Jeb roared "No! You are not getting away with this!" Through gritted teeth and eyes side cast, "I challenge you to a duel."

I raised an eyebrow at this, and scratched my face with my right hand. I knew Jeb was hotheaded, but this surprised me. Maybe my memory wasn't quite as good as I thought it was. But, then again, I had known Jeb for decades after this and his personality would change. How to approach this?

"Okay," I reached out my right hand, palm up, "I accept. Tomorrow, at the district arena, an hour before the tournament begins. No seconds, and we'll fight unarmed; armor optional; no spiritual technique. First to knockout or concession."

"Fine."

"And how do you feel about making it interesting?" I smiled at that.

"Interesting?" Jeb was still heated, with a touch of confusion. "What did you have in mind?"

"We'll fight with one hand, at the other's choice, tied behind our back." My hand waved in the air at the cadence of the phrase. "And I'll even say that if you accept, I'll choose for your right hand to be tied."

Jeb grinned slyly. "I accept. And I choose your right to be tied as well."

"Fine by me. I'll see you tomorrow." I turned and threw my right behind me.

The next morning, I arrived at the arena after breaking my fast with a few meat pies, armed with my staff and sword for the tournament, two lengths of rope, and my personal effects in a bag. I was unarmored, but dressed in loose fitting clothing for flexibility. My unruly hair I tied back in a tail. As I turned the corner, I saw the stands were already filling up. Interesting.

"Old man," I called out to one boisterous sort who seemed to have chatted up--and annoyed--half the audience, "what's everyone here for so early?"

"Ah," he sighed with pleasure, "the challenger. Some folks are here early just to get good seats. They can't afford the time or the marks to go see the main tourney. But this will be just as exciting if perhaps not so refined a fightin'."

"And the rest?"

"Ah, well your challenge yesterday may have been a bit louder 'din you were expectin'. And as you put it, you did make it an interesting one. Not sure I've ever seen those sorts of conditions set in any fight before."

"Evert!" Jeb had arrived. "Stop bothering my uncle."

"Your uncle?"

"Well, not by blood," the old man responded. "But I've known Jeb long enough. Taught him a few things too. Better watch out."

"Huh, this'll work." I said under my breath. "Jeb," I spoke up, "how about we agree to the old man tying the knots?"

"Fine," Jeb harrumphed. He was feigning nonchalance, but I could see he was becoming suspicious of my actions: Between the agreed to conditions yesterday, and having his uncle tie the knots this morning, they all seemed favorable to Jeb. I knew Jeb was left handed, he had at least 20 centimeters of height on me, and 30 kilograms of muscle. An unarmored brawl like this should have favored him tremendously.

"Let get this started."

"Alrighty then," the old man said. He bounded over the balustrade, spry as a __. "The name's Bill, Bill Cedar," he reached out his hand. I shook it, "Well met Bill. Evert Kallstrom." "Indeed," he replied and took the lengths of rope I offered him, "good rope here," and Bill spent a few minutes with Jeb and I both having our right hands tied behind our back. As Bill finished tying up Jeb's arm, he asked "You boys want me to referee?" The time for banter was past for both of us and we assented with a murmur. "Alright," Bill walked over to the edge of the arena, "take your positions." We activated our auras, though I could see that Jeb's barely existed and was spotty, and took our stances. And after a pregnant pause "Fight!"

Jeb came barreling at me at full acceleration, with his left fist cocked back. I shifted my feet slightly, waiting, then side-stepped his punch. He went by me, overextended, and bent down to halt his momentum. Spinning on toes, he faced me with frustration. He punched twice, and I deflected both. On the third punch, he overextended and I pulled him past me, tripping him. He landed hard on his knees and one hand with a grunt. He scrambled to his feet, in a stance, and warily began circling. He began testing me with a few quick jabs, but I dodged or deflected them all. On the sixth, I dodged, leaned into his body, and slapped him across the face, then quickly retreated.

"Stop toying with me. Fight like a man."

I smirked, and dropped my arm from guarding my face. Jeb took that as a foolhardy move on my part, and moved in with a heavy punch. Again I dodged inside his defense, then head-butted him, his aura collapsed and he went woozy for a second. I grabbed at his neck, going for a nerve pinch, and Jeb collapsed unconscious.

"Not bad, not bad," the old man walked up with a cup of water. "You clearly outclassed Jeb, but at least you kept it entertaining by drawing it out for more than a second. That pinch at the end was particularly skilled. Where'd you learn that? That was well-done."

I smiled wistfully, "From an old master a long way from here."

"Alright, alright, don't tell Bill," bending down to untie Jeb's rope. "At least you didn't beat on Jeb too badly. He'll get a chance in the districts, though something tells me he ain't winning it, even with his weapon and his spirit."

"That's right."

Bill paused. "Well, ain't you humble." Bill splashed the water on Jeb's face, who woke up sputtering. "Now, let's get you un--" Bill came up short when he saw I was no longer tied and was coiling the rope up for storage. "How-- How'd you get out of that? I know a thing or two about knots and there's no way you should have been able to get out of that that quickly."

"Trade secret."

"Another secret. You're a mystery, boy. But that'll make it all the more interesting in the tourney. Best I get to betting booth. Got some last minute best to place now."

"Urgh," Jeb groaned to the side. "Damn you're good. Haven't had my ass handed to me like that in a while." Conciliatorily, "Guess I appreciate it you didn't leave me bruised and bloody."

Now was my turn to be surprised. Jeb's demeanor had done a complete about-face from yesterday when he challenged me. Jeb noticed the look on my face.

"Don't give me that look. You beat me fair and square, and I respect that. I know that I'm not the best fighter out there, but I thought for sure I was the best in this district that wasn't a part of the guard. It's good to know there's someone out there who can really challenge me. Let's try this again." Jeb got up to his feet and reached out his hand. "The name's Jeb. Pleased to meet you."

I took his hand and shook it "Evert. Evert Kallstrom."