Flower of Bulann

Chapter 10

Vior woke up early, the previous night's foray seemingly not affecting him in the slightest.

The door to his room slid open and a servant knelt in the doorway, head bowed.

"Forgive my intrusion, lord Vior. The next contest has been prepared, and you are to be at the arena by noon. Full armour is recommended by my lord" the servant said with a measure of authority.

Vior thanked him for the summons before dismissing him. He decided to stay up and prepare his armour, the coming contest was sure to be arduous.

After a short time had passed his door slid open once more, his brother, Kuan sitting down beside him as Vior cleaned his chest plates individually.

"The next round should be interesting," Kuan said, clearly trying to pique his interest with some implied knowledge.

"Really?" Vior replied, raising an eyebrow as he took the bait.

"Indeed, I have heard that men were working from the time we left the arena, to the early hours of this morning. Does that not make you curious, brother?" Kuan said, leaning in close to whisper his words.

Vior stopped his work and turned to his brother, a little irritated.

"Indeed it is, interesting. But that information gives us no advantage in the trial to come" Vior chided his brother, this was no reason to interrupt to his preparations.

Kuan smiled, clamping a hand onto Vior's shoulder, a look of victory on his face.

"Ah, but there is more to the tale, my brother. For there were long poles, hundreds of them have been brought in. And, I have been told a dam has been a quarter drained overnight" Kuan smirked, his brother clearly knew more.

"What more do you have to say, my brother?" Vior asked, ceasing his work completely now.

"Ah, my brother. Alas that we are rivals in love, for I do dearly wish to tell you all I know" Kuan said in an overly dramatic fashion. "I shall, however, tell you that balance will be the key."

Vior wanted to wring more out of him, but he was grateful that his brother had shared anything at all.

"Thank you for your insight, my brother. I hope it shall prove useful" Vior said, bowing his head.

"You speak as if I am leaving, brother?" Kuan said a little surprised. "We must help each other with our armour."

Kuan put a finger between the gaps in his back plate and lower legs, even on the shoulders to reveal its ill fit.

"I have noticed in the past contests, that your armour has been too loose, my brother" Kuan told him, rising to his feet.

Vior stood up as well, Kuan putting his arms out to the side so he could adjust the straps on his breastplates.

After twenty minutes they were both war ready, Vior feeling stupid once again for not bringing a servant to aid him. Kuan had suffered his injury even after being properly armoured after all, what silly risks he'd been taking.

The two brothers made their way to the arena early, though they were made to wait in a small room to the side of the main gate as the crowd took their seats.

"They truly wish to surprise us it seems," Kuan said after a few minutes. "Makes you wonder what the surprise is."

Vior smiled at his brother's ribbing, glad that they had struck a firm friendship, even with Kinna's hand in marriage at stake in this contest.