Tales Of Grimea (26 page)

“Silence!” The bellow came from Alfjoetr,
and almost brought Glint to one knee with an almost physical force.
The only time he’d ever heard louder was when a magical tree
brought down the crystalline caves almost atop his own head, east
in Krava. Then Glint noticed that the dissenters, those who booed
him, were all first rankers like him. He understood that they
envied him the chance, and cursed their own trembling arms. Those
who knew him cheered, but Alfjoetr silenced them in turn with
another painful cry. “Let the boy try,” he said in a lower tone.
“Get your armor on. We’ll start with the youngest. Does anyone
mind?” the two maesters and Lord Luke, who stood behind the man,
shook their heads. All around there was a light atmosphere and
people joked, as if Alfjoetr was going to play with a puppy. Glint
almost shouted at them to go away, but knew what they wanted. He
could feel their need for a spectacle.

“I… what about you?” Glint asked, walking
forwards and free of the crowd until the man was directly before
him, if a bit away. Alfjoetr’s eyebrow shot up as the booing began
in earnest. Now even the second rankers were annoyed, and Lord Luke
laughed.

“Shut yer trap,” Alfjoetr told him before
turning his attention to the warrior. “I thought ye knew, boy.
Can’t get the damn thing to work. First guild leader in history who
can’t.” Glint was shocked, but remembered their last fight. He
hadn’t used his armor then, although his snarling wolf medallion
had felt off. Now Glint knew that the man’s necklace would glow
when the time came, summoning that monstrous power beneath him.
“Nod when yer ready.”

Glint let lightning course through him. All
around, people fell silent, shocked at the speed his armor took
over. A longsowrd and shield formed on his arms, and Glint took
them, ready for anything. Last time he had lasted a couple of
minutes at most, but he was a different man now. Strength filled
him and the wind howled in the silence of men about to see a
spectacle they were unprepared for. If he fought equally here, he’d
be made a lord. Alfjoetr stood a distance away, and Glint knew he
could reach him in a few seconds. Although the giant looked bored,
he stood with few openings and the medallion around his neck
emitted a soft light. Glint nodded, ready to pounce.

Then brown fur filled his vision. The last
thing he heard that day was a thud.

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