Zilo had just one more challenge to best the prince in and the duel would end in his favor. His corner had Leo, Jin, and Tess watching as Zilo breathed deeply and began to remove his light blue silk shirt. The prince in return took off his over coat and his white shirt beneath.
The two of them squared up again facing each other in the same way they had for their fencing match only now the moonlight and torches lit their standoff rather than the evening sun. The rules had been shouted before they lined up, another battle, this one without the use of conventional weapons and no strikes below the torso. First one to surrender or fail to continue would be the loser.
The two of them had rather similar frames, lithe, like men that had the body of a late teen, not fully grown into their structure laid before their bones. The prince looking to have the advantage in body mass, as Zilo without his shirt looked emaciated. The prince looked down trodden as he stared to his opponent. He snapped at the bard saying, "Remove your hat so we may begin."
Zilo's eyes lifted up to the brim of his hat and he half smiled saying, "No need."
He sternly stared to the prince and said, "As if you could even knock it off."
The prince's body convulsed as Maldrek and Luther readied to signal the start. The prince looked around to the crowd, panicked but the moment he heard the seconds shout, "Begin!" His panic came to a point and he charged, no plan or technique to his charge.
The prince swung at Zilo, but the bard ducked below and snapped his fist out, connecting to the prince's exposed gut. The prince fell forward, but put his feet out in time to catch his stumble. Zilo lightly stepped to the side to let the prince move past him.
Kranoc caught his breath and rubbed his stomach as Zilo hopped a few times on his toes.
"Fast aren't you, guess that thin body is easy to move."
"Advantages of my race I suppose." Says Zilo as he slowly begins to move forward. The prince was beginning to think now and this time he moved in slowly like Zilo did and suddenly swept in with a powerful kick.
Kranoc smiled hoping the power of the strike would break right through Zilo's guard, but the attack was halted. Zilo put out his arm and stopped the kick in place. The prince's glee was dashed as the bard hoisted up the boy's leg into the air. As the human was lifted up the bard moved forward and spoke,
"No strike below the waist! RIGHT!" And planted his arm firmly into the prince's chest, spiking him into the ground. The bard walked away as the prince held his chest. Zilo looked around to the crowd and could see the stunned looks on their faces. He sighed as the prince rose again, and the bard spoke,
"Just because your cousins from the shadows have grown thin over time, it doesn't make our bodies less capable."
The prince faced down the fetchling and spoke, "It felt like a wall. You're nothing but muscle." Zilo smiled and pointed to the man and said, "And who says you can't buy education. Well done little prince."
The prince grit his teeth and got into a stance. Zilo smiled and spoke, "Still ready for more, my you're brave. Very well, guess its my turn then." Zilo bounced up a few times before leaning forward and beginning to run at Kranoc. His run turned into a tumble and some handsprings before planting his hands at the prince's feet, curling up and extending.
The bard's feet shot up and under the prince's guard, nailing him right on the chin and flinging him up into the air. The prince flew up and back. Zilo twisted showing off his acrobatic ability and landing back and flowing into a bow.
Despite the showmanship the crowd did not cheer they all stared to the downed prince. Zilo looked about, confused before mumbling, "Tough crowd alright, might need a new approach." Kranoc struggled to stand and began speaking,"
"7 Challenges, 6 losses... I cannot let this stand..." he slowly began to stand on his knees and continued, "I am a Prince of Deneval, Bard! I stand for this nation and ... and."
"Oh by Dema, we get it. Come little prince, back those words up."
The two men came together and grappled. The were planted shoulder to shoulder, pushing back against the other with Zilo looking to command strength, technique, stamina, and reflexes... The grapple did not last long before the prince was once again on the ground, with Zilo standing over him taunting,
"This is getting boring, take a knee and surrender so that I may return home."
"NO!" Shouted the prince with a tremble in his tone. He stood and Zilo motioned for him to come on. The prince shook and moved in again with a left hook. Zilo blocked easily and went in for a jab, but the prince caught it and then the boy shouted,
"A KING BOWS FOR NO ONE!" Punctuated with a heavy headbutt to Zilo's face. The bard's hat was flung off and the two men fell. As they both twitched there on the courtyard, Zilo was lacking major movements of rising, while the prince rose back to his feet.
Luther's face beamed and Maldrek's sank, the seconds ran to their men. Luther rose the prince's arm into the air and he yelled,
"I give you the victor! Prince Kranoc Deneval!"
The crowd exploded as Maldrek shook Zilo trying to rose the bard, when he heard a whisper, "Not so hard bud, or it won't look real." Maldrek's face shot back, and Zilo limply placed his arm on the Tiefling to hold him to Zilo's body and keep him from rising and revealing the rouse.
"Don't do a thing, Let them win."
"Are you nuts! We are done if he wins. Zilo, I bet the Comp-"
"Shhhhhhh Sh Sh Sh, It's cool. He and I had a chat."
"Chat? When did..." Maldrek's eyes widened and he continued his whispering, "In the grapple!?"
"Ding ding."
"Are you crazy!? They are not our fri-"
"Attention the prince has an announcement!"
The prince was given back his over coat and wore it on his shoulders as he looked to the court full of nobles. He lowered his head before raising it and shouting,
"Today was not a victory easily earned. But with it, the honor that had been called into question is now repaired." The crowd cheered but the prince raised his hand to quiet them.
"That said I think we can all see from this fight that the mercenaries of Swords and Sorcery Inc. are clearly masters of their profession." Luther squints and looks to the prince confused. Maldrek as well looks to the prince as Zilo sits up wanting to see the next part. Kranoc looks to the bard with a smile and finishes.
"If the rest measure up to even half of mister Realms, then I for one cannot wait to see how much Deneval will benefit from their continued service." Luther's jaw falls, Maldrek's face is stunned, and Zilo tilts his head to the side and gives the prince thumbs up hidden in the underside of his torso against his abdomen.
The crowd cheers and crowds around the prince while Zilo's allies reach him and hoist him up to his feet. Jin is the one to notice that Zilo isn't actually injured almost instantly and asks, "What's all dis Bardo?"
"Drummed up some business, saved the company, future king owes me a favor for making him look like an underdog that came out on top in the end."
Tess socks Zilo in the stomach, making him actually crumple over in pain and she smiles saying, "Xix favors you, ya jerk. You scared me there." Leo lifts Zilo back to his feet and gives him a hug before speaking
"I have never been more proud of you, tricking an entire royal court like that, it's a thing of beauty."
Zilo raises his head, and connects eyes with Maldrek who shakes his head lightly with a smile, "That was a huge risk betting the prince would follow through. You should have ran it by me first."
Zilo winks at the wizard and says, "Guess we are even for setting up an 'unwinnable' duel without running it by me."
Maldrek chuckles and turns, motioning for Leo and Jin to bring the bard along and saying, "Let's head back to the tavern."
No comments:
Post a Comment