Bladeraver (pt52) (288 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 17 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Tactile Ire (View user info) at 2007-04-25 18:30:15 EDT
The driving drums of Gatecrusher washed over him as he hauled his left-hand blade clear around his body in a flat arc into his opponents face. The bitch was saved only by his steelwood mask. This split open and peeled back from his head leaving bloodshot eyes and fat pupils open to the club air. The right blade followed the left in, and the bitch staggered back, buckler raised to block the shot.
The Mantling hauled his weapons back into a guard position and stepped lightly around the staggering bitch. Blood seeped or flowed from a myriad of cuts all over the bitch's skin. He seemed more dazed by the intensity, the sheer ferocity of the attacks than he was by the injuries. The last fight against this piece of meat had been all his, so easily his, and here he was bleeding, fading, weapon gone and armour going. He looked up, eyes clearing in time to see two polished hilts looming large and hard.
The former Gatecrusher bitch sailed to the floor. Medics rushed over to put cold compresses on his ravaged eyes as the Mantling took his accolades and flowers. As the cheering died down he pointed straight across the heads of the crowd, singling out a well-dressed grey-bearded man sitting in the V.I.P section. A spotlight followed his arm to pick out the man. The crowds turned and applauded their host. The Mantling took the chance to step down amongst them, wiping his weapons clean and then towelling himself down.
Pushing through Charke's enthusiastic back-slapping and the interest of other well-wishers came the grey man. The crush pulled back from him and they were alone in the crowd. "Well played ser. Clean and heavy. You've cost me quite a sum tonight. If I'm not careful I may have to take on a new partner." He shot a distasteful glance in the direction of Rhys' gold shirt.
"I hope that can be avoided, my host," said the Mantling, sending a glance of his own after the bouncing form of Charke. "I know how uncomfortable the wrong business associate can be."
The grey man's eyes gleamed. "Really? Perhaps we can repair to my private office. Discuss this a little more."
The Mantling nodded. "I'd like that. I'd like it a lot."
*
They were ensconced in the office a few short moments later. It was a close cupboard of a space. Receipts and folders crowded every surface. "That was quite a display of skill young man. You took that kid apart without even looking like being in trouble." The older man eased himself back in his chair. "Nice tidy set up. After your performance here last time you had the odds all the way against you. I like that. Shows you can think ahead. A bit more planning ability than most of the blood-bags I get over that floor. I'll bet you cleaned up tonight."
"Yeah," said the Mantling. "Problem is, between Charke's cut and Rhys' booking fee I don't get all that much. I'd like to change that."
"Well now, boy, I'd love to buy into that management contract, take you under my wing so to speak, steer you towards some big money matches. With a name like Gatecrusher behind you, you can get all sorts of bouts."
"That sounds good. To tell you the truth though, I was looking for a little something more. A retirement level payday."
"And how were you planning to manage that?"
"Well, I thought I'd arrange the biggest, most hyped fight in the history of clubland. A match of legendary proportions. A match to topple the House of Pain. A match that only certain people know I'm going to lose."
"Boy, you are talking about match-fixing. I'll let you away with that little stunt tonight because I like you. The House of Pain won't. Do you have any idea what they will do if they catch you?"
"Oh I know, ser Puila. In fact I'm counting on it."
***************
The next day he was out walking with Flens in the narrow passways around the enclave. She had refused to come to the club last night. Instead she had stayed in her room, drinking whosky and sharpening the Toothpick. The Mantling was worried about her fragile state and so took her walking to talk her out of herself. To explore her reactions. "You didn't swear to me for the same reasons as Drewhldt, did you?" he asked.
"No m'lord. In fact I can barely remember that time at all. Everything seems hazy since I lost him."
Mantling nodded at the reference to her lost Ishant. "That's dikduk droppings and you know it. You knew exactly what you were doing when you swore to me. Just as Drewhldt did. You thought you saw something in me that fit with a part of yourself."
It was her turn to nod as they strolled past caffiers and newsagents. "I thought I saw something..."
"Tell me." It was a simple order. It brooked no refusal.
"I thought I saw pain. I thought; 'here; here is someone as burnt and shattered by the world as I am. Here is someone who has suffered grievous hurts and who has survived through the pain and the rage and the hate. Here is someone whose works will match my mindset. And who can teach me how to stave off the pain.'"
"I thought I saw another lost." She was tight and upset as she spat hot words of condemnation. "But it's not to be. It shall be sweetness and light and saving the city from itself as you waste your pain against idiot glory-hound drug addicts and I am to wander after you - giving out election pamphlets and wiping off your sweat and all other bunches of arse. My lord."
He considered her anger and her isolation. Set it against what he knew of her life as a loving partner and strong team member. He picked up everything he knew of her and this situation and he chose his words with deadly precision. "There is another reason for this election campaign. We need to win power. This city has to get on a war footing. And it needs to happen soon. The drones missed, Flens. The nest is still alive. And it'll be coming for all of us soon."
"How the fell can you know that?"
"I read the pheromnemonics during our last battle. The mind was still there. And believe me I know these bugs. They will come for our whole city. Y'see, the mants are the true lords of the Dreamingveldt. They take all other species and make them slaves as and when they see fit. They take us when they want steady workers and wealthy protein farms. Our solid flesh makes us very good eating. But they have no truck with resistance. When we broke out, we upset the balance. The only other species to ever get out was the Terror. And you've seen what they've had to become to retain their freedom. Homicidal and ever watchful. Because anything that moves might be a mant slave come to take them back into custody. The mants learned from that. They've never let anything survive escaping them since. They're coming for us and they'll be bringing worgspiders. Just as soon as they're strong enough."
"And you sit here talking about elections? Pissing about at bladeraves?"
"What can I do? Run to the government yelling 'the monsters are coming'? Where will that get us? This plan is the only way."
"But what if you lose? A bladerave bout, the election? What if something goes wrong?"
"Then I'll have done my best."
"Oh fell no. That's not good enough. We have to do more. Get the troopers mobilised. Now, while the nest's still weak."
"No! My plan is in place and you will follow it. Remember, you swore to me. I am the swineherd. You are my pig. You will do as I say."
Her lips thinned with fury. Her knuckles went white as her nails gouged into her palms. "The fall with you and your plans Mantling. From here on, I'm making my own way," she said as she turned and fled.
He indulged in a grim little smile as he watched her go.
User Reviews
Submitted by silent1 (user info) at 2007-04-26 18:18:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think a moon equals a year from the description.
Submitted by genericIntent (user info) at 2007-04-26 17:32:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I was wondering when we'd see good ol' Mom.
I am curious how much time has passed since the main character was taken. I'm not sure what a "moon" translates into since it's obviously not a month.
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-04-26 15:20:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thank you, zwerg. I know him now.
And to you lot who are smirking at my EarlyOnsetSenility:
Yes, I'm aware I could have attempted to keep my dignity and trawled through 52 parts in order to find it myself. Shush.
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-04-26 15:08:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-04-26 14:26:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn my Early Onset Senility!
Who is Puila?
ARGH.
I suck at names!
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-04-26 09:51:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoa, it's Puila! I'm very interested to see where it goes with him back in the picture.
----------------------------------
That's who the Mantling's mom was sleeping with, the slore!
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-04-26 14:26:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn my Early Onset Senility!
Who is Puila?
ARGH.
I suck at names!
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-04-26 09:51:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoa, it's Puila! I'm very interested to see where it goes with him back in the picture.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2007-04-26 12:46:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dun Dun Dun....
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-04-26 09:51:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoa, it's Puila! I'm very interested to see where it goes with him back in the picture.
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-04-26 06:16:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Flens is being a whinger.
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-04-26 05:53:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Ildeth (user info) at 2007-04-26 01:44:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YEAH!!
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-04-26 00:38:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-04-25 21:56:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-04-25 19:56:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
fuck off.
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2007-04-25 19:55:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude, that sight cracked me up.
I remember watching that in cartoon format a number of years ago, I don't know why it stopped.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-04-25 19:54:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good job as always.
Submitted by Snare (user info) at 2007-04-25 19:31:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2007-04-25 19:25:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Masterfully written as usual.
I don't know about you but with yesterday's public holiday I had to stop myself from thinking today was Monday.
________________________________________________________________
Heh. I was surprised when I did my daily hit of dilbert.com that the strip wasn't in colour.
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2007-04-25 19:25:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Masterfully written as usual.
I don't know about you but with yesterday's public holiday I had to stop myself from thinking today was Monday.