them fighting to the limit of their skill, anything could happen. Though Gavin's situation was rather worse: if he killed the sultan the Maduris would execute him on the spot, even if the death was accidental. Kasan struck toward Gavin's throat. Gavin deflected the blow, but wasn't fast enough to avoid having his wrist caught and forced back violently. He broke free before any bones snapped and flowed into a grappling hold that immobilized Kasan, briefly.
Methodically they tested each other, alternating defensive evasions with assaults. To anyone unfamiliar with pentjak, it would have seemed like an intimate, graceful dance rather than a lethal struggle, with death only one misstep away.
As they engaged, parried, and slid apart, the sultan panted, "I've traced your woman's child. It was sold into the harem of the Rajah of Sukau on Java."
As a distraction it was first class. Barely thwarting a savage knee toward his groin, Gavin asked,
"What do you know of the rajah?"
"He is said to be civilized. The child should be well treated." Hoping to God that was true, Gavin shifted his glance to make it appear that he was going to lunge to the left. Instead of falling for the feint, Kasan countermoved and caught Gavin's left elbow in a lock. As he applied pressure, shattering pain washed through Gavin, swamping all thoughts but agony.
Feebly he tried to break the hold as he was forced downward, but he was unable to summon enough strength. He blacked out from the pain, regaining consciousness an instant later to find himself sprawled on the ground.
"Second throw to Sultan Kasan!"
From a polite distance, the sultan asked coolly, "Did I break the elbow? " Gavin rose, trying to conceal his nausea. A cautious flex of his arm increased the pain, but at least the joint still worked. "It's fine."
Kasan gave his charming smile. "Good. I don't wish to delay the time it will take for you to join my service. Are you ready for the final throw?"
Gavin nodded, thinking he should have risked burning his feet off in the damned fire walk. The long, demanding bout was draining his energy, making it harder to keep his reactions under control. A wrong move could be disastrous.
Wanting to end the match, he watched for an opportunity to apply a hold that would control Kasan without seriously injuring him. Less concerned with causing damage, his opponent caught Gavin in a turning, twisting head hold that tilted him backward and could easily turn into a neck snap. Where a man's head goes, his body will follow. Instead of resisting, Gavin relaxed into the hold, letting his weight fall heavily back into Kasan. For an instant Kasan was off balance as he shifted his stance to absorb the increasing weight.
Gavin used that moment to twist away and apply a risky nerve block to the other man's upper arm, knowing that if he failed he'd be vulnerable to anything Kasan wanted to try. Damnation! The nerves were protected by too much solid muscle. He jabbed his fingers again brutally. Kasan gasped with agony, his body going slack. It was a perfect control move-paralyzing the opponent with pain but not causing real injury. "Yield, Your Highness!"
The sultan swore in Malay, raging but unable to escape. Ruthlessly Gavin forced him downward until Kasan hit the ground and the fight was over.
The drums erupted cataclysmically. "Match to Tuan Elliott!" In the pavilion, Alex jumped to her feet with relief and excitement. Gavin stepped back diplomatically and bowed to the sultan. "You fight better than any ruler has a right to, Your Highness."
"And you fight better than any Westerner has a right to." Icy with anger and frustration, Kasan got to his feet. "Pray to your gods that tomorrow's challenge is an easy one, Captain, for you will be granted no quarter."
That Gavin knew. He bowed to the onlookers, then returned to the pavilion.
"Where on earth did you learn to do that, Gavin?" Alex asked, awe in her face.
"From Suryo." He nodded at his friend, who was
Methodically they tested each other, alternating defensive evasions with assaults. To anyone unfamiliar with pentjak, it would have seemed like an intimate, graceful dance rather than a lethal struggle, with death only one misstep away.
As they engaged, parried, and slid apart, the sultan panted, "I've traced your woman's child. It was sold into the harem of the Rajah of Sukau on Java."
As a distraction it was first class. Barely thwarting a savage knee toward his groin, Gavin asked,
"What do you know of the rajah?"
"He is said to be civilized. The child should be well treated." Hoping to God that was true, Gavin shifted his glance to make it appear that he was going to lunge to the left. Instead of falling for the feint, Kasan countermoved and caught Gavin's left elbow in a lock. As he applied pressure, shattering pain washed through Gavin, swamping all thoughts but agony.
Feebly he tried to break the hold as he was forced downward, but he was unable to summon enough strength. He blacked out from the pain, regaining consciousness an instant later to find himself sprawled on the ground.
"Second throw to Sultan Kasan!"
From a polite distance, the sultan asked coolly, "Did I break the elbow? " Gavin rose, trying to conceal his nausea. A cautious flex of his arm increased the pain, but at least the joint still worked. "It's fine."
Kasan gave his charming smile. "Good. I don't wish to delay the time it will take for you to join my service. Are you ready for the final throw?"
Gavin nodded, thinking he should have risked burning his feet off in the damned fire walk. The long, demanding bout was draining his energy, making it harder to keep his reactions under control. A wrong move could be disastrous.
Wanting to end the match, he watched for an opportunity to apply a hold that would control Kasan without seriously injuring him. Less concerned with causing damage, his opponent caught Gavin in a turning, twisting head hold that tilted him backward and could easily turn into a neck snap. Where a man's head goes, his body will follow. Instead of resisting, Gavin relaxed into the hold, letting his weight fall heavily back into Kasan. For an instant Kasan was off balance as he shifted his stance to absorb the increasing weight.
Gavin used that moment to twist away and apply a risky nerve block to the other man's upper arm, knowing that if he failed he'd be vulnerable to anything Kasan wanted to try. Damnation! The nerves were protected by too much solid muscle. He jabbed his fingers again brutally. Kasan gasped with agony, his body going slack. It was a perfect control move-paralyzing the opponent with pain but not causing real injury. "Yield, Your Highness!"
The sultan swore in Malay, raging but unable to escape. Ruthlessly Gavin forced him downward until Kasan hit the ground and the fight was over.
The drums erupted cataclysmically. "Match to Tuan Elliott!" In the pavilion, Alex jumped to her feet with relief and excitement. Gavin stepped back diplomatically and bowed to the sultan. "You fight better than any ruler has a right to, Your Highness."
"And you fight better than any Westerner has a right to." Icy with anger and frustration, Kasan got to his feet. "Pray to your gods that tomorrow's challenge is an easy one, Captain, for you will be granted no quarter."
That Gavin knew. He bowed to the onlookers, then returned to the pavilion.
"Where on earth did you learn to do that, Gavin?" Alex asked, awe in her face.
"From Suryo." He nodded at his friend, who was
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