Flower of Bulann

Chapter 11

Kinna watched on in surprise as her father's men entered the battlefield, circling Vior and Kuan as if trapping a fox with hounds.

"Why are your guards entering the field, father?" she asked, looking at the broad smile on his face.

"Because, my daughter. This is not only a competition to win your hand in marriage. It is a show of gratitude to our people, and is this not a spectacle?" he told her, not answering her question at all as they watched Vior catapult himself into a guard before sweeping away another, then dispatching a third as the other competitors made their way to him.

"Did you know lord Vior would do something like this?" she asked, wondering if her father would answer the question regarding her love.

Her father just laughed heartily, pleased that his creation was thrilling her so.

"I did not, but I have been pleased with how young Vior has progressed. I think that sending him away from you was for the best though, do you not agree, my daughter?" her father asked, though his tone of voice betrayed an underlying scheme, she had heard such a thing before...

The crowd gasped suddenly as Vior and his companions charged out to meet her father's guards whilst Vior, her love shouted "For the lady Kinna!" making her heart leap for joy.

Her mind was pulled from her father's scheming as Kinna's concern for Vior and Kuan took over, the guards arrayed against them outnumbering them by more than two to one. 

Kinna stole a glance at her father as they clashed violently, a scary gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.

Vior engaged first, feigning a strike at a guard and catching another off guard before knocking him down. Kuan aided him as he slipped his own attackers, throwing his staff and tangling the guard's legs, rushing in to aid his brother.

Vior struck down another guard, as Kuan took the tangled guard's staff before throwing him down below to join his fellow guardsman.

"Yes, excellent" her father muttered as his guards were being dispatched by the brothers.

The other guards had decided to avoid Vior and Kuan, several going for Tai'ishi with one holding back to delay the brothers as the remainder attacked Rassan.

It was obvious that their alliance had been hurried as only Vior and Liu fought with any plan or teamwork. Rassan now fought three men alone, Tai'ishi, two.

The brothers tried to round the guard that blocked them, but he seemed far more competent than the others and kept his distance, fending them off with sharp jabs as they closed in on him.

Vior feigned an attack as Kuan dashed in, but the guard had anticipated the move and struck Kuan's shoulder, putting him off balance. Vior moved in as Kuan grabbed the guard's staff, using it to keep himself from falling.

Kinna let out a gasp as Vior slipped, his quick reflexes the only thing keeping him from falling. His hands shot out and his staff tumbled away as he caught a pole in each hand before hopping back to his feet.

Kuan pulled hard on the staff, the guard himself then slipping and falling. Kuan kept hold of the staff though, tossing it to Vior as he came closer.

Kinna heard her father chuckle and her attention was drawn to where Rassan had been, the two remaining guards regrouping to face Vior and Kuan.

Before engaging though they stole a glance at her father, as she watched him he tapped his right temple, the guards nodding back in acknowledgement of some unspoken order.

The two guards broke left, circling towards Kuan. As he engaged them the outermost guard dashed past him, heading towards Tai'ishi who had defeated one of his opponents and now fended off his final foe, though his breathing was noticeably heavy now.

Vior changed direction as he realised their plan, as Tai'ishi saw the incoming threat and, trying to manoeuvre himself to a more favourable place as he fended off more attacks.

Kinna turned to her father once more, though he now sat back, satisfied with how things were. Why was he engineering Vior and Kuan to win? for that much was obvious to her.

The flanking guard finally engaged Tai'ishi now, and it was clear that he was past exhaustion as the guards struck high and low at once, bypassing his guard and striking him in tandem. The masked warrior staggered, but planted his foot in defiance, striking out with what must have been the last of his strength.

The newly arrived guard stepped inside the blow and tackled Tai'ishi, sending the two men crashing into the water below and ending the contest.

The crowd roared with cheers and applause at the spectacular display, with many chanting Vior's and Kuan's names.

The two of them ceased fighting as the gong rang out and they awkwardly waved to the crowd, for they too had noticed the peculiar behaviour of the guards.

"That was entertaining, was it not, my daughter?" her father asked, his face relaxed back into that of the man who'd sat beside her for the last two contests.

"It was, father. I am still so glad that you did this for me to have a husband" she told him with a smile, her father patted her head in return.

"You are, and will always be my favourite daughter," he told her, putting a finger on his lips. "Do not tell your sisters though, I would still like harmony in my household."

"Of course, father" Kinna replied, remaining knelt as he stood.

Bidding her farewell, her father left enclosed by his guards. Kinna noticed her older brother Hirro rise soon after, Kinna assumed it was to see her father.

Before her maiden guard arrived she quickly stole down the staircase and sidled between the boxes to stand near the arena's edge, just hoping Vior or Kuan would notice her.

"Lady Kinna?" Kuan said with surprise, nonchalantly making his way to where she stood.

Vior still stood on the far edge of the pit, there would be no way he could come over without suspicion.

"My father is planning something, Kuan. I have little time, so let Vior know" she told him quickly, rushing back to the lord's box before her guard arrived.

With horrid thoughts running through her head she stepped back into the box, and straight into her brother.

"Father told me you are far smarter than you let on, dear little sister," he said to her, his long black hair tied back to reveal his sharp, harsh face and his blue armour seemed almost black in the shadow of the now covered box.

Several of Hirro's sworn blades stepped forward, to block her escape and Kinna knew she was now a prisoner.

"Jaefan gave you much freedom, little sister. A woman should know her place in this household, father too forgot that" he said, gently stroking the side of her face. "Take the lady Kinna to her room and guard her, make sure the traitor and the fallen prince are watched, my father has plans for them."

As Kinna was led away, she couldn't help but worry about what would happen to them all.