People crowded onto rooftops. It seemed everyone carried a torch, lighting up the night sky. The balconies had people hanging over the rail, clinging desperately to their bit of space and vantage point.
Seth and Captain Brodst circled, back to back. The opposing trio pressed from the outside. Seth had finally gone beyond restraint, vowing he would not hold back anymore.
The dark orange flames on the rooftops reminded him of the battle at sea. The hungry black flames rising from the sinking ships. The battle that only four had survived.
Seth lashed out at laterally at Geoffrey, eyeing Shalimar as he moved. He thumped Brodst’s right side, indicating a change.
The captain turned, lunged at Geoffrey.
Seth swept around the captain, arcing with his blade. He jumped into the air, kicked out at Shalimar with his left foot. His foot made a clean blow to the side of Shalimar’s head. Shalimar went down.
Captain Brodst took a step back, hit Shalimar’s head with the butt end of his sword. Shalimar’s head slapped the dirt. He didn’t move.
Men rushed into the circle to carry him out.
It was a two on two match. Father and son against the captain and the warrior elf.
Geoffrey and Nijal squared off against Seth and Ansh. Geoffrey made a quick move to separate the pair.
The crowd roared.
Both pairs were visibly fatigued. It became a struggle to make simple attacks and counters.
Then, as swiftly as it all began, it nearly ended. Brodst fell, taking Nijal with him.
Seth and Geoffrey had to sidestep to avoid going down as well.
The two circled.
Seth took measure of the Lord of Solntse. His movements were catlike and precise. He used the momentary lull to gather his strength, focus.
The Lord of Solntse’s moves were sluggish. He bled from a wound in his side. He held the mid-length blade like a club.
Seth studied his eyes, trying to see if it was some sort of trick. He jabbed with his sword, whipped around, turned back, intending on elbowing Geoffrey, only to find the man wasn’t there.
The lord had ducked out of the way. His blade was coming up to gut Seth from navel to sternum.
Seth saw the blade, had only an instant to react. He feinted, shifting too far back to support his weight.
He went down. Geoffrey pounced on him, pummeling him with the side of the blade.
The crowd grew quiet. The silence was apparent to Seth even as he struggled to break Geoffrey’s grip.
He stared into Geoffrey’s eyes. Geoffrey clearly wasn’t afraid. He surely thought he held the strongest position, that he was moments from victory.