( Chapter 2 ) .: Trial and Decision :.

 

Eleven women faced fifty-five targets. Some

stationary, some rapidly moving, others hidden. Each

woman armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"The purpose of this test is to test one’s skill with

arrows," Lord Dermail explained. "Hit as many targets

as you can. Each person is armed with fifty-five

arrows, so it is possible to hit all of the targets

yourself. Each of your arrows is marked to show that

it is yours. Your objective is to achieve the highest

score."

"Are you ready?" Dekim asked. Pampered heads nodded in

unison. "Begin." Arrows flew from their quivers, bow

strings snapped, and the competition began.

"To the left," Lucretia said quietly to her sister as

they simultaneously let arrows fly. Hilde nodded in

agreement and veered to the left. They were lucky to

have been taught archery by their mother at an early

age. It would give them an edge in the competition.

Relena also had an advantage. She had been tutored in

some of the ways to hunt already, and had a particular

penchant for archery. Already she led the competition

with five targets hit. Dorothy, Sally, and Catherine

were doing well, but did not have as much experience

as the other three. When all the targets had finally

been hit, Relena and Hilde had tied for the most

marked with their arrows. Lucretia had a close second.

Catherine and another woman tied in third, then

Dorothy, Sally, and the others.

"Excellent work ladies," Dermail said. ‘You’ve made it

through your first test. Dekim, please see if the

courtyard is prepared for the next trial."

 

*~*

 

"Fencing is a delicate sport. However, creatures such

as these cannot be trusted to comply to the rules of a

fair swordfight. It sometimes may be necessary to

fight a little unfairly. His lordship has managed to

provide sparring partners for you. These women are

elven, and will fight you just as they would fight any

other opponent. However, we will provide them with

much duller weapons, incapable of harming any of you.

Your objective here is to last the longest against

these elves," the Count explained. He motioned with

his hand to a guard standing near a door. "Bring them

out," he commanded.

"Yes, sir," the guard said. He opened the door and

eleven elven women marched out in a line. Sally took

notice of each of them as they walked by her, trying

to decide which would be the first to witness the

might of the steel of her blade. What she noticed,

however, was not contempt or rebelliousness, but

sadness, sorrow, longing. Every woman who marched past

with long hair and pointed ears also had a hint of

extreme sorrow in her eyes. Except one… short black

hair and dark eyes that were ablaze with distrust and

hatred. Sally smirked. ‘She’ll be the one to fight

me.’ she thought. The guards handed the elven women

foils that might as well have been sticks, they were

so dull. Much sharper weapons were handed to the

ladies. Sally tested her blade in the air with

practice strokes. Dorothy did the same. They had both

been under the same instruction for many years and

were used to certain habits.

"When you are ready, ladies. I expect to see some

great talent here," Lord Dermail announced. The women

selected their partners and raised their foils. Sally

paired off with the short haired woman immediately and

watched as her friends chose their partners carefully.

"You may begin," the lord said.

"En garde," Sally said with a small smile. Her

opponent chuckled as their swords touched. Everywhere

in the courtyard, the sound of clashing swords could

be heard. Occasional exclamations as someone thrust at

the right time or took a wrong step. Count Dekim

approached Lord Dermail and stood at his liege’s side.

"I do so love this test" the count remarked.

"And why is that, Count Dekim?" the lord asked

quietly, without once removing his gaze from a fight

he was watching.

"It’s a perfect opportunity to be rid of some of the

more… disobedient captives," the count said

reflectively, glancing at Sally Po and her opponent.

His lord smirked.

"But of course. If any fight gets… out of hand," he

grinned, "I trust you’ll take care of it."

"Of course, my liege. I shall see to it personally,"

Dekim said with a small bow. Meanwhile, Sally and her

opponent found each other more talented than they had

initially thought.

"You must have trained for a great period of time to

be able to match my talent," the elven woman said.

"I felt it only necessary to learn to protect myself

after my husband died," Sally replied. "And you

shouldn’t be so cocky." The elven woman’s eyes blazed.

 

"Why not, if I have every reason to?" she countered.

"I have trained with my husband. And you have not seen

the full extent of my skill as of yet." It was true.

Even Sally had to admit that, especially for having

such a dull weapon, her opponent was marvelous.

"Show me, then," Sally challenged. Step, step lunge.

The elf thrust with incredible speed and caught

Sally’s sleeve, ripping through it and coming into

brief contact with the widow’s arm. Blood trickled

from the shallow slice as the elf brought her sword

back to starting position. Sally looked at her

opponent, amazed. "Very good," Sally muttered,

ignoring the slight pain in her left arm and bringing

her foil back as well. "It won’t happen twice,

however." Their swords touched again and they were at

it. This time, Sally vowed to pay more attention.

‘She leaves herself very vulnerable when she attacks

like that,’ the widow thought. She studied the elf’s

movements. Her opponent seemed to veer to the right,

where she could get a better view of Sally’s movements

and, therefore, know when it was best to attack her.

‘She’s… going to…’ Sally began to herself. Step, step,

lunge, just as before. This time, Sally barely had

enough time to bring her sword up to glance the blow

away from her side. Panting, she dropper her foil to

her side.

"You observe carefully," the elven woman said. "You

have been taught well." She raised her foil to Sally’s

throat. "But not well enough, if they didn’t teach you

not to let your guard down." Sally shut her eyes.

Heard a clash of metal on metal, and looked down to

see Count Dekim, rapier in hand , glaring at her

opponent.

"That will be quite enough," he commanded roughly.

Sally glanced around. Seemingly, while they were

fighting, everyone else had either bested or been

bested by their opponent. She had held out the

longest. Dekim brought his rapier up as the elf glared

at him.

"As I hear it, you are the one who has been causing

trouble for my guards," the count stated. "A true

nuisance."

"What if I have," the woman snapped back. "You have no

right to imprison us here." Sally’s eyes widened. The

count flushed red with anger.

"If your people hadn’t invaded our country, there

would BE no problem nor imprisonment in the first

place!!" he roared.

"Silence!" Lord Dermail boomed. All eyes turned to

their ruler. "Count Dekim, rid us of this bothersome

creature, ladies, onward to the next test," the lord

commanded. Dekim nodded with an evil smile.

"As you wish, my liege." The ladies turned away and

began to walk as the elf was pushed to kneel on the

courtyard floor. The count raised his rapier. Elven

women shrieked and turned away. The elf closed her

eyes. This time, she heard the clash of two swords.

"I don’t think it’s quite appropriate to kill someone

because of their race, nor because they are

‘bothersome’, to put it simply," Sally Po said.

Holding down the larger sword with her foil was risky

on her part, but she did not want to see this woman

killed. Count Dekim growled in the back of his throat.

"And what would a woman know of the matter?" he asked

in a dangerously low voice. "I do not see it fit for

someone of your stature to be ordering me around.

Perhaps your former husband, had he still been alive,

would have the authority."

"If he were still alive," Sally replied to the

stinging words, "you would not hold the position that

you do now. Anthony… Count Anthony would still hold

his position of authority." Dekim glared, a glare

that, at any other time, in front of any other

audience, would certainly mean death. Sally knew it

was not her place to speak as well as any other person

in the courtyard knew it.

"Women should hold their place," the count said in

broken syllables. "And learn to hold their tongues."

With a rough, unforgiving shove he sent Sally to the

floor. "And last requests, creature?" he asked the elf

in a rage. The woman remained calm.

"I wish to know your name." The elven lady directed

her question to Sally. 

"I am Sally Po," the fallen woman said shakily.

"I thank you, Sally Po," the other lady replied as the

rapier flew swiftly, sharply, and mercilessly. Count

Dekim, his job done, stepped away and signaled to the

guards to remove the other elven women. Sally rushed

to the defeated elf.

"And… and your name?!" Sally asked, half-sobbing.

"Me… Merian…" the woman answered breathlessly. "My…

Wufei…" The elf’s body became limp and heavy in

Sally’s arms. Sally shook her head in disbelief and

covered her mouth with a hand.

"If you are quite finished, Lady Po, I would like to

continue my trials," the lord said with almost a hint

of sympathy. Sally rose while saying a silent prayer

for the fallen woman and brushed tears away.

"My apologies, Lord Dermail." The lord nodded.

"Onward."

 

*~*

 

"Aim is crucial."

Targets lined up in a row, daggers provided. Not, per

say, a ladylike sport, but essential to hunting

nonetheless.

"The closer you get to the middle of the target, the

higher you rank in this competition," the lord

explained. "If you would please take your positions

and begin when you are ready, ladies."

"And take a guess who’ll ace this one," Relena

whispered to Lucretia, stealing a glance at Catherine.

The petite brunette had a strange fetish for cutlery

and had become talented at using various knives and

daggers as means of self-defense. Catherine let the

first blade fly. It landed a scarce few inches away

from the dead-center of the target. While the others

struggled to hit their targets, every last dagger that

was placed in Catherine’s hand was aimed precisely and

landed in the middle of the target.

"All right ladies. You’ve done exceptionally well,"

the lord said. "Thank you for the time, the trials are

over."

 

*~*

 

Later, the women gathered in the large room where the

conference had first been held.

"This will be the time for decision," the count, who

had rejoined them, said. "His lordship has selected

some of you to form our elite group of hunters. My

liege," he finished, turning the speaking to Lord

Dermail.

"Ladies," the lord said. "I shall put this rather

bluntly, for I am anxious to get this whole matter

finished. I shall name those of you whom I have

chosen. Those of you who are not called may leave. Now

then, Count Dekim." The count stood in the middle of

the room.

"Miss Hilde Schbeiker."

"Miss Catherine Bloom."

"Miss Dorothy Catalonia."

"Miss Relena Darlian."

"Miss Lucretia Noin."

"Ms. Sally Po." The count sat back down.

"Thank you, ladies. I shall expect my group here in

the morning with any items that you may require. I

will provide new clothing, those dresses will not do,"

a brilliant smile flickered across Dorothy’s face,

"and I expect you to be prompt. Eight tomorrow

morning. Until then ladies," he addressed the five

vanquished ladies, "and until then, hunters," he

addressed the six ‘victors’. The ladies filed out of

the room, some excited, some crestfallen. The door

closed, and the room was once again shrouded in

shadows. The lord smiled.

"And now, my plan begins."

 

:.  *~*~*  .:

 

owari, chapter 2