Chereads / Through Fear and Darkness in the Highlands / Chapter 3 - No Place for the Weak

Chapter 3 - No Place for the Weak

"You have never lived until you have almost died. For those who choose to fight, life has a special flavor than the protected will never know"

-Old proverb.

Nina woke up after she heard someone knocking at the door. She jumped out of her bed and couldn't found Verkan, who had slept in the same room the night before. She figured out it was probably he who woke up early and knocked on the door to gave her a little privacy while she changed from her simple nightgown into her priestess garments.

The girl took some time in donning her hair in a long braid, as she always used to. She put on her tunics, and a simple leather coat over them, the signature Field Priest uniform and very similar to the one Verkan also used, albeit much smaller. She opened the door after she finished and went outside the house to wash her face and teeth at the water trough. The girl found Nana's employees working tirelessly to dismantle everything they had prepared yesterday.

She located Verkan at the other side of the central square, talking with a group of people she didn't saw last night at the party. They seemed important with their ceremonial armor and so she decided not to bother them until they were finished.

She walked around the house and sat on the wooden fence behind it, she saw a group of warriors riding their bulls at a distance. They were easily recognizable for their reddish armor. She figured they must be getting everything ready, including security, for this "Trial" that Verkan talked about last night.

For a moment, the young girl compared these Clan warriors with the Imperial Knights from the romantic tales she used to read when she was a kid. She always found the chivalrous elegance of the knights from those tales more appealing than the tribal ruggedness of the highlanders.

-"Good morning, princess" her old friend found her sitting alone on the fence and interrupted her thoughts.

-"Good morning, sir" greeted the young lady back, feeling a little bit embarrassed by his endearing choice of words.

-"I have spoken with the Elders, everything is ready" commented the old priest.

-"Is this the Trial you talked about?" the young girl asked.

-"A Trial of Position, to be precise. It is an ancient clan ritual, they must appoint a new Lord since the previous one has passed" replied Verkan.

-"What will they do?" Nina asked.

-"They will let the Gods decide" was the old man's response.

-"Remember that man from last night? He has claimed lordship" said the old man while signaling towards Nero. The warrior was sitting on a bench. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was in deep meditation.

-"And what gives him the right to claim the lordship? The young girl asked again.

-"Just his combat prowess, the Clans do not believe in royalty or nobility, just in merit. If he thinks he's worthy, he can lay claim" replied Verkan.

-"Is he the only one who can claim the lordship?" Nina asked yet again. She felt a spark of curiosity about this trial thing, it was the first time she heard something like it and his old friend proved very knowledgeable about them.

-"Certainly not, but all the other possible contenders gave up their claim in favor of him" replied the old man.

-"Why?" asked the girl.

Even though the old man was a little bit exasperated by the young girl's questions, he had all the patience of the world. She was a quick learner, and he, a well of knowledge he was happy to share.

-"You'll see dear, a warrior's sense of honor is everything. He is their very best; they won't dare to claim lordship without having bested him first" replied Verkan.

-"They don't do things like in the Empire. They don't hold grudges, and don't backstab each other. At least not in public that's it, that would be extremely disgraceful" he added.

-"If you are a warrior and you have a grudge with someone, you solve it in combat" the old man finished.

-"In a Trial?" Nina asked again.

-"Indeed, just like this one. By giving up their claim they are saying they respect and support him" said Verkan.

-"They respect him that much?" she asked again.

-"They do, they don't let petty rivalries get in the way" replied the old man.

-"Just like the Imperial Knights" Nina said matter of factly.

-"Only the knights of those romantic tales you read" his mentor and friend commented with a mischievous smile.

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard him. How could he know about that specific book? She tried to come up with something but she knew that there was no point in hiding it from him.

-"Bu-bu-bu-but... You knew?!" was all the girl could ask after being busted, bumbling with her words in embarrassment.

-"Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, child. But you should be more careful where you leave your books, especially those that happen to be specifically forbidden. Others may not be as forgiving as I am" replied Verkan, as calmly as he could.

-"Y-yes sir!" replied the young girl.

-"Anyway, the Trial will begin soon. Come with me, I want you to see this" said the old man.

-"Yes sir!" Nina exclaimed.

They walked towards the central square where the Trial was going to take place, but Verkan was approached by some of the townspeople. They seemed concerned about something but didn't want to approach the Warriors or the Elders that were busy with the preparations for the upcoming Trial.

Verkan was told by the villagers about food that was stolen from the kitchen during or after the dinner last night but was only discovered this morning when there was enough sunlight. Apparently, Nana's employees were too busy and didn't notice the theft, or maybe they did but didn't want to spoil the party. Either way, the theft went unreported until now.

But what really concerned the villagers was the culprit. They led Verkan to the house used as kitchen last night, while Nina followed close behind them. They showed him the footprints they had discovered. They belonged to something, some kind of animal they haven't seen before.

Although Verkan was about to tell them it was probably something not important, and certainly not worthy of the attention of the Elders, he himself noticed something unusual. He recognized them as the tracks of a ground dragon, a beast from the old world that was supposedly extinct, and judging by the size of the footprints, probably a big one. If this thing could sneak from everyone during the party, and steal food unnoticed, it was certainly worth worrying about.

Nina recalled reading about dragons. Some species were still used as mounts and beasts of burden in the far edges of the empire. The herbivorous ones were quite docile and could carry heavy loads. The predators, however, were quite dangerous, a small number of them were used as beasts of war but most of them were hunted down to almost extinction.

They could argue for hours about the dragon thief but Verkan suggested letting the new Lord decide the best course of action. The trial was about to start and the Elders didn't want any more delays. After reassuring the townspeople, the priest left through the main door and walked towards the central square. The young girl followed him as he instructed.

The Elders were gathered in the middle of the square. They welcomed Verkan as he joined them but gave a stern look at Nina when she approached them. The young girl felt unwelcomed and a little disheartened but didn't wanted to let her mentor down, so she remained next to him while they discussed the last details before the ceremony started.

-"The trial will be at first blood" Verkan commanded.

The Elders were startled by this affirmation, Nina herself didn't understand what it meant but before she could ask, the eldest of them replied.

-"For generations, our Trials have always been to the death!"

-"That's how I have decided it" Verkan replied calmly.

-"That's preposterous!" countered the elder, visibly enraged.

-"Your Clan has fewer and fewer warriors each day, elder. They die pointlessly for the sake of your traditions" replied the priest, as calmly as he could.

-"And you dare to bring this little girl to a sacred trial! You know well that only warriors can attend!" lashed out the irritated elder.

The young girl was taken aback by the elder's response. She didn't imagine her presence could bother them so much. She looked at Verkan for support, but before she could say anything, her mentor quickly went in her defense.

-"This little girl is a Priestess! She is above you and you owe her due respect!" Verkan replied raising his voice just a bit but with an undeniably fierce tone. The elder was furious, but after a brief moment, he conceded.

-"Pardon me, sir, I did not know" The elder lowered his head and was quick to apologize.

-"Now you do" replied the priest.

She was speechless. This was probably the first time that she saw her friend and mentor Verkan losing his composure. The man has always been cool under pressure. Though this time, it wasn't him who was under attack. Nina couldn't help but smile, who would have thought that Verkan of all people could be the overprotective type?.

The Elders then retreated inside one of the houses to discuss and make the final arrangements. They summoned the warriors sitting outside. One of them also went to inform the challenger warrior that was seated at the other side.

-"Don't let them intimidate you, Nina, you just have to be a little stern sometimes, and firm, remember that" Verkan turned towards her and spoke some of his wisdom. The girl could only nod her head in affirmation.

-"Now come with me" Verkan commanded.

-"But! The Elders said only warriors could attend!" she protested, after hearing what the elders said previously.

-"I decide who can attend, now let's go" ordered the old man.

-"Yes sir!" was all she could say.

They both walked towards the central square to take their positions around it. Nina glanced behind her one last time. She saw the challenger Nero stripping off his armor to grab his greatsword. The warrior turned his head towards her and just for a brief instant, their glances met once again. She quickly turned her head away towards her front, she didn't want to think about it, but she was kind of concerned for the fate of that man.

Verkan took notice almost immediately. He probably has seen that look too many times and reminded his young apprentice that the odds were probably in his favor rather than against him. He knew the man well enough; he is a great warrior that earned his position by his own merits after the war. Still, you never know with these trials.

Nina was a girl that worried about complete strangers and her mentor knew that. Many people might see that as a fault but the old man thought differently, he knew the girl would make a fine priestess someday.

The last of the elders took their positions next to where Verkan and Nina were standing, one of them looked at him and nodded his head, signaling they were ready. Finally, the five Wardens walked into the square that would double as the arena for the occasion, all stripped from their armor from the waist up, showing off their naked torsos, and formed a semi-circle in the center, towards the challenger.

Verkan motioned his hand towards Nero, who also walked towards the arena. Nina watched him walk slowly and couldn't help but stare at his muscular body covered with scars. His long black hair covered his back and his eyes emanated pure determination.

In a normal trial, the many pretenders would face each other in single combat, until only one stand. The winner then would face the current Lord who could either concede defeat without fighting, if he was too old to fight or otherwise proceed with a mock fight. Some of the old Lords would follow tradition and ask to be killed to die a warrior's death or continue their duties advising the new Lord.

Of course, this was only if the Lord was deemed a worthy leader. If the Lord showed incompetence in his position, it wouldn't last long without being challenged by ambitious warriors. It was considered disgraceful to try to challenge the current Lord if he was loved and respected, but a tyrant or incompetent one was a free game.

That was the reason why the pretenders waited until the last clan Lord passing to bid for the Lordship. Despite his faults, the man was loved by his people and the warriors respected him, even his rivals and enemies from other clans held him in high regard. He was a war hero after all.

But a new Lord must be selected since the position cannot be passed down to an heir, the current pretender needs to fight his elite guard instead. The Wardens were selected from career warriors by the last Lord and renounced their claim to Lordship to become honor guards, the highest position a warrior could achieve without getting involved in the obnoxious politics that came with the position of Lord.

The priest had decreed that this Trial would be at first blood. That means that warriors only needed to make the other bleed to win the fight instead of outright kill their opponents. But still, the tension between the wardens and the challenger was high. The wardens were extremely loyal to the late Lord and would gladly follow him in death if they didn't have to defend his position.

To say that there was animosity among the wardens and the challenger, if not outright hatred, was an understatement. Nina could almost feel the sheer anger in the air. The contenders stared at each other for several minutes until the silence was broken by the sound of a sword unsheathing.

-"I claim this Trial of Position against the warriors of Clan Irfis! Who stands in opposition to this claim?!" the challenger called loudly while rising his great sword above his head with one arm and throwing away its sheath outside of the arena.

Immediately, all of the contenders followed suit, unsheathing their swords in response, also rising their own swords in the air.

-"I, Higen, the fifth warden bid my sword in defiance of your claim!" the fifth warden proclaimed loudly in response.

-"I, Izar Irfis, bid my sword in defiance of your claim!" the fourth warden replied.

-"I, Zekk Irfis, bid my sword in defiance of your claim!" the third warden replied.

-"I, Han Irfis, bid this great sword in defiance of your claim!" the second warden replied.

-"I, Mando Irfis, bid this sword in defiance of your claim. I will crush you like the unworthy vermin that you are!" the first and final warden replied, without even bothering to hide the bad blood.

The warriors lowered their swords and for a brief moment, they just stared at each other. The young girl could see the sheer determination in their eyes. As much as she wanted to indulge her eyes with the muscular bodies of those men, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She knew there would be blood spilled very soon.

-"I am Field Priest Verkan of the Church of the Seven. I will oversee this Trial. May the wisdom of the Great Father be made evident in battle" the old man replied. Giving the warriors one last blessing before they continued with the Trial.

-"This Trial of Position has begun" he ended.

The wardens retreated a few steps back, spreading out the semi-circle they were previously arranged in. Everyone except for one, the fifth warden Higen, who stood in front of the challenger Nero for a few seconds until the arena was clear.

-"Come, warrior, let us see the color of your blood" the warden declared calmly, perhaps a bit too calm for someone whose life is at the stake. Both warriors slowly approached each other with their swords at the ready.

They finally clashed their swords with a loud metallic clank and locked themselves face to face. The warden wielded a sword known as Khalet. It is a traditional great sword and the signature weapon of the Clans. Its blade was more or less the length of an arm, plus the hilt and the guard, single-edged and slightly curved. At the end of the hilt, there was a weighted pommel that helped keep the balance of the weapon to be used also while riding. It was very well balanced overall.

The challenger, however, wielded a very different sword. It was a giant piece of metal taller than the man who wielded it and with double the range. Every warrior carries one while riding their bulls in the case that the animal needed to be put down. It was designed to easily behead a wounded animal rather than to be effective in combat. It was long, heavy, unwieldy, and more of a hindrance than a help.

It was not unheard, however, that some warriors would wield it into battle to stand out and show off their prowess. It certainly required no small amounts of strength and skill to compensate for the heavy weight and lack of balance. The two warriors struggled for a few seconds before they unlocked their swords and backed again. Even though the challenger was younger and clearly stronger than the older warden, he was no less experienced. The young girl saw that the warden probably also realized this for his expression.

The warden launched a couple of swift swings that the challenger deflected easily. Nero then responded with a powerful swing of his own that the warden had to avoid by jumping back out of his reach. Despite the size of his blade, the challenger maneuvered his weapon with grace and precision.

Higen launched another swing at him, but this time instead of using his blade to deflect it, Nero dodged it by moving his head to the side. He quickly positioned his blade between him and his attacker, and with a quick movement, he dragged his sword while turning across the warden's chest and left arm. The warden fell to his knees in pain. Although the wound was not deep enough to be a threat to his life, it was enough to draw first blood.

-"The fifth warden has fallen. Izar Irfis, begin" proclaimed the old priest.

-"Sometimes luck favors the foolish. Your skill is lacking" the fourth warden said in defiance and walked into the arena.

Nina was watching, her heart filled half with awe and half with dread. It was the first time she witnessed an actual duel. Some of the elders rushed to aid the defeated warden and help him walk out of the arena and the girl felt glad that no one ended up seriously wounded, but felt down almost immediately after Verkan reminded her that the Trial has just begun.

The challenger wiped some sweat from his face and turned towards his new opponent. Both stood still for a few seconds, staring at one another before rushing into combat once again.

The warden tested his opponent's defenses with a pair of attacks at his legs that the experienced warrior easily deflected. But the challenger knew that an elite warden would not be so predictable if he wasn't planning something. On the other hand, the warden had to take into account the challenger's weapon. It was a dangerous gambit; he would not fight with such an unwieldy weapon if he didn't know how to fight well with it.

Unlike his opponent, however, the challenger could not afford to throw blows wildly at random for his sword was way too heavy for that and his adversary too fast. He would be left exposed if his attack missed. In order to win; his movements would have to be deliberate and precise.

For an outsider observer and most especially for someone not knowledgeable on combat; the duel would look like two amateurs trying to figure out how to use a sword, or so thought Nina. But after looking at the others around the arena, the look on their faces made her realize that that was not the case. They were not making unnecessary acrobatics or flashy displays of swordsmanship. The two warriors were being overly cautious for only a small cut on the skin could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

And the stakes were high.

The warden rushed again, attacking with a stabbing motion and putting the challenger to the defensive. Nero stuck his giant sword to the ground between him and his attacker, and jumped from one side to the other, managing to successfully dodge the attacks the warden made around his sword.

In a swift move, the challenger dashed towards his opponent around his sword that was still stuck on the ground, and both warriors clashed by the shoulders. The warden found his own weapon trapped between the giant sword and against his body and was forced to back off or risk being cut by his own blade.

This gave Nero enough of an opening to attempt a strike against his foe. He contorted his body as if preparing to swing his heavy blade, a movement the warden has fully anticipated. He expected either a slash against his legs, which he could avoid by jumping or against his upper body, that he could duck easily. If the challenger missed his swing, he would be left completely vulnerable to a counterattack.

But what happened next took him completely by surprise. Instead of attacking him, Nero struck the ground in front of him and used his sword as a pole to jump towards him. The warden tried to defend himself with his sword but couldn't against the sheer force of a full-grown warrior jumping at him with all his might.

The warden struck himself in the face with the guard of his own sword that broke his nose and began to bleed profusely. Even though it was a minor wound that he would normally just ignore in the heat of the battle, this time, however, the fight was over.

-"Izar Irfis has fallen. Zekk Irfis, proceed" Verkan spoke, extending his hand towards the next contender.

The next warden walked slowly into the arena, staring deeply into his opponent's eyes. He raised his sword at the challenger, standing still for a few seconds before entering the fray.

-"Your determination is admirable, pretender, but that alone is insufficient. This trial will be your funeral!" the warden declared loudly, making evident his desire to kill his opponent.

-"No, Zekk Irfis. It will be yours!" the challenger replied calmly to his opponent's threat.

Nina's heart sank in uneasiness. The two previous fights were exciting to watch as although the danger was real, nobody got seriously injured. But now the two warriors were making clear their intent to kill each other as if there was an old score to settle.

The warden charged at his adversary, yelling his lungs out. The young girl was taken aback by the sudden outburst. The two warriors clashed violently with such force that each time their blades collided they send sparks flying.

The girl calmed a little bit after her mentor gently rested a hand on her shoulder. Her heart was still racing, however, as she watched the warden taking the initiative. The old warrior was incredibly fast and fierce for someone his age, around his late forties. No wonder why he was chosen among the elite for such honor of being a Warden.

The younger warrior was no slouch either. It was clear, even for someone without experience as herself, that the challenger had seen too many fights. Verkan had mentioned earlier than the whole clan Irfis was the vanguard during the Imperial invasion fifteen years ago, and that Nero, probably just a boy then, the Wardens and the late Lord were all not just duel fighters, but also battle-hardened war veterans.

The warden tried to press his advantage to the fullest. He knew he had to finish the fight as quickly as possible as his opponent was, as much he hated to admit it, faster and stronger than himself. On the other hand, Nero knew well that the barrage of blows was just a distraction. The warden certainly wanted him to drop his guard just a bit to land a killing blow, or at the very least, to make him bleed and deny him of his chances to become the next Lord.

He would not have any of it.

The challenger parried the warden's last attack and both warriors locked their swords once again, the older warrior realized he was stuck in an unfavorable situation. Through all his life, he has been used to overcome stronger rivals with superior skills and technique, but this time, he and his opponent were evenly matched.

Not wanting to concede, the warden jumped back out of the struggle, but still into the range of his adversary's weapon. The challenger took one step back and turned his upper body for a powerful swing. Everyone present was left in awe at how easily the pretender was able to swing the gigantic sword over his head and towards his enemy.

The warden, however, fully anticipated this, as fast as it was, he ducked just in time for the sword to pass over his head and hit nothing but thin air. The challenger was now completely turned and vulnerable for a counterattack. In a swift movement, he positioned his sword for a horizontal cut aimed at his opponent's lower body and charged.

But that proved to be a fatal mistake. Nero took advantage of the momentum from his previous attack and completed his turn before the warden could strike at his back. The challenger stopped the warden's attack right on his tracks using the sole of his boots in a bold movement akin to a roundhouse kick.

The challenger dragged his opponent's sword to the ground that was stuck on the wooden heel of his boot and stood over it. And with the same motion, he twisted his upper body and launched yet another swing at the warden that was left defenseless and completely at his mercy.

Nina gasped loudly in shock and covered her mouth with both hands, as the challenger's sword cut through the warden's neck, killing him instantly. Blood squirted out of the warden's neck a couple of times before his body fell lifeless at the challenger's feet, while his head rolled a few feet away.

The girl felt again the comforting hand of her mentor over her shoulder. He looked at her for an instant before looking back again at the victor.

-"Alas poor Zekk, I knew him well" she heard the old priest lament quietly to himself. The girl couldn't help but shed some tears. It was the first time she witnessed someone die, and a violent death no less. At least it was a swift one. She clasped her hands and closed her eyes, making a short prayer for the recently deceased warrior.

The Trial was not over yet, however. A group of lower-ranked warriors gently removed the warden's body and sword from the arena; they put him aside near one of the houses and then returned to the central square. He would be mourned, honored, and buried later after the Trial has ended. Such was the way of the Clans.

-"Most impressive. Han Irfis, begin" Verkan proclaimed loudly, motioning towards the next warden.

-"Yes sir" the warden replied and walked into the arena.

Verkan commented that the pretender only needed to win three out of the five fights to earn the place as the next clan lord. Nero has technically won the trial already, but he would face serious opposition from the wardens that he hadn't defeated yet and would lose face at the eyes of the warrior caste.

The next warden waited patiently his turn; his brother in arms has made clear prior to the Trial that he would submit to the pretender and support him if he made it far enough to face him. He recognized by the way he was fighting that he would throw the fight in favor of the challenger. He was no match for the younger and stronger warrior anyway. The fight was a mere formality by this point, no matter the outcome, Nero would be the next lord.

Unless the pretender was killed, of course. That would be his last resort, however, as a warrior must declare its intention to kill the other before the fight or it would be seen as an underhanded and dishonorable move otherwise.

The previous warden continued as expected. Both warriors were sparring in a mock fight for a minute to show proper respect to traditions and then proceeded with the actual fight, which ended rather quickly. After a couple of swings at the challenger, he countered with a powerful blow of his own. The warden parried the attack but was thrown off balance by the sheer power of the strike and was finally knocked down with a kick at his chest.

The challenger stood over the defeated warrior's sword and placed the edge of his own at the warden's throat. The challenger sliced through his opponent's skin with a small motion, just enough to cause the wound to bleed a small drop. The fight was over. He then offered his hand to the warden on the ground and helped him stand.

But before Verkan could say a word, the challenger pointed his sword towards the remaining warden.

-"Only you and I remain, Mando Irfis! Pray that you have not bid your doom, as have your fallen brethren!" Nero yelled out loud, leaving the crowd in awe.

Even the old priest was in shock. The challenger has disregarded protocol to openly threaten the last remaining warden and old rival, leaving the warden with no choice but to respond.

-"Do not address me familiarly, you dirty scum! This mockery ends now, and your remains will be scattered upon the highland winds!" the warden replied, clearly enraged at such boldness.

The warden charged into the arena and immediately engaged in combat with the challenger, launching powerful swings in quick succession. Nina could barely watch, knowing the fight would end only with another death. Verkan whispered to her that it was disrespectful not to watch a warrior's final moments, so she forced herself to keep watching the duel.

Both warriors clashed fiercely, despite being almost twice the age of the challenger, the warden moved just as swiftly. The pretender has been enduring five fights in a row and was clearly exhausted.

The girl just overheard other warriors murmuring behind her. If those rumors were true, Mando has killed Nero's father in a duel many years ago, when he was still a child. That would explain why both were yearning of killing each other. The warden clearly saw the pretender as unworthy, and the challenger desired a vengeance that was long overdue.

The challenger started to show signs of exhaustion, he was sweating profusely, and maneuvering his heavy sword was getting difficult, barely able to keep his opponent at bay. The warden, on the other hand, was fresh, rested, and didn't showed his age at all.

Nero trained since his adolescence, as his father did, and his grandfather and every highlander before him. He passed his Trial of Position and became a warrior just in time to fight in the war when the Empire invaded. Through blood and tears, he overcame every obstacle, every trial, and every foe. With every battle, he grew stronger, increased his skills, and rose through the ranks. By the time the war ended and the Empire was beaten out of their lands, he was probably the best warrior Clan Irfis had. He was often chosen as champion, to fight in trials against other clans and gained the respect of those above him, and the admiration of those below him.

All of a sudden, the warriors started cheering at the challenger, chanting his name. Both Nina and Verkan looked around in surprise and saw the crowd breaking protocol to reach out and cheer at their champion. The Elders tried in vain to calm the crowd down. The defeated wardens, the Lords, and warriors from other clans could only watch in astonishment. The somber atmosphere that previously clouded the Trial vanished, there was now hope and joy in the air. Even the little priestess couldn't help herself and internally cheered at him too.

He already defeated four of the five wardens and victory was within his grasp. All his life was reduced to this very moment. His resolve remained unwavering through the whole ordeal, but hearing his people cheering at him at the most crucial moment gave him the strength he needed. Nero remained confident in victory and smiled at his adversary.

The warden saw this as the ultimate insult. One could say by looking at his face that the warden finally realized his chances of defeating the challenger were rather slim. Perhaps he could win the duel, and even kill him, but Nero had already won over the hearts of their people.

Winning or losing didn't really matter anymore; the warden decided he would not live with this humiliation. As much as he hated to admit it, the younger warrior had already proven himself at his eyes. Whatever grudge they were holding would end today. Perhaps it was a selfish decision but he would rather die a glorious and honorable death and follow his Lord.

He charged towards his opponent with all his fury and his might, for one last time. Nero saw the perfect opportunity and ran him through his chest in one quick and powerful strike. The warden let out a gush of blood out of his mouth along with his last breath, before falling on his knees first, and then to the ground.

The arena went silent. Nina covered her face with her hands in the last instant but couldn't help to take a quick peek through her fingers. She saw the challenger remove his sword from the warden's body and speak a few words but couldn't hear them.

-"I stand to claim my rightful position as the Clan Irfis Lord!" Nero proclaimed loudly and raised his bloody sword over his head.

-"Selah, this trial is concluded. The new Lord has spoken" Verkan replied.

The crowd then exploded in celebration. The warriors raised their swords and continued chanting their new Lord's name as he walked out of the arena. Nina then let out a breath she didn't know was holding, and looked at her mentor who placed one hand on her shoulder. It was now time to attend the wounded and veil the death. Verkan would let her recite the funerary prayers for the fallen wardens soon enough. With a new Lord chosen, their mission also concluded.

They would have to depart very soon.