A/N: I didn't ever expect you be getting pounded for all the grammar mistakes! To be honest I really hate this site, the formatting looks like it hasn't been updated since 1990 and the app for mobile devices is seriously so f*cked up sometimes, and on top of that the stupid grammar errors that appear for absolutely no reason. I proofread my chapters several times before posting and have never encountered mistakes, and yet they pop up in the published content. But I'm here for the community and readers like you! That's the great part.

"My lady, the challenger is here." Alyce called softly. Remi raised her eyebrows carefully slid her polished dagger back into its sheath, then stood up for attention. Her position in front of the whole court silenced the awaiting people. "Let us start the pledge."

"The sun rises everyday with a new challenge." Alyce started.

"And I will never fail to accept it."

Remi placed an automatic hand over her heart as she and her troops went over the pledge of the Clashers.

"Through fire and desperation I will never turn away, kneel down, or surrender to the enemy. I will fight with all the vigilance and strength of my ability. The fate of my comrades resides in me and I will take full responsibility. I will never fail to please the gods."

"May the gods be with you!" An ancient voice called from the back.

"May the gods be with us." Everyone echoed.

Everyone was silent as Remi's sharp eyes traveled over them with a hint of amusement in her face. She raised her eyes to the main doors.

"Let the challenger enter."

Two guards pulled open the huge wooden doors, flooding the seemingly dim courtroom with sunlight. A figure wearing a dark red cloak and a gold belt stepped in, head bowed.

"Your majesty, may I present Jules Kendall, the challenger." Alyce announced.

Jules entered and inclined in a bow for a slight moment before speaking. "Your majesty, Remi Stane. One of the most powerful and successful of all the Clashers."

"Welcome." Remi replied shortly. She gestured for the court to be dismissed. There was a slight bustle as the court headed for the main doors. Jules followed Remi back into her office, a small room with a desk and two chairs. Even as they stepped in neither of them took a seat.

"You may sit." Remi pointed at the chair acidly.

Jules faced her, unmoving. "I will not indulge in the pleasure of sitting while you stand."

Remi gave a careless shrug. "Suit yourself." She stayed unmoving, facing her challenger with a face of contempt, one eyebrow raised and arms crossed over her chest.

Jules' eyes traveled down her body. Her pink- blonde hair was carefully styled so that it hung down her back in a wild yet beautiful braid. Every strand was puffed out or tucked in perfectly and managed to look perfectly natural. Long bangs had been swept out
of her face, where a pair of violet eyes, a hooked nose, and firm pink lips were set. Her cheekbones highlighted, eyelashes long, a barely noticeable spray of freckles dotting the top of her hooked nose. She must have been at least five ten. Her shoulders
were broad and held back pridefully, strong arms tucked in front of her chest in a commanding manner. A rather noticeable bust led to a perfectly curved waist and rounded off to impressively toned hips and legs. Remi was not cute or pretty at all. She was flat out, bemusingly gorgeous.

Jules let out a chuckle. "I do wonder if your beauty surpasses others I have seen elsewhere, prideful one."

Remi laughed a dry, crackling laugh that would make the hairs of everyone present stand on end. "Fool, you dare to compare any other to me, do you."

"I believe I do, Remi."

Remi smiled, but it was not at all a welcoming smile. It was one full of malice and pride. "The gods only award the brave and fearless, the proud and willing."

Jules' eyes were barely visible from underneath the hem of the dark red cloak, but they narrowed. "You are bold and wise beyond your seventeen years," the reply echoed throughout the room, "yet you speak with so much arrogance and pride."

"You do not flatter me, Jules." Remi narrowed her violet eyes back at the cloaked figure. "You seem to only seek my weakness and prey on my troubles, which I have none of."

Jules studied her for a moment longer before giving a deep nod. "I respect you, Remi Stane. May the gods bless you a thousand fold." Jules got down on one knee and took Remi's hand and pressed a kiss to it, as formally as possible.

"You truly know who I am, Remi, don't you?" He spoke from his kneeled position, lifting his head to see her face.

"Jules Drake Kendall, my challenger. Unknown male from the west."

"You have yet so much to learn about me, Remi."

"You have not even fully revealed yourself to me, Jules." Remi said.

Jules' hands brushed past dark red folds of the cloak before reaching to pull back the hood. It was almost agonizing as Remi watched for Jules' face to be revealed, her eyes rising to meet his.

The hood was completely pulled back and Remi was instantly faced with a head of short jet black hair carefully brushed and pushed back. On a canvas of tan skin a pair of deep blue- gray eyes bored right into hers. A well shaped face wrought with the memoriesof
past battles and hardships, and the lips. Smooth, sweet, soft. Muscled shoulders and arms hidden behind a shirt became visible as the cloak slid further down.

Jules stood there silently as he let Remi look at him. She inevitably traced her hands down his chest and hips before coming back up to settle on his shoulders. The whole time she did not break her gaze with him.

"May I tell you, Jules, that you are very attractive?" Remi purred softly, making eye contact with him again. "Yet, good looks have never succeeded to woo me."

"Is that true?" A smirk appeared on Jules' face as Remi stepped in closer.

"For my whole life." Remi replied. She was standing so close to him he could smell her. The distinct smell of the perfumed soap the royals used accompanied by the nearly surprising smell of foraged metal filled his nostrils.

He smiled at her, not moving his head at all for they were the exact same height. Yet she stepped away before he could fully comprehend a look of emotion from her.

She nodded at him. "Thank you, Jules."

"Good luck in our battle, Remi."

She gave him an honest glare. " I always win."

Another 1K words! So... I delayed the battle for one more chapter. I've decided to focus on them meeting each other first, I thought that was crucial. How did I do at hiding Jules' gender in the beginning? Please review in the comments to let me know how I did. Again excuse me if you see punctuation/grammar errors, I did not make them. Thanks!

-Ari