Pasko pulled his dirk from his belt and when Kakama lunged again and Tal leapt away, Pasko threw the dirk to him. Tal caught it in his left hand and spun away as Kakama came at him again.
The type of fighting the Keshian employed was alien to Tal, but he hoped the use of the dueling dirk in his left hand, to block his opponent’s blade or to use in close if he got inside his guard, would rebalance the contest.
The Masters were calling to the gallery for men to come and stop the contest, which was now clearly beyond the scope of the rules. No one came forth. The idea of trying to separate two of the deadliest fighters on the island didn’t appeal to anyone.
Tal thought he heard someone call for crossbows, but couldn’t spare the attention to be sure. Kakama was coming at him hard again, and Tal had run out of room in which to dodge.
He barely saved his life with the dirk, for Kakama’s overhead slash suddenly became a sideways blow to the neck with a twist of the wrists. Tal’s hand came up in reflex, and he caught the blade just enough to parry the blow. That gave him an opportunity and he lashed out with his own sword, catching the Keshian on the shoulder.
The master cried out, “First blood!” but Kakama ignored the judge and pressed home for the kill.
Tal backed up, as if trying to put some distance between them; then he suddenly planted both his feet and threw the dirk, underarm, as hard as he could at Kakama’s stomach.
The Keshian turned his blade, using both hands, so that it pointed downward, and batted the blade aside, but as he did so, Tal came in fast and high with his own sword, and as Kakama attempted to raise his blade to block the second strike, Tal was already inside, his blade slicing deep across the side of the Keshian’s neck.
Tal didn’t pull back and risk a return blow from the dying man, but rather slammed into him, hitting him as hard as he could. The Keshian flew backward, the sword knocked out of fingers which were quickly going limp. Blood fountained from the gash in his neck.
Tal knelt beside the dying man and looked into his eyes. “Who sent you?” he demanded, but the Keshian said nothing.
Pasko came to stand beside Tal, while the hall was deadly quiet. No one seemed ready to applaud the victory, for it was clear the match had had nothing to do with sport.
The judge walked across the floor and declared: “Since you were clearly defending yourself, Squire Talwin, you are not to be disqualified for failing to halt when commanded to do so.’’
Tal looked up from where he knelt, then rose, and with a bitter laugh said, “Can’t ruin the King’s party tonight.’’
The judge looked at Tal but did not reply. At last he said, “Appear at the palace at sundown, Squire Talwin.’’
People remained in the gallery, as if unwilling to leave until someone explained what had taken place. Finally, porters appeared and took away the body while other servants cleaned up the blood on the floor.
Tal turned to Pasko. “I really need a bath.’’
“And we need to have some questions answered,” Pasko said.
Tal nodded. Pasko placed a cloak over his shoulders and took Tal’s sword from him. “I know who I want dead, but now I’ve got to worry about who wants me dead.’’
“And why,” added Pasko grimly.
TARGET
Tal waited.
The Masters of the Court, the Master of Ceremonies for the Palace, and the Captain of the Royal Household Guard were gathered around Tal and Lieutenant Campaneal. Looking on were half a dozen officers of the royal court.
Master Dubkov of the Masters’ Court paced up and down in an obvious state of agitation. “We’ve never had a display such as that in the two hundred years of the tourney. There have been accidents, and two deaths as a result, but never has one contestant set out with cold-blooded murder as his intent, knowing that there was no way in which the killer could succeed, escape the court.’’
Tal had to admit that it appeared the Keshian must have been indifferent to his fate once he had succeeded in his task.
“What troubles us,” said the Captain of the Guard, a gaunt man named Talinko, “is what the consequences might have been should the draw have been different and should that combat have taken place in the palace.’’
Lieutenant Campaneal said, “Gentlemen, I watched the contest, as did most of you; Squire Talwin was merely defending himself—and most ably I’ll avow—from a man who clearly was intent on killing him. In his place I would have acted in the same fashion.’’
“What we want is to ensure there are no repeats of today’s events, in the presence of the King,” Captain Talinko stated firmly.