Sulphur & Lightning Chapter 31: 030 - Honour Duel

Read chapter 31 of Sulphur & Lightning by anaugustauthor on NovelPedia.

Yachit sat down under a flame of the forest tree, her form hidden in the shadow of its blazing petals. Her expression was, contrary to her usual temper, tranquil. Her alignment with the nature around her had the character of some romantic painting, like she was a young maiden waiting for the leaves of autumn to wake her from a summer langour. The figure who appeared darkened this summer serenity. He was decked out in rags, and his long and tangled hair spoke of the proscription of his kind by the Earth. He did not belong here. Still, the maiden accepted him with a smile worthy of the season. “Greetings,” he said dryly, though his mind went back to the events of the morning. As he had sat down for another meal after his great victory, he was presented with a letter by his hostess. He received it gratefully and, after reading it, asked her what she thought. It was from the Troll servant he had crossed paths with days ago. She was challenging him to an honour duel. Duels were naturally a common occurrence in this realm, but an honour duel was taking things a little further. This was done when the challenger felt that they’d been offended in such a way that could only be satisfied in the ring… and by blood. “This is one of the better results,” she said, after reading it herself. He nodded in agreement. Those of higher castes generally did not vouchsafe osu the dignity of an honour duel. If the offence was grievous enough, execution was the preferred solution to such a creature’s daring, and even if it wasn’t, that could still be arranged. “I can deal with it if you want,” the heiress suggested carelessly, handing it back to him. He thought it over for a second. By the laws of the land, it was indeed a grave offence for an osu to harm a noble’s servants, and the girl was surely well within her rights to seek restitution through a duel. On the other hand, the Lady Chukwudifu could certainly suppress the matter if she wished, but if the Dari third young master was insistent, it could expand to messy proportions. He shook his head slightly, rubbing the letter between his fingers and setting it ablaze. “She can’t defeat me,” he said matter-of-factly, with no indication of ego. “So it wasn’t a total failure,” she said with a smile, noting the trick he had just pulled off. “Indeed,” he said, matching her own smile. “I can command some of that heat I felt in the furnace. My body is still adjusting to it, though.” “Want to push it back till you’re done, then?” “You’re always so considerate, young mistress,” he said, rising before the meal arrived and bowing to her. “But some things ought to be concluded swiftly.” He was now here with her. In the arena of a combat academy, which the opponent had chosen and Chaina had verified as neutral ground. The pair stared one another down. “You came,” she said with a smile. “I had no reason not to; I do not fear you,” he said dryly. He had decided to be candid this time around, contrary to his habit of innuendo and flattery. Such behaviour felt demeaning to both fighters on the eve of such a battle. “But I do fear you,” she said, her face twisting wryly, contradicting the freshness of the atmosphere. He cocked his brow at her. “It’s a long story,” she said with a smile, indicating a container in front of her. She opened it to reveal juicy fried tofu cubes. “They’re a province delicacy,” she said easily, inviting him to join her. “If you eat with dogs,” he began, quoting a popular proverb, “you’ll get used to the taste of faeces.” “I stand admonished,” she said with a smile before closing the flask. Was this the same person from a few days ago? He asked himself that, though he did not rush her. He preferred deliberateness to haste when he could help it. “The way the Elves tell it,” she began unprompted, “they’re the only perfect creatures made by the gods.” “The Fae were powerful but unwarlike, and the Lycans were just mad dogs made to clean up their mistakes, Goblins and Trolls were only substitutes af