Hi everyone. Have posted here before with great success so gonna give it another go. Once again memory is very vague and could well be mixing books, but here goes..I think the book in question was post-apocalyptic. One plot arc has a protagonist train night and day with a sword in order to challenge another to a duel. He is probably the second best in the world, but is told repeatedly he still isn't good enough and will lose. Nonetheless the duel goes ahead, and goes something like this.Protagonist: "Do you know why I have trained so hard to face you?"Bad guy: Shrugs, draws sword, "So you would last a few moments longer?"Protagonist: "No. So you would *think* I thought I had a chance."He then pulls out an ancient revolver - which no one recognizes - and shoots him.
The second book in the Broken Empire series, Lawrence takes his young anti-hero one step closer to his grand ambition.To reach greatness you must step on bodies, and many brothers lie trodden in my wake. I’ve walked from pawn to player and I’ll win this game of ours, though the cost of it may drown the world in blood…The land burns with the fires of a hundred battles as lo The second book in the Broken Empire series, Lawrence takes his young anti-hero one step closer to his grand ambition.To reach greatness you must step on bodies, and many brothers lie trodden in my wake. I’ve walked from pawn to player and I’ll win this game of ours, though the cost of it may drown the world in blood…The land burns with the fires of a hundred battles as lords and petty kings fight for the Broken Empire. The long road to avenge the slaughter of his mother and brother has shown Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath the hidden hands behind this endless war. He saw the game and vowed to sweep the board. First though he must gather his own pieces, learn the rules of play, and discover how to break them.A six nation army, twenty thousand strong, marches toward Jorg's gates, led by a champion beloved of the people. Every decent man prays this shining hero will unite the empire and heal its wounds. Every omen says he will. Every good king knows to bend the knee in the face of overwhelming odds, if only to save their people and their lands. But King Jorg is not a good king.Faced by an enemy many times his strength Jorg knows that he cannot win a fair fight. But playing fair was never part of Jorg’s game plan. ...more