by Hicks, Aaron
Airos said, “Do not worry about it. You can sleep in our cart. We brought it for our treasures, but after only a month and a half it’s more empty than full. It would raise our spirits to pretend we found a treasure as beautiful as yourself in the Dungeon. Truth be told, I’ve heard stories of beautiful maidens found in the Dungeon that are bound to their savor until he or she dies. Then the maiden disappears back to the Dungeon, some say.”
Laurilli said, “I would appreciate the cart. Would it be okay if some of the children rode with me?”
Airos said, “Sure. ‘Tis a sad thing that we don’t have much to show for this trip, but we’ve lost no lives and we’ll return once the Osiris fight is over.”
Laurilli woke up Enan and Thulmann and they headed back to their camp as the sun peaked over the trees. The camp was already up and had begun to cook breakfast and break down the camp. Laurilli wasn’t hungry, but she fed her son, then sat with everyone, and explained the plan. She helped break down the camp and together with her son and the children found Airos and the cart. Then she climbed in and fell asleep.
She woke up to laughter and the sight of Pippy and Robyn hanging off a laughing Airos while Elysha and Kayla sat on his shoulders and held Mychael in place on his head. Laurilli grinned at the sight. She checked to make sure her son was safe, saw he was asleep on her chest, and fell back asleep. The next time she woke up was to her son crying. She fed him, and when he was finished, she rearranged her shirt and stood up in the cart. She was told that without the children slowing them down they were making a great pace and didn’t have to worry about not making it on time.
During the five days travel from the tower--that was actually a Dungeon--they learned many things about each other’s lands and when the rose on the day of the fight, they arrived at the capitol. Laurilli was a little sad to see them leave, as they needed to check in with their House before they headed to the Osiris fight.
Laurilli and the rest of her group headed to the arena. They still had most of the day before the fight, but they figured there would be a line to get in, plus they didn’t know where the arena was. Fortunately, like most of the trip, they followed the people to their destination. They passed what was clearly a coliseum and continued into a temple. They, along with the rest of the now boisterous crowd headed down into the depth of the temple. Their pathway was lit with torches and the long winding tunnel was wide enough for a dozen people to walk side by side. When the tunnel ended it opened up into a vast cavern that was easily tens of thousands of feet long and wide, if not hundreds of thousands. It had been turned into an arena, Laurilli noticed, by carving seats out of the stone itself. There’s no way this whole thing could possibly be filled.
She led the group to the less-crowded far side of the cavern and they were able to find seats for themselves two rows from the lip of the arena. They broke out food and started to feed everyone. Her son cried out in hunger. So she discretely fed him and tried to ignore Nine, as he stared at her. When her son was done, she readjusted her shirt and handed him to Pamfilo who burped him. Laurilli was again struck with sadness that this was something so simple she couldn’t do.
As they waited the arena seats began to fill and a voice like thunder asked that everyone move closer together and keep moving to the lowest row to make room for those yet to get their seats. As the hours passed the people behind her complained about everything from the weather to the seats to having to sit with common folk to being forced to sit on the losing side. At that Laurilli wondered if the crowd would be penalized in some way if the side they sat in had a fighter that lost. The four spiked wolf pups—who had been angels the whole trip--became agitated and Laurilli was forced to Walk out with them so that they could do their business. Finally, after eating a second and then third time the flow of people arriving trickled to a halt. All at once all the torches blew out and in the darkness children wailed. She heard Pippy crying and Repus soothed her.
In the center of the pit a blue flame lit. It slowly grew brighter until Laurilli could see the whole arena, but only barely make out those next to her. The flame in the middle of the arena split into four, then eight, then sixteen, and at sixteen it was flung toward the audience! The flames hit an invisible barrier as she and those in front of her dove to the side. The fire spread over the pit in a dome. She picked herself off the ground and watched as the flame lifted into the air and when it stopped it exploded again in bright white sparks that fell into the arena and lit the whole pit as if it were daylight! She blinked back at the sudden light, and when her vision cleared she saw monsters in the pit across from her! She recognized like the centaur, the minotaur, and the giant. But the other three were a horse-like dragon, a snake man, and a woman-bird creature who didn’t feel the need to cover her breasts.
Behind her she heard the two complainers say, “Ohh, a naga, a centaur, a minotaur, a draconic fighter, a giant, and a harpy! Uktesh is so screwed! I would’ve paid a great sum to watch him fight one or two of them, but all six! It’s a waste of a good tribute.”
She felt her blood go cold as she looked at the man standing alone, facing them, on their side of the arena. He was taller than she remembered, more muscular, and she felt an aura of death coming from him. She didn’t like that. What have they done to my Uktesh to make him exude an aura of a killer?
The voice from above and around them boomed, “Osiris welcomes you to his arena.” As the voice spoke she saw her son reaching out to her from Pamfilo so she held him and felt the dragon tattoo slide up her arm. She looked down to see that her son no longer had the tattoo, is it safe for you do leave him?
The dragon thought, yes, I could’ve left the day after, but I wanted to make sure he was safe.
Through their link she felt the alternative reason, breastfeeding! You pig!
The dragon laughed and thought. I couldn’t help myself! Ignore that for now.
Ignore it? You have a lot of explaining to do!
You need to somehow get me to Uktesh! I can sense the skill of those six and he’ll die without me. Hell, even with me he still might die.
She held her temper, handed her son back to Pamfilo, stepped down past the two rows in front of her and shouted, “Uktesh!”
He turned to the sound with confusion, his eyes locked onto hers, and he was suddenly standing next to her! He wrapped her in his arms and asked, “Laurilli? What are you doing here?”
She kissed him, she couldn’t hold herself back, she felt the dragon leave her arm and flow into Uktesh. He broke off the kiss and held her. She murmured, “I missed you so much.”
Uktesh kissed her again and said, “I missed you too. After this fight, I’ll earn my freedom and we can be together again.”
One of the spectators said, “Um excuse me, they’re talking to you.”
“… fighter Uktesh return to the sand or you will forfeit this fight and your life.”
Uktesh kissed her again and was suddenly gone. She saw him back on the sand as he looked at his right arm, clearly talking to the dragon.
As she returned to her seat she heard the voice either continue or start, she wasn’t sure which, “if there are any five who wish to join Uktesh they may do so now.”
As she sat down, the two behind her asked themselves, “Who would volunteer to fight against failed god form fighters?”
She saw someone pushed into the pit from across the way, and saw that the man was bleeding from dozens of cuts and was more bruised than not. The man behind her said, “Oh, I wish I’d thought of that! Get rid of some trash and earn some favor with Osiris! Do you think it’s too late to throw that lazy stable boy in the pit?”
Thulmann stood and leapt into the pit, and even though she currently hated what her father had done, he was still her father and she felt a thrill of fear run through her as he landed and rolled to his feet. In short order, One, Two, Five, Seven, Tylor, Enan, Anan, and Larut jumped into the pit!”
The people behind her said, “Well there really are idiots born every second.”
The Fight
The day he reunited with Laurilli.
Uktesh stood in the darkened tunnel as all the lights were turned off and people began to wail in fear. Uktesh saw a flame light in the center of the sand and Heathyr touched his back. She asked, “Are you ready?”
Uktesh felt the power coming from the other tunnel and knew he couldn’t win. He turned to Heathyr, smiled, and said, “This is similar to the last time we had this talk, right before I fought the minotaur.”
She face filled with sadness, but she said, “So you’ll find a way?”
Uktesh felt tears sting his eyes. At least I’m starting to become more human, “I don’t think there’s a mace that I could swing big enough for this problem.”
He saw tears spill from her eyes as she stepped close and hugged him. “For what it’s worth, you were the best son I’ve ever had.”
He let out a half sob, half laugh, and said, “You too. The best mother I’ve ever had.”
A priest walked up to them and said, “It is time. Release her and walk twelve paces onto the sand.”
Uktesh did as he was asked as the light went from blue to blindingly bright white. He let go of Heathyr, Walked twelve paces into the pit, and as his eyes adjusted he saw the six he would face standing before him. Uktesh stood on the sand for a minute and saw a man who had to be the Emperor seated on a dais in the front row. He was extremely overweight and was eating something as Uktesh watched. The voice from above him boomed, “Osiris welcomes you to his arena.”
Uktesh frowned as the voice continued, “This, the fourteenth Osiris fight, pits one spectacular gladiator against six failed god form gladiators! Osiris has called you together and has deemed that those who win will be freed from their slavery, and those who fall will be with him for the rest of eternity!” Uktesh didn’t like the sound of that, but he didn’t really believe in gods anyways. He looked at the brands on his wrists and thought, what have Belesh or Uketar ever done for me? “If there are any who wish to-”
Uktesh missed what was said next as he heard the impossible. He thought he heard Laurilli call out his name, “Uktesh!”
As he turned to the sound he knew he must look extremely confused, but then his eyes locked onto hers, and he Walked next to her. He held her and asked, “Laurilli? What are you doing here?”
She kissed him, and it felt like he had finally become whole. He pulled her closer to him and felt something wrap up his arm. He broke off the kiss and held her close as he looked at his hand behind her back and saw the distinctive dragon tattoo.
That’s right kid! I’m back!
Laurilli murmured into his chest, “I missed you so much.”
Uktesh kissed her quickly again and said, “I missed you too. After this fight, I’ll earn my freedom and we can be together again.”
One of the spectators said, “Um excuse me, they’re talking to you.”
“… fighter Uktesh return to the sand or you will forfeit this fight and your life.”
Uktesh kissed her again and Walked back onto the sand. He looked at his tattoo and thought, I’m glad to have you back, this fight is going to suck!
I can tell. The one you have to worry about the most is the dragoon.
Is the dragoon the draconic one? Kind of a dragon centaur?
Uktesh felt the dragon nod, and then the dragon thought, exactly. I may be biased, but I don’t think the others are as dangerous. They’re dangerous! Don’t get me wrong, but that one feels … tough.
I’ve fought one of those before and it nearly killed me.
I can tell you’ve gotten much stronger since we parted. You must’ve trained hard.
All day every day since coming here.
That’s good. You’ll need it.
Uktesh saw people in the crowd push a giant man onto the sand. The man was bleeding and bruised and Uktesh was confused as to what was going on as he saw Ceftin jump, slither, glide? over the rail and onto the sand. As he slithered over to Uktesh and the giant picked himself up Uktesh turned and saw that Tylor, Larut, Thulmann, and six others had jumped in too.
The loud voice asked for volunteers to help you, but only five. I’m not sure what will happen with eleven. They all converged on Uktesh and Ceftin made it first so Uktesh clasped hands with him and Ceftin made sure not to hurt him with his claws. Next, he got a bear hug from Larut and a more sedated if no less heartfelt hug from Tylor. Thulmann held out his and to Uktesh, who slapped it away and with a grin gave him a bear hug. He nodded his head at the other six in their group and turned to find the giant towering above him.
Uktesh held up his hand and the giant shook it gently. Uktesh asked, “Who are you? And why did your people throw you in here?”
The giant said, “I am Airos. I was thrown out of my House for giving your wife, something that that was not mine to give.” Uktesh saw Laurilli jump into the pit and everyone turned to watch her as she jogged their way.
She got to them and said, “Airos, what are you doing? Why are you beat up?”
Airos said, “My House leader did not appreciate that I gave you that ring.”
Uktesh was confused, “Why did you give my wife a ring?”
Laurilli punched his shoulder lightly and said, “It’s not like that. It’s a ring that’s also a sword.”
Uktesh said, “Oh, like,” he reached into his loin cloth as everyone recoiled.
Laurilli stepped in against him and said, “This is not really the time husband.”
Uktesh sighed and said, “No,” as he pulled out his hand that held the bracelet he’d stolen from the dragoon. Uktesh said, “I think I have one too, though I don’t know how to get it to work.”
Airos said, “Did your opponent say anything before it morphed into a sword?”
Uktesh shook his head and said, “No. It just morphed.”
Airos said, “Wow, those are incredibly rare! Think, ‘ex-quip,’ or possibly, ‘ex-quip sword,’ and it should work, but don’t do it now, save it as a surprise attack. To turn it back just think, ‘unex-quip.’ Or ‘unex-quip sword.’”
Uktesh thought, dang I wish I’d known about that before now, knowing which one would be a big help.
The dragon thought, it’s, ‘ex-quip.’
Uktesh felt the bracelet begin to morph in this hand and both he and the dragon thought, unex-quip!
Uktesh put the bracelet on and felt it shrink to fit his wrist.
The voice spoke up again and said, “Only five are allowed to remain, no more may enter the pit or forfeit their life!” Uktesh saw Basam quickly pull his leg back from over the edge of the pit. The voice continued, “As all of you either volunteered or were volunteered choose among yourselves who’s fighting.”
Uktesh said, “Well I’m staying obviously, and just as obviously I think we can all agree Laurilli-”
She elbowed him in the ribs and said, “Not this time! I’ve trained hard and I’m not letting you fight against mon-” she looked at Ceftin and Airos and said, “them without me.”
Uktesh said, “Fine, does anyone want to withdraw?” When no one moved or said anything he continued, “We’ll draw lots then. The five with the longest stick or straw get to stay the shortest seven leave. One, Two, Five, Seven, Larut, Tylor, Thulmann, Enan, Anan, Ceftin, Airos, and Laurilli all nodded. Uktesh called for a pile of sticks or straw. And once he was handed twelve pieces of straw he broke seven of the twelve in half and stuff all of them in his hand until they all appeared to be of equal length.
Larut said, “Ladies first.”
Laurilli took a straw from the pile that was clearly long. Sh
e smiled bravely and nodded. God damn it!
Don’t worry boy we’ll protect her.
We’ll try to.
Larut went next and also picked a long straw.
We’ll protect him too.
Uktesh felt the dragon’s uncertainty.
Next Thulmann picked and it too was a long straw.
Ceftin went next and also picked a long straw.
After four picks and four long straws everyone looked at Uktesh because it was clear that they, Uktesh included, wondered if all the straws were long, even though he knew that he’d snapped them in half.
Airos went next and picked a long straw! The Numbers that hadn’t yet picked did so and they all had short straws. Tylor, Enan, and Anan shrugged an picked their short straws too. Uktesh swallowed and said, “I guess we have our six.”
The Numbers shrugged and ran to the edge of the pit and vaulted up the wall and into the crowd. Tylor said, “I can’t jump that high!” Enan and Anan nodded.
Airos said, “I will aid you up the wall, my friends.”
Airos lifted the three up the wall and walked back to the group. Uktesh said, “For what it’s worth, I want you to know how much I appreciate you guys volunteering. Even you Airos had the chance to back out and you didn’t. This is going to be as hard a fight as we’ve ever had together. I’m certain it’ll make the Voukidist fight pale in comparison. Anyone have an opponent that they want to fight? If you do I’ll take the leftover one, but I think I should take the dragoon, the dragon-looking one, he’s the strongest.
Ceftin said,
“I’ll take the Naga
if thisss isss the end of my sssaga.”
Uktesh nodded and Thulmann said, “I’ll take the minotaur.”
Airos said, “I’ll fight my kin just as the naga does.”
Larut said to Laurilli, “Which do you want; the bird girl or the horse boy?”
Laurilli said, “I wouldn’t want you to get all confused about chivalry because of her gender. I’ll take the harpy.”
Larut said, “Looks like the centaur is mine.”