Chapter Eleven: Challenge
The next few days were fairly smooth. They were certainly quiet on the front lines. Yozak reported that Lanzil was furious over the destruction of his weapons, but also rather terrified. He'd ordered guard around his personal area doubled and tripled. He was also paranoid, randomly grabbing soldiers from no where and demanding name, rank commander and associations and then ordering others to verify the story, as if he could somehow unearth a spy just like that. He was even suspicious of his own officers, his own nobles. Yuri worried about the men in Lanzil's camp, but as far as Gwendal was concerned, it was all for the best. Yozak and Hube's men were too good to get caught, and if Lanzil was so frantically trying to protect himself, he wasn't planning for the war itself. Sooner or later, there had to be an opening. If nothing else, they might hope for a mass defection when the commanders got tired of being subjected to the constant questioning.
He was sitting at the desk working on reports when Dorcascos came running in from the front lines, eyes wide. "Your Excellency! Your Excellency!"
"What is it?" Gwendal and Yuri both looked up.
Dorcascos stopped, took a deep breath and pulled himself to attention. "Your Excellency, a man has come forward from the Cimarron lines. He has specifically challenged you to a personal combat."
"Has he now?" Gwendal raised an eyebrow. Personal combat challenges were very rare. "Tell me, what kind of man is he? How many are with him?"
"Sir, there appear to be two men with him. As for the man himself, I would guess that he is one of the Cimarron commanders, perhaps even a general, though I can't be sure. He is definitely highly ranked though, Sir."
"I see." Gwendal wasn't usually one for personal fights, but this was…interesting. He stood. "Very well. I'll accompany you back to the front line."
Yuri stood as well. "I'm coming too." Gwendal blinked, started to protest, but Yuri shook his head. "I won't leave the protection of the main army. But this might be important. I need to know what's going on."
There was nothing to say to that. Gwendal nodded. "Let's get going." He turned to Dorcascos. "Go inform the other generals that they are to meet us at the front lines. Which area is he at?"
"The one nearest your troops, Sir."
"Very well. Carry on."
"Sir!' Dorcascos saluted and bolted from the tent. Gwendal started for the battle lines, Yuri right beside him.
They met the rest of the war council at the front lines. Gunter and Wolfram looked pensive, Hube looked impassive, and Conrad looked rather thoughtful. Gwendal looked past the last line of men, and spotted three figures midway between the armies. The man out front looked to be a rather well built person, though Gwendal wasn't sure. He was definitely wearing an officers coat. Gwendal turned to his brother. "Conrad, what can you tell me?"
"He's definitely highly ranked. I believe that is a general's coat. I don't believe I recognize him, but that doesn't mean much. I tended to avoid most of the other officers during my time in Cimarron." His brow furrowed. "I think there insignias mixed in with the rank markers. That would mean he's a very high member of nobility."
Gwendal nodded. "So. What's your opinion on the situation?"
"Not answering the challenge would be seen as a sign of cowardice. Not only would the Cimarron soldiers think you weak, but there's a possibility some of our own allies would also take it badly."
"Which means I more or less have to answer him. What are the rules? And what are the chances he'll do something underhanded?"
"You can have two seconds, same as he has. As for underhanded tricks…I won't swear that he won't try them, but generally, trying to cheat in a personal combat carries the same marks as refusing to answer."
"I see." Gwendal thought for a moment, then sighed. "Very well. You and Yozak will accompany me. The rest of you, stay here. Wolfram, guard His Majesty."
"But Gwendal….are you sure it's okay?" Yuri's eyes were worried.
"He's right brother. Who knows what that man will try to pull?" Wolfram looked worried as well.
"I'm aware of the risks. That's why I want Yozak and Conrad with me. The two of them are most aware of the kind of tricks or traps that may occur. That's also why I want you to watch His Highness, in case someone does try something." He waited until he saw the assent in his youngest brother's eyes, then jerked his head toward the field. "Let's go."
Up close, the Cimarron warrior was even more formidable looking. He was six feet tall, broad shouldered and Gwendal could see glints of mail armor under the surcoat. There was something about the shape of the face, with it's dark hair and eyes that sparked a sense of uneasy familiarity, but Gwendal shrugged it off. He'd fought men like this before, and was reasonably confident in his ability to handle him. The wrist guard on his left arm left him with no concerns about an esoteric attack, which meant it came down to physical strength and speed. There were no guarantees, but Gwendal knew himself to be both strong and very fast on his feet. His real question was why the man had challenged him in the first place. It could just be a stab at glory, but usually a personal challenge centered around a personal feud.
He stopped about six feet away from his opponent. "Well? You challenged me."
"You are the Lord General von Voltaire of the Demon Army?"
"I am. State your business."
"My business is to fight you, and leave you bleeding in the dust as a testament to the weakness and foolishness of the Demon Tribe." The man gazed steadily at him, but Gwendal felt another trickle of unease. He wasn't sensing the usual bravado and over-confidence that usually went with a statement like that. "I hereby challenge you, the Lord von Voltaire, to single combat upon this field, to be fought until one of us is unable to continue."
Even more interesting. He'd have expected a death match. Still Gwendal nodded. "What weapons?"
"Swords. You and me alone. No interference by the others." The man gestured. "Your two men will stand at least twenty yards apart, there. And mine will do the same behind me."
Twenty yards would make it difficult for anyone to move. Still, Gwendal trusted Conrad and Yozak to keep an eye on things. "Done."
The warrior drew his sword. Gwendal drew his own. His attention was all on the man in front of him, but he sensed, from the periphery, both the Cimarron men spreading out. Then the man charged him.
The swords clashed with a resounding ring, and Gwendal knew instantly that this was a good fighter. He had at least Wolfram or Yozak's skills. His stance was flexible, his grip solid. Instead of locking the blades and trying to overpower him, the man shifted, testing his weaknesses. Gwendal disengaged quickly, then began to circle, weighing his opponent and looking for openings.
The man charged him again, but this time, he deliberately locked them together. Gwendal started to pull back, but to his surprise the man hissed at him. "What have you done to Jonathan?"
Shock nearly lost Gwendal his hold, but he leaned in, keeping the lock. All his intuition was screaming that this was important. "I don't know who that is."
The man's teeth gritted. "The Cimarron assassin they say was caught in your camp. A man a few inches shorted than I, dark-haired and dark-eyed." The dark eyes burned hot with temper. "He did not come back, and I gave him up for dead. But now rumor abounds across the camp that he is your prisoner, held at your mercy. What have you done with him?"
The dark-haired assassin. Suddenly, the odd familiarity in the warrior's features clicked. He looked like the man whose knife had penetrated his chest weeks ago. What the relationship was, Gwendal couldn't know, but he had a sudden guess. "Family of yours?"
"That is nothing to you!" The man shoved him backward. For a few moments they circled again.
This time, it was Gwendal who charged in. Within the ring if steel upon steel, he spoke. "He's obviously important to you. Tell me why it matters."
They locked blades. The man bit his lip, then spoke softly. "My brother. What have you done with him?"
Brother. Gwendal still had vivid memories of how he'd felt when Conrad had been in Cimarron, when he'd heard Wolfram had been captured by soldiers. Perhaps it was that feeling that made him reply. "He's being held in my camp. He's safe, and so far, unharmed."
"So you say. Am I to trust the words of a sworn enemy? A man I cross blades with?" A grim smile flickered over the features. "You would tell me anything, I think, if you thought it would do you good."
"You doubt my honor?" Anger flickered through Gwendal.
"Do you not doubt mine?" That smile flashed again. "Were I in your place, I would say whatever I had to." The features hardened. "In the forest, there is a rocky clearing, between both camps and about a mile distant from the edges. To prove your words good, bring him there tomorrow night."
Gwendal snorted. He disengaged, then came forward again, letting their swords crash together and release, fencing with the man. "I am not that foolish."
The man gazed at him with burning eyes. "Bring whomever you wish with you. Only bring him."
"And my incentive for doing this is…."
"For now…I will give you this fight. And if your word is as good as you say…perhaps we shall bargain then. But I give nothing beyond this until I see Jonathan safe and unharmed."
Gwendal parried another blow as he considered it. A part of him said this was a foolish risk. However, another part of his mind was actually considering this. If the man had gone to the trouble of calling him out over the issue…had actually staged this whole fight just to plan this meeting…that meant the captive was extremely important to him. And given his opponent's rank, that meant there were huge possibilities for this. Handled correctly, this could change the tide of the war. Finally, he spoke. "What's your name?"
"Kranas. Second General Kranas."
"Very well. Tomorrow night in the rock clearing a mile north. I'll have your kinsman. But if you try anything, he'll be the first to die."
That grim smile flashed again. "I'd expect no less."
They circled each other, clashing again a few times. Then Gwendal saw an opening on the left side. He drove forward, catching the sword at the hilt and twisting. He felt the give as the man's sword went flying. For good measure, he hooked his left boot around his opponent's ankle and jerked, knocking the man off his feet and onto his back. By the time the dust settled, his sword was hovering an inch from the other general's throat. The man glared at him. Gwendal looked back solemnly. "Do you yield?"
"I…yield." Gwendal released him, and Kranas rolled to his feet, glaring daggers at him. "Don't think this weak triumph will save you, Demon. We'll still emerge victorious."
Gwendal raised an eyebrow, recognizing the ritual in the taunt. "Think you'll have better luck as an army? Hmph." He slung his sword back into his scabbard. "I'll leave you for today, but I warn you now. Next time you challenge me it won't be your sword that goes flying." And with that, he turned and walked back for his own lines, Conrad and Yozak following watchfully behind him.
The others were waiting at the front lines. Wolfram was nearly pacing in frustration. As soon as Gwendal crossed into the camp, he pounced. "Brother! What happened? I know you won, but what's going on? What did that…?"
"Enough. I'll explain back at the command tents." Gwendal didn't even wait to see if the others were listening. He simply strode back up the hill, hoping their curiosity would be enough to get them to follow without too much protest.
He waited until they were back inside the tent and sitting down before he spoke. "That fight was a set-up."
"WHAT?" Yuri stared at him. "But what for? It looked like you beat him. And I didn't see anything….Conrad? Yozak?"
"It looked like a clean fight."
"It was, to a point. However, the entire challenge was staged." Gwendal sighed and laced his fingers together. "He was using it to speak with me."
"I thought some of those holds looked a little strange. But what did he want to know?" Yozak leaned against the desk. "It'd have to be pretty important to stage a personal duel like that. Especially since he lost."
"He was asking about the prisoner, the man who made the assassination attempt. They're related. Apparently, the rumors I had Yozak spread are taking affect."
"I see." Conrad looked thoughtful. "He wished to know the status of the prisoner."
"More than that. He's requested a meeting tomorrow night to verify the man's condition himself. I was instructed to bring the prisoner to a neutral site tomorrow evening. He's indicated he may be willing to negotiate, if he believes we've treated him satisfactorily."
Yuri sat upright. "He'll negotiate? But what will he bargain for? Or with?"
"It's not clear. However, I've already agreed to the meeting."
"What?" Wolfram leapt to his feet. "But it's probably a trap. He's probably just trying to capture you."
Yuri grimaced. "I have to admit, Wolfram's got a point. I mean, I feel bad if he's worried about his family, but still…."
"Normally I'd agree. However, there are a few interesting points. First of all, he was a skilled fighter, and he yielded the duel. Even for a trap, it implies a high degree of seriousness, to have done that. Second, he specifically stated that I could be accompanied by all the troops I wished, provided the prisoner is also there."
"Ah….that is a telling point." Murata pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. "If he'd specified a number, it would be suspicious. But with an attitude like that…" He sat for a moment. "I believe the Lord von Voltaire's decision is correct."
Gwendal nodded his acknowledgement of the Sage's support. "Very well. I'll take Conrad, Yozak and Hube with a few soldiers to the meeting point. Wolfram and Gunter will stay here with the Sage and His Majesty…."
"No." Yuri's softly spoken word cut him off in mid-sentence. "I'm going with you."
"Your Majesty!" Gunter stared at him in shock. "That is simply out of the question. After all, who knows what they may have planned."
"That's exactly why I have to go." Yuri gazed back at his advisors with determined eyes. "For one thing, it isn't right for me to make you guys take all the risks. But more importantly, if there's any chance that this could help us, then I should be there. This is supposed to be a gesture of honor. What better way to show our honor and respect than for me to be there, supporting my general? And besides…" He turned to Gwendal. "If you somehow get into negotiations, you'll need me there, won't you? I have to know what's going on. And I can back you up, give you a little more bargaining power, right?"
Gwendal sighed. "There would be a certain extra credibility with you present. However, I'm not sure we should risk your safety, and the safety of our country, by having you at the meeting."
"But Shibuya's presence makes your choices indisputable." Murata spoke softly. "If you bargain without him, others may contest your decisions later. Also, even this man will be aware that the Maou can potentially overrule you. However, if Shibuya is present, there is no way anyone can say he disapproves. And even if there are objections within our ranks, it's a different matter entirely to oppose the Maou."
"Exactly. So I need to be there."
Gwendal grimaced. However, the point made was valid. "Very well, I will accept your company. However, Your Majesty, I must insist on one condition. If there is even the slightest hint of danger, you will allow Conrad and Gegenhuber to remove you to safety immediately."
"I agree. I promise, I won't hesitate at all." Gwendal could tell that Yuri didn't like the idea, but he had the king's promise and that was what was important.
