The first light rose in the sky over a canvas of fire-red sands which formed the swaying dunes of the Terragar desert. In this part of Terragar, there were no huts or houses—only long sweeping dunes. Canu had long been woken up by Emonu. It was far before first light was due, but Emonu was anxious beyond measure. He was heaving and spitting from his anxiety, leaving Canu more irritated than nervous. He ushered Emonu outside to finish spewing his insides out which had been enough to wake Canu from his light sleep that he had gotten little of.

The clan of men along the slanted slopes of a dune pit where the sands rose on all sides of the two men who stood face to face, hands at their sides. Mota had been asked to officiate the flasduel to avoid any bias, but Canu knew that deep inside Mota would be rooting for him. Mota chanted in an ancient tongue that originated in Terragar but was no longer spoken as the effects of time would tend to have on cultures. The original people of Terragar were few and far between, and Mota had taken it upon himself to learn their tongue since he was a scholar as much as he was a potions master.

Mota signaled for the men to toss down their tokens to signal duel. Then their swords—to signal that it was a fight to the death. Canu and Sigeric reached down to grab their swords from the sand. The snake Maziq slithered like a worm underneath the hot desert sands around the perimeter.

“Your friend will not be joining the fight today, will he?” asked Canu. Sweat was trickling down his back and drenching his tunic. Sigeric’s dark features were shining under the blaze of the morning sun. Sweat dribbled down his face and dripped from his black beard. His beard almost seemed brown beneath the squelching sun.

“In the same way that your lover, Emonu, is not involved,” replied Sigeric. Emonu stood slightly behind the rest of the clan members to gain a leveraged view. Canu could see him nibbling at his fingernails. Eshna the Floweress was chained at the neck and ankles and bound to the authority of the brute Bulig. Elric stood nearby in case Bulig was outwitted.

Canu refocused his attention after catching a glimpse of Eshna’s stare. I must win. I promised her she would not be sold into slavery. That was my word. He looked at her again. Her face was stern, and her green eyes squinted under the blazing sun.

Sigeric gripped his weapon by the jeweled hilt, twisting and turning it in his hand as if testing its weight. He let out a ferocious scream, seemingly possessed by the spirit of some warrior. He threw his tunic off, leaving him in thick brown breeches held up by a thick belt. He removed his short sword and his dagger from his belt. Canu followed suit, but he kept his baggy tunic on. The two circled each other cautiously. Canu was crouched as he circled, watching every slight movement of Sigeric. Sigeric walked bodly, sidestepping sometimes. Other times, he simply walked with a stare of contempt guided at Canu.

Sigeric let out another scream. This time it was angled upward at the sky as if to condemn the sun’s oppressive gaze. The sun obliged, momentarily hiding behind a small, gray rain cloud. Seconds later, the sun returned to its swelteringly hot stare.

All the faces of his clan flashed through Canu’s mind. His eyes swiveled through the crowd of his clan. Elric and Bulig stood with Eshna. Judd and Blivth stood with concerned faces beside them, whispering into each other’s ear every few seconds. Radax the keeper of coin stood with his usual indignant expression. Gariel and Eberulf stood with Elunu, all of whom had a pleasant smirk upon their faces. Canu always doubted their allegiance. They would be hoping for a Sigeric victory. Sigeric’s reign would allow for senseless killings and plundering. Canu had never permitted such things unless it was some sort of vegenance on behalf of another or if those who were being robbed were deemed worthy of such punishment. Richar stood by himself, expressionless but fidgeting his hands busily. Morcant was on his knees lifting prayers to the sky above them. He soon rose to his feet before his gaze met Canu. He began signaling busily to Canu, who was in a daze. Canu returned a confused look. What does he want?

The first blow came. It knocked all the air from Canu’s chest. His body was flung back into the sand. He felt the grainy sand and pebbles slice up his back and fill his tunic. He lurched to his feet. He had somehow kept his weapon in his hand. Sigeric’s boot had landed a harsh blow, but Canu’s adrenaline returned him to the fight.

Sigeric had advanced already. A slash of the sword to the right. And then the left. He kicked out at Canu’s calf from the side. Canu did all he could to avoid the attacks. He was much faster than he’d ever known Sigeric to be. He even seemed taller. More imposing. His eyes met Sigeric’s. There was a fire there. A hatred. It had always been there. But this time, the hatred blazed like a roaring fire. He could smell blood.

Canu pursed his lips. He could feel his muscles tighten. He was poised to return the fire. He slashed at Sigeric’s sword, daring him to meet each of his blows without giving ground. Sigeric did not move back one step, and Canu paid. Sigeric met each of Canu’s three blows and then dodged his fourth. He lept to Canu’s right side and came around the side of Canu with both hands on the hilt. His swing would have sliced Canu’s torso if he hadn’t rolled across the sand. The blade missed him by a fraction of a second.

Canu flipped himself back onto his feet only in time to sprint across the enclosure to the other side of the dune pit. He was careful not to come to close to the very center where the sand of the pit could begin to sift downward like a sand pit. It seemed to hold fine for now, but there was no sense in risking it.

Another stroke. Blocked. Two slashes. Parried. An overhead strike upon Canu’s head. It was avoided by a quick spin. Two more advances, two more parries from Canu. Sigeric screamed, wasting energy on his emotional lure. The black snake Maziq squirmed through the sand underneath foot. Canu saw the snake crawl between his legs and his instinct was to jump. He slipped, falling to his back. Sigeric was on him in a flash.

The blade struck sand and dirt. Sigeric had come down harshly and misjudged Canu’s agility. Sigeric’s blade got stuck in the dirt momentarily which gave Canu enough time to get to his feet and re-adjust his position. Sigeric yanked his blade free and slowly encroached towards Canu.

The clan was slowly building the chant of the ancient Terragars. It was a rhythmic chant that sounded more like noises than words. The chants seemed afar off—their chants were slowly dulling on and getting fainter as they began to watch with a paralyzing intrigue. Blivth had to look away. Judd yanked his shoulder, forcing him to watch. Every time Canu evaded a blow, Bulig yanked on the chains to Eshna’s neck instinctively. She was keeled over in the sand choking and cursing Bulig. Her protests could not be heard over the chanting and grunting.

Mota had his wrinkly eyelids closed over his milky eyes as he sang the song of the ancients with great pride. The fight went on and on. Sigeric advanced, Canu defended. It was unusual, but the snake beneath the sands would continue slithering through the sands—reminding the men of Sigeric’s dark bond he had entered with the sorcerer.

Canu finally got a few attacks of his own. Sigeric’s energy was dwindling. Canu had survived the initial burst of anger and desire.

“What happened, Sigeric? Your energy is waning. I’m getting bored,” said Canu. “Perhaps I should end it now, eh?”

“You are weak!” shouted Sigeric. Spittle flew from his mouth. He screamed as he advanced on Canu. His slashings resulted in more deflections and parries from a very well drilled Canu. His defensive skills were on full display. Judd and Blivth were yanking each other’s sleeves at his graceful movements and unruly technique in blocking Sigeric’s desperate blows.

Until Canu took a wrong step.

The slithery serpent had snuck up behind his back foot. Canu’s heel jammed up against the shape below the sands. He wsa put off balance at the wrong time. Sigeric had a prime position as Canu fell. Canu’s sword dropped into the sand. Sigeric laughed heartily, bringing the tip of his blade to Canu’s neck.

“Your patience can only get you so far, Canu,” said Sigeric. He gritted his teeth, a menacing look causing a look of evil to appear in his eyes.

Canu grimaced. He looked around. Desperate. Sigeric kicked his sword away. All except Elunu and Gariel had looked away. Quiet sobs from Blivth could be heard. The chanting had stopped.

Sigeric’s blade drew blood. It was poking Canu’s throat. He began to push down to penetrate Canu’s skin. Out of the corner of his eye, Canu saw the snake begin to creep toward him. He feigned his resignation. His eyes followed the snake. It was so close…if he could just grab it.

The snake writhed crazily in Canu’s fist. He yanked it out of the sands so fast that it caused Sigeric to jump back just enough to release his puncturing stabbing on Canu’s neck. The snake, desperate to get its fangs on Canu, writhed around so wildly that it hardly looked like snake. In the blink of an eye, Canu sliced the snake’s body on Sigeric’s blade. The snake’s body split in two, falling into the sand. A black liquid squirted like a gushing blood from Maziq the snake. Sigeric fell to his knees, dropping his sword. Both his hands had gone around his throat.

“He will die,” shouted Mota.

“Good, let him descend into hell!” replied Judd, who had run into the middle of the sand pit.

“No,” said Canu. “Mota, you must save him.”

“It will require a miracle. I have Floqseed and Frostneedle but my hands are not skilled enough to combine their properties properly,” said Mota in a panic.

Canu knelt by Sigeric’s side, keeping his upper back upright with his hand. Sigeric’s eyes were fully dilated, staring desperately into Canu’s own eyes.

“Help…me…” croaked Sigeric. His hand grasped Canu’s. A tear was running down Sigeric’s face.

The snake was still flinging itself around on the ground. Mota stared at the Frostneedle in his one and the Floqseed in the other. His eyes were darting back and forth.

“Make yourself useful for once, Mota!” shouted Elunu. Gariel shouted his support.

Caroman, who had not been in attendance initially, had snuck in unnoticed. Canu looked up at his voice, unsuspecting of who it might be.

“We have a Floweress in our presence, do we not?”

“We do,” said Mota. He turned towards Eshna. She raised her wrists to show the chains that bound her.

“Just tell me what to do, we don’t have time,” said Mota.

“Tell me, quick!” shouted Gariel.

Eshna cleared her throat. The chains were still choking her.

“A pinch of Frostneedle is all. Put it on his tongue. The Floqseed goes under his nose and behind his ears. As much as you can,” said Eshna.

“Got it,” replied Mota.

Canu watched a calmness return to Sigeric’s eyes. It had worked.

Mota looked to Eshna in amazement. “I thought Frostneedle was only for external injuries?” he asked.

“Not for these kinds of things—with dark magic. A sorcerer’s poison can be dealt with internally with Frostneedle. It is known among our kind.”

Sigeric gathered himself to his feet. Canu stood to face him. Sigeric gestured for his sword. Elunu had his sword. He handed it to Sigeric after a pause. Sigeric began to act as though he were sheathing it.

Canu sheathed his once he saw Sigeric do so. But Sigeric had only feigned it. He withdrew his blade and in the blink of an eye he stabbed his blade through Canu’s chest. It embedded itself there, stuck. Canu’s eyes went wide as they could. Blood pooled at his mouth.

All noise left Canu’s ears. Everything became blurry. He could not feel anything. This is dying, he thought.

All had gone silent. Judd and Blivth were on their knees. Mota’s hands were at his throat, clawing for breath. Morcant ran his hands through his hair.

Only one man was smiling. It was Sigeric.

He pushed his blade further. And further. Until the end of his blade was protruding from Canu’s back. He withdrew his steel, kicking Canu’s body off his sword. Canu’s body fell lifelessly to the ground.

All who stood around stared in disbelief. Blivth drew his sword. Judd tried to stop him, but Blvith pushed him away. It took Elric and Bulig to restrain him.

“It was to the death, was it not?” called Sigeric. He sheathed his sword and lifted his arms in triumph. A fierce look was upon his face, challenging any who should disagree.

Eshna had somehow managed to snatch the keep from Bulig when he was not looking and unchained herself. She hurried to Canu’s side.

Sigeric stood in her way.

“You will not touch him. You’re coming with me.” He grabbed her arm forcefully, yanking her to her feet. Eshna gave a yelp.

“No, Sigeric. As she healed you, you must let her try to save Canu. It is only fair,” said Mota in a faltering voice that gave away his shaky strength.

“He killed Maziq. I could have died.” Sigeric was furious. He began to grumble and charge toward Canu’s dead body. Bulig and Elric sprinted to him and held his arms back. It eventually took four men to restrain him.

“I am your leader now,” shouted Sigeric. “We shall kill and plunder as we please!”

Elric, Bulig, Gariel, and Elunu led him away. All the clan left the scene besides Eshna, Mota, and Emonu. By oath, they were forced to follow Sigeric now, or face death.

Sigeric was clawed away until he could no longer be seen through the distant haze of heat waves that simmered in the desert heat. Caroman had been the last to go, giving a sidelong glance of mourning to Emonu.

“Can you heal him?” asked Mota.

Eshna heaved a deep sigh. She swirled her fingers together to form a mini whirlwind of sand that fit in her palm. “I can try,” she said.

“What does that mean?” asked Emonu.

“It will be a miracle if we can save him. And if he does live, he will never be the same.”