Duel

As Abner wondered what power might be involved behind Pale Admiral, Gwen, Tran, and Lydia pushed open the door and came in.

The three of them, especially Miss Gwen, knew they could not afford the goods on sale in the palace hall. They had gone together to the hillside outside to take part in a trading fair held by some of the pirates.

Only when news of the duel between Bone Crusher and Pale Admiral reached them had they hurried back, hoping to watch two Mid-Sequence powerhouses fight.

"From what we found out, Bone Crusher Dawak is a Wind-blessed with a bounty of 7,000 pounds. Pale Admiral destroyed his fleet, so he challenged her publicly at the Pirate Gathering," Tran eagerly told Mr. Gaston and Abner.

Mr. Gaston, who had kept his opinions to himself until then, scoffed. "A vicious pirate would demand a duel over the deaths of his companions? Only a young man like you would believe that."

"But he really did stake his life on this duel," Tran protested.

"That's because someone may be controlling or using him... This duel is probably a plot," Abner said, giving them a warning in advance.

"No wonder! I knew something felt off!" Lydia slapped her hands together, looking as though it had all become clear. "Pirates aren't knights. If he wanted revenge, he'd be more likely to use poison, bribery, assassination, or an ambush. A duel is the worst choice..." She had perfected the art of pointing out the obvious after the fact.

Tran lowered his head in disappointment and muttered so softly he could barely be heard, "Detective Braine, you think so too... Was I wrong again?"

"Don't be discouraged. You'll get better once you've seen more of the world... I used to get things wrong all the time