Chapter Thirty Three

On the second full day of the gathering, The Grand Immortal stood on the rise before the field of battle holding the staff containing the meteorite. The morning fog covered the area. The sky held the promise of rain.

The first row of challengers stepped forward to claim the right to battle.

Duncan looked upon the first to fight and issued this command in a booming voice, "We must fight as one!"

A gong sounded once and the challenge began. The first brave one to enter the arena was Derek Worth, a young immortal with the faith and heart of a lion.

The immortal to step forward on Ahriman's team was Sorrell. He was a hundred years old and fought with the strength of two men.

Both men saluted each other and then to McFadden. The challenge was accepted. As Derek faced his opponent, he remembered Duncan's words at dawn, "They think their hate makes them stronger than us. But we will defeat them with our strength of will."

Derek brought his mind to a calm state and circled Sorrell beginning his attack. His broadsword was quick and Sorrell blocked and countered it stepping aside then swinging his long rapier at Derek's head. He roared at his comrades, "Let me hear you!"

The chant began, "Kill! Kill!"

As Derek defended his head, Sorrell attacked even harder using all his strength, pushing him back. Everyone gave way and the circle grew wider as the two men fought.

Sorrell kicked and struck at Derek but missed as Derek jumped back blocked his sword and knocked it from his grasp. Sorrell then attacked with his fists grabbing Derek and head butting him.

Derek staggered shortly, shaking his head to clear his vision. By that time, Sorrell had his sword back and ran Derek though the stomach. In a moment time stopped, a light broke through the clouds and shined on Derek. He brought his sword up with both hands and across Sorrell's neck.

The shouts drowned out the voice of the Grand Immortal until the quickening started. It flashed silver and white. The sight made everyone hushed with awe. An energy wave spread across the small valley and settled upon Duncan MacLeod.

The quickening bolts of electricity sparked up and down Derek's body until he went to his knees. He felt no pain just a peace that he was victorious. He pulled Sorrell's sword free and held it up yelling out, "I am unbroken! I have won the prize to stay in the game."

Then the rain came down in torrents drenching everyone to the skin. Derek saluted and returned to his place.

His comrades took the body of the defeated immortal away. They did not grieve for him.

Duncan breathed a sigh of relief. The first test was over and their side had won. Amanda was by his side and she quietly leaned over to ask him, "Why did the quickening look like that? It was always whitish blue before."

He replied, "I don't know. The Grand Immortal told me everything would be different."

Frank McFadden tapped the staff twice then commanded, "The first challenge is won. Who will be the next challengers? Step forward."

From Ahriman's side Annie Devlin came forward with a gleam of hate in her eyes. Duncan swore under his breath and looked to see whom she was supposed to fight.

"No!" he yelled as Grace Chandel stepped forward.

McFadden said loudly, "No interference MacLeod, the choice is made."

Annie smiled wickedly and saluted first Grace then the Grand Immortal. She laughed and said, "Finally I can finish what I started and Duncan can't save you."

Grace replied, "Maybe he won't save you!" with that said, she sprang forward with her sword cutting Annie as she turned away.

Dancing back and looking at her arm she said, "That's the best you can do?"

Annie charged forward and struck at Grace with speed and accuracy with her short sword. Grace parried and kept moving around.

Both women fought as one and bravely countered each attack. Duncan felt his heart torn. He admired both and wanted them to live. Amanda understood his anguish and silently watched the battle.

Grace fell and rolled to her back as Annie came down with her sword. Grace blocked her and held tightly as it crept closer to her throat. Again, time seemed to stop when Grace closed her eyes and pushed with all her remaining strength. Annie fell down and Grace jumped forward to chop at her head before she could get back up.

Dripping with the rain, Grace stood up to receive the quickening. Like before, silver lightening flowed around her and in that moment she felt peace.

Duncan saw movement and watched Ahriman's side of immortals. Felicia stepped forward and prepared to attack Grace.

"Stop!" he commanded but Alex Raven ran to her defense stopping Felicia's sword.

Grace stepped back and said loudly, "I am unbroken! I win the prize to stay in the game." She walked back to her place and sank to her knees exhausted.

Alex said for all to hear, "I ask for this challenge."

Felicia sneered and answered, "I don't accept."

Unlocking her sword with Alex, she walked back to her place.

Looking at the entire line of pawns, Alex Raven called out, "Is there no one to accept my challenge?"

Monaca a knight advanced to the front row. She as old as Alex but she studied many forms of combat and martial arts. Her favorite weapon was a dragon scimitar.

Monaca saluted to Alex and she returned the salute then with acknowledgement to Grand Immortal.

Duncan called encouragement to her, "We are one, Alex, fight for me."

Monaca raised her sword and held her hand gracefully gesturing for Alex to attack first.

Calming her mind and focusing her strength, Alex waved her sword once and struck at her opponent. Monaca sidestepped and pivoted to her left and turned into Alex with a backswing catching her off guard.

Monaca's sword cut clean and quickly. Alex's neck looked intact and it was a second for everyone to realize what happened. Alex slowly went to her knees and let go of her sword as her head fell.

Monaca screamed victory and stood before her crowd to receive her quickening. It came after her as a silver dragon knocking her off her feet.

It was harsh and brought her a pain that she relished. It was the first power that she gained for their side. Monaca jumped to her feet and cried out, "I am unbroken! I win the prize to stay in the game!"

Amanda saw the shock of the crowd and said, "She was a good fighter."

"I know" Duncan said, "It's as if I have lived this moment already." Standing taller, he called out to his friends, "We must not despair. We will be victorious!"

They cheered back to dispel the sadness when Alex Raven fell. Two friends reverently picked up her body and took it aside.

Gregor Powers walked to the center of the arena and Duncan was saddened to see his friend John Kirin step to the fore from the other side. Frank told him months ago that some friends might have changed.

The two immortals accepted the challenge and saluted. Facing each other, Gregor sized up his opponent in a second. John attacked furiously with wide sweeps of his sword. Gregor blocked and retreated. Again, John struck and Gregor blocked.

In frustration, John yelled at him, "Is this a coward I fight?"

Pulling out his small dagger Gregor smiled and said, "I'm an artist."

Then satisfied with his assessment, Gregor attacked with sword, dagger, and both hands with all his strength. He pushed him to the left side. Their swords scraped and locked together. Gregor kicked out and pushed hard enough to bring up his dagger. Before John could block, the dagger pierced his heart.

Gregor pulled it out and spun around to cut off John's head. Following through the swing, he pivoted and came to rest near the opposing side.

As the quickening started, Gregor felt the true nature of John's soul. An evil energy made him stagger. Flashes of his atrocities came to his mind that threatened to corrupt him. The quickening became two separate entities that fought as silver and black.

Gregor fell to his knees crying out his struggle within. Another flash of light came behind him striking full force on his head going through his body. The conflict within his soul went on for several minutes. Duncan could feel his pain but could do nothing to help.

All became quiet. With effort Gregor stood up and raised his sword and declared, "I am unbroken. I win the prize to stay in the game."

Suddenly a spear flew across the arena from far away and struck the Grand Immortal. However, he saw it coming just in time to turn taking the spear in his back. It missed his heart and the evil forces prepared to rush the dais.

The lightening clamored overhead showing Duncan's forces were ready to defend. All the swords raised and the shouts were deafening.

Deahna came to him and pulled the spear out. She helped him to stand tall and in control. Frank held onto the staff until the mob retreated. Facing the crowd she called out, "I challenge the one who threw this."

Feeling his strength return, she let him go and took out her sword. Walking before them and looking intently at every face, her eyes stopped on Jakob. She pointed at him saying, "You! Come forward."

Jakob stepped past his comrades and replied, "You are not one of those named to fight."

She told him, "You attacked a Grand Immortal. I challenge you to fight me in fairness or be executed."

With that ultimatum, he agreed and turned to face the now recovered immortal and saluted asking, "If I defeat her, will there be no more challenges for me?"

Frank saluted back saying, "That's a big if, but I will agree." He looked at his wife with confidence telling her, "Don't be long, dear."

She smiled and saluted turning quickly attacking without further warning. Her sword cut him and Jakob barely got out of the way of more damage. He realized she was a well-trained fighter. Her looks hid a warrior. Stumbling back, he blocked her continuous attacks as she kept him on the defensive.

She used all her body, her sword, free hand, legs and feet to advance on Jakob until she forced him to his knees. Holding his sword before him as a shield, he pleaded for mercy.

She paused long enough to say, "My mercy is to send you beyond this place."

When Deahna raised her sword to take his life, Maldred called out, "You will not survive this gathering!"

She quickly followed through knocking Jakob's sword aside cutting his head clean from his shoulders. The mist crept slowly from the body and then the lightning began.

The reverberation between Deahna, the meteorite and the power of the quickening brought on an atmospheric wind that cleared the sky.

The challenges continued as the sun traveled over backdrop. The count of wins and losses on both sides was crucial. As the light went behind the hill, a gong sounded signaling an end to the gathering for that day. The immortals from both sides cleared the dead and paid homage to their passing.

Back at the lodge with his closest friends, Duncan went to Cassandra and motioned he wanted to hold Evan. She relinquished the babe and told him, "Your friends kept a mighty powerful secret when I saw them."

He sat down in the chair looking at the tiny face. It brought him some peace after the day's events. He told her, "It has to be this way. No one else can know. Any quickening gained by their side might give Ahriman more information than we want."

Frank McFadden spoke up, "The demon knows he didn't prevent the birth so it cannot attack him openly. We must keep the most trusted to guard over him."

Amanda said, "I can rotate tomorrow and stay with Evan."

"No," Duncan said as he looked unwavering into her eyes, "I want you by my side. Grace has fought and won. She will stay tomorrow."

Connor sat next to his clansman asking, "What can I do to protect him?"

Duncan nodded and quietly said, "Your turn will come soon but first you have to pass the trial."

Connor smiled in agreement and replied, "That won't be a problem."

Frank looked sharply at them and said, "These combats are not a game. We have lost good immortals today."

"I wonder how long before I have a challenge," Said Amanda, "I want some more practice before then."

"I'll give you some training later," Duncan assured her. "You're going to have to be very good to defeat their queen."

Deahna told them, "We should all continue working out and preparing for combats."

"Can everyone get a partner and we will run through some techniques." Frank told them, "Tomorrow will be even tougher challenges."

As the night deepened, the demon held audience with his minions. Revealing a dagger engraved with curses and runes, he gave it to Hazari. Hissing a request into his ear, Hazari nodded and smiled wickedly.

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