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nobles and commoners,
alike, as third party entities. Rezkin was surprisingly honest in his
deceptions, and Jimson started to wonder how much of what he knew of Rezkin was
based on assumptions.
    Malcius laughed, “Are you saying that you ,of
all people, have problems with following the rules?”
    Rezkin smirked, an expression that looked odd on the
warrior’s face, as far as Jimson was concerned. “I am just saying that there
are many other Skills and techniques and hobbies that are worthy of my
attention. I cannot seem to pursue just one.”
    Now that Jimson was looking for it, he noticed that Rezkin’s
answer had nothing to do with the question, but Malcius took his response as
confirmation of his assumptions, regardless.
    “So, you have a short attention span,” Malcius teased.
    “It makes one wonder how long your attention will linger on
our dear cousin,” Shiela remarked as she sidled up to the group. Frisha was not
far behind, and she looked upset. Rezkin wondered what Shiela had been saying
to his Girl Friend . The young warrior caught Frisha’s eye, and she
raised her chin proudly. Rezkin’s lips turned up into a smirk. Whatever had
gone down between them, it seemed Frisha had gotten the upper hand.
    Rezkin ignored Shiela’s comment as being unworthy of his
attention and turned back to Palis. “Then you are willing to demonstrate the
technique for us?” Shiela flushed at the blatant dismissal. Palis also flushed,
but only because of the combined attention of the group.
    “Yes, I suppose a professional demonstration is in
order,” Palis answered and then glanced around uncertainly.
    Rezkin smiled and said, “The captain has given us leave to
practice on the quarterdeck.”
    “Right,” Palis said as he stepped through the group to lead
the way.
    The young Jebai demonstrated his skills with the Bo’duen
Parté, which were quite good, and then everyone else seemed to want to
demonstrate their own favorite techniques. After about an hour, Malcius
realized that Rezkin had not had a turn at demonstration.
    “Rezkin, come now. You started this. Do you not have some
favored form to demonstrate?” Malcius pressed amicably.
    Tieran, who had begun to wonder if he had overestimated the
mysterious lord’s skills, was less affable as he commented, “Yes, Rezkin. You
carry those two swords around all the time.” Disdainfully, he said,
“Surely you have some ancient dual sword form in your repertoire.” With
Tieran’s mocking tone, Rezkin realized it was time to reassert the threat of
danger to the duke’s heir. As it happened, a demonstration of the dual sword
form was ideally suited for such validation.
    Rezkin intended to hide his identity at the tournament, and
he did not want others guessing his identity in recognition of his technique
and style. He would not be risking discovery by demonstrating a dual form,
though, since tournament rules demanded the competitors fight with a single
blade. It was unlikely any of these self-absorbed nobles would actually search
out his name in the registry, and if he feigned getting knocked out of the
competition early on when they were having their own matches, then they would
have no reason to come and watch him.
    Rezkin nodded and replied, “Of course. It is only fair, after
all.”
    Tieran eyed him suspiciously, and Rezkin knew the young lord
had been waiting for this moment, hoping to find that Rezkin was all bravado.
To everyone’s confusion, Rezkin unbuckled his sword belt and dropped it in
Captain Jimson’s hands. The captain’s face paled as Rezkin grinned with a glint
in his eyes. Jimson was the only one besides Rezkin who knew the significance
of these blades. The captain could be killed just for holding the Sheyalins if
anyone found out, and both of them knew it. It was a sentence that was unlikely
to be enforced, even if someone did find out, since it was Rezkin who
handed the swords to him in the first place; but still, it was a genuine fear.
Jimson,