A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1436 - 1436: Muddy Greatness - Part 5

The spearmen rushed in close, seeing what had happened to their comrade, but such a close range was entirely Kaya's domain. Their spears found no use there. He grabbed a spear shaft and held it firmly in place, after dodging the thrust delivered by it. Then, with another punch, he made that man fall and bleed as well. The last spearmen was already taking retreating steps back, thrusting at Kaya as he went, but the youth was far too swift to allow for that. He wretched the spear out of his hands, and made him bleed with a vicious punch as well.

"This is stressful to watch," Oliver murmured. "He would have been better off just ridding himself of the blades on his gauntlets. He's having to twist every punch to avoid puncturing with them."

"Indeed, my Lord. It seems that Kaya had figured that out for himself now," Verdant said, pointing.

With three groaning men at his feet, and the Blackwell referees rushing in to drag them off the field before they could be trampled, or before Kaya could descend on them, and deal worse damage, Kaya fiddled with his gauntlets, and with a concerted effort, managed to free the blades attached to them. He soon enough saw them tucked into his belt, and he rushed to another part of the battlefield.

That seemed to be the difference between Kaya and Karesh and every other sane man that was fighting there. Those two operated as if they had to slay as many of the enemy as possible. Karesh had already cut down a handful of men, as carefully as his greatsword would allow, and he was charging on to secure more, in the same way that Kaya was.

Jorah held his ground faithfully with his spear. He seemed to have a separate trick prepared for each enemy that he faced. He would allow them to step in, and then he might feign a slip in the mud, inviting them in even further. Then, with the lightest touch, he'd thrust his spear out, with lightning speed, and secure the slightest scratch on his cheek.

He rid himself of two attackers like that, and for the third, he was content to grapple. Using the slippy mud to his advantage, he stuck his leg behind the man, and tripped him, before slicing his dagger along his cheek to secure the blood that he needed.

It was a far less flashy showing than Kaya or Karesh's. It was slow, and methodical, and not the sort of thing that one would expect from one of the few Commanders on the battlefield. But that reliable normalcy was Jorah's strength. It seemed to free his mind for more cunning in the realm of strategy, and the Gods only knew just how useful his strategy had proved to the Patrick army.

Like that, it wasn't at all long before the round was over, and only the twenty warriors who would make it through were left. There were ten Patrick men amongst them, all ragged and breathless. Oliver had to smile, just in an attempt to hide his pride.

For the crowd, those Patrick men no doubt had been the most exciting to watch. The peasantry whistled and hooted as they ran their enemy down. They hardly seemed to stand still for a second. Their fighting styles, in large part, were as reckless as their Captain's. That, and the lack of technique in the newer recruits – supplemented instead by the overwhelming strength of the larger men – made for a rather amusing display.

"I don't suppose we could ask for any more from them," Oliver said delightedly. "Even if this is where our winning streak ends, I would say they've done well enough. A good showing it has been."

"I haven't fought yet," Lasha said, almost pouting. "When the Captain's and Commander tournament begins, we'll really show them."

"Indeed, we will put on a show, if we can," Verdant said. "At the very least, I shall not fall in the first round."

"Are you not fighting, my Lord?" Lasha asked. "I am sure the crowd would be disappointed if you were to leave yourself out of the fighting."

"It would be far too easy a display for our Lord fighting amongst the normal Captain's," Verdant said.

"True… But the later rounds, surely?" Lasha said.

"No, I think I shall leave it. I will be taking part in the Battle tournament at least. Perhaps I might win a match there. That ought to be enough," Oliver said.

"Disappointing," Lasha said shortly.

"It might well be," Oliver smiled. "But the both of you have other things to consider. There come Jorah and Kaya to take over your guarding. Go and get yourselves ready for your round."

"Well fought," Oliver told the two men when they neared.

They dipped their heads. "Thank you, my Lord," they said, practically in time with each other.

"Then, we will be leaving our Lord in your care," Verdant said to the two of them. "Remain prudent, despite your tiredness. My Lord can not see everything, and these crowds are a blanket of disguise for the most nefarious of purposes."

"We shall," Jorah assured him. "Good luck to you, Lord Idris, and to you, Lady Blackthorn."

"Good luck," Kaya echoed.

They dipped their heads in thanks.

"You had me worried there," Oliver told Kaya. "Your blades very nearly secured a deep wound more than once."

Kaya frowned. "I'd thought I'd need them more than I did, my Lord. I still can't decide whether to keep them off or on."

"Off, I think is better," Jorah put in. "Perhaps simply having them on your belt is enough. You do not wish to be fighting with a thought to limiting yourself. If you can go all out continually, I think you will find much better success."

The advice was delivered seriously, as if they were intending to capture a hillfort that was detrimental to a campaign that they were on.

"True enough…" Kaya said resolutely, his fingers curling into a fist. "Just fighting without worry… I do think that'll be an advantage."

"You're taking this rather seriously," Oliver noted.

"Of course, my Lord," Jorah said. "It is our duty to. I am aware of my own limitations in matters of combat. The best I can do, therefore, is attempt to clear the way for Kaya and Karesh to secure us good placings. I do not think it is beyond them to win the entire thing, if it is only First Boundary men that they are fighting against."