“Fortune?” War asked in confusion as he turned to look up at the Aspect. “You support breaking the treaty?” War paused and shook his head at the Aspect in obvious confusion. “Fortune you have more temples than any other Aspect. You have more to lose from this than anyone else.” He pointed out calmly as if Fortune must have somehow misunderstood what he was doing.
“If not for Seth’s intervention Delvay would have been lost. If you care to remember Delvay is one of our strongest sources of power. With things as chaotic as they are now we can’t afford to lose their faith.” Fortune paused and looked around at his assembled peers. “Do you think the Rivasans would have honored us as Delvay did? I may have the most temples, but I know where the most faith lies. I would trade twenty of my temples for one shrine in Delay without hesitation.”
“Was the survival of Delvay worth the fall of the gods?” Lutheron asked in a quiet voice that seemed to carry throughout the room. “They will burn our temples and kill our priests for this. We have seen their anger before the treaty and we know how cruel the Elder Blood can be.”
“Do you have a personal grievance with me Lutheron? You have been a thorn in my ass since I met you in Firym. I believe at that time you were trying to convince Jala that I wasn’t worthy and now you are trying to convince the Aspects that I’m not worthy.” Finn called loudly and stepped another few feet closer to the edge of the sand pit. “Did I bed your sister or something? I know before I met Jala I frequented quite a few houses of ill repute so I suppose anything is possible. Or is it just jealousy that fuels your words?”
“Jealousy?” Lutheron demanded in an incredulous tone. By the expression on his face Finn knew his words had struck home.
“They say in Sanctuary that we were nearly equals. I would imagine that would get under your skin a bit.” Finn pressed with an arrogant smile on his face. He was skilled enough at taunting that he knew Lutheron would fall into the trap he had set. If life in Sanctuary and his time in the arena had taught him anything, it was how to talk shit. An angry opponent never fought well, unless they were Firym or Delvay of course, and Lutheron was neither.
“There is no comparison between the two of us boy.” Lutheron snarled. His posture had stiffened and one hand had dropped to his sword.
“Exactly what I said when I heard the gossip, but the people of Sanctuary still insist that had you been just a bit faster you could have been my equal. I thought it was rubbish personally and I’m glad to hear you agree.” Finn finished with a wider smile. People with arrogance were so easy to bait, and Lutheron was his equal in that regard at least. With luck he could finish this fiasco with a quick duel against Lutheron and the matter would be resolved. That was of course under the theory that the Divine had trial by combat as the Elder Blood did. Finn’s smile faded a bit and he glanced back at Fiona. I really should have asked her about that point before I started down this path he realized belatedly.
“Do you think this is just a game boy?” Lutheron snarled as he started down the stairs toward Finn. “Do you think this is like your days in the Arena and those assembled as simply your crowd to amuse?” he continued speaking his voice dropping in low tones as he took each stair with a methodical pace. “Do you not realize the very real danger you have created for your fellow Divine and Aspects with your careless actions?” Lutheron shook his head in disgust and his gaze trailed over the crowd. “My brothers and sisters did not gather to listen to your flippancy. They gathered to determine your fate boy, and with every word you bring yourself closer to death.”
“Well there is some irony considering my current role in life.” Finn responded dryly and snorted with amusement. “It’s pretty obvious you are the one that wants me dead Lutheron.” Finn began as he stepped to the ledge of the sand pit. “So why don’t we settle this between the two of us? If you win I’m dead and you are apparently happy. If I win you shut the hell up and spend your free time sticking your nose up someone else’s ass.” Finn finished as he dropped lightly down to the sand landing with a cat-like grace. He flipped his cigarette to the side as he locked his gaze fully on Lutheron. More murmurs had broken out through the crowd, but this time they were filled with confusion and amazement rather than anger.
“Wait!” A new voice called from the crowd before Lutheron had a chance to respond. The crowd shifted as the man moved forward quickly. He was dressed in dark leather with a heavy cloak covering most of his face, and Finn couldn’t remember seeing him in the crowd until now. More muttering rose as the man weaved his way through benches and dropped lightly to the sand beside Finn.
The hood on his cloak fell back as he landed giving everyone a full view of his well-tanned face and sandy hair. Rings lined both of his ears and another was pierced through his left nostril. That combined with the sandy stubble of beard and dark clothes gave the newcomer the perfect image of the bard’s tale rogue. Finn could very easily picture the man as the highway man that swept na?ve young women off their feet, but he really didn’t look the hero sort which made his current actions rather confusing.
“Who in the hell are you?” Finn murmured softly as the man raised his hands to silence the crowd.
The man winked at him, but turned back to the crowd without giving answer. “My Lady would speak before this progresses any further.” The man called loudly and the noise of the crowd turned to a positive rumble of shock.