It takes not longer than a blink of an eye for the day of the fencing school to reach the province of Silverport.
As tightly as badmen to pillories so too are the freefolk bound to festivals and holidays. The waxing summer afternoon brings forth the folk in its whole to the Everviolet park; the bolder among the youth with their leather and rattan swords circle and glue themselves to the outermost ring of ropes and fences, their parents a little behind them and waiting for their inevitable return to the shade and the mats they so painstakingly brought; peace officers shamble about the park like spectres, their forks and push poles and man catchers catching the light as keenly as the featherswords of his fencing school, their presence revealing to buyers and sellers alike what is best to do or not with the sausage-greased bowls of plantain leaves and cups of half drunk sherbets and small beer.
“Through power and might of our gracious lord, whose privileges and freedom have been graciously given to I, Kommgal Vunnapar, Freifechter, with permission of the city council, to set up a free -and- public fechtschule with all the knightly weapons present …” Following the arrival and procession of lord N’pud and his retinue, ‘Gal’ Vunnapar gives his address. In spite of his present skin and station (the peruke of ivory hair, the white lace on his cuffs and collar, and the brilliant buffcoat) I can still feel the flat, ever drowsy tone seeping from a few of the accountant’s words.
Before and behind him are the two stands which seat the mentioned folk of note, backers of this school, masters of defence, and the handful of shearers and surgeons. Around the school are of course the invited practitioners of the art of defence and the arms; leather swords with wooden cores, featherswords and staves of many lengths and breadths.
“ … let all good fellows who are present who have learnt the Free, Knightly, and Noble Art of Fencing and are experienced in it, intending to bring joy to the folk and maintain the passage of arms come forth unhindered.” Few among the fifty whether they be judges or players did not perk up a little upon hearing such words. “Yet all men ought to know what is forbidden in this fechtschule: the use of the point aimed at the face, strikes with the crosspiece or pommel, breaking of an arm, a violent push, seizing the unmentionables, reaching for the eyes, stone-throwing and elsewise dishonorable devices which -many- no doubt know how to use but I cannot mention them all.”
