(1) The story is told in three parts, each focusing on a different character and their perspective. The first part introduces Titus, a craftsman, working late into the night chiseling an obelisk. He has a discussion with Elder Acheus about his work. Levi then approaches Acheus, expressing doubts about dueling the King the next day. Titus offers Levi advice about facing his fears. (2) The second part follows Levi as he tries to lose practice duels in the morning to allow someone more skilled to replace him as champion. However, he finds himself winning all the matches. (3) The third part describes the upcoming duel between Levi and

1. (1) The Obelisk
Summary: Three part story of old vs.new.Each part istoldin itsownstyle and througha
differentcharacter.The language iskeptwithinthe contextof the setting,therefore lendingtoa more
formal approachto tone and dictionthanthe secondexample.
Quick Examples:The followingare excerptsfromthe partsbelow:
 Part 1- Before speaking,the ElderglancedtoTitus,whokeptathiswork,“A wordalone,
youmean?”Levi nodded.The Eldersteppedaside soTituswasclearinLevi’sview,“Levi,
if you cannottrust Titus,the man whom, if memoryserves-andforgive if itdoesn’t-
made at leasthalf yourarmor, thenhow can youfeel secure,orhow can any of us feel
secure?If the craftsmanis not trusted,commerce cannotbe held;if the smithcannotbe
trusted,coalitionswill surelyfail.Trusthim, Levi,orelse we three Eldershave gathered
for naught.”
 Part 2- Levi wantedtofail,he wantedanothertotake his place,he wantedanotherto
representthe three clans;buthere,before him, wassomethingthatsaidotherwise.Had
Titus’wordsgottento him?Or,was it that he wantedsomeone of betterskill totake his
place?That a part of himwantedtolose due to the other’smerit,andnothis
cowardice?Ormaybe,perhaps,itwasjustfrustration,itwasthe youthhe so hatedin
himself,thatothersmistookforpassionorfocus.
 Part 3- Jeremiahdrewhislongsword,keepingitathis side,“Withcheersayouthis
offered.Levi,mayyoube of the few todie inthis dispute.”Slowlythe Kingraisedhis
sword,matchingit withLevi’s,whilekeepingarelaxedstance.Withashoutfrom
Acheus,the duel began.Levi struck,Jeremiahblocked,lettinghiswristseemweak. The
boypushedJeremiahbackwithhisattacks,passingthroughthe dividingshadow,
drawingthe twocloserto the line of royal guards.
Part 1
Betwixtthe grainsof sandthe darklyspire rose.What windshaditweathered,whattorrents
and gusts,whatdecadeshadwoundedthose craftededges?Above the dunesitstood,catchingthe sun
and holdingthe moon.Thoughtime hadleftinsults,sotoohad swordsandspearsand axescarvedtheir
testaments.Battles,wars,and soonagain a challenge tothe Kingthe tiredobeliskwouldsee.
As the sunset,longstretchedwasthe shadow that touchedthe Elder’stent.Creased eyes
ceasedreadingascroll,and thickrobedAcheusrose,withcrackof bone and shiftof iron. While one
handheldthe tentflap,another brushedaside hisgrayhair.Acheuswalkedthroughthe quietingcrowd,
standinghimselfbeforethe obelisk,andwatchingthe craftsmanraise a hand.
Clang,the chisel slid; clang,the chisel scuffed; clang,someonewasstandingbehindhim.Titus
turnedhishead,hisknee slippinguponthe moundedbase.ElderAcheuscaughthim, “Steady,Titus,I
am not here toberate you.”

2. “I didnot thinkyouwere,Elder.” Titusleanedagainstthe obelisk,hammerandchisel stillinhand,
“Though,if I may be honest,youcaught me by surprise;thisstone hasnotbeen generous.”
Half hiddenbyhisrobe,a faintsmile appearedonthe Elder,“Youare a fine craftsman,Titus;but,if the
stone will notyield,itwillnotyield.”
Titusgrippedhistools andturnedback to the obelisk,“Itwill yield,Elder.”The hammerrose,the chisel
struck,and down againthe smith’sarmsslipped.Againthe hammerstood,againthe chisel charged,and
againhisarms slipped;thus,againandagain, as he laterwould throughoutthe night,the smithstayed
at hiswork.
Acheuswatchedthe craftsman,watched ashisarms worked, watched ashissaltedhairshifted
witheachblow.Whenhad age touchedthischild?How quicklythe decadespiled up,like the sand
beneaththe obelisk;howquicklyyouthwashidden,andhow easyage seemedtoapproach.Acheus
smirked,andthenturned,hearingfootstepscomingbehindhim.
More than smith,sweatcoveredthe approachingyoungman;more thanElder,ironweighed
himdown,peeringfrombetweenhisrobesandscarves;andmore thanall,hisfeetdepressedthe sand.
Quickblade Levi pulledthe clothfromatophismouth,“Sir Elder,I saw you leftyourtent.If,if I may,I
wouldlike tohave a wordwithyou.”
Before speaking,the ElderglancedtoTitus,whokeptat hiswork, “A wordalone,youmean?”Levi
nodded.The Eldersteppedaside soTituswasclearinLevi’sview,“Levi,if youcannottrustTitus,the
man whom, if memoryserves-andforgive if itdoesn’t-madeatleasthalf yourarmor,thenhow can you
feel secure,orhowcan anyof us feel secure?If the craftsmanisnottrusted,commerce cannotbe held;
if the smithcannot be trusted,coalitionswill surelyfail.Trusthim, Levi, orelse we three Eldershave
gatheredfornaught.”
No pause wasmade betweenhammerandchisel;Tituskeptathiswork.Levi replied, “Itrusthim, butI
trust notwhoevermighthearhim.For,Elder,yourwordshave hittrue,I do not feel secure.Ihave no
wrinkles,I’vefoughtnowars,I’ve wonnobattles: Elder,whoamI to duel the King?”
“Alreadyyouhave heardmyendorsement,andeachday-itfeels-Ihave spokenittoyouin some way;
thus, youneednotmy word,but another’s.”He grabbedthe craftsman’sshoulder,“Titus,have you
advice forLevi?”
Tituskeptat his work,speakingbetwixtthe strikes,“Tomorrow,the sunwillrise.”Clang.“Tomorrow,
whatneedsto be done,”clang,“will be done.”Clang.Titusadjustedhischisel.“Feardwellswithin
yesterday,”clang, “itmakeslongthe wait,”clang,“itwastesour thoughts,”clang,“andit gnawsupon
boththe-”clang; Titusadjustedthe chisel again,pullinghisarm far back as he spoke,“-boththe
imaginedandinevitable.”Clang.Titusleanedback,asingle letternow showedonthe stone,‘H.’Titus
grinned,adjustedhischisel,andstruckagain, clang,“Levi,youare an honorable man,”clang,“youwill
face the King,”clang,“andyou will keepyourword.”Clang.Tituspaused,thenlaid downhishammer
and chisel.He drewa tentinthe sand,takingtime to draw the ropesand tentpegs.He turnedand

3. spoke, enunciatingwithfingeruponthe drawing,“Thoughdoubtandfearbuffetyourtent,those nails
of character,those measuresof honesty,truth, andintegrity,those pegs setinyoubyElderand parent,
theyshall keepstrongyourtent.”Deepandsmearedwere the drawnpegsnow.
Levi bowed,“Thankyou,yourwordshave helped.”
The craftsman turnedbackto his work,“Aye.”He pickedhistoolsup,aimedhischisel,andstruckagain
the stone.
Part 2
The chisel workedthroughoutthe night,the hammerminedbeneaththe stars,andLevi,like
manyothers,letthe rhythmlull him.Though intruth,it wasexhaustionthatputhimto sleep,while
anxietyruffledhissheets,andfearkeptathisears,wakinghimat the firstsoundof otherstalking.Levi
rose,placedonhisarmor, and lefthistentintothe endingnight.
The sun had yetto wake; but,aroundthe campfire’sdull embers,the grouphad already begun
to form. Theywere oldand veteran,theywere youngandtrained,andall hadwasters-practiceswords-
upontheirhips.Several heldunlittorches,forthe groupkepttheirvoiceslow,caringnottowake family
or friend orLevi.Theirchampionapproachedthem.
Levi saidnothingtothem,but motionedtowardsthe dune.Theywentbehindhistent,climbing
the sand, silentastheytoppedthe hill.Theirtorcheswere now lit.Levi enteredthe middleof the
formingcircle,drewhiswaster,andwaitedforhisfirstopponent.He neededtopractice,he wantedto
practice,he wantedto fight:he wantedtolose.The winnerwouldtake hisplace;itwaslogical,itwas
simple,anditwasbestfor everyone.
His firstopponentapproached;theirmatchbegan.The thought to lose hadcome to himin the
night,rightbefore sleep.He wasgrateful forit,truly;though,still,he fearedwhatthe othersmight door
say.The bestfighterneededtobe theirchampion.He wasn’tthatfighter,he wasjustlucky.Levi beathis
firstopponent,strikingthe man’ssworddownandthenhittinghimuponthe neck.He didn’tneedto
lose tohis firstopponent:maybe the secondorthirdorfourth.
The secondopponentapproached.Anoldermanwhose wasterwaschippedonthe edge.Levi
pairedhiswasterwiththe man’sand the match began.Fromrightto leftthe firstswingwent,meeting
nearthe middle;Levi pressedin,causingthe swordstostraightenupasthe man foughtagainsthim.
ThenLevi turnedhisblade,slidingitupthe opposingsword,aimingforthe chipinthe wood.Levi’sblade
caught the chipand he pulledhisblade overhisshoulder,causingthe man’swastertoflyintothe air.
The secondwas tooeasy,so maybe the thirdcouldbeathim.
As the thirdapproached,Levi begantodistracthimself bystudyinghiswaster.The wasterswere
made of a hard wood,solid,light,bruising;yet, beforeTitus,theyhadstill lackedthe weightof anormal

4. sword.Titushad chiseledthe wastersof the sparringgroup,imbeddingpiecesof ironwithinthem,
grantingthat more realisticweight.The youngopponentfell,gaspingasLevi landedthe thirdblow.
Firstto three hits,thatwas the rule,andnow the fourthopponentapproached.Anotheryoung
man,an apprentice of anotherElder’sson;thiswouldbe agood choice. Yetas the match began,as he
landedahit,as the boylandeda hit,as bothgot to two,Levi feltthe crowd’sstare. The boylookedwide
awake:mostlikely,theyhadwokenhimearly. The sparringgrouphadn’twoken Levi.Theyhadn’tcalled
him.Theyhadn’tnudgedhimawake.They alwayssaidtheywere gatheringthe others, orcheckingtheir
wasters, orlettinghimsleep.The latterwasthe truthof it. He had believedthe otherstoooften.If he
was to be theirchampion,he didn’tneedsleep,he neededpractice;if he wastobe theirchampion,he
didn’tneedkindness,he neededexperience;if he wastobe theirchampion,thenwhydidtheyinsiston
treatinghimlike this!?The fourthcriedout,bloodleakingfrombeneathhiseye.
Levi wantedtofail,he wantedanothertotake hisplace,he wantedanotherto representthe
three clans;but here,before him, wassomethingthatsaidotherwise.HadTitus’wordsgottentohim?
Or, wasit that he wantedsomeone of betterskill totake hisplace?Thata part of himwantedto lose
due to the other’smerit, andnot hiscowardice? Ormaybe,perhaps,itwasjustfrustration,itwasthe
youthhe so hatedin himself,thatothersmistookforpassion orfocus.
The day passedby.Tomorrowwas the duel.Yetthisday saw no goodchallenger.Theywere all
too old,tooslow,or too,too foolish.He wastheirchampion.There wasn’tanothertogive itto. He was
the bestin a duel.Whythough,whyhim?Was he trulystrong,or was he actuallyjustaverage:were the
otherssimplyweak?Ateveningtime,LeviwatchedfromhistentasTituswentto the Obelisk,asthe
smithsat downwithhammerandchisel,ashe aimedand struckthe stone.He listenedtothe work,
watchingthe steadyhandrise and fall, hearingandrememberingthattomorrow wouldcome,nomatter
whatfear said.Itwas fate,itwas stone.Levi couldeithershed hisfear,orbreakdownacoward; either
way,the duel wouldhappen. Tomorrow wouldbe the day,tomorrow wouldbe the day,tomorrow-oh
godsabove,tomorrowwouldbe the day.
Part 3
The Hand of Order,the FirstKingJeremiahapproachedthe nomads’camp.Cladinsteel,
adornedwithgold, andlinedwithsilverthe royal guardseemedtooutshinetheirKing:he wasdressed
for war.Steel coveredeachlimb,withstripscoveringthe joints,connectingthe pieces.A single scarf
wrappedroundhiscollaredarmor.Like burntblooditdrippedbehindhisback,wavinginthe morning
breeze,offendingthe sky’swakingeye.
ThickrobedAcheusstoodnextto the champion, quickblade Levi.The Kingapproachedthem,
withthe obelisk’sshadowmarkingthe sandbetweenthe groups.Jeremiahspoke,“OldenAcheus,Ioffer
youleave one lasttime:commandthese clansto come underme.Spare the sandthisman’sblood.”

5. “What you wouldhave me dowithwords,youwouldshackle withlawsandtaxesuncommontoour
nation.Youhave abandonedthe waysof our forefathers;youhave washedawaytradition,replacing
ironwithsteel,tentwithhouse,andfamily,clan,withstate.Thus,whyshouldIbelieveyouhonorable,
whenyoucurse your ownfather?”
“Do you markme as a hypocrite?Hownow can you deceive yourself whenhereIstand?Do I not obey
traditionbycominghere?DoI not obeythe sleepingagesbyduelingthisman?AndagainIask you,all
of you,whydo youascribe our identitytothese tents, tothisrustediron,tothisoutdatedwayof life?
Conquerorschallengeus.The nationslaughatour name.Theyinvade astheyplease,theymarch
throughour sandsat theirleisure;whywait,whyriskthe daywhentheymightsiftuslike the chaff?”
“Our fathersfoughtthose nationsandourfathers’fathersfoughtthemtoo:ourtime isno different.
Bloodmay spill,butourwayswill stand.Ourpeople are the desert,the shiftingsand;more thananywe
knowthe blade,more thanany we know the longmarch and waitedambush.Butmetal,metal isnotthe
simple change yousayitto be.It is the broad districtsIhave seen,itisthe brickedbuildings,the tall
billows:itisthe chainingof ourpeople toa single place,toasingle will.Here we roam.We debate and
go to where the majoritydesires.We eatwhatour handshave made,whatour handshave shepherded,
but forthisyour cities payothers.Howthenare theyconnectedtolandand nature?How thendo they
understandthe waysof sandand clan? It isone of the whole andthe individual;butyou,youdesire that
all people be underyou.Jeremiah,Iaskyouthe same,how can youdeceive yourself,how canone man
representwhattwelveEldersonce did?”
“One man? One man can do naught! Yetwhat wordswill youhear,whatexplanationwillsatisfy!?
Nothing,nothingbutdeath!Sobringonthisyoungchampion;and,thoughit greavesme,mayhisdeath
breakyour will.”
Levi steppedforward,“Elder’sson,Jeremiah,here Iwill defeatyou!Bythe quickblade youwill fall,by
Levi,championof these clans,nomore will youthreatenourfreedom!” Hisclansmencheeredashe
shouted,ashe drewhisblade witha flourish.Levi raisedthe blade andenteredareadystance.
Jeremiahdrewhislongsword,keepingitathisside, “Withcheersa youthisoffered.Levi,mayyoube of
the fewto die inthisdispute.”Slowlythe Kingraisedhissword,matchingitwithLevi’s,while keepinga
relaxedstance.Withashoutfrom Acheus,the duel began.Levi struck,Jeremiahblocked,lettinghis
wristseemweak. The boypushedJeremiahbackwithhisattacks,passingthroughthe dividingshadow,
drawingthe twocloserto the line of royal guards.
He couldwin.The King wasweak,feeble,inexperienced:he couldwin.Levi struckatthe King’s
leg,the blowglancedhisarmor.The Kingfaltered,andLevi begantohammerthe man’sblade,striking
repeatedlyfromoverhead,bashing,causinghisblade tolower, aiming,hopingforthathituponthe
head.Lower,lowerthe King’sblade fell underthe onslaught;and,rightabove the head,the King
droppedhisblade.Levi yelled,strikingonce more.With hisrightarmthe Kingblocked,pushingthe
blade up,pushingitupnear effortlessly.Jeremiahgrinned.

6. The Hand of Order,withhisblockingarmaimeddownward,pressedaswitchwithinhispalm.A
blade slidoutfromhisarmguard,runningparallel tohispalm.Witha jerk,Jeremiahpushedupand
forward,runningthe blade acrossLevi’sthroat.The womenyelled,the childrencried,andthe men
lookedon,unbelieving.The boyfell tothe ground,gasping,clawingforblade,andlosingvision.
JeremiahlookedtoAcheus;the Elderdidnotcry, he didnot yell,he didnotscreamor grasp hisface,but
he staredat Jeremiah,eyesfullof focus.
The Kingbeckoned toa royal guard.A small bow,a crossbow heldinone hand,wastossedto
the King.Jeremiahturned,aimed,andletloose the bolt,piercingthickrobedAcheus. The manyhad
cried,nowall wailedatthe sightof the Elder.Jeremiahthrew downthe crossbow,“How now doesiron
standagainststeel?Hownow doesthe past face the future!?Here I have killedtwomen,here Ihave
endedtwoliveswithaflickof wristanda pull of finger-whatmore evidence doyouneed!?Whatmore
proof do yourequire thatyour livesare livedatthe whimof othersmore advancedthanyou?Here,”
Jeremiahraisedhishandandall the royal guard drew theircrossbows,aimingatthe crowd,“here I
couldkill all of you,every one of you.Your armor wouldnotsave you.Your marching,yourambushes,
your skill of sword,theyall meannothing!Buthere,“JeremiahpointedhisswordatLevi’sbody, “here I
have upheldyourvalues: ourvalues.Ihave dueled,andIhave won.If your creedsare so dear to you,if
traditionwasenoughtooffer upthis man for slaughter,thenhonorthisloss,honoryourword.Either
come now or ina month’stime,forthat iswhat I give youall.” The crowd stoodstill,lookingatone
another.Titussteppedforward.
Tiredwas the craftsman’sgaze,tiredfromhislabors,tiredfromhammerandchisel,tired inspirit,“King
Jeremiah,if youwill have me andmyfamily,Iwill joinyoutoday.”Several menglaredatthe smith.
Jeremiahsheathedhissword,“ThenIwill take you,andyouand yourswill be honoredthisday;but,tell
me,whatis yourname and station?”
“I am Titus,a smithand craftsman,I have made and fixedwhatevermypeopledesired.Imade theiriron
armor. I made theirweightedwasters.Imade thatboy’s duelingblade:andyouhave laid waste all my
work.Thus there isnone bettertoknowthe truth youspeak,to see the difference betweenore and
alloy.”
Jeremiahwalkedcloser,“If soclearlyyousee this,thenwhyjoinme now?Whatcausedthiswait?”
“Honor. Hope.Youare clansmanand have done the bestforyour clan,you have advancedthem,
revolutionizedthem;butmine,mineishere,sohere Istayed,workingmycraftnightand dayto make
themstronger.”
“Yet Titus-no,all of you,howcan either anyof us realize true strengthapart?”Jeremiahpointedtothe
obelisk,“Itwasall twelve clansthatdraggedthisstone;itwasall twelve clansthatdugits base;andit
was all twelve clansthatraiseditup.So letusjointogether,letthe twelvebindtogether,andformagain
a nationthat withstandsthe rushingwinds!”Titusnoddedandsteppedforward,hisfamilyfollowing
behindhim;afterafewmoments,several otherfamilies-eitherfatherormotherfirst-joinedthe King
and Titus.A third of the group leftwiththe King.The remainingnomadsbroke campandleft.

7. Thus alone,again, stoodthe obelisk,watchingthe peoplemarchoff.Noscars of sword or ax had
marredit thistime;but,a fewwordswere etchedbelow,afew wordsthat the risingsun wouldalways
read,‘Here the freedomof a people wasdecided.’