Chương 197: Arc 3 - Chapter 69

The crowd murmured and cheered at the declaration, though there were also a fair few boos and jeers amongst them.

"You wish to enact the flooding?" the judge asked, sparing only a small glance at Fritz.

"Will House Gresper bear the price?"

"As this is a courtly affair, it is only right that the crown bears the expense," Lord Gresper stated smoothly. The judge turned his gaze to the King, who nodded once.

"Very well, the field shall be prepared as you request. And what are the terms you wish to set for victory?" The lord was about to answer: 'death', but he saw something in Fritz's eyes that caused him to stop and consider instead. Or perhaps it was simply the results of the previous duel that had warned him to be wary.

"Three cuts, one bout," he eventually decided.

"Not death?" Fritz taunted.

"And here I thought I would have the pleasure of hearing more pleading. Too bad you're even more of a coward than Whiteship." Motes of red flickered over the lordling's head, but he didn't take the bait. Fritz sneered at the man, affecting all the disdain he could muster, which was quite a bit. He wanted to incite the idiot noble into a duel to the death.

Not only to extort another Treasure, but because he was more confident that he could survive a deadly strike or two than he was sure that he could avoid three cuts completely. Especially, if he was going to be submerged, as he suspected he was to be, by the flooding of the field. Unfortunately, the lord was craven and cautious, and ignored the goading.

"Three cuts, three Treasures, and the flooded field," the judge summarised. Lord Gresper nodded.

"Remove any Treasures beyond the set limit," the judge said. Fritz hesitated, considering which Treasures he'd keep. His opponent pulled three rings from his fingers and pulled a silver pin from the front of his robes. He handed them to the judge, then they vanished with a bending of the air. He kept a hold of a silver staff with a head of blue stone and a spear's point protruding from its base, and a ubiquitous barrier ring. His third Treasure was kept hidden.

Taking off his necklace of Mist Beads, then his ring of stone's grasp, Fritz activated the Amulet of Repose he was still borrowing from Bert, then removed that too.

"What was that? A boon?" the judge asked sharply, having seen the golden glow from the amulet.

"A simple calming Ability," Fritz lied. There was no reason to divulge its true nature, as he suspected that the Second Wind Imbuement was quite valuable. The judge waved a hand, and a gust of dry air brushed over Fritz, rustling his clothes and hair. Fritz scowled.

"A simple dispel," the judge explained.

"Can't have you activating all your Treasure's boons before the duel. That would make it most unfair." Oh, and having a normal human fighting a merfolk underwater doesn't count? Fritz almost retorted. He held his tongue; he didn't want to find himself at odds with the judge. Instead, he counted the Treasures he still had and deliberated on what to use. He would keep his Eelkin Belt, the bracer he'd received from the King; those two would be needed.

Then he deliberated between the Disc of Potent Reflection and his own barrier ring. He rubbed a thumb over each of them, weighing offence against defence.

"Make haste," The King commanded. Though his voice was a low rumble, all could hear him. Fritz slipped off the ring, then passed all he decided to part with to the awaiting judge. Again, the Treasures disappeared with a warping of the air. As a precaution, the judge pulled a lens from a pocket and placed it to his eye. He scanned Fritz's body, counting his Treasures, then frowned.

"Lord Hightide, you have four Treasures on your person," he stated.

"A thief and a cheat," Lord Gresper scoffed. Fritz grimaced at the accusation, then realised he still had Mortal Edge belted to his waist. Having not intended to use it, he had completely forgotten about the dagger. He allowed his, quite real, surprise to show on his face, then he swiftly unstrapped the sheathed blade and handed it over. The judge received with a small bow, then turned to the other Lord, searching him the same way. Fritz sighed inwardly, knowing there was also a fifth Treasure that had been missed.

It was one the Nightshark had sent to him to shroud his Sanctum should the need arise. Sylvia had given him the small runed sphere of obsidian on their last meeting, and he had tucked it into his Slim Pocket without much thought. He wondered absently if it was the Treasure itself or the magical properties of the pocket that had hidden it from the lens.

"Lord Gresper, you also appear to be in possession of an additional Treasure," the judge said.

"Oh, am I?" he replied without shame.

"My apologies, I simply forgot. It's such a minor Treasure that it barely warrants attention."

"All the same, you set the terms, so you should heed them," the judge admonished.

"Of course, I will," Gresper said, removing a bracelet.

"You're not going to dispel him, too?" Fritz asked.

"I see no reason why I should. There was no Activation," the judge said disinterestedly. Gresper smiled. It was a self-satisfied expression that told Fritz all he needed to know. That, and the judges' resigned eyes. The Lord had likely cheated, and it was going to be overlooked. A yellow light of shame shimmered sickly over the judge for only a moment before he strode to the centre of the arena. Fritz glared at his back, then the stone beneath his feet began to tremble.

Circular drains set near the arena's walls began to burble, then water bubbled from their depths. Soon, they were three-foot-tall fountains, then six. The field began to flood. The water splashed over Fritz's boots, which he quickly pulled off along with his self-repairing socks. Strangely enough, the judge hadn't registered those as Treasures. Another mystery, but one he couldn't be distracted by. He stuffed the socks into his pocket, strode over to the judge and handed the boots to him.

"Hold these, would you?" Fritz asked. Though the man was obviously annoyed by the request, he didn't argue, and they joined the Treasures in what Fritz assumed to be his Personal Pack. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. With that, Fritz waded back to his previous position, the water had already reached his calves, and it steadily rose by the second. The rumble of the crowd grew louder with excitement as bright blue runes flashed upon the walls.

A thin haze obscured the figures and faces of those within the boxes or sitting in the stands. It was like peering through foggy glass, then in a few moments the haze cleared, clear as the crystal dome above. Within a minute, the water was at Fritz's chest. Lord Gresper smiled at him as they were both submerged slowly. The smug grin didn't last long. As the sound of the crowd was drowned out, Fritz Activated the Grow Gills Ability of his belt. Swift pain sliced over the sides of his neck, and his skin split.

He took in a cold, wet breath through his new organs and smiled back at the Lord. Gresper's face twitched with some anger, but it was obvious that he was still sure he'd win in the water. It was obvious to him and everyone watching. What could a simple human do to a merfolk while under the waves? Fritz swished Quicksilver through the water. Though it was more difficult to slash and cut than in the air, he had no difficulty thrusting.

The greatest complication was that, while he was swimming, he would have no footing to speak of, and therefore, he couldn't make use of his well-practised forms. In fact, all his footwork would be rendered useless, unless he stuck to the arena's floor. It was something he had briefly contemplated, but never truly explored. All his training had been with the understanding that he would be fighting on steady, solid land. He cursed his foolishness and looked to his tutor in the crowd.

For now, he couldn't see him through the rippling surface of the water above. Fritz turned his gaze back to his foe. The merfolk casually swam a couple of inches above the ground, then swept his staff around himself, spinning it as easily as if he were on dry ground. The rising water crept up the stone walls, then past them, climbing ever higher. To his mild wonder, Fritz could see the crowds as though he were looking through a glass window. They could seemingly do the same. He spotted his tutor.

Adam's face was sour, and worry radiated from him like a cloud of steam. Around him were Fritz's team, then there was Bert, Elliot and Thea, all watching on with equal parts fear and frustration. Though Fritz wanted to smile and wave, reassure them that he would be fine, he didn't do so. It wouldn't be dignified, and he didn't want to appear as some gormless commoner. It was important that he grow his reputation in a proper way, to prove himself honourable, refined and just.

That was also a part of the reason he didn't press Lloyd Whiteship for all of his Treasures when he had surrendered. To take the sword was a humiliation, any more would have been robbery. And he was no longer a thief. Not in the Upper Ring, at least. The judge swam between the two men.

"The duellists will swim back to back," he announced, his voice sliding through the water with eerie clarity. They obeyed, Gresper gracefully, Fritz less so, sinking due to his bones and breastplate and having to lunge along the stone. There was mockery from the audience, especially those in the private boxes; he could see it on their lips even if he couldn't hear it. He didn't let it affect him. They were fools, and they wouldn't laugh for long.

"Nine paces!" Seven, eight, nine.

"Commence," The King commanded. Fritz spun sluggishly, facing his foe, who was pointing that silver staff right at him. He felt a phantom spear pierce his right arm. Though he wasn't able to see the attack, he was able to move just in time to feel a small but powerful current sweep through the space where his elbow had been. Another stabbing pain blossomed in his thigh. This time, he could see the slight ripple of a long spike made of pure water streaking towards him from the staff's head.

The attack was almost invisible, and he only just avoided the worst of its bite. With a piercing sting, it scored a two-inch furrow in the flesh of Fritz's leg. Blood began to leak out in a red cloud.

"First cut," Gresper announced arrogantly. Fritz wanted to growl out a curse, but a dull thonk sounded as another water spear struck his moonsilver breastplate. The metal rang again as a fourth impacted him just below the other. The sheer force of the blows sent him spinning, causing Fritz to lose his feet and tumble clumsily in the water. Gresper took this as his chance to finish the duel.

He closed in with astounding speed, born swiftly by powerful limbs suited for swimming, complete with webbed feet and hands to further propel him. He reversed his staff and struck out with the spear point. Without hesitation, Fritz activated the second Ability of his Treasure disc as he struggled to right himself. He only felt a false ache from Danger Sense for a moment before a real one replaced it. Aqueous Burst's cost was high, and with that high cost, there was high power.

The water in front of Gresper exploded, booming like the clap of close thunder. Both Fritz and his foe were thrown from the blast as their bones were rattled and their insides shaken. The water churned, Fritz used two Treasures in unison, Activating his Aspect of the Eel from his belt and Gift of the Sea from Mermaid's Respite. One granted him greater Agility, Speed and Reflex, while his newest Treasure's Ability allowed him to maneuver and move through the water as though he were native to it.

The powers clashed within himself, twisting his stomach and causing his limbs to cramp for a second. Fritz had been aware that this would be the case, having tested the two Treasures with each other already. Although it felt terrible for now, he knew that the nausea and the vicious aches would pass in moments. All he had to do was hope his opponent didn't recover quite as quickly as he did. His gamble paid off; he stopped spinning, then set upon his foe.

Fritz's entire body glowed with a dim blue light, and despite his armour and heavy bones, he sped through the water as if he were a shark. Gresper, a face full of fear, ceased tumbling and only just reacted fast enough to Activate his barrier ring. Quicksilver plunged forward, breaking the near-invisible second skin. The lord struck out with the spear-staff as he had before, but Fritz was as nimble as a squid and thrice as tricky.

With the slipperiness conferred by his boons, Senses and Advanced Attributes, he circled his foe, striking again and again. Twice his stabs were foiled by barriers, but now that the third and last of the protective fields had been broken, his foe was as helpless as a minnow. Or so Fritz had thought, until Gresper brought out the last of his Treasures from under his robe. It appeared to be a scroll case covered in brown scales. It began to glow ominously, and he pulled off the cap with a quick twist of his hand.

Whatever Fritz had been expecting from the object, it wasn't something he could have guessed. Instead of a bolt of lightning, a searing spear of light, or any number of powerful Striker Abilities that could be loosed from the tube, it spewed forth sea snakes. At first, there were three of them, then there were six, then ten, then fifteen, then there were too many to count, pouring from the seemingly endless depths of the Treasure. All the sea snakes, of course, set their sights on Fritz.

He gulped involuntarily as they began to swarm towards him in a terrible, sinuous throng. He fled, and Gresper laughed. The clear, slightly manic laugh was cut off with a mighty crash as Fritz activated his disc again. The lord was blasted back, and snakes died by the scores. Still, the beasts slithered through the water, undeterred and starving, striving for his flesh. Boom, he used the Treasure for a third time, centred on the approaching swarm, turning the mass of the snakes into a cloud of stringy chum.

Fritz swam through the fog of red, hoping it would give him enough cover to surprise the lordling. It was not to be. Gresper was ready, though one of his arms was bent at an odd angle, his other held his staff. Several spears of water sped towards Fritz, but he slipped past the volley with the very last moments of his boons. He ended up within the staff's reach as both the Abilities faded. Fritz didn't dare activate them both again.

It would leave him too vulnerable when the powers clashed, he would be skewered in an instant. Stinging pain of tiny, false fangs assailed him from all sides. Grespar stabbed with the spearhead and loosed water bolts from his other hand, while some surviving sea snakes swam toward him, aiming to sink teeth into his arms and legs. Fritz used Mermaid's Respite, embraced his Grace and danced as best he could under the water, avoiding both the bite of fangs and the spear.

With a blast like a thunderbolt, the fourth and last Aqueous Burst erupted right behind Gresper, throwing him forward, right into Quicksilver's path. The point pressed under the lordling's ribs, Fritz kicked hard, pushing the blade deep. The long black blade plunged first through the silken robe, then the scales and flesh below, before erupting out of his back, spitting the merfolk like a squid on a stick. Gresper grunted, then bellowed.

"First cut," Fritz said with a sharp smile. He pulled Quicksilver free swiftly. There was a slight grinding as it grated against bone. Blood poured from the terrible hole he left in the lordling. He thrust again, but his blade was buffeted by a surge of water that circled Gresper. While Fritz was distracted, one of the conjured sea snakes bit his calf. Smouldering venom pulsed up his leg. In seconds, his whole lower half began to throb. He grimaced, grit his teeth and redoubled his efforts to strike the lordling.

Twice again, he was rebuffed by a water shield and a clumsy parry. Then twice more. Gresper tried to retaliate, but he wasn't skilled enough to catch Fritz, and he was also weary and had run out of surprises. As they fought, Fritz cut apart what was left of the snakes. His whole body hurt, his bones seared him with cold, his heart began to slow. Then, with one last aching, awful effort, he slashed.

Fritz poured all his hate, rage and bitter curses into the strike, willing that his vengeance be delivered at the edge of his blade. This time a shield didn't stand in his way, nor was Grespar able to block, but still, he was thwarted. His heart grew heavy as Quicksilver's point slid off nothing. It felt as though he had stabbed a wall of solid stone, though no such obstacle lay between him and his foe. Suddenly, the judge was there shouting something and signalling that the duel had ended.

In his anger, Fritz tried to strike again, but found it impossible to break this new barrier.

"Stop that," the judge reprimanded.

"The duel is over."

"It's over?" Fritz asked dumbly. His words came out in burbles, so he signed his next question instead.

"Who won?" The judge stared at him hard.

"Just look at your opponent." He did, this time without the lens of fury or the fog of snake viscera clouding his vision. Blood, scale and sinew slowly dissolved, fading before his very eyes. Gresper floated, belly up, a scarlet stream billowing from his wound. For a moment, it looked as though he was dead and a creeping dread gripped Fritz. While he wouldn't mourn the bastard's death, he couldn't afford to be murdering nobles in cold, or hot, blood, even if he might be able to claim it was merely an accident.

To his relief, he could see the merfolk lord's gills flapping in a fast and uneven pace. The Healer was at the lord's side, and green light sealed the terrible wound shut.

"I won?" Fritz signed, still unsure. He shivered. His bones had stopped freezing, but they were still cold. The worst of the snake's venom had been burned away, though he still felt weak and weary. His legs trembled, struggling to hold him even underwater. The judge nodded.

"Congratulations, Lord Hightide."

"Indeed," A rumbling voice said from beside Fritz. He turned and was startled to see the King. The regal merfolk man was closer than he'd ever been before. Dusksong rang like an alarm bell, a wave of delirium and dark design descended, then after only a second, the bleak dreamlike fugue fled, and Fritz's magic fell silent. While he was still reeling, the King smiled. It was a false thing. It couldn't reach his eyes.

"It is proper to bow," he reminded. Fritz did, as did the judge and the Healer. It was an odd motion to perform under the water.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Fritz said. Again, it came out as a stream of bubbles. A slight sneer curled the King's lips.

"We will speak later. For now, know that I agree to grant your appeal. You will receive my decree three days hence. It is then that you will be raised to the head of your House." Fritz didn't attempt to speak further; he merely bowed as low as he could, hoping in his heart that this truly was the end of this whole infuriating affair. The King left, gliding away as if flying through the water. Fritz finally collapsed, sinking slowly to the stone. He could dimly hear the crowd, cheering, shouting and cursing.

It made sense; he wasn't meant to win. There were likely many sure bets that he had foiled. Fortunately, that was not the case for his own wager. When he collected that, he'd be well on his way to paying his debt to the crown. Fritz smiled, and daydreams of riches and respect played across his mind. He slipped into a daze. His teeth chattered, his muscles ached, and he was absolutely exhausted. He suspected he was dying, he mumbled as much to the blurry face of the Healer. That man seemed to take it very seriously.

As he should, death was bad. Still, Fritz smiled. He knew, that even if the darkness took him for a spell, victory was his.