Yet still the thunder washed over him and, squinting from the glare of the hot afternoon sun, which reflected off the packed sand of the arena, he stood up, gasping for breath.
“Why didn’t you just stab him with your first blow?”
“I thought I could knock him out.”
“Cut the chivalry. This is death match and you better fight it that way,” Hammen snapped.
Garth looked around the arena where half a dozen fights were still going on. In a circle at the south end of the arena a great spider was scampering around, holding a fighter aloft, the man writhing in agony, the mob in that section jumping up and down in their seats with wild abandon. On the east side two small armies of undead and skeletons were busy slashing at each other, while in the ring to the north of Garth a fighter was strutting about, holding up the head of his slain foe.
Garth walked over to Ulin’s body and looked down.
“Damn you,” Garth sighed and, reaching down, pulled out his dagger, wiped it on the sand, and then cut the man’s satchel off, tossing a mana bundle to the referee. The crowd broke into wild applause.
Garth turned to walk back to Brown’s stands.
“Too bad you didn’t declare it a death match, One-eye,” the referee taunted. “You could have gotten a prize.”
“I don’t need any more spells and the hell with the blood money,” Garth snapped in reply.
Still gasping for breath, Garth slowly walked across the arena floor, ignoring the wild howling of the mob, which stood to give him an ovation. Stepping under the awning, he went over to the food and wine, pouring himself a drink, while out in the arena the last fights were played out.
“What happened to Varena?” Garth asked, turning to look back out on the field.
Hammen pointed up to the tote board.
“She won.”
Garth nodded, saying nothing.
Naru came back in, covered in blood and holding the satchel of a Fentesk fighter.
“Not this much slaughter in years,” Naru announced gleefully. “Many good spells.”
He shouldered up beside Garth and, taking up a decanter of wine, drained it off with loud, thirsty gulps followed by a rolling, self-satisfied belch.
“Ah, now better. Perhaps we fight, I take your satchel now.”
Garth looked up at Naru.
“You know, it’s hard to admit, but I’ve almost come to like you.”
Naru chuckled, his voice edged with sadness.
“Me almost like you. Too bad.”
“Fighter, make not friend of fighter.”
Garth turned to see Kirlen standing behind him.
“This slaughter is because of you. You realize that, don’t you? All the Houses will lose their best today and tomorrow.”
“So stop him.”
“We can’t.” Kirlen waved toward the mob, which was on its feet, howling with bloodlust as two fighters, their spells expended, staggered about the fighting circle, slashing at each other with daggers.
“He’s killing more fighters out there today than we’d lose in a half dozen Festivals, just so he can get at you and win the mob back.”
Garth sipped at his wine.
“And all of you will be the weaker for it. Like I said, the four of you should stop him.”
Kirlen shook her head, saying nothing.
“Let me guess. He paid all of you off, didn’t he? The potential loss of contracts made good over the next couple of years.”
“The bastard,” she said softly, her voice barely audible above the screams.
“And of course you took it.”
“The others did too.”
“But of course,” Garth replied, his voice filled with contempt. “So why don’t you try and kill me now and get the rest of the bribe?”
“In due time, in due time.”
Garth, shaking his head, returned to his seat.
An explosion of sound swept over the arena as the last fight ended with a mutual kill, the two fighters stabbing each other, and neither one with a single heal spell left. They writhed about for what seemed like an eternity and then both were still. The spectators screamed hysterically, jumping up and down over the spectacular finish to the fourth round. Even though any who bet upon it had lost their money, still they cheered over an ending that would be argued about in the taverns and on street corners for years to come.
“They’re certainly getting their money’s worth today,” Hammen said coldly, before downing a beaker of wine.
The urn containing the names of the survivors was now brought out again and the monk started to draw out the new fighting pairs. The first names started to go up and the entire arena came to its feet.
“You’re fighting Naru,” Hammen whispered.
“Damn.”
Garth slowly stood up and looked over at the giant, who stood gaping at the board until his servant finally told him what the symbols meant. Naru turned and looked back at Garth and, with a huge beefy hand, motioned for Garth to walk out with him. As Naru started out from under the awning and into the bright light of the arena Kirlen hobbled up to his side, said something, and then turned her back as Garth walked by.
Garth came up to Naru’s side.
“This will be to the death, One-eye.”
“Too bad. Like I said, I was getting to like you, even though you are as dumb as an ox.”
Naru threw his head back and laughed.
“All think that funny. How come Naru so dumb and yet control mana so well? Don’t know.”
“A freak of nature,” Hammen sniffed.
“I like you too,” Naru said, looking down at Hammen. “You be my servant after One-eye dead.”
“Not likely.”
“How much did Kirlen offer you?” Garth asked.
“Choice of her spells I kill you.”
“Did you ever think why she wants me dead?”
“You cause trouble.”
Naru looked back down at Garth and shook his head.
“Somehow this not seem right. Naru like good fighting, but too many friends die today. Too many. Naru have no one left to play with when this done.”
As they reached their circle Garth looked around and saw Varena walking slowly toward her circle, a Purple fighter moving to take the other side.
“Who is that against her?” Garth asked.
“It’s not good. That’s Jimak’s favorite. The way the fixing is going on, I wouldn’t be surprised if he loaned some of his own spells. I hope she got the same offer from her Master.”
“Damn fool wouldn’t take it,” Garth said. “Too much honor.”
“Don’t worry about her now,” Hammen replied. “Remember, you caught that big lummox by surprise last time. He won’t let it happen again. Don’t let him get close to you. If it turns to hand-to-hand he’ll rip you apart and pick his teeth with your ribs. How are you feeling?”
“Still a little light-headed from the last fight.”
“Just great,” Hammen sighed.
The final trumpet sounded and the referee came over to Garth, showing him the two tokens. Again Garth took the white. The referee went over to Naru and a moment later she returned to her box and sent up a red flag, to the cheering of the mob.
“Good luck, Master.”
“You never wished me luck before.”
“Well, you never needed it before.”
“Thanks for the confidence.”
“It’s not a question of confidence,” Hammen replied. “It’s a question of being a realist.”
“Fight!”
Garth stepped into the circle and, concentrating his will, he immediately started to draw upon his mana. He delayed launching an attack, deciding instead to hold back, building up his strength as much as possible. Naru finally made the first move, sending a mammoth forward and Garth finally replied by again creating a wall of trees, fronted with an impenetrable growth of brambles against which the mammoth raged and trumpeted, especially when the brambles started to pierce the mammoth’s feet. Garth was surprised when Naru, using mana he had not suspected the giant would employ, sent wolves into the attack. They slipped through the trees and Garth, in turn, created wolves to fight and block them. An explosion from another circle erupted, nearly knocking Garth over and he spared a quick glance back to see Varena and her opponent engaged in desperate struggle, the circle engulfed in flames.