"May you be worthy to advance to the next point."
Warden lurched to sit upright and turned to the fellow who attacked him out of nowhere. It was a dark-skinned man in long robes, which looked too ordinary for someone of his station. A carved blade was in his hand, as he examined the guy he addressed as the challenger.
"So I have to defeat you to keep on climbing, huh?" Warden said, and didn't stand up. "As if the difficulty of the patterns weren't enough."
"Stand proud, challenger," the dark-skinned man said, taking his stance, the carved blade raised upwards. "You're standing before the fourth disciple of the Great Master Oa'keam. Show your worth, or dismiss yourself from the path..."
Warden tilted his head but didn't stand up. "I get all that, but can I rest a little while?" he asked. "The climb had taken a lot out of him. I reckon a person of your esteem would want to fight me at my best..."
