Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Vol. 133, Nos. 3 & 4. Whole Nos. 811 & 812, March/April 2009

Since first-year members of the five clubs were not obliged to fight, it was not until his second year at the university that the pressure to take part in the bloody spectacles became intense. Von Baden was a member of the White Corps, and its president that year was Cassan, a sulking bully who proudly wore his silken ribbon awarded after three duels. He’d fought thirty times the previous year, more than any other student, and the presidency of the White Corps had come to him by acclamation. He was a wizard with the blade, and once during a particularly brutal duel he’d sliced off the tip of an opponent’s nose. Many people hated Rudolf Cassan, but more people feared him.

It was the affair over Eva, the sensuous barmaid at the Three Crowns, that finally brought matters to a head. Generally, the members of the White Corps ignored the other four clubs and kept to themselves on their beer-drinking excursions. Even if the only seats in the tavern were at a table occupied by a few red-capped youths, the White Corps would not join them, preferring to go instead to another of the beer gardens or rathskellers that dotted the area.

But this night the white-capped Cassan happened into the Three Crowns just as Eva was going off duty. He’d been seeing a good deal of her during the preceding months, even spending a weekend with her on a raft trip down the Neckar. No one doubted that Eva was a girl of loose virtue, but oddly enough she seemed the only one capable of bringing out the tender, human side of Cassan’s nature. When he was with her, he was almost a different person. And this night, as he walked into the crowded, smoky confines of the tavern, he saw that Eva was sitting at a table with members of the Red Corps, laughing and drinking, with her arm actually around Gunner Macker’s waist. Macker was a top athlete and excellent swordsman himself, and there’d been bad blood before between him and Cassan.

Von Baden was with Cassan as he entered the Three Crowns, and the president was just telling him of his duties as a second-year man. “You must fight, boy, because that is our only purpose. We did not take you into our ranks so you could merely amuse yourself at beer parties and wenching.”

“I will fight,” Von Baden managed to say, hating the smooth, dominant figure Cassan made as he walked among the crowded tables. “But when I’m ready.”

Cassan smiled over his shoulder. “You will fight next week, boy. Be ready. It is time you tasted blood. Your own, if necessary.”

“Not so soon!”

“I am your president. You fight when I order you to or you leave the corps in disgrace.” But then, before he could add anything, he saw Eva at the table with Macker. He left Von Baden standing there as he fought his way to the Red Corps group.

Macker glanced up at him with a disdainful smirk and deliberately placed his hand on Eva’s breast. “Well, Cassan, you arrived a bit late this night!”

The president of the White Corps stood his ground while the flush crept up his neck. “What is this, Eva?” he asked.

The girl was embarrassed. She brushed Macker’s hand away and stood up. “Nothing. It is nothing, Rudolf. I was waiting for you.”

At the table Macker gave a snort. “She waits for the first one in pants. It’s all the same to her.”

Cassan’s palm shot out and slapped the youth across the face. Macker’s skin went white, with only the red of the blow to mark his cheek. “You will feel those words,” Cassan said, his voice barely a whisper.

Through it all, Macker had remained seated. Now he rose slowly to his feet. “We have never met with the swords, Cassan. Perhaps the time has come.”

But Cassan’s answer was to spit on the floor at the other’s feet. “I would not soil my blade with you.” And then he turned, and spoke the terrifying words. “Young Von Baden here will uphold the honor of the White Corps. Tuesday night.”

To Von Baden, the words were like the voice of doom. He stared at Macker, who only laughed. “This runt! I will slice his nose off and then come after you!”

“You think so? The newest member of the White Corps could take you, Macker. That will be the ultimate indignity — when you grovel in defeat before this boy.” Then he turned, without a word to Eva, and stalked out. Von Baden followed, aware that every eye in the room was upon him: Aware that Tuesday was only three nights away.

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