Free Mage-Guard of Hamor by L. E. Modesitt Page B

handful of others come through, I don't really get a chance to work out with someone of skill. You could be among the best in years—with the staff and truncheon."
    Rahl wondered about the favor. "Ah . . ."
    "Oh, the favor. It's very simple. I'd like you to spar with some of the older mage-clerks, and I'd like you to disarm them as quickly, but painlessly, as possible. As you may know, the mage-clerks have this tendency to think that they are better than they are, and they dismiss my efforts because they feel that I'm an armsmaster and that they'll seldom come up against anyone that good."
    Rahl couldn't help grinning.
    "Finish up eating while I have Fientard bring them over here."
    Rahl tried not to hurry, but he still felt nervous, and was waiting at the end of the chamber when Khedren returned with another arms-mage and five mage-clerks. As he walked toward the group, Rahl couldn't help but be aware of his disheveled appearance and the aura of near contempt from the dark-haired youth who was taller than the others and even slightly taller than Rahl himself.
    Rahl stopped and listened as Khedren addressed the five.
    "Some of you seem to have the mistaken impression that you are of equivalent ability to the everyday mage-guard. I have told you that is not so, but you seem not to have understood my words." Khedren inclined his head to Rahl. "Rahl here became a full mage-guard less than a year ago, and he has been stationed in Swartheld. He is an ordermage, as some of you should be able to tell, so that he will not be able to use chaos against you. Each of you will have an opportunity to attack him with your own weapon of choice. He will use a truncheon."
    Rahl decided to use his own weapon, rather than a practice truncheon, and reclaimed it from where he had placed it on the pegs.
    Khedren turned to the mage-clerk who still radiated a slightly veiled contempt. "Viencyr, you seem eager to prove your worth. You can go first."
    The would-be mage-guard lifted a blunt-edged falchiona.
    Rahl emulated Khedren's earlier example and walked to the center of the chamber, where he waited for Viencyr.
    The youth followed, then took a stance, with his feet slightly too far apart, raising his falchiona to a guard position.
    "You may begin," Rahl said quietly.
    Viencyr began to circle, and Rahl angled into the youth's trailing side. When Viencyr turned and flicked out the blade, almost as if as a warning, Rahl leaned and darted in behind the blade, bringing his truncheon sharply across Viencyr's elbow. The falchiona clattered to the stone.
    Rahl could sense that he'd been too quick for what he had done to make an impression. He stepped back. "Pick it up."
    Viencyr scooped up the blade and attempted to attack as he came up.
    Rahl was waiting, and beat down the blade, stepped on it, and jammed his truncheon into Viencyr's gut. The youth doubled over, letting go of the blade. Rahl stepped back.
    "You're next, Xeryt."
    Xeryt was more cautious, but the results were the same, if with different moves by Rahl.
    Rahl didn't raise a sweat in disarming all five.
    After the last, Khedren turned. "Thank you very much, Mage-Guard Rahl."
    "My pleasure, ser."
    Rahl began to collect his gear, deciding, although it might not be approved, merely to carry his shirt back to the quarters and not to wear it until he washed up. He also managed not to smile as Khedren spoke to the mage-clerks.
    ". . . hope this little demonstration has given you all an idea of how much you still have to learn about arms. I would also point out that Mage-Guard Rahl could easily have killed each and every one of you with no more effort than he used in disarming you. There are a number of Codex breakers in Swartheld who are no longer with the living as a result of his truncheon . . ."
    How much had Taryl told Khedren? Rahl slipped out of the arms exercise chamber and made his way back to his quarters. By the time he had cleaned up and was back in full uniform, it was early