Anno shifted his footing and lunged forward, wielding his sword one-handed as he slashed at Uther.
Uther's pupils narrowed. He raised his sword to block Anno's attack, but Anno's tremendous strength still forced him back a step.
It was worth noting that Anno had slashed with one hand, while Uther had blocked with both.
Uther was surprised, but he didn't panic. He put his strength into his next move, intending to overpower Anno.
Anno moved back instead of pressing forward. He stepped back to evade Uther's blade, then thrust straight at Uther's head with the tip of his sword.
Uther had been ready. He dodged Anno's attack with a tilt of his head, then clamped down on Anno's sword hand with his free hand and swung at Anno's ribs with his sword.
Anno was clearly an old hand at this. He suddenly rammed forward, dodging Uther's sword and making him stumble. Uther's left hand was forced to release Anno's right arm.
Uther had clearly never expected Anno to close in so directly. The collision sent him staggering back several steps. Pain flared in his chest, and he sucked in a breath.
Anno gave him no opening after knocking him back. Gripping his sword with both hands, he brought it down in a powerful overhead slash.
Uther panicked and hurriedly held his sword horizontally in front of himself.
How could Uther easily withstand Anno's strength? The blow forced him back several more steps.
Anno didn't attack again. The result was already clear.
He tossed his sword aside, walked over to King Uther, and knelt on one knee. With his right hand over his chest, he lifted his head and gazed at King Uther, whose expression was complicated.
King Uther looked disappointed, yet also a little surprised.
Though his martial skills might not have been the finest in Britain, he was certainly among the very best. Now, this young man, more than ten years his junior, had defeated him in fewer than ten exchanges. Uther couldn't help wondering if this world could really be real.
And Uther was also quite pleased.
Anno was an ally Merlin had found for him. The Saxons in the north, led by his elder brother, the Vile King Vortigern Pendragon, were eyeing the Kingdom of Britain. The arrival of Anno, a man of extraordinary martial skill, was certainly good news.
Anno was now performing the oath of allegiance. If King Uther touched Anno's shoulder with his sword, Anno would become a knight in his service, ready to do his bidding.
King Uther came back to himself and smiled freely. He raised his sword and lightly touched it to Anno's shoulder. From that moment on, Anno was officially a knight.
Anno rose, smiled at Merlin, then quietly took his place behind King Uther.
The three of them returned to the Royal Court.
King Uther sat back on his throne, while Merlin and Anno stood below.
By now, it had grown completely dark.
King Uther said, "Merlin, take care of settling in Anno for now. Tomorrow, I'll announce here that he has become my personal knight."
"Yes, my king." Merlin smiled and bowed.
Anno bowed as well, then followed Merlin out of the Royal Court.
King Uther remained seated on his throne, pondering what Anno might bring to the table.
Merlin didn't take Anno straight back to his lodgings. Instead, he led him to a marketplace.
More precisely, it was a "slave market."
One of the few dark sides of the royal city of Camelot.
He wanted to choose two servants for Anno, who had only just arrived.
Anno frowned, wanting to refuse.
Merlin cut him off. "I know you might not be able to accept slavery, but since you've come here, you'll have to learn to adapt for now. Maybe one day you'll be able to change things."
Anno fell silent.
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