Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Timlin nodded to Lannon. "I'm disappointed to see you're still alive. I keep hoping one of these days I'll hear news you've been squashed."

"I can't say the same about you," said Lannon. Timlin's words stung. Lannon couldn't understand how Timlin had become so malicious that he wished for Lannon's ruin. The evil of the Deep Shadow was sickening.

Timlin laughed. "That's because you're a fool who thinks he can save everyone, when you can't even save yourself."

"I'm still alive," said Lannon, shrugging.

"Not for long," said Timlin, smirking.

"Have you come here to duel, Timlin?" said Taris. "Or just talk?"

"So who amongst you has chosen to die?" Timlin called out, ignoring Taris. His words were greeted with more jeering and booing.

"I have chosen to fight! " Thrake boomed, raising his axe. "And you should feel lucky it's not you I will be fighting, little fellow."

Timlin leaned over and spat into the snow. "I would take no pleasure in cutting off the bearded head of a bumbling oaf like you, Thrake. But I'm sure my companion, Ulmason Deathhand, will be quite happy to do so. Ulmason is prepared to fight to the death. Is Dremlock's warrior prepared to do the same?"

"Without question," Thrake growled, stepping forward. "We will fight axe to axe, with no other weapons allowed. Agreed?"

"Agreed," said Ulmason Deathhand. He unsheathed his dagger and handed it to Timlin.

Thrake gave his dagger to Taris.

"Then let us proceed with this honorable duel," said Taris.

Lannon tensed up, glancing at the other Squires. He wondered if they hated duels as much as he did. Their faces looked tense as well.

"Yes, let it begin," said Timlin, looking bored. "I hope it's a worthy fight."

"This is it!" Jerret said, his eyes wide. "Take him down, Thrake!"

Ulmason swung down from his black horse. Then raised his massive battle axe in both hands. He looked like a towering, horned demon standing in the snow, only a single gleaming eye visible beneath his helm. His black armor was lined with curved spikes that looked like teeth, and runes of sorcery were engraved into the thick breastplate that were intended to inspire terror in his foes. "Death has come to you," he said to Thrake.

The onlookers moved back a bit, allowing a circle to form around the two combatants. Thrake walked forward until he stood a few feet away from the Dark Knight. The two giants stared each other down. Few men surpassed Thrake Wolfaxe in size, but Ulmason was one of them. Thrake wore the crimson armor of an elite Red Knight-made of steel reinforced with veins of Glaetherin. The breastplate was molded to look like a muscular torso partially covered in Dragon scales. Thrake was the Red Champion of Dremlock and a sure bet for the High Council, but he was still overshadowed by the massive Dark Knight.

"No one shall interfere with the duel!" Taris commanded. "If either man falls, he is left to his fate until the duel is officially ended." Taris gave Lannon a stern look. "You, Lannon Sunshield, interfered in the last honorable duel. Furlus told me all about it. You will not do so again. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Master Taris," said Lannon, wondering how he was supposed to stand by and let Thrake be slain if it came to that.

"If you violate the Sacred Laws like that again," said Taris, "even the Divine Essence may turn against you."

"I understand," said Lannon, chills flooding over him.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the coward does interfere," said Timlin. "Lannon doesn't know the meaning of honorable combat."

"He will not interfere," said Taris, his gaze still on Lannon. "Dremlock honors its vows. Those who fail to uphold the Sacred Laws will be banished from this kingdom-regardless of their rank, skills, or importance to Dremlock. And that means anyone who interrupts this duel."

Lannon bowed his head, feeling the stares of everyone present. "I will never again interfere with a duel, Master Taris." He wondered if he could keep that promise, if in fact he was fit to be a Divine Knight at all.

"Then let us proceed!" said Taris.

The crowd fell silent, standing like armored statues in the melting snow. The two Elder Hawks circled above, as if watching the duel from on high. Two bearded giants with heavy armor and smoldering battle axes stood face to face, eager to shed blood. They continued to stare each other down, while tension rose amongst the onlookers. Lannon dreaded what was about to happen, fearing he would see Thrake cut down and be unable to help him. Jerret, however, seemed filled with battle lust and confidence, his eyes blazing as he gazed at the two foes.

And then the giants clashed, the magically charged axes throwing sparks into the snow. Thrake seemed to immediately gain an edge, driving Ulmason backwards as the crowd parted. It seemed the Blood Legion warrior was about to go down beneath the fury of Thrake's attack. But then Ulmason struck back with his own flurry of blows from his long axe, until he'd regained his balance.

Thrake swung low at Ulmason's legs, but the Legion warrior showed great agility in leaping over the blade. Ulmason landed a glancing blow from his axe handle on Thrake's shoulder, knocking Thrake back a bit.

Ulmason laughed mockingly from beneath his horned helm. "I'll split that red armor yet and see what lies beneath!"

Enraged, Thrake swung at Ulmason's head, but this time Ulmason ducked the blow. The Legion warrior mirrored Thrake's previous move and hacked at his legs, but Thrake managed to bring his axe down in time to deflect the stroke. Their axes clashed together several more times.

Then Ulmason lunged forward in a bold move and seized hold of Thrake, seeking to crush him in a bear hug with his powerful arms, his axe falling to the snow. Thrake's own axe dropped from his hand as he fought to break the hold. Thrake's thick armor and the stout muscle underneath prevented Ulmason from cracking his ribs. At last, Thrake wrapped his legs around those of Ulmason and tripped him. Then the two giants were down in the snow and rolling around, punching and grappling and trying to choke each other. They respected each other's beards, however, and there was no yanking of hair.

Thrake ended up on top of Ulmason, and he ripped off the Legion warrior's helm to expose the scarred face underneath that had one eye missing. The crowd of Divine Knights cheered wildly. Timlin yawned.

Thrake punched Ulmason in the jaw, but the Legion warrior seemed unshaken by the blow, and he shoved Thrake off of him. Covered in wet snow, the two combatants seized their fallen axes and rose.

"It's the end for you, Ulmason Demonspawn!" Thrake roared, as he charged his foe while swinging his glowing axe.

Thrake struck with such fury and precision that Ulmason was again thrown off balance, and this time it seemed certain the Dark Knight would fall. Ulmason's remaining eye widened in shock as Thrake drove him backwards, and the cheers of the surrounding Knights and Squires grew deafening.

But then Thrake slipped in the snow and fell hard to one knee, his battle axe flying from his hand. Grinning, Ulmason kicked Thrake in the chest and knocked him on his back. The Legion warrior stood over him, the heavy axe poised for the kill. Thrake lay with a devastated look on his face.

Ulmason Deathhand boomed laughter. "This duel is finished! A slip of the foot has now cost you your life!"

The Knights and Squires groaned in dismay.

Ulmason grinned at the crowd. "Did you get your entertainment for the day? Ready for some bloodshed to top it off?"

"Get up, Thrake!" Jerret pleaded.

But Thrake only continued to lay there, looking defeated.

"Kill him and be done with it," Timlin commanded.

Lannon knew he could use the Eye of Divinity to save Thrake's life. But it would cost him his chance at Knighthood-and more importantly, Thrake would never forgive him for it. The Red Knight was far too proud for that. And so Lannon simply stood and waited for the horrific end to the duel.