11. Convincing Eric Claus.

The rate of speed which the king used in responding to Zach was so fast. Eric was about countering it when he accepted the challenge. So he looked at Zach who had told the king to increase the number of men that would fight against him with very annoying eyes that showed his inconvenience with the decision.

Zach read the meaning behind those eyes and whispered to him, "Don't worry, you will be fine. I believe in you."

But Eric was more pissed by the words that he should not worry, so could not hold his peace anymore, for he had to speak out. "I am to face this trail, so I do not accept it."

"Eric....!!!" Zach stretched his name.

"What??!!"

"You can not forfeit this trial."

"Yes I can. Why would you ask that I face four men at a time? Have I fought against two people before at a time yet you talk of fighting four?"

"I believe in you. I have taught you all that you need to know." 

"Well, I say, I haven learnt all that I need to learn."

So King Luca had to come in, seeing that the argument was becoming more tense than before. "It's okay Eric, you have made your point. And Zach, you heard your student, he can not defend four men in a fair combat."

"No, your majesty, he can. I have seen his skills and I'm hundred percent confident in this."

"Your majesty, I should be the one speaking for myself. I am not ready and need to learn a lot for my master." Eric said.

"I believe you," Luca answered Eric as he paused, continuing after a few seconds as he saw the way Eric and Zach looked at each other. "Zach, we should not argue over this, move to the castle with me where you will be surrounded with soldiers to watch your back. Your son Harris will come with you and he will be more secure there than here."

"My answer is still no," Zach stood by his words. He knew that going to Raychester castle was joining the army again and yes his son will be secured there since there are soldiers all over but, that was the eyes of almost all the creatures that launched their attack on the country. Thus, one day, sooner or later, the gate will be penetrated and the whole people dwelling there will be running around for their safety, even the soldiers might not focus on protecting his son. Their whole focus will be on the king and all members of the royal family.

"You don't have to be so stubborn towards this. This is an opportunity so many people are looking for."

Zach did not pay attention to those words, he excused himself to have a quick word with Eric. So they moved aside a little.

When they had come some steps away from the king, his men and Harris, Zach said to him in a low tone such that only both of them would hear what was being said. "Eric, you have to accept the trial. I know you can do it. I have seen you train, and you have learnt more than you need to win the trial."

"I still have a lot to learn from you. My spirit tells me that I am way too far off from learning all that you know when it comes to fighting. So let's go with them to the castle where we will be secured while I complete my training. Look at Harris, he wants to be around the castle, he wants to be with real soldiers. You said it yourself a few hours ago that the dragon's return and attack on Hillcrest is not ordinary. You said that they have seen me and want to stop me before I complete my training."

"Going to Raychester castle is not on my list of things right now. The king wants me back in the army and I am not ready for that. Besides, they will follow you anywhere, not even the soldiers at the castle can protect you from the dragon. You are the only one that can protect yourself just like you did hours ago."

"You mean the one that I ended up passing out before the dragon left thinking I was dead?"

"Yeah. It is all part of the training and preparation which you must face. So see fighting these men here as training because that is what it is. You can not avoid it forever."

Now Eric was convinced by those words to take up the challenge but it did not mean that he was ready to leave Zach's side. He agreed to fight those men since it was training as Zach had told him. "Okay, I will fight them, but it will have to be one after another, or two at a time, if I must."

Since he had agreed to fight, Zach's mind was eased as he believed in him and then knew that after the fight, king Luca will not insist that he go with them again, instead will choose to go with Eric alone. 

So they came back to meet the King where he and his men had been watching them talk to themselves. "He has agreed to fight."

That was not what the king was expecting to hear, he earnestly wanted Zach back that was why he seemed to be happy when Eric was against fighting. But he could not say no at this point. He just looked at the four people who were to fight with him and signaled them, implying that they should put in their best to make sure he does not win so that he will still have the sole right to ask Zach to come with them.

Shockingly to him, Eric said, "I will fight them in twos."

He looked back at Eric, saying, "No, the agreement is that you fight them at once. It's either once or none."

"That was not what I agreed with Zach. Whereas, your first talk was that I should fight against two men before Zach asked for the number to be increased. So I am taking your words for it."

"I have already taken the word of your teacher."

Then Eric shifts his gaze to Zach to tell him that he would not fight if the King kept insisting that he fights four men at a time. But before he could say what he wanted to say, Zach had snatched the words from his mouth, "You can do it."

Yet he wanted to continue with what he was about saying, before he heard Harris say too, "I trust you."

Now that he had heard those words from Harris, he could not argue over it, but turned back to King Luca nodding his head.

While the four men took their position to begin the contest, Harris brought Eric's staff, gave it to him and then moved backwards from those who were going to do the fighting. 

King Luca and the remaining two soldiers who were not going to partake in the fight moved aside just as Harris and his father had done. Then the four men that were to fight against Eric drew their swords as Eric held his staff firmly while standing in their middle. 

"Let the fight begin!!" King Luca Cole commanded.