Antikas Karios approached him as he passed the king’s pavilion. The swordsman gave a thin smile. ‘Good morning to you,’ he said. ‘That was a clever trick you used against Cerez. I had warned him in the past about arrogance. I will not have to warn him again.’
Nogusta was about to move on, but the Ventrian stepped into his path. ‘The king would like you to entertain his guests before the races.’ Nogusta nodded
75
and followed the officer towards the front of the pavilion. Skanda saw him coming and gave a broad smile, then turned to say something to Malikada. Nogusta approached the king and gave a deep bow. ‘My congratulations on your birthday, sire,’ he said.
Skanda leaned forward. ‘I have told Prince Malikada of your skill with knives. I fear he doubts my word.’
‘Not at all, majesty,’ said Malikada, smoothly. Skanda clapped him on the shoulder, then rose. ‘What can you show us today, my friend?’ he asked Nogusta. The black man called for one of the archery targets to be brought up. While this was being done a sizeable crowd began to gather. Nogusta removed five throwing knives from the sheaths stitched to his baldric, then spread the blades in his left hand.
‘Is the target large enough?’ asked Malikada, as the 6 foot high target was placed within 10 feet of the black man. The Ventrian officers around him laughed at the jest.
‘I will make it smaller, my lord,’ said Nogusta. ‘Perhaps you would care to stand in front of it?’ Malikada’s smile froze in place. He glanced at the king.
‘Either you or me, old lad,’ said Skanda.
Malikada rose and walked to the front of the pavilion, where a soldier opened the gate for him. He strode out to the target and turned, his dark eyes staring intently at Nogusta. ‘Do not move, my lord,’ said Nogusta.
The black man spun a razor sharp knife in the air, then caught it. He repeated this with the other blades, throwing each one higher than the last. Then, while one was still in the air, he sent up another, then another, until all five were spinning and glittering in the sunlight. There was absolute silence now as the crowd waited in tense expectation. Still spinning the knives Nogusta slowly
76
backed away until he was ten paces from where Malikada stood at the target.
The Ventrian prince watched the whirling blades. He seemed relaxed, but his eyes were narrowed and unblinking. Suddenly Nogusta’s right arm shot forward. One of the knives slashed through the air, punching home in the target no more than an inch from Malikada’s left ear. The Ventrian jerked, but remained where he was. A bead of sweat began at his temple, trickling down his right cheek. Nogusta was juggling once more with the four remaining blades. Another knife thudded home alongside Malikada’s left ear. The third and fourth slammed into the target alongside his arms.
Nogusta caught the last knife then bowed deeply to Skanda. Led by the king the crowd burst into applause.
‘You want to risk the blindfold?’ asked Skanda, ‘or is that the end of the display?’
‘Let it be as you desire, sire,’ said Nogusta.
The king looked across at Malikada. ‘What do you think, my friend? Would you like to see him throw blindfolded?’
Malikada gave an easy smile but stepped away from the target. ‘I accept that his skills are remarkable, majesty, but I have no wish to stand before a blind man with a throwing knife.’ The crowd laughed and applauded the prince, who returned to the pavilion.
‘I’d like to see it,’ said Skanda, moving down the steps and vaulting the gate. He strode to the target and stood before it. ‘Don’t let me down, old lad,’ he told Nogusta. ‘It’s bad luck for a king to be killed on his birthday.’
Antikas Karios moved alongside Nogusta. He was holding a black silk scarf, which he folded to create a blindfold. This he tied over Nogusta’s eyes. The black man stood for a moment, statue still. Then spun on his
77
heel, making a complete circle. The throwing knife flashed through the air. The crowd gasped. For just a moment they believed it had slammed into the king’s throat. Skanda lifted his hand, touching his finger to the ivory hilt which was nestling alongside his jugular. Nogusta pulled clear the blindfold. Skanda stepped up to him. Applause and cheers rang out.