This was a battle that all wanted to see, although nobody believed that Frang would win. Thorburn was too good with the claymore, the weapons appeared to be totally mismatched; maybe with the axe, but not with some dinky little stick of a sword. They formed a circle, the two combatants in the middle and everyone else on the outside looking in. A few side bets were quickly made, but the odds for Thorburn were astronomical. Every one of the men had felt the flat of Thorburn's blade multiple times. No one was familiar with Frang and his little sword.

"One thing, big brother. You can whack me with the...