Chapter 11. Champion

Part 1. Train Me

Grey Worm follows Domino and the guard from Marceese's study. As they walk through the foyer towards the downstairs slave barracks a slave stops them. "Pardon Reese…Reese wishes to speak with Grey worm…"

"Move along!" Domino says.

"What does Reese want…"

Domino looks at Grey Worm, "Reese is a pleasure slave not worth Grey Worm's time…"

"Grey Worm would speak with him anyway…" The guard and Domino back away.

"Reese thanks you…Reese is a pleasure slave…" A tear appears on his cheek, "A…a few moons ago Reese was tasked with giving pleasure to Master's guest…He made Reese bend over and…Reese wishes to feel like a man again…Gladiators and pit fighters are not treated this way…Reese asked Master if Reese could train as pit fighter…Master said if Reese could convince Domino or one of the fighters to train Reese Master would allow…Please Grey Worm is Reese's last hope…"

Grey Worm sighs feeling sorry for Reese, "Let Grey Worm see Reese's hands…" He obeys, "Reese has strong hands…Grey Worm will train Reese…" Reese falls to his knees and kisses Grey Worm's feet.

"Reese thanks Grey Worm…"

"Get up do not bow to Grey Worm…"

"Enough!" Domino says leading Grey Worm away. "Grey Worm is wasting time on Reese…Reese is nothing…Reese is a pleasure slave…nothing more."

"Perhaps…Reese just needs a good teacher…or perhaps Domino is afraid Reese will become better than Domino was…"

They stare each other down, "Grey Worm has a death wish…"

"Grey Worm states a fact…"

Grey shares a cell with Spit, Monkey Tail, and a woman named Slit. A few slaves from other cells taunt him, but he ignores them. The next day as the Gladiators and Pit Fighters line up to get food Reese appears. "Well bathe Mud Bug in horse shit…Who let stuffed butt in here…" Everyone laughs. Mud Bug, Blood spot, and Witch walk up to him.

"What the fuck is Reese doing around real men and women?"

"Master…"

"Grey Worm agreed to train Reese…" He says walking up the group. Grey Worm pulls Reese away and stands in front of them. "Master said if one of the fighters train Reese then Reese can train…" Domino watches from a corner stroking his rolled up whip.

"Grey Worm puts that little shit in the arena…then Mud Bug will take offense and crack his head open…"

"Mud Bug can't crack Reese's head if Mud Bug is dead…"

Mud Bug smiles then he looks at Blood Spot and Witch, they nod. Mud Bug tries to hit Grey Worm, but Grey Worm catches his fist and uses his free hand to bend his elbow and he uses Mud Bug's own fist to bloody his nose. He takes his fist and smashes it into Witch's face, busting her lip and nose, then he kicks Blood Spot in the throat and finally flips Mud Bug onto his back.

"ENOUGH!" Domino yells, cracking his whip. "Breakfast is over to training! Mud Bug…Witch…Blood Spot…The hot box with the three of ya!"

"First thing that is needed is speed and endurance…So run around the yard until Grey Worm tells Reese to stop…" When Reese starts running some of the fighters laugh.

Domino cracks his whip, "The next one to laugh will perform the Titan of Braavos…Grey Worm! Spar with me…Choose weapons…"

Grey Worm chooses twin swords, Domino chooses the same of steel practice blades. As they square the other fighters pause in their training to watch. "Keep running!" Grey Worm says to Reese.

A boy holding a red flag stands between them. "Begin!" He yells waving the flag and backs away. Domino swings first trying to set the pace of the fight, but Grey Worm is a bit faster than Domino expected. Grey Worm pivots on one foot and swings his left at Domino's back. At the last minute Domino blocks the attack while facing the opposite direction. Both Marceese and Aryne walk onto the balcony as Domino spins around to face Grey Worm swinging his sword.

Grey Worm turns his body to the side and swings his left in a sideways chopping motion. Then he brings his right forward as he faces Domino forward. Domino blocks with the flat of his sword against Grey Worm's forward right thrust. Then he slips the sword underneath his blade and tries to rip the sword from his grasp by sandwiching his sword with the other. Grey Worm leaps up and kicks Domino in the chest as he staggers backwards Domino goes into a roll and comes up on his feet.

Grey Worm hits his back, but he raises his feet and leaps off his back. Just as Domino charges forward. He smashes into Grey Worm trying over power him with pure raw strength. Grey Worm does a split and punches Domino in the knee. It doesn't break, but down he goes to one knee. They continue fighting, Grey Worm still in a full split and Domino on one knee. Grey Worm disarms his left sword, but Domino manages to punch Grey Worm in the face. He falls to his back but raises his feet and strikes Domino on both sides of the head with his feet.

The fight is long as both men seem evenly matched. Eventually Grey Worm manages to straddle Domino's back wrapping his arm around his neck and legs around Domino's waist. He falls to one knee, then Domino falls backwards trying to knock the air out of Grey Worm, but he still holds on.

Marceese

Marceese looks at his wife knowing that Domino would never say I yield. He then looks back at the two fighters, "ENOUGH!" He screams, "The match is over…a draw…" He watches as Grey Worm releases Domino. The fighters start clapping and banging wooden swords on shields.

"Perhaps he is worth twelve thousand after all…" Aryne says to Marceese.

"Master summoned Domino?"

"Yes…tell me of Grey Worm…"

"Grey Worm is stronger than Grey Worm looks…Fast…very gifted with the sword…Disciplined."

"Does Domino think Grey Worm can defeat Stallion…"

"Yes Domino believes it is possible…"

Marceese smiles, "Well then…"

"Forgive Domino Master, but only a house champion can face the Champion of Mereen…Dragon Fly is reigning House Champion…"

"I know…I will ask Dragon Fly to step down…"

Two days later a ceremony is held and while on one knee Dragon Fly gives Grey Worm the amulet of the House Champion. "Your new House Champion…Grey Worm!"

"GREY WORM! GREY WORM! GREY WORM!" The fighters chant in unison as they look up to the balcony where Grey Worm and Dragon Fly are with their Master and his wife.

Marceese raises his right hand, "Soon House Bavel will once again stand above all others when Stallion falls in the arena…" They chant then Marceese dismisses the fighters. "Domino tells me that Grey Worm is training the Pleasure Slave Reese…"

"It is so Master…" His answer shocks Aryne.

"Why?"

"Reese will make a great fighter Master…"

"I feel you are wasting your time on him…"

"Forgive Grey Worm master, but Master is wrong…In six months give Reese a match…"

"To the death!" Aryne says interrupting.

Marceese looks at his wife, then at Grey Worm, "As my wife says to the death…If Grey Worm feels Reese will be ready in six months then Grey Worm may continue to train Reese…If Rees dies Grey Worm will owe me a pleasure slave and I will take it from Grey Worm's arena winnings…"

"Grey Worm agrees…"

Grey Worm

"That was a foolish thing to do…" Domino says to Grey worm leading him back to the barracks.

"In Domino's eyes…" Grey Worm is given a private room by himself. He is also given special meals like deer meat, sour dough bread, cheese, and ale to drink. The days become weeks and Reese training increases. After a month and half they start training with wood. Two more months they practice with steel. Some of the fighters come to respect Reese's training under Grey Worm.

The day had finally come for Reese to fight, "Remember what Grey Worm taught Reese…Speed is the key…Out think Reese's opponent…Draw enemy in…"

Mud Bug takes position to face Reese as he had requested to fight him. "The pup will die today. The gathered fighters make side bets on the outcome.

Grey Worm gives Reese one last piece of advice before leaving the arena. Domino takes up a position in the middle with a red flag. He raises it, "Let blood be spilled…BEGIN!"

Reese is armed with sword and shield, while Mud Bug is armed with a sword spear. The blade is longer and bigger than a regular spear head. Mud Bug attacks first, Reese blocks with his shield, then fast as lightening Bug slashes Reese on his lower leg. He backs away and resets. "Mud Bug will kill Reese!" He attacks again, only Reese throws his shield at Mud Bugs feet and down he goes face first. Reese leaps forward sword out and cuts Mud Bug on the left arm just as he rolls away.

"Reese cut Mud Bug…Now Mud Bug will kill Reese slowly…"

Reese stays on the defensive as Mud Bug attacks and slashes Reese on the arm. He aims for his head, Reese ducks and slashes Mud Bug across the ribs. Mud Bug roars as he charges Reese who leaps up sticking his feet out and kicks Mud Bug in the face. As Mud Bug stumbles backwards Reese falls to his back throwing his sword. It spins through the air three times and with a sickening thud strikes Mud Bug in the chest. Mud Bug's face and chest are covered in blood and even more blood runs down his stomach and onto his legs. With the last of his strength he looks up in shock then falls forward and hits the sand.

"Victor Reese!" The gathered fighters start clapping and chanting his name. A ceremony is held granting Reese the rank of Pit Fighter.

Part 2. All Men Die

Lord Xaran and Lady Jyleen of House Gaunna wished to celebrate their marriage with a sport of blood. So Lord Xaran paid for a huge sum for the arena and they handpicked Gladiators and pit fighters from all 100 fighting houses. Two days of Pit Fighting and two days of Gladiator matches. The main event was to feature the current champion of Mereen against the champion of House Bavel.

Grey Worm sits in a wagon with Dragon Fly, Cat, Slit, Dodo, and Monkey Tail. Three carts eighteen fighters from House Bavel are to fight in the Arena. They arrive the same time as other Gladiators and Pit Fighters. Even Reese is there as he too had been chosen. The Fighters of House Bavel are checked in and taken below with their Domino leading them. A section reserved for House Bavel fighters is marked with the House sigil. An M and a B divided by a sword.

"You are the greatest pit fighters and Gladiators in Mereen…" They chant three times, "Honor the Master…Honor his house…"

It grows quiet as the Champion of Mereen makes his rounds, "Stallion is told a little Worm will fight him…Stallion comes to see this little Worm…" Grey Worm is sitting with his eyes closed, but he opens them when the six foot eleven inch tall giant speaks. "Little Worm's cock must be smaller than body…I will kill Little Worm quickly…do not be afraid…"

"By the gods Stallion is uglier than last time Dragon Fly saw Stallion…"

"Don't worry one eye…Stallion will see Dragon Fly next…"

Arena Herald

Every seat is full and there are people standing in the isles and along the walls. They all cheer as the platform rises. "Great People of Mereen…We gather once again to witness blood on the sand…We gather to honor the marriage of Lord Xaran and Lady Jyleen…" When he says their names the couple stands and waves to the people. The Herald announces four matches before Reese's time has come.

"Let blood be spilled…From the bowels of House Ottamen I give you Ranc…"

Reese

Grey Worm follows Reese to the gate, "Remember be swift as the wind and agile as water…Make him come to Reese…Think…Ranc has experience…"

"Reese thanks Grey Worm for training…" When the Herald says his name the guards hand Reese a shield and sword. The crowd boos because it is Reese's first time in the arena and because of his name they know he was a house slave.

"BEGIN!"

Ranc is armed with a sword and shield, but he is a left handed fighter. Reese switches sword hands as he had been taught to fight with his left, when he does the crowd cheers. In speed the two are evenly matched. Reese spins into Ranc swinging his shield, then he brings his sword forward. Ranc counters and draws first blood eliciting a cheer from the crowd. Reese rolls forward and uses his shield to smash Ranc's left foot. He blocks an overhead attack then he carves a bloody slash across Ranc's muscled abdomen. Ranc stumbles backwards as the crowd chants, "KILL! KILL! KILL!"

Reese swings his sword for the neck. As blood gushes from the blow to the neck Ranc falls backwards and dies. "REESE! REESE! REESE!" A few people cheer his name other boo at Ranc's death.

"Winner! Reese of House Bavel…" The Herald says.

"Well done!" Domino says when Reese returns from the Arena.

"That was kick ass…" Monkey Tail says.

Grey Worm walks up to Reese and stares at him, "What took Reese so long…" They smile and wrestle.

Marceese

Just then Nawar, Iliam and Gallen take seats in front of Marceese. "Lord Nevarro I didn't know you were still in town…and slumming a Master of a lesser fighting House…"

Gallan looks back at Marceese, "My man stands champion of Mereene…I'm afraid your Worm will die today…"

"Yes…" Iliam says speaking up, "You should have taken my offer…"

"How much did you offer him for the worm?"

"One hundred thousand…"

Gallen looks at Marceese, "And he turned you down. Well Marceese has never had a real head for business…"

Marceese smiles, "We shall see…"

The Pit fighting matches last all day and into the night. Everyone eats at the arena some bought their own food, others purchase food from vendors. The people sleep in at the arena, others brought tents with.

Arena Herald

"Time to separate the men from the boys…the Women from the girls!" The crowd cheers, "For you delight we start things off this day with a fifty Gladiator free for all…" The crowd cheers louder, "Chosen at random, by my hand…" He reaches into a pot, "Face Stealer of House Lyon!" Face Stealer original name – Face – Over 40 arena victories – likes to cut the faces off his opponents - favorite weapon, dual sickles.

The Herald draws another name as Face Stealer enters the arena. "From House Ottam. I give you Red Lice…" Female Gladiator - 17 victories in the Arena - favorite weapon long cat tails whip. "House Bavel!" The Herald screams after drawing a third name. The crowd roars as Red Lice enters the arena, "I give you Dark Cloud!" Dark Cloud 9 victories in the arena – Male Gladiator – favorite weapon spiked brass knuckles.

One by one the Gladiators enter one from each house chosen randomly. Iliam realizes he should have maneuvered things so that Grey Worm could fight in the free for all and pay several Houses to team up against him. Blood flows, body parts hit the sand as the match gets underway. Red Lice kills Dark Cloud. Amoeba is killed by Hound and he is killed by Face Stealer. After two hours of blood and gore Face Stealer stands alone.

Dragon Fly

When his name is called the crowd roars his name. Women expose their breasts and blow kisses. Men pump their fists in the air, Dragon Fly is six feet tall – 97 victories in the arena as a Gladiator – 42 as a Pit Fighter – favorite weapon sword and square shield. His opponent Demon of House Sudhan – 6'1 – 56 victories in the arena – favorite weapon spike ball club and round shield. The crowd chant his name but not as loud.

Dragon Fly strikes with his sword, then he thrusts his shield forward going to one knee. Demon leaps over his head swinging his sword, but Dragon Fly raises his shield blocking and spins around standing swinging his sword. As Demon goes into a roll he sticks his shield out blocking the attack. Both men use their sword and shield as offensive and defensive weapons. After several complex patterns of sword and shield action, Dragon Fly leans to the side on a swing from Demon and slashes his upper thigh drawing first blood. Dragon Fly continues his onslaught smashing his shield into Demon's chest, then he raises his sword and slits his throat ending the contest.

"DRAGON FLY! DRAGON FLY! DRAGON FLY!" They all chant.

Cat and Witch

After nine more battle the Herald introduces, "It's time for deadly siren action…A two on two match between the bitches of the arena…I give you Vixen and Fat Momma of House Myraad…And who will put these two deadly divas on their backs…Cat and Witch of House Bavel…" Fat Momma dark of skin Mohawk – six and half feet tall – three hundred pounds – 77 victories – favorite weapon large battle axe. Vixen is six feet tall redhead – 53 victories in the arena – favorite weapon Dothraki sword.

"We who are about to die salute you!" The four Gladiators chant.

Cat faces Fat Momma while Witch takes on Vixen. Cat blocks the axe with her gauntlet and spins into Fat Momma with her left sword, but Fat Momma catches her wrist and tries to break her arm. Cat flips her body twisting her arm and when she \lands on her back she kicks Fat Momma in the knee sending her down. But a scream catches Cat's attention. She looks up to find Witch on her knees with her intestines spilling out onto the sand. Vixen raises her blade and decapitates Witch.

Cat knees Fat Momma in the face and sheaths her sword. Then she uncoils her whip and snatches the sword from Vixen's hand. She pulls the sword over her head and sends it into Fat Momma's head as she is getting up. Cat draws her sword and throws it Fat Momma's chest. Vixen takes an unarmed fighting stance. Cat walks over to Fat Momma's dead body and yanks Vixen's sword from her dead body. She throws the sword to Vixen and then charges her. Cat ducks under a swing and slashes Vixen on the ribs. She rolls to the ground and comes up behind Vixen stabbing her in the back with her claw gauntlet. She beheads her with her other sword. As the crowd chants her name Cat removes her arm gauntlet and picks up Witch's lifeless body. She places Witch over her right shoulder and carries the head in her left hand.

Grey Worm

Twenty more matches take place and as the sun sets the Arena Herald announces Stallion. The crowd chants his name as he enters the arena. Stallion six feet eleven inches tall – 106 Victories – favorite weapons two throwing spears, round shield, and sword.

"If Grey Worm is the Fighter Domino thinks Grey Worm is…Give them something they have never seen before and Kill that Dothraki shit."

Grey Worm nods, "Stallion will fall…" As Grey Worm enters the arena the crowd starts to chant his name louder than any other Gladiator's name that was chanted. Grey Worm is armed with a sword and shield. He stops fifty paces from Stallion. "We who are about to die salute you…" Stallion roars raising his weapons and getting the crowd riled up. Grey Worm starts to run towards Stallion who throws his first spear. Grey Worm raises his shield blocking the spear, it sticks in the shield and Grey Worm drops it as his speed increases. He dodges the second thrown spear and leaps five feet from Stallion as he draws his sword from behind his shield. Grey Worm leans to the side and stabs Stallion in between the neck and shoulder. He leaves the sword in Stallion and as he lands Stallion falls to his knees then his face.

Everyone in the Arena stands to their feet in awe. Grey Worm walks up and stares at Azheme. The crowd starts to leave their seats jumping down into the arena, both Slaves and commoners. They hoist Grey Worm up over their shoulders the whole time screaming his name. When Grey Worm is finally able to return to the holding area, Gladiators and Pit Fighters from all houses chant his name.

"Show off!" Reese says walking up to him.

Marceese Dojo

"Champion of Mereen!" Marceese screams on the balcony with Grey Worm at his side. "Slayer of the Stallion…I give you your brother in arms at House Bavel…GREY WORM!"

"GREY WORM! GREY WORM! GREY WORM!"

Later Marceese throws a feast for his fighters and gives them women. Reese uses his winnings to buy two women. Grey Worm stands in the door of his quarters and watches. Then he goes to bed after eating, two toasts, and two arm wrestling matches. "Reese thanks Grey Worm…" He says the next morning when Grey Worm exits his room.

"For what?" He asks smiling.

"Grey Worm taught Reese to fight and never again will Reese have fear giving pleasure to another man…Reese is in Grey Worm's debt…"

"Reese's friendship is payment enough…"