The Rival of Gods

Chapter Seven: Defeat

No one had been hurt in the sparring, so Oresa wasn't sure what to do. She'd never liked fighting anyway, and that wasn't her job. She was supposed to protect and heal, which she was good at. Well, healing, really, she wasn't very good at protecting her friends just yet.

King Sahshir had spent most of the time on the trip within his quarters. He occasionally spoke to the soldiers or directed them on some task. However, he never had anything to say to her or the others. And that made her wonder why he'd personally requested their presence anyway.

Urus had suggested several theories. Cadas had said nothing, of course. Isamu wasn't interested as he parried a thrust from one of the sailors. Oresa crept up toward the door of Sahshir's cabin. She saw Alkela enter it just before she got to the top and wondered what they were talking about.

Oresa drew out her Listening Stone, the one Father had given her for her twelfth birthday. Yet she heard nothing at first from within. Of course, Oresa was so stupid; Alkela was using sign language.

"Again?" asked Sahshir. "The man lives for fighting, it seems. How many men have done well against him?

"As expected, few. No matter, it is of no concern."

More sign language.

"Alkela, I am well aware that Isamu is trying to bait me into dueling him again," said Sahshir. "However, since he is shallow, I shall concern myself with deeper subjects." What deeper subjects? Sahshir had not spoken at all with anyone. Oresa guessed Alkela had given him an answer.

"I defeated him once before, hoping to shut him up," replied Sahshir. "He just rechallenged me."

"You could defeat him instead of fighting him," suggested Tuor, who had been silent until now.

There was silence for a moment.

"...Excellent point, Tuor," said Sahshir. "Tell me, how many have been injured, Alkela?

"No one, that's a surprise."

Why did King Sahshir seem to hate Isamu so much? He was acting as if he was just a thug. But Isamu would never permanently hurt someone in a spar. He was always careful to avoid doing it. And Oresa was always on hand to heal the bruises.

Isamu challenged people because he wanted them to become stronger themselves.

"Has she played any part in the spars?" asked Sahshir.

She? Who was Sahshir talking about? It couldn't have been Alkela, but he must have been talking about Oresa.

"I believe her idea of training is to heal injuries," said Tuor.

"Well then, I believe I have my target," said Sahshir.

And then Oresa heard Sahshir coming toward the door. In a panic, she drew up the stone and ran to the lower deck. There, Isamu had stopped sparring. Urus and Cadas were in battle with several of the guards. They were fighting very well, actually. Especially since the Silent Guard had been left behind.

But why?

Why had Sahshir left the Silent Guard behind?

"So, who's next?" asked Isamu. "Come on, beat Urus or Cadas, and I'll take you on myself."

Urus finished parrying a thrust and knocked the man flat with an open palm. At the same time, Cadas threw down his own enemy. Oresa immediately healed them while Isamu stood with his sword at the ready. The guards, meanwhile, seemed to be speaking amongst one another. As if deciding who ought to try next. They'd put forward quite a few of their own.

"Isamu, we have an audience," said Urus.

Oresa looked up and saw that, sure enough, Sahshir had emerged. With him were Alkela and Tuor, both of them observing. Isamu looked irritated at their presence. "Abdul, what do you want?"