Page 31 of These Violent Delights

The general rule was that when two opponents of equal skill fought, the bigger one would win.

Ozzy was not the bigger one.He was going to lose!

But he's not fighting by himself.You choose him and he has us, the castle whispered in her mind.

“I did not choose!”Zelda snapped, outraged.Not officially, anyway, and it wasn't the castle's place to act on her feelings.Presumptuous pile of stones.

She clenched her hands as the castle rumbled.It was going to intervene.

“You will not,” she snarled.Her fist clenched as she matched wills with the castle.She would not cheat!The dishonor was beneath her.

I'll cheat for you, the castle whispered beguilingly.You'll have nothing to do with it.Just a loose stone, a stumble.

Never!Her uncle would be so ashamed of her.“I rule here.”She pushed against the castle with an iron will, crushing it into submission.Generations of fools and weaklings had let this castle run rampant, leading to this moment.If she didn't stop this now, it would forever be too late.She would not bear that shame.

Slowly, the castle backed down.It surged a couple times, testing her will and finding it iron.Zelda had won.

“Zelda?What is it?”

She blinked, coming back to reality.Ozzy was in her face, demanding answers, Yarbo a step behind.

“I...”she swallowed hard to loosen her throat.“The castle was acting up.”

He waited.When that was all she said, he asked, “Is it done?”

She realized she was coated in sweat and grinned savagely.“Oh, it's done all right.For good.”

The men exchanged wary glances, as if debating her assessment.

“You were shouting,” Yarbo said, searching her face.“The walls shivered.”

“Yes, well.All part of having a living castle,” she said, trying to sound brisk.Unfortunately, she was slightly breathless.“It's settled down now.Excuse me.”She made a quick exit, avoiding the concerned expressions.

Her uncle was standing just around the corner.When she froze, he gave her a knowing look.He started walking.

She fell in beside him, unsure.

“Ozzy's a good choice.He understands how things are, he's sensible and he has the support of the locals.”

She stared at him.It wasn't like him to give his opinion on such things.

“We talked.”

Oh?They had?“When was this?”

“A while ago,” her uncle said, offhand.“Consider: we become more like the people we are with.What kind of person will you grow into with Yarbo at your side?”

She grimaced.

He chuckled.“You always were a smart girl.”

***

ON THE BALCONY, THEmen sized each other up.Moments ago they were trying to kill each other, but now...

When Zelda cried out, Ozzy's heart skipped a beat, and without a second thought, he broke off from the duel, Yarbo right behind him.

With agile precision, Ozzy sheathed his sword and sprinted towards the castle wall.His muscles flexed as he grabbed the rough stone, pulling himself up with practiced speed.He scaled the wall, his eyes fixed on the balcony where Zelda stood.

---