“My chains are exceedingly light,” added the elf, turning away without meeting the knight’s eyes. She busied herself with replacing the wine flask, returning it to a silver tray near the human.
The Solamnic eyed her thoughtfully then returned his attention to the arena, where the winner had departed in triumph and the loser had been dragged off unceremoniously and left for dead. Once the area was cleared, the two huge wooden doorways at the opposing ends of the Jaka Hwunar swung open. Barking echoed through the arena, but it did not originate from raucous members of the audience. A long-necked beast peered out from one side of the double doorway.
For the first time in more than an hour, the human seemed pleased, his eyes alight with curiosity. Stefan leaned forward to see the beasts better. “I’ve seen those. What are they?”
“Amaloks,” the grand lord offered, fully aware that the knight had not forgotten the name. Stefan Rennert played his own game. Golgren hid his pleasure at sensing the knight’s tactics. “Amaloks.”
But the four creatures being herded with strenuous effort by half a dozen handlers toward the center of the arena were not typical of the variety seen in most pens around the capital. These amaloks-all males-were giants of their species, their lupine and equine heads looming a foot taller than their handlers. Their lofty horns added to their height. The specimens were also more thickly muscled, with shoulders powerful and broad. They had been bred for that very moment.
The ogres managed to prod and herd three into the center, but the fourth-a male with an eye socket gouged out from some long-ago mishap-was proving a rebellious demon. The amalok snarled and snapped at its handlers, catching one with a bite on the arm. Despite any outward resemblance to a horse, the amalok had sharp, wide teeth that curved inward slightly; the result was that the handler suffered a deep gash.
The fresh scent of blood stirred the other beasts. Surrendering to the fact that the largest male would not cooperate, the handlers released it, and also the others. The hardy ogres raced from the vicinity as quickly as they could.
And not a moment too soon, for the male amaloks-already aroused by the presence of each other and the thousands of ogres pressed together-began to paw at the ground with their sharp hooves while whirling about viciously. Two dropped their heads and briefly sparred with their spearlike horns.
The clatter of that first clash among the beasts echoed throughout the Jaka Hwunar, and the gathered throng was sent into a barking frenzy. Stefan surveyed the onlookers and asked, “Are they imitating the amaloks? They sound similar.”
“We honor them, yes, because of their prowess. The amaloks are swifter than the ji-baraki, who respect their horns that are so sharp and deadly. The amaloks, too, they thrive where no other beast can, in places with no water and little shrub.”
“How’s that possible?”
Golgren shrugged, the answer obvious to all ogres. “They are amaloks.” He grinned teasingly. “Not nice animals.”
One of the smaller males dared lower its head toward the largest, barking at the other. The second amalok pawed the ground, scraping a small ditch, and answered with a savage bark.
Both males dived into each other, dueling almost like skilled swordsmen with their horns. Their crash caused several ogres to leap to their feet and brought Stefan to his as well. He’d hesitate to admit it, but the beasts’ fight was thrilling.
One of the two remaining males joined the fray, siding with the smaller animal by lunging at the larger amalok from off to the side. However, its would-be target managed to dodge away out of reach just in time before turning and slashing at both foes.
As the three mixed it up, the fourth seemed content to watch from the sidelines. The knight, already on the edge of his seat, asked, “Do they fight in a natural-born fashion, or are these trained?”
“The males, they are solitary. They fight when together … for food and mates. Like all males, yes?”
The human’s eyes darted toward Idaria, who was deliberately busying herself with some minor task, avoiding his glance. Then his attention returned to the fighting beasts. Golgren saw all.
“Those horns! They look as strong as steel!”
Golgren nodded, but his interest in the struggle had momentarily faded. He studied the elf; then his gaze shifted to the human. Something bothered him. His hand went to his chest, cupping the hidden objects hanging from his neck.
“Look there!” cried the Solamnic, leaping up. At the same time, the throng roared, many in the crowd also jumped up, barking louder than ever. The largest male was out-dueling both smaller ones. Its head twisted right, then left, then right again as it countered their horns. It even slipped under the defense of one, jabbing the amalok harshly in the shoulder.
The injured animal rose onto its hind legs and kicked out powerfully. The sharp edges of its hooves tore pieces of fur from the huge male’s chest. The second attacker thrust.
The larger beast could not defend itself. One horn slashed across its chest. The huge amalok barked defiantly but backed off.
Suddenly, at that point, the fourth creature, previously uninvolved, leaped forward, charging the biggest amalok’s open flank. Its horns pierced deeply before its target could react.
Once again, the knight could not but enjoy the fight and maneuvering. He glanced over at Golgren, astonishment filling his expression. “They’ve joined forces! They’re using strategy!”
Indeed, the fourth amalok’s effort put the dominant animal on the desperate defensive. Blood dribbled on the ground as the beast warily adjusted its stance to face three instead of two enemies. The last wound was a telling one. The lone amalok’s short, whiplike tail swung back and forth as if on fire.
The middle of its three adversaries refused to allow a lull in the struggle. The eager male bore down on the injured one.
But the large male caught the other’s horns on its own, forcing the attacker’s head nearly to the ground. A heavy hoof came down. The ends of the tough horns cracked like dried twigs.
The smaller amalok barked furiously. The large beast dipped its head and ran its horns through the other’s long neck, so far that they briefly jutted out of the other side.
Yet as the one creature fell limp, its two companions renewed their attack from both sides, charging the big amalok. One set of horns was deflected, but the other bore deep in the dominant male’s rib cage.
A pained moan escaped the animal. He teetered to one side. The amalok who had struck true pulled free, its horns coming out with a horrific, moist sound that echoed around the arena.
Sensing another imminent death, the ogres battered their clubs against the stones of the arena. They barked loudly, sounding at that moment almost like legions of furious amaloks.
The badly wounded male made two sharp, defensive swings at its adversaries, but the pair easily kept out of reach. The large amalok staggered, its forelegs finally folding at the knees.
The two smaller beasts moved in for the kill. The one that had inflicted the mortal blow feinted, drawing the larger male’s attention.
The other, its head low, impaled their stubborn foe in the chest. Blood poured over the besieged amalok’s long horns.
It was over quickly after that. The impaled amalok slumped to one side, panting. The remaining beasts lunged to bite at its body, in the process colliding with and snapping at one another.
Finally, the large amalok stilled. The pair sniffed the corpse then, with a snort, one took up a defensive posture. The other reacted by turning away. A moment later, the second one trotted to a spot some distance from the place of the struggle.
The lone amalok still near the corpses let loose with a series of harsh barks. It pawed the ground and twisted its head almost completely around to survey its audience.