"Let's not get hasty, Hoick. You've had a bit to drink, no doubt." Evans had some cautiousness about him as he circled Christophel. He paced in slow semi-circles, knuckles white as he gripped his weapon in a soft, white hand. There was no sign of the setting sun because a thick, cold mist had taken its place in the sky. A cold breeze brushed over the crowd, sending shivers up my spine. I could see a muscle in Christophel's jaw twitch as he lunged forward with his sword, barely missing Evans with a deadly slice. Even I, with the most basic of fencing training, could recognize a perfect flèche when I saw one. "Arms straight... parry that. Oh, good one, Chris!" I was saying to myself as Christophel parried a flurry of attacks from Evans. Some beefy sod elbowed his way in front of me for a moment and I couldn't hear the low voices passing between the two. From the few snatches of conversation, I could put together something about honor, "good form," and a blue sailboat named Destiny. At least I hoped it was a sailboat they were discussing.
"... leaving your mother with less than nothing," Evans said. He was panting but looked invigorated and wasn't slowing down in the least.
"Evans, you idiot, don't discuss what you don't know anything about. My father was honorable and left ...."
Swords clashed and I could see beads of sweat on Christophel's brow as he was forced into the section of the crowd where I was standing. Thrust backwards by a blow from Evan's sword, Christophel slammed messily into the mob. Hurling himself back into the fray, Christohpel began to parry in a wide sweeping motion, cutting the line back and forth against Evans clumsy attacks. A feint and a lunge with Christophel's arm was all it took. The blade moved fluidly, like an extension of his hand as its tip found purchase on Evans's Navy blue shoulder and left a frayed tear in its wake. The crowd went silent, straining to get a better look. We could hear their heavy breathing, see the clouds of their breath steaming hotly from their mouths, and feel the uncomfortable static as Evans leaned his shoulder forward to examine it. A moment went by as the heavy sky rushed briskly overhead, the low-hanging clouds picking up strands of our hair and tugging at our clothes. In the next moment, the tear in Evans uniform was frayed with tinges of blood, turning the Navy blue into the blackest scarlet, droplets clinging to the fibers at the edges. "First blood!" I yelled with the power my lungs would allow me. When the men froze, locked in a combative stance, I realized they weren't done. I tried again. "The duel is over! First blood!"
"... leaving your mother with less than nothing," Evans said. He was panting but looked invigorated and wasn't slowing down in the least.
"Evans, you idiot, don't discuss what you don't know anything about. My father was honorable and left ...."
Swords clashed and I could see beads of sweat on Christophel's brow as he was forced into the section of the crowd where I was standing. Thrust backwards by a blow from Evan's sword, Christophel slammed messily into the mob. Hurling himself back into the fray, Christohpel began to parry in a wide sweeping motion, cutting the line back and forth against Evans clumsy attacks. A feint and a lunge with Christophel's arm was all it took. The blade moved fluidly, like an extension of his hand as its tip found purchase on Evans's Navy blue shoulder and left a frayed tear in its wake. The crowd went silent, straining to get a better look. We could hear their heavy breathing, see the clouds of their breath steaming hotly from their mouths, and feel the uncomfortable static as Evans leaned his shoulder forward to examine it. A moment went by as the heavy sky rushed briskly overhead, the low-hanging clouds picking up strands of our hair and tugging at our clothes. In the next moment, the tear in Evans uniform was frayed with tinges of blood, turning the Navy blue into the blackest scarlet, droplets clinging to the fibers at the edges. "First blood!" I yelled with the power my lungs would allow me. When the men froze, locked in a combative stance, I realized they weren't done. I tried again. "The duel is over! First blood!"
