Lance slashed his way through the dummy like a butcher with a pig. He had been training for the past three hours, and Marin had begun to beg him to stop. He pretty much ignored her and continued.
He finally decided to train on prisoners, only the ones from enemy kingdoms. He never killed prisoners from his own kingdom. It just felt…wrong.
Of course, prisoners from enemy kingdoms were punished easily and swiftly. Lance found this a good agreement and was a lesson to other enemies that you don't mess with Hyrule.
The prisoner was thrown out into the training ring. He didn't look scared at all. Lance was a little puzzled at this. Prisoners were always scared when they were about to be killed.
This one seemed to be a seasoned warrior. He showed no fear on his face. In fact, he seemed to be excited.
"What is your name?" Lance said. The prisoner looked surprised.
"I am Lortar," he said. I Sounds Ueorthian /I he thought.
"Hmmm… why were you imprisoned?" Lance asked. "I was found in the field of battle after it was over. Your men found me and took me prisoner," he said.
As far as Lance was concerned, they had never had a war with Ueorthia. He asked his nationality.
"I am from the land of Ueorthia," he said. I I guess I was wrong, /I Lance thought.
He thought back before his father's reign, before Rauru's reign. He did recall something in the Hyrulean records about a war with Ueorthia. But that was thousands of years ago!
Lance shook this thought away. There is no way anyone could live longer than even one hundred years.
"Begin," he uttered. Lortar was tossed a long spear. He, without hesitation, charged at Lance like an angered feline. Lance was surprised at this.
Lortar leaped over Lance's head and struck behind him. Luckily Lance was prepared and he blocked with his shield, and then sliced off the tip of the spear.
"Give this man another weapon, one less breakable," Lance called out. The guard tossed a mace at Lortar and he caught it without looking.
"Begin," Lance said. Lortar again charged at Lance once again. Lance was more prepared this time, and when Lortar leaped over his head, he rolled under the blow and tripped him when he landed. He hacked down and tried to hit him, but he rolled over and leapt to his feet.
"You are very agile," Lance said. "As are you," Lortar replied.
Lance slashed at him, only to be parried. He kicked at his legs, Lortar jumped over the kick and lashed out with his powerful weapon. It struck Lance in the shoulder, ripping through the cloth and his flesh.
Lance cried out, and watched the blood flow from the wound. His guards came to detain Lortar, as is custom if the king is injured during battle.
"Stop," Lance said. The guards were taken aback. "Let him continue. I like a challenge."
The guards were hesitant at first, then unhanded Lortar and went back to their posts to eagerly watch the fight.
"So, Lortar," said Lance as medics bandaged his shoulder. "How long have you been a warrior?" Lance was curious to see if this man was really as old as the war he said he was in.
"Fifty years," he said. Fifty? He looked to be at least in his thirties.
"But the last war with Ueorthia was at least a thousand years ago," Lance said. Lortar grinned and said, "I never said I was in it."
Lance was perplexed at first, again, but he charged forth as soon as the medics left.
The duel was epic. Blow was exchanged for blow as the two hardened warriors lashed out with all their might and strength. Lortar was shockingly powerful for his age. He battled like a teen, energized and ready for anything that came at him.
Lance was beginning to tire. Lortar showed no sign of weariness at all. He didn't know how this man kept it up! Lance was ready to forfeit.
It was with one blow that Lance ended the duel. Lortar took a large swipe at Lance's head, but he ducked and stabbed at Lortar's side. It sliced by and took out a large tendon. Lortar shrieked and collapsed.
Lance sheathed his weapons and called for the medics to help this man. He'd earned this.
"Lortar, for supplying me with a good challenge and the training I need, I set you free," Lance said. Lortar just nodded his thanks as he clutched his wound. Lance left the arena with a good feeling inside him. He'd freed a prisoner and gotten the challenge he'd wanted since he killed Ganondorf.