Free Hawkmoon (The Hawkmoon Chronicles) by Unknown

grew longer with every passing day. At first they stayed on the hard sand where the surf broke. As time went by Chagatai started to add packets of sand.  More sand followed every week. He considered objecting but his pride would not allow   it. When he woke the first morning memories lingered in remnants of dreams. As the weeks passed even those faded… At midnight he would  force himself to eat  the food laid out by the servants before collapsing into sleep.
    Hardly were his eyes shut   than Chagatai was beating on the door.  Weeks turned to months... When he stopped, he no longer vomited. Chagatai wanted five miles. He ran seven. Chagatai wanted  seven, he ran ten.
    In the Autumn of the year they were twenty miles south on the beach.Chagatai  began to talk about his life. His father  was Khan of a minor tribe. The one who seized power sent  his family into exile. He escaped and   watched as they had slaughtered his brothers on the open plain. Chagatai  had been to  the Royal City, for the anniversary of the King’s Coronation. He had been North twice , once to parlay with the Reivers and once on a trading   expedition.. He tried to hide it but his pride in being a Ranger was enormous.
    They stopped to eat eighteen  miles from the City. “I survived the summer. Living in the hills, trapping Marmots. Winter was coming when  I wandered into a village begging for food They fed me well. Then they put chains on me. It wasn’t bad  apart from the  beatings which I was accustomed to. In the Spring we were taken to Pokhara.. It is a free city on the edge of the Steppe where everyone can come to trade… Reivers, Humans, everyone is welcome except the Wampyrhh. One of the men belonging to the new Khan recognized me. I thought I was dead  when he started bidding . Then a round eye put in an offer
    As soon as he took possession I told him about the  one he had outbid. That they wanted to kill me and it would be better to let me go and take my chances. He thought I was lying but when they followed as we  left the city he hired  guards. I decided that I wouldn’t cut his throat  when I escaped. His name was Palgon . He was a recruiter  for the Rangers..   I asked him why he picked me ; there were full grown men on the stocks, some trained fighters. He said he liked the look of me. I wasn’t cowed  like the rest.”
     
    Since the first day he  struggled to match Chagatai in the use of weapons .The bruises on his chest, arms, and legs testified to his failures. He took to rising before dawn to practise  on the Ran, a stake with   lengths of chain and blades fitted  to copy a human opponent.
    A year since meeting the tribesman he faced Chagatai in the arena.  People hung about. The slave girl, Ilse sat up   in the back with her friends.
    Chagatai had brought some of his students to watch ; one  a noble with a haughty manner. He grinned insolently and whispered to Chagatai. The little man laughed and walked over. “He told me to go easy on you. Are you ready?”
    He set himself and waited while Chagatai did likewise.  Chagatai screamed and charged, blade aimed low  .. He staggered back and tripped over his feet. Laughter echoed from the walls while he picked himself out of the sand. The girls tittered. Ilse looked at him gravely. The arrogant one grinned and said something to his friends. He stood, wiping the dust from his clothes. Absorbing  the rage he calmed his breathing, and  waited.
    Chagatai attacked.   Waiting  as the blade came down, at the final moment he moved a half step, swaying to let the sword pass. He tried to bring his  sword into play only to have it knocked  aside. Rage burned in him. Once more he calmed his mind. Again Chagatai attacked. At that moment the world slowed .It was like he was underwater... The tribesman was screaming, mouth open in a rictus of hate.  The blade came up, but slow. Taking a half step he  moved  past his opponent. Light burst in