Chapter 4 – the Arena
Bela saw the gate opening slowly. The clattering and clanging sound of chains scraping against each other made the crowd grow silent. In that dark opening they heard a roar, a painful sound as if the beast inside was suffering. Brought back from the dead she wasn't surprised it suffered – who wouldn't? The wind of anticipation swept around the cave shaped room and Bela could see the two warriors in front of her tense up, preparing them selves for a fight to the death. Magic were already evoked to give them whatever little advantage there were to be had. She could feel the gifts of nature running through her veins speeding up her pulse and heart rate. The beast screamed in agony as the handlers probably more than poked it to make it enter the arena and the crowd drew their breath in shock and eager. Quartus looked back at her, giving her a glance that made her nod in assurance. She was prepared; she called forth the spell of blood flow to spread it in a cone shape in front of her making her companions able to draw healing power from it once the fight started. The cave came to a dead silence as the undead Vistrix entered the arena. The dragon shaped demons from the cold lands were vicious but animals in their foundation. What she saw made her almost feel sorry for the beast. There were no honor in killing a tortured beast and this demon had left its primal day's behind it. The once silvery scale like skin now looked grey and rotten. Holes filled the body and dead meat shone like gaping infections. Quartus must have felt something in her magic because he quickly turned and hissed,
- It's still a beast and it will show you no consideration once the attack starts.
- I know, she replied and got her act together as the beast caught their scent and lashed out at them. Quartus intercepted the attack and pierced his pole arm in the neck. A rotten smell spread through the arena and she could see Xorenius attack on the right flank. Both his swords moved faster than lightning and the beast roared in aggravation and probably pain. "Well, we better put him out of his misery" she thought and launched a frontal attack. As her hammer cracked against the scales in the chest she felt the magic power kick in, the blood flow spell started building up, a few more hits and the healing it would bring would be at maximum. The beast spread its left wing, knocking Xorenius to the ground and making one of his swords fall from his hand. Quartus drew back his pole arm and made a series of outburst against the beast to get its attention drawn from Xorenius, Bela felt the need to get the renewal spell on and let the autumn leaves flow around her, granting her the promise of renewal at springtime. That promise she channeled through her body seeping it in to her companions. This would add another healing affect on them. Xorenius was already up and launching his next sequence of attack. Bela caught a glance of the beasts' dead and pale eyes, the second she hesitated in her next move was all it needed to lift its gigantic claw coated paw and send her flying backwards several feet. She landed on her back, loosing her breath and biting her lip. She felt the taste of blood fill her mouth. She swallowed greedily, almost liking the taste, and drew the back of her fist across her mouth as she wiped the blood away. She felt the rage fill her, the need to hurt back and show the beast who was the master here. With a scream she launched against the beast who concentrated on the men now as it believed her to be immobilized. She struck the side with the power of a raging bear, her hammer crushing the scales, leaving vulnerable but dead flesh in the open air. She swung her hammer again, in a one arm strike leaving her left hand free to ignite the blood flow spell that now had built up to maximum. She felt the surge of healing like a late summer breeze leaving a faint, blue afterglow on their bodies.
- Strike your weapons in the exposed flesh; the ointment is clouding its reflexes! Xorenius shouted burying his sword deep in another opened wound.
The beast roared and took a swing at Xorenius who quickly got out of its way. The beast roared and so did the audience now. Clapping, screaming and cheering felt like a distant noise to the warriors in the arena but the arena master smiled in contentment. This was a worthy fight; his master would be pleased when the audience talked about this fight, spreading the word that this was the arena with the fiercest fights and most terrifying beast ever seen by mortal men. The beast stood up on its back feet, spreading both its wings and then let a threatening roar fill the cavern. The audience went wild with blood thirst, calling to the fighters to kill it. Bela knew this was a desperate move from a desperate animal, a try to intimidate its enemies to go away and by doing so leaving parts of its body exposed. Both Quartus and Xorenius used the opportunity to position themselves in a deadly trap. As the beast's strength failed, and gravity doing what it always did, it came down upon Quartus pole arm with its entire body weight. The pole arm pierced the flesh, digging deep and ripping flesh and internal organs to pieces. As the heart got severed in two the beast grunted, the entire body shook and Xorenius tried to reach its head. Unexpectedly the beast lifted its right front leg and clammed down on Quartus who was forced to release his pole arm and grip the gigantic paw with his hands to hinder it from crushing him. Quartus went down on his knees, sweat dripping from the open areas in his helmet. Bela launched her hammer on the paw, probably breaking more than one bone from the crushing sound of it. The beast drew back and Quartus staggered for half a second. Xorenius drew the beasts' attention away from them by trying to climb its back, something that infuriated the beast more than anything. Bela knocked the beast back from the side, making it lose its balance, getting all its attention she hit her hammer in the ground creating lose dirt, trapping the beasts' feet, making it less movable. She grabbed the handle with two hands, seeing Xorenius getting up on its back, thrusting the hammers shaft upward with all her strength, made the beasts snapping head, lounge backwards and straight into Xorenius sword. The sword ripped whatever brain was still in there and the tip of his sword made an exit hole straight through the left eye. Bela felt sick as she saw the already dead eye cling to the tip of his sword making a little gooey wiggle before it fell to the ground. The beast snorted, grunted and staggered. Xorenius jumped of it, leaving his sword still inside the beasts head. With a pierced heart and head it would normally be dead but since it no longer was a living creature the only thing killing it would be the gift of life. Bela grabbed the bottom of the pole arm; the beast too hurt to protest let her, and as if it knew freedom and rest was soon to be had. She extended her hammer to touch the tip of Xorenius sword and then she let the renewal spell spill from her body into the weapons, sipping into the beast that drew a gigantic gurgling sound before it drew back and fell lifeless to the ground.
- Is it dead? she grunted trying to ease her breathing.
Quartus stepped forward, kicked it slightly with his boot. Nothing happened and then he drew out his pole arm, the stench that spread almost made them gag. Xorenius did the same with his sword but this time they were prepared and held their breath and noses until the worst smell vanished. Bela watched the beast…, peace at last. There was a moment of utterly silence before the audience came to and started applauding and cheering. The warriors in the Arena lifted their weapons in the air, receiving the hails and respect. The gateway opened and the arena master entered followed by four guards. He eased the audience down and started speaking with a dramatic and strong voice. Something you never would have guessed he could do, considering he was a scared little weasel.
- Ladies and gentlemen, seldom do we have the chance to witness such courage and valor as these three warriors have brought before us today. The quest for the blood stone has at last come to an end! Team Leviathan have defeated the undead Vistrix and earned the prize fare and just. Let's hear it, applauds ladies and gentlemen!
The audience started applauding again and at the same time a short man dressed in a golden robe entered the Arena carrying a blue velvet pillow. On the pillow a bright red stone rested. Although Bela still felt the adrenalin from the battle surging through her body, the sight of the stone made her hold her breath. Never ever had she seen such a stone, it was as big as her fist.
- By Crom, would you look at that, she exhaled.
Both men watched the stone carrier with a serious expression as if they were afraid he would run off with it. Not that he would get very far in that ridiculous clothing.
- It's my honored duty to offer you, team Leviathan, this prize as a token of your courage and valor. May the leader step forward and claim the prize…
Not that they had a leader but naturally Xorenius who signed them up and recruited them got to carry out that role, for now. He took the stone from the pillow, held it up in the air, making the audience go crazy with excitement.
- Can we leave now? I need a bath, Bela whispered making Quartus smile.
- You did good Bela, Nice to fight by your side again.
She returned the smile and strapped her hammer on her back. Xorenius returned to them,
-Let's get out of here!
* * *
After looking, holding and sniffing the stone in the entrance chamber they agreed to meet at the marketplace early next morning to cash it in with Xorenius buyer. Bela felt she could trust Xorenius but Quartus felt he had to hang around to be sure the man didn't split with their earnings. He was always so suspicious but she knew that was a part of what kept him alive. Trust was a rare thing in Hyboria. So, while Quartus kept to Xorenius side Bela went to the local and very luxurious bathing house. She used her last couple of silver coins to get a well deserved bubble bath. The servant told her the steam sauna would be available and though a bath would have been more than enough she couldn't resist the temptation of warm steam getting her body sweaty and relaxed. Her swollen lip pounded like crazy, a lovely reminder that she was alive and victorious. She undressed, leaving her clothes to get refreshed while she used the facilities in the bathing house. She put on a white pair of underwear, applied by the bathing house, designed especially for bathing and wrapped a white towel around her half naked body before she entered the bathing area. The bath tub was designed to fit several people but she was alone at the moment, she dropped the towel on the floor and slowly glided into the water. There was something so lovely about a bath she couldn't find words to describe it. Quartus had never once complained but she knew that during their time together, he found it odd that a person could spend her last money on a bath rather than food. The lovely smell from the bath filled her senses making her strained muscles relaxing, that's why her heart almost stopped as she heard a male voice whispering in her ear,
- Relaxing will keep you off guard to dangers…
Reacting on instinct she grabbed the man leaning down at her from behind and flipped him into the water. It all happened so fast he didn't have a chance to stop her. She threw herself on top of him using her own weight to push him under the water. She then felt him take a steady grip around her waste with both hands, trying to lift her off him. Her weight would be a walk in the park for him eventually so she clenched her thighs closer around his waste and locked her feet behind his back. He wriggled under her and she lifted her right hand to punch him in the nose when she recognized the clothing and the hood. This was the man, the assassin who gave her the coating. She loosened her grip, drawing his head above the water surface,
- What are you doing here? What do you want with me?
He coughed and spurted water; she helped him to sit up and regain his balance. She reached for the towel and wrapped it around her half naked body. Not that she had anything to hide; he probably had been watching from the start, the shadow creeping bastard. But a girl has got to be allowed a little dignity.
- You know, she continued, you keep showing up everywhere. I get the mysterious part, you're a backstabbing assassin for gods' sake, but I don't get why you keep being helpful. You must want something or did Quartus set you up to this? I don't need babysitting…
He started laughing and she had to admit he looked kind of funny sitting in the tub, all drenched. She smiled,
- Yeah, that's what happens when you creep up on girls taking a bath.
- It was so worth it, he laughed, and I knew you're fast but I didn't expect that!
He took off his now very wet hood and she saw his face for the first time, he had brown glittering eyes, high cheekbones casting shadows down his jaw. He appeared very lithe, almost like a black panther. His lips quite thin but temptingly drawn into a smirk at the left corner. Clean shaved, not that she had anything against beards but clean shaved suited him. His brows were a perfect wing shape; he was a handsome man even with the thin white scar from a distant battle crossing just outside his eye and reaching down to the jaw line. His dark brown hair was a mess because he'd become wet but he obviously kept it quite short. He stood up, water dripping from his clothes,
- I'm Bergelmir and I'm sorry to intrude on your private time like this; however I believe you have a nasty surprise in the steamer. I saw two men mixture with it and I believe a raven black woman entered it some time before you came in here. She was chatting to the men. They want your ass badly. Probably going to keep you as ransom for the stone you won.
- I appreciate the warning but why were you following me in the first place?
He got out of the tub, dripping water everywhere. He shook like a dog to rid himself from most of it.
- I would offer you a towel but the only one in here is busy right now, she snickered teasingly.
- Point taken, he smiled glancing at her standing there with arms crossed over her chest expecting a damn good explanation, and I am, as I said, so sorry to intrude like this! However me following you is perhaps something you've imagined?
Her jaw fell open,
- Oh, come on! You gave me tea in my room while I was poisoned, you gave me ointment to coat my blade in the Arena and now you just happen to hide out at the same bathing house to warn me about the steamer? If I think back real hard I'm pretty sure I'll remember even more times where I've seen you around, skulking in the shadows. So please, don't insult my intelligence!
He chuckled, it kind of rumbled low in his chest and to Belas surprise she liked that about the man. She shrugged her shoulders before she continued,
- Come on man, come clean here!
His eyes glittered with amusement,
- This might be very frustrating for you but my intention was never to reveal myself to you! I cannot expose those behind a contract, what kind of an assassin would I be then?
- A backstabbing one, I'm sure. You're obviously not here to kill me, which seem odd enough for person in your trade, so what is this contract about? Watching my ass?
He smiled again, lowering his eyes from her scrutinizing stare as he spoke mildly,
- I can't tell you, not yet anyway. I will however make sure you're safe until further notice.
She threw her hands in the air, like she gave up on reason,
- I can take care of myself, she complained, why is it, that everyone thinks I need looking after? I just killed an undead Vistrix for gods' sake! I'm not a child anymore!
- No, that's for sure, he smiled eyeing her body but refusing to meet her shocked expression.
- You nasty bastard, just because you can hide in the shadows doesn't mean you can play peeping Tom whenever it suits you!
He chuckled again,
- I wasn't watching you like that; I simply came to warn you. I don't know what they did in the steamer but I prefer if you didn't use it. Take your bath; I'll be waiting – outside! Perhaps we should continue this discussion when you are more properly dressed!
He started to leave with clatchy wet sounds for each step he took.
- Hey, she called and he stopped for a moment glancing back at her over his shoulder, Next time, you can warn me before I take my clothes off! Then the discussion wouldn't have to wait!
He nodded with a smile and left. Bela sighed, she felt she could trust the man; he wasn't out to harm her at the moment but small butterflies started stirring inside her tummy. She had been away from home for a long time, maybe they finally had started to worry about her! She had repressed the happenings leading to her departure and a very angry clan. The chief had threatened to come after her and kill her himself but she didn't think he would have the courage or the time considering the Vanir threat they lived with on a daily basis in Cimmeria. She fastened the towel a little more tightly and marched straight to the steam filled sauna. There was only one way to find out, she yanked the door opened. Steam poured out of the opening, she felt a slight nausea as it hit her nose. Immediately she took a deep breath of fresh air and entered the sauna. After a few seconds her eyes got used to the steam and she could see a woman trying to hide in the left corner, her face covered up with some cloth in black and gold. Still holding her breath she lunged forward and grabbed the surprised woman by the hair dragging her out of the sauna and all away from the steam before she dared fill her lungs with air again. The shocked woman tried to get free and Bela let go of her hair. Instead she grabbed the cloth and ripped it from the woman's face, the long black hair fell like black raven wings down her back and her eyes, equally black turned narrow as she watched Bela eyeing her.
- So you came to drug me or what? Bela snorted sniffing the cloth. It was drenched in something that probably would shield the woman from whatever was in that thick poisoned steam.
- I don't know what you're talking about, she hissed.
- Sure you do, this is not what you usually wear in the steamer, now talk or I'll have to punch you!
- You just try, the woman smirked. Bela sighed again, this days trouble seemed to never end.
She kneed her hard in the stomach so fast the woman cried out of chock and pain, she bend forward grabbing her stomach to shield it from more attacks.
- Don't mess with me, you already ruined a perfectly good ending of this day, Bela growled.
- Wait, wait, the woman panted making an averting gesture at Bela, you were suppose to go to sleep in there and then…, I would deliver you to someone in an hour.
-Who?
- I…, I… can't…
The woman looked at Bela with fear in her eyes as she leaned forward, coming up nose to nose with her. Bela had already realized this one wouldn't put up a fight. No matter what, a knee to the stomach would have given a certain amount of response, had the woman possessed any physical fighting skills. She probably was someone depending on magic or she was just poor, needing a job like this to get food on the table.
- I tell you what, Bela hissed and not moving an inch from the woman's face, I'll leave you be if you lead me to the person who hired you.
- Please, don't make me do that! The woman pleaded sinking to her knees, tears starting to build up in those scared, black eyes; they'll kill me for sure!
Bela straightened out her body,
- Come on, a minute ago you were like all bad-ass, inviting me to try fighting you. Now you're breaking apart under one stare and someone is no longer one person but "they"? You need to decide what to do here. You must understand I can't take any attack on my life lightly! I must act on it!
Her lower lip shivered and tears started falling, Bela looked awed struck at the woman,
- For the love of Crom, stop it! I'm not going to hurt you as long as you lead me to them!
- They will know I betrayed them, they'll come, and they'll bring war upon our village. We'll all die; we're not fighters like you…
Bela eyed her,
- Come then, I need you to come with me.
The woman seemed reluctant at first but it was not a civilized question, it was an order.
