boy was on Helles or Lato, could you find out?” he finally asked, feigning curiosity, but wondering just how much she knew. He had no illusions about the Traveler’s capabilities. Their ability to move soundlessly from distant places had long made them the very best spies in all of the land, though the Travelers themselves always scoffed at such talk, claiming that spying was beneath them. Still they always managed to have the right information at the right time.
Aleecia shrugged and uncrossed then re-crossed her long legs, watching Amon with a smile, as he watched her with a frown, wondering if she was so curious that she would attempt to use sex as a way to get the knowledge she wanted.
“Perhaps,” she finally said.
“I’ve heard there was an Executioner involved with the killing of most of the Massi family,” he blurted just to watch her flinch.
Aleecia nodded. “Yes, we have heard that also. We lost Dom in the fall, so we cannot be sure, but it does seem likely. Arsinol has employed that boastful man Navarra as Weapons Master. Plus he would not want to dirty his own hands with the death of an entire royal family.”