Free Hawkmoon (The Hawkmoon Chronicles) by Unknown Page A

Chagatai’s head. Moving forward, he   continued   two paces ,then collapsed  in the sand. No one had seen it happen.
    Silence fell across the arena. The Blademaster must have stumbled.   Chagatai lifted himself out of the sand. They bowed and resumed position. The tribesman stared into the eyes of  his opponent. fear tickling his bowels as he understood  what stood before him
    Chagatai flicked the tip of the blade at his face. The move was countered. He struck at the knee, changing to a thrust at the groin. The move was blocked. .The tribesman stepped back, waiting .
    This is a fine death.  The Sky God has been good.  My sons are brave, my daughters are virtuous.
    Rising on the balls of his feet he  stepped forward, blade pointed at the chest, allowing it to last   long enough  that his opponent had no choice but to parry. At the final moment he turned his wrist to bring it to the gut... It was his deadliest move.
    His vision exploded in a burst of light. Chagatai fell senseless to the sand His opponent  threw the blade at the group and  stormed out of the arena. He was passing into the cool of the armoury   when someone touched his sleeve. Turning he found  a portly gentleman, well dressed, rings on every finger. The fat mans’ eyes shone with excitement.
    “My dear fellow, such a display. Truly wonderful. To defeat the Blademaster in such a fashion. Allow me to introduce myself… Halvar Halvarson , I provide gladiatorial spectacles   for the great houses on the continent. Such  talent;why you could retire in ten years… with the right management of course . Perhaps we can speak later.  . I will send my man. In the meantime, a small expression of my interest…”
    He held out an open purse.
    “Go away”   The man’s face went white.
    Two guards carried Chagatai to the infirmary..
    Paldor closed the shutters; the noise of the arena subsiding.
    “What do you think” Shen Tzu was slight, exquisitely arrayed in bright silks. He held a scented kerchief to his nose. The scent of the place was really quite appalling.
    “Remarkable. The test was arranged so as to goad him into losing control. He took that energy and turned it against his opponent. What happened then is more interesting. I was watching through this” he held up his spyglass” His pattern of movement changed. He moved unnaturally fast, though I am sure he was unaware of it. Such episodes place great demands on the body. It requires expenditure of a tremendous amount of Chi . The Blademastr  knew what he faced and still continued… A brave man. In the Chian we have masters who dedicate their lives to the art. They are old before they are half as deadly as what I have witnessed here today. . Would you be so kind as to send someone to enquire of his present state? I would venture he has retired. Paldor tinkled a small bell.
    “We should begin his training in the Occult Arts”
    “Is he to be a sorcerer?”
    “Heavens no. Not one of those… Tiresome people… There are ways to kill that dispense with the need of bladed weapons…. He has talent, but that alone is insufficient…  He will come  to Xanshi.”
    Paldor sat in front of his guest. “Excellency, your plans for him may not go as smoothly as you would wish”
    “O, and why  is that, pray?”
    “I have observed him over the past year. I find him to be a man of singular independence of mind. He seldom does what others would have him do. If you propose that he should go somewhere because you wish it, he will refuse”
    “What do you suggest?”
    “He  appears to be content here. He has made friends, the principle  being his trainer, despite what you witnessed today... Send  your instructors here. I will arrange rooms and lecture facilities.”
    The ambassador smiled“I bow to your wisdom . I will retire to consider what you have said”
    “You will not meet him?”
    “Gracious no. The man is exhausted.Tomorrow I will take my leave. With fair weather I will