Sovell naturally refused to sit there and wait for death. Holding the reins in his left hand, he raised the Sword of Ultimate Radiance in his right and met the attack with an upward slash.
Sparks flew the instant the blades collided. Sovell's Holy Sword remained completely unscathed, while King Lot's sword suffered little beyond a few chips.
"Your sword is excellent. It can withstand a blow from this one."
Sovell casually twirled his sword, then pointed its tip at the blade in King Lot's hand as he offered his assessment.
King Lot also raised his sword, admiring his beloved's handiwork, and replied:
"The raw materials for this sword were personally refined by your senior sister. Yet even so, clashing with your blade has left it chipped.
I am most curious. Just where did that divine weapon of yours, which can shift between spear and sword, come from...?"
Having voiced his question, King Lot urged his mount forward again.
None of the surrounding knights dared risk decapitation by joining their duel.
The headless corpse beneath Kelpie's hooves had already shown them what would happen.
Several more exchanges passed, and sparks blossomed wherever the two blades met.
By now, King Lot's sword was riddled with cracks, as though one more heavy blow would shatter it.
"Lord of Lothian and Orkney, the sword in thy hand is about to fall to pieces.
Shouldst thou withdraw from the Six Kings Alliance this instant, recall thy armies, and return to Orkney,
then, for the sake of our former acquaintance, I can beseech my king to pardon thee and thine."
Reciting the proper formal terms, Sovell chose to urge King Lot to surrender.
Not truly for the sake of their supposed past friendship, but for one person-
Gawain.
The promise they had made six years