As the Lieutenant said, "COMPANY, ATTEN-SHUN!" Sterling also added, "By the by, what would you say to a friendly duel, Lord Tolan. An exhibition swordfight if you will! No blood shed, two out of three rounds, and the winner of a round is the one that can disarm his opponent!"Smiling with an evil grin, the Dark Elf said, "I have longed to test my skills against another swordsman, and I'm sure that you could be up to the task! What do you say?"
"Why not?" Tolan grinned. "You seem like a worthy opponent, and it would give the men something to place a few bets on, and would give them the chance to see that we harbor no animosity or ill will. That is, if you feel we have the time to spare for such an exhibition. I should like to return Ingeld to the Swan May posthaste. But let us at least see what has your men in such a betting mood!"
"MAKE WAY FOR THE CAPTAIN!" announced the Lieutenant moving through the Drow Warriors. As the men parted ways, Sterling and Lord Tolan beheld a sight that left both men speechless--but only for a minute!
This is how the Shadow Riders entertain themselves?! Tolan thought in shock, surveying the scene. Dueling with some poor slip of a girl who probably doesn't stand a chance of defending herself with a sword like that?! A girl who... who has very familiar looking hair... and her face... wait a minute, her face looks like...
"KIRRIAM!!!" Tolan screamed in complete and utter horror, all the color draining from his face when he recognized the female combatant as his sister.
Looking up, Kirriam brightened like the cheerful rays of the suns when she recognized that part of the interruption that had prevented the duel from beginning was her own dear brother. "Hello, Tolan!" she sang as prettily as a songbird. "I'm here to rescue you!"
Tolan twitched oddly, and a weak, inhuman sound squeaked in his mouth as he began to shake all over. That was his sister. That was his beautiful, beloved sister, dressed like a strumpet in the middle of a mercenary camp, swinging a sword at one who could easily hack her into a dozen tiny little ribbons, while hooting and howling onlookers placed bets on the outcome. The immediate shock of the sight was too much for Tolan. There was only one thing for him to do.
Eyes rolling back in his head, he keeled over and dropped to the ground in a dead faint.
"Oh, dear," Kirriam said, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise. "That wasn't what I expected him to do at all."
