Dueling was a common form of "entertainment" throughout Westeros, from south to north.
It was never restricted by the nobility of one's blood.
Northerners had little taste for elaborate flourishes. After a few too many cups of ale went to their heads, they could grab a dagger and challenge any nearby unfortunate soul they disliked.
But the farther south one went, the closer one came to the densely populated and somewhat more civilized south.
The forms duels took and their complexity increased steadily.
The rules grew more complicated, too.
The teachings of the Seven explicitly stated that the gods permitted dueling.
Thus, when someone believed his dignity or honor had been challenged, he could challenge the other party to a duel.
Commoners faced fewer restrictions, and their duels generally began with something sacred before turning into two people grappling and brawling.
Losing did not matter, either. No one cared whether commoners lost their honor.
It was worth far less than a silver stag.
But between nobles, particularly between Darean and Humfrey now, it was another matter entirely.
If Humfrey Hightower shrank back in cowardice today and avoided this confrontation,
then all of House Hightower would be shamed, and Leyton Hightower, the "Old Man of Oldtown," who had been busy with his eldest daughter, would certainly inquire into the matter.
At the very least, gossips would saddle Humfrey with a label such as "the timid" or "the craven."
Over time, it would become an epithet that haunted Humfrey for life, unless he found an opportunity to defeat Darean himself.
To deal with such situations, nobles generally kept someone like a bodyguard or enforcer at their side.
Besides protecting the nobles themselves, these men dealt with unexpected situations like this.
Clyson, who served Darean, was originally there to do precisely that.
His young master was simply rather bold and preferred to take matters into his own hands when causing trouble.
"Aemon Cuy, of House Cuy of Sunflower Hall. I will fight in Humfrey Hightower's stead and accept your challenge."
Boos rose from the surrounding spectators.
Although someone had backed Humfrey up, the crowd clearly were no fools.
They had wanted to see this glib-tongued boy beaten until his teeth littered the ground. Now that their entertainment was gone, they naturally spared him none of their mockery.
Humfrey's face flushed red. The speed at which his expression had changed in these few moments was astonishing.
His fingers clenched white, and a cold voice escaped through his gritted teeth:
"Go! Get moving! Arrest those lowborn wretches insulting House Hightower!"
Yet not a single soldier obeyed his command.
They merely kept their eyes hidden beneath their steel helmets and turned their heads, pretending they had heard nothing.
Humfrey was nearly mad with fury. Now, at least, he had the courage to draw his sword.
A longsword worth who knew how many gold dragons slid from a scabbard inlaid with precious gems, accompanied by a furious roar:
"You... traitors! How dare you disobey my orders!"
Sighing inwardly, another knight who was close to Humfrey restrained him and said quietly:
"My lord, please remain calm. The gods bear witness. Whatever the matter, let us wait until the duel is over."
Humfrey said angrily:
"Tell Ser Aemon to hurry up and hit him hard!"
The knight nodded with a bitter smile, but inwardly treated those words as so much wind.
His gaze returned to the two knights facing each other in the center.
Darean had already donned a suit of armor stripped off a nearby knight.
Duels did not necessarily have to be fair.
But Darean's status meant that Aemon Cuy would never dare face him without letting him wear armor.
Horses were fast, and blades had no eyes. He had no desire to be beheaded by Earl Leyton for killing his son.
"May the Seven watch over you, Lord Hightower."
Lowering his visor, the knight drew an enormous hand-and-a-half sword.
Opposite him, Darean lowered his visor as well.
"May all those you guard remain unharmed by blades in the shadows."
He said.
Behind his visor, Aemon Cuy froze for a moment. He thought Darean was referring to Humfrey.
He could not help thinking more highly of Lord Leyton's youngest son before him.
He nodded slightly, and his warhorse began picking up speed.
The broad South Gate Street became the stage for their duel.
Darean had taken his sword in hand as well.
It had no ornate guard, no gleaming decorations.
All it had was a blade whose flexibility and hardness had both reached their ideal state.
Darean did not intend to take Aemon Cuy's life, but only provided his opponent had no such intention either.
After all, the man now served Garth.
Who knew what he was plotting?
Hoofbeats rang through the street. Before their warhorses could reach full speed, Darean and Aemon Cuy had already closed on each other.
The sound of the longsword cutting through the air as it was swung with force set Darean's nerves on edge.
It was a textbook thrust, aimed straight at his sword wrist.
Vicious, precise, fast!
The long-established knight was, after all, far more experienced on horseback than Darean.
He did not pursue those seemingly vulnerable areas.
Left with no choice, Darean pulled back the slash he had been about to deliver.
He had lost the initiative. Now he could only twist his body quickly and block the strike with the shield on his left arm.
The blade struck the shield bearing a White Tower on a gray field with a dull thud.
Damn it, this fellow was strong!
Numbness spread through his left arm, followed by a faint ache.
The blow had been quite heavy, though Darean knew Aemon Cuy might not have used his full strength at all.
Their warhorses passed each other. Having successfully suppressed his opponent on their first pass, the knight of Sunflower Hall reined in his horse, turned, and prepared for a second charge.
He was surprised, too. Though he had suppressed Darean, he knew it was purely because Darean lacked experience on horseback.
But raising his shield so quickly to block the attack meant he was certainly no hotheaded young man.
He was a worthy opponent!
The watching crowd cheered for the knight in pale yellow armor adorned with sunflowers.
The south was the realm of knights.
People were accustomed to cheering for the grace knights displayed on horseback.
The warhorses moved again, and another exchange began.
This time, Darean narrowly avoided Aemon Cuy's powerful sword stroke.
There was no helping it. His opponent seemed to have considerable experience in real combat and always found an opportunity to strike first whenever they passed.
Unless Darean intended to trade wound for wound, he could only endure the attacks for now.
Frustrating!
He glanced at the white scratch left on his leg armor. His opponent's sword tip had just swept across it.
Darean's eyes narrowed slightly.
Had he not parried with his sword, that strike would have gone for the gap where his leg armor met his breastplate.
This fellow was up to no good!
Duels between knights were held under the gods' protection.
If someone was injured on such an occasion, in theory, the loser had no right to trouble his opponent over it.
Whatever methods he used in the shadows were another matter.
But right now, this was the best way to cripple Darean.
He gave a cold laugh, staring at that head, already beaded with a light sweat, as it rapidly approached him.
Don't get smug. It's my turn to strike back!
Before you continue