Chapter 55

Delphina was surprised that Pietro was… taking this sudden turn of events in stride. Had he given Hayle free rein in assisting him with the Tournament?

She hadn’t bothered to ask about his so-called arrangements, hoping the lack of foreknowledge would stir her out of the ever-present boredom that had re-emerged after her fight with Jenkins.

She didn’t have long to dwell on this thought, though, as the crowded stands erupted when both winners of the lower-level rounds finally faced each other, the announcer calling for the final round to begin.

On one side, a group of young Dwarves and Elves from the Hunters who, despite being in a group containing their original squad-mates, stood warily. On the other, a group of older Squires that were having a pep talk.

“Did the Hunters notice something about that Squire group? They seem awfully on edge, considering this is just for some fun…”

“Ah!”

Delphina’s small sound of realisation didn’t go unnoticed.

Pietro took a step closer in concern, and even Hayle turned to look at her, but she just waved a hand at them like she was shooing away an annoying bug.

“It’s nothing, but seeing some of the younger Hunters like this. I think the problem may have been worse than we thought, Brother.”

His brow wrinkled at her implication; the Squires from the Knights that they were to face were not from the same squad. Perhaps, more than one bully had shaken hands to target some of the Hunters’ members, using the Tournament as an excuse.

“Seems like I need to encourage some harder training. If they’ve got the time for such petty actions, then there’s something wrong with their Knight’s guidance.”

Delphina opted just to shrug in reply. She didn’t need to beat a dead horse, but it did seem that Pietro was finally coming to understand the severe underlying issues that may have caused the different departments’ relationship to sour.

Despite their lack of skill and flair, she kept her eye on the fight from start to finish.

The young squad of Hunters won in the end. The Squires were less coordinated, less responsive to start with, yet they had a higher drive to win. Snapping at the Elf’s heels and cornering the Dwarven pair.

But the Hunters turned it around brilliantly; the Dwarves were actually bait as they were slower but harder hitting, the Elves slipping around the arena gracefully, leaving their remaining compatriot to draw the other Squire’s ire.

This display left some of the Knights dumbfounded as they watched the Squires they had helped train being herded like the very Mega Fauna they hunted.

That didn’t stop the audience from applauding, though.

Grouping back together, the five Hunters stood in front of the platform and bowed much deeper than all the squads did at the start of their free-for-all battle.

From the corner of her eye, Delphina could see Pietro still looking in her direction, waiting for her to make a move. Letting out a quiet chuckle, she nodded and clapped to the ones bowing in front.

“Well done! I’m sure my brother will keep his promise and reward you well.”

For a brief moment, she caught a bit of his attitude from that morning slip through before Pietro swiftly reined in the cold look in his eyes and traded it for a polite smile.

“Indeed, one hundred gold coins to the winner, and I intend to give it. Make sure any winner of their finals stays back at the end of the Tournament!”

With that, he patted Delphina on the shoulder and moved towards the back of the platform, most likely to get ready for his showmanship display.

Watching the winning Hunters bow once more and move off to the spectators’ stands, she decided now would be the best time to announce the display battle participants. Flicking her eyes over to Hayle, he nodded as if he knew what she wanted to ask.

Everything was ready.

Taking a deep breath in, she faced the arena, waiting for Hayle’s footsteps to fade away. He’d immediately gone after Pietro, no doubt… Heaven forbid they were apart for even two minutes.

“And now, for the display battle! Our first contenders will be my very own brother, Sir Pietro de Velasques, facing off against one of the Burgess Knights!”

The stands exploded with applause and cheers once more. The Knights were especially riled up, no doubt looking forward to seeing their leader make short work of an unknown opponent.

It didn’t take long for Pietro to emerge from behind the scenes, dressed in a sharp and well-polished set of heavy silver armour, a white cloak pinned to either pauldron. A Zweihänder strapped to his side.

Delphina couldn’t help but let out a low whistle when she saw his get-up. Despite being heavily defensive in nature, the pauldrons and chest plate were made from overlapping horizontal slats of scribed metal- perfect for flexible movement.

Her only concern was his helm- it was far too open around the face and eyes, more decorative in nature than anything else. She could only pass it off as playing up to the crowd and the ‘relaxed’ nature of this Tournament; no one was actually supposed to be out for blood.

“No doubt, Pietro can actually shift ass in that thing, though. Combined with a Zweihänder? Now this should be fun to watch!”

Feeling some excitement finally building, she leaned forward slightly as if she could see his opponent better that way.

The Knight Hayle had ‘chosen’ was leaner, dressed in a darker grey gambeson with a matching set of pauldrons and gorget- giving him an ascetic appearance. It was a shame the assassin’s personality was clearly at odds with this.

Despite whatever skill the assassins had used to disguise themselves, this one seemed not to have a care in the world, bowing with exaggerated grace, a smile sharp and mocking.

“Call me, Sir Ravos. Lord Pietro, it’s an honour to cross swords with someone as well-known as yourself.”

Pietro returned the gesture with one of his own, polite but cold.

“An honour indeed, I’ll try not to break anything important.”

The self-proclaimed Sir Ravos practically purred.

“Do try.”

Wrinkling her nose in disgust at this blatant behaviour, Delphina could only help but wonder if Pietro had a skill for attracting masochists. Thank the Gods she’d be the only one to hear that nonsense, if Hayle got even an inkling… the assassin might have lost his head then and there, plan be damned.

The announcer motioned for the trumpeter to signal the start.

The first exchange was a blur of motion.

‘Sir Ravos’ darted forward, Pietro immediately parrying the thrust, boots grinding against the sand. The assassin moved like smoke, weaving efficiently and silently, every move screaming lethality. Whereas Pietro’s style was more disciplined, defensive, and every parry measured.

Delphina watched intently, one hand pressed against her mouth as she muttered.

“He’s testing him.”

Below, Ravos struck low, moving to pivot- a strike that could kill if their blades weren’t dulled, and Pietro stayed responding the way he had done so far.

However, Pietro twisted away, turning the move into a counterstrike that smacked the flat of his blade hard against the assassin’s ribs- the sound echoing like a drumbeat.

The crowd roared.

The assassin hissed and staggered, the wind clearly knocked out of him, if not nursing a broken rib, but he then lunged again. Faster, angrier, his attacks sharper.

Pietro met him in a clash of force that sent sparks flying, even from blunted steel. Using a greave to protect his eyes, he shifted his weight forward, catching the assassin’s weapon beneath his Zweihänder’s upper guard, and drove a kick square into his opponent’s knee.

A sickening crack rang out.