Relma went looking for Ajax when he stalked off, worried about how things would go for him.

She found him sharpening the sword he had yet to use. His eyes were bloodshot, and his shoulders were shaking. Had he been crying? That didn't seem like him. Fortunately, there was no one around to see.

She put a hand on his shoulder. "Ajax, are you alright?"

"I lost the match. I... how could I lose?" said Ajax.

Relma shifted. "You lost to Ergath."

"I won that fight!" snapped Ajax. "I beat him within an inch of his life and forced him to flee! I just collapsed afterward!" He paused. "And it was different! I am my Father's favored son and was defeated in front of everyone."

"Garrick more or less cheated," said Relma. "It just happened to not be against the rules."

"It doesn't matter," snapped Ajax. "I've been shamed in front of everyone. Whoever wins this tournament will have their prowess displayed for all to see. And those who are beaten will be humiliated.

"I have been humiliated."

"I'm pretty sure they exaggerated how big this tournament would be, Ajax," said Relma. "The turnout for competition has been a bit underwhelming. Besides, I'm not sure anyone other than you or Frederick could have taken out Garrick. It was just your bad luck; you ran into him in the first round." She felt Garrick was one of the most dangerous people in the tournament. Cheating aside.

"It doesn't matter," said Ajax. "I was still knocked out in the first round."

"Well, it was actually a terrific fight, if that helps," said Relma.

"It doesn't," said Ajax. "Now, leave me alone."

Relma shifted. "Sorry."

And she walked away, feeling bad for him.

She got back to the stands and sat down next to Estela. Her friend looked at Relma in surprise. "Where have you been? The fight is about to start."

"Who is up?" asked Relma, not wanting to answer.

"Varsus," said Estela. "He's fighting against Frederick."

Davian came forward. "Good people from far and wide! Today we have a battle between new and old! Experience and youth! Human against halfling!

"On the one side, we have an heir of the Gabriel family. A knight who seized ship after ship from the Calishans in war, who could only be held back from the war for the sake of duty! Well, he means to make up for it here! I give you Varsus Gabriel!"

Varsus came forward, wearing a sword and a shield. He wore a helm that hid most of his features. Then Davian motioned to the other side, where Frederick was clad for war.

"And on the other, we have one of the most famed knights. A valiant veteran of the Black Marshes and a dozen other campaigns! A victor of a dozen tournaments! His name is renowned among the Black Watch as a living legend! But does he have what it takes to win the Tournament of Kings!

"I give you, Sir Frederick!"

The cheers were deafening. Higher, even than they had been during the fight between Ajax and Garrick. "Frederick! Frederick! Frederick! Frederick!" cried many citizens.

"They seem to hold this halfing in high regard," said William.

"Sir Frederick is among the greatest knights of Gel Carn," said Saphra as she filed her fingernails. "Underestimating him wouldn't be smart. He recently removed a large gang of bandits and slew them all singlehanded."

"Impressive," said Joseph Korlac, who was sitting with them. "But I'm told Varsus is very skilled with the blade."

"He's a master," said William. "He sailed with my mentors, Raynald and Rusara. They fought several actions against Calishan pirates together. Then, during the Khasmir Campaign, he was an administrator for our supply lines. Father tells me he did very well for himself."

Now the two of them were coming forward. Their blades were drawn. "I suppose I ought to say something," said Varsus. "But I have no true desire to bluster or make speeches."

"Then let our blades speak for us," said Frederick.

And then they fought.

They fought conservatively. Very conservatively, actually. They seemed to be taking each other's measure, Testing the other's defense. And then they began in earnest. First, Varsus attacked with a flurry of blows, which Frederick parried and deflected. Then they slowed to a halt. Frederick made a few probing attacks, trying to incite Varsus to pursue. Varsus replied with feints.

The crowd was getting bored.

"Varsus is doing remarkably well," said Joseph, dripping with politeness.

"He was always very skilled with a sword," said William. "He gave me a few pointers when I was younger."

"Are you better than him?" asked Relma.

"Well, Raynald taught me to attack aggressively," said William. "My mother instructed me in defensive tactics. But Varsus is all about redirecting and using his enemies' offensive against him.

"Only Raynald ever beat him. Though Mother never fought with him at all."

"Well, that explains things," said Saphra. "Frederick has exactly the same style."

"So let me see if I have this straight," said Reginald. "We've got two master swordsmen, both focusing on defense. And they are both trying to incite each other into attacking."

"Which means the loser of this fight will be the one who gets bored and walks away first," said Joseph.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I expect that will be the audience," said Saphra.

"Well, Varsus has a longer reach," said William. "So he'll stand a better chance than Frederick if he goes on the assault."

Relma looked to where Ronald was watching. He was holding his wolf and Frederick's, petting them as the fight continued.

"It's a bluff," said a voice.

Relma looked up to see Ajax entering to sit down. "Ajax? What are you doing up here?"

"I've fought Frederick before. He's far more than he appears," said Ajax. "He makes heavy use of theatrics. He'd never let something like this bore the crowd unless it helped." He sniffed. "What smell?"

"What smell?" asked Relma.

"Iosos," said Ajax. "Someone here has Iosos."

"What's that?" asked Relma.

"A poison. One meant to slow the body down," said Ajax. "Someone might be able to cheat with it."

"Well, neither seems to be slowing down," said Relma, looking to the feint.

Saphra leaned forward and rested her head on her chin. "...This is certainly boring."

"Fight already!" someone called.

"Couldn't you get your cousin to get things going?" asked Saphra.

"No point. Varsus always chooses the most efficient way of going about things," said William. "That's why he's never gone on a campaign. His talent for organizing supply lines makes him more valuable off the battlefield of battle.

"He doesn't really care what the crowd thinks as long as he wins."

"And Frederick is trying to make him get frustrated and attack," said Relma. "We're going to be here a while, aren't we?"

"Quite possibly. Frederick isn't fooling enough to exhaust himself," said Reginald. "And Varsus is too defensive."

"At this rate, we're going to have to skip one of the fights today," said Joseph.

And then Frederick burst into action. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, fighting like a berserker. Varsus was forced to retreat beneath the attack and nearly lost his grip on the sword. The crowd broke into cheers as Frederick won several glancing blows. Then he brought down his sword. It rang against Varsus' helm, and William's cousin fell to one knee. He rose, shaking, and took another defensive stance. Reginald put his face in his hands.

"Oh, come on, Varsus!" said Reginald. "You're supposed to heat things up, not cool them back down!"

Frederick attacked again, and Varsus was forced to yield ground. Frederick made showy attacks, and Varsus struggled to hold him back. However, he never scored a winning strike or knocked Varsus from his feet.

"So that's what he's doing," said Joseph.

"Hmm," said Saphra.

"Varsus realized that he couldn't compete with Frederick directly," said Joseph. "But he also knew that Frederick would eventually feel obligated to make a show of things. He probably deduced that from his spectacular entrance.

"So he calculated that Frederick would cave first."

Judging from how Frederick slams him around, Relma wondered if it did any good. It really was very one-sided. The crowd liked this a lot more than they liked the previous exchange. But there was still an air of disappointment.

"This really isn't very sporting, is it?" asked Relma.

"What do you expect?" asked Reginald. "It's Varsus! Once, a red dragon had flown in from the south and gone to Brisgald. It demanded that it be placated with livestock to eat, or it would pillage the countryside.

"Everyone asked his father to do something about it. Varsus' response was to get the damn thing adopted as a sister. Though Auga never liked me.

"He takes all the fun out of our profession."

On it went until finally, they halted. Varsus shaking, and Frederick calm and in control. They said something, and the words didn't reach them. Relma looked up. "Reginald, what happened to Ham anyway?"

"The idiot got put in prison," said Reginald. "He'll be there for the rest of the tournament. I had to talk his men out of staging a rescue."

"Oh," said Relma. Well, at least Ham's men were willing to rescue him.

Then she realized Varsus and Frederick were walking in opposite directions. "What's going on?"

"Ladies and gentlemen!" said Davian. "The fighters are calling a rest!"

"Well, isn't that nice for them," said Saphra. "Is this fight ever going to end?"

"Varsus isn't much concerned with people's opinions of him," said William. "Though I don't see why he agreed to the rest."

"They both probably want the rest," said Joseph. "Frederick is tiring, but Varsus is taking a serious beating. So he probably wants to adjust his strategy."

Frederick went over to Ronald and spoke with him. After a moment, Ronald handed Frederick a flask from the wolf's pack. Frederick drank of it.

Relma felt someone looking at her. Glancing up, she saw the black knight from before sitting down in the corner. Her hands were on her poleaxe, which was in front of her. Looking back to the ring, Relma wondered why she had moved.

This time the two charged straight at each other and began attacking all out. Relma wondered why. Then it occurred.

"Finally, the real fight is starting!" said Reginald.

"Actually, it ended with the rest," said Joseph. "Varsus has realized that Frederick will win against him. Even if Varsus is taking the defensive. This is as an attempt to salvage some audience interest."

"Come on, Frederick, beat him down!" called Relma.

Frederick seemed to be doing just that. But William was silent. Relma looked at him in surprise. "Aren't you going to cheer for your cousin?"

"Please," scoffed William.

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Relma.

"It's beneath my dignity to make such a scene," said William.

"Well, that's a bit elitist," said Relma.

"Of course it is," said William. "I am an elite."

"When were you knighted anyway?" asked Relma.

"I don't see how that is any of your concern," said William.

Defensive, wasn't he?

"Look! Varsus is going on the offensive!" said Reginald. "He's driving Frederick back!" Relma turned and thought Frederick must have been feigning it out of courtesy. But he genuinely seemed to be struggling. Mere moments ago, he had been dominating. But now he was staggering, hardly holding together.

Varsus slowed to a halt.

Then Frederick surged forward. He knocked aside Varsus' blade and slammed him with one shoulder. Varsus staggered back and fell to the ground.

"So he was feigning his strength lagging," said Joseph. "Clever."

"No," said Ajax. "Frederick would never use that kind of tactic. Theatrics are one thing. He doesn't make surprise attacks. Look."

Frederick had collapsed to one knee. He was gasping for air. He could hardly stay on his feet and was supporting himself on his sword. Maybe he'd overdone it. Relma hoped that was it.

"Do you wish to forfeit?" asked Varsus, his tone concerned.

Frederick mastered himself. He rose and raised his sword. "I forfeit to no man or god."

Deafening cheers came. Varsus nodded and rushed at him. Yet Frederick slammed into his legs and sent him sprawling. His blade flew from his grip to clatter a few feet away. Varsus scrambled to grab his sword before Frederick closed in. Frederick could have beaten him there.

But he let him rise.

"You really should cheer for your cousin," said Relma.

William looked up from where he was scratching the ears of his chimera. "Massacre, cheer on my behalf."

Massacre arose and roared with her lion head. Her dragon head sent forth a wave of fire, and Relma ducked. It passed overhead, and Relma felt the heat on her face.

"Thank you," said William.

"Bah," said the goat head.

"How did you befriend a chimera anyway?" asked Relma.

"Thank you for assuming I befriended her," said William. "Everyone I meet assumes Massacre is a tame chimera. Which isn't true in any sense of the word."

"He healed her after she was mortally wounded by satyrs," said Saphra.

William looked up in surprise. "How did you know that?"

"Well, I have read your book," said Saphra. "If you didn't want people to know your life story, releasing it in written form was short-sighted, dear." William flinched. "...What is it?"

"Nothing, you just reminded me of someone," said William.

"Arraxia?" asked Saphra.

"Well, yes," said William.

"Good. I was deliberately trying to raise memories of your scarring," said Saphra. "I enjoy the sight of other people in mental anguish."

"You are terrible, Saphra De Chevlon," said William.

"One does one's best," said Saphra.

The Frederick had continued. But Varsus became more and more reluctant to attack. While Frederick's movements became sloppier. Several times he nearly fell to his knees. And finally, he did fall and couldn't rise again.

"What's going on?" asked Reginald.

"Frederick, he's keeling over," said Relma.

"I know that! Why?" said Reginald.

"He must have fought too hard," said William.

"No," said Ajax. "Frederick has a lot of endurance. The way he's slowing down isn't natural."Davian came forward in concern. "Would you care for rest, sir?"

"Yes... I... I believe I've been poisoned..." gasped Frederick.

And then he collapsed.

"Frederick!" cried Relma. She was not the only one to yell.