Free Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows by Robert E. Keller

down
beneath the fury of Thrake's attack. But then Ulmason struck back with his own
flurry of blows from his long axe, until he'd regained his balance.
    Thrake
swung low at Ulmason's legs, but the Legion warrior showed great agility in
leaping over the blade. Ulmason landed a glancing blow from his axe handle on
Thrake's shoulder, knocking Thrake back a bit.
    Ulmason
laughed mockingly from beneath his horned helm. "I'll split that red armor
yet and see what lies beneath!"
    Enraged,
Thrake swung at Ulmason's head, but this time Ulmason ducked the blow. The
Legion warrior mirrored Thrake's previous move and hacked at his legs, but
Thrake managed to bring his axe down in time to deflect the stroke. Their axes
clashed together several more times.
      Then Ulmason lunged forward in a bold move
and seized hold of Thrake, seeking to crush him in a bear hug with his powerful
arms, his axe falling to the snow. Thrake's own axe dropped from his hand as he
fought to break the hold. Thrake's thick armor and the stout muscle underneath
prevented Ulmason from cracking his ribs. At last, Thrake wrapped his legs
around those of Ulmason and tripped him. Then the two giants were down in the
snow and rolling around, punching and grappling and trying to choke each other.
They respected each other's beards, however, and there was no yanking of hair.
    Thrake
ended up on top of Ulmason, and he ripped off the Legion warrior's helm to
expose the scarred face underneath that had one eye missing. The crowd of
Divine Knights cheered wildly. Timlin yawned.
      Thrake punched Ulmason in the jaw, but the
Legion warrior seemed unshaken by the blow, and he shoved Thrake off of him.
Covered in wet snow, the two combatants seized their fallen axes and rose.
    "It's
the end for you, Ulmason Demonspawn !" Thrake roared, as he charged
his foe while swinging his glowing axe.
    Thrake
struck with such fury and precision that Ulmason was again thrown off balance,
and this time it seemed certain the Dark Knight would fall. Ulmason's remaining
eye widened in shock as Thrake drove him backwards, and the cheers of the
surrounding Knights and Squires grew deafening.
    But
then Thrake slipped in the snow and fell hard to one knee, his battle axe
flying from his hand. Grinning, Ulmason kicked Thrake in the chest and knocked
him on his back. The Legion warrior stood over him, the heavy axe poised for
the kill. Thrake lay with a devastated look on his face.
    Ulmason
Deathhand boomed laughter. "This duel is finished! A slip of the foot has
now cost you your life!"
    The
Knights and Squires groaned in dismay.
    Ulmason
grinned at the crowd. "Did you get your entertainment for the day? Ready
for some bloodshed to top it off?"
    "Get
up, Thrake!" Jerret pleaded.
    But
Thrake only continued to lay there, looking defeated.
    "Kill
him and be done with it," Timlin commanded.
    Lannon
knew he could use the Eye of Divinity to save Thrake's life. But it would cost
him his chance at Knighthood--and more importantly, Thrake would never forgive
him for it. The Red Knight was far too proud for that. And so Lannon simply
stood and waited for the horrific end to the duel.
    "It
was a good fight, Thrake Wolfaxe," Ulmason said. "You have proven
yourself to be a worthy opponent. Do you yield?"
    Thrake
hesitated, then said, "Yes, I yield." There was no shame in the loser
of a duel yielding if his opponent allowed it. It simply meant that although
he'd lost, his life would be spared.
    Ulmason
placed his horned helm back on his head. Then he raised his axe in triumph.
"I am the winner! I have defeated one of the strongest Knights of
Dremlock! This is a great day for the Blood Legion!" Then he glanced down
at Thrake. "If we fight again, it will be to the death."
    Taris'
face bore a bitter expression. "Yes, Ulmason Deathhand has won the duel. I
declare it a fair victory. Do you agree, Timlin?"
    "It
was a fair victory," said Timlin.
    "Having
lost the duel," Taris went on, "we shall remain camped here for