The pool formed at the bottom of a fallen tower.

Legend had said that the tower was a lighthouse for the land. All could see it and know its warmth and beacon into the darkness, no matter what side of war or creed one was on.

The tower was one of the few things everyone was in approval of.

During the endless wars, it was destroyed.

The sight of it being destroyed caused all to go into a mad rush of death, though nobody took responsibility.

The wars never ended once the tower fell.

A magical pool of water sprung from the lowest part of the tower. A spring coming forth from a dungeon.

Joab and his men slowly approached the sunken portion in the middle of a field. Horses were already tied up, with their enemies waiting for them, unseen.

Joab slowly got off his horse, as did all of his men. They walked towards the sunken hole in the middle of the field where the tower once stood.

A spiral staircase of stone dropped down into the earth and pool.

The men slowly descended the staircase, down into the dungeon abyss.

Joab and his men come to the large pond or pool in the glowing in the darkness. The pool started to bubble more as Joab and his men came to their side.

They looked across to see Abner, Beniah, and their ten.

Abishai gave a courteous nod to them. They nodded back. Asahel did as well. All acknowledged one another as polite as one would before killing the other.

Joab grunted.

A Mediator came out from the darkness. Clothed in robes. Scrolls were in his hands. The twelve on each side, twenty four in all, stared at their enemies in nervous anticipation.

The lone young man to watch stood in the corner, hoping to kill someone.

"Good day. Welcome to Swordfall. Here at the Pool of Gibeon. You are representatives of the two houses, the two kingdoms vying to rule our land and people in a united front."

Abner cleared his throat, as he prepared to say his ceremonial lines.

"I, Abner, representative of the outcast king, hereby declare that our men compete before us."

"I, Joab, representative of the king, agree. Let them arise. I declare, Swordfall."

The Mediator nodded.

"Swordfall is declared. This fifth Swordfall does not just spare the broken kingdoms from destroying each other. There is a prize."

All looked towards the Mediator.

A prize? To Joab, this was blasphemy. "Excuse me?"

The Mediator pulled one of the scrolls.

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"I have here a signed document from both kings. It shall be read at this, the last and final Swordfall. The winner not only survives and keeps their friends and families alive, they also get to hear the future of our kingdom."

Joab was irate. "Is this a game to you, Mediator?"

"It is a game, Joab. One you came up with."

"To spare our men of bloodshed. To keep families from killing one another out of blind loyalty."

Abner said nothing, but did not look surprised and was unemotional at the event.

Joab looked at Abner. "Anytime now, Abner."

Abner looked at his enemy and nodded and cleared his throat to speak.

"Mediator, are our lives worth nothing? Can we not hear what our kings have decided directly? Us, who are second in command to both of them?!"

The Mediator wanted blood. "Swordfall has commenced."

"Hold your arms," Joab said to his men. Abner repeated the phrase to his men. "Hold your arms, men."

Both kept their weapons at bay. The Mediator, the umpire of blood, growled. "Swordfall has commenced!"

"Nothing has commenced. You read that letter NOW!" Joab hissed back.

"This letter has nothing to do with this ceremony. Fight!"

"No one fight."

Abner pleaded, "If the winner of such bloodshed is to hear such a letter, then it is the reason for the ceremony!"

The younger warriors on each side start stared at one another, blood thirsty.

The Mediator is lost control and patience. "If Swordfall does not commence, I will have the royal guards come and hunt all of you down, in the name of both kingdoms."

"We are the royal guard!" Abner corrected.

The pool beneath them started to glow brighter and bubble faster.

"Stand your ground, men!" Joab pulled his sword and swung it towards the Mediator. "I see one who we can fight against." The Mediator stepped back, worried.

Asahel pulled his brother aside.

"Joab, we will fight and we will win. And that scroll will be ours."

Joab stared at his brother angrily, who seemed filled with the blood lust that was permeating through all the men. 'Hold your tongue, brother."

Abner's men pulled their swords.

Joab looked at Abner. Abner noded back.

Joab turned to his brother, Abishai. "We came to fight and die, brother."

Abner's attention went to Beniah. "I'm with you Abner. Until the end."

"That is probably going to be right now," Abner said, closing his eyes.