As his opponent reeled from the hit, Aidan rapidly turned his attention to the Hellbringerfacing Horse's Summonerand shot at it with his extended-range PPC. Catching that Hellbringer's pilot by surprise, Aidan got in several shots very near the Hellbringer'scockpit. Horse, reacting quickly, knowing that the pilot in that cockpit must be disconcerted by Aidan's hits, turned his attention back to the foe intended originally for him. Aidan glanced quickly at his long-range scanner. The other heavier 'Mechs were now released and advancing quickly to support their comrades. Horse and Aidan had less than a minute to finish off their opponents.

Alternating adversaries, heedless of the damage being inflicted on them, the two Summonersstrode steadily toward the Hellbringers.A cluster round hit Aidan's 'Mech in the lower part of the torso, just above the left leg, while Horse's foe penetrated his armor in a long line of fire that nearly bisected the 'Mech's torso. But none of the havoc was significant. The two Summonerscontinued their march forward without either one falling behind. Frequently their crossfire seemed to confuse the Hellbringerpilots, sending their assaults off target.

It was a real showdown, as Aidan had planned. The two Summonerstook on the pair of Hellbringerssimultaneously, working together against them. The Hellbringerpilots, used to fighting single battles according to bidding procedures, had difficulty adjusting to the unClanlike assault.

Aidan knew he would take criticism on two accounts. First, that he violated the rules by persuading Horse to fight their opponents in tandem (of course, to Ter Roshak and Joanna, Aidan's violation of rules would be no surprise). Second, they were using up their firepower drastically against their initial opponents, thus removing any chance of winning a higher rank by defeating a second 'Mech. This time, Aidan's strategy was pure and simple: to win and become a warrior. Having failed once because of ambition, he did not want to ruin this chance. In his first trial he had been greedy and had lost because he overextended himself. Now he would concentrate on defeating just the single opponent. One for him and one for Horse, and they would both be warriors. Any complaints from Clan officers would be easy to endure. And, anyway, were not he and Horse freeborns? What good could trueborns expect from freeborns, after all? They would all go back to their bunks tonight muttering about how lousy freebirths always ruin everything, while he and Horse would sleep tonight as warriors.

Seeing that his Hellbringeropponent was severely weakened, he helped Horse finish off his enemy. Concentrating fire from two directions, they forced the enemy 'Mech to its knees, then pierced the last shreds of armor protecting the 'Mech's fusion reactor. Aidan almost whooped when the Hellbringerpilot, endangered by the collapsing magnetic bottle containing the miniature sun that drove the BattleMech, ejected. They did not even watch the 'Mech fall, turning their attention to the remaining Hellbringer.

Aidan's barrages had ruined all the laser weapons on the Hellbringer's torso, and it was firing the PPCs in each arm almost desperately. Horse and Aidan spread apart as they continued their assault on the 'Mech, which was now rocked by each blast. Aidan nearly made a fatal mistake, however. He had not realized the Hellbringerhad one SRM salvo left, and it came flying directly at his cockpit. Suddenly, the massive arm of Horse's Summonerblocked his view. The SRMs detonated, engulfing the arm in a ball of flame. Aidan's Summonerwavered dangerously with the concussion and the shrapnel bouncing off its surface.

It was time to finish off the Hellbringer,and he and Horse moved in on it relentlessly, hitting it with shot after shot, missile after missile. Smoke began pouring out of the enemy cockpit and Aidan's heart stopped as he realized the pilot might be unconscious, unable to eject. Certain that the pilot had to be Joanna, he suddenly realized that, no matter how much he disliked her, he did not want to spoil his Trial by killing her. His body mimicked the eject procedure as he mentally urged the opposing pilot to get out of his or her 'Mech.

Another cross-barrage and the 'Mech toppled, falling backward onto the ground, with an impact that sent tremors through Aidan's Summoner.The two cadets, so much of their firepower spent on the pair of victories, immediately ceased their attack.

Though Aidan knew he should be concentrating on the Warhawkcoming toward him, he could not take his eyes off the fallen Hellbringer's cockpit. Finally, through the smoke, a figure appeared. The pilot came out of the cockpit and, running, got clear of the 'Mech. As the pilot took off her headgear and shook out her hair, Aidan saw that it was a woman. But it was not Joanna. It was Marthe. And she was all right.

He turned his attention to the Warhawk,knowing that the rest of the Trial would be routine, as long as he was careful to protect himself and not foolishly get injured or die. Checking his systems, he saw he had little response to offer the Warhawk.He used it until his Summonertook the hit that would disable it completely, then the new warrior signaled defeat and ejected from his 'Mech.

Epilogue

For a time after the Trial, Aidan experienced events in a daze. He was a warrior now and that was all that mattered. He had avenged his failure, shown Joanna and Ter Roshak what he could do, and in the bargain had helped Horse along, too.

Horse thanked him energetically. "Never thought when we were struggling on that primitive 'Mech that fate'd bring us together and—and look what did happen."

"No such thing as fate."

"Are you sure?"

"No, I am not sure about anything right this moment."

True to form, Joanna refused to praise him. "That was a pretty shoddy performance out there."

"It worked, did it not?"

"But it was not Clanlike."

"Are you sure? Is not the point to win?"

"But single combat is the ideal of the Clan warrior."

"Will we always encounter enemies willing to divide themselves up and fight us on our own terms?"

"If they have honor, yes."

"When we return to the Inner Sphere, we might not be so fortunate. We may have to battle on their terms, not ours. It is good for us to face one another on unknown terms, without a defender declaration, without a bid. I did that today."

Joanna gave him her usual glare, although he thought perhaps it contained a hint of amusement. "Aidan, I think you have been with stinking freebirths for so long, you are beginning to think like one." She whirled around and left without waiting for a reply.

Beyond the border of the Trial field, Marthe ran up to him from behind and whirled him around. "It isyou."

"I was the one who sent your 'Mech—"

"I know, I know. What are you doing here?"

"Becoming a warrior."

"It is illegal to compete with an assumed identity."

"It may be. Will you report it?"

She shook her head. "No, of course not."

"Thank you, Mar—"

"No, not for you. For the sibko, but not for you. I do not allow personal favors. You won and that is enough."

She went away from him as quickly as she had appeared. It was the last he was to see of her for several years, and he carried that memory with him.

Ter Roshak called Aidan to his office. He was impressed with the young man as he walked into the room with a warrior's gait. There was a new arrogance in his face, replacing the old look and improving on it.