The morning air was crisp and cool, the sky was clear blue and the ground below it glistened with frost from the night before. Cadaoir entered the game in the same position he left it, tied to a tree with a long length of rope around his neck, chest and waist. His breath was heavy on the air, a white cloud that was exhaled in a slow and steady rhythm. Around him were the still burnt buildings of Chira, though the debris that once littered the streets was no longer visible. The villagers had been busy overnight.

'He's back.' A voice came from behind him.

'Ah, pilgrim, you're finally awake.' The second voice was familiar, the face too. The Spear-man with the moustache circled around the tree and knelt down in front of Cadaoir. 'Today is the day of reckoning for you. I will admit, you're good. Very good. But our Captain Kainda is far better than good.' He spat at the feet of the Monk. 'Today you die.'

He looked the other man up and down, reading his body language, his expression. You act your character's pain well. But you dishonoured yourself, not me. Cadaoir held his tongue and maintained his calm.

The man left, shouting an order to a subordinate. 'Be sure to watch him, do not let him escape.'

'Yes Sir!' The other replied.

Only a minute or two passed before the second man rounded the tree and stood over the Monk, hands holding a short spear, his hot breath whitening in the cool air. His rhythm was fast, panting. Cadaoir looked up at him, but his face was a shadow. 'What can I do for you?' Cadaoir asked.

'I can not believe I'm meeting you.' The man was giddy with excitement. He knelt down to Cadaoir, all smiles. 'I've heard so much about you. If I knew you were here, I'd have come to Chira much sooner. I missed your duel in Hattsu, so this means so much to meet you here!'

What is this? 'I'm...' Confused.

'You're a legend, Cadaoir the Monk, Six Hands!' The man stood up and punched the air like a boxer.

'What?' Cadaoir was shocked by this new name. Six Hands? 'I knew I had a reputation.' It wasn't something I wanted. 'But Six Hands?'

'You have more than a reputation. I don't know about the rest of the world, but here up north, your name's on the lips of everyone.' The Soldier knelt back down. 'I've been wanting to see Six Hands in action, and today's the day! And against Kainda of all people! She's been the pride of the Hattsu Soldier Academy for months, she trained under a student of Jonathan Demshir after all.' The Soldier clapped. 'It's going to be great! Six Hands the undefeated pilgrim from Spirit Island versus the undefeated Captain Kainda.'

'I'm a little confused, forgive me. What is Six Hands?' Cadaoir asked.

'You don't know? It's what your fans call you.'

'Fans?'

'Yes.'

'I have... fans?'

'You have some... I'll admit, the number isn't high, people are too busy championing Prince Philip. He is the strongest of us.' Cadaoir grunted at the name, the Soldier noticed. 'But! But. I think you have the potential to be the best!'

'Thank you.' Cadaoir was not entirely without sincerity.

'No problem. I'm just happy to talk to you, and to see today's duel.'

'It's not a duel. That's what your Captain Kainda says.'

'What is it then?' The Soldier knelt back down to listen.

'A trial by combat.'

'Oh yeah, you beat up four of our guys... Someone did mention it.'

'No.' Cadaoir said sternly. 'I duelled three of your men. They requested it, I obliged and I won.' And then for some reason they became offended and lied about our arrangement.

'Then why are you a prisoner?'

'It seems Kainda did not agree with the duel, she says I was in the wrong and deserve punishment for attacking Amaratese forces.'

'But you take no part in the war, you stay away from troubling the military!' The man knew a lot about the Monk.

'Kainda knows that, but your men have said otherwise. Despite the truth she is remaining loyal to her men and has planned this trial. If I win, I am guilt free.'

'Do you think you can win?' The man came so close to Cadaoir that their breath mingled in the air together.

Cadaoir did not answer. It was then that the well spoken voice of the moustachioed man shouted.

'Jaecar.' He called on approach. 'Get up and untie the Monk. It's time.'

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

'Yeah Gunnerson, I'm on it.'

Cadaoir's hands were bound and tethered, the ropes were loosed from around the tree and he was marched out of the village to the east, towards the great northern mountain called The Temple. The well spoken moustachioed man, now known as Gunnerson, glared at Cadaoir all the way to the mountain quarry. Cadaoir was increasingly annoyed at the man, but kept himself focused on what was ahead of him.

The road became stony and grey, the mountain was huge before him. The quarry was a wound on its forested foot, a grey-blue cut. This was where Chira dug for precious stones, one of a few places in the world. The village saw little of its wealth however, as the Amaratsu leadership took immediate possession of most of it.

The quarry opened up to him, all rock, stone and dust surrounded by tall walls cut out of the mountain. It was here that Kainda and a large entourage of Soldier's and Spear-men came into view. He was lead to the centre of them all. Gunnerson shoved him roughly before Kainda, her long spear at hand.

'So, here we are.' Cadaoir gave a short bow to Kainda.

'He doesn't look so tough tied up, Captain.' One Soldier remarked. 'You should just stick him now and have done with it!' Then there was laughter. Kainda gave a dark look at the Soldier, but he showed no sign of caring.

'Your men disrespect you, Captain Kainda.' Cadaoir spoke over the laughter. 'We would not be in this position if they had not.'

'Silence!' She commanded loudly. The subordinate was silenced. 'Amaratsu men are bold, I will admit. But we have honour, respect.'

'Your men did not respect me. They took part in the ritual of my sect, the duel, and when they lost they concocted a lie. I attacked them?' Cadaoir was firm. 'They attack my honour.' He glanced around him, scanning over the circle of men and women around Kainda and himself. 'Why not let your men fight? If I am guilty, will I not still lose? Why embarrass yourself?'

Kainda was furious. 'Embarrass myself? How dare you!'

'How dare you.' Cadaoir said darkly. 'Your men dishonour me, disrespect you. They lie and you fight for them? You should put them to heel!' I thought you a worthy opponent. You have skill, true, but no spirit. This will be no trial by combat, this won't even be a duel. This will be your destruction. Cadaoir was angry, but he did not let it show on his face. I gave myself up to you, allowed myself to be tied down. And for what? This weakness? I deserve more than this!

The circle laughed. 'I think we upset him!'

Kainda was silent, Cadaoir could see her processing what he had said. She lowered her spear tip, pointing it at Cadaoir. 'I'll end you.' She looked around at those under her command. 'And when I'm done, you will all know why I'm in charge, and you will all know why you should respect me!'

Jaecar unbound Cadaoir's wrists. No, Captain Kainda. Cadaoir thought to himself. I will show you who deserves respect. And then he was on her with no hesitation.

A feint to the right, then a quick leap to the left. Kainda's spear tip followed, Cadaoir could not bypass it. He retreated back, giving Kainda something to react to, to draw her in. When her weapon lunged at his chest, he deftly evaded and slapped it to the right side, creating space to advance. The Captain saw this and darted away from the Monk, allowing the spear to whirl from the deflection over her head, swinging back around toward Cadaoir.

It was a quick and precise strike, Cadaoir could not evade or advance. He guarded the left side of his body and allowed the shaft of the spear to strike his shoulder. His muscles protected the bone well enough, but the pain was great. He grunted and reached to take hold of the long spear, but the woman retracted it with a pull while backing away, out of reach. Cadaoir followed, hoping to press her, but found the weapon's point angled at his face. He dodged to one side as the tip made for a kill, then rolled away as it came to pierce his face a second time. The circle was cheering for Kainda and jeering at the Monk.

Over and over did Kainda thrust at Cadaoir's face. Do not flinch, do not panic or you will lose. The Monk stepped side to side as the quick attacks came, his hands held up in an open handed guard, waiting for a moment to react and take control. The moment never came but Cadaoir could see that Kainda was quickly losing stamina. Her speed decreasing slowly after each flurry of thrusting strikes. She's giving it her all in order to end this quickly.

Kainda became frustrated with Cadaoir's consistent evasion, she could not touch him. Changing her tactics with a deep yell, the spear was retracted and spun counter-clockwise over head. The sharp tip whirled around at Cadaoir's left, but too distant to hit. The Captain spun around with the momentum and brought the butt of the spear spinning at the Monk's head, but still too short. Again she spun and extended her arms, giving the weapon more reach.

Cadaoir saw this, he read her and reacted. As her back was turned to him, he dashed forward and followed the motion of her spin, negating the power of the attack and advancing to the right of her position. When the spear tip came around with no target to hit, Cadaoir reached out with his left hand and took hold of the shaft, with his right he took her leading arm and pivoted on his feet. Kainda was pulled off balance over Cadaoir's hip and shoulder, thrown head over heel. The Monk generated such force that her neck would break on impact. This is it. He thought to himself, but was wrong.

Kainda went against all instinct. Her body relaxed, hands releasing the weapon mid throw and instead of crashing into the stony surface, she heavily rolled away over stone and dust. Her cry was loud and sounded painful, but she quite skilfully rolled up to her knees and turned to face her opponent.

Cadaoir stood with the spear in his hands. That was good. He threw the weapon to one side, letting it clatter to the ground. But not enough. Kainda struggled to stand but the Monk was on her before she fully could.

An uppercut brought her up to her feet, and stumbling. A kick to the leg brought her back to her knees. Cadaoir stood over her and took a sharp grip of her shoulder. The crowd shouted, some advanced to intervene, but the Captain called to them, ordering them. 'Stay back, let him finish.'

'You are brave.' Said Cadaoir.

'You're dead.' Kainda replied. 'I'm going to find you again and you're going to lose.'

'Why? Have I not proven my innocence?' Kainda chose not to answer, but her anger, frustration and utter defeat were written all over her. Cadaoir put his face close to hers to speak. You chose to engage a stronger opponent, do not be shocked when you lose. He didn't say it, pulling away instead.

Cadaoir rose up, then came back down. His elbow struck the crown of Kainda's head and then she died. When he stepped away from the body, letting it slump to the ground, the circle of Amaratsu Soldiers and Spear-men closed in. They were shocked silent by the violent end. Cadaoir had other things to think about. The Monk made his way through the crowd, searching. When he could not find what he wanted, he spoke out to everyone. 'Where is Gunnerson?' I will deal with him next. No one replied. He spotted Jaecar. 'Where is he?' Still no answer. Cowards.

With nothing else to it, Cadaoir parted the crowd and took the road back to Chira. No one dared stop him.