When Suleiman finished speaking, silence fell over the inner keep.
The air seemed to freeze. Even the flickering torches appeared to slow. Brynden Tully whipped around to face Roger Legg, his voice low and forceful. "No!"
"Neither of you can die!"
"You can each appoint a knight to fight as your champion! That is in keeping with the traditions of the nobility and the laws of the Seven Kingdoms!"
He tried in vain to salvage the situation.
Roger Legg let out a beastly roar, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Suleiman. "He's already agreed!!!"
"Just him and me!! To the death!!!"
Bryn turned to Suleiman, his voice low and pleading. "You're a lord. You shouldn't risk yourself, my lord."
"Let me fight!!"
Lushen stood to one side without saying a word, grinning. He had seen Lord Suleiman's swordsmanship with his own eyes.
Olivier was frantic. He nearly grabbed Suleiman's other hand. "My lord, there's no need for this. Why take such a risk?"
Suleiman smiled at him, his gaze calm. "Haven't you always wanted me to act like a true noble?"
He asked Olivier in return.
"Can the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms refuse someone's Trial by Combat?"
Olivier smiled bitterly. "But I don't want you to come to any harm, my lord."
Suleiman only smiled and offered no further explanation.
Who do they think they're looking down on? He recalled the days he had spent sparring with Bronn during their earlier campaign. At first, they had been evenly matched, but by the time Bronn left, Suleiman had even begun to gain the upper hand.
He had far greater control over his body than an ordinary person, and his swordsmanship was so agile it bordered on the miraculous. He could fight Bronn, making him one of the finest swordsmen in the