Light applause went up from the small crowd as the king’s opponent let his wooden weapon drop to the ground in surrender. Arthur was quick to take the point of his own away from being so close to the man’s face and offer a hand for him to get to his feet, smiling all the while. After a fair handshake and a few words of thanks and sportsmanship, his latest opponent went on his way, likely still wondering just what had happened to him. Likely, if he’d been told he’d just been bested by the King of Knights, he would accept it as a perfectly reasonable explanation.
To Arthur, though, this was little more than practice and a way to pass a bit of time, but it had morphed into a bit of a spectacle as the hours had passed. Someone had spotted him trying to stay active and going through a bit of a workout and had challenged him to a match. When he’d managed a victory, it had turned into a bet he couldn’t duplicate the feat. When he won again, it had turned into a contest with more passersby stopping to look at what was happening. Now there were people sitting by and making a day of it, some even sitting and watching with snacks and drinks as more people came by to challenge the seemingly unbeatable swordsman. By now, the wager pot he had unexpectedly accumulated had grown enough to get him through a week if he so wanted, but he hardly paid attention to it. for all the practice it was to him, he couldn’t deny it was actually a bit fun.
But the afternoon was growing later and though he had no other engagements, he felt it might be best to bring the display to a close. All good things needed to end at one time or another, and this was no exception.
“I think this next bout shall be my last, I’m afraid,” he said to a chorus of disappointment. He smiled apologetically, but despite apparently dashing the hopes of his newfound fans, he stood firm in his decision. Turning toward the onlookers who seemed more keen on taking up the challenge, his gaze fell on one he had seen standing there for some time---one whose observation had hardly wavered, from what he recalled. He could sense now that it was a Servant who had been watching him so closely, something that would have set his instincts on fire had he not started to become accustomed to the fact that this was no War, but something different altogether.
So instead of a cautious stare, he offered the man an inviting smile, his eyes glittering with the spark of friendly competition.
“What about you? Will you take up the challenge, friend?”
