The Unfortunate

means? On more than one occasion, you have ensured the outcome of a fight is to your benefit. Do you care not for those who are unable to provide for their families because they have lost substantial coin?”
Gildas understood what his wife had implied. He could recall multiple occasions when he had arranged unexpected outcomes, but he was not prepared to admit his immoral deeds. At least not yet. Instead he answered with an inquiry of his own accompanied by a chuckle. “When did I ever manipulate a fight?”
“Many times, usually when you have unpaid debts or like now when you believe our income is less than it should be, I have seen you arrange a man to fight another who should have easily killed him, but the lesser emerges victorious.”
“The crowds are fooled each time.” Gildas again chuckled. “And to answer your question, no, I do not care about those who lose all their coin. They are fools to risk such amounts.”
“It does not seem foolish to them, especially when the odds favor a legendary fighter.”
After a temporary pause, Gildas stood, walked over to his wife, took her hand, and raised it to his lips. “I know you do not favor my academy, but I promise someday it will be no more. One day we shall no longer have to rely on the foolishness of gamblers. But until then”—he paused and again kissed her hand—“I shall do whatever is required to ensure we have the greatest fighters.”
✽ ✽ ✽
After the conversation with his wife, Gildas went to the grounds at the back of the manor. Most of the area had been dedicated to constructing the academy—a large open yard for training, a small barracks where the fighters slept, and a third building where meals were served. Through the high gate that divided the academy from the manor’s back entrance, Gildas observed the grounds, and he smiled to himself, turned away from the yard, and looked at nothing in particular. He had always found the countryside to be comforting, and the coolness of the evening air was even more refreshing. He again smiled and inhaled deeply. Yes, it is a perfect evening! Perhaps I have incorrectly judged the recruits. Perhaps they will bring me fortune. Gildas’ thoughts were interrupted when he sensed movement. He quickly turned, noticed one of his fighters had entered the yard, and upon recognizing the man, he exclaimed, “Awiergan!” Gildas unlocked the gate and entered the training area. “What business have you at this late hour?”
“I could ask the same of you.”
Unable to think of a true reason, he spoke the first words that came to mind. “I wanted to be alone.”
“Something else we have in common.”
Gildas smiled. In a way he had wanted to be alone, but had he been forced to have company, he would have chosen Awiergan, one of the best fighters in his academy.
The relationship that had formed between them could easily have been seen as odd by others of the aristocratic class. The foremost difference was their status, master and slave. Even their pasts were filled with examples of striking contrasts. Whereas Gildas had been born into nobility, the fighter had been raised by commoners. Whereas the academy’s owner had once upheld justice, Awiergan was a former criminal. Although both had faced obstacles, they shared an ultimate goal, to obtain glory and to prove their worth. With his rise to power, Gildas had already succeeded, but the fighter knew Fate had yet to decide what his future entailed. He had yet to be considered a legend, and even then his name was not guaranteed immortality.
Every time he gathered recruits, Gildas would speak with his champion about the men and their potential. The two of them often agreed, but overall Awiergan had always been the better judge. Gildas could only hope that would again occur, and after a deep sigh, the owner of the academy finally inquired, “What is your opinion of the recruits?”
“I would need to see them fight, but I believe most of them will prove worthy.”
“Do you think them ready?”
“Are they ever?”
Both men chuckled. As with the use of the Unfortunate for the fighters of the academy, the are they ever? response was another joke shared among only a select few.
“No,” the master finally answered. “But they have little choice. Their training will commence soon, and I shall require your and Atelic’s assistance.”
“I am honored, Gildas, and I expect Atelic will express the same gratitude.”
“There is something more, but you cannot inform the others. Understood?”
“I would never betray you.”
The master nodded before explaining, “The recruits need to be ready. They will be tested before the arrival of autumn.”
Awiergan appeared surprised, but the reaction had been expected. Never had Gildas rushed his fighters. He had always waited at least half a year before subjecting them to the Dorstor Arena or the fighting pits. Gildas had always wanted to be certain his fighters were properly trained, but this time he did not have the same luxury. His recent visit to Yorcia and Armania had not been to gather recruits only. He had also needed to make arrangements.
“Why so soon?” Awiergan inquired.
“I am planning a grand venture including three major events—one in each of the capitals of Winnix, Yorcia, and Armania. In total it will require more than three months and will cover nearly seven hundred leagues.”

CHAPTER THREE
BEADUROF
It had been nineteen years since he had assumed the crown. Being the only son, Beadurof had been prepared for diplomatic and combat situations from an early age, and he had dreamt with heightened anticipation of becoming a king. Despite the years of training and later actual experience, nothing had been enough to prepare him for the reality that accompanied bearing the weight of a crown. The realization had been neither immediate, nor had it been thrust upon him at a later moment. It had required several months until the burdens had begun to build upon one another, until he had realized that