In the Blade's Hilt |A tale from Triterra|

Chapter 51 - The Path of Strength

Ty stepped through the door and noisily slammed it behind him.  The room that he had stepped into was shrouded in darkness.  He sighed and squinted his eyes.  He couldn't see a thing.  Suddenly, a deep voice boomed from the gloom.

"Draw your weapon, challenger" it commanded.

Although every fibre in Ty's being urged him to disobey, he knew that drawing his blades would be a good idea.  He slowly pulled his swords from the sheathes on his back.  As soon as the weapons were in his grip, torches lining the wall burst into life with pale blue flames.  In the walls, behind iron bars, were rows of stone seats.  Each was occupied by a long-dead skeleton.  Standing at the other end of the arena, in front of the exit, was a ghoul.  It was like a skeleton wrapped in a skin of pale ectoplasm, it's only solid features being it's white, unblinking eyes.  It wore a set of rusty armor.  In it's hands it held a similarly rusty sword and shield.  The ghoul pointed it's weapon at Ty.

"Have at thee" it spoke, it's voice like many people speaking in tandem.

Ty grinned.  He was to meet someone else who thought the same way as him.  Without warning, the ex-bandit lunged at his ancient opponent, swinging his swords in an arc.  They ineffectually scraped against the ghoul's shield.  Before Ty could recompose himself, his opponent thrust his shield outwards, hitting Ty squarely in the chest.  He fell to the ground.  All around him, the dead crowd of the arena cheered.  Ty gritted his teeth and rolled to the side, just as his adversary's rusty blade connected with the stone floor.  Just as he got to his feet, the ghoul sung his sword again.  Ty managed to cross his swords, blocking the attach.  But the ghoul didn't give up that easily.  It kept swing and lunging, each strike connecting with the steel of Ty's blade.  Suddenly, it lifted it's sword high into the air and brought it downwards in one last, devastating attack.

The blade soared downwards and sliced right through Ty's blades.  The broken sections of his swords clattered to the side.  Ty was left dumbstruck, allowing his opponent to kick him to the ground.  Before he could climb to his feet again, he fell the cold sensation of sharp metal being pressed against his throat.

"Fine, you win.  Just don't play this out any longer" he said, closing his eyes.

But rather than the feeling of his throat being cut, Ty felt the blade withdraw.  He slowly opened his eyes.  The ghoul was stooped over him, offering Ty a hand up.

"The strongest man, admits when he has lost" it spoke.

"What?" asked Ty, as he was pulled back into a standing position.

The ghoul simply bowed and pointed towards the exit.  Without any hesitation, Ty walked over to it and pushed the door open, stopping only to look behind him.  The ghoul and the skeletal crowd had vanished.  Shaking his head, Ty stepped into the next room.

Sitting on a plinth in the small chamber was a sword and shield, both beautifully crafted and covered in runes.  Ty picked them up and looked them over.  He hadn't used a shield in long time, but he would have to make do.  With a few readjustments to his belt, Ty had a new sword and shield on his back.  Lying underneath them was a note.  He picked it up and read it.

"Be it sword, flame or pike, protect from magic and steel alike" it read.  Screwing the note into a ball and tossing it over his shoulder, Ty opened the door and stepped out of the chamber.