The fight on the platform finally came to an end when the serpentine patron managed to catch his nimble opponent's ankle with his tail, pulling the other man's feet out from under him and claiming victory with the point of his sword pressed against the fallen man's neck.
Cheers erupted from the group of people the young man had been eating with and the woman he had called out to raced down the steps, rushing to the fighting platform and nervously examining the man's wounds.
"Jus' like dat, you see, cher?" Jacques said, pointing at the couple on the stage and grinning widely. "De gentleman done proved his love. Ain't dat a sweet ting?"
"I don't think that fight proves anything," Heila said, shaking her head. "Real battles aren't like that," she added, frowning in thought. The duel might not have been scripted but there were clearly limits in place. Each man fought hard to subdue his opponent but they clearly weren't fighting to the death.
