Excerpt from the Journal of Teobaris Hendalen, Lore keeper of the Free City of Sarsos.

The challenge had been accepted.  The young blood’s insolent approach had yielded what he sought. Many can say they’ve crossed swords with The Blade from Sarsos. None can say they’ve ever bested him. The towering reputation of Varadis Telamon has brought countless challengers to Sarsos, in hopes of defeating the last of the Sword Dancers.

The latest challenger will mayhap become a footnote in history. His fame preceded him, and for the first time in decades, the bets laid in the Hall of Coins favored the challenger. Tales of the quickness of his blade have covered the Free Cities during these last years, telling of his daring raids on mainland ships. Inevitably the question arose; was the Golden Lion’s skill enough to best the Old Fox?

Varadis has been master of Blade and Dance for nine and thirty years now. His origins have been forgotten by most, but some of us still recall the young cutpurse that became the youngest blade-master in history. Not many dare call him thief nowadays, yet since it was I who caught him red-handed and set him on the path to greatness, he will forgive my indiscretion.

The duel promised to be great. On one side of the field stood the challenger, gloriously golden, young and fit. On the other, a dried up old man held his sword calmly, with a calm air of nonchalance.

Tis’ unfortunate the young blood decided to be so insulting when he issued the challenge. Varadis has always been the soul of self-control and restraint when it comes to these matches, only accepting First-Blood contests, or limiting himself to humiliating his opponent into submission. But the fool had to bring up Varadis’ greatest shame, the loss of Imeralda to the Duke of Gardell. ‘Till this day, the sole mention of that episode brings the Old Fox into a towering rage. Alas, my old friend has always been a master of hiding his emotions, and he appeared to calmly wait what the new day would bring, a new day that could only end with either of the combatants lying in a grave.

‘Tis common knowledge here in the Free Cities that duels begin when the sun first raises it’s head from the sea. Many a fight has been won by the lightning reflexes of whoever sees the glorious orb rise. As the time for combat approached, visible tension appeared in the eyes of the challenger, who continuously tested the edge of his blade. On the other hand, the Old Fox had his sword lightly held, point down, and appeared to be studying a loose flagstone at his feet.

Suddenly, the sun broke free from its watery nest, and the challenger sprang into motion. His fluid steps brought him quickly and silently into reach of the unaware old man. As the young blood lunged at his rival, Varadis smoothly side-stepped his opponent and deftly struck at his exposed back. But the younger man was viper quick and easily parried his opponents attack. His own rapier was easily turned around by the Sword Dancer’s black blade. Quickly, the Old fox entered the famous Sarsos dance, which he has made world famous.

‘Tis said that it is an unbeatable dueling stance, that a true master can dance away from any sword stroke while in this position. The movements are so mesmerizing that many a foe has been demoralized just by watching it. Yet the Young Blood had his own technique, which although not as effective as the legendary parrying of Varadis, was still able to turn most blows away.
As the dawn grew to morning, it seemed that Varadis age was finally taking its toll. His parries seemed not as quick, and his strikes seemed equally lethargic. As he cautiously backed step from step from his rival, it seemed certain the younger man would finally be the victor. Step by step, the old man reversed, clearly weakening after each strike. At last, in a moment of eternal slowness for those watching, the Old Fox stumbled to his knees because of a loose flagstone. The challenger, seen the opening he was looking for, attacked with all the deadliness of a rattlesnake.  But a weasel is faster than any viper, and just as it seemed the Blade of Sarsos was lost, a deft roll sideways and an upwards lunge put an end to Joradis the Golden Lion. The look of surprise on his face, was mirrored by all those watching the fight. It seems that as always, Varadis had been one step ahead from his rival during the whole battle. Calmly, he walked away from the foolish youth who had once gain proved how deadly the blade of Varadis really is.

And so another page is added to the legend of Varadis the Old Fox, Master of Sword and Dance, the undefeated Blade of Sarsos. Seven and sixty years have passed since the day he was born, and till now he has not lost a fight that I know of.