[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
"Perhaps you should teach me swordplay," said Wulfston. "I may well have to
hide my identity in order to get close enough to rescue Lenardo. "
"No," replied Zanos. "The sword has many forms, each with its own style of
combat. I could not possibly teach you enough in a few days to do you any
good. But there is something that is useful anywhere in the world: the tactics
of hand-to-hand combat."
Wulfston stared. "Wrestling? With you
?" Zanos must weigh at least a third more than he did. "Without
Adept powers I'd never dare come within reach of an enemy of your size!"
The Maduran's massive chest muscles rippled with his laughter. "I'll show you
some tricks of combat strategy and the use of strength. Like you, I've learned
to work with nature. But Adept combat sometimes goes against that principle."
"You mean because most Adept combat is a matter of powers and stamina. Drain
your enemy's strength before he can drain yours."
"Exactly. Novices in the wrestling pit think the same way: wear down your
opponent with brute force.
But the seasoned fighters learn to turn an opponent's weight and strength
against him. Let me demonstrate& Ho there, Telek!" he called to a tall,
muscular deckhand who was watching from near the stern. "I've heard you're
pretty good at fighting."
The crewman gave Zanos a lazy smile. "I've been in a brawl or two," he
conceded, casually moving toward the gladiator.
Wulfston did not have to be a Reader to sense the anticipation rippling
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
through the crew and some of the other passengers. Like the Lord Adept, many
of them had noticed the looks of appraisal passing between Zanos and Telek. As
the two largest men aboard, strangers to each other, it would be natural for
them to speculate. Zanos did it out of habit, since judging men in the
gladiatorial arena had been part of his profession.
Telek's reasons were another matter entirely. Wulfston had overheard several
crewmen boast about his fighting prowess.
"I need your help to show something to Lord Wulfston," Zanos said to him.
"Just some basic fighting moves."
Wulfston did not much care for the oily smile that Telek gave in response, but
he remained silent as Astra appeared at his elbow. The Reader's confident
smile told him to trust Zanos.
In size and musculature, the two men were almost identical. Telek's deeply
bronzed skin and sun-bleached hair contrasted, though, with Zanos' exotic
coloring. The sailor stripped off his shirt, cast it aside, and stretched.
The two men faced off, each taking a basic wrestler's stance. A ring of
spectators formed around them as the fighters began circling. After several
feints, they smashed together, each seeking a superior hold.
Telek found it first, twisted his huge bulk, and tossed Zanos over his right
hip.
Laughter erupted from some of the crewmen as the gladiator crashed to the
deck. Wulfston saw Astra blink hard.
"That was what you had in mind, gladiator?" Telek smirked.
Zanos rose deliberately, smiling. Telek took two steps and tried to grasp
Zanos' arm. In a blur of speed,
the gladiator grabbed the sailor's wrist, spun around, and threw Telek over
his shoulder. Several crewmen jumped out of the way as their comrade landed so
hard the ship rocked.
"
That's what I had in mind," Zanos said calmly. Wulfston followed his gaze to
Captain Laren, who was feigning disinterest in the demonstration. The Lord
Adept sensed that the captain disapproved, but would allow them to continue&
within limits.
Telek bounced to his feet, no longer smug. He approached Zanos a little more
cautiously but soon found himself flat on the deck again. This time a cheer
went up for Zanos.
Telek scrambled to his feet, glaring. Zanos' smile became nasty as he backed
away, beckoning to his opponent. Telek charged, bellowing. Zanos evaded his
grasp, gripped the seaman's forearms, planted his foot on Telek's chest, and
fell backward, tossing the man over his head.
The ship had stopped rocking before Telek regained his feet this time. Zanos
stood waiting. Silence fell on the
Night Queen as the two men stared at one another.
Suddenly Telek let out a long, hearty laugh, breaking the tension. Zanos [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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"Perhaps you should teach me swordplay," said Wulfston. "I may well have to
hide my identity in order to get close enough to rescue Lenardo. "
"No," replied Zanos. "The sword has many forms, each with its own style of
combat. I could not possibly teach you enough in a few days to do you any
good. But there is something that is useful anywhere in the world: the tactics
of hand-to-hand combat."
Wulfston stared. "Wrestling? With you
?" Zanos must weigh at least a third more than he did. "Without
Adept powers I'd never dare come within reach of an enemy of your size!"
The Maduran's massive chest muscles rippled with his laughter. "I'll show you
some tricks of combat strategy and the use of strength. Like you, I've learned
to work with nature. But Adept combat sometimes goes against that principle."
"You mean because most Adept combat is a matter of powers and stamina. Drain
your enemy's strength before he can drain yours."
"Exactly. Novices in the wrestling pit think the same way: wear down your
opponent with brute force.
But the seasoned fighters learn to turn an opponent's weight and strength
against him. Let me demonstrate& Ho there, Telek!" he called to a tall,
muscular deckhand who was watching from near the stern. "I've heard you're
pretty good at fighting."
The crewman gave Zanos a lazy smile. "I've been in a brawl or two," he
conceded, casually moving toward the gladiator.
Wulfston did not have to be a Reader to sense the anticipation rippling
Page 20
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
through the crew and some of the other passengers. Like the Lord Adept, many
of them had noticed the looks of appraisal passing between Zanos and Telek. As
the two largest men aboard, strangers to each other, it would be natural for
them to speculate. Zanos did it out of habit, since judging men in the
gladiatorial arena had been part of his profession.
Telek's reasons were another matter entirely. Wulfston had overheard several
crewmen boast about his fighting prowess.
"I need your help to show something to Lord Wulfston," Zanos said to him.
"Just some basic fighting moves."
Wulfston did not much care for the oily smile that Telek gave in response, but
he remained silent as Astra appeared at his elbow. The Reader's confident
smile told him to trust Zanos.
In size and musculature, the two men were almost identical. Telek's deeply
bronzed skin and sun-bleached hair contrasted, though, with Zanos' exotic
coloring. The sailor stripped off his shirt, cast it aside, and stretched.
The two men faced off, each taking a basic wrestler's stance. A ring of
spectators formed around them as the fighters began circling. After several
feints, they smashed together, each seeking a superior hold.
Telek found it first, twisted his huge bulk, and tossed Zanos over his right
hip.
Laughter erupted from some of the crewmen as the gladiator crashed to the
deck. Wulfston saw Astra blink hard.
"That was what you had in mind, gladiator?" Telek smirked.
Zanos rose deliberately, smiling. Telek took two steps and tried to grasp
Zanos' arm. In a blur of speed,
the gladiator grabbed the sailor's wrist, spun around, and threw Telek over
his shoulder. Several crewmen jumped out of the way as their comrade landed so
hard the ship rocked.
"
That's what I had in mind," Zanos said calmly. Wulfston followed his gaze to
Captain Laren, who was feigning disinterest in the demonstration. The Lord
Adept sensed that the captain disapproved, but would allow them to continue&
within limits.
Telek bounced to his feet, no longer smug. He approached Zanos a little more
cautiously but soon found himself flat on the deck again. This time a cheer
went up for Zanos.
Telek scrambled to his feet, glaring. Zanos' smile became nasty as he backed
away, beckoning to his opponent. Telek charged, bellowing. Zanos evaded his
grasp, gripped the seaman's forearms, planted his foot on Telek's chest, and
fell backward, tossing the man over his head.
The ship had stopped rocking before Telek regained his feet this time. Zanos
stood waiting. Silence fell on the
Night Queen as the two men stared at one another.
Suddenly Telek let out a long, hearty laugh, breaking the tension. Zanos [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]