The Dragon's Redemption

Chapter 33 Trial by Combat

It was late at night and they had slept little, both worried about what the morning would bring. "We could just run!" Sam said.

"I gave my word not to run, and I am determined to help Gwen and her family?"

"Let me be your champion."

"You've asked that a dozen times, it's still no."

"I'm terrified for you," Sam whispered. Brieanna rolled on top of him and kissed his lips.

"I'm terrified for me too." Sam reached his hands out and cradled her face gently in his hands.

"I don't want to live without you," he said softly. "I love you so very much."

"You may kiss me," she said moving closer.

The morning sun filtered into the room through the shutters. Brieanna was again lying on top of Sam. She was awake and playing gently with his hair. Her chin resting on her left fist which lay on his chest. Sam woke slowly and reached to caress her face. He held her chin as her caressed it and her cheek lightly. His thumb felt moisture from her tears as he used them to caress her. "You're crying Sweetheart."

"Yes, I'm a crybaby this morning."

"I'm sorry you're sad Brie."

"I'm happy, I love you so very much. I love sleeping with you, holding you. We will win this Sam we simply must." Gwen met Brieanna and they entered the sauna together. Then silently dressed in their shield-women furs.

"Don't wear the hoop earrings," Gwen said, "They could catch on Loki's sword." Brieanna chose simple stud earrings and put on her thick gold anklet, bracelet and arm band. She left her small knife with Gwen but added several gold necklaces and put her hair in a single braid.

"How do I look?" she asked.

"Like a Valkyrie," Gwen said. They met Sam and walked for the morning meal and were joined by Haakon and Eric.

"Loki tried to hide mail armor under his shirt, but I turned him in," Eric whispered.

"Does he know it was you?"

"No, he was tearing the room apart this morning looking for a small leather bag."

"I stole it!" Gwen said smiling, "when I flipped him."

"You're remarkable," Eric whispered.

"I know," Gwen replied.

"I'm surprised I have an appetite." Brieanna said.

"Your always hungry girl," Gwen teased.

"When you strike a shield," Eric said, "Try to place your blade between the places where two boards come together. It's more likely to break there." Brie nodded.

Loki sat by himself, he seemed in a good mood and drank prodigiously. He kept glaring at Brieanna. He located Eric sitting with his family, and looked surprised. A group of armed guards walked up to Loki.

"You may have misunderstood your instructions," one of the guards said diplomatically.

"The mail shirt you are wearing. It's not allowed," the other said.

"I'm sorry, force of habit, I'll remove it later."

"No, you will remove it now." Loki squeezed the bag around his neck.

"I will remove it later."

"You WILL remove it now," Haakon said startling Loki as he had silently crept up on him. Loki glared at him and removed his tunic then the mail shirt. Haakon took the mail. "I will keep it safe for you."

After the meal the courtyard was set up for combat. Four thick hazel wood poles were driven into the ground and roped off to make a twelve foot square box. Then inside the box another square, the cloak, a nine foot square was cut into the dirt. The courtyard was crowded as the village gathered to watch the combat. Dreki watched cloaked from atop the long house. Brieanna removed her gold bands and necklaces, gave them to Sam, then kissing him stepped into the Holmhring.

Harald spoke loudly, "You will stay within the ropes. The shield-woman being the aggrieved will have first blow. Seconds may not participate. You will provide a new shield whenever the one in use is broken. You may supply a second sword if the first is damaged. Once your third shield is broke you will stand only in the inner-circle, the cloak, and defend by parrying. The fight will end when one combatant yields or blood from one of you touches the ground. The loser will pay a monetary judgment according to the law. If you break the rules you will be outlawed. Do you swear to abide by these laws?" Both answered to the affirmative. Brieanna was allowed the first blow and she cleaved Loki's shield in two.

Eric handed Loki his second shield. Then Loki swung his sword at Brieanna's neck. She caught the blow and stumbled backward with the heavy blow, but regained her footing. The blow landing flat on the shield not breaking it. Brieanna swung her sword clipping the edge of Loki shield breaking a small area of the edge. Loki sword then connecting hard with her shield breaking it. Gwen immediately handed her a shield and Loki acting out of turn very quickly broke it. Holding her last shield Brieanna pushed her attack striking Loki's shield several times not breaking it. Loki struck at her hard and as she caught the blow with her shield, it broke.

Now Brieanna was without a shield and limited to the nine foot square at the center of the enclosure. Wielding her sword with both hands, Brieanna broke Loki's second shield and Eric handed him his last shield. "I'm going gut you and feed your guts to the dogs, then cut you in half," Loki shouted. He swung at her, Brieanna ducked then standing split his shield. They began rapidly exchanges blows, they both parried each blow successfully. Brieanna let out a fierce scream and pressed her attack apparently missing her mark. Harald held up his arms shouting the match is over.

Brieanna was panting with exertion as Gwen ran to her embracing her. "The match goes to the shield-woman," Harald shouted.

"FOUL!" Loki shouted. Then he looked at his sword hand. Her last blow had not been short. He saw a small cut above the thumb nail and extending to the second joint. It was slowly dripping blood and it had reached the ground. "I demand a rematch!" he screamed.

"You were going to cut me in half and gut me?" Brieanna taunted. Sam crossed the rope and was about to take her into his arms when Loki yelled again and lunged at her with his sword. Gwen quickly stepped in front of Brieanna taking Loki's sword in to her belly just above and to the right of her navel. Loki pulled the sword from her. Gwen just stood there looking at the wound, a look of total disbelief on her face. She covered the wound with her hand in an attempt and to stem the bleeding. She stumbled backwards and was caught by Brieanna as Brieanna gently lowered her to the ground.

"Looks like I'm not going with you to Avalon after all," Gwen whispered.