The crowd cheered as the Samurai and the Fencer exchanged attacks. The Samurai seemed to flow easily with the rhythm of battle. His strikes seemed to have a practiced ease to them, yet seemed sporadic as well, almost like a sort of dance.
The Fencer on the other hand was far more rigid. His strikes were calculated and precise, aiming for vitals with every thrust, forcing the Samurai into a position of deflecting and sometimes counter attacking. The Fencer seemed focused on keeping his opponent on the defense.
Zilo's eyes widen as he marvels at the Fencer's precision. "This is awesome! That Fencer is so quick! Thank Morta he wasn't my opponent."
"Quickness isn't everything, look at the way his opponent counters at every turn. He's clearly been on the battlefield more, while the nobleman's experience came from tutors and tourneys." Responds Cruxis thoughtfully.
"Sure, but look at the blades. The rapier is at least a full foot longer than the katana, not to mention his striding thrusting style. The samurai needs get around that huge range to even have a shot, why do you think he hasn't connected yet?" Zilo remarks right back.
"Even still, experience trumps advantage."
"We'll see." As the bard and paladin discuss the fight before them, Leo's eyes are darting back over to his newest target, the 'paladin' who had ambushed him in the resting area. The paladin already had it in for him, so if he was to have a chance he'd need help.
His eyes wandered over to his right, facing his other two magically capable companions. Zilo was flexible and gullible, a perfect fall guy should the scheme go sideways, but... It was Zilo, he did not have a head for subterfuge in the slightest. Next, was Cruxis. He would probably be better suited to ferreting out a false paladin of his order.
That being said, Leo thought back to a job he pulled with a friend of his in the Stormstate. His friend hired him to help rob a corrupt guard. Leo's client failed to mention that the guard had murdered the client's sister. Once Leo subdued the guard the client returned the favor and Leo now needed to worry about a dead body.
While he managed to get away, it took far more work than the magus was ready for. Leo made it a rule not to involve people in a job if they might take the job personally. Cruxis' connection to Freya would be too much of a liability. Leo shivered still remembering the destruction that rained after Leo inquired about if Freya was attractive.
That left one option. Leo turned to the the left to see Alaroc gulping down a bottle of cheap wine. He let out a gasp as his lips left the bottle and his face flushed red as his eyes tried to center back on the fight. Leo could at least depend on Alaroc to be agreeable.
Leo sat and began to form together a plan, but was interrupted by the by the roar of the crowd as he looked up to see the Fencer nursing a deep sword wound on his chest that had bloodied his fancy shirt. The Samurai laid on the ground with puncture wounds all over his chest area and blood pooling underneath him. After a few moments of the Samurai struggling to breath his movements ceased.
The Fencer retrieved a handkerchief that was already slightly bloodied from the chest wound and wiped his sweat from his brow with his buckler hand. He took a moment to breath heavily and collect himself before raising his sword hand in victory.
Zilo beamed in pride as Cruxis dropped his head in disgust. Once he was done sulking Cruxis retrieved his coin purse and Zilo gave him a strange look.
"Cruxis, we didn't-"
"OH! Right, sorry, force of habit." Responds the paladin in relief as he puts away his money. and continues, "Still you have to admit it was close."
"Oh Dema yes! I thought that jumping slash would down him in one blow!"
Once the crowd quieted the magus returned to his thoughts the next two combatants walked out to replace the ones who'd just fought. The next fighters were the peasant with the waveblade and the scruffy looking scarred man with a metallic scabbard and long trench coat.
During the transition Leo took out and hid his spellbook to his side out of view from the mystery paladin. He turned to the page listing the spell Message and using it he sent Alaroc a unnoticeable whisper, "He Alaroc this is Leo, I need to discuss something."
"Wow, I'm hearing voices already, normally that only happens when I drink the 3rd bottle." Responds Alaroc with the 2nd half of the spell. Leo continues to silently cast Message for the remainder of their conversation.
"Look dummy, you aren't that smashed yet, I'm using my spells to speak with you secretly."
"Righto then! We haven't spoke alone in a while! How have you been friend!?"
"Focus Al. I think one of the fighters isn't on the up and up."
Silently Alaroc turns his head straight faced at Leo and responds sarcastically, "You don't say."
"Not me! The man in the helmet!" Retorts Leo indignantly. Alaroc shifts slightly to sneak a peek at the man in the helmet.
"Truly? He looks righteous enough to my eyes."
"He may look it, but I had a chat with him downstairs, and his story doesn't add up, he claims to be a paladin like Cruxis."
"That's even less reason to suspect him. Paladins are the goodies of two shoes."
"You mishear me, when I say just like Cruxis, I mean exactly like Cruxis. He said his god was Freya."
Alaroc finally turns back to Alaroc sobering up a few notches before speaking, "Okay that is weirdly coincidental, but why does it matter."
Leo looks in shock before recalling and speaking back, "That's right on the journey to the Elf kingdom you passed out on the 5th day. Cruxis and I had a small chat, I was looking for info on Freya to take notes for if I need to pretend to... nevermind, he told me a bit about Freya."
"What about her?"
"While its true she is a goodly god and has an order of warriors who follow her, she is a god of mostly female followers. He said that not only is it rare for her to have men follow her, but it is practically unheard of for her to take men in as parts of her church."
"Then wait, why is Cruxis...?"
"I have no clue, but we've seen him call on her for magic so we know he's legit."
"Fair point, so what is the plan? Can we go to the officials?"
"Being a fake paladin doesn't break the rules or anything, but I think we can use this to our advantage if we have to face him."
Alaroc looks at the trickster and his face contorts uncomfortably and he goes silent.
"It's not cheating big guy, it's no different from watching the fights for our other opponents, we are gathering info and using it to our advantage."
"Speaking of which." Alaroc points forward and Leo follows his motion. The match looks to have ended. Alaroc rises for his own match coming up and passes the dumbfounded Leo, who looked upon the combatants and wished he had paid even slight attention.
The scruffy man was on the ground, not moving, but the odd thing was that there wasn't a single cut or speck of blood on his person. Leo wished he was closer to get a better look, but the officials carted off the body before he could focus on why he had lost.
The unassuming peasant with his waveblade flicked his blade out and twirled it once before lowering it down to his left side and walking off, not even acknowledging the crowd. Leo shivered and promised himself he'd need to watch this man's next match, he was clearly skilled.
He then sighed and said, "Too many strangers here, why can they just be the nameless mooks I dealt with back home?"
"There he is! HEY ALAROC! KICK SOME BUTT!!!" Shouted Zilo as Alaroc and the Knight in full plate with a longsword and large metal shield got into position. Without missing a beat Leo shot down the bard and said, "It's a sword tournament Zilo."
Thinking fast the bard corrected, "CUT SOME BUTT!!!"
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