He had not set out to scare the woman as he exited his room, but apparently, some people find a person covered in dried blood scary. Painin watched as she ran down the hallway the tray and items, she had been carrying now littering the floor. With a sigh, he carried the pack up the stairs and nodded to the guards he passed who just stared at him wide-eyed.

Master Pierce opened the door to his room with his ever-present cup in his hand and motioned Painin inside. He placed the pack on a nearby table and pulled out the wrapped chunk of the cactus which he carefully removed from the tarp. Master Pierce took it from him and with seemingly practiced ease began to slice it open and removed the pulpy center placing it in a stone bowl. He used a rounded bit of stone to break down the large chuck of green pulp turning it into a thick slime.

Painin poured some water onto a cloth and began to try and clean off the blood that had dried to his face. Master Pierce looked over from his bowl of slime and took in the scene before him as if he had just noticed Painin in the room.

“What happened to your head?”

“I had a run-in with a group of horsemen while I was getting your cactus for you.”

“Horsemen? Tell me more about these men that made me wait for my parcel.” He asked taking a drink from his cup.

“Nothing much to tell really. Some lordship with his men demanded I run back here and announce them and when I tried to explain I couldn’t one of them charged me with his horse which caused this.” He motioned to the blood covering the side of his head.

“Hmmm… Well, we can’t have this sort of treatment of people despite social standing. I don’t care if you are a prince or not.”

Painin stopped and stared at the Battle Mage the damp cloth all but forgotten in his hand as he watched him turn and walk from the room. It took him a couple of heartbeats to realize that he wasn’t coming back and ran after him. The Battle Mage was already halfway down the hall before Painin caught up with him. The guards outside of Commander Novik’s room stood straighter as he approached them.

“Move.”

“He is busy sir.” Replied Smith his eyes focused straight ahead.

“Move.”

“Sir he is busy at the moment.”

“I won’t ask again.” The Battle Mage said motioning them to move aside with his cup. The guards looked at each other and with a sigh Smith moved aside slightly allowing the Mage to open the door and enter the room. Commander Novik sat at his desk with 4 people in the room looking over a set of books laying on the desk.

“Ah Battle Mage Pierce so nice of you to join us today. To what do we owe this honor this morning?”

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“I wish to file a breach of honor.”

“You have been wronged?” The Commander asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Not me. Painin here was attacked while out in the desert while he was running an errand for me in an official capacity.”

“Bandits? Important but I don’t see how it is a matter of honor.”

“Not bandits. He had a run-in with one of the Prince’s men when they were traveling to the Keep.”

Commander Novik looked to the Prince and his men.

“Is true Milord?” The Prince looked over at the pair standing by the door and nodded.

“Yes, we came upon him in the desert and I guess he failed to move out of the way of Berm and his horse. We certainly would not have left him in the desert alone had we known he was injured.” He said his face seemed full of concern.

Berm who was standing behind him could barely keep himself in check as he grasped his sword so hard his hands were white. He visibly shook as he stared daggers at the pair of men. The Prince calmly raised his hand and spoke to him without looking backward.

“Apologize to the boy Berm.”

“I am sorry for my horse accidentally striking you. Please accept my apology.” He said through gritted teeth as he bowed slightly.

“There you go. Everything is better now, and the boy can go see a healer. Have them send me the bill. Now if we can get back to finishing the reason for this visit so that I can get back to civilization.”

“No. We demand honor of combat.” Said the Battle Mage firmly taking a sip from his cup. Painin stared at him his mouth hanging open.

The Prince slowly turned in his chair to finally face the pair of them and a look crossed his face that opening showed his contempt. He seemed to see the pair for the first time and Painin could feel himself being weighed and measured by him. Berm seethed and his face turned red as he started forward his hand pulling his sword from its sheath. The Prince stopped him with a raised hand.

“Honor by combat? Not feasible as Berm would simply destroy the boy. Now let us stop this farce as it bores me.”

“Not Berm. You Milord.”

The room was silent enough as all eyes went back and forth between the two. Commander Novik began to open his mouth but once more the Prince raised his hand silencing him. He leaned forward in his chair a predatory smile crossing his lips as he looked fully at the Battle Mage. The two just stared at each other for moments in silence.

“I accept. Only because I am Berm’s lord. Though I feel like I must warn you Battle Mage to be mindful of making enemies larger than you.”

“I fear not dragons Milord. Three days hence as the code decrees, blunted blades, and to the first blood.” Said Mater Pierce before turning smartly on his heel and walking out of the room.

Painin stood there looking confused for a couple of heartbeats as the Prince simply stared at him before smiling, a smile that did not touch his eyes. He turned and rushed out the door into the hallway beyond and rushed to catch up to the Mage.

Painin was at a loss for words as he looked at the Battle Mage moving about his room until he found a blue vial that he had been looking for amongst other vials. He tossed it to Painin and motioned for him to drink it down. Opening the vial Painin sniffed the contents which smelled faintly like falling rain before drinking the contents in a couple of quick gulps. Waves of cool refreshment surged through his body and he felt all his aches and pains begin to float away. Even his chest stopped hurting so bad and the pain kept receding as the potion continued its work.

“Go and wash that blood off. The healing potion should take care of any other injuries you may have. I will meet you downstairs in the fighting arena shortly. We have work to do to get you ready in three days.” Master Pierce said as he pushed Painin out the door into the hallway beyond.

The door clicked shut as he stood there, and he turned and began to head down to the washroom to clean himself up as requested. Though to be honest he had no idea what had happened there in that room, or the power game he now found himself in.