STEEL AND FLESH

UNQUESTIONABLE PRESTIGE

King Lauihnio charged towards his uncle with the aim of striking him with his wooden sword. "I hate it when people say such things about my days as a gladiator - haaaa."

Lord Mordian ducked at the effort making the already enraged King to strike thin air. King Lauihnio then turned to his uncle breathing heavily and staring balefully at his direction. "I have heard many people talk about my success at the arena as a result of favour given the fact that I was the crowned prince at time - I am sick of all of those lies." he said angrily.

"I worked hard for every fight I partook in at the arena, I spent my flesh, my sweat, my breath and my blood in order to be crowned champion of Bauthinia three good times."

Lord Mordian was still trying to recover from the shock of King Lauihnio's attempted attack on him. "But come to think of it Lauihnio you achieved such feet at the arena, yet you never killed a man at the arena, how can you explain that." Lord Mordian asked looking like he tried to make a point.

"Well that was because they yielded their swords before I had the chance to kill them." King Lauihnio yelled as he dashed towards his uncle with his sword raised above his head. With king Lauihnio's effort about to land home Lord Mordian parried the sword to left but King Lauihnio caught his jaw with a punch. Lord Mordian cleaned his bloodied tongue on the woolen knee length tunic he wore.

"Hey hey Lauihnio you need to calm down I didn't -"

"I swear by Oridon's mace any one who makes mockery of the prestige I earned at the arena will face my full wrath." King Lauihnio swung the wooden sword which caught Lord Mordian in the stomach then struck it at his shoulder and his neck causing Lord Mordian to stagger holding his neck, he smiled.

"You know Lauihnio aren't you ashamed that you are attacking a weak defenseless old man, if you are the man you claim you are why not give me a weapon to at least defend myself from your so called wrath." he said mockingly.

King Lauihnio ordered one of the captains to hand over his wooden sword to Lord Mordian which he did. with Lord Mordian in possession of the wooden sword he peered at it with contempt. "I am not a child to play with toys give me a real sword!" he yelled.

King Lauihnio jerked at one of the captains to hand over a sword to his uncle. he got a sword too and both men were ready to duel. Both swords clanged for sometime with both men trying to overpower each other.

King Lauihnio thrust his sword towards his uncle but his uncle leaped backwards dodging the effort, Lord Mordian thought he had bought himself some space upon ducking the effort but he was proven wrong as king Lauihnio dashed towards him and struck his sword continouesly at Lord Mordian who stretched his sword out blocking king Lauihnio's every effort, Lord Mordian kept blocking king Lauihnio's effort till he went on one knee. the last effort at Lord Mordian sent his sword falling away from his grip.

King Lauihnio stood over his disarmed uncle and grinned. "Age is really telling on you uncle, next time you will learn to keep your mouth shut." He pushed his uncle down with the soul of his feet making him fall on his back.

"Ugh." Lord Mordian grunted. King Lauihnio started chuckling. "You know I think I need to give you a cut on your skin so that each time you look at that scar you would know that I am not a man to be mocked." Lord Mordian crawled to where his sword was an taking hold of it he propped himself up and smiled confidently at King Lauihnio.

"You know Lauihnio, I underestimated you, I guess it's high time I stopped messing around with you, time to get serious. king Lauihnio found a space to strike his uncle's side but his sword was parried away from his grip. Lord Mordian then gave king Lauihnio a kick on his gut which made him to wince in pain while standing on one knee. king Lauihnio then looked up to his uncle and noticed his sword at the side of neck. his captains together with a few soldiers who were present were alarmed by this gesture, they held the shaft of their swords ready to pull them out if anything was done by lord Mordian in an attempt to harm the King looking at his direction with full menace. Lord Mordian glanced at the soldiers then turned his gaze on king Lauihnio and stared at him for a while, the atmosphere became tense with some soldiers edging carefully towards Lord Mordian in an attempt to save their king who looked like he was in great danger and dire need of their help.

King Lauihnio's heart raced as he had to accept the fact that his life was finally in the hands of the one man who sought to take his throne from him. He thought of begging for his life but he thought of it as cowardice especially in the presence of his men. all nerves were calm when Lord Mordian smiled, threw the sword away and offered king Lauihnio a hand. King Lauihnio felt extremely relieved and blessed the gods in his heart that his life was spared while taking his uncle's hand propping himself up.

"I guess you are still arrogant as always Lauihnio." Lord Mordian said. king shook his head feeling disappointed with himself. Lord Mordian noticed the long face of his nephew. "look here boy you are a great fighter and I admire your courage and doggedness, keep it up." King Lauihnio turned to his uncle. so what about everything you said about my career as a gladiator?"

"Oh that, I was just messing with you, I didn't mean a single word I said." king Lauihnio's face brightened. "really?"

"Yes my boy not a single word - by the way where is Garthine Polion I don't see him anywhere around this place, thought he was supposed to have your back always."

"I ordered him to conduct a census of my military, to know if our numbers are sufficient for a successful defence." king Lauihnio replied.

"Okay, I bet he wouldn't hesitate to plunge a javelin at my chest when I placed my sword on your neck." Lord Mordian grinned.

"Uncle that reminds me, an army of a thousand skilled swordsmen and an army of twenty thousand men who are not so skilled with the sword, who would you say stands a better chance of winning the battle if both of them should meet at the battlefield?" Lord Mordian smiled at the question.