the woman into view. Were the men after riches or beauty?
The burly man pulled the lance from his abdomen and sought out another weapon. The duke pointed out to him. "There is your answer."
A cheer rose from the crowd. Chants came from both sides of the field. Chants for those who wanted to see one opponent win over the other that in turn changed to, "to the death."
The dwarf had all he could do to duck and roll out of the opponents charge. He had no weapon, except for that of his hands, feet, and quickness. Rolling to and fro to keep the opponent from sinking his mace into his body.
Then at the appropriate time, with the swing of his legs he brought the burly man down. The jolt of his weight in his chain mail suit knocked not only the wind out of his lungs, but the mace from his hands.
This weapon was quickly recovered by the dwarf and brought down swiftly upon the man's head, smashing his skull.
"We have our first victor!" Said the announcer while he grabbed onto the little man's arm raising it. "Who will be our next contestant to go against," there was a pause while the announcer asked the dwarf his name. "Ben Stout, representing the kingdom of Magmark."
Whooping and hollering rose around the stands while the winners who had placed bets on the contestants were paid. The odds were raised for the dwarf after he had proved himself.
Ben Stout remained in the contest for the next five contestants until he was defeated by the lieutenant, who gave the dwarf a swift clean death. It was nothing less than a beheading for the representative of the Kingdom of Magmark.
"Who will challenge Lieutenant Knox? Do we have any takers or was that our last contestant?"
A murmur broke out from the crowd. Treea swallowed hard. Was this it? Why didn't Dale come to her rescue? Now that he was named prince was she no longer good enough for him?
The king stood up and addressed the crowd and the announcer. "There is one more contestant. We are just waiting for him to arrive. He should be here soon. Let Lieutenant Knox break for some refreshment while we wait."
"You heard the king. We will wait."
The crowd broke up going off in different directions to get their own food and drink. The match was not over, but many now had money to spend from their own winnings that were burning holes in their pouches. Gobs of sweet breads had been baked for such an occasion, all on sale at the market nearby, that was soon flooded with potential buyers.
Chapter 22
"Do you really think he will accept the challenge?" Knox asked the duke.
"Aye." He smirked. "A chance to not only get his freedom back to to save his daughter, he'll be here. I'm sure of it."
From the sour look on Dorian Knox's face, he appeared to not be looking forward to his next challenger.
"Why the look, Dorian? Do you not think you will win?"
"I kind of liked the man. I don't look forward to killing him."
Duke Ellington laughed. "How about we pay the sweet miss a visit. It might add some motivation to take away that sour look." He led the lieutenant to where Treea was allowed to sit in the shade of a big elm tree, being fanned by two servants who were assigned to keep her company.
The duke pulled a couple of shillings from his pocket and gave each servant a coin. "Go get yourselves a hunk of bread. We will stay with her." A curtsy from the servants after being handed their shilling had them hurrying away leaving Treea alone with the two men.
Lieutenant Dorian smiled as soon as he set eyes on Treea. He loved women that had cleavage they could show off. She was a shapely lassie and he began to look forward to their romp after the match was over.
Duke Ellington reached for Treea's hand and pulled her to her feet. "This, young lady, will make a fine prize for you. Don't you agree, Dorian?"
"She sure is a beautiful one." Dorian agreed. “She’s also the one who cut me that day at the dock. I think I’ve got a score to settle with her.”
"Is the contest over so soon?"
The burly man pulled the lance from his abdomen and sought out another weapon. The duke pointed out to him. "There is your answer."
A cheer rose from the crowd. Chants came from both sides of the field. Chants for those who wanted to see one opponent win over the other that in turn changed to, "to the death."
The dwarf had all he could do to duck and roll out of the opponents charge. He had no weapon, except for that of his hands, feet, and quickness. Rolling to and fro to keep the opponent from sinking his mace into his body.
Then at the appropriate time, with the swing of his legs he brought the burly man down. The jolt of his weight in his chain mail suit knocked not only the wind out of his lungs, but the mace from his hands.
This weapon was quickly recovered by the dwarf and brought down swiftly upon the man's head, smashing his skull.
"We have our first victor!" Said the announcer while he grabbed onto the little man's arm raising it. "Who will be our next contestant to go against," there was a pause while the announcer asked the dwarf his name. "Ben Stout, representing the kingdom of Magmark."
Whooping and hollering rose around the stands while the winners who had placed bets on the contestants were paid. The odds were raised for the dwarf after he had proved himself.
Ben Stout remained in the contest for the next five contestants until he was defeated by the lieutenant, who gave the dwarf a swift clean death. It was nothing less than a beheading for the representative of the Kingdom of Magmark.
"Who will challenge Lieutenant Knox? Do we have any takers or was that our last contestant?"
A murmur broke out from the crowd. Treea swallowed hard. Was this it? Why didn't Dale come to her rescue? Now that he was named prince was she no longer good enough for him?
The king stood up and addressed the crowd and the announcer. "There is one more contestant. We are just waiting for him to arrive. He should be here soon. Let Lieutenant Knox break for some refreshment while we wait."
"You heard the king. We will wait."
The crowd broke up going off in different directions to get their own food and drink. The match was not over, but many now had money to spend from their own winnings that were burning holes in their pouches. Gobs of sweet breads had been baked for such an occasion, all on sale at the market nearby, that was soon flooded with potential buyers.
Chapter 22
"Do you really think he will accept the challenge?" Knox asked the duke.
"Aye." He smirked. "A chance to not only get his freedom back to to save his daughter, he'll be here. I'm sure of it."
From the sour look on Dorian Knox's face, he appeared to not be looking forward to his next challenger.
"Why the look, Dorian? Do you not think you will win?"
"I kind of liked the man. I don't look forward to killing him."
Duke Ellington laughed. "How about we pay the sweet miss a visit. It might add some motivation to take away that sour look." He led the lieutenant to where Treea was allowed to sit in the shade of a big elm tree, being fanned by two servants who were assigned to keep her company.
The duke pulled a couple of shillings from his pocket and gave each servant a coin. "Go get yourselves a hunk of bread. We will stay with her." A curtsy from the servants after being handed their shilling had them hurrying away leaving Treea alone with the two men.
Lieutenant Dorian smiled as soon as he set eyes on Treea. He loved women that had cleavage they could show off. She was a shapely lassie and he began to look forward to their romp after the match was over.
Duke Ellington reached for Treea's hand and pulled her to her feet. "This, young lady, will make a fine prize for you. Don't you agree, Dorian?"
"She sure is a beautiful one." Dorian agreed. “She’s also the one who cut me that day at the dock. I think I’ve got a score to settle with her.”
"Is the contest over so soon?"
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