Chapter 123 tested Bdes

  I made my way to the tral courtyard and found an eborate setup. The tral square of the fading gardens had bee with a thin yer of sand and sawdust. Over a hundred spectators stood to wat one side of the square. Most of the spectators were workers iadel.

  A slightly raised wooden ptform was along ane of the square. The ptform had a number of occupied seats. Castile was seated o Duchess Veroni the ter, and a frown creased both their faces. They did not look happy to be here. A woman in a gaudy gown sat o the Duchess, who I assumed was the tess, Duchess Veronica’s mother. Oher side of the tess was a lean man who looked to be in his early thirties. He had a smug look and looked happy to be watg the eai. Several Citadel attendants served the four VIP chairs on the makeshift spectator stage. Among their number was Lareen.

  Ohird side of the square, the men of the pany were getting ready for the bat. As I joihem, Maveith was in the back, and I asked him, “Maveith, where have you been all day?”

  Maveith looked surprised to see me, “Eryk, Castile accepted me as a huntsman for the pany.” He was beaming with pride. “I went to my to get some things and seal it from the elements and intruders while I am away. I told Trek to che it occasionally as well. I just got back to find this.” He indicated the makeshift fighting square.

  “Maveith, what is with all the formality? I thought we were not going to do this until after dinner.” I indicated the eborate setup.

  Adrian turned and walked to me to ahe question. His tone was sour, “The First Citizen Boris found out about the petition ahis up and got the Duchess to force Castile to agree to it. Eryk, are you going to pete?”

  “Yes, of course. Isn’t everyone?” I asked. I noticed Lareen bringing a tray of food for First Citizen Boris. He leaned back, and they whispered to each other.

  “So far, just ten meerested in the bdes,” Adrian informed me, which made sense. For instance, Bze and Pavel wouldn’t want to fight as they were being given runic arrows. I noticed Lareen pointing at me while whispering to Boris. Oh, Lareen, what are you doing?

  Adrian had a piece of paper in his hand, “You will fight Kolm in the first pairings.” I looked and saw Kolm stretg. He was the pany’s ad hoc bcksmith and repaired our resin hide armor as well. He was short, but his biceps matched his thighs. He was one of the pany’s shield men, and I don’t remember him practig often with a sword.

  “ I use my air shield when I fight?” I asked Adrian.

  “Yes, any spell forms are allowed. The First Citizen wants the men to fight bare-chested for the eai spectacle,” Adrian said unhappily. “The old healer is in the crowd if as injured, but trol your enthusiasm as I don’t want anyone seriously ihe first pairings will start soon.” Adrian walked away to tinue anizing the mini-tourney.

  I walked over to Kolm and watched Boris subtly as I talked to Kolm. Boris’ eyes were definitely following me. “Kolm, looks like aired off in the first round,” I said with a smile.

  “Harpies tits! Really? Why does Adrian hate me,” he said dejectedly. “You are one of the favorites,” Kolm admitted sourly.

  “I never uood that curse? Who are the other favorites?” I asked the miserable-looking Kolm.

  Filth was quick to chime in, “Harpies tits, Eryk. You know, they look like a regur woman’s, but then the rest of the creature is hideous and trying to kill you. And Brutus and I are the favorites,” he said with a grin.

  “They have been practig out here all day,” Kolm told me. Both Firth and Brutus were spearmen in the pany, so I was shocked they were favorites in the sword petition. Then again, our three best swordsmen in the pany already had runic ons: Konstantin, Adrian, and Delmar.

  Benito came up behind me, “Eryk heard you are fighting. Cost is ten silver.” My fused face had Benito expin. “Wiake all. Runic sword and the silver.” I handed Benito the ten silver and realized the man was a gambling addict. The men, not Adriaablished this prize purse.

  I returo stand with Maveith as the first pairing was called to fight thirty mier after more spectators and refreshments arrived. Brutus was against Felix. Both legionnaires ehe ring in just their vas pants and boots. Their muscled torsos held a shield aed wooden practice sword. Their bare feet stirred the sand as they walked. Mateo was close, and I overheard him say, “The sand and sawdust are so our blood does not staiones of the courtyard just like in the coliseum.”

  The spectators started making some noise as the two men engaged. My focus was on the First Citizen Boris as he frequently asked Lareeions, and his eyes drifted to me instead of the fight he had seemed anxious for. It was less than a minute before Felix was lying unscious on the sand. The old healer moved to the sand to che him and heal him.

  The fight was betweeo and Mateo. I had not followed the fight and was shocked when I looked up to fio had won. Mateo was a good swordsman and was heavily favored, but Benito was a shifty little guy. “Eryk and Kolm,” Adrian annouhe fight.

  As I removed my armor to get stripped down to my vas pants for my duel, I noticed First Citizen Boris studyiently. I fumed as I guessed he was seeing if I was wearing the dreamscape amulet. That robably why he wanted us to fight bare-chested. It also meant Lareen had betrayed me and told the First Citizen I had the artifact.

  I moved to the sand with Kolm. His pale, bare chest had curly blonde hair, while his head and beard were deep bck. It made him look odd. His jaw ched, not liking his matchup with me. We both tapped our weighted wooden swords on our shields to let each other knoere ready.

  Kolm had a strong base but moved poorly. He was used to a body shield. I circled to his left, trying to cross him up. He repared to turtle with a much smaller shield than he normally fought with and take opportunity attacks. As he got anxious, I moved in fast, and deflected his swing on my shield. Kolm had po use my block to surprise me with a low swing. I surprised him by stabbing him and spinning away. My wooden sword point ected where his heart was, leaving a bloody welt. Kolm’s sword swung through the empty air, and he winced from the pain of my strike.

  “Killing blow,” Adriaermined, and Kolm threw his shield and sword away in disgust. The Citadel workers cpped and cheered my quick victory. I looked to the ptform to find Castile nodding appreciatively, and Boris’ eyes narrowed. Lareen held a pitcher and gss but was beaming happily at my victory. I think the tess looked surprised and licked her lips, studying me. I went to Kolm and put my arm around him as he got some minor healing. I spent a few moments telling him what he did wrong. He had basically telegraphed his eack.

  “Benito and Eryk!” Adrian annouhe match. I guess I would not be allowed any time to rest—not that my first victory took long.

  I moved back to the sand and faced off against the much smaller Benito. Benito was fast but made a lot of mistakes in one-on-one fights in practice. At least, that was my experience from all the times the pany traiogether. He was an excellent man to have on your side in a fight, though. Benito spun his sword in his hand, trying to show off to the crowd. We both tapped shields and engaged.

  I was cautious as I protected my legs, figuring he would target my knee. We cshed aed each other. Our speed actually matched well, but I was definitely faster than I was a few weeks ago. Benito was quickly frustrated as I was being cautious and not giving him an opportunity to exploit. Benito suddenly overextended, and I sshed the wrist of his sword hand, breaking his wrist and causing him to drop his wooden sword. If he had been wearing his vambraces, it would have saved him.

  Benito stepped bad cursed under his breath. He dropped his shield and walked to the healer, disgusted with his own impatience. I thihought he would win the and runic bde—he certainly didn’t ck fidence. I looked at Adrian, smirking, “Am I going to have to fight again? Or I get a rest?”

  “You don’t get a rest in battle,” he replied with his own smile. The pany chastised me with jeers as well at my pint. Adrian annouhe pairing with a smirk, “Brutus and Remus!”

  Remus was the only man fror’s pa. He had long red hair, making him stand out from the others. As the two engaged, it was clear the two were familiar with each other, and it was no test. Brutus was an excellent swordsman as he had been practig since his youth. It took a few minutes, but he disarmed Remus by getting a strike on his fingers and breaking a few fingers. He followed it with a blow to the ribs. Adrian announced, “Debilitating injury! Brutus wins!”

  Brutus raised his hands in victory like a gdiator, and there was a lot of cheering from the Citadel workers. I noticed Lareen hadn’t cheered at either of my victories as well. I was a little envious as the spectators had not cheered as loudly for me—except the stable boys, but I had bought that idolization. I rested and sipped water while watg and waiting for my call.

  We were putting on a good show for the Citadel workers. Castile still looked unhappy, but the three First Citizens were tent with the pre-dinertai we provided. We were n to be fan hting as winning was more important than giving them a show. The pany men did not care about their happiness. Fighting without armor was not something we practiced, so it was expected that we would make mistakes.

  As they happened, I studied the hts, and soon we were down to just four. Firth, Brutus, Soren, and myself. Soren was one of the quiet ones in the pany. Rumor had it he had killed a baker for selling him moldy bread. I doubted that was true as I had never seen the man go inte before. “Brutus and Soren!” Adrian announced.

  Firth moved to stao me, “Looks like aired , Eryk. I will go easy on you and not make you look too bad. If you drop me two gold, I will eve you win,” he said with a smirk, holding out his hand. I retty sure even if I paid him the two gold, he would go all out.

  “For twenty gold, I will let you win, paid upfront, though,” I returned with my own offer and grin. Firth walked away smiling and fident with no gold exged. I knew he served a Praetorian Guard, and maybe he was more skilled than he was showing. His job was to eliminate Castile if she did anything against the Empire’s is.

  Brutus won his fight against Soren but was not yet guaranteed a runic bde. Adrian announced, “gratutions Brutus. One of the bdes is yours. You will still o fight the winner of Firth and Eryk in order to determine who picks first!” Adrian roared to the crowd and waved his hands as he got into the event’s spirit. The only issue was the healer seemed to be out of aether after healing Soren.

  I stood across from Firth oand. His eyes were hard and focused on me. I could tell Firth nning to go to go all out. I thought about using my air shield in the fight. I had not so far, but I had a feeling Firth was hiding his true ability. ed shields and circled.

  I tuned out the crowd and took in Firth’s movements. The caution in his steps betrayed his skill. It reminded me of Xavier, the swordmaster. He was trying to show as little as possible, but there were hints of it. Firth, the brothel-loving legionnaire, was more than he seemed. He fshed forward, and I defended and tered with my shield.

  I heard someone in the pany mutter that Firth was faster than normal today, and I thought the same thing. He tio press, and I was hard-pressed to blod parry. He finally stepped back after nearly a minute, breathing heavily, “Eryk, you have gotten much better. This should have been over by now.” I could see his heavy eyes and guessed maybe he had used a spell form. I was guessing by the familiar, exhausted look in his eyes from using all your aether. It was a ell form, if that was what it was, and he had almost her to sustain it if he was already out.

  Firth saluted me with his sword, “I cede the duel to Eryk.” To the disappoi of the crowd and Boris in particur, Firth walked off of the sand. I thought it was a very even match, perhaps even slightly tilted in Firth’s favor. Whatever he did to elevate himself had drained him siderably, and he chose to cede rather than lose in front of everyone. Or maybe he had used his orick or did not want to show more. I was not the only man in the pany with secrets.

  Adrian seemed puzzled and shocked as well. I walked off the sand to stand by Maveith even though the fight was mine. Benito moved close, “Eryk, that was impressive. I don’t feel so as useless as tits on a minotaur now for losing to you.”

  Maveith irying to educate Benito, “There are female minotaurs with funal breasts, Benito.”

  Mateo, who was nearby, asked, “How does minotaur milk taste? Is it the same as cow’s milk? How do you get it?” That got a lot of chuckles from the men. There was a small otion oage as the two bdes were brought out and pced at the feet of Duchess Veronica.

  Adrian called us forward, “Brutus and Eryk, e forward and look upon your bde choices.”

  The Citadel workers were crowding and ing their necks to see. I walked with Brutus and looked upowo long swords. Each bde was about 33 inches with a hilt of 8 inches. Both bdes had runic markings, but one was tarnished bd pitted. The other bde olished steel and a-looking.

  Duchess Veronica smiled down at both of us, “Two bdes from my mother’s family guards. They have been loao me by my mrace. The st runic smith of the Telhian Empire fed the dark bde for its intended purpose. It has fought in hundreds of battles and served its wielders well. The orcs of the Boutan Caliphate fed the other bde. It was cimed in battle by my grandfather from an orc warrior.”

  Brutus caught the same thing in the expnation that I did. He asked, “After the expedition to the elven ruins, the bdes have to be returned?”

  The Duchess smiled, “Yes, unless you wish to enter my service. In that case, you keep the bde and wield it to defend me.” Brutus frowned as he felt he had been scammed. I looked at Castile; she looked like she had already been aware of the dition.

  Adrian interrupted our dismay at not being able to retain the bdes after the expedition. “Eryk and Brutus, move to the ter and prepare to fight.” As I moved onto the sand, I figured it made sense as a runic bde was worth a thousand gold, acc to Delmar. Although the two bdes we were fighting for were not nearly as immacute as the Delmar’s or Konstantin’s. Delmar’s had e from a dungeon, and an elven smith fed Konstantin’s.

  Brutus still seemed determio wihough the prize was temporary. ed shields, and Brutus engaged with vigor. We danced and kicked up sand as swords cttered on shields at a rapid tempo. The men of the pany cheered us both as we circled. “You are better than I remember,” Brutus said after I intercepted three quick successive attacks.”

  “Maybe you are just getting slow in your old age,” I tered with a smile and terattack.

  “I am youhan you!” He barked as he unched into a series that was familiar to me from my time with Xavier, and I dodged and backed away, letting him expend his energy in futility. I could see the sternation and frustration building on his face. I still had not even used an air shield yet. I was beginning to think my dreamscape practice was more effective than my practi the real world.

  Brutus was better with a shield than I was. I was learning a lot by how his minimal movements prevented me from taking advantage of his openings. The fight was the lo fight of the evening, and the crowd loved it, and I was feeding off the growing noise. Brutus tried a trick that ehe fight. He tried to hook the er of his shield on mine and pull it away to expose me. I had experiehis same a my dreamscape from Konstantin. So when I noticed his shield caught mine and tugged on my arm for what it was. I used it against him, creating my own opening.

  My swing owerful and directed at his knee. Brutus realized it and tried to turn away from the strike to lessen the impact. I still ected, just not as solidly. “Debilitating injury!” Adrian called immediately, ending the fight. I think Adrian was ed about making sure everyone was healthy before we left, as the healer was exhausted. Brutus limped away and had trouble putti in the leg. I think I shattered his patel.

  I made sure Brutus was fine, but he was angry about losing. The healer needed a few hours before he could heal him, but Brutus assured me he was going to be fihat was a quick ter, Eryk. I didn’t see it ing. A well-deserved victory.” He cpped me on the ba both gratutions and assistao stand. “You should go and choose your bde, as the First Citizens do not look happy to be kept waiting.”

  Silence spread in the crowd as I walked to the ptform and ied the two bdes again uhe gaze of the Duchess, her family, and Castile. I picked up the tarnished bde aed its weight. Then I did the same for the other ohe bck bde was slightly heavier and appeared to have a better edge, even with the odd aging on its length. “I will take this one,” I indicated the darker bde. The Duchess’ eyebrows went up in surprise as it robably the lesser of the two artifacts.

  First Citizen Boris drew attention to himself by g loudly. “Good dispy of skills, legionnaire! I want to test myself against the best swordsman today. I am sure Mage Castile will give me the honor to exercise with this evening’s winner in front of the assembled crowd?”

  AnnouSpecial thanks to my patrons for supp my writing on Patreon. You keep the words flowing and give excellent feedback.

  Seraphim Tier (updated 3/25/24): Brady Fio, matt green, Pseudonym, Erik McFetters, John McCarter, Daniel M, Derek M Baron, Rocky Tkacz, cow, ie, DonMc, ahgans, Jsdorris, M Elson, Dale lee, NobleBoy24, Tim Eriksen, SouthToiletWizard, Rossi Nuttall, N Holifield, Frank, Banroth, Josiah, Anschezar, DheeAreBi, Jason Quinn, Gafall, Nathaniel, 50hp, Carlo, David Weller, SaltyPepper, Dima, Ian Williams, Allen burger, Casey Gillespie, Brandoromm, PeskyPedro626, HiLander, Graham Mtyre, Xcel D Brite, Andrew, Zach Reisman, Sam, James Phillips, Arthur Ibanda, Kiuck, Delta, Byte core,BoB, Fenris, Eeekkkk, Erkki Parkkuinen, Omar Fajardo, Tyler Buan, Eddie, Robert Crawford, Randall Kemper, Bejan Bosc, ton Smith, Roberto Dias, Blor, Nathaniel , Andy65pr, Robs511, Fabian, Telclivo, Alex DenverDrew, kaalveiten, Lorenzo Campbell, Otter Pops, Bob, Eriach, Decimus, El o 82, Journeyman_Mike, Faa Diallo, あひゃひゃ, Manu, Tabletsalt, Antonio, Wiggles1, Lazarius, Robert Hinshaw, Samuel McCarren, Quasimotolovesbells, Maximus Terror, Ka Bo, mmk, J Whit, Jordan Alvey, Octavian Rosca, Jonathan Prouty, Allen Walker, Alex Gaitsis, Manko, ExcessSafe, Silent Rain, John Repass, Chris, Prinny Knight, luis Dellinger, Sindre, Cutler1812, Matthew, david Currones, Viktor D victorious, Mason W, Daniel kanevsky, PizzaraechMagic, Otto Kovar, Satanael, Cruz115, Rizen, Lemes, Eriksvitolins, GamelessGamer, Simon, Light, Goavante, 1536539, Ktue, Matthew Bernardin, Rhys JoheFool, Illiterate Philosopher, Notlimah, A Lazy Hard Worker, kabarna00, Starter_guy, Patrick M. Nagel, willydasilva, Reid, Chai g, BubblyGhost, Kompass, Recursive, Rd Zg, Martin Lange, lucas rodger, Christian Mordal, Exchao, Nasir Mahmmud, Davram Bashere, Alpenmann, Jm, Silver Beard, striderfighter

  Long Term Supporters (Alphabetical, Updated 10/9/23): Allen Walker, Adam Sawyer, Alexander Saridis, Asibo, Avery Duval, Bigght, BlodWedd, Borindak, Brandon, Brandon Anderson, Christian Mordal, CJ, Cody, Cody Landis, Curdin, DANTE, David Zimmerle, Dom, Dustin, Dylzoprenia D robinson, Erin, Exchao, Gideon Stern, Isaac Wheeler, jacob Hixson, jared ference, Jeffrey Iverson, Jim Hall, John DeWarr, Jordan, Jostein Andersen, kingpin09, Kompass, Logaersen, Louis Leet, lucas rodger, M K L, Marjecture, mark m??llegaard, Martin Lange, Michael Masters, MrX, NaughtyPaws, Paul Panzer, Pizzaranger, Premium_Marzen, Rd Zg, Recursive, Robert Magdaleno, S, Sean Otto, Shade, Silver Beard, Stefan Strindin, SubJef, Thomas Dey, Timothy Felker, Vd, WhiteWatcher, Xerias, Xultanis, Yeraiha