Jason the duellist

Conrad cleared his throat. “The weapon with which I dispatch you is of little consequence,” he said. “Choose.”

To his mild astonishment Jason had won the argument, leaving him unsure what weapon to select. He knew what he didn’t want. Conrad would hack him into lunch meat with swords or axes or any traditional armaments. What if they wrestled? Jason was bigger. Conrad probably  knew moves that would take away the size advantage. Everyone was awaiting a response.

“Billiard balls,” Jason said.

“Billiard balls?”

“Is there an echo in here?”

“I am unfamiliar with the tradition.”

“Among my people it’s a common practice,” Jason invented. “The combatants stand at opposite ends of a billiard table full of balls, then throw the balls at each other until one is dead.”

“How novel,” Conrad sniffed. “Very well. An absurd death for an absurd lordling.”

(Additional text cut)

“Why billiard balls?” Tark asked. They stood in the topiary.

Jason shrugged. “Conrad would cut me to ribbons if I fought him with a sword. I can throw balls hard. Hopefully harder and better than he can.”

Chapter 21