Stronger than Bone Read Free Page B

slowly, looking into each other’s eyes. This was the part that Corvis disliked. He felt sure Kelly would see that he was hiding something and stop the game before he could truly play his part. But his worry was misplaced, Kelly was thinking only of teaching a lesson to this big pup.
    “This is going to hurt,” Corvis thought.
    Corvis sucked in a deep breath and feinted toward Kelly’s left side, leaving his own left side exposed. Pain erupted from his ribs as Kelly took the opening. He spun around and blocked Kelly’s next swing, but missed his own thrust at Kelly’s chest, earning him a heavy bruise on his other side. By now, the bladders had burst and the blood was seeping through his clothing. He parried weakly, grabbing his side and ensuring his hand got wet.
    Kelly was disappointed. This wasn’t going to be fun at all. Corvis was terrible! Master Simanu had obviously led him on. The two had often talked about their top students and Kelly was led to believe that Corvis was nearly as good as Chase. Apparently that was not the case…by a long shot .
    “What the hell is the matter with him?” he thought as Corvis doubled over, barely raising his weapon to parry any more. “Is that blood?”
    “Help me.” Corvis whispered as he sank to the ground in a heap. He pointed at Kelly with his bloody hand, as if accusing him, and then appeared to lose consciousness.
    “Corvis!” He shouted, and dropped to the boy’s side. “Corvis!” He shouted as he shook the boy’s shoulders. He felt the blood and jerked his hand back. He looked down and saw it was on his own clothes. He jumped to his feet and leapt back as if Corvis were a poisonous snake.
    Kelly stood there helpless. “It’s a stick!” he choked. “I barely touched him!”
    “No!” shouted Chase as he ran into the ring. “What have you done? You killed him!” he screamed and he rushed at Kelly with practice weapon raised.
    “No, Chase,” stammered Kelly as he backed away. “It was an accident. I would never…” But Chase came on too fast for him to finish. He parried and pushed Chase away, refusing to hit him. Chase bellowed and kept slashing and thrusting, some of them landing hard on exposed skin. Kelly became furious and struck back, hitting Chase solidly over the shoulder, bringing him to his knees. Grimacing, and holding his arm across his chest, Chase leapt up and swung wildly at Kelly’s head, leaving his own torso and legs open. Kelly moved without thinking; easily ducking the attack while stepping in and driving his shoulder into Chase’s torso.
    Chase went down. Hard.
    Lying in a twisted heap, with his back toward Kelly, Chase fought to ignore the very real pain he had just earned and to fight down the urge to laugh. He closed his eyes and lay perfectly still as he felt blood leaking out onto the ground from the burst sacks carefully hidden in his clothes.
    Kelly didn’t dare to speak as he timidly approached the still form of Chase lying prone just a few feet away. As he rounded the boy’s feet he froze. Blood, lots of it, oozed from Chase’s midsection.
    “But...How?” he reasoned aloud. “No!!” he protested hotly. Without another word he threw down his practice sword and ran as fast as he could toward the main hall to find help.
    Chase lay still as the sound of Kelly’s feet quickly fell away. He heard Corvis begin to chuckle and he couldn’t help snorting and exploding in laughter along with him. The boys quickly clambered to their feet and looked to make sure the coast was clear before placing the practice swords back in the arena’s weapon box. Corvis clapped Chase on the back, causing Chase to wince as they ran gleefully to change before their next class.

Chapter Six
     
    (Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)
    “Damn it! This cowardly bastard is afraid to make a bloody decision!”
    Lieutenant Corvis Brente, normally quite level headed and patient, turned beet red standing at attention in front of the acting