The Rules of Blood-Volume Two ; Chapter 50 (266) - A Day Before the Challenge

The Rules of Blood-Volume Two ; Chapter 50 (266) - A Day Before the Challenge

The carriage came to a halt just outside the walls of Segetuza, at the very site the gray man had chosen for the challenge.
Joan and the Daughter stepped down into the grass, greeted instantly by a crowd that had gathered in anticipation.
As their feet touched the earth, a roar erupted, cheers rising like smoke into the sky, as the people rejoiced at their Lord’s agreement to the gray man’s bold request.
Not far ahead, a massive tent was being assembled, large enough to hold every challenger beneath its canvas roof. From what she could see, there were already more than two hundred present, with more surely arriving by the hour, drawn by the promise of battle.
Since the challenge was set to begin at dawn of the next day.
A challenge that had already turned into an event that, if all went well, would surely go down in the recent history of this Domain.
But until then, there were many things Joan had to do.
First, she went and greeted the family that held and controlled the city in the name of Blood Maiores.
“My Lady,” the woman in front of her bowed, “We sent our gratitude to the Patriarch for accepting that man’s foolish request.”
“The Patriarch is rather pleased with him, Marja,” Joan replied, “But do you know the man in question?”
Marja shook her head, “Didn’t even know he existed until last night. But he sent the city into an uproar, so I had to check for myself.”
“And?” Joan asked, her face scanning the crowd in the distance, “Where is he? Is he here?”
“No, My Lady, he and his companions remain locked in their room, probably asleep,” Marja explained apologetically.
“Asleep? At this hour?” Joan frowned, “It’s noon.”
“According to the innkeeper, they came down for supper last night,” Marja continued. “They all looked exhausted, even after sleeping all of yesterday. Once they ate, they went straight back up and haven’t been seen since. The innkeeper asked whether he should open the door, since the gray man hadn’t paid for another night, but we refused and covered the payment ourselves. Considering… the challenge.”
“I see,” Joan murmured, her eyes fixed on the tent rising in the near distance. “You played your part well, acting as the gray man’s guest. He’ll be pleased to hear it, especially about this gigantic tent. Was this your idea as well?”
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“It was,” Marja nodded, also turning toward the structure. “It’s not every day someone so bold declares themselves the strongest and dares all the youths for the chance to marry you, My Lady. So we had to go big.”
“Enough with the flattery, Marja,” Joan said, looking in her direction, “It was the Patriarch’s choice to send me; nobody knew who would come, or if the Patriarch would even accept it. But all the same, let’s just hope this tent does not scare our bold guest off.”
“If a tent is all it takes, then he isn’t deserving of your hand, My Lady,” Marja chuckled, covering her mouth lightly with her hand.
Marja was an old woman, around eighty, from what Joan knew. But she hardly looked it. Most would guess she wasn’t a day over sixty. That is, until she opened and forgot to cover her mouth.
With only four teeth left at the front, her speech remained surprisingly clear, though not untouched.
The look, however, was less forgiving.
It had earned her a Domain-wide nickname: the Beaver of the Maiores.
Still, even without her teeth, she was well-versed in the kissing of butts, as her flattering was without equal.
“What did I say about flattering, Marja?” Joan sighed.
“Please, forgive me, My Lady, I have only spoken the truth,” Marja replied, bowing lightly with ease, “But please, do join my family for dinner.”
“But of course,” Joan nodded, “That was the plan from the very beginning, please also prepare me a room since I will be sleeping there.”
“As you wish,” Marja accepted without question, before taking a step back, “In that case, I will return to the estate and make the necessary preparations.”
“Please do,” Joan replied, as she watched the woman walk away with a stride that defied her age.
Next, Joan made her way toward the tent, her steps slow, her gaze casual as she watched the workers move.
It took them another hour to complete the structure, as they hammered down the last stakes and tied the final ropes.
During this time, she watched the youths as they sparred with each other, making sure not to hurt the other, and keeping themselves ready for the fights happening tomorrow.
Once the tent was finished, the youths went inside to try the combat arena, which was a simple wooden-structured tent surrounding a large circle filled with a thick layer of sand, as the most neutral of all fields for hand-to-hand combat.
Surrounding the circle were metal frames that went ten feet in the air, with wooden planks as benches, allowing rows of viewers to watch leisurely as they awaited their turns.
Joan couldn’t comprehend how this gray man was planning to beat over two hundred people one after another.
But she didn’t really complain, as it only meant it was ever more difficult for the two of them to get married. With that as motivation, and with her blood boiling from watching the youths spar, she joined the sparring with a smile on her face.
She was of Blood Maiores after all. Fighting was in their veins. There was something else, but that didn’t matter now.
Not when the contact of her fist against a man’s jaw felt so wonderful.
But when evening came, and no other dared to spar with her, she went looking for the Daughter and together, went towards the estate of Merja and her family.
After a dinner and a pleasant conversation as a facade, she enjoyed a bath, washing the sweat she had built up during the sparring, before going to sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s event.

Volume Two ; Chapter 50 (266) - A Day Before the Challenge