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"Remove his mask."
As fast as lightning Falcon plunged one of his arrows in the heart of a soldier behind him. Looking up at the king, he slowly shook his head from side to side.
The King clenched his jaw and hissed.
"Kill him."
•
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The people of Linova didn't sleep well that night. Word got out, the whole village now knew about what happened in the market and in the King's tent.
Tommorow, 12 o'clock daytime, the whole village must gather in the town square.
When the sun rose, it couldn't bath the village in his golden rays. The grey-black storm clouds was like a mask to the sun. The chicken rooster didn't sing his melody that morning, as it was already cooked for the King's meal.
The King was standing outside, looking over the village. Today is the day he will unmask the warrior. Today is day he will finally get this village under his command.
12 o'clock came too fast, Yara's mother was sick of angst. Yara was her only daughter, she couldn't lose her, she already lost her loving husband. The village was confused when their warrior called her 'mother'. They thought she have lost both her husband and daughter. But she evaded their questions and went home.
The whole village, the king, and Falcon were gathered in the town square. Falcon in the middle, The king on a high platform and the village's people placed all around the square.
The town square was often used as training grounds for the soldiers. The square was on the bank of a river, so that soldiers could easily get water after a hard day of training. Some people now sat on boats, there wasn't any space left on land, as people filled it up.
The king stood up and silence settled over the crowd.
"People of Linova, you've come to witness the justice of your warrior, Falcon."
He then turned to Falcon and looked him in the eye.
"Falcon, you are to fight 3 of my men. Lose against all 3, and you just signed your death. Lose against 2, and you will be banished from this land. Lose against 1, and you will be forced to join my army, across the mountains. Lose against none, and you will be a free man. Is this agreement inderstood?"
Blue flashed against gray as Falcon looked the King in his eyes and nodded.
Loud thunder rang out from the sky. Another storm was coming.
Falcon turned and stood ready for the first opponent. One of the King's soldiers came into view, he slammed his sword aginst his boot, in a threatening manner. Suddenly the King interjected.
"Stop."
Yara looked up from behind her mask, annoyed.
The King looked her in the eye with a glimpse of smugness.
"No mask allowed."
Murmurs broke through the crowd and Yara clenched her jaw. With a murderous look in her eyes she turned around and walked towards the river bank. With her one hand she scooped up some mud from the ground, and with her other hand she removed her mask, but just as someone could catch a look, she smudged the mud on her face, forming another mask.
