Perry’s sword arm shook violently as he tried to lift it. He suddenly felt as if a boulder was thrust upon him, and he nearly collapsed. His whole body was not just tired, but every muscle was burning. He could barely hear a sound over the throbbing of his pulse, and he struggled to even catch his breath.

Telhari watched Sir Perry crumple after dropping the blade. The enchantment had awarded Perry strength beyond his own abilities, and for that there was a cost.

“Sir Perry, I am sorry to have offended you, but—”

“Don’t you dare!”

Perry reached down with his other arm and picked up his sword, feeling new vigor move through him. Bitter, murderous eyes glared at Telhari and sought to undo him. Was this really the same person?

“Do you think I don’t know what your kind are capable of? That you’re avoiding using your magic against me?”

Suddenly, Perry sank low and rushed Telhari again. Orange sparks flew forth as their blades impacted one another. Perry leaned in, pressing Telhari with an absurd amount of strength, despite wielding the blade with only one arm.

“Use it,” he commanded. “I want you to know—!” Perry pushed forward, forcing Telhari on the defensive and sending him backwards. “I want you to know that I am better than you, even with your magic!”

“Sir Perry!”

The familiar voice forced Perry to stop his advance. He turned behind him to see Ingrid riding toward them on horseback. Behind her was a crowd of onlookers, but Perry paid them no mind. As soon as she came within a few yards of the group, Ingrid dismounted and ran over to Perry.

“Don’t bother with your reprimanding Ingrid, this duel does not concern you.”

“Sir Perry, I beg you to reconsider. If you continue in this way—”

Perry laughed.

“Your concern would be greatly appreciated, Ingrid, if it wasn’t so insulting.” He turned from her and addressed Telhari. “Do you see? I cannot help but incur repeated insults on your behalf, Master Telhari.”

“Perry, stop!”

He ignored her words and charged forward.

Telhari brought up his blade to fend him off; but the strike never came.

Perry stopped mid swing and gripped his chest. He then cried out in pain and fell to his knee.

“Argh!”

“Uncle!”

Ellis ran towards him at full speed.

“How many times do I have to tell you, Ellis!?” Perry roared.

Ellis froze in his tracks.

“My idiot nephew who never listens!” Perry struggled to a standing position and held the sword out in front of him. “My idiot nephew, who would rather listen to a stranger than his own uncle!?”

“That’s not true—”

“My idiot nephew!” Perry cut in, “Who would defy me at every turn— despite everything I have done for him!” Perry stood up tall, his eyes wide with pain and anger. “Who thinks of an elfkin more as a father than the man who raised him!?”

“Sir Perry, please,” Ingrid called to him, “If we continue anymore in public, there will be consequences!”

More and more people were gathering— close to fifty now. More townsfolk and merchants had come to see the commotion. A caravan of armored men had arrived as well; almost two dozen men that Ingrid did not recognize. If they were town militia, they made no effort to interfere. But, regardless of their spectacle, Ingrid was worried for Perry’s safety. She could tell that he was not well. She had seen him in countless battles against seemingly impossible odds, and yet he always pulled through. Who was this man who had pushed him so far?

“Sir Perry,” Telhari said, “It was never my intention to undermine you, and for that I am deeply sorry. But I must agree— to continue any further could cost you your life.”

“Uncle, please…”

Ellis’ eyes darted back and forth as he spoke; Perry was bleeding from his face, from his shoulder where Telhari had stabbed him, and now from his nose. He had never seen his uncle so ragged and the thought of him dying was terrifying.

“Some things cannot be solved with words, Ellis,” Perry said in a low voice. He then drew in a slow breath and dashed forward again.

Clang!

Telhari parried him with more ease this time; despite his rage, Perry was losing strength.

“STOP! PLEASE!”

Ellis cried out to his uncle, but he did not hear.

Perry drew back his blade and prepared to stab but cut himself short as he was overcome with a sudden wave of pain.

The enchantment was too strong.

Perry had no skill with magic and thus could not adjust or control the spell that was bound to his blade, if in fact he even realized it was there. Telhari had underestimated the skill of the craftsman— this was no simple enchantment. Whatever it was, it would continue to draw strength from Perry until there was nothing left. Even if it meant certain death, he would continue to swing that sword until his last breath.

Telhari stooped low and slashed once again at Perry’s arm, trying to make him drop the blade.

Clang!

Perry intercepted with his injured arm, managing to bring it up in time to block the strike. Unfortunately, the gauntlet was damaged from the prior attack, and so Telhari’s blade cut through it completely— right through to flesh and bone.

If Perry was capable of feeling the pain, he did not let it show. He pulled back just enough to allow himself room to swing at Telhari once again. Telhari avoided the path of the blade by stepping back. He could see Perry fighting the pain in his body, but he could also feel something else.

Perry’s life was fading.

The enchantment was consuming him.

Telhari had no idea offhandedly of how to break the enchantment, but if he could manage to incapacitate Perry, then it might not matter.

Clang!

Telhari parried the next strike with extra force, trying to create as much of an opening as possible. And, in that moment of pause, Telhari began to weave his spell. The air started to hum as myriad colors danced across the surface of his blade.

Ellis felt a surge of heat run through him; he knew Telhari was casting magic. More so than that, he knew what Telhari was capable of. If Telhari used magic on Perry, he would kill him!

“Too slow, elfkin!” Perry shouted. He gripped the handle of his blade with all his might and cried out as he cut downward, aiming for Telhari’s neck—

The high-pitched cry of steel rang out into the air.

Perry blinked repeatedly at the scene before him. Then, his arm began to shake.

Normally, he would have fought Telhari and pushed against him in a contest of strength. But he suddenly found himself unable to advance, focused instead on the boy who stood in front of him.

Ellis had ran into the fray and managed to position himself between both Telhari and Perry. He stood there with his blade drawn— the tip of it pointed towards Telhari’s chest.

Stolen novel; please report.

Telhari looked down at Ellis and stared into his eyes.

“Master Telhari,” Ellis said calmly, “Please don’t attack my uncle anymore.”

Perry was stunned. He wanted to scream at Ellis for doing something so dangerous but, before he could speak, he choked on his own words. Perry clenched his jaw so hard he thought his teeth might shatter. The lump in his chest grew heavier and he squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t bear to look at his nephew.

His idiot nephew, who had jumped in front of his uncle to protect him.

His idiot nephew, who didn’t seem to notice Perry’s blade inches away from his neck— intercepted and held at bay by Telhari’s own sword.

His idiot nephew who seemed —despite all his best efforts— to take after his idiot uncle.

Telhari felt the weight of Perry’s blade lighten as he slowly and carefully lifted it away from Ellis. Ellis didn’t move, nor did he seem to notice; he continued to stand his ground against Telhari. Only after Telhari’s blade was completely at his side did Ellis finally relax his body.

Telhari sheathed his sword and stepped back from the two of them.

“As you wish.”

Ellis let his sword fall to the ground. He then turned to Perry and hugged him tightly.

“Careful!” Perry scolded him as he yanked the sword away from his body to keep it clear of Ellis.

Perry then let his own sword fall from his hand; free from the weight of its steel, he put his arm around Ellis and held him tight.

“There is no need to cry, Ellis…”

“I’m not!” he sobbed.

Perry ran through all the things he wished to say in his head but had no energy to say them. If Ellis hadn’t been holding onto him, he would have collapsed onto the ground. Instead, he locked eyes with Telhari, and a wordless understanding passed between them.

Ellis peeled himself away from Perry and turned to Telhari.

“I’m sorry for lying to you,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done it.” Then, he turned back to Perry. “All of this trouble is my fault, uncle. I should have listened to what you told me.”

“Ellis!”

Marry called out to him as she jogged over.

“Mary, I— ”

“Idiot!”

“OW!”

Ellis cried out as Mary kicked him in the shin.

“Don’t kick me!”

“Then don’t do stupid things! Who jumps in front of someone when they’re swingin’ a sword!?”

“I was trynna stop Telhari from turning everyone into ice!”

Telhari raised an eyebrow.

“What was you gonna do if he actually used that spell!? You’d be frozen just like everyone else!”

“I don’t know!?” Ellis cried out in frustration, “I just did it! I’ve been training you know!?”

“Not nearly enough for that!”

“I think…” Perry spoke suddenly and with a heavy voice. “That if my nephew has the confidence to raise his sword in a duel, then he must have a very competent teacher.”

Ellis smiled wide and nodded his head.

Perry patted Ellis on the head.

“I hope you know, Ellis, that even if you don’t agree, all I’ve ever wanted is for you to be safe.”

“I know, uncle. That’s why I will do as you ask. I’ll stay in the library and learn from Avenell and the others.”

Perry shook his head.

“No, I don’t think you will.”

“But…”

“I thought that I was the best person to keep you safe. The best person to teach you,” Perry said, “But now, I think that there is someone stronger than me who would be better suited for that task.” Perry looked up at Telhari. “If you would forgive my actions, I would ask that you continue to train my nephew.”

“Really!?” Ellis and Mary cried out in unison.

“I would be honored, Sir Perry Mannigold.”

“Are you sure!?” Ellis blurted out. “What about the tutor?”

“He wasn’t a very good teacher to begin with. If you managed to fool him for weeks, he can’t have been worth the cost.”

Mary covered her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh.

Ellis didn’t care. He scooped up his sword off the ground and started swinging it in the air— fighting imaginary enemies.

“Ellis, I don’t think now is the best time for that—”

Telhari cut his words short as he felt a chill run up his spine. He looked immediately over his shoulder, his gaze piercing into the tree line. There was a flurry of high-pitched cawing as a murder of crows took off from the canopy. Whatever sensation he thought he had felt was gone, if it had ever been there to begin with. Perhaps he was just imagining things.

Mary jogged off after Ellis as he continued to swing at the air.

“Ellis, quit it! People are lookin’ at you funny!”

Telhari smiled at the two of them as they continued to bicker. Soon, though, his attention turned to Perry, who was now entirely supported by both Ingrid and Avenell.

“You must rest, Sir Perry.”

“I can walk on my own, Avenell.”

“Listen to him, Sir Perry. You’ve overexerted yourself.”

Perry snorted.

“Overexerted myself? You make me sound as if I’m some senile old man.”

“I think that you should heed their concerns,” Telhari said as he walked over. “Your wounds extend beyond the physical.”

All three of them gave Telhari a curious look, but before he could elaborate, they were interrupted by the sound of an approaching horse.

“Sir Perry Mannigold of the Starspawn Guild?”

The voice came from a burly man who sat in rugged, studded leather armor atop a large horse. The man swung his leg over the saddle and landed on the ground with a thud. He had a large ax at his hip, whose sharp edge was nicked and browned with dried blood. It was immediately evident why this man needed such a large mount as he himself was massive— only a few inches shorter than Telhari but considerably more dense and muscular. He had a shaved head and large beard that was tangled; countless scars ran across his weather tanned skin.

Perry leveled a gaze at him.

“And how may I address you, Sir…?”

“Julius. No ‘Sir’,” he said, looking down at Perry and smiling. “And you are?” the man asked, turning his eyes toward Ingrid.

She scowled at him.

“Dame Ingrid Helvenin, daughter of Kara Helvenin.”

His lips peeled away from his teeth.

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman in armor before.”

Ingrid glared at Julius. However innocent it may have appeared on the surface, there was an unmistakable condescension lingering just beneath his words. Perry could sense Ingrid’s anger and moved himself between the two of them.

“Is there something we can assist you with?”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“Nothing you can offer me, Sir Perry of the Starspawn.” Julius put his hand on the hilt of his ax. “But you…” he said, turning towards Telhari.

Perry lifted himself from Ingrid and stood square to Julius.

“And what business would you have with that man?”

“Man!?” Julius laughed, holding a hand on either side of his head and waggling them back and forth. “Do you see those ears?”

He continued to laugh to himself; neither Perry nor Telhari said a word.

“Ahh…no.” Julius continued, “I know who you are, Telhari Lindhathal.”

At the mention of his clan name, Julius succeeded in getting Telhari’s attention. There were only a few circumstances in which this name would be known to an outsider, and none of them were likely to bode well.

“Forgive me, but I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

“No, no,” Julius wagged his finger, “You and I have never had the pleasure of meeting in person.”

“Then how do you know who I am?”

“I served as a general under the Scarlet Banner of Dardanus, conqueror of the West.”

An arc of blue light cut through the air, tracing the path of Telhari’s blade as he pulled it from its sheath.

Immediately, Julius held his arms up in surrender.

“No need for hostility,” he swore, “In truth, I would like to thank you.”

Telhari remained at the ready.

“Thank me?”

“When you and your forces drew Dardanus to Torsden’s Rift, it gave me the opportunity to finally escape.”

“You betrayed Dardanus?”

Julius laughed out loud.

“Only a fool marches against the Silver Mountains. Besides, there is no winning against Thunderblade and Frostwind, is there?”

Telhari relaxed himself and re-sheathed his blade.

“So, you left your king to die?”

“Dardanus was no king,” Julius said with a glare. “He never understood how to lead his people. He never understood their desires. We were only ever bound to him by promise of payment. Something he would not be able to provide to us if his head were no longer attached to his body.” Julius tapped his chin as he thought. “Although, I am curious. How did that old man die? It was you who killed him, no?”

Telhari tightened his jaw.

“Dardanus died an honorable death on the field of battle.”

“Don’t lie!” Julius groaned loudly, “I bet he died pissing and shitting like the rest of them.” Julius folded his arms, turned away from the group and started walking back towards the crowd. “I give you my thanks for killing him, Telhari Lindhathal. Now, I am free to do as I please.”

Telhari watched Julius as he sauntered back to his caravan, leaving them in silence.

“Ignore that man,” Perry said. “Come. Let us return to the barracks. A hot meal and a warm bed are the least I can offer you.”

With the fighting over, those who had gathered to watch were beginning to lose interest. Slowly, bit by bit, they began to break off into groups of two or three— chatting among themselves about what they had seen. Julius and his caravan headed north along the main road, causing their own commotion as they went. The merchants took their carts south as they had planned to do before their attention had been captured, eying Sir Perry and Telhari while they passed. Dozens of other onlookers shuffled around, exchanging comments before finally disappearing back through the southern gate. Only one man seemed to linger before turning away from the scene; he drew up his hood and walked soundlessly through the streets, while the red gem of his necklace gleamed in the afternoon sun.