RoH: The Duel

Sir Dominic Reville rode into the dueling ground just as the sun was brightening the far horizon, and swung down off his horse with an easy movement. He'd brought only a single retainer, a younger man who might have been his son. 

"Hmph," he said, and Remant decided that was his moment to step out of the trees. 

"Ah," he said. "Sir Knight."

"You did show up," Reville growled, as his companion dismounted as well. "Will your Second discuss terms with my Second?" 

Remant had spent nearly an hour discussing that the previous evening; what with one thing and another, he was very glad that he could get by on half as much sleep as most Vanil did. "Certainly," he called back, and smiled as Dirimant Acklin stepped out behind him. 

"I'm very disappointed in you, old friend," the former Viscount said. "Treachery? Theft? Hardly worthy of a man of your renown."

The knight actually hesitated, and his companion -- son? -- flinched. Then Reville said, "You think any noble deserves their position? No. We get it because we are strong enough to take it."

"We accept that authority as a trust," said Dirimant, "and we try to do our best by the people we rule, because their prosperity is our prosperity, and ours is theirs."

"Enough," said Reville. "I will not be lectured by a dead man. Set the terms, and let us have this done."

The younger man came forward, and Dirimant Acklin stepped forward to meet him. "Talaric Reville," he said by way of greeting. "It's been a few years. I'm glad to see you again, though the circumstances could be better."

"They could be much better," Talaric said. "You should flee."

Sir Dominic locked eyes with Remant. "I can't believe even you would be so foolish as to bring him here with you." Then he shouted, "Take them!" and drew his sword. 

Remant sighed and came forward, stopped beside the former Viscount Durzen. "Betrayal," he said, "negates the formalities. Still, for the record, I will accept only one set of conditions: to the death, no quarter asked and none given."

Talaric Reville nodded. "Accepted," he said, and stepped aside.

"What?" howled Sir Dominic. 

Remant drew his blade and started forward. "Come, now. This is either a duel, in which case I shall limit myself to weapons, or else you forfeit your honor and flee, and I hunt you down like the dog you are."

It seemed Sir Dominic wasn't entirely a coward; he came forward, putting his shield in front of him and sword above his shoulder. Remant recognized the technique; it was a solid, cautious approach, especially against an unarmored opponent such as Remant appeared to be. Despite the shield, Sir Dominic had disdained armor, though he'd clearly been expecting his troops to step in and resolve the matter.  

The man was an experienced fighter. It took two passes for Remant to nick his sword-arm, another to open a wound on the side of his calf as Remant passed by. 

"Stop toying with me," growled the knight. 

"I'm not," Remant told him. "You're skilled, and the enchantments on that sword and shield are impressive." He took a step back. "But no, you aren't worth toying with."

He came in precisely, slapping a thrust from the sword aside and tearing it from the knight's grip, then twisted in past the shield and sank the tip of his own blade into Sir Dominic Reville's heart. The man regarded him with a faint look of surprise. 

Remant raised a foot and kicked him off the tip of his blade. Sir Dominic hit the ground on his back, sword skidding away, the life gone out of him. 

"Honorless," Remant pronounced quietly.