Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Forty Six

The last update-a-day-for-a-week chapter! 

Considering the amount of chapters I have left, and that I will now go back to weekly updates, this means I will probably finish up this story by January next year! I will probably post some extra updates (I MIGHT, no promises yet - I haven't written the next set of chapters yet, only planned them!) on Christmas and new years, but we'll see :):)

Baby xx

Colm's five men still stood behind us. Their patience amazed me somewhat, though I was still afraid that they'd make their move at any moment.

I flinched as Archer stood, unstable. He swayed on his feet, his face heart wrenchingly torn. "Colm." The one word was full of so much hatred, it almost blew me away. "This is pathetic. I thought you were a decent man, but this display I have seen today shows none of that. You are fighting seven to one. Saga and I are useless now that you have poisoned us, and you've taken our weapons away – we are no more than half a man put together. Ash is under your control, and weaponless anyway. Wolf is dead. Yet you still intend to fight?"

Colm narrowed his cold eyes at the immortal. "You and Saga are incredibly powerful; the original fight was fair, yet you lost. That Wolf fought impressively; half dead he managed to defend your Isaak against five of my men, even with your weakened chorren to help, the skill he displayed was inspiring. I mean it when I say it is a shame he has passed, yet it was a worthy death for such a warrior as he was. As for Isaak – he is more powerful than even he knows; don't think I don't know this. I heard my dad speaking of the mysterious love child. And it's not like I don't have my own handicaps – my own brother won't fight for me, he may even fight against me soon enough, and I cannot kill two of you, including the strongest, without releasing my hold on the other dangerous one." Colm raised his chin at Archer, defiant, the blood gleaming on his neck. "I think this battle has been, and still is, fair."

"I won't fight against you." Murmured the deadened voice behind Colm. Mekhi's eyes were downcast, his hair hid his expression. "I can't. But I can't fight them either." He stepped back. "I have no influence on this fight. What happens, will happen."

"You sound like me!" Saga exclaimed, summoning enough energy for his excitable self to shimmer through.

Mekhi looked up and met eyes with the seer. "Saga, you know how this will play out, do you not? You can save a lot of bloodshed and tell us how it goes."

Saga shook his head, deciding to lie down on the ground, studying the blood on his hands. "You know I won't. What I see is something no one should know; it is a gift and a curse I will not, and cannot, exploit. Anyway," he said, as he relaxed his hands on the ground and closed his eyes, "it's not like I can see everything. For example, this poison of yours. That was quite a surprise."

I stared at Saga as he relaxed on the ground. Since he entered the room, he has gained more energy, and become calmer. How? Shouldn't it be the opposite?

"Well," Colm sighed, "as much as I am enjoying this break, time is not something we mortals should take for granted." He picked his sword from the ground, spinning it in his hands. "It's alright Ash, you don't have to weaken him anymore. Let's have a fair fight, shall we?" He glared into my eyes. "Neither of us are badly injured, neither tied by blood or bond. Do you wish to duel, Isaak?"

"D....duel?" I repeated warily, glancing at my fallen comrades. I was unsure of what I'd be agreeing to – unsure of any rules that had to be followed, if any. Would I be bonded, like Ash was now?

"Yes. Not to the death, of course," he smirked, "I have a deal to uphold."

"Then..." I stammered, "what would be the grounds?"

I heard a shuffle behind me, and my right hand leapt up, pulled by my sword, to meet another. I cried out in shock at the firey eyes of Adiran.

Another blade appeared at Adiran's throat. Colm?

The King's narrowed eyes cut through Adiran's bold front. "Do you not have ears, soldier?" He snarled, applying pressure to force the man back. "I told you to stand back." He released Adiran when he was in line with the rest of the men. "You all must stay here, and do not interfere! If any of you disobey my order again, I will kill you, on grounds of treason. Do you understand?" His men nodded, eyes shining with fear. "You all know the rules of a duel."

He spun around to me, studying my small form. He approached me, curious. Ash stepped forward, to stand between me and the King.

"Ash," I muttered, "it's fine."

His shining blue eyes watched me, surprise and concern etched on his features.

"Colm. What are the rules of a duel? I'm sure you know I have little knowledge of this world." Oddly enough, despite my fear, I found myself trusting Colm. He was obviously on the other side of this fight, and his views were disastrously skewed, but he seemed like he could be loyal to his word. I could only wish that my instincts were right.

He nodded slowly. "Firstly, in this duel, neither of us can kill one another. We fight until the other calls it to finish." He considered his thoughts for a moment, circling around me and Ash. "Both sword, chorren, and body can be used as weapons. We cannot have assistance from others, including words of wisdom." He cast his gaze on my friends. I understood; he was speaking to them, warning them not to help me, otherwise the duel's rules would be breached. I didn't know what the consequences were in that case. "The duel cannot find itself outside of a square which Mekhi can establish, considering his odd lack of bias. If these rules are broken, the duel is complete and whoever broke the deal must suffer the same consequences as admitting defeat. Whoever calls the duel to its end, must admit their weakness to the other, and will bear that for life. They must also complete a request from the other, not matter what. Do you agree with these terms?"

I glanced at Saga, into his eyes which cracked open enough to see me. He made no movement, save for closing his eyes as if he had fallen asleep. I swallowed, slow and unsure. "Yes, I agree."

Colm stopped his movement and offered me his hand. "Deal? I believe you know the matter of my ring; if you accept this as a deal now, there is no going back, and no changes can be made to this contract.

I nodded and took his hand. "Deal."

A pulse of energy shot up arms, and Colm's eyes flashed the yellow of his chorren. "Mekhi?" His eyes did not leave mine. His brother approached slowly and marked the corners of the square with his chorren; it was something like a small room, perhaps 8 metres long and wide. Ash backed away, his face terrified.

I gazed at Willow's still body. Again, I struggled not to let the tears fall. Saga sat up, shifting his body to rest on Archer, as both immortals gazed upon the scene before them, quiet and watchful. I felt as if they had seen the same thing play out before. Did they know how this would end already?

"Isaak. Shall we begin?" Colm queried, testing the weight of his sword in his hands.

I swallowed, allowing the warmth of my chorren to envelop me again. What am I doing? I wondered, as I gazed into the amber brown eyes. Not so long ago, I was a boy who'd just been dumped by his boyfriend. Now where am I?

I nodded back to him. "Yes."

Colm nodded once. He rose his sword, gripping it tight in his right hand, approached me with confidence in his stride. "Let's go then."

Sorry this chapter is a little empty, but necessary. 

Baby x