The Krakos: Book Two of The Legend of the Artificer

Chapter 23

"Is it actually that serious?" Tibalt asked in sheer disbelief. Was this actually happening right now? He had been in this world for less than a week! Who the hell did trial by combat? That proved nothing!

"Tibs, you have to agree," Grim said quietly. "He did a magical request. No judgment can be made even socially without it happening."

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Tibalt swore and stared at Jamison in sheer disbelief as Maximilian turned aside and rubbed his hand over his face. "This is it? This is how you handle things not going your way? Just abject violence?"

"If you don't like it, it's a bit too late for that," Jamison sneered. "You're just an artificer. If you want to play with the savants, these are the consequences."

"Oh, so that's it," Tibalt said derisively. "You can't handle a little artificer telling you your magic was sloppy, so you just decide to try and beat him into the ground. Yeah, okay, that'll definitely take you far in life."

Innes had been a pain to deal with. Tibalt wouldn't outright say he would have lost if the fight went on, but he also had Elmer there for backup. This was another savant, no backup, and just said 'no seconds or other living beings', which meant he definitely knew about the fish. That alone was basically an announcement that he had sent the assassins, but, again, they hadn't told anyone.

"Either take the duel or forfeit your claims," Jamison said as the magic spell between them hissed and fizzed in the air, crackling with malice.

"Fine," Tibalt spat out, because what else was he supposed to do? "Magic duel, no seconds or living beings interfering. I accept."

Rage was lapping at the shore of Tibalt's patience. He had thought Dream sent him to a place where he could relax, but apparently the stakes here were the same as ever. People would always be greedy and immature when they were told no for the first time in their life. Nothing was ever going to change, was it?

"But, for the record, I don't believe in this," Tibalt spat out. "Trial by combat doesn't prove anything but how good someone is at killing someone. This is stupid and pointless and you're just mad you got caught."

"I'm fine with that," Jamison replied with a smile tilting at his lips. "Law of the beasts, little artificer. Truth doesn't matter when you have strength."

With that, Jamison turned on his heel and swept down the hall as Tibalt stood there in helpless, rising rage.

"Today at four pm," Jamison called as Scylla gave Tibalt an unreadable look and turned to follow him. "At the arena."

"Of course they had a fucking arena for this," Tibalt muttered under his breath as Maximilian watched his children go. Seriously, the man needed to control his fucking kids. Tibalt had been blown away momentarily, but he didn't doubt where Jamison got that mindset from.

"So, that's it?" he asked Anais bluntly, and she pursed her lips as Alfred shifted in clear discomfort.

"Jamison isn't wrong," she finally said. "Truth doesn't matter if you can back up your behavior with strength."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Tibalt spat and gestured to the unholy mess behind him. "They drowned out an entire town fighting over a job. Sure, all of the Magic Tower underlings had to work overtime in miserable conditions, I'm betting, to clean things up this fast and well, but they still drowned out a town. And then picked a convenient scapegoat to take the fall for them. Is strength and how well he can kill someone really enough in that scenario? Is that all this glorious institution about? Ruthlessness, rewards for stabbing your sibling in the back, how willing you are to get people killed if it means you can get a leg up in the world? That's it, huh?"

"Tibalt, stop," Grim muttered and Tibalt fell into frustrated silence. At least they were open about it here. Maybe it was a welcome breath of fresh air from where he had come from.

"Strength isn't enough," Maximilian said after a long, awkward silence. "They were sloppy. That's inexcusable. They already know they've lost the position. This is just Jamison saving face."

"So, you're fine with him trying to legally kill someone?" Tibalt asked flatly, and Maximilian stared at him with flat blue eyes.

"At least he's doing it legally this time," he said, cold and indifferent, and Tibalt briefly considered burning down the whole tower. This was insane.

"That mentality is exactly why you have sloppy kids," Tibalt snapped and bit back that growl he wasn't used to yet. "Well, if that's all, I apparently have to get ready to fight a trust fund kid throwing a fit."

With that, he swept for the doors, and Maximilian laid a heavy hand on his shoulder before he could proceed.

"Incapacitated is allowed in these sorts of duels," Maximilian said lowly, and Tibalt shot him a dangerous glare.

"No faith in your own kid?"

"No. I'm saying that because you're smart enough to be useful," Maximilian replied and tilted his head. "Jamison won't kill an unconscious opponent."

Tibalt stared at him for a long, long moment as some kind of hilarity bubbled up in his chest.

"Yeah," he said tightly and his lips twitched up in some bitter, ugly smile. "I'll take into consideration."

With that, he pushed away and didn't wait for the rest of his party to rush to catch up with him.

If Jamison wanted to play with fire, fire was what he was going to get.