Last Bite

Chapter 3: The First Bite & Chapter 4: Waking Up

Thirty minutes passed in grim silence as we waited for Alamond to show up. Finally, the Frenchman's second came up to me, "Monsieur, it looks like your gentlemen friend will not be arriving," his accent was so thick it was difficult to understand what he said.

"I understand," I nodded and started to turn to walk away as quickly as possible from the field.

"As his second it is your duty to stand in his place," the gentleman grabbed my shoulder lightly to stop me from escaping. I took a moment to try and calm myself. I looked at the Frenchman who was swinging his sword around, loosening his arm up, then I looked to his second who was still holding me.

I forced a smile which was enough for the second to release his grip on me, "As honor dictates, I will stand in his place," before he could leave I stopped the gentleman, "This is of course only to first blood, correct?" a nervous laugh slipped out of me, "Surely no one needs to die over this?"

The second laughed, "Very amusing, sir. My friend will enjoy you, I'm certain,"

"May I at least have the name of the man who I am to fight?" I tried to keep my voice form shaking.

"My dear friend, Count Luquin Durfort,"with that he bowed slightly to me and walked back to Luquin who laughed at whatever his friend told him as he approached.

As I stood there, frozen with fear, the priest and doctor approached me. The priest only spoke French, but I could tell he was chanting a prayer at me, while the doctor handed me a curved blade that looked nothing like the saber I had used the previous night, "Sir, are you ready?"

"If I'm honest with you, good doctor, I am not," why lie at this point I figured. At least this way I may have a chance, however slight, of getting out of this alive. The doctor gave me a surprised look, but I cut him off before he could speak, "I know this is a matter of honor, but I really had nothing to do with the incident that caused all of this,"

The priest finished his prayer and walked off as the doctor sighed, "You did agree to be your friend's second, yes?" I nodded, "Then I'm afraid you are involved with this," the doctor patted my shoulder, "Try to make it quick, let him get you once and then I'll do my best to patch you up," with that he walked between us and waved both of us towards him.

Luquin looked at me with a small amount of regret, obviously he wanted to kill Alamond but his "friend" would have to do. The doctor turned to me, "You two will raise your blades when I raise my hand, when my hand drops you will salute each other, then begin," I agreed, the doctor continued, "As agreed by your friend and Count Luquin had agreed, the duel will not end until one of you is dead or the offended is satisfied. Do you understand?"

"I do, yes," as I said this the doctor turned to the Count and spoke to him in French, most likely saying exactly what he said to me. I took that time to try and steady my breathing, I could feel my heart beating in my ears. My legs were shaking to the point where I thought I'd collapse.

The doctor turned to me, "Ready?" I just nodded my head once. He backed away a few paces and raised his hand, we both raised our blades to each other and as the doctor's hand fell we saluted and we began.

It was as Luquin stepped forward and stabbed at me that I really grasped that I was going to die today. I did my best to parry his thrust. In those two moves it was clear to everyone on the field how this duel was going to turn out. The Count started slashing at me in fluid shoulder swipes with me backing away, barely able to repel the attacks. Although he was an older man each blow caused my arm to sting. Suddenly he swung low and kicked my thigh, I collapsed pathetically crying out.