Free More Than Chains To Bind by Stevie Woods

insist untipped weapons are used and either of my combatants is injured, or worst, killed, then you will have to pay the expected auction price." Cor'lyn glanced at us, then back at the guest. "And I can assure you, the price will be high due to the excellent skills of these two."
    In the end, and much to my utter relief, the visitor backed down. He was not happy at losing his entertainment, but Cor'lyn reminded the guest he was responsible for us and fully within his rights. I didn't give a damn about his so-called rights. I couldn't bear the thought of really fighting Hollis.
    However, as the man returned to his position, Cor'lyn moved closer, looked from Hollis to me and said sharply, "You will put on a proper display of swordsmanship. I want to see near misses, I want to see hits, I want it to be clear who scores and how. I want a winner, not a draw. Let me make this clear--you don't make me happy and you won't be happy. I can punish you without the lash. I don't have to mark your skin for you to feel pain."
    As Cor'lyn stalked back to his seat, Hollis turned to me and whispered, "Go for it, Lian. We can make it look good."
    I nodded, knowing what he meant. We both let our control drop enough we gave them a good show and we both had the bruises to prove it. In the end, as Hollis planned, I won when my sword slipped past his guard and the tipped point pressed against his throat.
    I relaxed then thinking it was over, but it wasn't. Next they brought out the real pilums, much more lethal as the whole thing was metal and perfectly weighted to fly true in a horizontal line. Its perfect balance did mean, though, it could be swung with ease, and a skilled user could block moves or twist it around one's body to throw an opponent off balance and make a killing move. It had taken a couple of days to get used to it, but now both Hollis and I felt as comfortable with it as we had with the wooden version.
    What worried me now was if they expected us to fight with them as they were presented to us, because they weren't tipped. The pilum Guide had explained they were so finely balanced that tipping a pilum threw them off for infighting and made them impossible to throw. We trained throwing the untipped weapons against targets and fought with them under the strictly watchful eye of the Guide. Did Cor'lyn expect us to fight all out with these?
    I looked at Hollis and clearly he had the same thoughts. He stepped forward to ask the question I expected, but it wasn't necessary as Kano came to us and informed us we were not permitted to throw the weapon. We were to demonstrate our skill with infighting and the first hit would be considered as final. In other words, one visible hit would be enough. This we could do. It would be just like fighting under Hollis' instruction. He'd taught me many choreographed moves to help me to learn control. The moves were automatic now.
    As Hollis moved to get into position he mouthed, Set one, to me, and I answered with an infinitesimal nod. We really were on the same wavelength.
    We set up moves, drove forward, feinted and blocked. Hollis feinted left, then swung behind me, and I had to twist half sideways to block his weapon. He ducked and came up at my side. I moved my pilum across my body, blocked and slid my weapon up against his to force him aside. I carried on with the move, swinging the pilum toward his right shoulder. He twisted to avoid the blow and in doing so got behind me and swung his weapon against the back of my knees, knocking my legs from under me. I landed on my back, my pilum still in my hand already beginning to raise my weapon, only to find Hollis' pilum pressed lightly against my chest, over my heart. He looked down at me, the expression in his eyes vastly at odds with the action of his body. I had to fight not to grin at him.
    Cor'lyn seemed well pleased with our display. I saw him glance over at the disgruntled guest and raise an eyebrow at the man. The man inclined his head,