Relma turned her attention to the field as Davian came forward. It was Ajax and Garrick up now, and she was looking forward to the match. "My friends! Today in the ring before you are two beings of an exotic and foreign nature! They are two feral powers that have no equal in savagery or ruthlessness! On the one side, the stoic winner of the archery contest, wielding a sword as long as he is tall, I give you Garrick Estov! A Knight of the Coin!"

Garrick came forward to thunderous applause. He held his massive sword in one hand, as of yet unsheathed. Then he drew it out and spun it around one-handed before finally taking a stance.

Cheers echoed ever higher. Obviously, they were looking forward to seeing the fight as well.

"Go, Garrick!" someone yelled.

"Victory for the wolves of Telix," said someone else.

"And in the other, a mix of wolf and demon, a fiend that stalks the forests. One who nearly brought death to the Heir of Kings herself!" said Davian. "Ajax!"

No one came forward. Relma shifted. "Where is he?"

And then Ajax sprang over the stands and landed on one knee before Garrick. His head was bowed, and a brown cloak was flowing about him, which was quickly thrown aside. Cheers came as well, but there were also some boos.

People still remember the recent conflict.

"Well, that was needlessly dramatic," said Estela.

"They're booing him," noted Saphra.

"Go Ajax!" called Relma, running to the edge. "Crush him!"

Ajax glanced up and smiled. Relma smiled back, then turned to see everyone glaring at her.

"What? Garrick's a jerk. He got m- a perfectly innocent young girl shot in the chest!"

"Yes," said Estela. "That's why I want him to win. I want to crush him myself."

For a moment, silence reigned between Garrick and Ajax. Finally, the wolf boy rose to his feet and drew his sword. He was clad in light armor of lighter. Garrick, likewise, was dressed in heavy black leather. The dust elf began to circle him, and Ajax did the same.

"This will be a new experience for me. I have never fought a demon before," said Garrick.

"I haven't fought a dust elf," said Ajax. "Tell me, are you planning to swing that weapon? Or is it just for show?"

"Oh, true enough, this blade would be rather cumbersome. If it were ordinary," admitted Garrick, lowering it. "But, it is not."

And then Garrick surged forward with lightning speed. He unleashed a flurry of blows, any one of which could split a man in half. With each strike, there was a sound like thunder. But Ajax ducked and weaved, hardly seeming to move as they fought. Finally, they separated.

"He's fast with that, isn't he," said Estela.

"Ajax is keeping up with him fine, though," said Relma.

Finally, Garrick made a wide swing. Ajax ducked under it and charged, throwing aside his sword.

"I'll start slow, dust elf!"

And then he punched Garrick across the face. The elf rolled with the punch but was sent staggering backward as Ajax slashed at him with his claws. Garrick recovered, only to find Ajax behind him, bringing around a roundhouse kick.

Garrick was sent tumbling through the dirt. Yet even as he slowed to a halt, he rose to his feet. Ajax pivoted on his feet, claws and fangs bared. "What's the matter, mortal?! Can't you keep up?!"

"Your concern is unnecessary," said Garrick, blood dripping from his face.

"Concern?!" laughed Ajax. "Don't flatter yourself! You're boring me!"

He charged and left behind a wave of dirt kicked up by his onslaught. But Garrick brought around his sword. Ajax moved to dodge, but the elf redirected the blade in mid-motion and came from another away.

Ajax backflipped away, clawing Garrick across the cheek before landing. A sweat drip went down his brow, and he wiped it away.

"You make far too much use of acrobatics," said Garrick. "You neglect your footing."

"And you don't make enough," said Ajax, grinning widely. "You can swing that sword around all day, but it will never connect with me."

Garrick raised his sword. And on it was a single lock of silver hair. Ajax felt his head and then clenched his fists in rage.

The wolf demon surged forward, and there was a flurry of blows. Then Garrick was kicked in the back and landed hard. Ajax landed on one leg and waited for him to get up. Boos came from the crowd.

"Hey, quiet!" said Relma. "Ajax hasn't done anything to deserve that!"

"Stop wasting your time. He's a rival power and part demon," said William. "They'll boo if they want to."

"Garrick hasn't been taking this seriously yet," said Felix.

"Come off it," said Saphra. "You always take combat seriously. Even if it is just a tournament."

"Garrick hasn't been trying to pursue Ajax when he drives him off," said Felix. "He's reasonably intelligent. So he has probably calculated that pursuing Ajax won't work for him."

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"Well, extending the duel as long as possible is traditional," said William. "He might be trying to tire him."

"Perhaps," said Felix. "But there is something more to this."

The fight, which had been continuing, came to a halt. Garrick and Ajax were both breathing heavily. But Garrick had bruises and several cuts.

"I admit, your bluster is not unfounded. You are talented," said Garrick. "So, I will use my full strength for this."

"Looking forward to it," said Ajax. Then, it will be smooth sailing.

Garrick raised his sword skyward, and everyone went silent. Yet nothing seemed to happen. A slight breeze blew through the tournament, but that was it.

Saphra rolled her eyes. "What absolute nonsense."

"Hmm?" said Relma.

The breeze wasn't stopping; indeed, it was gaining strength. Relma felt her hair flowing to one side.

"There is no such thing as using 'your full strength' in combat," said Saphra. "This is nothing more than meaningless posing. I either favor you, or I don't."

"Well, obviously," said William. "It's showmanship. The crowd likes it that way."

"I don't. I'd much rather have them fight without talking," said Saphra. "And to death. And instead of knights, we can put all my enemies in the tournament.

"Instead of fighting, we can just have them killed before me. We may as well just make it a mass execution."

The wind was getting louder and stronger, almost a gale. Garrick spun his sword one-handed while Ajax kept his stance, both waiting for the first move. Relma pulled her cloak closer around her.

"Well, you aren't the crowd, milady," said William.

"Yes, I suppose they are poorly educated," said Saphra.

"What?!" said William, voice blurring out.

Relma could hear nothing else.

Then Garrick's voice called out and could be heard everywhere. A storm was now forming around him. Ajax was forced to shield his face as the swirling vortex kicked up the dust. "Winds of the Dusk Lands! I call upon you!"

And then a wave of surge surged toward Ajax, carrying with it dirt and grass. Ajax rolled aside, only to be blown back. He struggled to keep his feet as the winds grew faster and faster.

"So that's how he did it," said William, having come forward.

The winds were now focusing on the arena alone. Or so Relma guessed as to why she could hear him. "What do you mean?"

"The Dusk Lands are the domain of the Dust Elves," said William. "They are between Escor and Gel Carn, and they are home to some of the most powerful winds in Harlenor.

"He must have made a bargain with a wind spirit. A mighty one at that."

"Is that legal?" asked Relma.

"I don't believe it is illegal," admitted William.

Then, Ajax was caught by the winds and pulled into the air. He struggled to break free of them but to no avail, as he was raised into the air. And then Ajax howled. The howl broke through the winds, chilling Relma to the bone. For a moment, she thought his eyes were glowing and some force was behind him.

Then, the winds were broken and sent away. Ajax landed on the ground and stood unsteadily. Then he chuckled. "Winds are all well and good. But you need a spirit to use them. And I can strike at the source.

"I am part demon, after all.

"Now, let me show you what happens when the descendants of Telix get serious!"

Then he howled again and surged at Garrick. Yet this time, no wolf boy but a ferocious beast attacked the elf. Garrick needed help to defend himself. But then the winds returned and forced Ajax to break off his assault.

Ajax redoubled his efforts a moment later. A fist grazed Garrick's face, and the Dust Elf rolled with the momentum. Spinning through the air, he landed on both feet and struck. Ajax leaped over the blow and got behind him, only to block an elbow from Garrick.

Then the sword fell again. Ajax rolled away from it, and they circled one another as the crowds cheered.

"What did he do?" asked Relma.

"There are two components to all magic," said William. "The will, the vessel, and the source. The caster's will is how the spell is directed and maintained. Without it, nothing can be done. The vessel is the specific means of bringing magic into the world.

"In Garrick's case, his sword.

"The source-"

"Hey, you're distracting from the fight," said Estela. "Shut up."

"I'm interested," said Relma.

"Well, no one else is," said Estela.

Garrick summoned another whirlwind and sent it against Ajax. But Ajax howled again, and the winds seemed to meet a wall. Relma stared awestruck and realized that no one in the crowd was saying a word.

"How can he counter the winds by howling?" she asked.

"I was just getting to that," said William. "The source is the spirit, demon, or god that provides the means of the effect. In this case, Telix.

"Ajax's source is in his blood. So he's probably using the power to counteract the spell."

Relma looked back. "Hey, Estela, remember back when Lightning Trail was drawn?"

"Yes, what of it?" asked Estela.

"Remember all that howling by Telix and his wolves?" asked Relma. "Everyone nearly broke and ran before we'd even started fighting. Maybe Telix has the power to subjugate other people's wills.

"So maybe he's striking directly at the will of the wind spirit."

"Well, he is the son of a god of order. So subjugation is part of the domain," said William.

Finally, Garrick and Ajax stood across from one another. Both of their chests were weaving with exhaustion. Their eyes were locked. Garrick tried to raise his sword but fell forward and had to support himself.

Ajax tried to take advantage but fell to one knee.

"...You are skilled, half-demon," gasped Garrick.

"I'm a quarter demon. Also, a quarter god," said Ajax. "And half wolf."

"You are skilled, half-wolf," said Garrick, narrowing his eyes. "Few indeed have managed to counter me so effectively. Unfortunately, my winds are dying down.

"But you, too, are nearing exhaustion.

"Let us finish this in one final charge." And he arose.

Ajax stood. "Sounds fair to me. Let's go."

The winds began to kick up. Ajax's eyes flared again. One could feel the tenseness in the air. See the power gathering for one final bout that would determine the winner of this match.

"This is it," said Relma.

This was going to be amazing.

Garrick and Ajax charged toward one another in a mutual charge. Ajax howled, and the wind howled against him. Then Garrick stepped to one side and stuck out his sword, so Ajax tripped over the blade's flat. Ajax crashed into the ground at breakneck speed.

He struggled to rise as the winds faded. But Garrick put his sword to Ajax's throat. "Victory is mine."

Ajax stared at him. "You cheated."

Boos resounded from the crowd. A lot of people disagreed with the ending.

"I said 'one' final charge," said Garrick. "You made a charge, and I tripped you up. It wouldn't be my affair if you misunderstood." He looked to Davian. "Call the match."

Davian looked around. "This is a bit anticlimactic. People want a climax."

"I don't see how that's my problem," said Garrick.

The booing got louder. Davian looked around helplessly. "As Ajax is defeated, Garrick is the winner!"

"Damn it!" said Relma, slamming her fist against the railing. "I hate that guy!"

So much for the hero winning; this was a terrible ending.