I sink deep down on my chair, cradling my drink. I almost slip under the table in the process. I take another sip and groan, eyeing all the coins on the table.


    “Whatever works? You know that I have never fought any honest duels and if I lose he could actually still claim all of this.”


    I sit back up properly.


    “What do I even need to know about dueling, other than stick him with my sword before he can stick me with his?”


    Matylda and the barkeep snort in amusement. So does the bard, who by now has put away his lute. That one goes on to elaborate a little though.


    “Well, we are out on the frontier here and not in one of the old capital cities with centuries or maybe even millennia of tradition stifling everything. You already summed up what to expect pretty well.”


    He moves over to join us at the table, after getting a drink for himself.


    “Bring a second and a witness. Those should be separate persons. At least that is how it''s usually done. Bring your own sword. Although, if lady Justyna''s brother really officiates this duel, he''ll likely bring two identical swords to make sure no one has an advantage due to their weapon.”


    At this point Matylda speaks up.


    “I can come along as your witness, if you want. I don''t have any other plans. I''m not quite sure who to bring for a second though. Wiktor maybe? I''m pretty sure he is good with a blade. Although, it''s not like it''ll matter. You''ll fight yourself, right?”


    I nod and have another sip of beer.


    “Sure. Can''t really ask anyone else to do it for me. Besides I can use the experience.”


    I groan.


    “Damn it. Why does it have to be honorable duel? I''d much rather bend the moron over my knee and spank him until he calls for his mother. This might just have been the only time I''ll ever win a game of cards with a honest to the gods and goddesses royal road and he has to go and ruin the moment.”


    The others break into laughter at my declaration. Matylda and the bard pat my back in turn. The tension is broken, at least for now and I join the laughter too. Eventually we sober up again and the bard turns to address Matylda and me.


    “Why don''t you go down to the tavern where Jerzy tends to hang out? I''ll pass the news of his early morning appointment along to Wiktor and let him know to meet you there.”


    He snorts in amusement, barely holding in the laughter threatening to overwhelm him again.


    “I''m sure he''ll be overjoyed.”


    I raise an eyebrow.


    “He will be?”


    The bard replies in a deadpan voice.


    “Sure. He just loves being roped into other people''s schemes without any prior warning.”


    We burst into laughter again. It is much briefer this time around though. Finally I finish my drink and get up.


    “Well, I better get going.”


    I turn towards Matylda.


    “Wanna come along? Or will we meet up at the tavern too?”


    She raises an arm to stop me just long enough to let her finish her own drink. Then she jumps to her feet too, to follow me.


    “Let''s get going! You first this time around. We should be fine taking the same route back. I wanna see if you memorized it properly!”


    I''m tempted to laugh out loud, but in the end I refrain from doing so. Her attitude isn''t wrong after all. Everything can be a teaching, and more importantly a learning experience, if you just put your mind to it.


    “Fine.”


    With one last wave I leave the bard and the barkeeper behind, as well as a veritable fortune in silver coins. I decide to put that out of my mind for now though, as I do my best to recall the route we took across the city''s rooftops to get here. For the same reason I decide to save another question burning at the tip of my tongue for later too.


    We slip out the same dormer window through which we entered not too long ago. It is still dark outside. We should still have plenty of time to get to the tavern by the downstream waterfront and then to the site of the duel, this hangman''s hill.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    It seems my dwarfen companion can tell what I''m thinking.


    “Don''t worry, we have more than enough time.”


    I nod and decide to ask another question. The answer to this one is if more immediate importance.


    “Our timing. Will we be alright? Will we reach the spot on the wall in between patrols, if we keep the same pace as on the way here?”


    Matylda flashed me a pleased grin. It seems this was the right question to ask. Her answer is short and to the point.


    “Yes. We shouldn''t dawdle though.”


    That is all I need to know. I do a few quick stretches and take one last deep breath. Then I get going. I get going at a proper run. I don''t hold back. We haven''t on our way here either after all.


    Both my [Jumping] and my [Balance] skill start to improve little by little almost right away. Both skills will take a while to level up for real though. Not that I mind. Especially not, as a more tangible reward comes my way right after in the form of a divine whisper.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Running has leveled up to level 5!]


    Good. Very good even! It''s too bad that there are no more notifications until we reach the wall.


    We hurry to climb down on the other side this time around though, as we are cutting it a little too close for comfort with the next patrol not too far off. In fact the guards might even have noticed us, but since we are already pretty much down already again, they don''t bother to pursue us or raise an alarm.


    I''m momentarily preoccupied by another divine whisper then and there anyway.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Climbing has leveled up to level 6!]


    Very nice. Especially since it is an even level. With common skills even levels are always better as they improve my attributes too. Never mind though. Not right now anyway.


    I hurry to slip back into the shadows of the nearest alleyway once my feet touch the ground. It might look like the guards won''t bother, but I don''t want to offer a convenient target of opportunity down here either.


    This in turn, of that I''m pretty certain, earns me another partial increase for my [Stealth] skill. This one is getting pretty close to a level up, thus I decide to focus on it. For the rest of the way to the tavern I do my best to stay unnoticed by the occasional passersby. Eventually, just as we are getting close to the tavern, my determination pays off at long last.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Stealth has leveled up to level 7!]


    Another one. Tonight really is a good night. Maybe I should add rooftop runs to my schedule as a regular workout? Make them as stealthy as possible too while I''m at it?


    I give up on being stealthy as I enter the tavern and allow myself to chuckle at the idea of a stealth rooftop run workout regime. I chuckle right until I notice that my hands are shaking slightly.


    It seems I''m not the only one who noticed either. Matylda pats my back as she catches up with me. Then she grabs my hand to push four pennies into it.


    For a moment I just stop and stare at the bronze coins.


    “What?”


    She shrugs innocently.


    “The compensation for playing your part tonight.”


    I raise an eyebrow, but deposit the coins in my purse anyway. That of course doesn''t mean that I keep what is on my mind to myself though.


    “We aren''t exactly done yet.”


    Matylda in turn puts a hand on my back to navigate me towards the table where, somehow Jerzy is already waiting for us.


    Doesn''t he ever sleep? He certainly doesn''t look tired though. Maybe he makes do with power naps? He greets us with a cheerful wave.


    “It isn''t considered good manners to withhold payment from guild members actually actively risking their lives for the con of someone else.”


    Before I can ask how he knows, Sylwia joins us at the table. She comes bearing a plate of chicken wings and a small bowl containing a dip that looks spicy. Unlike the older man she does look tired. That doesn''t stop her from acting and sounding cheerful though.


    “Yep. Despite this not being the intended turn of events. We have to always be ready to adapt to changing circumstances after all. And while the young lord Greywater is good with a sword, I think you''ll manage. Anyway, have a bite to eat. My treat.”


    I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and do just that. And damn! Those wings are good! It isn''t just the dip that is spicy either. And the combination of spicy wings and spicy dip rekindles my fighting spirit good. After just a few bites the accumulating weariness and fatigue of a long night are a thing of the past.


    The others chuckle as I dig in with a vigor. They help themselves to some of the wings too, but I don''t mind. There are more than enough after all.


    There is still a question on my mind. One I haven''t dared to ask so far.


    “Do we, do I really need to fight this duel?”


    It isn''t like I actually want to back out, but it is an option that should be ruled out entirely either.


    The others look at each other for a moment. The answer is eventually provided by someone else though.


    I''m sure at least Jerzy must have seen him coming, but Wiktor has snuck up on me unnoticed. I only realize that he is here, when he snatches the next spicy wing away from me, before I can grab it.


    “In theory you could just not show up. We already have the coin after all. I''d advise against it though. Doing so would make it much harder, maybe even near impossible, to run that particular gig again anytime soon.”


    Unlike Jerzy, he does look tired. That changes though, the moment he takes a good bite out of the spicy wing he nabbed.


    “Ah! Sweet Manna! Food of the gods!”


    I allow myself a little grin at this exclamation. I''ll ask Fox about her opinion on spicy food the next time I get to meet her.


    He isn''t quite done sharing his opinion yet either, although he takes a moment to finish his treat.


    “Well, anyway, a dramatic duel at dawn. Flashing blades in the first light of the day! Possibly even with the captain of the Night Watch there to officiate the event. I really hope lady Justyna can persuade her brother! Very dramatic! That can help build a nice reputation! I certainly wouldn''t miss out on it, if I were you.”


    My eyebrow rises a little at the revelation about the lady''s brother.


    “You don''t think that he might give us trouble?”


    Jerzy answers this time around.


    “Unlikely. Duels aren''t exactly part of our official legal system, what little of one there is anyway, around here, but they are a well respected tradition. Everything should be just fine, as long as you don''t try to cheat under his watchful eyes.”


    Sylwia decides to speak up now.


    “Among other things that means that you really shouldn''t go for a killing blow if he calls for a duel to the first blood.”


    Wiktor nods with vigor.


    “Very much that! Don''t try to play word games with him either. He is the kind of man with whom you have to honor both the word and the spirit of an agreement.”


    I can feel my [Gather Information] skill increase another little bit, as I nod in acknowledgment. It seems this is a bit of information that is of no small importance.