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Day 2 ^� Late Afternoon


	`Tonio walked out of his apartment, dressed in black leather 
pants with blue engravings of dragons worked into them, a flowing 
white shirt that exposed a fair amount of his masculine chest, knee 
high soft leather boots, and a sword buckled to his side.  His long 
hair was tied back with a simple leather thong.  <She wants me to 
lose?>

	`Tonio heard a draconian chuckle echo in his head, **Yes, 
Tonio.  She wants you to lose.  I believe the girl has managed to 
talk the hotheaded youth out of killing you.**

	`Tonio paused and nodded his head appreciatively, <The lady 
is very skilled.  I consider myself rather fortunate that I chose her 
to aid me.**

	**Perhaps you could thank her later?**

	`Tonio stopped, <I am already in her debt, DeMarco, but she 
will determine the repayment, not I.  That is against the Code, 
DeMarco.  That is how we developed part of our bad reputation ^� 
Knights gone renegade using that as a repayment, or sometimes as 
punishment.  You should know that by now, DeMarco.>

	**I know, I know.  Human behavior can be so silly at times, 
though.**

	`Tonio walked out onto the Green where he spotted Eleanora 
walking beside a young man whom he recognized as Galvin.  `Tonio 
sighed and shook his head, "Human behavior can be silly," he said 
under his breath.

	Galvin bowed to Eleanora and walked to stand in front 
of `Tonio, his eyes filled with loathing and hatred.  Pulling a 
leather glove from his belt he slapped `Tonio full in the face with 
it, letting it drop to the ground, "I challenge you to a duel."

	`Tonio frowned at Galvin, "And why do you challenge me, 
Galvin?"

	Galvin raised his voice loudly, "For soiling my sister's 
virginity, you scoundrel!"

	`Tonio sighed heavily, "I don't suppose you'd care to hear 
the real story^�."

	Galvin cut him off, "Knave!  I caught you in the act.  My 
poor sister still insists that nothing happened, but I know what you 
did."

	"Galvin, if you'd simply," `Tonio began, knowing full well 
what would happen next.

	"Enough!  Accept the duel or be branded a coward," the 
teenage boy demanded.

	"As you wish Galvin," `Tonio said, picking up the glove and 
tucking it into his swordbelt, "I accept.  To the death, then?"

	Galvin paused, as if thinking it over, "No^�.No, to the 
blood.  You don't deserve to die for your crime, merely humiliated 
for life."

	`Tonio shrugged his shoulders, "As you wish, Galvin.  It is 
your duel, after all.  Begin."

	In one smooth movement, `Tonio drew his rapier, holding it 
perfectly at the ready.

	Galvin followed suit, but with not nearly as much panache.

	The two circled around each other, waiting for the opportune 
moment to strike.  Tense rage flowed openly from Galvin while an 
eerily calm resolve emanated from `Tonio.  With a sudden motion 
Galvin lunged forward, the point of the rapier seeking the Knight of 
Passion's blood.

	`Tonio's eyes widened at the clumsy swordwork, parrying the 
blow easily.  <The boy is a poorer swordsman than I thought!  Did the 
father teach him anything?>

	Galvin lunged again and `Tonio beat the blow back, launching 
a counterattack that would have ended the fight had he not pulled the 
strike short.  Galvin smiled smugly, "Almost, but not quite."

	`Tonio nearly gagged as he blocked Galvin's flurry of 
attacks, if it could be called that.  The poorly aimed and ill-timed 
blows `Tonio could have waltzed around.  Instead he played his part, 
narrowly parrying the blows, diverting them just centimeters from his 
skin.

	The swordplay continued for a bit, Galvin's attacks become 
more and more sloppy as fatigue sapped his already substandard 
fencing technique.  `Tonio remained fresh, continuing to evade the 
ripostes, lunges and slashes.  Looking over at Eleanora, he made a 
quick nod.

	Galvin's sword lunged forward and `Tonio prepared himself for 
the blow.  The point of the blade slid beneath his guard, hitting his 
fifth rib and opening a wound across his chest just below his 
sternum.  It was a bit deeper than 'Tonio would have liked and he 
gasped out in genuine pain as he dropped his sword.

	The young lord looked amazed for a moment before he regained 
his composure.  Sheathing his sword he stood over `Tonio, spitting 
upon his face, "Her honor is avenged, cur.  You are fortunate that 
this was to blood.  I would still be only too happy to kill you."

	Turning on his heel, Galvin strode away.

	`Tonio remained kneeling, feeling the blood trickle down his 
stomach from the wound.  Waiting until his competitor was out of 
sight, `Tonio stood, picking up his sword in the process.  Sheathing 
the sword with a wince of pain, he summoned his will to keep from 
falling back down.  He heard footsteps running just as a wave of pain 
hit him and he blacked out.

<Tag Anyone!  To the Med Center!>

[..]

Day 2 ^� Evening

	`Tonio woke to find himself lying in a bed, a bandage wrapped 
around his ribs.  Xanthia was standing over him and she smiled before 
turning her head, "Merissa, he's awake."

	Within moments the Warrenlady was standing over him, a stern 
look on her face, "This isn't exactly a good way to start off as a 
Wingsecond, `Tonio."

	`Tonio managed a weak smile, "I understand, milady, but it 
was either this or have an angry mob screaming for my blood and 
perhaps others as well who were innocents.  That would have been 
unacceptable."

	"But what about your ribs?"  Merissa asked.

	`Tonio sighed, "A blow from an inexperienced swordsman, 
milady.  It could have been much worse.  I shall recover soon and I 
shall be back in the saddle in no time at all.  What time is it, 
milady?"

	Giving `Tonio another stern glance, "It's mid-
evening, `Tonio, but don't expect me to set you free."

	He weakly held up a hand, "No, no.  I was just wondering if 
you could find Zara and tell her where I am.  I was going to sit and 
chat with her over a bottle of wine to celebrate my recent 
advancement.  I'd hate to have to renege on my appointment."

<Tag Arle!  Feel free to abuse him some more>
<Tag Tamara or anybody else?  Anybody wanna visit?  KK?  Morgie?  
Anyone?>

Submitted by
`Tonio and DeMarco
AKA Chris Weeda



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