“What are the terms?” Varga asked.
“If I win,” Frost said. “I claim your girl, your rank, and any estates and assets.”
“Of course. And if I win?”
“Name your terms, Captain. I’ll decide if they’re acceptable.”
“Alright.”
Varga looked at Samia. He’d given her a cloak and boots to wear. It was still a little cool. Her cheeks were still a little warm with embarrassment at being caught in bed with another man. Though it hadn’t exactly, been her fault. She did love Varga; at least she thought she did. She wasn’t a complete slut; at least she thought she wasn’t. There had been some pleasure at being with Frost, for which she felt ashamed.
“If I win,” said Varga. He looked around at the dozen or so other guards. “Sel- sorry Samia is taken into my custody for the rest of her sentence.”
“On mine and my men’s honour.”
“That feels like it is worth little.”
Frost spat on the stony ground beside him. “Do we have terms, or not?”
“Yes.”
Varga drew his sabre, and Frost drew his. They circled one another for a while, feeling each other out. Samia’s heart raced, hoping the false information she’d given Frost would help in this fight.
It seemed Frost was more of a defensive fighter, waiting for Varga to make the first move. His earlier confidence faded after a while, and he became red-faced and sweaty after a while. Perhaps by then, he’d realised that Samia had lied to him.
She knew little about the different fighting styles of the houses of Octoton and the different trainers, but what she did know was that Frost was losing this fight, and badly. Each lunge had been met with a nick on the arm, on the leg, on the torso.
He wasn’t going to last much longer.
“You deceitful whore,” he said to Samia when their eyes met.
She merely smirked back at the bastard who’d made her life miserable since she’d been sentenced to hard labour five days ago.
One final step was too much, and Varga finished him off, felling him on the mountainside, much to the displeasure of his fellow guards. The sabre was plunged through his chest.
Varga ripped his weapon from his foe, looking at the other guards with steely eyes.
“The sergeant said you were men of honour,” he roared. “Can I trust you to maintain the terms of our duel?”
“Aye,” one of the guards said. A couple of others nodded, and the group of them walked away, leaving Frost on the side of the mountain.
