Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

The duel was over but neither side made a move.

Baldwin remained kneeling even after recovering enough to realize what had happened, the man remained on his knees knowing his life could be taken in an instant if Julius wished it so.

Behind him, he could feel the anxiety of his men knowing that what happened next depended more so on them than on what he himself did.

Meanwhile in front of him when his eyes were raised he could see the awaiting legionnaires were just as anxious but never lowering their guard knowing full well that if the Germanics abandoned their Honour they’d need to rush forward to protect their lord, as great at fighting though he might be against an army he could not survive for long even with his mana arts.

This tense stalemate seemed to last forever, till Julius’s blade was remove from Baldwin’s neck.

This was not because he wanted to, but because the time limit was simply up, so after feigning placing his blade back into it’s scabbard just before it disappeared Julius remained standing there, but with his now free hand extended it to the kneeling Baldwin.

Both sides were stunned, the lord Julius had just disarmed himself and right in front of an armed hostile force, but from the Germanic side it plucked at their conscience even more as this man before this was daring them to break their word, inviting them to break their oaths, and cast aside their honor.

Or for Baldwin to keep his word, and take up the mans hand and accept subordination to him.

For honors sake Baldwin had but one choice, so with gritted teeth the man tookup Julius’s hand.