"Okay, which one of you pox-ridden sods think you're up for the challenge?" the fat man at the front of the hall bellowed.
To a man, everyone in the hall raised their sword in reply.
The fat man grinned. "We'll see. The Duke only needs five of you. We'll see which one of you passes the test. Until you're called, just get comfortable." With that, the fat man left the gathered swordmen alone in the hall.
Eighteen year old Dar found an empty spot along the wall to take a seat. He grabbed a hard biscuit from his pack and took a bite, following it by a swallow of water from his waterskin. Dar wasn't particularly hungry, but he was bored, and since he didn't want to get to know any of the other men gathered (since he might have to fight one or more of them), he ate his biscuit just for something to do.
Dar had run away from his family when he was twelve, and had spent most of thst time learning how to fight. Dar didn't have anything against his father. HIs father had gave him a good childhood. Dar just didn't want to spend his life buying and selling vegetables. Not when there was treasure and fame to be won.
Which is why Dar was sitting in the hall of the Duke of Black Rose. The Duke was famous for organizing expeditions for rare treasures or fantastic treasures. If you survived one of the Duke's expedition, you were guarantee a fortune and a name to matchl
If you survived one of his expeditions.
The Duke needed five swordsmen for this expedition. Twenty had shown up in response to the advertisement the Duke had sent around the kingdom. That meant there would be a lot of battles for the Duke to watch, so he could determine who were the best of those who had shown up.
Dar planned to be among the best.
Dar didn't have long to wait. The fat man returned within five minutes
"Dar Traderson!"
Dar stood up and nodded his head.
"Follow me," the fat man said. "You'll be fighting..."
The fat man pulled out a scrap of paper and read off from it.
"Yarka Likund."
In the far corner of the hall, a warrior stood up. He was...
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