Chapter 16

An unassuming man no older than Lady Lyanna had managed to win the melee in the tourney of Harrenhal. When Jory first heard of it, he wanted to laugh. He had fought many battles and clashed swords with the best North had to offer.

Seing the man walk towards Rickard Stark and his children, Jory grew vigilant. If the man was a assassin on a death quest, it was the perfect moment to strike. Jory was ready to cut him down, but, his worries were for nought.

When he said, "You can put me against a giant and I'll defeat it. You can put me against a shadow cat and I'll defeat it. You can put me against a dragon and I'll defeat it." Jory was taken aback by his confidence.

If it was any other man, Jory would have laughed out loud at the sheer audacity of those words beind said in front of a Lord like Rickard Stark. But, there was something about the man that made Jory take a step back.

'W-Why did I step away from him?'

Jory felt a hint of humiliation by his body's action. When Rickard told the man to prove himself against Jory, the Master-at-arms steeled his nerves and was ready to regain his confidence by swearing to defeat his opponent.

"Allan, of house Curran, my lord."

Rickard nodded and said, "Follow Jory to the grounds, Curran."

'Curran, huh? Does it have some significance?' Jory thought as he led Allan to the training field. He confidently walked to the weapons rack and chose a sword for himself. Then, he allowed Allan to choose his weapon.

Allan eyed the sparring swords intently, grasping at the handles as he felt their built and fit. Finally, he chose a sword that was heavier than normal, but, was superbly balanced.

'He does know his swords.'

Allan did not test the sword by swinging it around, unlike many others.

'He is clever. He doesn't want to telegraph his technique to me in any way.'

Facing Jory, Allan took a simple stance with an unreadable face and dead, unblinking eyes.

'It's back. That feeling of being suppressed is back. This man is dangerous.'

Jory began to circle around the field and twirled his sword around his wrist... And that was a mistake.

Allan stepped forward when Jory's sword was facing down. Like a snake, Allan's sword struck Jory's wrist and immediately disarmed him. Next thing Jory knew, the sword was pointed at his throat.

"Point... for me."

Jory looked at his hand and then at the sword. He couldn't believe how quickly he was bested by Allan. He looked towards Rickard who simply nodded at Jory.

Allan moved the sword away and allowed Jory to pick his sword up.

Once again, they circled around the field. Jory was more vigilant, but, no matter how much he tried to ignore it, the suffocating dread kept pushing at his mind. He did his best to remain calm and decided to do attack with a feint.

*Clang*

'What?'

Allan had seen through the feint and before Jory even fully executed the move, Allan had intercepted it right at the beginning.

Jory tried to push and shove Allan away. Suddenly, all resistance against his sword disappeared and he stumbled forward only to be hit hard on his back.

"Gah!"

Jory turned around faced an onslought of attacks that simply overwhelmed him with such speed and power that he couldn't keep up. An upward swing by Allan struck Jory's sword with such force that the man was lifted off his feet and thrown away!

Gasps of shock an awe could be heard from the spectators. Never had they seen Jory being dominated in such a way. The man himself was boggled by it.

"My point, again."

Jory frowned and got up on his feet. Anger was bubbling inside him and his next charge showed it.

Jorry attacked with ferocity he had only shown on the battlefield. He swung his sword with amazing strength and dexterity, moving and swaying as he struck, adding feints and stabs and slashes, he resembled the winds of death.

*Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang*

The sharp sounds of metal hitting metal silenced all around the field.

Jory's skill was awe inspiring for the Stark men. Rickard felt proud to have such a capable man as his Master-at-arms.

But... Something felt wrong.

Every move that Jory made, every feint and every rush.. Allan had the answer for all.

Not only that, he was returning Jory's attacks with his own. It felt truely unbelievable. Rickard frowned as he felt a shift in the fight. Allan had begun to attack more and do less blocks.

Jory was on the backfoot!

Slowly, there was a visible shift in the battle. Jory was once again being overwhelmed by Allan's attacks.

'I will not lose!!'

Jory tried his best to meet Allan's attacks with his own. With sparks flying around, Jory began to feel the vibrations travel from his sword to the rest of his body. He could feel his knees start to buckle under Allan's power.

"Rraaaghhh!!!"

Allan roared and swung down at Jory's sword.

*CLANG* *CLASH* *SHIIING*

Disbelief dawned upon Jory's face as Allan's sword cut through his and hit him in the chest. The force slammed him on the ground with a resounding thud. Trying to catch his breath and with his eyes wide, he looked at the stump of the sword left in his hand with the slashed blade fallen beside him.

Allan stood on top of him with the tip of his sword pointed at Jory's throat. There was not a drop of sweat on his face and not a sign of shortened breath could be observed.

"I win." Allan said with the calmness of a cold breeze.

Jory realised at that moment...

'He can win against a giant.. He can win against a shadow cat. By the old gods, I believe he can win against a dragon as well. He's not just a man.. He's a beast.'

(ACJTF)

A/N: Sup. Anyone gonna watch 'House of Dragon'? I'm not. I have no interest in Targs. Only Daenerys.. and she ded.