Mal'dar looked around the room full of Mandalorians, most had drawn their weapons at this point. A lightsaber glowed in his right hand and a blaster was in his left.
"Are you an honorable man?" asked the armorer looking at Mal'dar, her head slightly cocked.
Mal'dar nodded slowly, "I believe so".
"Lower your weapons, and no harm will come to you, I swear," said the armorer.
Mal'dar deactivated the lightsaber and holstered his pistol while also putting away the lightsaber. The armorer nodded, "Follow me". Mal'dar walked past the Mandalorians, who had all holstered their weapons, though most still kept their hands close. The warriors slowly followed him as the armorer lead Mal'dar to her forge.
The ground of the building had never been floored and was simply furnished with the occasional spindly table or chair. Dim lights were attached from the ceiling, in fact, the brightest light was that of the forge.
The armorer sat down beside the forge and indicated a spot on the ground opposite of her. Mal'dar sat there. "Please remove your helmet," said the armorer. Mal'dar set it on the ground. His face was paler than it should have been from wearing his helmet so much, but his face still had color. He was not exceptionally handsome yet the Tribe still looked at him with interest, it was not often they saw faces.
"We will allow you to take the warriors with you to death watch under two conditions," stated the armorer her gaze never breaking from Mal'dar.
"What are they?" asked Mal'dar.
"First do you follow the Resol'nare?" asked the armorer.
"Yes," said Mal'dar.
"What are the tenants?" asked the armorer sharply.
Mal'dar immediately began listing them, "Wear and take care of your armor, speak Mando'a, defend yourself and your family, raise your children as Mandalorians, contribute to the clan, when called on the Mand'alor rally to their cause".
The armorer nodded, "Yes, and if you take the oath of The Resol'nare to us, and join our tribe then we will allow you to take them, though some of our warriors will follow to make sure you keep your word".
"I always do," snapped Mal'dar.
The armorer stood and looked down at him, "We shall see". She picked up his helmet, and Mal'dar rose with it. The armorer turned away from him and held his helmet over the forge. "Then do you swear to follow the six tenants of The Resol'nare, do you swear to follow them the way of the tribe, and do swear to follow the creed?"
Mal'dar paused and closed his eyes to ponder. Then he slowly opened them, a peace settling over him, "I do".
"Then repeat after me," said The Armorer. "Strength is life, for the strong have the right to rule".
"Strength is life, for the strong have the right to rule".
"Honor is life, for with no honor one might as well be dead".
"Honor is life, for with no honor one might as well be dead".
"Loyalty is life, for with one's tribe one has no purpose".
"Loyalty is life, for with one's tribe one has no purpose".
"Death is life, one should die as they have lived".
"Death is life, one should die as they have lived, " said Mal'dar.
The armorer nodded and set Mal'dar helmet on the forge. She heated it slightly and pressed a brand upon it. She pulled out the helmet with her tongs and pushed it into the water. Steam shot up and she pulled it from the water. She sprayed it down and picked up the helmet, which now had the skull of the mythosaur emblazed upon it. She lifted up the helmet and placed it on Mal'dar's head. "I shall craft you a pendant," she said turning back to the forge.
Mal'dar readjusted his helmet and the Mandalorian spectators slowly trickled away.
The armorer had quickly crafted the pendant. Mal'dar and the three deserters were preparing to go the ship when The Armorer approached them. "The five warriors who will accompany you," she said indicating five warriors, who were led by a slender figure.
"I will not fail you mother," declared the woman who stood in front of the group.
The Armorer nodded and walked back towards the forge.
"Well let's see how this goes," said Mal'dar as he began walking back to the ship.
The feet of the nine Mandalorians crunched the snow underfoot as they walked towards the Death Watch camp. Vizsla began to approach them several Death Watch warriors behind him, including Bo-Katan.
"Well I must admit I am surprised," shouted Vizsla.
"Why?" asked Mal'dar flatly.
"I heard that the tribe is fiercely loyal to one another, I thought they would have killed you," proclaimed Vizsla.
Mal'dar reached around his neck and pulled out the mythosaur skull pendant, "We are loyal to one another".
Vizsla's eyes widened and a smile came over his face, "So what is your plan, to fight us, there are hundreds of us".
"No, but you're not killing them," said Mal'dar in the same flat tone.
The wind died down as they stared at one another, neither flinching. Vizsla sneered at Mal'dar, "And are you going to stop me?"
"Yes," stated Mal'dar.
Vizsla laughed, "I've beaten you before boy, do I have to again?"
"Only if you want to kill them," said Mal'dar glancing at the deserters.
"Their deserters," snarled Vizsla, "Yes I'm going to kill them".
"Then I challenge you to trial by combat, if you win you can kill them and me. If I win they walk free and I get my father's sword," said Mal'dar.
Vizsla laughed, "Oh no, I won't kill you. If I win you'll be flogged and they'll be killed. If you win, I'll let them live, but I'm keeping the sword".
Mal'dar the lightsaber and a blaster, "Very well".
Pre Vizsla activated the darksaber and his jetpack. He rocketed into the air and came down with a massive downward swing. Mal'dar stood unmoving until the last second, he sidestepped and slashed Vizsla's jetpack in half. Vizsla spun around to confront him just as Mal'dar's boot struck. Vizsla was knocked and raised his blaster at Mal'dar. Mal'dar shot out his wire and it wrapped around Vizsla's wrist. Vizsla fired and the blast struck Mal'dar causing him to jerk back. Mal'dar fired his repulsor and wrench back on the wire at the same time. Vizsla flew back except for his arm which jerked forward and there was a loud pop as Vizsla roared in pain.
Mal'dar let the wire go and looked down at Vizsla, "Are we done here?"