If I’d figured out what was happening even a few seconds earlier, could I have stopped it? Were any of the rest of us here as no more than a lesson to the others?
“Now that you’ve eaten, we can continue our conversation.” Conner nodded at Tobias. “Stand up. I wish to get a general understanding of who each of you is.”
Tobias stood stiffly. His knees were rigid and he looked like he was about to be sick.
“Tobias, you and an opponent are engaged in a sword battle. It’s meant to be a battle to the death, but it’s also clear that he’s better than you are. Do you fight on, knowing you’ll likely die, or stop the battle and beg for your opponent’s mercy?”
“I beg mercy,” Tobias said. “If it’s clear I won’t win, then nothing is accomplished through my death. I’d hope to live and make myself stronger for the next battle.”
Conner nodded at Roden. “What about you?”
Roden stood. “Fight to the death, even if it’s my own. I’m a good fighter, sir, and I will not live as a coward.”
Tobias flinched at that, but he said nothing. A slight smile crossed Roden’s face; he knew he’d taken an edge with his answer.
“Have you been trained with a sword?” Conner asked.
Roden shrugged. “An old Carthyan soldier lives near my orphanage. He used to have me do rounds with him, to keep up his skills.”
“Did you ever win?”
“No, but —”
“Then you haven’t been trained.” Conner turned to me. “Sage?”
“Beg mercy.”
Roden snorted.
I continued. “Then when my opponent lowers his guard, certain of his victory, I’d finish the battle.”
Conner laughed.
“A violation of all sportsmanship in swordplay,” Tobias said. “What do I care about sportsmanship?” I said. “If I’m about to get killed, it’s not play anymore. I won’t check the rules to see if my survival fits with someone’s codebook of fair play.”
“You’d never win that way,” Roden said. “Any master swordsman won’t lower his guard until you’re disarmed.”
“Conner didn’t say he was a master swordsman,” I said. “Only that he was better than me. And yes, I would win.”
Conner walked closer to me. “Stand when I address you.”
I obeyed. Conner was taller than me by several inches and stood closer than I liked. But I refused to step back. It occurred to me that he was testing to see whether I would.
“Are you standing straight?” Conner asked. “You slouch so much, I might mistake you for a hunchback. And with all that hair in your face, you might be a criminal too.”
I straightened but made no attempt to push the hair out of my eyes. I could see him just fine, which was all I cared about.
Conner asked, “Who do you look like? Your mother or father?”
“That’s hard to say, sir. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen myself in a mirror.”
“You have a clever tongue and an arrogant tilt to your head. I’m surprised Mrs. Turbeldy hasn’t beaten it out of you.”
“You mustn’t blame her. She beat me the best she could.”
“You’re a trick to figure out, Sage. Would you ever be on my side, even if I chose you above the other boys?”
“I’m only on my side. Your trick will be convincing me that helping you helps me.”