Failure that’s the only word he could think of as he watched Java leave. He did not become a mage, he bled at dominion, he couldn’t save the Doctor from the Inquisition , he couldn’t stop her from leaving. Truly a failure. So he did the only thing he could think of, He fought. And Felix and Damien watched. With Felix’s sword in his left hand and his own in his right he faced down the Knight of Spades. He discarded his bow that would bring him comfort he knew and for this fight he knew he didn’t want it. He fully embraced his house and fought with swords.

A sword of pure black flashed out of the night and Silvester twisted his body to the side, the knight of spades blade missed by inches. Silvester jumped back and raised his swords, the knight raised his sword and nodded, a whispered “good” was barely audible. This was all he had said in their minutes-long fight. So far, each hit earned a “good” , each dodge “good” and each block ”good”. Silvester started to recite the incantation as he fought every “good” received the next word until he finished, once he completed Silvester restarted and on it went
“Good”
“Relix”
“Good”
“Narez”
The sword in his right hand hit the ground and the black blade missed him again by inches, He had to be better. Do better. Marzana’s words came back to him “I’ll come for you if you become a mage.” He circled momentarily distracted from his incantation. He had to get his sword back.
Don’t stop, don’t lose tempo, that’s how you lose. Silvester pushed hard with Felix’s single sword to create the space he needed to retrieve his fallen sword or to throw off those words he wasn’t sure, It worked
“Gooood” almost a purr as Sir Jacqueline swung his sword of night at the place where Silvester’s hand had been moments earlier.
“Relit”
And they continued Silvester’s gambit to reclaim his sword had put the town in his view and the fire light now cast shadows from the Jester over his sword. He could see the Valarien banner, the tavern, the people all seemed so happy, another victory for the town. But at what cost? Was this town worth it?
Once again Marzana’s promise and threat came back to him “I’ll come back for you.”
He attacked. Jokeri defended. The incantation continued. And Felix and Damien persisted in their silent vigil. He felt Felix and Damien’s stares as he fought; he wondered if they could see his tears in the fire light. Silvester was reminded of when he had first met the two Porters, a stark contrast to where he was now, a town left to smolder as Silvester looked for his parents, a town saved. Two brothers loudly talking as they walked through the ruin, two brothers silent, watching. He ran last time, he fought this time. Once again brought back to the present by a clash of blades, Silvester tried to create some space, stumbled and crashed to the ground when he raised his head. He found a black sword that reflected the moon pointed at his throat.
He grimaced “Another failure”
“It was a good fight”
“Mamuri”