The two fighters moved back and forth in a dance of skill that was almost artistic. They were a contrast indeed, silver and gold as they circled, their blades flashing grey and white as they struck and parried. They almost seemed to be enjoying the contest, each taking pride in both their own skill and the skill of their opponent. The spectators watched in fascination, without a hint of worry. There was more love in the room than anger, more pride than competition. Even the normally discordant twangs of blade against blade seemed to sing with an uncharacteristic harmony, as if in tune with the high spirits of the gathering.

Finally one blade yielded and flew from its owners grasp, clattering to the ground a distance from the combattants. For a moment there was silence, and then a cheer roared up. The two stared, one in pride, and one in amazement. Then finally, the loser stepped to the winners side and lifted the hand holding the white saber high in the air. She said something, but the crowd drowned it out.

Milantha dropped her blade and hugged her teacher with tears in her eyes, murmurring something that only Iliana could hear in the noise, and Iliana's own eyes filled with tears of joy and pride. She waved to someone at the sidelines, and Marshall came up with something that looked like folded cloth in his hands. Iliana took it and laid it in Milantha's hands, and the girl's--no, the woman's--blue eyes widened as she realized what she held. A copy of Iliana's own dress, the traditional garb of the Loremaster, but done with the bodysuit short-sleeved and in white, and the overdress in a deeper blue. Milantha met Iliana's eyes, and the older woman nodded. Milantha took a deep breath, and looked to her friends, who were all smiling--or grinning, or beaming, or, in the case of one excided red-head, shifting from one foot to the other and brimming with pride. She smiled back at them, and back up at her teacher, then bowed, feeling it was somehow the right thing to do. Iliana placed a hand on her head, and she rose. Milantha Featherstone, Loremaster of the Brotherhood of the Blade.