Perennial Band

No one stepped forward.

Goleil looked across the shining sea of knights, but no one met his golden gaze. Each man he gazed upon felt a shiver down his spine and looked away.

Now that he had time to think, he could feel the strange power coursing through his veins. He saw Ty'Bral's wide eyes and guessed it wasn't his doing.

He could still feel its power increasing, and he felt a slight thumping in his chest from which the power came.

'I need this strength; I can't let it go to waste! I can feel it slipping, but I don't know it well enough yet!' Goleil thought.

Goleil tried to find an opponent, any opponent. "Are all the knights of Redvale cowards?!"

Suddenly, Tyria stood forward. "Are none of my knights strong enough to face this outsider?!" She shouted, stunning the crowd of knights and spectators alike. It was a rare sight for her to be here, and they hadn't even recognized her.

The knights knelt before Lady Tyria, but still, no one stood forward. Even Lady Tyria had all but confirmed that Goleil was a Vrean Sun Guard, and if the stories were true, they were no match for him.

"I'll even take on more than one of you at once! Is that enough for you?!" Goleil shouted.

Suddenly, Mord whispered something into Tyria's ear, and she grinned.

"I have an idea," She shouted. "I will allow up to three knights to fight Goleil at once. Whichever team of knights can win shall receive great honor and rewards. Not only that but they will be granted ownership of the Perennial Band!"

Goleil heard everyone in the room gasp, and the field of knights exploded into a flurry. Knights began to grab their friends and comrades, forming teams of three.

'The Perennial Band?' He thought.

Ty'Bral had a glint of greed in his eyes. "Whatever it is, it must be precious!" He said as he licked his dark blue lips and flexed the muscles of his four arms.

Mord and Tyria were grinning almost wolfishly, and Gwen was stupefied. Erikson had wide eyes but a massive grin on his face.

Goleil narrowed his eyes at his companions, but they only looked back at him with amusement or pity.

He was in for many battles.

Once Goleil realized this, excitement bubbled up, and the power flowing through him continued to build. He was approaching a breaking point, he needed to release his strength, or it would overflow, or worse, he wouldn't be able to use it again!

Goleil threw his arms open wide as if challenging the heavens. "Any who dares challenge me, come forth!"

Goleil couldn't care less about the Perennial Band. If he could capture this power and learn how to harness it for himself, he would be more than satisfied.

Blood lust and battle craze burned in his veins, and he could feel his muscles twitching as the strange power coursed through them.

Soon enough, a line of knights garbed in all sorts of gear had appeared, eager to challenge the Vrean.

Some felt fear, others anxiety. After all, even Sir Khalid bin Walid had been defeated by the warrior in front of them. Even now his strange eyes pierced their souls, and his voice muffled by his helm sent shivers down their spines.

Ty'Bral glanced at Goleil and said, "Try to memorize how this power feels, or else this may never happen again. You've been given a gift by the Elder Thing, do not let it go to waste!"

Goleil grunted and waved the first challengers onto the exercise pad. As the three heavily armored warriors sauntered onto the pad, Goleil made his way to the opposite side, and leaned his glaive against the railing that contained the duel.

Ty'Bral nodded as he saw the sun knight leave his weapon behind, and approach the three knights with nothing but his bare hands.

The three knights' eyes widened, and they began to laugh.

"Does your arrogance know no bounds, Vrean?! Just because you could defeat Sir Khalid does not mean you can take us three without a weapon!" One with a great sword in his hands laughed.

Goleil chuckled. "Do not measure me by your pathetic standards, peasant."

Ty'Bral grinned, as the three knights' eyes narrowed in anger.

Many in the line sighed in disappointment, this fight would be over far too quickly. Even Erikson and Mord had an ugly scowl on their faces.

Only Gwen, who had had her chest caved in by a mere kick, still looked confident. Tyria looked on impassively. It was now that she would find out whether his words had any weight when he scared her half to death in their first meeting.

Lady Tyria cleared her throat and said, "At least pick up a weapon, Goleil. It would be embarrassing if you were defeated in the first match." She said, trying to give him an out.

Goleil sighed. "It isn't necessary Lady Colm, but I guess if it makes you happy," he said and glanced around before laying eyes on something solid and rectangular.

He chuckled and said, "Fetch me that brick," as he pointed at the object of his affection.

The Colosseo went completely silent. The only thing Goleil could hear was the soft noises of the horse's hooves in the racing fields on the other side of the enclosed arena.

Slowly, a squire picked up the maroon piece of masonry and passed it to the sun warrior, who took it and swung it around a couple of times.

"A little light, but it should do. Well, I'm ready to begin!" He said, and pointed the brick at his three adversaries.

Even through their helmets, it was easy to tell that they were completely stupified.