The Headsman

By Max Mansfield

Gods, he was huge.

That was Syr Cadewyn’s first thought as he beheld his opponent. Even from across the arena, it was hard to ignore the facts: The man opposite him was enormous. Tall enough to stand head and shoulders over the High King, who himself was head and shoulders above Cadewyn. And adding to this horrifying vision, the foe was covered head to toe in armor, with not a single hint of the person inside showing. He seemed like a formidable opponent, that was for certain.

Not that this intimidated the young Knight of the Realm. After all, he’d fought dragons in the past, not to mention trolls and ogres. The man across the field was just a slightly smaller troll. At least that’s what he told himself as the two slowly emerged from their gates to the roar of the crowd. 

With the magical assistance of the High King’s wizards, the announcer’s wooden megaphone crackled to life and projected out the entire arena, “And here’s our Round 3 of the High King Tournament, folks! From the Red Gate, representing our very own High Kingdom, we have Syr Cadewyn the Paladin!”

Cadewyn gave the audience a warm smile and wave as they cheered. Always had to put on a show of confidence for the citizens, after all. They put so much trust in him; he simply couldn’t let them down. 

He was in his element here. The dry, almost acrid air of the arena and the roar of the spectators were as familiar sensations to him as the heft of his blade and the cold weight of his armor. 

The announcer continued. “And from the Blue Gate, representing himself, we have Syr Headsman the Executioner!”

The armored titan grunted as he enthusiastically hoisted his massive axe into the air with one hand. The crowd both cheered and jeered for this strange, confident newcomer. Representing himself? Cadewyn knew this was the first year the High King Tournament had opened to other kingdoms, of course, but this was just ridiculous. Who was that self-centered?

As the two came to meet in the center of the arena, Cadewyn gave his opponent a warm smile. “Here’s to an honorable duel.” The crowd couldn’t hear their words, but he felt compelled to greet his opponent regardless.

Syr Headsman simply grunted. “Same to you.” His voice was exactly as expected: Deep, gravelly, more reminiscent of an avalanche than a man. “How’s the High King?”

“The High King?” Cadewyn’s eyes widened, slightly. “Why do you-”

The announcer cut in. “Let the battle begin!”

Figures. Cadewyn would have to ask his questions later. He darted back as the Headsman’s axe came swinging, whirling with a rush of cool wind through the spot he’d been standing just a moment before. Despite its enormous size, the massive knight wielded the weapon with no effort. Any normal knight would struggle to face him down. Fortunately, Cadewyn was no normal knight. With a smile he drew his blade, the shining claymore glistening in the light of the midday sun. “Hah! Missed!”

Headsman simply grunted, “For now.”

The axe came up, and it came back down again even faster than before. This time Cadewyn darted into range, bringing his blade to meet the axe in a shower of sparks and a familiar clang of metal. The crowd went mad at the first clash as they always did, but Cadewyn found himself easily pushed back. This whirling tower of death wasn’t something he’d be able to just parry through, that was for sure.

Instead he decided it was time for one of his many tricks. 

They clashed several more times, testing each other’s strength, until Cadewyn felt prepared for what he hoped to be the grand finale. Feeling the magical properties of the claymore pulse to life in his hand, he darted forward. Quickly the weapon shined with mystical intensity, its sparkle increasing to a nearly blinding glow. 

The crowd’s cheering renewed as Syr Cadewyn’s Shining Sword, his signature weapon, gleamed with righteous fury. Not that an outsider like Syr Headsman would know of it. The titanic knight stepped back a bit, axe at the ready, but the Paladin knowingly re-angled his blade. The sun’s reflection and the blade’s glow combined to shine a ray of light right under the visor and, hopefully, straight into his opponent’s eyes. Not the most honorable move, Cadewyn knew, but combat was combat. Morals and chivalry were for before and after. He sprinted forward, ready to land a disarming blow-

Wham!

A clattering of armor, a scuffing of feet against sandy floors.

Cadewyn went soaring back as the axe collided with him easily; only his armor prevented him from being sliced in twain. He landed on his feet but continued to skid a few meters before finally coming to a stop. 

Syr Headsman approached, head cocked. “Petty tricks?” He called, his voice filled with...humor? Cadewyn couldn’t really tell. “Those won’t work on me, Paladin. Bring your best, or nothing at all.”

Despite himself, Cadewyn managed a wry smile. “My best…” He brandished the claymore, the weapon pulsing at the ready. “Fine. You did ask for it!”

The claymore’s glow intensifying, he darted forward. This time, however, the glow was different. It felt larger, more imposing, almost like the light that gleamed from the claymore was becoming a physical part of the blade. In fact, it was. By the time Cadewyn had reached Syr Headsman again, his blade had nearly doubled in size, encased in a gleaming sheath of hard light. “In the name of the Gods, begone!”

With a cry Cadewyn leapt forward, bringing the blade down as the Headsman brought their axe up. The two collided with a clang of steel and a blinding flash of light, causing even the audience to avert their eyes for a moment.

When the light had cleared, it was clear who had won: Syr Cadewyn, with his claymore returned to normal. Syr Headsman, on the other hand, was short a head. And a hand, for that matter. Syr Cadewyn turned to look at him even as he heard his opponent’s helmet hitting the ground over the raucous applause of the crowd. Such mortal wounds were an issue on a real battlefield, but here there were specialized healers to take care of it. Thus there were no compunctions about slaying fellow knights, foreign or otherwise. In the meantime-

“A fine attack.”

Cadewyn whirled around at the sound of Syr Headsman’s voice, but there was nothing there. Nothing, that is, but the helmet, lying on the ground, facing straight towards the Paladin. “You would have beaten any other knight, Syr Cadewyn. I commend you.”

“Where are you?” Cadewyn exclaimed, whirling around. “How did you escape your armor?”

“Do you know why I was called Syr Headsman?” A soft scraping noise could be heard from behind Cadewyn. He slowly, cautiously turned, but he simply could not believe what he was seeing: Syr Headsman’s body, minus a head, picking itself off the ground. As Cadewyn panicked the Headsman’s voice continued. “There are many types of magic in this world, young knight. Some, like your Gods-given sword, are paragons of virtue. Others are . . . darker.”

The Headsman’s loose, formerly limp gauntlet suddenly sprang to attention, literally launching itself from the ground to wrap all five fingers around Syr Cadewyn’s neck. The crowd burst into an uproar of gasps and shouting at this upset, even as the Headsman continued unimpeded. “My body has earned me many names throughout the years: Golem Knight, Headless Horseman, even Immortal to some. These days, I am simply the Headsman. I may lose my head, but I will certainly take yours.”

Cadewyn flailed about, struggling to remove the supernaturally powerful gauntlet from his neck. How could this have happened? Cadewyn was the reigning champion! There wasn’t a single loss to his name, no matter the enemy. And here he was, losing to this...this gimmick! Meanwhile, the Headsman continued to approach, unaware of the fury that was surging through the young knight. The headless body slowly trodded towards Cadewyn, footfalls marked by the heavy clang of boots, axe still in its one attached hand. “You played well, young Syr Cadewyn. I look forward to seeing your growth.”

“Tell the King I said hello, will you? When you’re revived, that is.”

The Headsman’s axe came down to the raucous applause of the audience, and Cadewyn lost his first ever match in the High King Tournament.