The Two dark haired thugs moved to flank me as they lazily spun the staffs. They had good form. I was sure the plan was for them to take positions at equal distances behind me and to either side. Before they could get into position, I threw a glass capsule at each of them. When the capsules broke, flames spread from the point of impact and spread over their armor. They began screaming as they tore the protective layer from themselves.

Haleth was distracted by the sudden noise and frantic activity. By the time he had focused back on me, I was on him. I brought the family sword down on his right shoulder. What happened next surprised us both. I had expected the blade to bite into the armor a bit and shock him with the impact. What neither of us expected was that it would cleave through both the armor and the meat and bone of his shoulder. Blood surged from the place his arm used to be connected to his body. He began screaming and crying as he fell to the ground.

Recovering from my shock, I stepped over and slapped an emergency bandage on the messy wound. He promptly fainted from pain and blood loss. I reached down and took the sword from the now lifeless right arm. It was ornate and bore the decorative signet of Haleth’s house. The blade was beautifully made from layered metal that produced decorative patterns in lighter and darker colored steel. The engraving in the crosspieces and pommel was detailed and ornate.

I looked up from the sword and saw that the thugs had stripped themselves. Their chests were covered in welts and blisters, interspersed with spots of black where the skin was horribly burned. They had recovered their weapons and were charging at me. My family blade, in my right hand, cut the staff on my right in half.

I used the decorative blade I had recovered to hammer the thug on my left with the pommel hard enough to cave in a portion of his skull. He dropped to the dirt without even a moan of pain.

The thug on the right tried to come at me again with the two halves of his weapon. I swung the family blade down on his left arm and, on the recovery, swept it diagonally through his left leg. Blood erupted from the severed limbs in gouts.

Once that thug was passed out from his injuries, I bound up the stumps and stopped the bleeding.

All three of the boys would be in the healing tanks for a long time. The thug with the skull injury might not make it though. I placed the sword into Haleth’s left hand and carefully scuffed over my footprints in the dirt of the practice square and went back to my quarters.

Slaith came in about an hour after I got back. “How did that girl think I did not know what she was up to?” asked Slaith.

“She underestimated me and you. Her little servants were planning to kill me and steal the family sword. I think she figured she would just absorb you into her little crew once I was dead.”

“What condition did you leave them in?” he responded.

“I amputated some limbs and knocked one of them out with Haleth’s sword and made sure it was obvious what he was hit with. I doubt a serious investigation will happen, though.

“The fun part was that my sword cut through their armor and limbs with incredible ease.”

“That old decorative blade? How is it strong enough to do that kind of cutting? There is so much material missing from the main structure of the blade.”

I considered for a bit. “I think we are assuming that the material it’s made of must be stronger than we assumed it to be. I will be looking out for more information about what it is made of.”

Slaith considered for a bit, “What do you think she will do tomorrow?”

“My guess is damage control. She may send another group after us, or she may choose to negotiate. We need to get to sleep. I have another class with the master tomorrow morning. We will see what happens in the morning.”

---===+++===---

At breakfast, Sayleah is surrounded by her little group, but we notice that there are three less of them. They were staying quiet. The queen bee looked concerned and she kept casting furtive glances at our table. Slaith and I had our backs to the wall, while Greah, Leah, Neah, and Reah sat across from us.

Raeh looks up from her food and locks eyes with me. “You seem very unmurdered this morning… I take it you did well in your ‘conversation’ last night.”

“Yes. I fear that my companions of last evening are feeling a bit off after our ‘activities’. Are there any rumors I should know about?”

Without looking up, Greah answers, “I heard that Haleth got in a fight with two of the thugs Sayleah uses for dirty work.” She chewed slowly as she looked up at me with the right corner of her mouth twitching into a sly sneer. “I hear they will be in the healing tanks for a while. Sayleah is paying for their both of their treatment.”

“Didn’t you say there were three of them?” I asked.

“Yes, but one of them had a caved in skull. He was cold and dead when they were found. The funny part is, I hear the two that survived were bandaged, even though they both passed out from blood loss.” Added Neah without looking up from her food. “There was enough evidence of their fight to have the surviving two expelled. The family of the dead one has no heir now. They will probably want revenge.” Her words were a sharp contrast with the warm smile that she gave me as she looked up.

“You girls certainly have a dark sense of entertainment,” remarked Slaith with his left eyebrow cocked.

“One should always celebrate when one’s betrothed shows strength and the ability to keep them safe from ‘nefarious attackers’. We just feel safer in our choice of life partner,” Reah replies with her head cocked at an angle as her smile does not reach her eyes.

I was suddenly glad to have them not working against me.

After our meal, I walked calmly past Sayleah’s table on my way to my martial arts class. The brooding silence as I pass by them tells me I have made an impression.

---===+++===---

As I step onto the mat, Stolath Zenash clears his throat. “I hear there was a bit of a fight in one of the courtyards last night,” he says as he walks a slow circle around me. “The fire was a nice touch, but it was too flashy and left too much evidence. Also, the amputations and the death were sloppy. If you were going to try to make it look like infighting, bandaging them was a bad idea. Three corpses would have been cleaner.”

“I wanted to generate fear. Survivors are better than corpses for that. Besides, I was shocked when my family sword was so effective.”

The old man took a moment to reply. “Your family sword has a name, or rather a category. It is one of the ‘empty swords’. They date back to the Drakonkynde Wars. We don’t have solid evidence, but the legends say they were made with unknown methods, from Drakonkynde bones. They can cut through almost any material.” He seemed to consider for a moment. “Your grandfather told me once that there is a way to increase its effectiveness beyond what it has now. He never told me how, though.”

“If he knew, why didn’t he use it in his duel?”

“Your grandfather may not have known how to make it a stronger weapon. He was a bit paranoid the last time we spoke.” 

I considered a moment before I replied. “The fire was just a simple example of chemistry. I used it to distract the two who were flanking me. I needed to do that to take out my main opponent.”

“What plans do you have for Sayleah?” the old man asked. “She may hold a grudge over you damaging her toys.” 

“I plan to play it by ear. If she sends more of her minions after me, I may have to take your advice about terminal solutions. 

“Did you not want to use your electrical gift as a weapon?”

I decided to reply with honesty. “I haven’t ever discharged intentionally. How do I do that?”

“I don’t know. I never had that ability. Your grandfather said it was about how you feel. He said there was a feeling of buildup and release. The more you build up, the more power is dispersed.”

“What if I discharge through the empty sword?” I asked.

“I have no idea, but please do it anywhere other than this dojo.”

“I will find a place where I can practice in private, without destroying anything important.”

“By the way,” the master said, “I hear you have been keeping company with the Altose sisters. I would be cautious with them. They are also known as ‘The Four Hunters’. Did they tell you anything about their brother?” At the shake of my head, indicating no, he continued. “He was being cruel to the sisters. He may have tried to force himself on them. Word has it that they used the family genetics lab to infect him with a disease that made him sterile. Even the healing tanks have been unable to restore his fertility. Just remember to be careful. We were actually worried that they would entangle a staff member. Their family is pressuring them to produce an heir, since they made sure their brother could not. He is said to be locked in a room of their manor and will not talk to anyone.”

“I see,” I said, “they do sound dangerous. Unfortunately, I seem to be part of their plans to make an heir. Do you think I am in danger?”

“Young Solan, you are in The Cloisters. You are always in danger and surrounded!”