Commander Lothian could have never predicted that the king would go so far as to capture three wild beasts for Henry to fight.
Even when Callum had faced the bear all those years ago, his opponent was one small bear. It was still an impressive feat to face a bear and live to speak about it but it was hardly bigger than the largest of the dire wolves Henry was set to face.
King Alfred's choice to go to extremes gave Callum the impression that the match was personal. He wasn't only testing Henry's abilities of strength but wanting him to prove his worth as a partner for the princess. Considering the monarch's hesitation to announce not only the dukedom but Henry as the princess's betrothed was telling of his doubt. Callum knew that if it was Lord Ian of the Sadivs she was after that it would have been announced from the beginning
Regardless of what Henry had faced so far, because he was a peasant, he still wasn't enough.
