For a moment, everyone stood frozen. The only sound was Verin's pained whimpering as he clutched the bloody side of his head where his ear had been.
Lady Renara was the first to recover. She stepped forward into the clearing, her composed demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around her.
"The duel is concluded," she announced, her voice carrying across the garden. "Lord Grim van Ambrose is the victor."
Lord Terras whirled toward her, his face contorted with rage. "This wasn't a duel! It was attempted murder!"
"Your son refused to yield when given the opportunity," Lady Renara replied coolly. "The terms were clear."
Before Terras could respond, the elderly man moved. One moment he was standing at the edge of the clearing, the next he was beside Grim. The movement was so swift that many observers didn't see him cross the intervening space. He was just a blur of motion too fast to track.
He extended his hand toward Grim. "My sword," he said simply.
Grim handed it over, still staring at the thin line of blood on the man's cheek. "I didn't mean to... "
"You handled it well," the elderly man cut him off, examining the blade briefly before sheathing it. "The Sundering Slash is difficult to control at first. You compressed the energy properly, but your aim needs work."
He wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb, seeming unbothered by the wound. "It seems Caius's blood runs true in your veins. Not bad for a first attempt in combat."
Grim studied the man's face, searching for any family resemblance. "You knew my great-grandfather."
"Knew him?" The old man's mouth twitched in what might have been amusement. "I trained alongside him for twenty years."
Rowan approached cautiously, his expression a mixture of concern and wariness as he looked at the elderly man. Something unspoken passed between them, a tension that Grim couldn't quite decipher.
Before Grim could ask questions, angry shouts drew his attention. Lord Terras was gesturing wildly, pointing at Grim while a palace physician tended to his son's wound.
"I want him arrested!" Terras was demanding of the imperial guards. "This goes beyond any duel. He deliberately maimed my boy!"
Grim walked toward them, his borrowed sword now gone but his confidence undiminished. The crowd parted before him, many nobles now eyeing him with a mixture of fear and respect that hadn't been there before.
"The business," Grim said as he approached Lord Terras. "My father will choose which one, and all proceeds will go to him for our family treasury."
"You think I'll hand over anything after what you've done?" Terras sputtered.
"A wager is a wager," Grim replied calmly. "Your word might mean nothing, but I have plenty of witnesses who can testify to the agreement. Including representatives from Colere and the Demon Lands." He gestured to where General Yongrun and Queen Maeve stood watching. "Would you have the empire appear dishonorable before our guests?"
Lord Terras looked around, taking in the foreign dignitaries, the nobles, and the imperial guards. All watching to see how this would play out. With a visible effort, he controlled his rage.
"Fine," he spat. "One business. But know this, boy. House Terras will not forget this insult."
"And House Ambrose will not forget your attempt to welch on a bet," Grim countered. "Consider us even."
As Lord Terras helped his son limp away, supported by the palace physician, General Yongrun and Archmage Dongmei approached Grim. The crowd around them grew hushed, many nobles straining to hear the exchange between the Colere representatives and the young lord who had just demonstrated such unexpected skill.
"Impressive display, young Ambrose," General Yongrun said, his voice rumbling from beneath his hood. "Few your age could channel aurora energy with such precision."
Grim looked up at the hooded figure, studying him more carefully now. Something about the general's presence felt oddly familiar. A certain quality to his stance, the way he held himself.
Suddenly, recognition dawned. Grim bowed deeply, one palm over his clenched fist in the formal style D had taught him during their training. "Thank you, Master," he said quietly.
General Yongrun went still. After a moment, he inclined his head slightly. "You have sharp eyes, young one."
"And a sharper mind," Archmage Dongmei added, her cold beauty even more striking up close. "One wonders what other secrets House Ambrose has been cultivating."
The elderly man joined them, his expression revealing nothing as he regarded General Yongrun. "The Heavenly Dao Sect has always had an interest in unusual talents," he observed. "Though I didn't expect you to take such a direct hand in this one's training."
"A favor for an old friend," Yongrun replied. "Though the boy proved more apt than anticipated."
Rowan stood a few paces away, his face tight with confusion and concern as he watched this exchange. "You two know each other?" he asked.
"There's much you don't know," the elderly man replied cryptically. "Much that has been kept from you for your own protection."
"And much that should perhaps be discussed in a more private setting," Lady Renara interjected smoothly, gesturing to the many nobles still watching and listening. "The Empress will want a full accounting of tonight's events."
Grim noticed that several imperial guards had positioned themselves around their group. Not threateningly, but clearly there to escort them somewhere.
"Indeed," a new voice agreed. Princess Liona had appeared at the edge of the clearing, her formal attire slightly disheveled as if she'd run from the ballroom. "Mother requests your presence. All of you."
She glanced at Grim, her eyes wide. "That was amazing," she whispered as he passed her. "Terrifying, but amazing."
"Just a family technique," Grim replied with a small smile, though his mind was racing with questions.
As they followed Princess Liona back toward the palace, Grim felt the elderly man fall into step beside him.
"You have questions," he said quietly. "Answers will come, but not all at once. For now, know this. What you demonstrated tonight has changed things. Certain parties will now move more quickly than planned."
"What parties?" Grim asked. "What plans?"
The man glanced at him, the scar on his face more prominent in the lantern light. "The same ones Caius warned you about in his letter. The ones who worked to eliminate the light affinity from your bloodline."
"You know about that?"
"I know many things," he replied. "Including that the voice in your head is not what you think it is."
Grim nearly stumbled. "What....."
"Later," the man cut him off as they approached the palace entrance. "For now, focus on the Empress. She has her own agenda where your family is concerned."
Ahead of them, Rowan walked stiffly beside D, their conversation too quiet to overhear. Archmage Dongmei and Lady Renara followed behind, their expressions giving nothing away.
[The old man is right,] the voice commented. [Things have been set in motion that cannot be stopped. The question is whether you'll be a player in the game, or merely a piece on the board.]
"And which are you?" Grim thought back.
For once, the voice had no clever response.