They brought Joseph and others to the palace. They faced the governor and tried to clarify the things. There were fifty royals who sat at their both sides, twenty-five on each side, and watched the trial. Their opinion was also valuable as they too held enough power in their hands.
Joseph and others had told the governor they were from Rakhtar tribe. "You are from among those savages" was his reaction.
"My daughter has confessed that she lied to get a chance to escape," The governor said. "We are aware she caused you trouble. What can we do to compensate?"
"Trouble? What a weak word," Tyler reacted. "We almost lost our lives. I could still accept it if it was my fate, but she endangered the lives of my friends as well. This is unforgivable."
"Your friends are the ones who jumped in and endangered themselves," Jordan said with a frown. "Rebecca is not at fault here for them."
"What did you expect them to do after you cheated? Stand and watch?" Tyler responded. "You are right. The princess is not at fault here. You are."
"What did you say?" Jordan was about to rush to him and beat him up.
"Enough." The governor stopped him at the moment. "What do you want?" He asked Tyler.
"I want nothing, my lord. I just want safety and freedom for me and my friends," Tyler replied. "I want no royal, no soldier to harass me for no reason."
The governor nodded. "Alright. We assure you that your freedom and safety will not be threatened here. Do you want anything else?"
He glanced at both Jordan and Rebecca. "I want both of them to apologize to me…" He paused for a moment and added. "… but they will do it on their knees." He said it with an evil smirk.
Joseph knew what was happening. He was looking at Tyler's true self, the most dangerous face of him. The face which no one would want to encounter. "Tyler…" He muttered as he stared at Tyler's face.
"What did you say!?" Jordan shouted. "There is no way I will get on my knees to apologize to a tribal savage!"
The governor too stood up at this demand. "A royal only kneels in front of a higher authority. This is against our morals."
"Morals? Are your morals greater than justice?" Tyler rebelled. "If that is what you believe, then this trial is nothing but a facade."
"How dare you!?" Jordan pulled out his sword. "How dare you insult my lord!? I will cut your head for your impudent behavior!"
The nobles sitting around them murmured among themselves. "What is this behaviour?" "As expected from a tribal savage." "We should behead him in public."
"Oye, Tyler, calm down," Kyther said as he looked at Jordan's shining blade. "They will seriously cut our heads. You can ask for something else, something that would not hurt their pride."
Tyler ignored his words. "You sure are a hot-blooded one," He replied to Jordan. He looked around and apologized, "I apologize if I said something rude." He said to Jordan again, "If you really want to cut my head off, then do it with honour. How about another duel?" He proposed. "If I lose, you can behead me freely. But if I win…" He looked at the governor. "… you and her both will get on your knees and apologize."
"Oye, Tyler." Kyther was tensed. "What the hell are you saying? How can you be so immature and reckless?" He turned to Joseph. "Hey, Joseph, say something." He noticed Joseph stayed silent and just stared at the governor. "Joseph?" He got even more tensed. "Do not tell me you abide by his suicidal idea?"
Jordan thought for a moment and replied, "Very well." He sheathed his sword. "I accept your challenge. We will have a duel." He grinned. "I will cut your head and parade it in the whole city."
"Oye, he is serious." Kyther gulped. "Think about it again," He said to Tyler. "Do not do this. Ask for something else."
Joseph interrupted him. "We can do nothing now. He has accepted the challenge. Stepping back would be a suicide now."
"But…" Kyther was breathing heavily. He could not understand why Tyler behaved like this. He happened to be the most reasonable one.
Tyler spoke again. "How about we make this even interesting?"
"What do you mean?" asked the governor.
"How about we do it in public? And how about…" Tyler now had a devilish grin on his face. "… a death match?"
"Stop getting ahead of yourself," The governor said in anger. "We are tolerating your behaviour because our daughter is at fault here. Do not think we could not behead you for your insult of this trial."
At this, Niko, who sat among the nobles stood up, and said. "May I say something, my lord?"
"What is it, Niko?" asked the governor.
"I think his demand is reasonable," Niko responded. "I might not agree with his behaviour but what would expect from tribal savages? I personally think it is Jordan's choice alone. He first challenged and tried to kill Tyler, even if it was a misunderstanding. Tyler is right here to demand an apology, but if you do not want to do it, he is right to demand a death match as well." He looked at Jordan. "It is our mighty Jordan's choice to accept it or not."
"Of course, I would not. Why should I?" Jordan reasoned. "Why would I accept a death match?" His face muscles were tensed now.
"Are you sure you want to say it like that?" Niko responded. "Didn't you accept his challenge just a while ago? Why would you accept his challenge if you were not confident of winning? Or is it that…" He eyed at Jordan with a smirk. "… you are scared of a death match?"
"You crazy little…" Jordan phrased while gritting his teeth. But he soon realized the pinning stares of the nobles and the governor. He gulped. He was in a dilemma now. If he denied accepting the challenge, he would be considered a coward among the nobles. They would also consider him unworthy of Princess Rebecca. He could not afford to lose that much in one go.
"What do you say, Jordan?" Niko asked with a smirk. "Would you accept his challenge or would you deny?"
He side-glanced at Rebecca while deciding whether to accept it. "Damn it." He clenched his fist. "Fine. I accept your challenge!" He said to Tyler as he had no choice.
"Manly enough," Tyler said.
The governor sighed after Jordan accepted the challenge. "Now that Jordan has accepted the challenge, we will have a duel tomorrow at the Public Arena. Until then, these three tribal men would be in the dungeon."
The nobles discussed among themselves whether or not they were satisfied with the idea. "This is unacceptable. A tribal can not have a death match with a royal." "The tribal savage is right. He had the right to challenge Jordan. It was up to Jordan to accept it." "I agree with my lord's decision. The Public Arena would be perfect for such kind of fight."
"You can tell us your decision," The governor said to the nobles.
A noble from each of the sides stood up. The one on the right-hand side spoke first. "We agree with today's proceedings with a majority of Eighteen votes out of Twenty-five." He bowed to the governor and took his seat.
The one on the left-hand side spoke. "We too agree with today's proceedings with just one vote margin. We have thirteen votes out of twenty-five." He too bowed down and took his seat.
The governor listened to the nobles and gave his final words. "The things will proceed as we dictate it. We will have the duel between Jordan and the tribal Tyler tomorrow morning at The Public Arena." He walked out of the court after he said it. Rebecca too followed her father while continuously glancing at Tyler.
The nobles left too except Niko and Jordan. Jordan glared at Tyler and Niko and said, "I will make you pay for this. You will regret it." He left after he said it.
"I did as you had told me," Niko said to Tyler. "But what do you have in your mind? They could have killed you right here."
EARLIER
When soldiers were taking the three to the governor's court, Niko had met them for a while. He told them he was a noble and would be among the group of nobles taking part in the decision.
Tyler thought for a bit and whispered something in his ear. Niko was surprised at what he heard. "But why? It is too dangerous. I can not do that."
"I will give you my armor," Tyler said.
At this, Niko began to think. "I can not seem to understand the reason, but I accept the deal. It is too risky though. I am sure you are aware of that."
"I understand the risks, but I am sure it would work." Tyler smiled before the soldiers took them away.
…
"So, this was what you whispered back then," Kyther said in realization. He looked at Tyler. "What is in your mind? Tell us."
Tyler just smiled at him before the soldiers took them away.