Knight of Kandor

Lena- The Brawl

The Brawl was the first day of the Festival. It was open to all for either competing or watching so the crowd was flooded with common citizens. Most were too poor to watch the other tournaments or had to return to the farms and families left behind after a few short days. Alexander and I sat under a wooden pavilion next to the open field. We had spent the whole feast talking and I did not even realize Kal was replaced by Conner until I was ready to retire. 

"So how is my best officer doing now that you stole him away?" Alexander teases.

"Lex, I did not steal him. Although I believe court life suites him. He is doing splendidly. These men behind us are apart of the personal guard he trained. Also, Kal did save my life."

"Kal? Should I be worried my little sister is smitten with a peasant knight?" I roll my eyes.

"No Lex. We spend a lot of time together and saying 'Sir' every time I address him is tiring."

"Okay, okay, you know I just tease because I love you. Where is this Savior anyway?" I nod to where men begin to file through the gates that help contain the chaos about to erupt. 

"He is competing now."

"What could possess the Queen-in-waiting's personal guard to compete in the most dangerous tournament?" 

"Because I asked him to." I feel a blush creep into my cheeks.

"Sister.." Lex raises an eyebrow at me.

"I swear it is just because I could not bear the thought of having to share a meal with one of those brutes."

"You swear?" I roll my eyes.

"Yes, big brother." Lex leans over and kisses my cheek then settles into his high backed chair. 

I missed this. Alexander had been my best friend, besides Jessica of course. The best brother I could ever ask for. We had suffered together under mothers wrath. Now Lex was hardly ever home so I stood alone against the cold cruelty. 

The rules of the brawl were simple. Only blunted weapons are to be used. Nothing ranged, hand to hand combat only. Avoid killing and permanent maiming. Last man standing wins.

The men are mingling in the field now. Some are even laughing and joking with one another. Some already stood in fighting stances, eyeing their neighbors. I see Kal leaning against one of the fences, arms crossed over his chest. The men around him give him a wide berth. They seem uncomfortable with his brooding demeanor.  

Once all the participants were inside the gate, the crowd was called to silence. The page with a war horn stepped on the platform next to Alexander and I. I nod my assent in replace of my mother, who would never be caught at something like this. The boy takes a deep breath and blows. 

Chaos erupts as the deep note echoes across the crowd. The packed people roar in a deafening sound that hits my ears and blocks out most the clashing of metal. Many men fall immediately, struck from behind by the very comrades they were just laughing with. 

My eyes fix on Kal. His green armor standing out in the mass of silver metal and brown leather. He has not moved since the sound of the horn. He stands like a rock in a forest during a storm. It feels out of place and eerie. Kal slowly lifts his eyes to meet mine. I can barely see the blue fire burning in them but I know he is looking at me. 

A small man tries to take advantage of Kal's seeming distraction. He diverts from the main fray and charges Kal with a raised sword. Panic rises in my throat as I realize that Kal still has not drawn his own. The man holds his sword with two hands, using his weight and momentum to do the maximum amount of damage. 

Kal calmly pushes off the fence and sidesteps the man. At the same time, he grasps the back of the man's neck and uses his own momentum to slam the man's helmeted head into the post. The man crumbles to the ground, the impact knocking him unconscious. Kal slowly draws his sword then picks up his shield where he left it at his feet. It is emblazoned with our house crest, much like his armor. Kal moved into the fray with a chilling calm.

Men began to fall around all around the knight. He would kick out knees and then hit their heads with the flat of his blade. Kal would disarm then punch the man as hard as he could, dropping them like rocks. I even saw him break several limbs. The only time Kal took blows were to his shield. He was like a force of nature, tearing down everything in front of his path. 

"Yes, that is why a peasant became a knight and one of my best officers." Alexander breaks my focus. I look at the excitement and awe on his face.

"He is a natural born Warrior."

"You know Leelee, Sir Kal would make an acceptable husband now that he is knighted, despite his birth." I laugh.

"You just said that you would hate the idea."

"Only because I am your big brother." 

"Lex... The last man I thought I would marry almost killed me."

"Leelee, that is no reason to shut everyone out. I saw the way he watched you at dinner. He may not know it yet but he sees you as more than just his future Queen." I blush, then I realize how quiet it is.

Men groan in pain but the clashing of metal on metal has stopped. In the middle of the field stood two men. One was Kal, standing in mud and blood splattered armor. His helmet had been lost somewhere. 

The other was a bear of a man. Muscles strained against the skin of his naked arms. The leather jerkin he wore protected very little of his immense torso. A half helm covered the square head that connected directly to the boulders that served as shoulders. 

Kal looked like a child next to the man wielding a war ax, the blade the size of Kal's own torso. I reach across and grab Alexander's hand. I dread what is about to happen, regret fills my heart. Kal should not die but accidents do happen. I was selfish to ask this of him. Servants scamper like ants to clear the field of unconscious and wounded men.  

Suddenly the man roars his rage and charges Kal like a bull. I was sure he would be trampled. With incredible speed, Kal steps out of the path. Kal drops his sword point to the ground,  catching the mans leg and sending him sprawling. The bull jumps up, roars, and charges again. Kal dances around him like a river flowing around a rock. The large man calms himself enough to realize brute force will not work. He begins hacking at Kal like a child chopping flowers in a field. 

One slash is almost too fast. Kal just gets his shield up in time, The ax bites into the shield, splitting it almost all the way down to Kal's arm. The impact drives Kal to a knee. I feel my fingers tighten in Alexander's hand.

Kal twists the shield and nimbly rolls backward. The move rips the ax from the hands of a now worn out giant. Kal removes the burdened shield from his arm and lets it thud to the ground with an audible thunk. I see the crowd cheering and clapping but all I can hear is my own heart thudding in my ears. Kal straightens again, raising his sword between the two. The large man raises his own fists, unwilling to surrender. He swings one towards Kal, Kal swings his sword to meet it. the impact is accompanied by the sicking sound of bones breaking. The large man howls in pain, then he instinctively lashes out with his other hand. Kal smashes that hand also. The animal of a man is brought to his knees, then his eyes roll back into his head as the pain of two shattered hands becomes too much. 

Alexander releases my hand and stands. He projects his voice to be heard by the masses. 

"I give you our Victor. Sir Kal El Ward!" Trumpets sound and cheering explodes. Kal bows, a little self-conscience at being the center of attention. Then he exits through the gate, cheering continues even when the man it is for is out of sight. 

"So Leelee, are you sure you will not consider him?" I roll my eyes at Alexander and head back to the castle. Kal's men trailing close behind.