>>6111049>“I challenge you to a duel, Nestor. Winner takes the boy. I don’t even need my axe for this. I’ll defeat you as I am now.” Arguing with this man would lead you nowhere, and you weren’t keen on provoking his entire group. But a one on one situation was a different matter. You were confident you could win even without your axe.Nestor looks you over, surprised by your request. He seriously considers the offer. He’d heard about what you did to Gideon and his men, but all he knew was that you’d killed them with your blade. He had no reason to suspect that you also knew how to cast magic. In a straight fight where you had your weapon, he knew he’d be unlikely to win. But if you were fighting with merely your fists, then he had a very good shot. He gives you a toothy grin.
“Very well, Lord Tristain. I accept your challenge. We may take this outside. One of my acquaintances here is decent with healing magic. I’ll even enlist her to ensure that this does not turn fatal. I at least owe you that much, as a friend of Lord Elric’s. That being said, I believe I should be owed some fair recompense should I emerge the victor. Let’s say something to the tune of 1000 gold pieces?”
“Fine.” That was a pretty steep price, but all you had to do was not lose. That should be simple enough, right?
You and Nestor’s group exit to the front of the brothel, followed by a large group of onlookers. You can hear several people in the crowd beginning to take bets on the two of you, trying to determine who would win. They seem to have far more confidence in Nestor than they do you, a fact that annoys you considerably. Elric, for his part, hardly seems to be aware of what’s going on. He’s leaning against a barrel outside the brothel, doing his best to keep his head up. Cuthbert watches him dispassionately.
“This is a bit surprising.” Nestor says from across the distance between you. He is twirling his curved sword around gracefully. The blade looks sharp as it whips through the air. “I’d have thought you’d be perfectly fine with seeing an enemy contender taken out of the game so early. And without having to lift a finger at that. What possessed you to come all the way here and stick your neck out like this?
>“I have no patience for liars. It’s one thing to try and rob the boy blind by playing into his naivety. It’s another entirely to say he is a greater champion than I! For that, the beating you are about to receive is well deserved.”Nestor laughs uproariously. “Come now. If I tried this game with you I’d have never gotten away with it. Besides, I wasn’t entirely lying back at Murillo’s. I really would serve a worthy champion. Someone who was truly destined for great things.” He points his scimitar upwards. “The problem is…I don’t think that’s you.”
>“Fine. Allow me to show you how poor your judgment is.” 