Fan Fiction ❯ The Duel ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

The Duel

Note: the following chapter takes place 2-3 years before the fall of the Valentines.

Chapter II

16th Century London, England
The Crow's Nest Inn

-"Are you sure of what you are doing, Reg?"

A loud thud was all the answer Lord Canavough received as the infuriated youth slammed his cup of ale against the wooden table. Drops of the spirited drink flew all over, staining his shirt and his drinking partner's as well. Canavough raised his hand to order a new pitcher as he contemplated his friends face turn bright red, and not due to the effects of the drink.

-"That bloody wench! Our family is second in nobility only to the Royal Family itself! How she dares to refuse me! I could bestow my attentions to a noble princess from France or Spain...the audacity!"

The young Earl of Hastings drowned the remaining of his words with the liquor as his thick eyebrows remained fixed in a frown. The mood at the tavern was as always joyous. The bard was just starting the notes of a famous hero song in his lute as the crowd lifted their cups and pitchers and sang along out loud. Plenty of females ensured that the costumers kept spending coins and enjoying themselves but Canavough and Hastings weren't joining the good spirits reigning in the tavern.

-"You know rumors say she's yet to be defeated," murmured Cavanough, hoping his friend would not throw any more ale on his expensive gray and silver outfit.

-"Rumors, rumors, old lady's tales just to make this whole ridiculous deal more interesting" spat back bitterly Hastings. -" Let's see if she keeps behaving so arrogantly after she tastes my blade. You see Robert, these modern women believe they are equals to us men, and that's blasphemy and just plain silly. We got to teach them a lesson. And since this particular one has already put the conditions, it will be even easier for me. First I'll let my blade do the talking and then..."- A lascivious glance brightened Reginald Hastings' gray eyes as his friend laughed loudly as answer.

-"Yeah Reg, show her who's the boss!"

*************************************************************************** ************************

A sizable crowd was already gathered on the field as Reginald and Robert arrived. Damn, it didn't look like a duel; it was more like a three ring circus gone out of hand. The lush field located at the outskirts of London was the favored place for duels. The moon was already on retreat and the pinks and oranges and soft yellows in the sky were the prelude of the incoming rise of the Sun, giving the place an otherworldly aura. As they approached on their equines and with their pages following closely, they noticed that everybody was already preparing their bets as bottles of wine and ale passed from hand to hand. The nobles tied their horses to a nearby tree and met the loud crowd.

-"Seems like our dear Lady Valentine won't be joining us tonight? Maybe she just realized with whom she was messing with," -said Reginald with a cocky voice. A young red-haired man replied to the Earl with the confident tone of having witnessed the scene repeat itself over and over:

-"Nah, Earl, she always like to make dramatic entrances. It is just part of the show. You know, bets are pretty even tonight. Seems you have the best chances of beating her."

-"Hope then you are betting on the winning side tonight"

As they were talking, the sounds of hooves closing in brought them out of their reverie. -"Yup, there she's coming," -the red-haired man said. A figure dismounted a gray horse that had just arrived at the field. It was man in his fifties covered with a black cloak. He held the reigns of his horse and stood still, like he was waiting for someone. New horse steps sounded. From a thick brush two new figures arrived, one in a brown horse, the other in a black stallion. The old man received both newcomers, as he helped the tall figure in black hood and cloak step out of the stallion. The crowd's hush had become a roar in anticipation and excitement of the event about to begin. Robert and Reginald stepped away from the crowd to see the newcomers better. The old man greeted the young man who came riding the brown horse. In his hands he held a scabbard with an exquisite sword. The tall figure from the black stallion approached both their companions, as the old man addressed them both:

- "The Earl of Hastings is already here, milady"

-"Good. That means we can get through this early. James, hold this."

The servant stood at his master's side as she proceeded to remove the hood and cloak that shrouded her identity. A mane of silver hair flowed free from the hood and fell softly over her shoulders. Even in masculine garment, the proud Lady Isabella Valentine looked as ravishing as always, for some even more, since the man's tight black pants she wore for the occasion enhanced her feminine curves in ways that an elaborate dress would never do. A white shirt and riding boots completed her attire. As always, as if they were in the presence of an angel or was it a demon, the crowd watched silently the ritual of Lady Valentine removing the heavy clothes to uncover the glory of her unique hair and deep blue eyes. Looking rather amused as the effect her arrival had provoked, Ivy broke the silence:

-"Thomas, my sword" The young servant handed Lady Valentine the elegant scabbard that held in its interior a Paladin sword. Ivy walked towards the center of the field with the confident walk of an experienced warrior. -"I'm looking for the Earl of Hastings. As you all can witness, I have accepted his challenge. Is he ready?"

The Earl of Hastings looked shocked at the insolent little wench that dared to challenge him. Well, not that little actually; she was almost as tall as he was, he had to admit and good deal taller than many men he knew. God, that was the reason she had caught his attention in the first place that summer night on the French attaché's masquerade ball. Even there in the dueling field, with all his anger pent up, he acknowledged that his opponent was simply exquisite in her statuesque beauty and exotic hair coloring. Too bad he planed to let some blood run out from that fair skin of hers, just enough to put a good end to all this stupidity of duels. She needed the lesson and he was more than willing to provide it.

-"Milady, I'm already here," the Earl replied proudly as he stepped out of the crowd that almost engulfed them both. -"Tell you what. I'll give you another chance to reconsider my proposal. I know your distinguished father Lord Valentine would not mind at all having his daughter marrying into the Hastings. He would gain even more access to the Royals that he already enjoys and his fortune and influence will grow together with our own. What do you say? I am a reasonable man and I can forget that this little scene ever happened."

-"My dear Earl, from what I have heard from you, I would have never believed you as a coward," Isabella replied coldly. The crowd watched the scene enraptured, waiting for the Earl's reaction. If he caught the bait, the duel was about to start. His fuming face soon provided the answer.

-"What! You... you insolent brat! I was giving you a peaceful choice out of this mess but since you seem determined in not having me, have then the blade of my sword!!"

And with a quick move, Reginald stepped into the dueling ring, tossing away with violence the scabbard of his sword. His blade lifted high above his head, he aimed mercilessly against his objective when suddenly Ivy moved gracefully to the side putting an highly polished boot on the Earl's way, making him trip and fall with a loud sound to the cold ground of the field. The audience chuckled hard as they watched the Earl's jaw clench tightly and his eyes flung open like a madman. He stood up enraged and tightened the grip on his sword. Ivy was looking at him with a light smirk on her lips. Her blade was still held inside the scabbard, her fingertips barely touching its hilt. -"I'm right here Earl. I did not know you enjoyed lying on the ground." Her tone was now clearly contemptuous.

-"You haughty brat, your insolence will be your doom!" - yelled a livid Earl of Hastings as he charged again in blind fury. Ivy avoided the charge again effortlessly, this time hitting the back of the Earl's head with the scabbard. The smack served to infuriate the Earl even more that he already was, if that was possible. The crowd roared again, the exchange of money and bets rising to a fever pitch. The nobleman's sword gleamed hungrily at its silver blade, reflecting the thirst for blood he had.

-"Face me, you wench, are you planning in avoiding me all day?" the Earl spewed furiously."

-"You are right, I've have a lot of things I'll could be doing, instead of wasting my time with you. En garde!" Determination replaced the whimsical look in her eyes that now reflected the coldness of her blade that came to rest on its mistress' hands. Hastings did not knew what angered him the most, the sight of a woman fighting him or the insolent words that came from her enticing lips and the challenge her eyes offered. Irons clashed and sparks flew as the two fighters came together in a deadly dance of agility and strength. The Earl was befuddled. Ivy seemed to anticipate every single hit and maneuver he offered and she did not seem to be having much of an effort doing so. She blocked and parried every single blow with a master's grace and with dread he realized that it seemed that she had held the upper hand from the start; that she was only cruelly toying with him as if she were a cat and he was his pray waiting, fearing for the last deadly bite. His mind clouded in a mixture of hatred and fear as he threw himself towards her in a furious charge. Ivy managed to unbalance him again and his back fell flat on the ground. Fractions of seconds later, a blur of silver overshadowed him and a cold iron just over his jugular startled him. It was over.

-"Do you yield?" asked Ivy with a cool nuance that brought shivers to his spine. She pressed the blade slightly harder over the Earl's neck, waiting for his mouth to utter the words. His grip on the sword loosened at the unrelenting pressure of her boot over his wrist, sending pangs of pain up his arm. A small string of crimson blood came out tainting his elegant white shirt. A desperate voice came out the panicked Earl's throat.

-"I, I yield..."

She eased the pressure of the blade and stepped back, her sword returning swiftly to its holding place. The crowd stood in silence. Robert opened his way from the public and approaching his friend, he put piece of cloth over the Earl's neck. Hastings looked at her with a mixture of fear and fury, and left the field in silence. The crowd gained its voice and murmured loudly then in yells and rioting laughter as the losers relinquished their coins and the winners collected their loot.

-"Okay everybody. The show is over", yelled Ivy, annoyed.

The crowd started to disperse without protest, leaving Ivy and her companions alone in the field that was just starting to fill with the dawn's light.

-"Great fight milady. The Earl is a renowned duelist", said Thomas proudly.

-"So I had heard. Too bad he wasn't good enough. I am starting to tire of beating these fools. None of them is worthy of my attentions."

-"Milady, you are becoming quite a legend," said Thomas as he finished wiping off the blood off Ivy's sword.

-"Really?" said Ivy with amused voice as she approached her horse. James helped her mount. "So what does my 'legend' say'?

-"Some say you are an avenging angel, others say you're a witch or a demon. But what everybody agrees in is that you'll only accept as a worthy suitor the challenger that defeats you."

-"Well, at least that part is correct...hmm, I like how this 'legend' thing sounds. Come on let's go. Mother will be soon up, reading me the new batch of marriage proposals that she has received." And with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes added:

-"Let's see whom my new set of challengers will be."