Tarrick held his breath as Olvir walked forward to submit his latest attempt. Each week the acolytes were expected to carve an animal that they thought represented the Terrible-Ascent-Driven Beast. It was to act as an aid to meditation. He himself had submitted a Jaguar this week. It was a creature of grace and power, able to strike from the dark and taking its prey back into the night.
Yet Olvir never seemed to grasp the exercise. “Metal’s much easier” he said when asked, “It wants to be useful, it looks for the form you give it. Wood’s different; it knows what it wants to be and fights you if you change it. I don’t know how you all find the right piece of wood each week.”
Tarrick shook his head. The giant obviously had talent; the squirrel he’d made the first week had a mischievous look that captured the animal perfectly. It was just his animals were never … terrible. Even his pet Tayra, a sinuous weasel like beast at least a metre in length would be a better choice than those he made.
“What have we here?“ Master Meliot sneered. “Our own ogre has a new terrifying beast to present. What have you imagined for us this week? A puppy? A rabbit? Perhaps another dragonfly?”
“I’m sorry, the wood was awkward again. I tried to persuade it, but it just wanted to be a frog…” He proffered the finely crafted tree frog to the master.
Meliot seemed to turn a slight shade of red. “Why Sifu allows you to remain is beyond me. What pray tell, does this frog teach you of the Terrible-Ascent-Driven Beast? Perhaps its ability to snare beasts many times its size? The speed and grace with which it moves through the forest canopy?”
Whilst his Tayra hissed at the tone, the vitriol seemed to have no effect on the man mountain. “I wondered that” he acknowledged. “So I followed one last rest day. They are adept hunters, striking fast and with surprise, overwhelming their foe before he is even aware of their existence. They are very agile, jumping many times their height when threatened by predators. They are a worthy tribute to Luna’s hunters”
Meliot seemed almost to be shaking with rage, his colour redder with each moment. “Enough” he yelled, “if you think your mockery of our traditions has gone unnoticed you are wrong. Both Master Jalen and Borneth agree with me that your jokes have gone on long enough…”
“Peace, Meliot” came the quiet but firm voice of Sifu Elin. “We can deal with the suitability of the frog once our guests have left”
“Guests?” Meliot repeated, confused. “What guests?”
Sifu Elin merely pointed. Tarrick peered down to the entrance to the monastery and saw the small horde of visitors. He twisted his face into a grimace as he recognised the yellow tunics of the rival school's adepts. Had they come again for another demonstration of their schools' inferiority? Then he paused as he realised that amongst them were red tunics of a type he did not recognise.
Tarrick stepped back nervously as the visitors marched into their midst. The red robed warriors were obviously guarding the Dragon-Blooded Lord who was flaring his anima, an awe-inspiring display. Tarrick could not imagine having that level of essence at his fingertips, able to just fritter it away to demonstrate his heritage. He noticed, slightly worried, that the guards spread out to guard the obvious exits.
“Sifu Telga, welcome to our humble dojo, won't you introduce your esteemed guest?” said Sifu Elin after performing an elegant bow.
“This is the honoured Prince Scarlet Dawn, also known as Fluttering Blade of the Wrathful Obelisk, Lord of the Flaming Claw. He comes seeking the fugitive you harbour,” said Sifu Telga with a pronounced smirk.
“I am not aware of any fugitive,” Sifu Elin responded looking concerned, “they must be guilty of a serious offence to bring such a notable person to our doors. Might I ask who you seek?”
“Oh stop pretending” responded Telga with a snort. “You know the girl he's looking for. She performed at the last tournament. No student of six months displays that level of mastery.”
“Maybe your training methods just aren’t suitable for bringing forth greatness in your students?” questioned Elin with a smile.
“Silence,” snapped the voice of Prince Scarlet Dawn. He turned and in a smooth motion drew and threw a dagger from his belt at the great tree in the centre of the training area. A whip crack sound echoed as Essence sped the weapon on its flight. There was an explosion of colour and light as it hit the tree. Tarrick’s mouth fell open in disbelief as he saw the tree falling onto the roof of the nearby refectory. The oak had stood for a hundred or more years and yet a hole larger than he was tall had been blown in its trunk.
“I have hunted this girl from one end of Creation to this misbegotten hole. I have no time for your petty arguments concerning which branch of some inferior martial art is supposedly superior. Give me the girl or I shall start killing your students”. The Prince signaled to his guard, who grabbed one of the young acolytes, Kanli. He looked terrified. They held him, arms out parallel to the ground, trapped between two guards and with another behind him.
To Tarrick's surprise it was Olvir that spoke next. “My Lord, the girl you seek is not here. I have seen nothing that would draw your attention in the 2 months I've been here.” The gentle giant seemed to be unconcerned with drawing the ire of the Prince even after the demonstration of a moment ago. It was as if he truly believed that you could just reason with people and they would understand.
Two guards stepped forward to grab Olvir by the arms. They were large men and well muscled. They made as if to pull him forward, much as one might pull a hill closer to a town. To their relief he stepped forward of his own volition letting them guide him closer to the Prince. He seemed unaware that one had drawn a wavy leaf blade and was holding it with the point at the nape of his neck.
“On my oath, there is nothing here for you,” Olvir said reassuringly.
“Well then I must have been mistaken”, said Prince Scarlet Dawn and he turned as if to leave. Tarrick was amazed. Perhaps the simple, honest approach could work after all?
Then the Prince turned back with a furious expression “I am a Prince of Creation, Oaf. You should address me as such or not at all,” he bellowed at Olvir, flecks of saliva hitting everyone in a three foot radius. The Prince's left hand flicked out and a knife from nowhere leapt out taking the boy Kanli's forearm off at the elbow. “I am running short of patience, I will have the girl, where she went - or I shall burn this place to the ground.”
“Luna…” Olvir whispered sinking to one knee. He looked up to the sky as if confused and seeking guidance. Tarrick braced himself, the look in Olvir's eyes was terrible and if he attacked then the Prince's guards would start killing acolytes.
Sifu Telga looked in horror at Kanli, gathered himself and then stepped up to Olvir. “You look to the canopy to escape, Oaf? Even a master of the form could not leap that high. I'm not sure the Beast itself could leap that far!” He wrapped Olvir on the knuckles with his fan. “Learn your place, do not speak to your betters and maybe you'll survive this day with your head on your shoulders.”
Olvir turned his head to look at the Sifu in suprise and then started laughing. It grew louder and louder as if the giant could not control his emotions. Eventually he stopped and looked back up. “You are truly Sifu, you have taught me something in moments that I have studied for 2 months and not seen. Let me return the favour and expand your horizons.”
He jumped, taking the two guards holding him up into the canopy a hundred yards above. One fell loose half way and crashed back to the earth next to the Sifu. Olvir and the other vanished from sight.
From behind them Tarrick heard a scream. Turning he saw the Tayra had torn the throat of a Guard, its face dark red with the fresh blood. It leapt onto the fallen tree trunk and ran to the roof. Then it turned and with an evil grin opened its mouth and spoke. “Oh Prince of Creation, you have awakened the Ascent-Driven Beast, surrender now or suffer his Terrib... yip”. Interrupted, she ducked to one side avoiding a dagger, and then shrugging, disappeared from sight.
A crashing noise and turning yet again Tarrick saw that of the three that had been guarding the gate, two were lying sprawled and the third was nowhere to be seen. A shriek from another side, and this time Tarrick just managed to catch a glimpse of a large hairy arm dragging a guard by the head over the wall. The pandemonium was such that he just couldn't follow what was going on. With a start he suddenly realised that meant the red guards probably couldn't either. Grinning he pretended to trip and crouched behind a retreating guard. There was a clattering and a thump as the guard's helmet struck the ground. With that the other older acolytes got involved and engaged the panicked guard.
“E N O U G H”, Prince Scarlet Dawn's voice bellowed louder than seemed possible. Tarrick crouched clutching his ears in shock. All around the combat had stopped. The Prince stood, dagger in hand cocked ready to throw, the other hand outstretched pointing at Kanli who was kneeling clutching his stump. “Surrender now Beast, or I finish him.”
Time stretched for a moment, and then Master Meliot nervously stepped into the path of the weapon. “I cannot let you kill one in my care my Prince. Take my life instead.” Tarrick could not believe his eyes, old Meliot was the last he thought to see facing down death.
“As you wish,” was the snarled response. Tarrick watched the dagger leave the hand, red essence trailing in its path. In the next blink there was a crash as a large ape-like beast man landed in directly in its path snarling. Another blink and there was a flare of silvery light taking the form of a great ape that lunged forward casually swatting the blade aside. It continued forwards deflecting the second thrown blade that had appeared as if by magic, and roared its defiance in the Prince's face as it faded from view.
Looking shaken the Prince paused, collected himself and then began a number of stylised forms coalescing his power before grabbing the leaf blade from the hand of one of his guards and hurling it with all his force at the Beast. The silver image of the great ape lunged forwards in response but was overcome by the power of the blade.
Tarrick watched in shock as the slowed blade penetrated the Beasts chest and then appeared poking through from his back.
The beast staggered and then seemed to shrink, until it was just Olvir again. Scarlet Dawn smiled “I am…” he started and then tailed off as Olvir with a grunt pulled the blade an inch from his chest. “A Prince of Creation, yeah we got it.” He stopped, concentrated on a better grip and then yanked the blade forth. They all watched amazed as the wound sealed itself shut.
With a snarl, Olvir clapped his hands together, crushing the dagger as one might screw up a piece of paper. “Do you have another?” he asked the Prince as he continued to squash the metal. Scarlet Dawn took a half step back. “Thought not,” Olvir grunted.
He looked down at the remains in his hand and smiled as though surprised. He then poked the ball a few times and threw the results under arm to the Prince. The Prince flinched and fumbled the catch, the object landing on the floor. “Something to remember this inferior technique by,” said Olvir cheerfully. “You are no longer welcome in this village, I'd suggest you leave and do not return. If we meet again I am unlikely to be merciful.”
The Prince nodded and turned and left through the gate, the remains of his guard following. Olvir waited until he had gone and then turned to the watching Sifu's. “I must thank you both again for your tutelage. Kashlyk was correct, I have learnt more here than I could have done in any other school.” He bowed as they stared in return.
“I shall watch him to ensure he leaves the area.” With that he turned and jumped over the wall and his progress could be heard in the rustling of trees.
Sifu Telga turned to Sifu Elin and bowed. “It would appear I was wrong in my estimation of the Terrible-Ascent-Driven Beast. I would join my school to yours and take the title Master under you”. Elin shook his head. “We were both wrong friend. The Beast himself named you Sifu. I think we both have much to learn. We should discuss any merger as equals, perhaps over sake.”
Checking first that Master Meliot was tending to Kenli’s wound, they turned and walked into the sanctuary talking in hushed tones.
Looking around to make sure no one else was looking Tarrick ran forward to pick up the memento Olvir had made the Prince that everyone seemed to have forgotten. He laughed as he looked at the creature in his hand; a steel ape that was most indelicately scratching its behind.