This will make things a little harder on me. Cadaoir picked up his pace, he reached the bottom of the hill and followed the road to the village. Wooden buildings were charred, their roofs non-existent now. Villagers were cleaning up debris, others were sitting with the injured and crying. Wounded Soldiers were sitting and waiting for medical attention, though it would come slowly. The usual brown and dusty streets were instead covered with black and brown ash, some homes still smouldered and others had the orange glow of hot embers still inside.
This far up river? Odd. ''Did the Post Office survive?''
Who is Deluge? Cadaoir kept up his pace. He found himself back at the village square, now void of much activity. The Spear-woman and her entourage were nowhere in sight, but there were voices coming from the direction of a narrow street between blackened buildings. Cadaoir decided to walk in the opposite direction. The three men followed.
''I''ll pass. Thank you.'' Cadaoir waved his hand and increased the speed of his walk.
The men were not so pleased. ''Pilgrim!'' The well spoken man with the moustache picked up his pace. ''Why deny us?''
The men laughed. ''Try all of us then. We surely must match a strong opponent together. It''s impossible for us not to. Wouldn''t you like to make up for the duel you missed in Hattsu?''
Cadaoir stopped at that comment and thought on it. Maybe he was being hasty. Maybe they could prove a challenge. ''OK, we four can duel.'' Cadaoir responded. ''Tomorrow, on the eastern edge of the village, near the quarry road to The Temple.''Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Cadaoir scanned the area, already looking for his advantages. ''Are you sure you want this now?''
The men looked at each other hesitantly, Cadaoir hurried them. ''You have asked for this. Come!''
A waste of my time. He thought to himself. Autumn''s package was destroyed, I should be replenishing my supplies, not playing with these... People...
They say otherwise? ''They lie.''
''My men would not lie to me!'' She stated sternly.
Cadaoir was honest. ''They already have.'' The woman looked deep into Cadaoir''s eyes, searching for something. A flicker of a lie? Cadaoir saw how unsure she was, so he made a move to backup his story. He reached into his clothing and recovered the tattered yellow cloth that bore the symbol of his order of the Monk. ''This symbol is of my sect. I am a fighting Monk, yet I am forbidden to take part in any war. I am not to take any side or attack any soldier. Unless for the purpose of a duel.''
Cadaoir did not oppose them. A real duel.