Enid – The Duel
A new morning had dawned. Enid woke up before the sun rose and looked out over the fog. The day and night before had been unseasonably wrong, and the temperature had reset itself. She glanced down at Hazel’s sword. It was large for her and heavier than she’d prefer but it was built for her much taller and bulkier daughter. She’d wear her Atlantean Armor of course. She couldn’t just wear it wear it in the open. Perhaps a holo-web projection of her chainmail? Her chainmail had been severely damaged by the demonic blade along with the padding that would sit underneath it. She hoped her Atlantean armor would fair better she wasn’t looking forward to another burning wound. She thought about her chain mail and looked around for it, but she did not see it anywhere in her room. She thought perhaps it was still in the surgeon’s tent. She was disturbed from her musing when there was a knock at her door. She called out. She was still in her underwear. Which was a 29th century sports bra and underwear. She assumed it was just Erma coming to get her dressed. A pointless exercise no way she was getting into a dress with all that entailed, she’d have to change too soon into her armor.
“Come in.”
Erma made a small squeak when she saw Enid was undressed her hand reaching for the teenage boy who was carrying her black chainmail. Helen was there as well with the under-padding. Erma yelled at the boy.
“Put the armor on the bed!”
The boy hesitated.
“Are you deaf boy?”
“No ma’am, but I can’t see the bed with your hands on my eyes.”
Enid snatched her robe from a nearby chair and thanked whatever gods were listening she’d put underwear on. She slept in the nude. Erma would have had a heart attack right there. She pulled the robe on and tied it up. Erma fanned herself with her hand and released the boy who didn’t look at Enid once as he moved into the room and put the armor down and left the room. Enid was quite sure he got a good look at her anyway beforehand. Helen put the padding down beside the armor. Erma closed the door. Helen looked at her mother.
“Mother, was he not here to assist with getting the armor on as well?”
Erma’s hand went to her mouth.
“But milady was naked!”
Enid shook her head.
“Erma, you are looking pale and tired. Go get more sleep. Hazel is away and Helen can assist me this morning. If anyone gives you trouble tell them to ask me about it.”
Erma curtsied who was pale but still blushing a bright crimson responded and left the room.
“Yes milady.”
Enid watched her go and smiled at Helen.
“You’d think she walked in on me touching myself and looking at a painting of Christ. I wonder if that’s how the nuns do it?”
Helen blushed but then started giggling.
“You say such things milady.”
Enid inspected the armor and padding noting the well stitched repairs on the padding, it was black of course and stained with a lot of blood. Both hers and many fallen foes.
“Did you stitch this up?”
“I did, milady.”
“Very good job.”
She looked at the repairs to her chain mail. The links were clean steel and much larger than the fine mail the rest of the armor was made out of.
“Nor this. Who repaired it?”
“Mother took it to one of the smiths and demanded he repair it for your duel today. She was all blustering and saying my lady won’t listen to reason, but God love her, I’ll not have her fight in shoddy armor!”
“Your mother is a formidable woman. And bless her for this.”
Helen touched the chainmail after Enid placed it down on the bed.
“How fine this is, milady. It must have cost as much as this castle. I am sorry I do not know how to help with putting it on.”
Enid waved her hand dismissively.
“I am sure it was easy to make for the ones who did it. It was gift from my father. Now don’t worry about helping me. For one, I can do it myself. But mostly I will not be wearing it today.”
“But milady! You fight to the death. Surely armor is the only thing you should be wearing.”
Enid put her hand on Helen’s shoulder.
“I will be wearing armor, just not this armor. It was wonderful when I was younger but now, I have better.”
Enid pulled her Atlantean armor out from under the bed. She pulled off her robe and was going let it fall to the floor but Helen being a practice servant caught it and hung it by the full length mirror where it was supposed to reside. She watched Enid pull the black bodysuit on and seal the seems save for the one near her non-existent cleavage. She was not a fan of stuff tight on her neck, she never had been, but the armor was like that for a reason. At least as a mortal. As a vampire physical sensations rarely bothered her.
“Milady? That is barely thicker than the fabric of my dress you cannot hope it will stop a blade.”
Enid smiled at her and reached out her arm and willed the forearm plating into existence. Helen gasped then reached out hesitantly to touch it. Enid nodded.
“Go ahead, it doesn’t bite, well it only bites as hard as you do.”
Helen ran her fingers along the mat finish black plate. Enid imagined what the girl might be thinking. She’d always found the plate to feel like something at the nexus of ceramic, metal and plastic. It was none of the three and though it appeared perfectly smooth when you ran your finger along it you could feel the small hexagons the armor formed it from.
“What is it?”
Enid shrugged.
“You know, I do not know, the armor is made of the same thing, just less dense.”
“What will people think?”
Enid smiled.
“That I’m wearing my chainmail.”
She reached into her pack and pulled out a holo-web. She tapped it and a hologram of the chain mail appeared around her. Helen not asking first poked at it and when she felt the Atlantean armor she snatched her hand back.
“What sorcery is this?”
“It’s called a hologram. My necklace creates light that mimics my motion projecting this armor. Or a dress or creates destructive light making me invisible.”
“I do not understand.”
Enid smiled at her.
“One day you will, Helen. One day you will.”
Enid placed the blade against her Atlantean armor and the hologram adjusted itself to show the sword on her back. The Atlantean armor formed two loops to sheath the weapon. Helen watched this all occur in amazement.
“Will you teach me how to fight?”
Enid smiled at her.
“And so much more. First lesson is: Watch the fight with Sir Roland. I’ll tell Arl to let you join us.”
Enid motioned to the door. Helen rushed ahead and opened it. The pair ran into Sir Arl who was heading towards the rooms himself. He looked at Enid.
“You are ready?”
“Of course.”
“I was expecting breakfast first.”
“I fight better hungry. Sir Arl, would you allow this young woman to join you in viewing the fight?”
He looked down at Helen.
“You want to see this?”
“Yes, milord, very much so.”
He looked very serious.
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“And do you support Lady Sarah, or Sir Roland?”
“Lady Sarah of course, milord. He does not stand a chance. I helped tend to some of the guards yesterday.”
“Indeed. Go find your finest dress put it on and you may join us.”
“Yes milord!”
Helen ran off Sir Arl watched her go.
“I believe that is the most words she’d spoken to me since her birth.”
Enid watched her go and looked up at her future husband and hooked her arm in his.
“Milord, I wanted to broach a subject to you. Young Helen, her mother will pass soon. Four months, she will be infirm in three. She has served your household well?”
“Yes, though I have often been concerned for young Helen’s care.”
Enid nodded.
“She has done her best, I’m sure. I want to ensure Erma has someplace comfortable to spend her last days. I have tried to tell her to take it easy but it seems work keeps her mind occupied. Once it is time and she can no longer move about easily, will we see to her care?”
“Of course. If is your wish.”
“It is, milord.”
“What of her daughter?”
“I was going to take her as my student. She has a gift, a gift that I can nurture. It would be more appropriate she be treated as not a servant, if you understand. So, she can focus on her lessons.”
“I see, it can be arranged. We will find new ladies in waiting for you and Hazel.”
Enid shook her head.
“No need. We are unaccustomed to servants and eyes to close to us may see things that are best unseen.”
“I understand. What of any children?”
“I will be there for them. Until I have to leave. Then hiring help would not be untoward I would think.”
He paused in their stroll towards the main doors of the keep he looked down at her.
“If you survive the field today.”
Enid looked up at him.
“Sir Arl. The only concern you should have right now, is where to mount his head on a pike.”
“How can you be so confident? You told me yourself you’re as mortal as I am right now.”
“If you knew how many battles I’ve fought and the odds against me… you wouldn’t need to ask that question. Besides I’m wearing my real armor this time, not the mortal stuff. You remember what happened when you tried to hit me.”
His eyes went wide. Enid motioned towards him.
“Now lean down and give me a good luck kiss. So, if I do fail at least you can say you got one.”
He blushed but leaned down and met her lips. She had to pull away because it was as if a spell took a hold of him. He blinked at her again.
“It was like I’ve been asleep for my whole life and suddenly awoke.”
Enid pushed the main doors open and blew a kiss to him.
“See you after the duel.”
*****
For the second time in two days Enid stepped out onto the field when she was announced by the King’s herald. The nobles were quiet but when the peasantry saw her walk onto the field they cheered. She blew them a kiss. Then one towards Sir Arl. Today she wore no helm. Her currently long flowing black hair whipped slightly in the wind. Sir Roland was announced and he walked out. His armor was black this time. Enid grimaced. She was realizing what had been used to forge the weapon and armor. The souls condemned to hell. Quite a few of the nobles made the support for Sir Roland known. The peasants booed. His eyes and nose were concealed by his helmet but his lips twisted into a cruel smile. He spoke quietly so only Enid would hear him.
“What hope do you have against a general of hell, little girl?”
Enid drew her daughter’s Atlantean blade its mirror like finish made it appear to be made from the placid surface of a lake in the sun.
“Do you recognize this metal?”
His lips pursed when he took a closer look at the sword.
“Impossible.”
“You demons always say that right before I kill you. I am Enid Aurelius, daughter of Sextus. Empress of the Court of Eternal night and my true name by tooth and claw is Slays-Demons, maybe you’ve heard of me?”
He stepped backwards suddenly. She saw recognition in his eyes. Enid sensing weakness stepped forward.
“You still have time to leave that body. Try to flee. You might make it. Or perhaps just go back to Lucifer on your own? Tell him you found me?”
“That is impossible you’re a vampire.”
Enid glanced up at the sun.
“I am so much more. How many of Lucifer’s brothers and sisters have I slain? What are you compared to a fallen angel?”
He lunged at her suddenly. She knew it was coming, but hoped her gift had been wrong. She weaved to the side. As strong as he was, his armor was bulky hers was not. She was more then a match for him in speed and strength with her Atlantean armor on. He swung again but she just wasn’t there. On his third attempt she parried his blade and sparks flew when they two neigh indestructible blades clashed together. He swung again and Enid blocked the blow with her wrist plate. She had no wish for the kinetic reflection effect to happen, so it did not. She used the in close opportunity to punch the inner arm of his sword arm with her other wrist plate which she’d turned into a punching dagger. His sword started to fall but he kicked her away and caught it with his left hand. His right arm was hanging limply now she’d severed the tendons with her expert strike. She took a backstep and made a come get me movement with her hands. The crowd roared. She was trying to make a show of it, like the gladiatorial matches of old. She could have ended it two or three times by now. The demon was no match for her with her Atlantean Amor on and it was starting to realize just how much danger it was in. He hesitated.
“What, Sir Roland? Do you yield?”
In response he lunged at her with a blow that was so fast she barely had time to evade it. She felt it skid across her upper arm plate and the HUD in her contact lenses that was connected to the armor was advising her armor integrity was down fifty percent from the one blow. She realized her ego was getting in her way again and that this should be ended quickly. The sword was far more dangerous than she’d realized. He lunged at her again and she dove and rolled on the grass slicing her sword across the tendons on the back of his calves and then she rolled to the side as he made another clumsy blow his legs had ceased to function properly. Then she did it again along his thighs. He collapsed on his knees. As she stood up, she spun around him and swept upwards with her sword and his left hand was severed from his body. The crowd was roaring again. She kicked his sword up and grabbed the hilt. It tried once again to force its influence on her but failed. She pointed his own blade at him.
“Last chance.”
He seemed very afraid now that she had his sword in her hand. He tried to speak but Enid decided it wasn’t worth hearing and she swept the demonic blade through his neck and his head rolled off his shoulders and on to the ground. She saw a flash of green in the eyes and then a black miasma started coming out of the head. She stabbed it with both blades, and it disintegrated into a flash of light. Enid held up her sword. The peasant crowd roared again. Many of the nobles looked very uncomfortable at this moment as they looked down at the beheaded nobleman. She looked down at the body. It was still there on its knees. The demonic blade was so sharp it hadn’t even shifted the body with her strike. She looked at it.
“Help me and I will figure out a way to free your souls.”
She felt something come to a consensus within the blade, an accord with it had been struck.
“Right choice.”
She walked off the field still carrying both blades. She didn’t look back at Sir Roland’s body once she left the ring. She passed the tournament staff rushing out to clean up the remains. Father Mathew was waiting for her just out of view of the crowd.
“Milady, surely I can tell Rome of this? A demon slain by you?”
Enid shook her head.
“No father, too many eyes. Know this, to my knowledge demons can only enter someone if they give them permission, the mortal is weak-willed, or they are full of foulness already. He was a feared man, so I do not believe he was weak-willed, so either he was an evil man, or he made a bargain with it. If it was the bargain that it may be why you could not remove it. So, I’m not sure he belongs on hallowed ground.”
Father Mathew touched his cross and said a small prayer asking for Mary’s intercession. Then looked at Enid.
“Everyone deserves a chance at forgiveness.”
Enid shrugged.
“You are not wrong. I learned that less the hardest of ways. See you later father.”
Enid made her way to Sir Arl’s side and sat down in her vacant chair. Helen was sitting on the edge of the platform. Enid gave her a small wave after leaning both blades on her chair’s arms. Sir Arl, Henry, Eleanor and Matilda all said their congratulations as she sat down and crossed her legs. She still appeared to be in her chainmail. The king stood up.
“Let the second day of the tournament proceed!”
He sat back down afterwards and while the field was being set up Sir Arl glanced to her.
“Are you keeping his sword then?”
“I believe I earned it.”
Henry overheard their conversation.
“I would say, Lady Sarah, that you have. Quite the show you put on for the crowd. Forcing him to kneel for his own beheading. I should not celebrate death, but when it is an enemy, well I will toast to that. Remind me never to stand across from you on the field of battle.”
Matilda gave a small clap.
“I’ll raise a glass to that. Did you not want to get changed Lady Sarah?”
Enid shook her head.
“I am more comfortable in the armor then a dress, however if you deem I should, I will go do so.”
“I see no need, let the nobles look on the blood on you and know what they face if they decide to challenge the just rule of your future family.”
“As you say, majesty.”
Enid leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Her mind drifted to what Hazel was up too. There was way it should have taken her more then eight hours to clear a castle of demons. Sir Arl glanced at her.
“Something troubles you, milady.”
Enid spoke quietly.
“I sent Hazel to deal with Sir Roland’s keep, but she has not returned yet.”
He quirked his head to the side.
“But it’s at least a day’s ride from here and she took no horse from the stable, she’s probably still walking there.”
Enid smiled at Sir Arl and all she could think was bless his primitive heart.
“We have means of transportation that you cannot imagine. If I were to summon it, I would be there in less then ten minutes, and that is taking my time.”
He blinked at her.
“Sir Arl, look up at night. I have visited many of those stars and the distances are far vaster.”
“Truly?”
Enid nodded.
“What wonders you must have seen.”
“I have seen places where the sun never sets, places with no land, worlds turned to glass. Seen close up a hole in creation that nothing can escape. Skies that rain diamonds… Places so hot the rock is as if our ocean here. Unspoiled paradises never touched by mortal foot. Of course the first garden.”
Sir Arl hung on her every word.
“Why do you remain here then?”
“Because I was born here. I died here. This is the nexus, whether by my presence or some other occurrence.”
She could see Matilda trying to hear what they spoke of. Enid smiled at Sir Arl.
“We have time to speak on this and much more. I may even show you the wonders I speak of, but let us discuss it another time when we are alone?”
“Of course.”
“Do you not have a semi-final to prepare for? Unless you want me to take your place.”
Sir Arl chuckled.
“No, milady, I think we know enough of your prowess to know that would be unfair to the rest of the field.”
He stood and walked off to get in his armor and prepare for his matches. Enid watched him go. Matilda looked at her. Enid nodded to the Holy Roman Empress and looked down at the match that was underway. Her mind drifting back to Hazel and wondering what was taking so long.
*****
Enid was pacing with her arms crossed just inside of the main doors of the castle. She looked out into the darkness of the late autumn night. She heard the rustle of fabric behind her and glanced back. Matilda was approaching. She was dressed for bed as was most of the keep save Enid.
“Still no word from your daughter, Lady Sarah?”
Enid shook her head.
“Given what my son claims of you, can you not check on her?”
Enid shook her head.
“I’m not getting any answers from anyone.”
Matilda moved closer lowering her voice.
“You cannot fly there on your wings?”
Enid shook her head.
“I am just as mortal as you, I have given everything up…to resolve the… current challenges.”
Matilda blinked at her.
“You did everything on the field as an earthly being? You were in mortal danger?”
Enid shook her head.
“I have been making war for countless human generations…”
Enid sighed and looked at the doors again, she muttered under breath.
“I told her to leave Sariel behind.”
Matilda put her hands on Enid’s shoulders.
“She is of age. As parents there is little we can do but pray for their safe return.”
Enid frowned. How did a human who was a blink of her full lifetime so much better at this then her.
“Lady Sarah, sleep, she will return on the morrow, or she will not. At this point, nothing you can do will change that.”
Enid sighed and nodded. Matilda hooked her arm into Enid’s and led her towards the stairs.