Chapter 64

His opponent's name was Gervais. A tall, gangly guard who wielded a longsword. His reach truly was something. Dane had witnessed the man use his long limbs to utterly decimate his first two opponents. He was the man's third opponent and was uncomfortable with being eyed like a wallet.

Dane unsheathed his falchion and moved to the center of the hall. Since letting light outside the castle at night was dangerous, the Castle Guards did not have the liberty to train in the cool air of the courtyard or baileys. Hence, they chose a relatively large hall within the castle, boarded and covered the windows, and lit the interior with Memories.

They faced each other, bowed slightly, and waited for Tessai to wave his hand. He did. Sword before his body, Dane took a dueling stance. In his left hand, he held his dagger.

His foe grinned. Dane held two relatively shorter weapons than his tall comrade's longsword. After two short steps, Gervais's longsword fell for Dane's shoulders.

Dane met it with the blunter side of his falchion, sliding blade against blade as he pushed it aside. His dagger hand was flying for his opponent's exposed side.

Gervais changed grips and pushed as he moved to Dane's side, pressuring Dane's sword arm to shift and block his other arm's path. Dane dropped his dagger arm to his side and hopped back, appearing unstable. But it was a feint. He landed on his toes, and when Gervais leaned to pursue, he cracked his arm like a whip, lunging.

He knocked the longsword aside and swiveled his shoulder and wrist, dropping the falchion's false edge on Gervais's shoulder, inches from his neck. His dagger hand positioned itself to thrust for the ribs as he froze, ensuring he didn't cut the man.

The duel was over.

Slow as a snail, with a nervous eye on the falchion, Gervais moved away from its reach. After a shaky breath, he bowed. Dane sheathed his sword and returned the bow. Falon called on the next duelists as they returned to the line.

Dane's strategy was simple. When wielding any weapons, especially with longer ones, one had to be careful not to overextend. When Dane had retreated, Gervais's sword lost its counterforce and was already veering away, but the man had been too eager to chase and forgot to steady himself. That was the opportunity Dane needed to knock Gervais's arm to the side and strike unrestrained.

He had noticed that the Castle Guards liked to make their duels longer, using every trick in the book to make their movements appealing to the eye. They wanted Tessai to deem them worthy of becoming a Hunter, doubtless. That was their undoing.

A battle was meant to be quick, and most battles were quick, especially ones where Aspects weren't used. A man could die in the snap of a finger. And when the guards used flashy maneuvers, they were anything but quick. Gervais wasn't guilty of that, but most in the guard were.

Dane wanted to make use of that to win. He did, and at the end of the session, he walked out with a grin and three soul shards in his rucksack.

***

Carefully pulling the razor along the length of his jaw, Dane scraped away the beard that he had reluctantly grown to like. Pleased with the shave, Dane smiled.

"Looking civilized again. Congratulations, Heart's Bane!" he muttered.

Knock. Knock.

Dane hummed. Who was it?

A handmaid waited outside, bearing an envelope. With a bow, she delivered it into his hands and took her leave. "Thanks," Dane said to her departing back, and shut the door. His eyes fell on the envelope. He lifted an eyebrow.

Pressing tight against the flap was a wax seal in gold, embellished by a tower and a serpent coiling around it. Gunlaug's, it must have been…or someone acting with his authority.

Dane summoned his dagger and sliced the envelope open, finding a letter. He sat at his desk and unfurled the paper.

Greetings,

Within the Bright Castle, there is a Sleeper capable of divining the location of everyone you've ever met, provided they are within the Dream Realm. Over the years, It became a tradition, however pointless, to consult his services in hopes of meeting someone from a past almost forgotten. This year, the unchanging number of people within this Forgotten Shore changed. I believe it is you, Dane of the Castle Guards. It just so happens that your name is familiar, but I am unable to put a pin on it. I hereby command your presence to dine with me tonight. My handmaids will guide you.

Lieutenant of the Bright Castle,

Song Seishan.

For a moment, Dane questioned if the heavens had deigned to bless him…or curse him.