Page 2 of The Study of Fire
Valek raised an eyebrow at Maren.
She shrugged. “It was a group decision.”
Interesting. Four people wielding five-foot wooden staffs would need plenty of room to maneuver. They would attract a crowd. And he’d have to set some new rules if the threesome beat him. Valek didn’t want large teams of soldiers attacking him.
The other soldiers had already sensed something unusual. They’d stopped training and were watching the exchange.
Valek removed his short cape and broadsword but left his uniform shirt on. He hopped the training yard’s fence and Janco handed him a bo staff before he, Ari, and Maren walked out to the middle. The area immediately cleared of people, but they didn’t go far. The onlookers formed a wide ring around the fighters. A heavy blanket of silence settled over everyone as the trio fanned out into a semicircle facing Valek.
All right then. Holding the bo in a ready position—horizontal in front of him with his hands about two feet apart—he moved closer to his opponents. There wasn’t a referee, so they waited for his signal.
“Begin,” he said.
Janco attacked first, moving fast as he swung his bo, aiming for Valek’s ribs. “Three against one, this is gonna be fun.”
Cries of encouragement sounded from the growing group of onlookers.
Valek jerked his bo upright and blocked the strikes while keeping track of Ari and Maren in his peripheral vision. It made sense for the three of them to spread out and try to surround him.
Ari disappeared from sight, Valek spun in time to counter an overhead strike from Ari. His hands and the wooden staff vibrated with the force of the blow. The crowdooohhhed.
Ari’s next strike aimed for Valek’s temple. He ducked under it and spun again. He needed to keep all three in front or to the sides of him.
Maren tried to sweep his feet, but he jumped onto her weapon, forcing it to the ground. The maneuver pulled the weapon from her grasp, and he shuffled close, jabbing the end of his bo into her solar plexus. Loud boos filled the air even though he hadn’t hit her too hard; just enough to knock the wind from her lungs and push her to the ground, keeping her out of the fight for a few minutes.
How hard to hit his opponents was his biggest problem. He didn’t want to break bones or cause any concussions, but he needed to slow them down. Ari and Janco immediately stepped between Maren and Valek, protecting their teammate.
They attacked in sync, aiming for Valek’s ribs. The noises of the onlookers dimmed to a mere buzz as he backpedaled out of their range. No longer swinging their weapons, Ari and Janco pursued him. Perfect. Valek planted his back foot and charged toward them. Surprised by the sudden change in direction, they hesitated for a fraction of a second. Long enough that when Valek swung his bo, they couldn’t properly block it.
He hit both of them on their wrists. Then he snapped a front kick to Janco’s bo. It flew from his hand. However, a kick to Ari’s bo was unsuccessful. Considering the corded muscle on Ari’s forearms, it wasn’t a surprise. While Janco scrambled after his weapon, Ari charged—an alarming sight—like a bull focused on a big red bullseye that happened to be on Valek’s chest.
Rhythmic clacking sounded as Ari attacked with a series of hard strikes that threatened to crack Valek’s staff. Rib, rib, temple, temple, rib, temple. Uppercut. Valek jumped back and Ari’s bo grazed his chin instead of catching him under his jaw. Too close for comfort.
Movement to his left alerted him. Valek ducked but he wasn’t fast enough. Maren’s bo slammed into his shoulder. Before the pain could register, Janco tried to sweep his legs. Valek lifted his right foot, letting the weapon hit his left ankle. Pain raced up his leg. He set his foot down and trapped the bo between his ankles. Spinning, he yanked it from Janco’s grip again. Ari and Maren backed up as it swung around.
Valek caught sight of the Commander standing in the crowd.Oh lovely. I better up my game and put on a show.He went on the offensive.
Increasing the speed of his attacks and blocks, Valek kept moving. At one point, he planted his bo and used it to support his weight as he did a series of spinning kicks, hoping to crack their weapons and knock them off balance. Ducking and weaving, he shuffled in close, limiting his opponents’ ability to swing, but allowing Valek to rap their knuckles. He also aimed for their thumbs and wrists. Too bad they figured out his strategy.
“Back off,” Ari ordered, and they spread out. “Initiate phase two. Janco, you’re up.”
Phase two sounded ominous. Instead of attacking together, Ari and Maren stepped back, letting Janco engage with Valek. Janco poured on the speed, managing to get a few good solid hits to Valek’s torso. Valek wasn’t sure what was more alarming, the speed or the silence. For once, Janco didn’t sing out his rhymes. It added a deadly intensity to his attack.
Just when Valek tuned into the cadence of the fight, Janco stepped back, allowing Ari to take a turn. The big man’s hard blows didn’t get through Valek’s defenses, but each strike sent a wave of fatigue through his arms. When Maren replaced Ari, Valek realized their scheme. They planned to tire him out, while they rested. Waiting to implement this tactic until mid-fight was a genius move. If they’d started with one-on-one, he’d have had plenty of energy to defeat them.
Knowing their strategy didn’t help Valek at all. He cursed under what was left of his ragged breath. They did another round of one-on-one.
“Phase three,” Ari said. They attacked together.
Valek scrambled to block and dodge as his collection of bruises increased. His energy leaked at an alarming rate. No longer on the offensive, Valek was fighting to survive. His world shrank to the movements of the weapons and the sound of wood clacking wood.
In the middle of the melee, Ari dipped down and swung his bo toward Valek’s ankles. Valek mistimed his jump, and the staff swept his feet out from underneath him. He landed hard on his back. The impact rattled his bones and knocked his bo from his hands. Valek looked up in time to see three bo staffs aimed at his neck, the ends less than an inch away from his skin. The threat was clear. One move, and they could crush his windpipe.
“Concede?” Ari asked.
CHAPTER2
Valek had no more defensive moves left. No energy to spare.
