Note to the Readers: Apologies for the long wait i have been very busy in the past few months thank you for your continued support and follows/ fav I will try to write more and hopefully get back to the frequency of the chapters.

Chapter 32:The Duel

Borak and Pyra awoke early both barely able to sleep with all that had happened the day before, they had spent the night talking what would happen should Borak lose the duel. Both of them decided that that was not an option they would have to beat Gerald at all costs.

Borak looked over at Pyra. "I'll win this for him." Borak said giving the usual smug grin he had when he was confident."

Pyra nodded but said nothing she just sat there looking at the floor mumbling to herself what to Borak sounded like a prayer. Borak crossed the room to the chair and put on his white shirt then his Lamellar vest his father had made him when he came of age. He then grabbed his saber and strapped it to his back and adjusted it so it sat comfortably. Pyra stood and brought over his Kettle helmet and helped him put it on.

"You'd better win." She punched his arm lightly. "Alot is riding on this."

"Yeah yeah, I know."

Pyra rolled her eyes then headed out of the room to get the mercenaries they'd gathered.

Borak stepped out then went downstairs the tavern wasn't full yet but there were still a few people sitting around eating breakfast, they looked up briefly at him then went back to their drinking or meals. He sat down in at an empty corner table and waited for Pyra to come down. Bizal walked over from the back probably taking a piss Borak thought. Bizal sat across from him and leaned in close.

"When do we get to fight?" Bizal asked sounding a little annoyed "My swordhand is getting itchy."

Haven't you killed enough bandits on th-." He was interrupted by a loud booming voice

"Bizal Venezuela!" Yelled the voice

"Oh shit…" Bizal groaned seeming to recognize the voice.

Borak looked around Bizal and saw a tall tanned man wearing Sultanate armor with a red sash across his chest, on his hands he wore black leather gloves, on his hip he wore a scimitar, he stood with his arms crossed boring a hole into the back of Bizals head. Bizal slowly turned around.

"Hello Bakir." Bizal said as he stood, before Bakir ran over and hugged him. "Oof."

"It's been too long Bizal!" Bakir lifted Bizal off his feet as he hugged him

"Y-Yeah put me down you big oaf!"

Bakir but Bizal down and laughed as Bizal tried to catch his breath, Borak looked at them and smiled.

"S-So what brings you out here?" Bizal Coughed a little.

"I hear someone looking for an army."

"That would be me, but at the moment I've got other engagements we'll speak afterward." Borak said as Pyra came down, then they both left.

"We'll wait here we've got some catching up to do!" Bizal yelled after them as they left.

Pyra and Borak walked down the busy streets both of them with a look of determination in their gazes, they walked to the fighting pit and waited for their opponent to appear, Borak practiced as they waited Pyra read a book and would look up from time to time. As time passed people began to take seats around the arena Borak stood in the middle of the pit and watched as people filled the seats.

"Looks like it's going to be a show" Borak said as he looked around at the people chattering.

An hour passed and finally Gerald appeared with three younger men one carrying an axe, one a shield with Geralds crest painted on it, and the other held a helmet. Borak watched them as they gave each to him. In the king's booth Ragnar and his queen took their seats.

Ragnar stood and went to the rail. "We gather here to watch a duel between two warriors may they fight with honor and prove themselves." Ragnar said then took his seat once more.

Borak and Gerald made their way to the center of the pit and squared off and waited for the horn to be blown. Gerald moved his shield in front of him defensively and his sword to the side, Borak held his saber in both hands and got into an attack stance and crouched low with his arms held back a little with the point pointing diagonally to the ground. Both of them stared intently at the other, then the horn sounded Borak held his position while Gerald swung in a wide arc and down toward him, Borak stepped back quickly, Gerald swooped his shield to bash Borak ducked and came up under the shield arm and upper cut Gerald in the chin then dodged out of the way the crowd almost all at once said ooo as they heard the blow land. Gerald came around again with his sword almost slashing Borak in the back, Borak wheeled around and swung his saber blade pointed toward Gerald along the ground it kicked up some of the dirt as it made contact, Gerald caught the blow with his shield, Borak moved quickly and stepped in and spun in bringing his elbow in contact with Gerald's chest knocking the Nord back a few paces. He scraped his saber across the shield then brought the pommel of the sword into the helmet and backed up. Gerald blinked a few times then stumbled forward dropping his shield he rushed forward. Borak adjusted his stance into a defensive one as Gerald slashed he side stepped and tripped Gerald then brought the pommel of his blade in contact with the back of Geralds neck, Gerald fell forward and didn't move when he made contact with the ground.

The crowd looked and waited Gerald didn't move, Ragnar stood once again. "You have prevailed young one congratulations!" Ragnar left the pit, the three who had accompanied Gerald came and carried him away.

Borak walked over to Pyra. "That wasn't so hard." Borak walked on, Pyra shook her head and followed.

Later that day they met again with Ragnar and his council and they signed the papers, then Borak, Pyra and the twenty mercenaries they had gathered out of the combined forces of Bizal and Bakir and headed south toward Praven