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In the next several days, the two "friends" talked a great deal. Most of these conversations dealt with that day's lessons and took place at night. Jarlnian revealed very little about his own views, letting Zaknafein do most of the talking. Jarl occasionally threw in a few poignant questions that made Zak think, but for the most part, he was comfortable letting Zak control the conversation.
They never talked about the upcoming grand melee. Zak still harbored doubts as to his partner's fighting skill, but he kept those thoughts to himself. Jarl knew that he was not thought of very highly when it came to the use of weapons. He was very careful during the first fifty days not to get into any fights. His status helped him a little, but any time he encountered a situation where a fight might arise, his wit and cavalier attitude always won out and prevented the potential conflict.
The day for the grand melee finally came, and the students were led away from the Academy and into a large cavern just outside of the complex. This site was set up with many catwalks above the mostly level cavern, allowing the masters to survey all of the action without having to mingle among the students.
Each student was presented with a collection of wooden poles that simulated drow weapons. Zak and Jarl each chose similar poles, though Jarl's were a bit longer. Zak wondered how the "unskilled" drow would be able to handle the long swords without tangling himself up in them. Zak had been trained in the traditional two-weapon fighting style. This involved keeping both weapons in front of you. In Zak's mind, there just was not room to maneuver both long swords unless your arms were significantly longer.
As if to prove his point, Jarl waved his weapons in front of him and had them bang against each other several times, causing him to drop one. He grimaced as he looked at Zak. "This might take some getting used to," he said as he picked up his weapons.
Zak sighed. If this character proved to be as unskilled as was reported, Zak would dump him quickly, taking him out himself if need be. The two of them moved off to a small cove on the edge of the cavern as the rest of the students spread out.
"If we last to the end, which of us shall be the one to claim victory?" Zak asked.
"I think we should fight it out normally," Jarl replied. "Don't you? Of course, I'll probably backstab you as you finish off the last enemy so I won't need to worry about it."
Zak cast him a serious look, and Jarl just smiled, keeping his partner in the dark as to if he was kidding or not. Zak did not get a chance to press the point as the masters started the grand melee. Zak readied his weapons and quickly stepped away from Jarl, casting him a careful glance.
"I'd be stupid to backstab you now," he responded. "Then I'd have to defeat all these drow by myself. No, I'll wait until much later."
Zak really wished they had talked about this in the days before now, but again he was not able to flesh out this conversation for three drow approached them. Zak took notice that one of them was Drillmick. He remembered how the drow of the sixth house had claimed Jarlnian as his main target back when they had first met. What worried Zak was that he had gathered two other drow into his team.
Jarl did not seem concerned with the odds as he rushed the group wildly, screaming as he did. His blades were all over the place, and Zak was worried that one of the masters might call him out for hitting himself. The three drow attackers were very startled by this unconventional charge and scattered.
Two of the drow came Zak's way while Drillmick stayed with Jarl. Zaknafein had waited eagerly for this moment to come for the last fifty days. His days in the Do'Urden gym had seemed like a distant memory, but now it all came flooding back as he engaged the two drow before him.
Zak was forced on the defensive early, as he was facing three blades at once, but he quickly turned the tide of the battle with a few successful parries. Zak dove to the side, singling out the drow who held a two-handed pole. The drow attacked down, and Zak caught his blade with an "X" parry. He then kicked out with his foot at the exposed legs.
The drow sidestepped the attack, but in doing so, he blocked off his partner who had moved around to attack Zak. He also lost the leverage with his weapon. Zak used one of his swords to sweep away the long pole, and sent the other one into the drow's gut. The crossed up drow tried to step back away from the jab, but ran into his partner whom he had cut off again.
Zak's pole jabbed hard into his opponent's stomach, and a light from one of the masters above appeared on the defeated student's face. The other drow took a moment to look up at the catwalk to see that it was Dantrag who had made the call. When he looked back down, he had already been hit five times by Zak, who had not been distracted. Dantrag shone his light again.
Zak still did not have the time to look up, for he heard Jarl's frantic call. As Zak surveyed his partner's plight, he almost thought of not helping. Jarl was backed against a wall, trying desperately to fend off the two blades of his attacker. Jarl crossed himself up more times than not, yet still some how managed keep Drillmick's weapons from hitting him.
"Zak!" he called again, and cast a glance over Drillmick's shoulder at his partner. Drillmick took the time to look over his shoulder as well, and that is when Jarl exploded. He used his right foot to push away from the wall and bowl his opponent over. Drillmick still had not been hit by a weapon, but as he scrambled to his feet, Jarl was just a blur of wooden poles. His two weapons spun about his body as much behind him as in front.
Drillmick was totally shocked by this transformation, and both his weapons were blasted from his limp hands, as he was pummeled in defeat. Dantrag cast a light on the defeated drow, and Jarl stood over him. "And so falls house Faen Tlabbar. Who can stand against the mighty Del'Axles!"
Zak did not see the humor in the display. "Others are watching," he said. "Your trick will not work again."
"Nor will it need to," Jarl responded. "No one will dare attack us now that they have seen our skill." That statement proved to be less than accurate as three more drow came after them. They had all seen Jarl's spectacular flurry and charged him.
Jarl's twirling blades kept them at bay quite effectively. Zak watched the first ten seconds of the battle, wondering if he should join or just let his cocky partner handle all three by himself. It looked like he just might mange it, but Zak approached anyway. One of the attackers broke off to meet the new threat.
Zak was unimpressed with this student's skill, as he was worse than either of the other two he had already defeated. He dispatched him quickly and turned to see Jarl suddenly fall to his knees in mid flurry as the weapons of his opponents flew over his head. He swiped out their legs and then jumped over them and slapped them each in the head.
"Too easy!" he shouted. "Is there no one here to defeat me."
As Dantrag shone his light on the two defeated drow, he scowled. His mission was two-fold during this grand melee. He wanted to keep an eye on Zaknafein to see if his skill matched the Head Master's prediction, but he had also been charged by his matron mother to keep an eye on Jarlnian. So far he was unimpressed with either. In Zak's defense, he had not been challenged thus far, but there was no defense for Jarlnian. His style was very unorthodox and full of holes. Dantrag could not argue with the results, but the only skilled opponent they had faced thus far was Drillmick. The fighters from house Baenre and Barrison Del'Armgo were still out there.
Quinter of house Baenre and Yer'Athor of house Barrison Del'Armgo had not teamed up with anyone, but they were doing fine by themselves. Soon, they had defeated six drow of their own, leaving just four drow left. Jarl and Zak eyed up the two skilled fighters remaining, wondering if they were going to go one-on-one. Quinter and Yer'Athor had not teamed up.
As Yer'Athor approached, Quinter stayed back, thinking to pick off all three as they scuffled. A pebble struck the drow in the head, and he looked up. Dantrag had recognized his fellow Baenre's plan and signed that he was not to interfere with this fight. Dantrag wanted to see the true outcome.
Yer'Athor swung a huge two-handed pole. Like his father and weapon master, Uthegental, Yer'Athor was very tall and quite large. Jarlnian gulped as he watched the huge drow swing his sword about. He remembered the days when he had wielded such a weapon, and knew he would not have lasted long against this one with that style. He did not use that style now, though, and charged the drow.
Yer'Athor swung in a huge arc waist high to fend off the charge, but Jarl rolled under it, swinging for the drow's legs. The big fighter was unusually quick and stepped away as he swung down. Jarl's weapons hit only air, and he was forced to put both poles up to block the attack and was knocked off balance. He then received a hard boot to the head and was thrown out of the way.
Jarl's ranking would have been fourth if Zak had not stepped in. The Do'Urden moved in front of his fallen partner and fended off the bigger drow's flurry of attacks. Zak not only defended himself, but was pushing Yer'Athor back quite steadily. Dantrag smiled, for he saw that this fight would be over very soon. Zaknafein had leaped into the battle very off balanced, but had turned the tide quickly and was moments away from scoring a hit on his over-worked opponent.
True, Yer'Athor was struggling desperately to keep up with Zak, but he was well-trained, and he refused to let anything through. Still, he knew it was only a matter of time. Jarlnian was not patient enough to wait. He leaped to his partner's right side and struck out with his own weapons.
Dantrag nearly swore out loud. Why didn't the stupid Del'Axle stay out of it? Yer'Athor was happy. He stepped back and spun around completely, bringing his huge weapon in hard from his left, right at Jarl. Zak cursed his partner as well. He could not follow the spin because Jarl was in the way, and now Jarl could not get out of the way of this new attack because Zak was hindering him. Zak bailed, and Jarl went tumbling as his poles absorbed the attack with a hastily assembled parry.
Zak had to retreat even further to keep from getting taken down by the tumbling Del'Axle. Maybe everything he had heard about this noble's fighting skill was true. Yer'Athor was thinking the same thing as he tracked down the scrambling Jarlnian. Though he had Jarl in a helpless situation, Yer'Athor had carelessly turned his back to Zak.
Dantrag prepared to shine his light on both Yer'Athor and Jarl, for while Zak would easily be able to strike down the big drow, he would not be able to do so before he knocked out Jarl. Zak exploded into motion, and instead of jabbing his weapons into Yer'Athor's back, he dove in front of the drow and came up with a parry to block his partner.
It was an act of desperation that had not come from reason, and Yer'Athor blew through the weak parry, striking Zak hard on the shoulder. Zak dropped his weapons in pain, as Dantrag lit up his face. "Stupid," the Head Master muttered.
Yer'Athor smiled to himself, knowing he should feel lucky to have defeated the skilled drow that lay before him. He stepped past Zak to finish Jarl as well, but his prey was gone. Yer'Athor looked about quickly, and discovered Jarl's location as he felt a pole hit the back of his knee. His leg buckled, and he received two more hits as he fell to the ground.
Dantrag frowned as one of the other masters called Yer'Athor out. He signed to Quinter to take out this stupid Del'Axle quickly. Quinter had seen Jarl's style and smiled as he approached him. The Baenre warrior was the best trained at the Academy, and Jarl recognized that right away.
Still, the swashbuckling style was not something that Quinter had ever seen before, and he could not find a hole. Jarl smiled as he wove his blades about his body, inviting attacks by twirling his weapons behind his back. Quinter scowled at the flagrant style, thinking he was being made fun of. He launched into an array of attacks that would have struck down almost anyone else.
Jarlnian hit each attack twice with his weapons, laughing as he did. "Marvelous! Simply outstanding. You are terrific. That one was cool. Do it again." Though the comments were made with sarcasm, Jarl truly was impressed with the attacks. He had never seen them before, and he was absorbing them like a sponge. He tried to view Quinter as if he were Qui'tilla, teaching Jarl new maneuvers.
Quinter spun about suddenly, slashing his weapons high, then low. He then jumped back only to jump forward with both weapons coming in from opposite sides. "Wow!" Jarl remarked, fascinated. He had never imagined a move like that, and he barely got his weapons up to defend against it.
Jarl could tell the patience of the masters above was wearing thin, and he decided to end it. "Mind if I try that one?" he asked as he suddenly switched modes. The alteration in his style was a slight one as his weapons changed from blocking blows to delivering them. Quinter was suddenly on his heels.
Then Jarlnian launched the spinning double high, double low maneuver as if he had invented it. The move mixed so well with his already lively style, that Quinter barely recognized it as his own, and only when Jarl jumped back, causing the Baenre's weapons to miss their blocks, did he realize what was going to happen. He tried to brace himself for the double thrust, but he was crossed up, and Jarl struck him on the wrists, relieving him of both his weapons.
As the poles clattered to the stone floor, Jarl brought his weapons up to Quinter's neck, one on each side. "You'll have to teach me some more of your moves later."
Quinter growled and started to charge, but his face was lit up from above, and he held his anger in check.
"And so a noble Del'Axle is atop the class," one of the masters said to Dantrag.
Dantrag nodded and walked away. "A noble perhaps," he muttered to himself, "but he is no Del'Axle." Despite his mother's wishes, he put Jarlnian out if his mind for now. He was more concerned about Zaknafein. He still did not understand what had made the drow sacrifice himself for someone of Jarlnian's caliber. If the roles had been reversed, and Jarlnian had sacrificed himself so that Zak, the better fighter, might face Quinter, it would have made sense. He would keep his eyes on the fourth ranked Do'Urden, confident that Zaknafein would not keep that ranking. Next year he would be first.
***
Krol opened the door and entered the audience chamber warily. He smiled when he saw that his sisters were not present. Matron Reinela waited patiently at the front of the room. "Stop loitering around and give your report."
Krol rushed up to her throne and bowed deeply. "I come with news of Jarlnian. He has finished first in his class in the grand melee." Reinela smiled at this.
Most of the other important houses had masters at the Academy. There were eight masters each at Melee-Magthere, Sorcere, and Arach-Tinilith. Of those 24 masters, House Del'Axle had none of them. They had six high priestesses, and all of them had graduated from the school of Lloth towards the front of their class, but in these troubled times with a war imminent, Reinela wanted to keep all of her assets close at hand.
Because of this lack of influence within the Academy, information was hard to get. Krol and the common drow males that served under him as scouts were the best in the city. Still, the grand melee had taken place twenty days ago, and Krol had only discovered the outcome now.
"He defeated fighters from house Baenre, Barrison Del'Armgo, and Faen Tlabbar to earn the top spot. Two others also fell at his hand, but they were from the lesser houses. The five total 'kills' are two more than anyone else in the grand melee. He is in a small but skilled class."
"What of his relationships with the other students?" Reinela asked.
"He is one of two nobles in his class, but the other is of a much lesser house - I believe the 17th. He has kept himself clear of fights and has handled himself with care. From what I've heard, he has formed a loose alliance with another student, fourth in the class behind Baenre and Barrison Del'Armgo, though reports are he is better than both. Zaknafein is the student's name. He is from house Do'Urden, the thirteenth house."
"What sort of alliance?" Reinela did not care too much for this other male. He was of the thirteenth house, and therefore not important. The ranked houses made a point not to know anything about a house that was higher than tenth. Such a house was still several centuries from even thinking about a place in the top eight. None of them would ever risk attacking a ranked house.
"They fought together during the grand melee and are often seen together during classes and sparring sessions."
Reinela waved off the information, considering it not to be important. Likely this student's fourth ranking was solely due to her son's prowess. If he had fought on his own, this Do'Urden would likely not have cracked the top ten. "Have you other information to report?"
"I have scouted out the illithid compound," Krol responded.
"And?" Reinela prompted after Krol had paused for a significant time.
"I don't like it."
Reinela wanted to be mad at her son, but since she had trusted him enough to send him on the scouting trip in the first place she might as well listen to what he had to say. "Explain."
"Two drow houses went into battle against the illithids and were defeated soundly. Now over five dozen of them are enslaved in some sort of hypnotic trance. We could have defeated either house just using our priestesses, and that they were defeated by the illithids does not mean the mind flayers are indestructible, but they are on guard now."
Reinela nodded her head. She had hoped her son was not going to use the lower houses' defeat to mirror what would happen if House Del'Axle attacked the compound. She beckoned for him to continue.
"Not only is the illithid compound prepared for an attack now, but they are also better equipped with the addition of the slaves. An attack now, or even in the next few years would be foolish. The illithids had been living on their own, ignoring our existence because Menzoberranzan did likewise. Now all of their defensive measures are focused on another drow attack. We still might win, but we would lose more than we would gain."
"What do you suggest?"
"We should wait at least a decade. I do not think any of the other houses will have organized against us during that time. All of my information still says that they can't decide who wants to attack us. That decision won't be made for some time yet. We have time on our side, and I suggest we use it.
"By waiting, one of two things will happen. Either the illithids will slacken their defenses against us since no further attacks have taken place, or another race will attack them, causing them to redirect their efforts. Remember that the lower houses encountered the illithids due to their relative closeness to a rich vein of ore. I would not be surprised if the svirfnebli have been looking at that ore for some time as well. With the illithids now distracted, the deep gnomes might take advantage of it and give us the distraction we need."
It was sound reasoning, Reinela knew. She knew that the males in her house were not fighters and her position as the fourth house was only possible by utilizing the skills that her males did have. Espionage was one of those skills. "Very well," she said. "We will wait. I want you to continue to keep your scouts focused on not only the illithids, but also the svirfnebli. If you see a window of opportunity, we must be ready to take it."
"As you wish, Matron Mother." Krol bowed deeply and left the room.
***
Dantrag's predictions were proven correct, and Zaknafein finished first in the grand melee the next year. He and Jarlnian switched places as the Del'Axle finished fourth. The following year Zak won the melee again, and Jarl finished sixth. With the early exit, Zak had to finish off more of the students by himself. In the fourth year Jarl finished eighth, threatening to fall into the lower half of the class.
Zak did not know what to think. Both times that Jarl left early, he was knocked out by Drillmick of House Faen Tlabbar. Zak had seen the first fight between the two during the first grand melee and knew that Jarl was better than Drillmick. Jarl had taken out Quinter of house Baenre during that first grand melee with very little effort, yet here he was falling to a much weaker fighter. Zak usually turned to finish off Drillmick shortly after his victory over Jarl, but if he did not, the other student would probably finish in the top five.
Zak tried not to think of his friend's collapse. The earlier Jarl left, though, the more difficult it was for Zak to advance. The other students realized that after the top three (and potentially Jarl) the fall off in skill was dramatic. The only way they stood a chance of breaking into the top five was to band together in groups of three and sometimes four. Zak still managed to finish first each year.
The real battle was for second place. Quinter and Yer'Athor alternated that position. During the third year, Quinter had engaged Yer'Athor right away to put the battle behind him. He lost and was ranked last in the class. After that, both students realized the potential risk of fighting too soon and always put off their battle till last. Well, almost till last. Zak always stood by to wait for the winner.
Neither Quinter nor Yer'Athor wanted to defeat the Do'Urden student as a team. They told anyone who asked that they wanted to win by themselves, but in reality, they were scared they might lose, and that would bring even more disgrace to their skills. Also, neither of them was stupid enough to engage him early, for that would guarantee a low rank for them.
Zak had so obviously separated himself from the rest of the field that the masters began to talk about it. Most of the masters had been around when Dantrag had waltzed through the Academy, and they turned to him for answers.
"He is too good," one of the masters said. They were all seated around a table in a private room. "The other students have given up even trying to beat him. It has gotten so bad that when I use him in sparring sessions to show why a certain parry or attack stance is wrong, he still beats me. It is not good for the other students to see. We just are not capable of teaching him anymore."
"It's not his skill level that disturbs me," another master spoke up, "it is his technique. It is too good. Zaknafein has never once been forced to improvise or make up moves. There are techniques for fighting off multiple attackers, but when faced with three or four, they rarely work and the average fighter is forced to improvise. Zaknafein does not have to. His moves are so quick and strong and perfect, that he never has to stray from his technical style."
"How is that a bad thing?" one of the younger masters asked.
"After these students leave this Academy, they will do very little fighting against other drow. Most of their battles will take place against the other races that constantly invade our tunnels. You and I both know that a hook horror could care less if your parry is right or wrong, if you can't improvise, you will not survive. So far, Zaknafein has not been pushed to his limit yet. Until then, we will never know how good he really is."
"What does it matter?" Dantrag spoke up finally. He had been listening to this discussion with very little interest. They were talking about this student as if he were the best fighter ever. Did they forget who he was? Did they not realize they were in the presence of the greatest drow fighter ever? "So Zaknafein does not reach his true potential. Our job is to train him in the way of the drow and we are doing that. Our job is not to build up the thirteenth house so it is as strong as possible."
The oldest master at the Academy scowled at the young Head Master. Although he respected Dantrag's skills, he did not like his selfish attitude and made it known often. "Do you not listen to Lore Master Frian's lessons? Or do you just assume they do not apply to you? We are one people. It is our job to ensure that the drow warriors that protect our city are as well prepared as possible. If this young Do'Urden becomes a weapon master, which he undoubtedly will, and his trained warriors fail to repel a threat that endangers the city because we neglected our duty, I will make sure you are next in line to fight off the invasion."
Dantrag drew one of his swords so fast, it looked like he had just picked it up off the table. "You forget to whom you are talking!" he shouted as he stood and leveled his blade at the master. Dantrag wanted to kill him, but inside he knew he was right. Still, Dantrag could not let such an obvious reprimand go without response.
"Sit down, Baenre," one of the other masters said. "Zaknafein is the best student to have ever enrolled in the Academy. This calls for special consideration."
Dantrag was shocked at such a blatant claim against his legacy. "What did you say?"
"This situation needs special attention."
Dantrag knew these masters were trying to goad him into action. It worked. "Very well," Dantrag sheathed his sword and sat down. "Twenty years ago most of you were still here, and I imagine you held a similar meeting concerning me. The then Head Master entered the grand melee to teach me a lesson. It did not work. We shall do the same thing again. Only this time it will work. I will see to it." With that, Dantrag rose and left the meeting room.
The masters looked at each other for a long while. When Dantrag had been a student, they had tried to teach him that he was not invincible. Unfortunately, they had proven that he was. His cocky and superior attitude was a direct result of that failure. Now if Zaknafein were to defeat Dantrag, they might be able to fix what they had mistakenly done two decades ago. Of course, if Zaknafein did not win, the problem would only grow worse. Zaknafein would have to win.
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