Other Worldly Ways (Anthology 1) Read Online Free PDF

and groaned as I pounded his parries as hard as I could. He fought to meet me, blow for blow. Don't let your guard down , I could hear Crane screaming in my mind. I didn't let my guard down. My opponent did and I held a blade tip at his throat as he stared at me in surprise.
    "Bout over," the officer declared. My shoulders slumped and I lowered my blades wearily.
    * * *
    "Warlord."
    "Are you going to tell me that the girl has now taken down Zedru?"
    "I wasn't aware that you knew the schedule," The General responded dryly to the Warlord's question.
    The Warlord sighed and looked up from another pile of papers. "Where is she fighting next?" he asked.
    "In the center square, Warlord."
    "Is the canopy set up yet?"
    "Yes, Warlord."
    "Good. Make sure we're unobtrusive. I don't want to be a distraction."
    "Yes, Warlord."
    * * *
    My second bout that morning was an unwelcome one. Iver stood before me. He didn't sit to meditate, choosing to stand over me with hands on hips. Pheran Tiger's words came back to me— A sure sign of the poorly-trained . I wanted to snicker. I didn't. Closing my eyes, I returned to my meditation.
    "Up," the officer called. I rose in a single movement.
    "It'll be a pleasure taking you down," Iver sneered.
    "It'll be a pleasure never to smell you again," I countered. Several in the crowd gathered about our fighting square laughed.
    "Quiet," the officer warned. I remained silent, waiting for the signal. The flag dropped. I went to work.
    "You may have done me a favor, taking out Pheran and Zedru," Iver grinned maliciously at me as we traded blows. "Saves me the trouble."
    "I think that Pheran and Zedru are fifty times the man you'll ever be, you rutting swine," I snapped. "Let's get this over with." I was sick of Iver and his rudeness. If I'd ever been motivated to defeat an opponent, it was multiplied by a thousand now. Without waiting, I attacked Iver with a vengeance.
    It took the officer at least two seconds to realize I had Iver on the ground, both blades at his throat while he whined that I'd cheated.
    "There was no cheating," Pheran Tiger stepped inside the square.
    "Bout over," the officer declared. "The Lord Marshall has spoken."
    Iver pulled himself up and looked to be walking away when he whirled and struck at me. Pheran, unarmed, pulled one blade away from Iver while I blocked the blow from the other side.
    "Toss your blade aside," Pheran held the filched blade at Iver's throat. Iver dropped the second blade in the dust at his feet.
    "Lord Marshall," a runner made his way through the crowd and stopped beside Pheran. "Message from the General," the boy handed a folded paper to Pheran. The thin paper crackled as Pheran opened it and read it quickly.
    "Well, Iver," Pheran glared at my erstwhile opponent, "it seems that not only have you disgraced yourself, your father has been interfering with the matches. He and several officers have been arrested for arranging bouts to further your advances. They're scheduled to be caned and sent home. You'll be joining them." Pheran grinned as two warriors stepped forward to take Iver into custody.
    "Wash him—before and after the caning," Pheran called out as Iver, struggling against his captors, was led away. "He stinks."
    "Thanks for the compliment," Pheran turned to me, then.
    "Huh?" I had no idea what he meant.
    "When you said that Zedru and I were fifty times the man Iver would ever be," he grinned.
    "I'm glad you appreciate the compliment instead of telling me what an idiot I am for not knowing who the Lord Marshall is," I muttered.
    "I found it refreshing," he replied. "Want to have lunch with me? I need a beer."
    * * *
    "So, your Sursee insisted that you come," Pheran said later as he and I had lunch inside his tent.
    "I didn't want to. He made me."
    "How long did you train?"
    "Nine moon-turns."
    "Nine moon-turns?" Pheran took a swallow of his beer.
    "I don't know how you can drink that stuff," I struggled not to grimace. "It just smells nasty." Pheran