Below the Red Hills, the tourney grounds.
Andals is roughly at the same latitude as the Vale of Westeros, so the climate here is pleasant in midsummer, not as scorching as Dorne.
A faint scent of blood drifted on the wind. Although the tourney grounds were some distance from the battlefield of the Battle of Red Hill, some residual effects still carried over.
The two father and son from the Greenvine Family were still letting out desperate screams, prisoners tied to trees.
Viserys, holding a blunt sword, looked at Donal, who was not far from him.
Trial by combat was mostly fought on foot, without horses, purely a sword-and-shield confrontation where both sides hacked at each other.
Both men wore training chainmail, their armor gleaming, and their blunt swords and oak shields also shone.
Donal Stone's face showed focus and determination, while Viserys appeared much more relaxed.
This relaxation did not come from arrogance, but from strength and training.
Fight! Awesome! Spend money! Awesome!
Donal also had confidence in himself; he was the patriarch of the Stone Family and a famous knight in northern Andals.
But facing Viserys, Donal still had to bring his best form.
The dead Tyroshi Mercenaries and the soldiers of the Greenvine Family vouched for Viserys's strength and intellect.
This bloodthirsty and fierce Viserys, his strength was probably as sharp as his handsomeness.
All the observing cavalry and infantry automatically lined up in two rows, forming an irregular circle.
"Viserys Targaryen, are you really not considering a champion, or should we reschedule?" Donal asked.
"There's no need. Your opponent is me," Viserys told Donal.
"You will pay for your arrogance," Donal said through gritted teeth. He had originally wanted to give Viserys some time, lest his victory be seen as unfair.
The knights of the Stone Family were somewhat puzzled. In their minds, the bulky Argos was clearly more dangerous, not this handsome silver-haired youth.
"Father!"
"Mother!"
"Warrior!"
"Smith!"
"Maiden!"
"Stranger!"
"We shall follow the will of the Seven Gods, acknowledge the decrees of the Seven Gods, and respect the outcome of the competition. Let the gods above make their choice, to see who, Donal of the Stone Family or Viserys of Targaryen Family, has received the gods' favor."
"I pray to the Father to judge their innocence, and to the Warrior to grant strength to the righteous side."
Argos, acting as referee, and a knight from the Stone Family recited together, serving as judges for the trial by combat.
Originally, a septon should have blessed the proceedings, but there was no time now. However, the outcome of the match was still ensured to be fair.
"Begin!" The commotion in the arena instantly fell silent.
As the moment of contention arrived, two figures burst forth, launching attacks at each other.
Donal was the first to swing his longsword, bringing it down on Viserys's head.
Viserys had to admit that Donal was a more dangerous opponent than Argos; the force and angle of his sword strikes were just right.
But Viserys was not to be outdone; his longsword met the incoming blow.
"Clang!" The two blunt iron swords clashed in the air, emitting a piercing sound.
.8
Donal's eyes shone with confidence, his longsword swirling and hacking repeatedly like a rising tide.
Viserys, however, remained calm and composed, skillfully defending and counterattacking, adapting to each move.
Donal's surprise grew. He was thirty years old, considered the peak stage for a swordsman.
Donal was confident that his strength, experience, and speed had reached their zenith.
But Viserys, half his age, was also a terrifying swordsman.
Viserys's strength was not inferior to his; his tall and handsome physique seemed to conceal a terrifying power like that of a muscular beast.
Donal moved forward, like a surging thunderstorm, delivering a powerful blow, intending to disrupt Viserys's attack rhythm.
In the face of this mountain-collapsing strike, any knight seemed destined to fall.
Viserys, however, also attacked. He shifted his body like a nimble leopard, dodging Donal's full-force strike, then attacked again.
There were no fancy moves; the sword blade seemed to be one with Viserys's body.
It was only because Viserys's strength and speed had reached a balanced state that his attacks became even more dangerous.
"My turn!" Viserys's attacks rained down on Donal like a storm, returning the favor.
Simple, unadorned attacks, like a venomous snake striking the enemy's weak point.
Viserys's blunt sword struck Donal's ribs, revealing a weakness in the clumsy big man.
Even through his mail, Donal felt a burning pain.
"Viserys!"
"King Viserys!" The soldiers cheered the king's name.
"Again!" Donal roared, brandishing his greatsword, hacking or thrusting, striding forward.
Viserys retreated, perfectly dodging Donal's attack.
Using eyes, nose, tongue, ears, and skin to perceive the entire battlefield – this was Insight.
It was as if Viserys possessed a prophetic ability, predicting where Donal's attacks would land.
"It's Insight. Good lad, how did he learn it so quickly?" Syrio was also surprised. This wasn't just a genius; this felt like a groundbreaking genius.
Viserys gripped his sword tightly. His blade, going against the expected, thrust at Donal's left shoulder blade from an incredibly strange angle.
Donal brought his longsword back in defense. If he were actually hit, it could shatter or numb his shoulder, reducing his attack speed.
Viserys watched Donal's movement. His blade suddenly twisted, thrusting at Donal's right shoulder.
Donal Stone shed all his arrogance and conceit; Viserys's terrifying skill exceeded his imagination.
Hacking!
Stabbing!
Feinting!
Charging!
Donal watched helplessly as the sword blade danced like flowers in Viserys's hands. Viserys's sword always attacked with an unusual speed and trajectory, leaving him struggling to cope.
"Clang! Clang!"
The sound of steel dancing echoed repeatedly in the tourney grounds. All the soldiers stared with wide eyes, watching the magnificent duel.
Viserys was like a wound-up machine, his sword blade dancing a dark iron storm.
"Overlapping Wave Sword Style!" A faint roar of wind emanated from the blade, power erupting in an instant, like a tide, one wave following another.
Viserys's speed was astonishing, like a wildfire spreading, like a dragon soaring to the sky.
Donal felt himself being repeatedly struck by a terrifying force, repetitive, multi-layered damage, as if he was being torn apart.
As the force continued, Donal's speed slowly decreased, and more and more openings were exposed.
Arms, ribs, knees—Donal felt his muscles gradually stiffen, and his movements became much slower.
If this were a real sharp sword, he would probably have died by it already.
"Clank!" Donal dropped his sword.
"I lost!" Donal said, not bothering with the wounds on his body.
Donal of the Stone Family knelt in the mud, his head feeling dizzy. He looked at the victor, Viserys.
"By the Seven Gods above, the Warrior favors His Majesty Viserys, so I apologize for my arrogance," Donal said. "I accept any punishment."
Donal's heart was bitter. This was after Viserys had already fought a battle, and he still lost so completely in their duel.
Donal took a deep breath. Perhaps this was the Warrior's will; the Warrior had shaped this man to save Andals.
"Viserys!"
"Viserys!"
"Warrior!"
The observing soldiers let out deafening cheers. The name of Stone was renowned throughout the land of Andals, but before a true Warrior, he appeared powerless.
Even those battle-hardened knights of the Stone Family understood that this represented a kind of power and confidence.
There was no showiness or pretense, just raw power, speed, and ferocity; that tidal wave-like sword style was extraordinary.
Plunder like fire!
Immovable as a mountain!
Not a conspiracy, but an honorable victory.
"Are you willing to offer me everything, Donal?" Viserys looked at his defeated opponent. This feeling was incredibly satisfying.
He wouldn't torment Stone; on the contrary, he needed such warriors.
"Money, land, even my head. I repent for my arrogance," Donal answered loudly.
"I want none of these. What I want is more precious than gold and land. Can you give it?" Viserys asked.
"I can."
"Very well. I only want your loyalty and that of the Stone Family," Viserys looked at Donal.
Donal bowed his head to the mud. "In the name of the Seven Gods, by the Father's justice and the Warrior's valor, and in the name of all past patriarchs of the Stone Family, I pledge my fealty to you, Viserys of Targaryen Family, King of Andalusia. Today, and every day, the Stone Family shall be loyal to King Viserys and his descendants."
"Very good!" Viserys pressed the blunt sword on Donal's shoulder. "Only a knight can knight a knight, only a king can enfeoff a vassal. I appoint you as my vassal."
"Long live King Viserys!" Donal shouted loudly. From now on, the King and Andals were his faith.
"Long live the King!"
Donal bowed his head to the mud. "In the name of the Seven Gods, by the Father's justice and the Warrior's valor, and in the name of all past patriarchs of the Stone Family, I pledge my fealty to you, Viserys of Targaryen Family, King of Andalusia. Today, and every day, the Stone Family shall be loyal to King Viserys and his descendants."
"Very good!" Viserys pressed the blunt sword on Donal's shoulder. "Only a knight can knight a knight, only a king can enfeoff a vassal. I appoint you as my vassal."
"Long live King Viserys!" Donal shouted loudly. From now on, the King and Andals were his faith.
"Long live the King!"
"Long live the King!"
From this moment on, Viserys was the supreme King of Andalusia.
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