Garth turned back to his own fight and was startled when he could not see Naru. The giant seemed to have disappeared!
There was a crashing of trees and to Garth’s left, at the edge of the circle, the giant came crashing through, the trees around him withering and dying. Garth conjured one of the trees to life. Naru, laughing, turned on it, fighting it hand to hand, tearing limbs off the tree and tossing them aside so that the tree-creature simply fell over and collapsed.
Now came wave after wave of attack against Garth, orcs and goblins, enraged dwarfs swinging their battle-axes, and nameless creatures out of the darkness.
Garth countered by striking at Naru’s mana, weakening the lands that supported his magic, setting up circles of protection for when Naru’s minions came too close, counterattacking with winged creatures and Llanowar Elves that gleefully struck at the dwarfs, crushing them down.
His mana weakened, Naru was forced to withdraw to his own half of the circle, laying out a wall of fire. The two stood gasping for breath, Naru shaking his head and laughing, the laughter coming like the panting of a bull.
“You good fellow. Too bad must die now.”
Naru waved his hands and a new onslaught began. Creatures in the air, on the sand, and rising up from underneath, coming one after the other. Garth gave ground slowly and the mob, wild with hysteria, sensing that the fight was coming to a climax, roared with delight.
Garth erected more trees, stepping back slowly, warding off the attacks that broke through but each time it seemed as if he had less power than before. Naru again reached the edge of the forest and waved his hand. Some of the trees ignited in flame and Garth instantly replaced them. Again there was the burst of fire and again they were replaced.
Naru stood back for a second, shaking his head with frustration. Garth stood at the far side of his circle and then, ever so slowly, he fell down on his knees as if his final power had been expended.
Naru, with a wild cry, raced into the trees, which towered up over him, the crowd roaring insanely, expecting him to crash through and deliver the coup with his bare hands.
Garth instantly came to his feet and pointed straight at the forest. Above the roaring of the crowd another sound now washed over the stadium, the miniature forest shaking and trembling. A loud, howling roar exploded and from out of the forest a green head appeared, its fangs glinting in the hot, late-afternoon sun. The head of the Craw Wurm weaved back and forth, like a serpent’s, looking for its prey. The creature arced over, its long sinuous body weaving up out of the forest and then crashing back down.
A loud, bellowing roar of pain thundered out of the woods. Trees swayed back and forth, crashing over. For a brief instant a stone giant started to form at the edge of the forest. Garth waved his hands and the Craw Wurm's tail lashed out, toppling the giant. Continuing to control the Wurm, Garth now redirected its attack at Naru.
More trees toppled and then, from out of the forest, the Craw Wurm emerged. Wrapped in its scaly coils, Naru struggled to get free, bellowing with pain. The Craw Wurm threw another coil around the giant’s kicking legs, crushing him under its weight.
The mob, driven to an ecstasy of excitement, howled insanely. Naru continued to fight, managing to bring forth another burst of flame from above. Garth countered by blocking the fire, and then increased the Craw Wurm’s strength. The Wurm threw another coil over Naru, pinning his arms and squeezing.
The giant's face turned dark purple. A loud scream of anguish burst from him as if the cry had been crushed out of his body. Naru’s head lolled back in unconsciousness.
The mob, screaming with insane frenzy, cheered wildly, even though it was one of their old favorites who had just been defeated.
The Craw Wurm raised its head, preparing to bite down and devour its meal.
The screaming of the mob thundered.
Garth One-eye raised his hand.
The Craw Wurm seemed to freeze and then, in a puff of smoke, it disappeared.
Naru, still unconscious, tumbled to the ground and was still. Garth walked over to the giant’s side and pulled his dagger out.
A hush settled over the mob, confused by this action and then realization set in that Garth meant to deliver the death blow with his own hand. Some cheering broke out but many fell silent. This was no longer killing in the heat of combat and there was an uneasy stirring.
Garth held his dagger aloft and then with a dramatic flourish threw the blade out of the circle. A stunned gasp swept the arena.
“He was a worthy foe and my friend!” Garth shouted, the mob surprised that a mere fighter held the rare spell of far speaking. “I will not murder him for the pleasure of a Grand Master who has perverted the rules of the arena.”
“Kill him. It is a blood challenge.”
Garth turned and looked back at Zarel.
“I won the match, you cannot deny me that. But I will not commit murder for you.”
Zarel, screaming with rage, started to point at Garth.
“Will you violate that rule as well?” Garth taunted.
“Let them live!”
It was a lone voice, that of a woman, and Garth looked across the arena to see someone standing, wearing the dark leather armor of a Benalish warrior. Her cry was instantly picked up by the mob.
“Let them live, let them live!”
Garth started to create a shield of protection while all the time staring at Zarel, waiting. Furious with rage, Zarel looked back out at the mob, which was on its feet, some of them already spilling over the wall, ready to storm onto the arena floor. Zarel, his features white with fury, sat back down.
Turning his back on Zarel, Garth reached down and touched Naru on the forehead. Naru stirred and opened his eyes.
“Funny. Is this afterworld?”
Garth smiled and shook his head. Extending his hand, he was nearly pulled over as Naru weakly got to his feet.
“You mean I lose and you still alive.”
“Something like that.”
“I am disgraced, One-eye.”
“I called it a spell match so, damn it, give me a spell and we’re even.”
Naru fumbled weakly in his pouch. He hesitated for a moment and then pulled the amulet out.
“Juggernaut, most powerful I have,” Naru said evenly.
Garth took the amulet, and then shook Naru’s hand, the exchange causing the mob to erupt into a wild frenzy.
The two walked back to their corner, Naru resting his hand on Garth’s shoulder for support.
Kirlen, leaning on her staff, ignored Naru as they came into the shade, the giant staggering over to the table of food, picking up a heavy amphora of wine, and inverting it over his open mouth, the wine cascading down his pale, drawn face like a river.
“Your sentimentality won you no friends here,” Kirlen said.
“I brought back your best fighter alive.”
“And you.”
Garth smiled and said nothing.
A loud cheer went up and Garth looked over his shoulder and felt a momentary tightening in his chest. Varena was down on the ground. But her opponent was down as well and ever so slowly Varena came to her feet and held her fist up in triumph.
Garth turned back to face Kirlen.
She smiled coldly and turned away.
Garth went back to his seat. The arena thundered with noise in celebration of the end of the fifth round of eliminations.
“It’s time for the winners to get their wreaths,” Hammen announced, coming to Garth’s side.
“Then I think it’s time for me to go.”
“I think he has something planned for you.”
Garth smiled.
“Let’s see how the timing works.”
“Maybe you should just skip out now and be done with it.”