Silver Winds

Chapter 20

Astra tapped her chin, staring at the circle her Munrskipan had formed. Jun was to her right, and Rune was on the left. She looked to Volos, and to Nikolaus, and to Ameqran. All of them were excellent swordsmen. Kay was decent, but he was far better with his fists than he was any weapon. Drago, Birgir, and Jon were all surprisingly clumsy with their weapons, but Astra knew they would get better with more practice.

“I’m out,” Rune blurted without hesitation. “I’m no good with my knives.”

“I’ll probably be too small, even if I was good enough,” Astra murmured, grabbing Rune by the shoulder. “So it’s not that big a deal. Who thinks they aren’t good enough to give it a shot?”

Jun and Kay raised their hands. A slight blush was creeping over Kay’s ears, and Enok raised his hand a few moments later. Astra nodded in silence, and the hands went back down.

"Right . . ." she murmured. Her decision was still between Ameqran and Nikolaus. With Volos' experience and skill with blades, he was an automatic competitor.

"Ameqran, Nik . . ." she started. "Who do you think, of you two, should compete?"

Nikolaus opened his mouth as though he was about to speak, but then closed it without a word. His eyebrows drew together, and his chin fell into the crook between his raised thumb and forefinger.

Ameqran shifted, his hand traveling to his scabbard. His fingers wrapped around the leather hilt of his cutlass, and pulled it out with grace. His face was stoic as a slab of granite. The specs of rust on his blade contrasted with the shiny bits and made it beautiful.

"Ameqran," Nikolaus finally answered, after what seemed like forever. Astra knew that it had only been seven minutes since they had begun their discussion, however.

"Then Volos will be the other," Astra declared. Volos unsheathed his sword, and a sturdy look overtook his massive frame. A smile came over her features, and Astra allowed it to flow into every corner of her body. It was like she was on fire, and Volos grinned in return.

"Let's do this," he growled, his voice low and gruff. His shoulder length hair was pulled back into a low, lazy bun, and his shirt was just a bit tight, revealing his large and bulging muscles. Astra rubbed her arm to compare, and frowned.

Astra let her eyes wander from her Munrskipan, all of whom were chattering advice and praise toward Volos and Ameqran. Her eyes met the larger ones of Kennet, and a shiver ran through her body. He frowned and broke eye contact, staring resolutely at the ground. His left hand traced patterns over a bruise forming on his right forearm.

The silent communication made Astra's heart sink, but she ripped her eyes from her attacker and focused them on her brother and the Surlander. Both were jokingly jabbing at each other with their swords, laughing and jeering at each other in a manner that was utterly nonthreatening. A ghost of a smile passed her lips, but was gone when Pengill yelled.

"All right! Time's up, send out your champions!" His voice was thick with bloodlust, clearly he was ready for the fights. His clipboard that he held was being scribbled on madly as each swordsmen made their way out of the ranks of their Munrskipan. Volos pulled away, and Ameqran was on his heels as they moved into the open.

From the Mountain Lions, Oskar Elska and Nel Rubensen appeared from the ranks. Nel held his head high, and his elf-like ears poked out of his silky hair. Oskar had a large grin on his face, and waved at the other competitors as they came out.

From the Giants, two boys that Astra did not know well strode confidently from the shelter of their group. Their names were Josef and Lenne Stone, and Astra did know enough of them to know that while they had a skinny frame, it would be wise of Volos and Ameqran to avoid taking them without complete seriousness.