Then the contestants appeared on the field. The row of men dressed in their flying leathers definitely looked colorful. Some of the men held swords, the others were holding bows and axes. The warriors were of different ages and builds, all ready to test their skills.
“Every warrior has a weapon of choice that he has to master. I always had a sword and Sol always preferred an ax, Victor chose a bow in those earlier years.”
“What about Tynan?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“He used everything.”
“So, how does it work? You just pick the weapon you want?” I asked.
“Not exactly. They give you something basic, hardly evena weapon, when they give you your first flying suit. Then you have to earn your next weapon.” Frid waved at someone in the crowd.
“What do you mean?” I frowned.
“They gave me a piece of rope with my suit. Victor got a slingshot and I was so mad at him. I don’t remember what Sol got, but he clearly had the least problems of all of us. And Tynan had a tiny whip. I am not even joking, it was this small.” Frid made a gesture with her hands.
“And what do you need to do to get another weapon?” I glanced at her laughing eyes.
“To get another weapon, you have to best your opponent,” she said.
“Would they give you a better weapon if you won?”
“No, you take everything from the defeated.” Frid frowned.
“What? That’s terrible.” I returned my gaze back to the contestants.
“It’s a good way to make you want to win. As kids, we had almost nothing, so nothing to lose. But accomplished warriors are very careful when accepting a challenge. Why do you think Hanoch never fights? He can lose his position as a clan leader.”
“Are you serious?”
“If you think about it, it is a weird tradition. But, it makes all the disputes easy to settle.” Frid said deep in thought.
“Why wouldn’t someone challenge Hanoch for his position?” I asked.
“Because no one wants his position. Too much work.” Victor smirked beside her.
I looked at the castle thinking about what I had just learned. It was absolutely terrifying to imagine how kids were expected to fight one another. I bit my lip, thinking how different our childhoods had been. I used to spend time reading books and playing with my porcelain dolls. Secure and carefree, I spent my days with my stepmother who taught me how to work with a needle, and hours walking in the inner yard, drinking tea in a sunny sitting area, painting in watercolor, and attending some classes with masters who often lived in the castle. I remembered my brother teaching me horseback riding and how to take care of horses.
I blinked, focusing on the battle ground. Another man stepped on the field in front of the rows of seats. Just glancing at him, I noticed the broad shoulders and the soft brown tint of his hair. It was Tynan’s brother. Hanoch raised his hand and all sounds ceased.
“Brothers and sisters, our warm months are over and we have a long winter ahead of us. Let the fire in the hearts of our warriors warm you up on this chilly day.” The crowd roared.
“Hanoch was always a pompous ass,” Victor muttered and Frid smirked.
“Join me in welcoming our contestants today, the strongest and bravest among us. They are here to prove that the clan of black is going to rise from the ashes and reclaim its rights to lead the kingdom.” Hanoch paused as hisaudience reacted, then continued. “You know the rules, but for those who had too much wine this early in the day, I must recite: The last standing wins!” The crowd exploded with cheers and excitement.
“That’s it? No rules?” I asked Frid.
“Nope. To be honest, it’s pretty brutal. I can’t believe that we all did it for fun.” Frid observed.
“For fun?”
“Well at first, you compete to improve your weapons. But then, yes, just for fun.” Frid moved closer to Victor.
“It’s more fun when you know all the contestants, but I only see a couple of familiar faces,” Victor muttered.
My eyes landed on the field and I watched two warriors standing opposite each other. They shook hands and stepped back, facing the crowd.
“You may choose your lady now,” Hanoch announced.
