"CLANG!"
The two ancient swords met with a thunderous roar. The short gladius known as Caliburn (or, in times before, Ensis Caliburnus, Excalibur, Caledwulch) hit the long, heavy broadsword Durendal (or Durlindana, in the native language of her current owner) producing long, blue sparks.
The gladius once owned by Julius Caesar, by Uther Pendragon and King Arthur crashed once, twice, countless of time over the broadsword of Hector and then of Roland, forced in defence.
Edulcore wiped quickly the sweat from his forehead. Rama was good. He was the best actually. And he managed to use the short blade to a level of excellence that the two hand sword was nearly useless.
After another hammering hit of Rama, Euro threw away Durendal, somersaulted back, landing near the wall full of ancient weapon. Without leaving his sight from the figure of rama, he touched the wall behind himself, and his hand closed over the first weapon it touched. A flash of memories hit his mind, images of gladiators in the Circus Maximus in Rome, when he was a Retiarius whose name was now forgotten to history. He waved his arm to Rama, and the big net was detached from the wall and fled at the Swordsman.
Without any surprise, Rama's Caliburn cut across the net, whose two cut halves fell on the wooden floor. But Euro had bought the time to take a trident to block Caliburn between the forks. A small spin, and Caliburn was taken from the hand of Rama, flying across the hall.
"Ah!" said Rama, smiling, as his hand gracefully grabbed a long spear from the wall. And branding it, he was ready to continue his battle with his fellow ex-Vanguardian, when an applause interrupted them. "Very good swordplay, sirs. Very good indeed".
The woman called Tanya, who had left the armour in favour of a refined XVIII century dress, with a high white wig. Both Euro and Rama suddenly had the impression of having known the woman long before, but it lasted for mere moments, and then went away.
"Sirs, the dinner is served. It is exactly six PM... or eighteen, if you prefer."
Euro was sure the woman had grinned unnoticeably at him at the end of the phrase, but again he wasn't sure of what he had just seen, or believed to see. Following Tanya toward the Red Dining Room, he wondered who that woman really was.
After a few turns, some staircases and a long corridor, Tanya opened a door that brought them in an ample room, lined with crimson velvet. It was lighted only by candelabrums, with hundreds of candles, that did not cancelled the moon light coming from the windows.
At the centre of the room was a long table. Standing around it, waiting for the arrival of the two ex-Vanguardians and of the new Ameristar, were Myrrdin, Axel Magus, Rose Biggles with little Amara in arms. A little behind was Marcus, the Old Man's butler.
Euro, entering, noticed the smile Axel gave at Tanya, before his eyes were caught by the small, beautiful face of her new-born daughter.
"Ladies and gentlemen, take your place. Diner will be served soon. And after it, I will illustrate the reality in which we hope Aurochs is hiding."
