None of them really knew where to go, should they stay the night there to sleep? Maybe buy some food? Where were they even going? They had no clue about a final destination. Not the heroic journey I was expecting, Arthur pondered. He brushed against Lurisa and her blue eyes lurked on him for a moment. Lurisa is pretty, isn't she? He shook his head, No, I shouldn't be thinking that. After all, I'm meant to marry one of the Perkin girls from the Sherve kingdom. Looking at her hair dance in the breeze from behind and her majestic tunic crumple in the wind, But Lurisa is exactly my– Bill stood in front of Arthur, his greasy beard rustled in the wind in his own elegant way, "Arthur, what's it like being the son of a king?"
On alert, Arthur grinded his teeth and ushered for Bill to shut up. Bill opened his mouth that resembled a horrified apology that he had noticed his own stupidity. And so, Arthur calmed. Locals don't exactly take kindly to nobility, especially when you were a Starfinder.
"DID YOU NOT HEAR ME. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE SON OF A KING?" Bill asked…quite loudly.
A horde of people started to gather. They were already noticeable in the town wearing long silk clean tunics and Arthur's ebony armour. But often people were weary of a soldier. But a king's son? no, they were a spectacle to see.
"A Starfinder, eh?" A scarred man lurked around to see his face. "You remember what your daddy said 'bout us?"
Arthur's facial features lifted in ignorance, "I have no clue. My father loves everyone in his kingdom."
"Didn't he call us incest vermin?" A shout from afar said.
Another yapped, "And that we stink of fresh cow dung?"
From behind the crowd. "He said the death of my husband saved me the bother of having to divorce him!"
Father, Arthur thought embarrassed. He was rash and foolish with his tongue.
"Yeah, he said my wife looked like his favourite pig Betty," a bald man perked up.
"To be fair, my father loved Betty like no other pig."
The scarred man walked right up to Arthur. He was a few inches shorter but far more intimidating than Arthur. It was clear this man had once been a soldier. His one eye peered into him, "I remember. I fought for your little palace. And when my eye was cut fighting for your father–bah!" His arms flailed in resentment, "He sent me home here. Without anything extra. Nothing. Not even an extra hain. Bastard."
"My mother and father were married but I get you're trying to insult me and I understand," Arthur raised his hand to the man's shoulder.
"Don't you dare touch me! I challenge you to a fool's gambit!"
Everyone shushed. Wind rustled the remnants of dirt along the road.
Bill's beard rested atop Lurisa's shoulder, "What is a fool's gambit?"
"Arthur has to fight that man without armour or weapons. It's not dangerous there's a referee. Problem is, if the king's son loses, it'll look awful for the king that an old soldier won. Arthur's reputation would plummet and Albosa's image isn't the best as of now."
A fool's gambit could only be committed by someone of lower status to someone of higher status. It was like a petty vengeance that could be achieved. To be able to say they beat up a prince without any repercussions. Few could ever say it after the fight.
The scarred man took off his shirt, revealing a surprisingly firm stomach and chest. His abs didn't quite show but Arthur would feel them if he were to punch his gut. Arthur clinked to Lurisa, "Can you help take this armour off? Please?" She listened to the plea and helped him take it off. The armour hadn't a single scratch, he seemed terrified of Detritus but maybe that was a shock? She helped take off the torso of his armour and noticed how broad his back was, Maybe he is a warrior. However, the smell of sweat did lessen the astonishment. He whipped off the gauntlets showing no fear. Arthur was given shoes by a local, proving that this was a typical day out for them. The scarred man stretched his triceps and then his biceps by putting his elbow above his own shoulder. Arthur stood there…clueless, What do I even do?
"Woah. He must be so confident he's not even stretching," Lurisa said.
Bill pointed out the obvious, "Isn't he the warrior for the chosen one?"
"True but most warriors would at least prepare their muscles or jump up and down to get the blood flowing," Samara answered.
The crowd were mentioning a, "Gerhand."
Samara noticed, "Three hells. That's Sir Gerhand. He was said to be one of the greatest soldiers in all of Albosa until an enemy ripped his eye out from behind while he was already fighting."
Bill chuckled, "Yes, but he's the chosen warrior!" He had belief in Arthur.
A natural circle formed around Arthur and Gerhand. He spat out the ground, "Without that armour and expensive silver sword of yours, you're nothing but a boy pretending to be a man." Arthur didn't reply, he was afraid his voice might crack under the pressure.
Lurisa whispered, "Is it just me or is he being really cool right now?"
"Yeah, he has an aura about him. Like he's already seen the fight and knows he wins," Samara replied.
Gods, what do I do? Brother, what would you have done? Arthur thought.
"The warrior is supposed to have never lost before, so it does make sense," Lurisa praised him.
I've never even been in a fight before! Arthur clenched his jaws tight. I'm a damn coward.
Gerhand jutted side to side, he was trying to psych out Arthur. Damn this boy, he thought, I'm getting ready for the fight of my life and he looks as if he's thinking about something else altogether. I'm too lowly for him to even think about. Bastard.
Cracking his knuckles with fierce rage he clapped his hands to grab his attention. The referee was a small woman with a ridiculously deep husky voice as if she had only drawn breath in a chimney, "You hear me. No disrespect to the ref. No feet used to hit. No punching the back of heads. Touch fists if you want."
Arthur tensed his fist as hard as he could to not show how shaky he had just become.
This boy has nerves of steel! Gerhand thought as Arthur's fist had veins like the root of a tree.
"Fight!" The ref shouted.
Gerhand bobbed to Arthur who still made not a single move. Gerhand pulled his fist back, with all the anger he held onto for the years. Shovelling his fist into the air as his legs followed through for extra power, Arthur slipped on a small pebble. His head went to chest height of Gerhand. His leg outstretched into him, bashing his ankle in the process of gaining his balance and he stood straight holding onto his posture as Gerhand fell into the dirt of the ground. His chin scuttled along it, embarrassingly so.
"Little shit," Gerhand said.
Arthur noticed a flock of green breast birds flying over, they were so angelic in the sky. He tried to take his mind off the fight. He knew he couldn't beat a veteran soldier.
Gerhand threw himself back up in a fury-filled rage. Sprinting at Arthur.
Arthur noticed it. Gloop from the sky and without a doubt, it originated from the bird. Arthur ducked slightly, covering his head with his left hand and extending his right arm upwards. A vibration rattled down his right arm. He gazed up to see Gerhand with glazed eyes and his fist connected to his chin. To top it off with bird droppings on his bald head. He fell over and smashed into the floor.
Everyone cheered. "That's our prince!"
"Better than the king."
"What an unorthodox fighting style. It's so nonchalant, as if he's not even really fighting. May you teach us!"
"Did you see he controlled the bird to do that? Genius!"
"He really is the warrior," Lurisa smiled confidently. "Arthur, no wonder you were chosen," she said to him proudly.
Arthur visibly frowned at her pretty grin, he felt no satisfaction, if anything a sting of disappointment trailed his muscles and nerves.