Chapter 49: A New Home
Simon hadn’t been quite sure of what to make of the man’s words. He thought that maybe he’d come back and spar with a couple of the Baron’s guards tomorrow or something. Instead, once they’d all finished eating dinner, the servants moved the trestle tables aside to clear space in the large room. The way that they did so with such practiced ease made Simon think this was not the first time this sort of after-dinner entertainment had been arranged, either.
“What… Here? Now?” Simon asked, suddenly regretting his third glass of wine.
“Why not?” the Baron asked with a smile. “I could do with some entertainment. Now would you like to do the honors, Varten, or should I pick one of the guards to test his mettle?”
Simon breathed a sigh of relief when the Baron turned to his eldest son. He was a slender man who’d been somewhat reserved all night. Not only would he not be much of a challenge compared to some of the burly men Simon had seen around the sprawling home, but Simon was certain the Baron wouldn’t endanger his own heir with some kind of blood sport.
He was completely surprised when the boy drew a heavy saber already on his hip and held it up dramatically, letting the light dance along its razor’s edge before he pointed it at Simon. That was the moment he knew they’d planned all of this from the start. Of all the men at the table, Varten was the only one wearing a weapon and the only one with the look of a killer in his eye.
“As if I would ever turn down a challenge, Father,” he answered with a sneer before walking toward Simon.
“But my weapon and armor are at the inn, my lord,” Simon said, trying to think of a way out of this.
“Nonsense. This is just a quick exhibition, so to speak. To the blood or the yield, as it were. You may pick from any blade in the room,” the Baron said, gesturing widely to the trophies displayed on the south wall.
“Thank you, my Lord,” Simon said, quickly explaining what was going to happen to Freya as he rose from his seat. There was worry in her eyes and a quick shake of her head. She knew that he shouldn’t do this, and he agreed with her, but there was no way out of this short of preparing to leave the city now, and he wasn’t willing to do that.