Stranger

Asar, second biggest town in Jok was not really nice place to live in, unless you are some sort of a criminal. It was a coastal city, where traders of all kinds were meeting ether to buy or sell stuff. It was one of those places where laws of state cant be implemented, place forgotten by God and place where all scum of the Earth found their place to live. Biggest source of money was smuggling. In Asar you could buy everything you imagined, drugs, weapons, even humans. Those who did not come in town to buy or sell something illegal came to watch fights in the arena. Arena was a place where you can watch other people fight or fight yourself. The owner of the arena was a man called Karasmai. He was in charge of all criminal activities in town but his main occupation was contracting fights in the arena. Battles were one vs one duels between one fighter from Karasmai´s clan and one challenger. To enter arena just to watch you had to pay 1 bronze coin and you could make bets on fights. If you wanted to fight in the arena you had to pay from 1 silver coin up to 10 gold coins depending who you want to fight. You couldn´t bet on yourself but if you win your fight you win double your stake. You may ask yourselves how was this profitable for Karasmai. Well he had best fighters he could find in Jok. The best fighter in his arena was Asriel. He was a tall blonde man with blue eyes, fighting with one sword and wearing white cloak that was never soiled with a single drop of blood, neither his or his opponents. His clean white cloak brought him the nickname "Bloodless". He fought in 17 battles and won everyone of them with one single hit on the opponent. For a fight with him you had to pay 10 gold coins and he was main attraction in the arena. Beside him other strong fighter was his friend Cic´an a bit smaller than Asriel, man with dark skin, brown hair that slowly started to fall off from his head and brown eyes, he was second best fighter in the arena with his weapon being big hammer. 

"Your next fight is in 3 days" , said Cic´an. "I heard you are going to fight son of some Lord."

"It doesn´t matter who it is my friend, he will die like all that came before him", said Asriel.

"I guess you are right but do not get to relaxed and underestimate your opponent, these noble bastards fight with no honor", said Cic´an.

"Don´t worry my friend, I don´t fight with honor either", said Asriel, as two of them were heading to the pub called "Kingmaker".

"Kingmaker" was a big tawern in town´s center, a place where you could find fighters and mercenaries and pay for their services. 

"Two beers", said Asriel.

"Yes master Asriel", said waiter. "There is a man there, said he is looking for you"

Asriel turned around and saw a man waiter was talking about. Man smiled him and showed him to come to his table. 

"People do not usually ask for arena fighters. What does he want from you?" , asked Cic´an.

"Guess there is only one way to find out", said Asriel.

He and Cic´an sat with the unknown man. He was small in stature, old with gray beard and hair, and he looked rich.

"Why did you ask for me old man", asked Asriel.

"Do you know who your next opponent is?", asked man.

"Some noble man I heard"

"Not some noble, it is the noble. Your next opponent will be son of the king of Jok, prince George."

"Why would prince throw his life away and fight with me old man?".

"Who said he will die", said old man as he looked at Asriel. "Your reputation is very big in noble circles. Little prince wants to prove his worth by killing you in a fight."

"Do you really think some spoiled kid like him can kill me in a duel old man?", said Asriel annoyed. Fact that little bastard thinks he could kill him made him pissed.

"In a fair duel, never. However this duel will not be fair."

"And how do you know that old man?", asked Cic´an.

"Because I was the one who arranged the duel. Two days ago I went to Karasmai and paid him 10 gold coins for a fight with you and another 50 for your defeat.", said old man.

"Something seems off in your story old man. Why would you warn me that duel is rigged if you are the one who rigged it in the first place?", asked Asriel confused. 

"Because I want you to win. I want prince George to die." , said old man. His eyes were full of hate and he was shaking with rage. 

"Who are you old man?"

"My name is prince Harold Fryn, younger brother of king Samwell Fryn. Since George is my brothers only heir he will inherit the throne of Jok when he dies. If George die in some stupid fight my brother will lose his heir and he will have no choice but to declare me as heir to the throne."

"If someone found out about this you would be hanged for treason", said Asriel. 

The old man stood up. "All you have to do is win as you intended. You shouldn´t lose now that you have been warned.", said Harold. 

As the old man went out Asriel and Cic´an looked at each other.

"Do you believe in all this?", asked Cic´an worried.

"I don´t know. His story makes sense and Karasmai is a man which would sell our lives for less then 50 gold. We have to find out how he intend to make me lose the fight, and I have an idea where to start looking."