Tested (The Life of Uktesh Book 1) (20 page)

Together they watched the many acts that were being performed all around them and even stopped at the henna tattoo stand to each get a tattoo. Laurilli got one that made it look like vines flowed down her face, which gave her a wild Armian look.  Uktesh decided to get a life sized third eye on his forehead that was half open, though the pupil was vertical like a cat’s. Laurilli said it just looked like a weird number zero on his forehead.  Uktesh tried to scrub it off, even though he thought the eye turned out great, but it had already set in.  Only after that, had they learned that the tattoos, while not being permanent, lasted three months!  “Great!” exclaimed Li, “I’m going to look like I need a bath for months!”

“It’s not so bad, at least you don’t have a zero on your forehead. Cheer up, just think of what Dekan and Baloce will say about it.”

She nodded, slightly cheered up about it. She decided that since it was going to last for a while, she wanted something that looked more decorative and got the vines enhanced so that it looked like her whole face had sprouted vines.  After the artist was done, Uktesh saw that the art was inspired, not only did it look lovely, but it also gave her a fierce look that would help her in the fights.

They were still in front of the mirror looking at their tattoos from different angles, when they first heard, then saw the first of the fireworks going off, and realized they’d spent the entire day already. They quickly went to the market square and found Heathyr, Tylor, and Repus sitting on a wall by the fountain.  Heathyr looked at Laurilli and said to Uktesh, “I thought you were going to stop her from doing anything so foolish, but I see she’s just a bad influence on you.”  She stared at his forehead, “Why the zero?”

He groaned and said, “It’s a third eye.”

Day One

Uktesh felt a powerful panic force its way through his dreams, to wake only to find that a man he didn’t know stood over his bed.  Without any conscious decision, Uktesh flowed into one of the three balanced unarmed attacks that are executed on your back, Wind Howls. His feet flashed up and around and kicked into the person. He also propelled himself up and he threw himself backwards off the bed, to avoid a knife that slashed towards his stomach. 
How many times am I going to be attacked on this trip before I even get to the matches?
  Uktesh thought to himself.  He noticed that there were four men in their cabin, three of the new arrivals and a man who Uktesh could only assume was Irtith, who must not trust himself as he tried to end his first match early. 

Uktesh saw that Myrtin was on the ground, a pool of blood spread under him.  Quickly Uktesh looked to the beds that contained Li and Heathyr, and found that they were still asleep. 
You come after me and kill my friends! 
“I’ll kill you!”  Uktesh flowed into Bull Rushes Down, but he didn’t continue the attack because a knife blade descended to where his leg would be in moments.  Instead Uktesh planted his foot on his own bed and used the imperfect Frog Leaps to jump up to the low ceiling and flipped in the air so that his feet were planted on the ceiling for a moment. 

In that moment, he saw his companions startle awake. and two of the attackers move towards Laurilli and Heathyr. But Uktesh couldn’t worry about that. He pushed off the ceiling in a second imperfect Frog Leaps and felt his muscles tighten with strain.  Less than a second later, his fist connected with Irtith’s  face and broke his nose again. Uktesh flowed again into an imperfect Leaf Falls and kicked Irtith’s legs out from under him. 

He rose to find that the one nearest to the door and therefor nearest to Tylor’s friends was down with a throwing knife in his chest. One of the two that had moved towards Laurilli and Heathyr was down, two daggers in his back. The third had tried to grab Laurilli, Uktesh assumed as a shield, but she fought back and utilized everything that he’d taught her. 

He saw as she dodged under hands that only grasped air, she used Flower Awakes to the Sky.  He smiled as she adapted it to kick her right foot into the man’s face, and bought herself enough time to get back up and in a defensive stance.  Uktesh Rushed into the man from behind and slammed him face first through the wall and heard his neck snap.  Laurilli, who had moments earlier been in an even fight against an armed opponent, crashed into Uktesh and started to cry into his chest. By now the other fighters were awake, but Tylor and his friends were all fully armed if not fully armored.  Uktesh didn’t see Larut, but assumed he’d gone to get a healer.

Myrtin was rolled over to find that his throat had been slit. Laurilli took one look and buried her face more tightly into his chest.  He continued to stroke her hair, as he saw Tylor take charge of the would be assassins. Irtith chose that moment to sit up and make to stand, but Esolc quickly walked to him and a hard boot to the face had Irtith slump back into unconsciousness again.  “Why?  Why would he do this?  He had to have been confident he could beat you tomorrow. He was the fourth best two years ago, why would he try something like this?” sobbed Laurilli.

“I don’t know. Maybe the two times I beat him made him think twice about his chances in a fair fight.  Maybe that’s how he became the fourth best last year.  Maybe he just wanted to hurt us.  All I know is, once our fight starts, one of us is not leaving it alive.” 

Larut returned with the healer and a magistrate. The healer took one look at Myrtin and shook his head. The only attacker who had survived was Irtith  and he was only minimally injured, so the healer left him to wallow.  The magistrate asked questions about what had happened, why the man had a grudge, and dozens more, all of which Tylor answer quietly, tears unshed in his eyes.  Men came and took the bodies away. Guards came and took Irtith away and promised to bring him to the tournament, which started in two hours.  Once they were gone, the other on looking contestants left and said they needed to warm up, which left the group to sit, stand, or pace in silence.  Uktesh broke the silence with an apology, “I’m so sorry. This is my fault. If I hadn’t,” but he paused to think, and knew he wouldn’t have done anything differently when Irtith had grabbed Li.

“Bullshit!” Uktesh was shocked by the interruption as much as the language, “We’d all have done the same thing you did. I don’t know how they got the drop on Myrtin, but that’s the only way those four could’ve beaten him, leaving him unable to give us a warning.  No what happened, happened. The only thing we can do now is honor his memory by winning.  I-” his voice faltered and the tears he’d been able to hold in spilled out.

“I will always miss my friend, but it will never be on your shoulders Uktesh. The only person left to blame is the man you fight next.  We need to warm up and get ready for today. Myrtin leaves behind a wife and three kids, and while we all know that money is never able to replace love, I propose that half of what we win go to them. That way we’ll fight better, stronger, faster, because we will not just fight for ourselves, but for a man’s mark on this world.” Silently everyone nodded and started to file out of the room. They packed their gear and took it with them as they left. 

Uktesh slowly packed his belongings and tried to think of something he could’ve done differently. But the only reason he would’ve done anything different is if he knew about the attack, and if he knew about the attack he could’ve stopped it, and if he could’ve stopped it he wouldn’t have a reason to change anything.  Around his thoughts went until finally he thought,
I did the best I could, that’s all anyone can ask of anyone.
  He finished by shoving his shirt in his pack and found Li had waited for him, “Where’s your mom?”

“She went ahead with Tylor and the others. She said we needed to talk, but I don’t think she’s right. I think you know that nothing, except precognition, would’ve changed what happened yesterday and this morning.”  Uktesh nodded. “But it still feels like it was your fault?”  Uktesh nodded again. “I know what you mean, and I feel the same way.”

“What?  Why?”

“Well if I hadn’t dropped my guard and been groped, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Or maybe it would be you dead in the market, for humiliating him.”

“That may be true, but it doesn’t make me feel better, just like my words probably don’t make you feel better.  They don’t change what happened or what needs to happen now.”

“I’ve never gone into a fight actively planning on killing someone.” Uktesh whispered.

“I know.” She sat next to him, “You’re not a murder. You never will be. But right now, today, you need to be a force of vengeance.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to kill him. I want to, but I just don’t know if I’ll be able to do it when the time comes.”

“Whatever happens we trust you.”

She hugged him, the thing he needed most at that moment. They held each other as tears fell silently down both of their cheeks.  They silently supported each other. Uktesh knew there wasn’t anything he could say, and guessed that Laurilli knew there was nothing she could say to dull the ache he felt.  “I love you,” he whispered, “and thank you.”

She pulled away only to gently kiss his lips, “Don’t lose. I couldn’t stand it if he took anyone else away from us.”

They collected their packs and walked to the coliseum. The roads were already bustling with people who were trying to get the best seats, even though there was still an hour before Uktesh’s match.  They all stopped at the bookies window and bet the five gold maximum on Uktesh, and Youreth had been right the odds were forty to one that Uktesh would lose.  Uktesh and Laurilli walked to the staging area, each wrapped in their own thoughts.
I shouldn’t have come here, we have plenty of money, and now a precious friend is dead. 

Uktesh separated from Laurilli and took his two swords from one of the attendants who lined the walls and waited. 
If I had woken sooner, or if I had been on watch, then most likely I would be dead too.
He didn’t know if he believed that, he thought that if he had been on watch, he would’ve figured out what was about happen. Even though that thought belittled the memory of Myrtin, still he couldn’t help that he had the feeling that he would’ve done something differently. 

When there was only ten minutes till the fight, and the coliseum was already completely full, three guards walked Irtith in. At the sight of him all the doubts and second guesses flew from Uktesh’s mind.
He’s the one that’s to blame!
  Uktesh knelt in the sand, carefully laid his sword in front of him, sat straight on his heels, and closed his eyes. 
I need to calm down. An angry warrior is a foolish warrior, and a foolish warrior quickly becomes a dead warrior. 
He repeated that to himself and tried to calm himself unsuccessfully until an announcer came up to him and asked, “Kid are you ready?” 

In one fluid motion, Uktesh picked up his sword, stood, and nodded to the man, “Yes.” 

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer started to the roar of the crowd, “today is the day you’ve been waiting for.  A whole year has passed since you’ve gotten to cheer your favorites, ridicule your enemies, and celebrate your victories!”  The crowd shouted approval again.  The announcer lifted his hands circling to view the whole coliseum.  “Today we have a special fight!  I’m sure you’ve heard of it by now, but in case any of you’ve been living under a rock, let me tell you. The first fight is a grudge match!  On one side the match is a man who needs no introduction, the fourth best swordsman two years ago. The only three that were deemed his superior are not here this day, so will he become champion this time?  Only time will tell, I give you Irtith!” 

The crowd cheered so loudly the ground shook, “On the other side of this intriguing match is the first time gladiator and suspected thief Uktesh!”  Against his will Uktesh felt frightened by the sudden outpour of hate towards him.  Youreth came on to the gladiatorial sand with a confident stride towards the announcer who bowed and said, “To begin the games this year is one of our esteemed Triumvirate, lord Youreth!”

Again the crowd cheered, but Uktesh noticed that it was less than Irtith had received, “Greetings! I’ll make this short. The winner of this fight will be determined the victim and the loser the thief.” 

Uktesh walked to Youreth and asked, “Do you mind if I say something?”

“No, but shout loudly or you’ll lose their attention.” he turned to the crowd, “Uktesh would like a word before his battle against the favored winner this year!”

Uktesh shouted in as commanding a voice as he could muster, “This man that you cheer is a coward!”  He didn’t pause or allow the crowd any time for a response. “Your hero tried to take advantage of my fiancé!  When I stopped him, he tried to rob me in order to get back at me.  Then when I stopped him again, he tried to kill me in my sleep, but instead killed one of my friends!  For those of you who’ve bet against me in this conflict, know that you are moments away from losing your money!” 

Uktesh nodded to Youreth who smiled and said to the stunned crowd, “What this boy says may be the truth, let the gods decide!” 

He in turn nodded to the announcer who shouted, “Who’s ready for a fight!”  The crowd, suddenly uncertain, gave a halfhearted shout. “I can’t hear you!  Are you ready for a fight!”  This time the crowd knew what was expected and they shouted in agreement.  “Then let’s begin!  Fight!”

Irtith threw down his sword and shouted, “I can’t be expected to kill a child!  I’m a man of honor. Let us fight with wooden weapons!”  The crowd stopped their cheer midshout and again in confusion answered with a mediocre shout, some approval, some dismay. 

Uktesh threw his swords to the ground and shouted, “Then let us do this barehanded!”  He sprinted towards Irtith and flowed into Bull Rushes Down and after a step flowed into Hawk Soars to close the distance between them in an instant.  Irtith was ready for him. Two hidden daggers sprung from his sleeves and, with a grin that promised death he threw one at Uktesh.  As he dodged with a perfect defensive unarmed Crane Snaps, he heard Laurilli shout his name, and his hand flashed out and grabbed the knife from the air.  Irtith looked shocked for a moment before he stabbed at Uktesh.  Uktesh flowed into a balanced Dances with Bull and spun around the attack. He stabbed down with the imperfect Lightning Flashes into Irtith’s shoulder. 

Irtith quickly switched grips, but Uktesh didn’t let up. Still spinning he continued in imperfect and let the Leaf Falls attack hamstring Irtith, first his right leg, then left.  Still spinning, he moved to a perfect Woodsman’s Work and brought his acquired knife down vertically into Irtith’s wrist that held the knife. Irtith fell to the ground because his legs were no longer able to hold him up.

The knife, still clutched in Irtith’s hand, fell to the ground.  Irtith stared at his stump and Uktesh slammed the knife to the hilt into the same arm’s shoulder, and left it there.  Irtith shouted as the pain finally caught up to his brain. Uktesh turned his back on him, picked up Irtish’s sword, and walked towards his swords.  As he bent down to pick them up, he heard the sound of the blade being pulled from Irtith’s shoulder and knew that soon Irtith would throw it at his back.  Uktesh spun in the balanced Dove on the Winds and deflected the knife that had been aimed for where his heart would’ve been.  Uktesh walked towards Irtith, who somehow had already healed his hamstrings. He stood and suddenly shouted, “I yield!  You win!”