1 Honor and Strength

It was rainning, it had been rained for 4 days straigh. It was a gentle, but it lasted for almost the entire day and night. This were the last rains before snow began falling. Even tough it was noon the sky was grey, it had remained so, since the rain began.

Amisdt the soft and cold rain, two groups of people were closing on each other, they were taking their time, as if sizing up each other.

One group was made of 3, the one in front was carryng the Banner of the Kingdom of Vrant, with its Waning Crescent and 4 Stars. The other had 4, a Banner with a Cloud over a Hill, the Anrur Clan Mark. They stopped when they were a few steps from each other.

-There is no way you can win the fight, you should surrender- A deep voice from the one bearing the Kingdom of Vrant banner broke the sound of the rain. They were speaking on low elvish, a middle ground for many races.

-We can never be sure of the outcome of a battle before it has happened- A man from the Anrur Clan answered. He was the tallest figure among them all.

-Haven´t each skirmish we had proven that you can not defeat us- Snorted another of the Vranteans, a woman carrying a longbow

-Those were not real fights, I tought you were proud of your heavy infantry. Not once have you fight us head on- The tall one argued

-We have fought you the way you always, did with us. It ain't nice being on the receiving end of the spear- A weak laugh aaccompanied the reply from the woman

-You have half of numbers, all that is left, is to fight right here on the open, on this meadow. You will not get out unscathed as you have- A hoarse voice replied. Two large fangs stuck out from the Anrur man's mouth. He had a single edge axe on each hand.

-So, let's do it then, you will have a chance to face us head on, or see if those fangs are just for show- The woman again laughed

-I am going to rip you....

-ENOUGH!

The one wearing the 2 axes was advancing towards the woman who just keep smiling at him. He was restrained by one of his companions. The one who hold him, was calmed even as he yelled at him.

-You were the ones who asked us to talk, and all you have said is that we should surrender -He was calmed, but his voice seemed to bee sharp somehow- Let's be clear, we are the Anrur Clan, we will not surrender. We will fight you to the last of us. And I dont think, there are enough of you. So... maybe you should just go back, you have indeed achieved something you never had before. To think we are having this conversation just outside our home. But that's it. Only death awaits if you are set on advancing. That is, unless there is something else you have come to discuss, an agreement perhaps...

-CHIEF! this is not what we discussed how can we make an agreement, after all the people we have lost- The tall one said as he came close to the Chief- How could we dishonor them like this...

-I said enough Undir, I am the Chief. We have fought against them for a long time, they have lost as we have; and even exchange of death, not honor has been made- The chief glared at Undir, who reluctantly backed away -You wanted to talk then, let us hear you. You always had trouble guarding your lands near the forest, having an strategic hold inside the forest, would be the best way to better safeguard your borders, having the fights on our own territory. I am impressed, we were not suspecting and invasion with a force so small. We really believed you were just scouting ahead. We tought you were preparing before sending your Legions as you did in the past.

-If we send our Legions, the Clans would have make a temporary alliance- The last man from the Kingdom party answered- In the past even tough we won every battle, and killed many more than you, we could not make a hold inside the forest. It was too expensive, and this was not the only front we were at war, but you know this Chief-The man had a friendly voice.

-So, what is it going to be then, you have already created an opportunity, we are Anrur, our words make us honorbound. We could discusse the details of an agreement or kill each other and gain nothing-The Chief was examining the other man.

-Ha ha ha, you are really pushing for an agreement, for someone so certain about winning- The woman once again laughed

-I swear, I am gonna strangle you to death woman- Undir and the one with the two axes both glared at the woman.

-Your answer then?- The Chief pay no attention to the other 3, he was just looking at this rather young man, as he recognized a bit startled.

-I am sorry Chief Munir, but we are not here to make an agreement, and you are not willing to surrender, so, I tought you cared more for peoples lives- The man said as he sighed

-Ohhhh, you have some guts little shits, so you are really gonna fight us here, I am going to break every one of you- The axe wielder flashed his fangs as he smiled.

-I tought you were more brilliant, I actually was looking forward to talking details of and agreement and what we both could gain. You have chosen death. We will not surrender and you will all die here- The Chief expression was grim, his voice was cold.

-It is true that we are gonna lose men, but it is not us who will die. You know this Chief, you cannot win against us on a frontal assault. You do not have the strength to win- The man sighed again, he was trying to convey something with his gaze on the Chief.

-We are Anrur, we have killed you vrandteans for over a hundred years, and you never could get a hold of the forest, if we were not honorbound, your heads would already been detached from your bodys, but we HONOR your invitation to talk, so do not dare question our strength. We will make you pay with blood- Undir had step forward towards the Man, they were just a step away from each other. He was taller by a head than the man, it was and intimidating sight beneath the rain, even the woman stopped smiling an backed away a bit.

But not the other man, he just looked Undir straight in the eyes and then moved his head disaprovingly.

-I respect you, so much that I would rather not kill you. I honor you, that is why, I offered you an option. But you do not seem to be able to separate strength and honor, and that is just stupid, that makes you weak. There is no honor in choosing the death of your people. It is stupidity, you are dooming your people- The man said in a small voice.

-The battle with tell who is right, enough of this nonsense Chief- Undir said as he laughed at the man.

-Your people are not to blame for your stupidity and your misconception of honor. -The man tone was calmed-I will teach you all, what honor is really about. I , Aidan Fields, Liutenant of the 11th Borderguard of the Kingdom of Vrandt, hereby challenge the Anrur Clan to and Honor Duel. There is no need to let people die because you mistake honor with stupidity- The man, Liutenant Aidan, remained serene.

-You motherf*ckes actually think you can ask for a Honor Duel, you are not Rur, you do not have the right- The one with the axes spat to the feet of the Liutenant.

-I'm trying to prevent you, from killing your Clan. I am trying to protect the life of my companions. You only honor your self assesed strength, so come on, prove your might. If I lose, our army will retreat. But if I win, you will surrender. You should not have trouble deciding what it is best for your people, accept the duel, so that your so called "honor" is at least aligned with what should be your concern- The Liutenant did not pay attention to the insult that have been made against him. He was directing his words towards the chief.

-You are Vrandteans, you are not honorbound as we are, how do we know that once you are dead, your people might not just attack us, our word is sacred, yours is not- Undir laughed at the Liutenant

-By my position as commanding officer of the 11th Borderguard, and in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Vrandt, a Duel and its outcome must be respected and upheld so long as there are witnesses. As such, I chose sergeant Selis, here present as my witness- The Liutenant pointed at the woman with the longbow, sergeant Selis noded in response.

-Chief, accept the Duel, I will chopped this little Liutenant into pieces- The one with the 2 axes grinned from ear to ear.

The Chief was quiet, he seemed lost in his toughts. Undir was still standing infront of the Liutenant trying to intimidate him. Sergeant Selis, the Vrandtean banner carrier and the Liutenant were all looking at the Chief.

-The Anrur Clan, accepts the duel- Said the Chief with a solemn tone - There will only be one fight, each combatant may chose their weapon. We accept the duel with the condition of surrendering, should we lost the duel, however should you lose, you will have leave your supplys and weapons, and go back the way you came, are these conditions agreed?-

-I want everyone from both sides to watch the duel Chief. We will have the duel here, on this middle ground. We'll let both armys come closer so that everyone can bear witness, with these terms we agreed, do you? The liutenant was looking straight to the Chief not paying any attention to the tall figure of Undir just a step away from him.

-It is agreed, the duel will be held here in an hour - The Chief walked towards the Liutenant; Undir make way so that the Chief would be in front of the Liutenant. He was measuring him, and extend his hand to him.

-Agreed- The Liutenant held the Chief hand for a moment and just turned, walking to his side followed by the banner carrier, and sergeant Selis, who gave one last grin to the Anrur party.

She walked fast to match the Liutenant pace -Aidan are you sure, about this?, that Undir is one of the meanest Rur people I have ever seen, and there is no law about duels in the Kingdom is it?, we should just face them, we have a golden chance here.

-How many people will we lose Selis, how many more friends- The sergeant stopped for a moment then continued.

-You know very well that was low, I have followed you, because you always try to keep us all alive, and always get was best for the kingdom, but we cannot let this chance pass, we risked everything by advancing inside the forest, we disobeyd orders for you. Because you conviced us that is was te best thng to do, and it made sense. We have achieved what we wanted, a hold inside the Karakorum forest is in our grasp, you dying on that damn duel, will not make me retreat the troops Aidan, I will stomp on your word if needed.

-Its ok Selis, like I said to the Anrur, I will teach you ALL, about Honor and Strength.