Ghorin, Old Croll, and Haemon stood to the side, their sharp eyes scanning the room for any potential threats. Vasos remained silent and stoic, his face betraying no emotion. Old Ealhun the Earless, the Court Jester, sat upon a nearby stool, strumming his lute and humming a tune.
And King Alexander sat upon his throne, gazing down at one of his knights. He was an older man with a grizzled beard and a weathered face. Despite his age, he stood tall and proud, exuding a quiet confidence.. He had well-maintained and polished his armor, even though it bore the scars of many battles.. His sword, a large and heavy weapon, hung at his side, and he had had a shield emblazoned with a dragon.
“Sire, I am Bloud, the progeny of Halgor, a modest knight sworn to your realm.” His voice was deep and steady.
“Pray, what was thy occupation prior to enlisting in the army?” the king queried.
“I was once a purveyor of baked goods, Your Majesty,” Bloud said. “Alas, marauders descended and laid waste to all I had striven for. They deprived me of all, interesting me to adopt the mantle of a warrior for mere survival. In due course, I ascended the hierarchy to become a knight of Alexanderia. I have pledged my loyalty to Alexanderia for many years, battling for your father in confrontations of grand and minor scale.”
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King Alexander addressed him. “Bloud, my faithful knight, I present thee with a proposal. We stand in need of a champion to represent our dominion in combat. However, rather than procuring one, I am inclined to offer thee the chance to prove thyself deserving of this distinction.”
Bloud’s eyes widened. He straightened his posture, clenched his jaw, and nodded. “Sire, I am profoundly honored by your faith in me. What duty would you have me perform?”
“Thou art obliged to undertake a trial by combat against Sir Uezaen, known as the de-Masked Treeguard, a champion of our adjacent realm,” proclaimed the king.
Bloud nodded solemnly. “Sir Uezaen, the de-Masked Treeguard,” he echoed softly. “I am acquainted with the lineage of the Treeguards, and the de-Masked scion is famed for breeding formidable warriors. I embrace your challenge, Sire.”
Vasos asked, “Oi, Yer Majesty, what if our Bloud don’t come up trumps? We ain’t got knights to spare. We don’t.”
“Then we shall address such concerns if the eventuality arises,” said the king. “But I harbor a steadfast belief in Bloud’s capabilities.”
The steward nodded. “I have handled all the preparations. The trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow at dawn. I advise thee, Sir Bloud, to make preparations accordingly.”
Bloud bowed respectfully and left the throne room, a courtier announcing his departure.