Eirik could not believe what he was hearing. "Could you repeat that? I don't think I heard you correctly." Eirik said hesitantly.

"I wish to finish the duel we began so long ago!" Tai'Tanu said again, more demanding this time.

"You can't be serious! You are standing with one foot in the grave already, you can barely walk, and I doubt you could hurt me, even if you tried. What is this about, Tai'Tanu? There is no honor in killing an opponent that is already standing at death's door. So what is your real agenda here?" Eirik protested. He had a suspicion about the point of this, but he wanted to be sure

"Who says I am not going to let my daughter fight in my place?" Tai'Ta nu asked innocently, but Eirik barked a sharp laugh in response, "Please, I already bested your daughter using nothing more than a child's practice weapon. Are you that eager to lose?"

A half-smile formed on Tai'Tanu's face as Kyr'Tai looked away in shame. "It would seem you are adept at politics as well as combat. I am impressed, Eirik. I would not have thought you capable of that." Tai'Tanu remarked, the underhanded insult hitting home

"Like you didn't think that 500 soldiers could keep your collective armed forces at bay?" Eirik retorted and noted with satisfaction how Tai'Tanu's expression soured at his words. "Don't play word games if you can't take as well as you give." He continued but was interrupted by Olaf who came over to say goodnight, on Freja's bidding, and Eirik hugged his soon goodnight before he returned his attention to Tai'Tanu.

"You will have to forgive me. Being a parent is a job that never stops. As for your request, I am afraid I will have to decline. It would be an unworthy endeavor, killing someone so close to death and unable to offer more than a symbolic resistance. So, I ask again, what is your true reason for this request, Tai'Tanu?"

Tai'Tanu took time to meticulously clean her teeth with one of her claws before she replied in a tired voice, "I am dying, Eirik. I can feel old age gripping at me with every breath I take. I have spent the last year settling my unfinished affairs and you are the last on the list. My last great shame."

"You are right about the shame part" Eirik commented, but Tai'Tanu continued unfazed, "I shamed myself during our duel. I foolishly thought that you, like so many of your fellow Terrans, had no concept of true honor among warriors. But I was wrong, Eirik, emperor of Libertalia. You DO have honor. And I wish to seek penance for my betrayal, by facing you once more. I know I will lose. I know you will kill me without even having to try. And I still want to finish that duel. I wish to end my life, on my terms, with my honor fully restored."

Eirik was surprised. He had not expected that answer and it changed everything he thought he knew about this situation. "That... Is possibly the only thing you could say that would make me consider agreeing to your request." He said after a long pause. "But will this not incite your daughter to continue the struggle that you and I have nearly seen to the end? When you die, the biggest supporter of the ongoing war disappears from the Kloxna high caste politics. So why should I accept?"

Tai'Tanu dismissed the question with a casual wave of a claw, "She hates you more than I ever did. Her reasons escape me, except for the one you added not long ago, and as for the war, you saw how eager she was for a fight. She will continue the war to satisfy the battle hunger, with or without my approval. There is not a Kloxna alive among the high caste that can match her in combat and she is keenly aware of this. Watching her mere presence intimidate those useless idiots brings me great joy. I wonder if they had the same fearful look on their face whenever I entered the room, back in my prime..." She trailed off as she thought back to her days in power. These days, she saw the pity in the eyes of other Kloxna. The insult and hurt were worse than any she had ever felt, which was why she was here, now.

"So there is not any reason for me to decline, other than to spite you..." Eirik mused as he scratched the growing beard on his chin. "But I can respect that desire to restore lost honor. However, I will not have it happen here, this is my place of peace and tranquility and I will not have the stench of death foul up the atmosphere! But I accept your request to continue so long ago. On one condition."

"And what condition would that be?" Tai'Tanu asked impatiently, her attention now entirely on Eirik.

"I want you to rewatch the moment you lost your honor, alongside your daughter. I wish for you to remember, in great detail, the lost honor you are to regain. I wish for your daughter to understand how dishonor looks and to realize that while I have gotten older, same as you, instead of growing from a strong warrior in my late prime to a withering elder, I have barely felt the years pass. I have only grown marginally slower in this time, but I have grown stronger and developed a clearer mind as well. You saw the disciplining of your daughter not an hour ago," Kyr'Tai growled as Eirik spoke, his choice to not acknowledge it as a fight drawing her anger back to the surface.

"Would I have reacted with such calm the last time we fought?? Or would I have joined the battle trying to match fury with fury?" Eirik finished speaking and Tai'Tanu, who had gripped the table so hard her claws were digging into the wood, slowly nodded in acceptance, despite her reluctance to go through with it. She did not need anyone to remind her of her shame, but perhaps this was a fitting punishment. And Eirik's logic, twisted as it may be, made sense.

"Then, where?" She asked, her tail swinging impatiently behind her, but the answer came from Krisnu instead of Eirik, "You could do it on my farm. I do not mind and we have a proper arena set up for my daughter's combat training."

Tai'Tanu looked at Krisnu who did not lower her eyes but stared defiantly back in an open challenge, a stark contrast to the submissive low caste she was used to backing home. "And why would accept anything from a low caste?" She asked, clearly amused at the idea.

"Because a single message from me will prevent you from using anything else on this planet for your duel. I may just be a farmer, but I treat my neighbors with respect and kindness and they will support me if I ask them. And their friends and family will support them, and so on, leaving you with only my farm. So do you wish to accept now, or go through the trouble of getting rejected by everyone else before you ask me?" Krisnu was enjoying having the upper hand on a high caste, and the murderous look on Kyr'Tai's face, combined with the weird noises escaping Tai'Tanu only proved to elevate that enjoyment.

"Enjoy feeling superior while you can! Soon enough this planet will belong to the Kloxna and you will be back in your rightful place!" Kyr'Tai could no longer contain herself, but before anyone could do anything, Krisnu's 2 armed daughters raised the rifles and aimed them at Kyr'Tai, who once more became very aware that she was not the one in control, causing her to snap her maw shut as fast as she had opened it, preventing the tirade from going any further

"I accept," Tai'Tanu said hastily before things could escalate further. "When will this take place?"

Eirik thought about it for a moment. "2 days from now." He declared. "This will give you time to hold up your end of the deal and maybe, just maybe, try to mend the broken bonds with your eldest daughter. That IS why you thanked me earlier, right?"

Tiny as it was, he noticed the smile on Tai'Tanu's face. She never answered, just stood up from the table, thanked Eirik for the meal, and said she would return the day after to comply with his condition Kyr'Tai helped herself to a side of ribs and a handful of eggs on the way, but as they turned to leave, Eirik Called out, "Wait a moment, Tai'Tanu!"

The old Kloxna turned around and looked back at Eirik while Kyr'Tai was gawing on the ribs. "I would like you to send out the rest of your crew. Anyone that is not a high caste. I would like you to do it now, please."

"Is there a reason for this request?" Tai'Tanu replied curiously.

"None you need concern yourself with. Just send them out here." Eirik replied and waited for his wish to be fulfilled. It didn't take long and the crew looked around in fear and confusion, but the sight of other Kloxna low caste sitting at the table at least assured them they did not have to fear for their lives.

"You may be wondering why I wanted you all to gather here. Well, the reason is very simple. We have more food left than we can consume, and I wished to share the rest with you." He said loudly to the confused Kloxna ship crew, but when Krisnu and her daughters waved them over, they were quick to move to the table. Freja made Eirik help her move the rest of the prepared food out of the house and unto the table. It didn't take long for the table to be cleared of food, but Eirik was very pleased to see the crew of the Kloxna ship make a serious effort to ensure everyone got an equal amount of everything.

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In the short time, it took for the horde to clear the table, it was evident that several of the braver and more inquisitive crew members talked fast and seriously with Krisnu and her daughters, marveling at the stories they heard about life without fear of cruel leaders, plenty of food, no caste system, and a military that worked to secure their safety instead of forcing drafts and collecting all their food, and Eirik allowed himself a small smile. Sure, some of them would find ways to stay behind once this was set and done, but several of them would go home and tell stories about the generosity they had experienced here, and the willingness to share whatever surplus they had.

These stories would spread like wildfire, from planet to planet they would travel, causing a mass exodus of refugees and deserters to seek a new life in his empire. He would have to prepare for that, more planets had colonized to make room for everyone that wanted to own land, supply stores had to be enlarged, new ships captured, and border defenses increased. The mass of kloxna that would attempt to flee would force the high caste to react to maintain the illusion of control, and their response would most likely be swift and brutal. Of course, this was all speculation, but he based it on everything he knew about his enemy and their way of life.

Every time Kloxna had either joined his crew or his empire, their reasons had been the same. Search for freedom and security of life. Nothing more. Except for Las'Tai. She had joined because of a different kind of freedom. She wanted to be free from the chains of leadership and politics. And now, she was about to see her mother duel him to the death, for the second time in her life. He needed to talk to her about this and he needed to do it tonight, but it could wait until the guest crew had finished eating.

That didn't take long, the hunger of a people kept perpetually at the brink of starvation making short work of the overflowing table. While it would not be enough to make them all full, it was significantly more food than they usually got, and of much higher quality. They would all sleep well tonight, and since the ship they arrived on would remain until the duel had been completed, they did not have to worry about food-induced sleep getting them into trouble with Tai'Tanu or Kyr'Tai.

Once all the Kloxna had eaten and thanked Eirik so profusely that he had to ask them to stop, he helped Freja put the boys to bed before he signaled Las'Tai to follow him

He led her around the back of the house where a small campfire was located, surrounded by more logs for sitting, and Eirik took a seat. Las'Tai opted to stand and she looked at Eirik expectantly.

"Las'Tai, are you okay with this?" He asked bluntly. There was no need to sugarcoat this

Las'Tai looked at him in a way he had not seen before as she answered, "Eirik, didn't we already have this conversation?"

"That was different! She was capable of presenting a challenge back then. Tor's Beard, Las'Tai, she can barely walk!" Eirik protested. He had expected anything other than this ready acceptance.

"She is a Kloxna. Getting killed while atoning for previous dishonor is about as good a death as a Kloxna nearing the end of life can get. I am, in fact, both happy and thankful that you have accepted. It will be a good death for my mother, allowing her to enter the afterlife without shame. You have shown her great honor by giving her this final gift. Even more so, since you are a sworn enemy. I will have the last words with her tomorrow before she complies with your condition. It is something I thought I would not get to have, so you have bestowed me a great gift as well. Some day I will repay it."

With that, Las'Tai turned on her heel and walked back to the front of the house to catch a ride to Krisnu's farm. She preferred sleeping there whenever she made landfall, amongst her people. Eirik couldn't blame her for that, he would have been the same way if the roles were reversed.

He didn't leave the campfire immediately, instead sitting in the dark in front of the empty circle of stones and scorched earth. He didn't know how long he sat there, but at some point, Freja had made her way around the house and sat down next to him.

"What is troubling you?" She asked as she leaned against him.

"It feels wrong to kill someone so old. She can't block, she can't strike, Hel, I doubt she could bite me hard enough to cause damage if I let her get the first attack in..." The silence dragged out as Eirik stared into the darkness. "Am I doing the right thing? Will the gods approve?" He all but whispered.

"You are showing an old and very competent enemy the full spectrum of your respect. I doubt the gods will disapprove. As for whether it is the right thing to do, well, Only you can answer that, love." Freja said slowly, "Why did you accept if you did not believe it to be the right thing to do?"

That silenced Eirik And they sat together in the dark.

________________________________

The following day was slow as they waited for Tai'Tanu to emerge from her ship, and Eirik spent the early morning taking a trip to Krisnu's farm and making a purchase for enough chickens to serve a proper meal for the crew of the Kloxna ship, once the duel had finished. Krisnu had her daughters catch, pluck and prepare the chickens and promised delivery in the evening. He then traveled back and got to work digging a long fire ditch where he could prepare the food rotisserie style. Tai'Tanu showed up halfway through the work, as always accompanied by Kyr'Tai who couldn't help but throw an insult at Eirik.

"Some warrior you must be, digging a ditch in the dirt!"

"Would you rather I dig you a grave?" Eirik retorted, and the memory of her defeat the day before made her quiet down. Wasting no time, Eirik led them to a separate cottage where they could view the fight between Eirik and Tai'Tanu that had taken place years earlier. Kyr'Tai watched in awe as she had never seen her mother fight, but she was more than a little shocked to see the calm man that had beaten her with a sidestep and a backhand swing, attacking with a rage that surpassed even her own. How could these 2 Terrans be one and the same person?

When the video reached the point of betrayal, Kyr'Tai accused Eirik of fabricating the video but Tai'Tanu flicked her over the snout with the armored tip of her tail. "There is no fabrication, daughter!" She said. "I betrayed the rules of an honor duel Because I wrongfully thought that all Terrans were without honor. Eirik has proven me wrong several times, which is the very reason I am here. If he gives his word, he keeps it. And he has given me his word that he will finish this honor duel."

Kyr'Tai begrudgingly accepted her mother's words and settled back down, but she continued to send Eirik poisonous stares as the video finished playing, and Tai'Tanu got back up from the seat she had been given for the short time it took to watch the recording. "I look forward to remedying that old mistake." She said before she turned to leave, but EIiik stopped her by putting a hand in her way.

"Would you like me to make it quick?" He asked, and the words made Kyr'Tai rear in protest, "You think it will be that easy, Terran?"

"I don't think, I know. And I know it will be that easy. Your mother already has a foot in the grave, but maybe you would like to fight in her place?? Honor duels do allow you to replace her, as long as you fight in her name and for her honor." Eirik replied, but before Kyr'Tai could accept, Tai'Tanu had given her a small shove towards the door and the young Kloxna obeyed.

"Do not take this away from me, Eirik! The duel that was begun by us, should also be finished by us!" She said before she left the small cottage as well Eirik sighed heavily and turned off the projector that broadcasted the aftermath of the duel. He packed it away and left the cottage as well, intending to find Las'Tai and hear how the talk with her mother went, but he was interrupted by a shuttle that was touching down nearby. He know that shuttle, it came from his ship and he wondered who could be inside.

As the ramp lowered, a many-legged creature came scuttling out while it called Eirik's name. "Over here, Narvik!" Eirik called out and Narvik hurried over to him. "What is this I hear about you having a duel tomorrow?" He asked quickly as he got close enough to carry on a normal conversation,

"I am resuming a duel, Narvik, not starting a new one," Eirik said with a smile. Despite Narvik being one of the best educated Glorpil in the galaxy, which didn't say all that much since his people were only now being led into and through the Iron age, he was weirdly protective of Eirik. While not very big or strong, he had many limbs with many bladed appendages on the ends. If he went for the attack, there was very little you could do to block all of them if you didn't have 4 or more arms.

"Resuming a duel?" Narvik was confused and Eirik gestured him into the cottage and showed him the duel between him and Las'Tai. Once it finished, Narvik looked up at him and said, "Are you sure you can win, Eirik?"

"She is near death with old age. This is more out of respect than anything else. I can kill her in the first moves of the battle, but I do not want to take away her accomplishments as a warrior, so I will let her draw my blood before I finish the fight." Eirik had decided this would be the best course of action, not only to give Tai'Tanu what she wanted but also to get around any accusation of cheating by Kyr'Tai.

"How can you be so sure?" Narvik asked, still more than a little worried.

¨"Because I have seen her over the last 2 days, Narvik. I have nothing to fear. There will be security present to ensure everything goes according to the rules. If you want, you can come to watch it as well. But this duel is happening, and it happens tomorrow." Eirik stared at the wall as he spoke, a distant look in his eyes.

"I will be there!" Narvik stated, "And I will make sure you are not hurt!"

"If you interfere, you are forfeiting your life, Narvik. you have been warned." Eirik got up as he answered, "It is nothing against you, it is simply the rules. Please do not force my hand. You are too good a friend for me to want that."

They both left the cottage after that and Eirik spent the rest of the day walking around the forest on his property. The day turned to night all too quickly for his taste, and he returned home to await the coming end of an old feud.