Venture Unbroken

by R. H. Russell

  Jade swallowed past the lump in her throat. “The good things aren’t real to him yet. But the memories are. The fears are.”

  #

  Venture glanced nervously at the wall between the training rooms. Jade was usually here by now, but he hadn’t heard her arrive.

  Someone rapped on the window in the training room door. It was Flora, wearing an unnerved expression. Venture felt a stab of sharper fear.

  Dasher gestured for her to come in.

  “She’s fine,” Flora said as soon as Venture opened his mouth. She handed Venture a folded piece of paper, sealed with wax and stamped with Jade’s seal. “This is for you.”

  Venture cracked it open. He read the words he’d been wishing for months he could hear from Jade. The message of love and encouragement. And then . . . her decision to put her training on hold until after the Championship.

  “Thanks,” he said numbly.

  Flora simply nodded. Her mouth, usually so generous with smiles, held back any hope of one. It was pinched shut, probably against words she thought she’d better not say.

  She left. Not just the training room, but Beamer’s. Why stay, when her training partner wouldn’t be coming?

  Venture tucked the note in his bag. “Ready, Dash?”

  Dasher nodded.

  Earnest grabbed the timer. “Right foot forward. No switching your feet.”

  Venture switched his feet, catching Dasher with his old favorite, a left-side inside leg reap. They went to the mat and Dasher rolled into a triangle and locked up Venture’s bad arm. He released it before Venture could be stupid enough to fight it.

  Earnest scolded Venture about his feet, but Venture’s mind was still on Jade’s note. Even when he sent Dasher sprawling with Dasher’s own favorite foot sweep, then tapped him out, that note kept nagging at him.

  Why did her message make him feel more like a man who’d suffered yet another defeat than one who’d won a longstanding argument? And why the blazes did he feel like he had to do something about it?

  #

  Jade woke to the sound of the curtains ripping open. The warm glow of the sunrise shone through the window behind her grandmother.

  “Get dressed in your worst, Jade. Your father’s lost his mind.” Rose’s voice was high and tight with disapproval.

  “Hmm?”

  Connie slid a cup of coffee onto her bedside table. “Mr. Delving’s here, Miss.”

  “Vent? What for?”

  Felicity answered for her, eyes twinkling. “So that you might join him on his run.”

  “Just the coffee for now, Miss.” Connie glanced from Grandmother to Felicity. “Auntie’s bundling up some breakfast for you to take with you. Mr. Delving says your stomach won’t be able to handle it if you have it before.”

  Jade dressed while Viney raked at her hair. Jade batted the brush away and tied her hair back, still half tangled.

  Venture was waiting in the kitchen, leaning in the doorway to the washroom, the way he used to do. He was trying to look cool, but his crooked grin took over. That grin!

  “Hey,” he said.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Breaking a few rules, if you’re you up for it.”

  “Grandmother said Father agreed to let me train with you?”

  “He agreed I should take you to training, yes.”

  “I see. I suppose he didn’t exactly know I’d agreed to stop coming on my own.”

  “Not exactly.”

  Mrs. Bright set cheese and fruit onto a cloth to be bundled up. “I threw the biscuits in as fast as I could. They’ve got a few minutes to go still. Miss Jade, aren’t you going to talk some sense into him?”

  “I’ll send Chance for that later.” Venture nodded at the food. “And whatever you need for training. Flora’s coming at your usual time. Come on. Time to go.”

  “I’ll slow you down.”

  “Probably.”

  Jade lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. Challenge accepted.

  Earnest was pacing in the courtyard. When he saw Venture come out with Jade, he shook his head in disbelief.

  “Good morning, Earnest.”

  “Not for long.” He turned and jogged out, and Jade followed him, with Venture behind her. Dasher stood outside, arms crossed. “Really, Miss Fieldstone? You agreed to this?”

  Not Jade today, hmm? “You ought to know I care even less about what people think than Venture does. I only ever cared for his sake.”

  Jade sprinted ahead and Dasher fell into place beside her. “This isn’t about what people think,” he whispered. “He can’t prepare like this. Mentally. He’s not focused. That he would even try to get away with this proves that.”

  “Maybe this is what he needs right now. You were always the one who trusted him to know what he needs.”

  “You’re right. He knows what he needs, and he’s doing this for you in spite of it.”

  “No, he’s doing this for us. And that’s what he needs. He needs there to be an us. He risked too much for there not to be.”

  #

  Venture could hear Jade and Flora’s feet sliding across the mat in the training room next door. Safe, happy. Earnest gave him and Dasher a nod and Chance started the timer. Time to spar. They’d just finished drilling takedowns, with tireless Dasher on the receiving end of one perfect technique after another.

  Sweat dripped off the end of Venture’s nose as he blocked Dasher’s left jab, then dove in for a takedown. Dasher resisted, and Venture locked up with him. Dasher hooked his leg on the outside of Venture’s in an attempt to throw him backward, but Venture grabbed Dasher’s other leg and sprang into the air, changing direction and lifting Dasher all the way up, then bringing him down to the mat. Venture transitioned quickly to an armlock, but Dasher turned into him, and Venture rolled into a choke instead. The tap came so fast, Venture almost didn’t believe it. But he felt Dasher starting to go out, and he quickly released him.

  Chance gave a little cheer, and Dasher lay back on the mat, coughing. “I can’t believe you just did that, Champ.”

  Venture sat up and grinned at Earnest. Earnest shook his head, but he couldn’t hide the fact that he was pleased. “Anything to prove us wrong, right?” He rolled his eyes toward the wall between them and the girls.

  Venture laughed and helped Dasher up. Dasher was happy for him, but there was more to the gleam in the former champion’s eye. He was ready to get Venture back for that tap-out and Venture was eager for the challenge.

  More than that, Venture was ready to show the Cresteds that nothing they’d done, nothing they were still trying to do, could stop him from being the fighter he was meant to be.

  Chapter Twenty

  Founders Rock, Richland

  Summer’s Second Month, 660 After the Founding

  The crowd stamped their feet in unison. The large placards on stands behind each competition area were marked with the match number one. Fighters paced and shadow-fought in anticipation at the edges of their competition areas. The first bouts of the day, the first fights of this year’s Championship, were about to begin. Though he wouldn’t be fighting until tomorrow, the whole arena seemed to shake with coordinated calls of Venture Delving’s name. To them, he was a returning champion.

  At least for one more day.

  Hit with a sudden weakness in his knees, Venture ducked into one of the partitioned-off rooms meant for today’s competitors. He braced his hands on the wall, pressed his face into the corner, and prayed that he’d start feeling like a champion—or at least like a man fighting to be one—instead of like the man in that cell. He felt another rush of hatred for the Cresteds, for Will Fisher. They’d turned the arena and the competition he’d spent his entire life dreaming of into a nightmare.

  The whole way here from Twin Rivers, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Fisher was scheduled to hang at noon, the day after tomorrow. Intentional timing, meant to make it easy for the crowd who’d been in town to witness his crime last year to watch hi
m pay the ultimate price for it. To refocus their attention on Fisher as the culprit, after Venture’s presence in the arena reminded them of the Crested campaign against him. So they could all go home feeling that it was over, that no more questions need be asked.

  Venture slammed his fist into the wall. I need answers! Do you hear me, God? How could he go on when he didn’t know who was responsible for the scheme with Fisher, for those men he’d killed on the road?

  He’d felt so ready just a few days ago, back in Twin Rivers. Now that he was here, it was all coming back at him, threatening to tear him apart. Venture did what he knew he needed to do. He prayed for justice rather than vengeance. That he’d deal with them, in the right way, when the time was right.

  Earnest found him. “Hey. Are you okay?”

  “Fine.” Venture put his match face on.

  “Where’s Dasher?”

  “He’s probably putting the fear into someone for me. You know he always socializes with a purpose.”

  “He should be here, watching with you. Keeping an eye on whoever makes it to tomorrow’s competition.”

  “What’s the matter with you two?”

  “I’m sorry. No more arguing this weekend. I promise.”

  Venture let it go. He followed Earnest out of the little room. But something was up with those guys. Something deeper underlying the typical disagreements about how to handle Venture. Things weren’t the same between them since the time he’d spent in the lockup. Jade had told him they’d fought about what to do to get him out of there, but there was more, he knew it. There was something she was holding back, something they were all keeping from him. He was so sick of secrets.

  The announcer stood on his platform, brought the horn to his lips. The crowd sat, hushed. The first set of names was announced.

  And then someone said his name. “Venture Delving!”

  Lacy Clearwater was headed straight for him, notebook ready. Earnest cursed under his breath.

  “Since when do you cover the Championship?” Venture said.

  “The Crier wanted a different approach this year.”

  “Interesting. I’ve decided to take a different approach to the Crier this year.”

  “And what’s that?”

  Venture grinned humorlessly, turned his back, and started to walk away.

  “Mr. Delving! Just a few questions.”

  Venture kept walking, and Lacy followed. Chance stuck his foot out to trip her, and Venture jerked him back just in time to spare her the tumble. Venture fought back a laugh at the mental image of Lacy Clearwater flat on her face.

  “Hey,” Venture whispered. “I appreciate the thought, but the last thing I want is to have to catch that woman.”

  Especially after the completely fabricated “news” she’d announced in yesterday’s paper, that Venture Delving and Jade Fieldstone were now engaged to be married. Jade had been trying so hard not to pressure him. She’d be furious when she saw it. And it certainly didn’t help his position—or his worries about Jade being in the spotlight, being a target because of her relationship with him.

  “Mr. Goodview!” Lacy, completely unaware of her near meeting with the pine floor, changed tactics. “Your fighter was badly wounded. Won’t that affect his performance tomorrow?”

  Earnest stopped. He gave Lacy a penetrating look. “Of course.”

  “Really, he’s not the same fighter he used to be?”

  “No, he’s a better fighter, and tomorrow, everyone is going to see that.”

  “Mr. Delving?”

  Great. Now he had to say something. If he didn’t, he’d look like he didn’t believe what Earnest had said himself. But to Venture’s surprise, he did believe it. That supernatural feeling of patience and confidence that he’d felt back home took over again.

  “What happened at the last Championship made me stronger,” he said. “The fight, the work of rehabilitating, and the fear that I might not be able to fight again.”

  “What about the lockup?”

  Anguish and outrage twisted his insides. “Everything that’s happened sharpened my mind, my body, and my resolve. Everything.”

  Venture strode away, and this time Lacy didn’t try to follow.

  “Thanks a lot, Earnest,” he said.

  “I knew you could handle it, and you did. What do you think she would’ve written if I hadn’t answered?”

  Nothing, Venture wanted to say. But he knew Earnest was right, even if he only wished what he’d said about the lockup were true.

  “She’ll be interviewing the other fighters today. Asking them about you. She’ll tell them what you said.”

  Blasted Lacy Clearwater. At least Jade wasn’t here to see him talking with her. Though she was in Founders Rock, Jade wouldn’t be coming to the arena until tomorrow, to watch him fight. The Fieldstones were staying at her cousin Tempest’s house while Tempest’s husband was away on business, but they were spending today visiting with Felicity’s sister, Bell. If Jade ran into Lacy tomorrow, there was sure to be a scene.

  “Hey, Champ.” Dasher joined them. “Was that who I think it was?”

  Venture grunted. He turned to see where Lacy had gone, who she was pestering next, and that’s when he noticed something—someone up in the stands.

  “That’s the man who threatened me last year, the leader of that mob at Beamer’s!” Venture barely got the words out.

  Dasher followed Venture’s eyes up to the sixth row. The leader of the mob was talking to the guy next to him, gesturing with his hands.

  “It can’t be, Champ.”

  “It is. I can tell by the way he moves.”

  Dasher folded his arms. “If it is, what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know, kill him maybe?”

  “You’d let him cost you the Championship—not to mention everything else? What if he’s just here to mess with your head?”

  Earnest took a deep breath, trying to be patient. To humor Venture. He didn’t believe it either. “We’ll deal with this when you’re done. When you’re a two-time champion.”

  Venture just stood there, fuming, staring at the man in the stands. He might be messed up, but he wasn’t mistaken. It was him.

  “Come on, Champ. Let’s get away from here. The last thing you need today is a fight. We’ll save that for tomorrow.”

  “That’s right, Vent. From the looks of it, Lance could really give you one. He just blew right through his first guy.”

  “I didn’t see it,” Venture muttered, still keeping an eye on that Crested man in the bleachers. Lance was the last thing on his mind.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Venture’s first opponent was young, just a year older than him, energetic and unencumbered by injuries. He’d only been competing as an absolute fighter for a year or so, typical for a twenty-year-old. Less time fighting meant less time getting hurt, but it also meant less seasoning. Venture planned to dispose of him quickly. He wouldn’t waste energy toying with him.

  Venture slapped Earnest’s and Dasher’s hands and stepped onto the mat. Without even realizing he was doing it, he looked to the front row, where Jade was sitting in the stands with Grant and Justice. She met his eyes. She looked proud, determined, and he smiled, feeling the same.

  The whistle blew, and that was when Venture noticed the Crested man from yesterday, sitting in the third row behind Jade. He was staring right at her. No, not staring, leering.

  Venture didn’t attack first, as he’d intended. He just stood there, all of his plans forgotten. He didn’t care that his opponent’s confused look had morphed into a pleased one. That the guy’s coaches were shouting for him to seize the opportunity.

  It was all Venture could do to stay on the mat, to keep from running up into the stands and taking the fight to that Crested bastard.

  Dasher yelled at him. Earnest screamed. Venture wasn’t listening. Blows came, and he dodged and weaved, mechanically. Venture reacted, blocking a kick to his head just in time. He foot-swept his
opponent, then dragged him halfway across the mat, face down. Venture slid his legs around one of the guy’s arms and his neck, sitting on his head as he tightened up the triangle choke. He went through the technique just as he had drilled it, hundreds, if not thousands of times, but without passion, without his usual fire. He just wanted to get this match over so he could go and deal with that guy. If he got any closer to Jade . . .

  I could kill him, right here, right now. No, not again. I don’t want to go there again. Dear God, Help me.

  Venture cinched his legs tighter, locking one foot behind the other knee. He pulled that leg down to apply more pressure to the choke, as he began to secure his opponent’s leg with his arms, looking for the ankle lock. The tap came, from the choke, before the ankle lock was complete.

  Venture stood up and searched the stands. The Crested man was gone. From the look on her face, Jade was relieved that he’d won, but perplexed by his performance.

  The official cleared his throat and gave Venture a pointed look. Oh. Back to his line. Venture stepped to the line, right next to his opponent. The exhausted, defeated fighter shook his head at Venture and pointed across the competition area, to the other line, where Venture belonged. The announcer made some smart remark about it, and nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.

  Earnest handed Venture a water flask. “What is wrong with you?” he hissed.

  “That guy. The one I saw yesterday. He was looking at Jade. You didn’t see the way he was looking at Jade.”

  “Vent,” Earnest said, “look at me. You looked like hell. If that had been anyone else you have to fight today—”

  “If I were one of them, I’d be thinking how I would’ve buried you.” Dasher said.

  “I don’t care.”