*Erik POV*
I knelt and clutched my bleeding leg, the grass beneath me was now stained a deep crimson. I could hear jeers and cries of outrage as my followers saw the bloodstained dagger in Hawke’s hand.
“That is illegal!” I spat. “Each challenger is allowed only one weapon in a duel of dominance! You dishonor tradition!”
“I will dishonor tradition if I allow you to win!” Hawke hissed back. He staggered and clutched his arm, clearly injured from my last attack. “You are a half-breed. Your mother was not only a commoner but also a human, for you to contend for the throne is a dishonor on the Briarly dynasty. The kingdom will not survive with your tainted blood on the throne.”
“And despite my tainted blood you still saw fit to cheat. How is it that you can still call me weak after having been brought to your knees by me? Your arm nearly shattered by merely blocking a single blow?”
“Shut up!”
Hawke tossed the dagger aside and picked up his fallen sword.
