Background: This is the Duel between Raksha "Kell" Keller and Kargan, a Child of the Light. Read the log "The Challange" for more background.

Characters: Kell, Kargan, Merrivelle, and Lisaene.

Kell comes walking down the street, hands touching the knives which rest in her belt. She almost looks over the man she's looking for, but she pauses, blinks and looks closer. Then she nods and walks toward him.

The young man's face is tinged with surprise as he sees Kell approach. He looks Kell up and down, his eyes briefly resting on the duelling knives at her waist. "So. You decided to come after all, yes?" he says without preamble in the stilted manner of speech of Amadicians.

Kell tilts her head slightly, drawing out one of the knives in a fluid motion to examine the blade carefully, "I had to give my knives an extra sharpening. They've been denyed it far too often." She looks over the man again, "So are you ready?"

Lisaene approaches from the Harvester Gate to the north.

Kargan reaches up to unknot the clasp of his simple cloak, casting it aside. Unbuckling the bastard sword's sheath, he sets this aside more gently.

"Yes. Unfortunately I couldn't find a switch..." His lips curve upwards in amusement as he produces a simple long pointed dagger from the small of his back.

Merrivelle approaches from the Harvester Gate to the north.

Lisaene slips quietly down the narrow street, moving from one pool of shadow to the next. The only hint of her presence are her eyes, which tend to glow golden when the light touches them.

Kell glances over the blade Kargan produces and shakes her head, drawing out a second curved knife from her belt. "Let's get this over with, boy. It would be nice if there was a Reader nearby, I really don't want to hurt you too badly."

Kargan stands before Kell in the midst of the filthy street. He's armed with a pointed dagger, facing Kell. Oddly enough however, he holds the dagger as if it were a miniature sword.

Kargan works his shoulders a little as he tries an experimental stance, dagger held crudely before him. He takes a small step towards Kell, brandishing the dagger.

Merrivelle slinks in and warily makes her way to the shadows, somewhat away from the duel.

Lisaene straightens from her half-crouch, brushing her thin braids over one shoulder as she does so. Head tilted to one side, she studies Kargan, then his adversary.

Kell lets out a sigh and twists the knives in her hands deftly, holding one ready for defense, and one ready for attack. She bends her knees, standing on the balls of her feet, ready to move at any second. She keeps her eyes locked on Kargan, though for some reason she looks disappointed and annoyed.

Narrowing his eyes, Kargan lunges forward smartly towards Kell, his dagger darting towards Kell's extended arm in a slash. An average attack if he were holding a sword, with the dagger it seems to be falling well short of its mark.

Kell sighs and twist her wrist deftly - she knows what she is about when it comes to knives - and deflects the attack, twisting the blade to try and move the knife away from him so he can't defend with it. As soon as she does she pivots on her foot and changes stance, turning the attacking arm to defending and so forth, attacking with her free knife in a slash toward Kargan's face.

Lisaene folds her arms, a faint smile on her lips, as she watches.

Merrivelle frowns slightly.

Kargan's eyes widen in surprise as he sees a foot of metal about to carve out his eye. Slipping on the slick surface of the rundown road, he falls squarely on his behind, dragging his dagger from Kell's knife with a ring of steel. Kell's slash whips past his face as he falls, barely missing his nose.

Soft laughter emerges from a nearby shadowy alcove, followed after a moment by the gentle chiming of crystal as Lisaene shakes her head ruefully.

Kell takes three steps back and stands waiting, "Get up, or do you need help?" She makes no offer to help though, but she looks prepared to wait until he stands up by himself before attacking again.

"I don't need help from any common street woman..." Kargan growls, as he gets to his feet, straightening his hauberk. He eyes a certain shadowy alcove for a moment with a cold look before he faces Kell again with another sword stance.

Merrivelle chuckles at the scene and flashes Kell an amused grin.

Kell shakes her head, setting herself into a stance. "I would not insult someone who could easily kill you with one flick of a knife, boy." Then she darts forward, keeping one knife held in for defense, and slashing out with the other, attempting to cut into the hand the man is holding his mini-sword in.

This time, the young whitecloak manages to keep his balance with the unfamiliar weapon, tilting the dagger down as he parries Kell's attacking knife. Stepping forward with the parry on his right foot, he kicks with his left towards Kell's stomach, a cruel smile etched on his features.

Acting on pure instinct that came from years of living on the street and fighting dirty for her life, Kell spins on her feet, trying to move out of the way in time, only she didn't quite move fast enough. The kick hits her in the side of her stomach, sending her off balance and taking a few steps back and to the side to catch it. She didn't lose her breath, or knives though. She seems to be taking the duel a tad more seriously though.

Kargan follows through at once as he feels his foot connect, stepping forward again as he thrusts the dagger forward towards Kell's chest, dangerously overextending himself with the smaller and slender weapon.

Kell curses under her breath and puts both her knives into defense, trying to trap his knife between the blades of hers and twist it away from her chest. Effort at the strength difference between the two shows on her face, but she is able to twist the blade away enough to avoid getting run through, though a fine cut does appear on her vest.

The young man's face twitches as he grits his teeth, the dagger shaking in his grasp as he tries to force it towards Kell's chest. "Why... why don't you run, while... while you can, woman! You're no m.. match for my strength, no?" he hisses between clenched teeth, steel grating against steel.

Merrivelle chuckles softly, her eyes intent on the scene before her.

Kell clinches her teeth and continues to fight the knife back, putting every last ounce of strenght she has into it. She hisses under her breath, "Never lost a duel yet. Don't plan to lose one to a bloody Whitecloak." Then abruptly she changes methods all together. Her strength can in no way match his, but with all his strength one way, she throws her strength the same way, while twisting to her side and dropping down at the same time.

Kargan lurches forward with the sudden loss of resistance, tumbling to the ground with a barely disguised grunt of pain, his left shoulder twisting as it strikes the cobblestones underneath the veneer of mud. He rolls flat on his back, his face contorted in pain. "A pox upon you, goodwife!" he curses as he tries to get up.

Kell frowns slightly and straightens into a stance again. She looks the man over carefully. All the effort in the fight has caused her scarf to come loose a little. She takes a step forward, then two, then three, attempting to kick his knife away with her foot so he doesn't stab her when she tries to help.

This time, Lisaene makes no attempt to stifle her silvery laughter at the Whitecloak's misfortune. With another chiming of crystal, she moves forward a step, peering at the pair.

Merrivelle frowns and gets ready just in case the Whitecloak has a trick up his sleave.

Kargan prises his bulk up with his right hand, scrabbling for his knife as he lurches to his knees. Too late however, the knife skitters away across the muddy ground as Kell kicks it away. He lifts his blue eyes to Kell's features, watching the woman.

Kell deftly sheaths her own knives in one motion and then holds out a hand, "Come on. I think we've both seen enough. This wasn't to the death after all." She smirks and adds, "Maybe we could get something to drink. Ale is always good after a duel."

Lisaene glances at Kargan's knife as it comes to a halt a pace from her feet. Bending down, she picks it up off the ground, then gives it a little twirl in one hand as she straightens with a tiny smile.

Looking down at the ground, Kargan lets out a long breath, murmuring a quiet prayer. He rises to his feet, brushing away a stray lock of hair from his face, "Wait... I would know something first."

Kell shrugs and takes her hand back, reaching up to tighten her scarf, "Ask what you will, boy. I doubt I would have reason to lie."

Merrivelle relaxes visibly and begins to move out of the area.

Shame seems to burn at every corner of Kargan's being from his stance and flushed cheeks, yet his voice remains clear as he visibly swallows. He tilts his head as he asks, "Why does Lord Captain Televan take such interest in you? And for what reason was I ordered to seek you out in Tar Valon?"

Kell blinks and looks taken aback. "I... I do not know all that myself. You were told to seek me out, hmm? Well that might be because of my name. Raksha is not the name someone would normally bless their child with after all. But... other than that I do not know." She shakes her head and offers a smile almost fit for a friend, "Now how about that ale. I'll buy if you insist."

Merrivelle shakes her head and slinks away.Merrivelle has left.

Extending a gloved hand towards Kell, Kargan bows his head slightly. "You have bested me, perhaps in not so fair a fight..." he adds, smiling as he fingers his chainmail armour. "Perhaps something a bit stronger than an ale though." he adds as he works his injured shoulder.

Lisaene steps gracefully from the shadows, still twirling Kargan's knife in one slim hand. "Whitecloak," she calls out. "The knife, you might wish it back, yes?"

Kell glances toward Lisaene, and blinks. Her eyes narrow a moment, then she shakes her head and takes the gloved hand of the Whitecloak, "Fine then. You will have to order something stronger for yourself. I only drink ale." She glances around at the street, "Should we find a Tavern here or go into the city?"

Kargan smiles slightly at Lisaene. "Keep it. As the goodwife here has kindly pointed out, I have no skill for it." Picking up his sword and ordinary cloak, he adds. "Perhaps one in the city, out of this filth. Too many reminders here, no?"

Kell looks around a frowns, then nods. She pats her knives lightly with her free hand, "Sorry to leave you again so soon, babies. Hopefully the dreaded law will be lifted." Talking to her knives? Maybe she is missing a few. "After you, Child of the Light."