Alis could see that overnight there had been another snow fall which had coated even more snow onto the already thick blanket of snow. Up here on the exposed hilltop, overlooking the city of Rynstowe, the snow had fallen particularly heavy. The tracks which they had made last night in getting up here had gone. Only the tracks of made my the large group of pony riders were visible.

She had heard that stocky ponies were widely used on the Isles for both transportation. But until now she had not seen one. Now there were nine of them. They certainly seemed to fit in with the landscape better than the chargers they had been riding.

Excitement rose within her. Yet she did what she could to hide it. Maybe the start of her adventure would be here, overlooking the city of Rynstowe, with the man she loved. Heading together into the dangers of the city, only to emerge unscathed, and ready to face the challenges of the Isles proper.

For that to happen, she first had to face the challenge that Hallvard thoughtlessly provided her. Being slight, and not overly muscular, it was hard just to walk through the snow. The deep snow that rose to Alis' calf was not the best footing for her. Even walking to the patch of ground in front of the Knight Champion had winded her slightly. Normally, she flowed over the battleground, watching her footing as much as she watched what her other opponent was doing.

None of that was possible here. Even just watching her footing was impossible in this deep snow. And she was sure that flowing from one stance to another smoothly would be next to impossible too. Even with six nights of training with the Knight Champion about how to fight in snow, she was still sluggish and wore out far earlier than she normally did.

As if to mock her the mail clad and full face helmeted elite temple guard, Leof, strode effortlessly through the snow. There was an earned confidence in the way he strode. By comparison, her guard position was lacking, and she knew it. No matter what she tried to do to fix it, another part of her position then fell apart. Leof wasn't as tall or broad as the Knight Champion themselves. Few people Alis had seen could even come close. Still, Leof was broader and taller than she was.

Not only that, she was under pressure not to put the faith her Knight Champion had put in her by setting up this duel to waste. And she wanted to show to Klarric that she was strong. And she wanted to start her adventure to the Isles with something heroic, rather than a one sided bloody defeat.

She was also worried about if she could strike with all of her strength with an intent to wound. It was standard practice to hold back slightly during duels. She often did so against Klarric and had to against all of the other trainees at the fort.

'Begin,' rumbled the Knight Champion's deep voice.

Leof rushed towards her, scattering snow as he did so. Not wanting to tire out too soon, Alis waited for him to get closer. As the lumbering chain clad temple guard came closer, she found her mind cleared to a singular focus.

Stolen novel; please report.

She heard the panting breath of her opponent, the creak of leather, and the slight clinking of mail rubbing against mail. Then she realised the truth. This guy was a bruiser, a powerful fighter whose skill and strength was such that few could stand up against them. The kind of fighter that most of the other trainees were. Not only that, but she hadn't faced anyone other than Klarric and the Knight Champion these past two months. So she had not realised just how much she had gained from the intense expert tuition that the Knight Champion had given her.

A smile grew on her face.

The smile gave a moment of doubt to faceless Leof. Using that moment of doubt, she flowed forward in a graceful slash. Leof moved to block her sword, maybe even parry it. But his form was rigid, powerful, yet slow. With a faint directional change, one she was sure he could see, but not fully understand, Alis pushed on forward.

Expert swordsmaster that he was, Leof realised something was up, and shifted his foot backwards. However, he did not take into account of the snow, or just how much it would affect his usual movements.

Thanks to at least some practice, Alis, corrected her body and footwork, shifting from a slash to a piercing stab. Instead of aiming at the solid breast plate she had aimed for the upper part of his swordarm. With ease, her sword sliced through the mail and deep into the shoulder behind.

Blood welled out from the wound she caused. Darting back, fighting against the snow she got ready. There was a deep red stain on the snow beneath Leof's arm. A smaller trail of blood followed her blade back.

Leof's sword fell out of his unfeeling arm and into the deep snow.

'Victor: Alis.' The pale figure of Olvald, who was surprisingly smaller and more slender than she was, said. It was gratifying to Alis to see someone else struggle walking through the snow as Olvald shuffled to Leof.

'Alis, today was your victory.' The Knight Champion said. 'But on a normal day, in a normal situation, you would've been bested. Remember that the environment is as much of an ally to you as are your skills. Keep learning. Keep honing your skills. Then one day not even Leof would be able to stand against you.'

His large hand squeezed her shoulder.

She took his lesson to heart. Lessons really.

'Now, Klarric, I think you should fight—'

'Me,' a slender figure wearing padded armour, no quartered surcoat, and a formless wrap around leather mask. Their flaxen hair trimmed so short that it almost looked as if it had grown back after being shaved off. It was hard to say if the figure was a male or female, with either choice being equally likely.

'Okay.' The Knight Champion said. Looking over both the slender figure and Klarric. 'I agree to the match, First Warden.'