City in the Sky by Glynn Stewart Page A

You are my grandson, and I've only just found you. Do you blame an old lady for my fear of losing you?”
    “You are not old,” Erik told her, covering her hand with his own. “And you need not fear. I have fought worse battles, and with less warning.”
    They sat there for a long time after that, and neither of them said a word.
     
     
     
    Erik stood on the wide avenue leading into the Square of the Gods and simply looked at it. He'd seen it already, but today, when it could easily be his last sight, he took the moments to drink it in.
    The massive plaza lay just short of the innermost portions of the city. The wide, spacious, boulevard he stood on led from the main docks directly to the Palace, and the Square of the Gods was the last clear space before it reached the Palace. It was, in fact, the sole access point between the inner and outer portions of the High City, the single gate through the inner fortifications being on the inside of the square.
    Of course , he reflected, the inner fortifications of the city were regarded as an unnecessary paranoia in this day and age. While the massive stone walls were undiminished by time, the stone forts, though still surrounding the Palace with Dwarven cannon and Aeradi crystal-bows with full magazines and charged crystals, were unmanned. The gates stood open, and even from this distance, his cursory examination suggested that they were rusted in that position.
    Nonetheless, the gates and walls made an impressive backdrop to the Square. The stone-paved boulevard opened out onto an expanse of stone and marble pavement, marked with lines of trees, sweeping terraces of grass and flowers, kept clear of snow even in winter, and dozens of marble statues of the four Gods in assorted poses.
    “Erik,” Hiri said into the silence.
    “It's beautiful, isn't it?” Erik replied quietly. “All of it.”
    “We have to go,” the older septon reminded him.
    Erik nodded silently and turned to the far eastern side of the Square, where a cleared expanse of pure white sand, surrounded by carefully groomed evergreen trees, marked the dueling grounds.
    Erik and his party walked through the trees that hid it from normal view, to find that the dueling ground itself was fenced off. A clear area between the trees and the fence was provided for combatants to prepare themselves, and for the dueling ground’s judge to speak to them.
    Kels was already standing next to the judge, and Hiri gestured for Erik to join the pair.
    “Gentlemen,” the judge said to the two duelists as Erik took his place before the man. “You meet here this morning under the Duelling Code of the City of Newport and the Realm of the Sky. I am required by law to request that you seek a peaceful solution to the quarrel between you.”
    Kels looked at Erik and shrugged. “Withdraw your sponsorship, and this becomes unnecessary.”
    “You have no right to dictate their lives,” Erik said softly. “Walk away, Kels. I do not wish to hurt you.”
    Kels sneered and turned to the judge. “No, there can be no resolution.”
    “Very well,” the judge said flatly. “You each have ten minutes to prepare, and may the Gods judge fairly in this quarrel between you.”
    Erik returned to his side of the sands, where Hiri and the young couple waited for him. Letir was carrying his sword, the sky steel smallsword he'd forged for Rade, half a year, half a world, and entire lifetime away.
    With a shrug, he removed the jacket he wore over the simple white tunic he would fight in. He met Hiri's gaze and shook his head helplessly. “He won't back down.”
    “I didn't expect him to,” the septon replied.
    “I don't want to kill him,” Erik told him.
    “Do what you have to,” Hiri replied coldly. “I lost my son a long time ago. Today is simply the formality.” He offered his hand in the clasp of friends.
    Erik returned the handclasp, and then watched helplessly as the septon walked to the side of the field. He turned to Deria and