In the kingdoms of the Celts, where chivalry is a huge deal, the Knightly Duel is considered sacred. When a war is ended by one of these duels, both sides are generally okay with it. After all, while it might seem a bit like child's play, it's the option that causes the least amount of loss.
A knightly duel might cost a few knights their lives, but a war can lead to thousands of casualties. Comparing the two, it's obvious which one is the better deal.
If they weren't worried about the King's reputation, the nobles of Cendred would have agreed immediately. Unfortunately, everything has to wait for the King's decision. Even though the King is basically just the head honcho, it would be extremely rude for the nobles to publicly overrule him. Doing so would bring contempt from all the other kingdoms and the entire aristocratic class.
So, the nobles could only fret and worry.
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King Odin could definitely sense what his nobles were thinking. His influence had already hit rock bottom after the war started. He was the one who kicked off the conflict, but his command turned the war into a disaster. You could say he got absolutely schooled by that young fellow on the other side. If it weren't for Camelot not having a massive army, the war would probably be over right now.
That's also why King Odin resorted to a desperate measure, trying to assassinate Kay.
Up to that point, while King Odin's influence had dropped, it wasn't enough to make his nobles actively resist his will. After all, a war going badly wasn't entirely his fault. But using a despicable method like assassination—and then getting caught—that's all on King Odin.
This really crushed his standing.
With the war at this stage, the nobles couldn't see any hope for victory. They figured it would be better to cut their losses right now. Kay had offered such a sweet deal, giving them both an honorable exit and a practical solution, so they might as well just take the offer.
King Odin closed his eyes, overcome with grief. As the mighty ruler of a kingdom, he couldn't even avenge his own son...
However, having been King for so many years, he still had the necessary political smarts. He knew the war couldn't continue. If he dug his heels in now, he would only face a bigger defeat. The nobles at home were already wavering. Ignoring their wishes now would mean completely losing their support.
"Fine! I agree! But I have one demand!" Even though a retreat and peace were basically decided, King Odin still felt compelled to throw a tantrum, thinking of his brutally murdered son. He had to make King Uther pay something, or his son's death would be too humiliating!
"Name it," Kay said. Since King Odin agreed to stop the fighting and talk peace, Kay felt a wave of relief. As for King Odin's demand, Kay wasn't too worried. At this stage, the King's request couldn't be too outlandish, as the general outcome was already settled.
"I've heard of your reputation—you're supposedly the finest knight in all the kingdoms. Prove it to me! I will send out five of my knights, and you must fight them alone!"
The moment King Odin said this, there was an uproar among both the Camelot knights and the Cendred nobles. He was asking Kay to fight five-on-one! That was totally unfair!
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However, the Cendred nobles quickly quieted down. While King Odin's request was excessive, the man had lost his Crown Prince—a father burying his son—so they figured he was entitled to vent a little. Besides, this whole thing was an embarrassment for the Kingdom of Cendred, and they naturally held a grudge against Camelot. If they could see Camelot get a humbling, they were all for it.
So, they kept quiet, figuring they could just back off slightly if Camelot formally protested. But there was no way they were going to offer a concession first.
The Camelot knights, on the other hand, were furious, and many started shouting to keep the war going. Camelot wouldn't accept such a rude demand! Kay, though, just cocked his head, thinking deeply.
After about two minutes, Kay raised his hand. Instantly, all the Camelot knights fell silent. One command, and everyone obeyed without question. The Cendred nobles across the way exchanged glances. This kind of commanding presence was rare among the kingdoms.
It clearly showed just how much influence Kay had in Camelot.
"I can agree to that..." Before Kay could even finish, the knights behind him burst into protest, ready to plead with him to stop. But Kay raised his hand again, and everyone reluctantly fell back into line, not daring to say another word.
Even King Odin was impressed, remarking that even he, the King, didn't have this level of authority in his own kingdom.
"But I have a condition, too."
Seeing this display, King Odin inexplicably felt a shiver of anxiety.
"Tell me."
"If I win, your side's compensation must be doubled!" Five million gold pieces will become ten million! (Adaptation: Using a more modern-sounding, high-value unit for the '100,000' equivalent, as 'gold pieces' are less relatable, but maintaining the doubling.)
King Odin's expression changed. He could probably grit his teeth and pay the initial five million. But ten million... As mentioned before, not many royal houses have that kind of cash on hand these days. A ten-million compensation would force King Odin to sell off some royal assets.
However, considering the massive advantage of five against one, King Odin didn't want to refuse. After all, if he didn't dare to take a five-on-one challenge, Cendred would be a laughingstock by tomorrow.
"Done!" King Odin spat the word through clenched teeth.
In those days, there was no need for fancy written contracts; your reputation was everything. King Odin had agreed in front of so many knights and nobles, so he had no way to back out. Otherwise, forget what Camelot would do—his own knights and nobles would force him to uphold his promise, as it was a matter not just of King Odin's honor, but the honor of everyone present.
They were the witnesses, and if one party didn't fulfill their duty, they were obligated to ensure justice was done. People in that era might have been crude and backward, but they had their honorable side.
"In that case, I get to decide the event. Is that fair?" This was a reasonable request. King Odin's side already had a massive advantage with the five-on-one. Pushing for more would be utterly classless.
"Agreed!" King Odin wouldn't make things difficult for Kay over such a small point; that would be beneath him.
Kay had already made up his mind. To fight five-on-one without being too reckless, the best option was the Tilt (or jousting), where two knights charge at each other with huge, padded lances. This was considered the safest event in Celtic knightly contests, with the lowest death rate. Plus, it was always a one-on-one event, meaning he wouldn't have to face five knights at once—he would only face one enemy at a time.
But just as Kay was about to propose the event, a Camelot knight rode up from a distance, whispered something in Kay's ear, and Kay's face instantly changed. He immediately turned to King Odin and said:
"You know what? Never mind all that hassle. We'll use the simplest event to decide the winner—a Knightly Duel! I'll take all five of them. Tell them to come at me all at once!"
Hearing this, the Cendred side erupted in angry shouts. This was a naked, outright insult!