The day was almost to cool for the spectators. But as Atthis sat at the opening court, she knew it was the prefect day for a tournament. She patently waited for the day's business to be finished so the real purpose for being here could begin. That familiar feeling of anticipation and excitement began to grow in her heart as the King wished all the fighters luck in the day's bouts. The armor was an old friend now. Not like the first time she fought here.
Near the beginning of her first year. Atthis found herself in a clearing surrounded by trees and the faces of few she knew. As she donned her armor, it felt foreign. Even thought she had fought in it and was satisfied with the fit. As the names of who would fight were called, she found herself fighting one of her friends. He had practice with her and helped find some of the armor she now wore. When the time for their fight came she could only think of the time he had found the holes in her defense. When it was over she silently cursed herself for not striking at her opponent with more aggression. That day was one of the harder ones. Many came up afterwards to give words of advice and encouragement. But none of them said anything she did not already know.
Atthis stood with the other warriors as the herald called the lists. Her excitement grew as the last bouts were called. Then her name was called and she saw her opponent wave from across the eric. He had a smile on his face and greeted her warmly. But as she left she heard him say to his squire brother, "I'll let her throw a few shots before I take her out. That way she won't be angry when I ask her to take a walk with me after the feast." They laugh as left the field. Atthis' anger already was fading to determination. "So he thinks he can beat me on the field as well as off the field." A smile came to her lips as she remembered the last time she saw him fight. He had his weaknesses, and he had taken the first step to defeat. He had underestimated an opponent.
As the herald called the names of the opponents and the ceremony of the bout went on. Atthis went over her plan one last time. Mechanically she bowed and saluted. As the marshal asked if she was ready she saw her opponent fall in her mind's eye. With a nod and the crack of the marshals' staves the fight was on. His first three move were as she had expected. Each was counted and her shots had him on the move. He continued the attack. She continue to meet his challenge. Then the end was near. Atthis could see it in his face. His mistake was realized.
The first blow was an on side towards the head. Then a combination of an off side shot to the body, an on side shot to the leg, and an off side shot to the head. Each shot was caught in time, each was kept from their mark, but the true intention was never realized. As Atthis brought her sword back she flipped the blade over and brought all her force to bare on his chest. The slot shot found its mark and for a moment her opponent stood there with a look of shock. Then with a salute he fell to the ground.
For the rest of the day he would not look at her. But other bouts occupied Atthis' mind so she did not pay him much attention. As she sat at the closing court, Atthis did not even notice that the herald had said the young man had wanted to say something in apology. But as he called her name she mind snapped to attention. "I want to say I did a very good fighter an injustice on the field today," he began. "I did not enter the field believing she was a worthy opponent. I even went as far to joke to my friends about beating her after letting her throw a few blows first. I was greatly wrong about that." Now his head was bowed. He continued, "I cannot give any other reason for my comments then my arrogance. I thought her only as a woman fighter. Not that she is a fighter that is also a woman." He then walk over to Atthis and said he was wrong to talk that way and he would do whatever penance she chose for him. She closed her eye and thought "How can I teach him how a woman feels." Then she opened her eyes and smiled.
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