“You must’ve hit your head harder than I thought,” was all I could think to say.

My partner smiled at me as he worked through some exaggerated calisthenics, or as much as his body would allow given its condition. “You won’t be able to interfere during the duel, but as soon as it ends, be ready to act.” He mumbled quietly to me. Then, he loudly exclaimed to Adler, “As the acceptee of the challenge, you are to set the terms.”

The Sleeper was still recovering from the effort of resisting Teddy’s challenge. He looked up, “To the death.”

“Of course,” Teddy nodded, unperturbed. “And weapons?”

“Magic”, Adler growled, summoning a ball of fire in his hand. “You realize that this changes nothing. Don’t you? Your pitiful Archetype games are useless against real power.”

“We shall see,” Teddy answered, noncommittal. “And I assumed that you mean to include magical implements as well?” He nodded toward the dagger that Adler still clutched in his hand.

The Sleeper grinned evilly as he looked between Teddy and the dagger. “Of course,” he hissed.

“Very well, Cash here will act as my second.” He made a show of looking around the room. “As you’ve just murdered Mr. Northcutt, I suppose you’ll have to go without.” He casually walked over to Northcutt’s body and kicked it over. He retrieved his pistol from the dead man’s belt and holstered it. Teddy used his good arm to hoist Tina to her feet. He led her back over to the bench, before pulling a silk handkerchief out of his pocket. He handed the square to me.

“Be a good lad and see to Ms. Goodwin’s nose,” Teddy instructed.

I took the silk and placed it against Tina’s bloody face. She instantly stopped bleeding and the handkerchief started absorbing the blood from her face and blouse. I looked at Teddy with an arched eyebrow. “Magic?” I asked.

Teddy winked in response before walking over to the clear area of the warehouse where Tina had tested her new powers. “Now,” he announced. “Back to back. Ten paces.”

Adler scoffed. “This is ludicrous. I am not going to…” The strange pressure returned to the room. There was a low rumble in my ears. “Fine,” he resigned angrily. He marched over to where he had dropped his robes and put them back on, grumbling to himself. I guessed it was hard to look intimidating during a duel wearing only a loincloth. Or, maybe he was just getting cold. Adler slunk over to the clearing with Teddy and took his position facing away from him.

Teddy motioned to me indicating I should begin the duel. I tried to think back to old movies, searching for what to say. I saw a shadow drop down from the ceiling behind some machinery. I decided to play for time.

“A challenge has been issued by Benjamin Theodore Ruthersford the Third and accepted by Mr. Adler. Both men have done so through their own free will.” I wasn’t sure if that last part was true, but it sounded good.

The Sleeper gave a loud “Ha!” and mumbled something. I continued, “We meet here today on the field to settle this dispute. The acceptee has named the terms to be a battle to the death with magic and magic implements. Is that so?”

“Aye!” Teddy responded loudly.

“What?” Adler responded after it became clear we were waiting for his answer. “Yes, yes. Can we please get on with this farce?”

“On the count of three, both men shall begin a count of ten steps forward. Upon completion of the tenth step, both men shall turn and begin combat until they or their opponent are deceased.” The words were coming unbidden to my lips. This seemed to be part of the magic. “Until the combat is finished, none shall interfere to attempt to render aid. Do you both understand and accept these terms?”

“Aye!” Teddy repeated.

“I do,” Adler sneered. “Especially the killing part.” He looked over his shoulder at Teddy. “I am going to make you suffer, you ponce. You’re going to beg me to end it.”

Concerned flooded through me, but Teddy looked bored. He caught my gaze and rolled his finger forward through the air, indicating that I should speed things along.

“Three,” I announced. Adler tucked the dagger away and each of his hands flared with light. One green and one red. Teddy examined a fingernail on his good hand.

“Two,” I continued. Adler vibrated in place, overeager to begin. Teddy stifled a yawn.

“One,” I finished. Both men started to pace forward counting upward from one. Adler has a huge smile on his face. Both his hands pulsed with energy pulled directly from the tree. My partner looked either bored or slightly annoyed. He got to the fifth step before he begrudgingly pulled his pistol. I pulled my own Bowie knife out from the sheath on my vest and concealed it behind my back. I stood as they continued to pace. Six, seven, eight. I realized I was holding my breath and exhaled. Nine. I was on the balls of my feet ready to act and felt a slight pressure against me. Not a paralysis exactly, but something blocking me from moving forward. I tried moving forward with the intent to disrupt the duel. I was immediately rebuffed. The harder I tried the greater the force resisting me. I stopping struggling against the effect as both men took their tenth step.

I saw Teddy turn and crouch. He was finally sporting a serious expression. Rather than fire immediately, he rolled to his right. A ball of fire whooshed by him, exploding against the back wall. Teddy completed his roll, and his gun arm was stable again. Just as he squeezed off a shot, he took a green ball of force directly to the chest. His shot missed badly, pinging off of some metal ductwork. He reacted as if a heavyweight boxer landed a power punch to his solar plexus. Teddy fell awkwardly onto his back. I could hear him gasping for breath. Tina let out a frightened scream. Adler was chuckling to himself. He walked leisurely toward my prone partner.

Teddy has remarkably held onto the Rhino clutched in his right hand. He raised it to fire again, but Adler gave a dismissive swipe with a green glowing hand. Teddy’s arm was knocked to the side and the gun flew from his grasp. He gave a painful moan and tried to scramble to his feet. Adler took a quick step toward him and seized him with both hands about the collar before he could fully stand. I felt magic surge from the tree and Adler picked Teddy up, my partners feet dangling at least eight inches off the ground. I could hear Tina weeping softly at my side.

“Where are you going, friend? We have so much to discuss.” Adler turned in a circle before flinging Teddy with the momentum into the wall behind him. Tina screamed again as he impacted the wall with a scary sounding crack, before falling down to his knees. He braced himself with his one good arm and tried to rise. I could hardly believe that he hadn’t been knocked out from the collision or blacked out from the pain he must be feeling. This was bad. From Teddy’s demeanor, I figured he had a plan. Maybe he was just resigned to his own death. I tried to intervene again, but was forced into immobility.

“It’s a shame what happened to your partner. It was honestly unplanned. Tough to find good help these days.” Adler sneered and his hand flared to life with crackling electricity. I could smell ozone in the air. Adler extended his arm toward Teddy. “But, you should have left well enough alone.” Three bolts of electricity arced out from Adler’s hand. They struck Teddy and his body locked up, vibrating slightly. I was dimly aware that Tina was screaming again. Power continued to flow from the tree into Adler, and from Adler into Teddy, electrocuting him. He let out a pulsing moan as Adler kept the bolt going for a long three count. Adler finally relented and Teddy slumped back to the ground, smoking.

I tried to move toward the tree. Maybe I could disrupt Adler’s connection somehow. But the magic governing this dual didn’t like that any better than trying to intercede directly. I was prevented from moving by an invisible force.

“But instead, you chose death,” Adler taunted continuing his slow walk. He looked over at me with an evil, manic grin. “And shortly after you die, you’ll lose another partner. Bad luck you.” Adler took another step and then kicked Teddy square in the face. I didn’t believe the man was still alive, but he rolled over with a groan and his bleeding nose was testament to the fact he was still with us.

“Stop!” Tina screamed. She was sobbing again. “Just leave him alone.”

Adler looked at her as if he just remembered she was there. “But this one. This one I will keep. She’s been an excellent test subject so far.” Kneeled down next to Teddy and grabbed his broken arm. He held Tina’s gaze as he wrenched the arm loose from its sling. “We’re going to have so much fun together.” Teddy began to scream as his broken bones were ground back and forth by Adler. The Sleeper’s smile grew wider listening to Teddy finally give voice to his suffering. He closed his eyes like he was listening to soothing music. Finally, he relented and stood. He turned his back on Teddy and began to pace away. Teddy stopped screaming and rolled to his side, trying to relieve the pressure off his arm. He was breathing heavily and blood was still pouring from his nose. He gurgled out something I couldn’t make out.

Adler couldn’t hear him either. He turned back to where my partner lay on the floor. “What was that Agent Ruthersford? Are you going to beg for your death? And here I thought you were made of sterner stuff.”

Teddy spit out a wad of blood, and maybe a tooth. “I concede.”

Adler laughed. It was a sound I was really starting to hate. “You can’t concede! This is to the death!”

Unbelievably, Teddy rolled to a sitting position. His left eye was rapidly swelling closed. “Maybe I should have explained a little clearer, but this is an honorable duel, not bloodsport.” He spit again, struggling to get air in, blood clogging his airways. “You’ve clearly beaten me, but refuse to end it. Therefore, I can concede to spare myself undue suffering.” He looked at me meaningfully with his one good eye. “You’ve beaten me, Mr. Adler, the duel is over.” A pressure left the room.

“IT’S OVER WHEN I SAY IT’S OVER!” Adler bellowed. He spit out the words with such venom, there was no question to his madness. He bent at the waist to look at Teddy directly in his face.

Teddy gave a bloody smile and shook his head. I tried to move forward towards Adler again and this time there was no rebuffing force. I was free to act. The duel was over, regardless of what the insane mage thought, this was Teddy’s magic. I smiled and pulled my Bowie from behind my back. It was finally time to make my play, for better or worse. I bared my teeth and surged toward Adler, but two other people got there first.