«Can you now?» said Briun. «And what sort of things would those be?»
Shea said, «I think I can show your druids some new things about magic.»
Beside him Belphebe’s clear voice seconded him. «I can show you how to make a bow that will shoot — two hundred yards.»
Briun said, «Now it is to be seen that you are full of foolish lies. It is well known that we already have the best druids in the world, and no bow will shoot that far. This now is just an excuse to have us feed you for a time until it is proved you are lying, which is something we can see without any proof being needed. You are to lose your heads.»
He made a gesture of dismissal and started to rise.
The black-thatched Nera said, «Let me.»
«Wait a minute!» cried Shea, desperately. «This guy is a champion, isn’t he? All right, how about it if I challenge him?»
The King sat down again and considered. «Since you are to lose your head anyway,» he said, «we may as well have some enjoyment out of it. But you are without armor.»
«Never use the stuff,» said Shea. «Besides, if neither one of us has any, things will move faster.»
He heard Belphebe gasp beside him, but did not turn his head.