The Bothnian Swordmistress 
by Hamlet



The Bothnian Swordmistress wheeled Her horse Toronado hard to the left,
catching the outlaw neatly in the back with the heel of Her high heeled boot.
She jumped from the tooled leather saddle and drew Her sword to slice the air
while Her adversary quickly climbed to his feet to pull Her own sword from its
sheath.

'You will pay for this ,Swordmistress! he sneered, crouching low and waving
his badly bent sword in the space separating the two.

The Swordmistress's black leather shiny cape rippled slowly in the wind, and
She gave a cocky smile to Tadeo Valdez.

'I'm afraid it is you who will pay, Se�or, She said calmly. 'That money you
stole yesterday will be returned to the bank. And you... Her smile grew.
...you will go to jail!'.

Never!

Valdez struck hard his sword crashing on The Swordmistress's blade of Toledo
steel. The Swordmistress parried smoothly, side stepped a sudden lunge, and
whacked the man in the rear with the flat of Her blade. Valdez's arms
spread-eagled, and he floundered a few steps towards the Alcalde's office,
then recovered in time to swivel and attack again with a vengeance.

The Swordmistress backpedaled quickly, Her sword a blur in the heat of the
plaza. She continued to retreat, and it looked to the gathered crowd as if
Valdez had the upper hand over the legendary Woman in black. leather Gasps
from some women floated to the dueling pair, and men murmured among themselves
and clenched their hands, trying to give The Swordmistress an edge by their
force of will alone. Victoria Escalante stood silently, her lower lip caught
between her teeth, her eyes never leaving the battle.

Suddenly, without even a hint to Valdez or the crowd, The Swordmistress
parried a moderately well-aimed charge prior to catching Her opponent's hilt
with the tip of Her sword and flinging it sideways with a hard flick of the
wrist. The outlaw's sword flew across the plaza to impale on the Alcalde's
office door, just missing DeSoto's nose as the official stepped from Her
office to witness the commotion in the plaza.

'Here is your thief, Alcalde! The Swordmistress called to DeSoto as She
grabbed Valdez by his dirty shirt collar.

I believe you'll find the stolen money in Her room at the tavern.

Alcalde DeSoto glared insolently at The Swordmistress and Her catch. You
expect me to believe you? For all I know, you planted that money in the poor
peasant's room to avoid suspicion and eventual capture yourself.

The Swordmistress laughed. What could I possibly want with money from the good
people of Los Angeles?

Wait! Valdez suddenly shouted and pointed at the Alcalde. HEe put me up to it!
This was his idea!

The Swordmistress swung Her sword up to the Alcalde's chest. Is this true,
Alcalde? She asked, the humour gone from Her voice, Her eyes cold.

The Alcalde spluttered, 'That's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard! I
would never rob the very bank I'm sworn to protect!'

'A noble sentiment, Se�or' The Swordmistress said, Her head cocked to the side
and a disarming smile on Her face. 'However, since I don't trust even the most
sincerest tone from you....

She smashed the metal hilt of Her sword straight into DeSoto's iron jaw. And
as for you.... The Swordmistress then twirled Her prisoner around several
times before pushing him into the nearest group of stunned lancers,
simultaneously wheeling Toronado around.

'Sergeant!' The Swordmistress called over the grunts and groans of the men
She'd just dealt with. '

'If you check the man's room at the tavern, I'm sure you'll find what you've
been looking for!'

Mendoza quickly sent a lancer into the tavern and within moments, saddlebags
laden with Los Angeles pesos were held aloft in Her hand. Cheers and applause
sounded in a roar over the tiny pueblo as The Swordmistress pulled Herself
smoothly onto Toronado's waiting back.

The Swordmistress guided Her black stallion to the tavern's porch and stopped
him beside the sergeant. 'See that this money is returned to the bank's
vault.!'

Mendoza smiled broadly. 'Oh, you can count on me Swordmistress.'

Gracias. He turned to Victoria. I thank you for the tip you gave me.

Victoria smiled up at Her, watching the morning sunlight shimmering on Her
leather mask.

The Swordmistress leaned over in the saddle to close the distance between
them, Her gentle smile lighting Her blue eyes. And very beautiful, he
finished. She tenderly kissed both of her palms.'

We make quite a team, Se�orita. Unfortunately, I must go before the Alcalde
awakens.

Toronado stepped away from the porch and The Swordmistress winked wickedly at
Victoria. 'Until I'm needed again!.

She saluted her and the sergeant, letting Toronado take the bit between his
teeth as the mighty horse reared, then galloped out of the pueblo, leaving a
trail of dust in its wake.

Mendoza laughed heartily, weighing the saddlebags in Her hand. TThe
Swordmistress is quite a character! he exclaimed.

Victoria smiled at the retreating figure in black and replied, She certainly
is, Sergeant.

The Alcalde broke up their laughter and celebration mood by swinging angrily
onto the porch, rubbing his aching jaw, barely keeping himself from pushing
the smiling se�orita out of his way. Someday, he thought darkly to himself, he
would see that smile wiped off her pretty face. He would see The Swordmistress
hang. Sergeant! he barked.

Mendoza jumped at DeSoto's angry tone. S�, Alcalde?

I want a party formed to run that female outlaw into the ground. Now!

Any comments to norselandic@hotmail.com