Free Death and Honor: Book 2 of 2 by James Wisher Page A

took the vest and shook his head, it would just get in his way. He handed it back. “Thanks anyway.”
    “You sure, boy? Those swords hurt when you get hit.”
    “I don’t plan on getting hit.” Xander unbuckled his sword and leaned it against the wall. He accepted the wooden sword and moved to the center of the mat. “What are the rules?”
    “Simple,” Jerrod said. “The match goes to three touches anywhere on your opponent’s body.”
    “Do glancing blows count?”
    “I’ll call the blows as I see fit. The match is over when I say, got it?”
    Xander nodded.
    “On guard.” When both fighters stood ready Jerrod said, “Begin!”
    Se’Wan bore in, hacking and slashing in an attempt to score his hits fast. He had no style, just crude blows that Xander angled away with no great effort. It wasn’t long before his opponent overextended a lunge. Xander cracked him on the back of the thumb; Se’Wan’s wooden sword fell to the mat from numb fingers.
    “One,” Jerrod said.
    His opponent unarmed, Xander wasted no time ending the fight. He cracked Se’Wan across the back of the knees and when he started to fall grabbed his collar and drove him to the mat. “Two.”
    Xander ended the match with a chop to Se’Wan’s stomach.
    “Three, match’s over.”
    Xander flipped the wooden sword into the crook of his arm and turned in time to see Jerrod toss a coin to Kraven. “So he has some skill, huh? You cheated me out of that silver.”
    Kraven grinned. “I am a thief.”
    “He got lucky.” One of the other students had climbed to his feet. Xander shot him a glare. The man had night black hair tied in a ponytail and a slim, athletic build. He looked to be about Kraven’s age. His lip curled in an arrogant sneer. Xander took an instant dislike to him.
    “Sit down, Dane.” Jerrod said.
    “Come on, Master Jerrod. This brat wouldn’t last ten seconds against a real swordsman.”
    Xander’s eyes narrowed. “Can you recommend a swordsman worth my time?”
    Dane flinched but to his credit picked up Se’Wan’s fallen sword and stepped onto the mat. “I might at that.”
    “Did I miss anything?” Everyone turned when Nico slipped inside the room.
    “What are you doing here?” Kraven asked.
    “I heard Xander was sparring with the enforcers. I figured after what he did to Crusher it would be a show worth watching.”
    “Are you sure you want to do this?” Jerrod asked. “Dane is my best man.”
    Xander nodded.
    “Crusher, that name sounds familiar,” Dane said.
    “It should.” Nico grinned ear to ear. “He’s the guy that threw you and Mica out on your asses a couple days ago.”
    Dane starred at Nico who continued on without a clue. “I thought the old stink merchant would wet himself when he saw what Xander did to his muscle. You should have been there Dane, you would’ve gotten a kick out of it.”
    “This kid took out the giant?”
    Nico nodded. “Didn’t even break a sweat. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself.”
    Dane stepped off the mat. “Perhaps I spoke too quickly.”
    Xander laughed. “This is your best man? No wonder you’re having trouble making collections.”
    Dane snarled and charged, sword raised as though he planned to drive Xander through the mat. Xander sidestepped the clumsy attack and brought the hilt of his sword down on Dane’s head. He fell to the mat, out cold. Xander offered his sword hilt first to Master Jerrod.
    “Your students are too angry and lack control.”
    “Of course they do,” Jerrod said. “Why do you think they became enforcers in the first place? So someone would pay them to vent that anger.”
    “All they’re going to do is get themselves killed.”
    “Let’s take a walk,” Kraven said.
    Xander buckled on his sword and indicated Kraven should lead the way. They left the training room and Kraven led them back toward the mess hall. “You didn’t make any friends up there.”
    “They don’t need me to be their