The morning passed more quickly than Gavin had expected. They attended breakfast with Westmarch and a considerably smaller arrangement of guests; Rafal was the only one Gavin specifically remembered from last night, although a few others did look familiar. After this, the two impostors wandered about the gardens until a noontime meal with a slightly larger guest audience. Both meals were very formal affairs which, after Gavin's tension regarding being found out faded and he became more accustomed to the dining routines, he began to find extremely boring and pointless.

After lunch, the various dignitaries began to prepare to depart for the upcoming spectacle at the Arena. Gavin and Kestra were shown to Westmarch's personal carriage for the trip through the streets of Lakran to the colossal structure of the Arena building, which was already surrounded by a throng of common folk jockeying to get up the long flight of stairs and into the stands. Bypassing this location, the carriage rode through a gate and to another entrance that was clearly reserved for visitors of higher station.

From there, they were led up a flight of stairs to a wide balcony that overlooked the Arena's interior. When he first saw the inside of the giant structure, Gavin was nearly frozen in his tracks. The arenas he had previously seen had occupied the basements of the more disreputable taverns in Cardinal, and consisted of little more than a fenced-in cage in which the contestant and Beast would exchange blows with barely enough room to move. By contrast, this Arena was a tremendous circular structure that must have been at least a quarter-mile from one end to the other, likely more. In the center, ringed by a high stone wall, was a sand-covered field with four gates divided evenly around the perimeter. Outside the wall were rows of seats that Gavin quickly gave up on trying to count, leading up to a number of entrances presumably like the one Gavin had passed on the way in. The Arena was set on an incline, and had presumably been mostly dug out of the side of the hill, so there were fewer rows of stairs on the far side of the building than where the Nobles balcony was set; however considering the immense size of the building, this seemed merely a trick of perspective, making it look even larger.

Gavin was too stunned even to wonder if it was all right to exhibit such surprise. Fortunately, Westmarch did not seem to find his attitude particularly unusual. This arena was built many centuries ago by the lord Graiden of Westmarch, he narrated, to celebrate the great warriors who through their prowess in battle had fought to tame these lands for civilization. Elsewhere, these battles may be little more than an entertainment, but here it is a grand tradition.

So I can see, Gavin replied, still gazing about in barely contained awe.

A row of seats were arranged looking out over the combat field, interspersed with tables containing food and refreshments. Gavin was seated in a chair to the right of Westmarch's vaguely throne-like seat, and Kestra beside him. The balcony was located just above the level of the arena wall, affording one of the best views possible of the combat field. At the moment, this field contained a parade of dancers who were twirling about, waving about a multitude of colored streamers in an almost mesmerizing sequence of moves.

Who are those...folk? Gavin asked of Westmarch.

he replied. Native to the Highlands, or some land beyond even that. They are a simple, barbaric people, but entertaining as well.

Gavin could barely help himself from rolling his eyes at the governor's condescending tone.

After a few more minutes, the dancers ceased their performance, disappearing through the gates and out of the arena. Then, a fanfare sounded from a band located in the stands opposite the Nobles' balcony and a man dressed in extravagant robes stepped up to a location just in front of and beneath the Nobles balcony, and raised his hands for silence from the crowd. Fellow peoples of Cardinal! he called out, his voice seeming to be magnified by the arena walls themselves. We are gathered here, on this the first day of Libra, in the year fifteen forty-nine in the Second Age, to witness, by the generosity of our lord Adlin of Westmarch and the great kingdom of Cardinal, a spectacle of the grandest degree!

A loud roar of applause issued from the assembled crowd. The man waited a few moments for the noise to subside, then continued. To begin, we present to you a contest between the most formidable adversaries: Beast, and Beast.

The gate to the far right of the Arena from where Gavin was sitting began to swing open, and he caught the shadow of something very big moving about within.

First, a creature born of the harsh and unforgiving desert sands, a Beast that has proven the terror of all but the strongest of warriors! A creature that can call forth its own tornado with every flap of its wings, master Trinias of Ralling presents to you, the Johraan Zuu! He gestured grandiosely with his hands all through the speech.

As the creature was led out into the stadium, Gavin decided that the man had not been exaggerating. The Beast was a gigantic bird, large enough to swallow the average human whole, with pitch-black feathers and a great, dark-colored beak. Once clear of the gateway, it spread out its wings, revealing a span that look about as large as some of the airships Gavin had seen. As it jumped into the air, there was a gasp from the audience, especially those seated particularly close to it, but the creature seemed so large that it was unable to raise its weight above the level of the wall; and in addition, there were a pair of unlucky assistants who were struggling to keep the creature under control by a chain fastened around its neck.

And to challenge this great flying Beast, continued the announcer, we have the silent death of the desert! A creature whose strikes are so quick and so deadly, that its victims may seldom know the cause of their demise! By the courtesy of master Jarias of Tijal, we present the Western Grand Mantis!

Out of the gate on Gavin's left ambled another beast, looking almost more ferocious than the Zuu. Its slender body was supported by six long, spidery legs that ended in needle-sharp claws, and another sharp spike extended from its head. This Beast had no one to hold it back; by the way it skittered from side to side even as it emerged from the gateway, it probably would have simply resulted in a pair of dead assistants if they tried. Although it was slightly smaller than the great black bird, it certainly looked no less dangerous.

Without further proclamation, the announcer disappeared to move farther away from the two challenging Beasts, and the two assistants who had been holding back the Zuu quickly dropped the chain and followed suit. For a moment, the two creatures remained on opposite sides of the arena, watching each other as if each were daring the other to make the first move. Then, the Zuu shrieked out a challenge, and begin to propel itself forward. The Grand Mantis began to skitter off to its right, away from Gavin along the edge of the wall. It took a few seconds for the Zuu to cover the distance; but when it did, the great bird charged forward with its claws extended as if it wanted to snatch the other Beast up off the ground. In response, the Grand Mantis seemed to recoil from the attack, lowering its body to the ground and tucking its legs in close, as if to make the flying Beast's job easier for it. However, just as the Zuu was about to have it in its grasp, the Grand Mantis lowered its head so that the great spike on the back of it was aimed directly at its attacker's belly, and lunged forward. The spike drove past the Zuu's claws and into its chest, and the would-be attacker was knocked to the ground as it tried to scramble away from the attack. A roar went up from the crowd.

Pressing its advantage, the Grand Mantis was top of the Zuu in a flash, slashing left and right with its two foremost claw-legs. The Zuu became a flurry of beating wings as it attempted to evade the relentless attacks, but then it lashed out with a snap of its beak that gave its attacker pause. Before the Grand Mantis could resume its attack, the Zuu was once again airborne.

Intent on revenge, the Zuu began to beat its wings so hard that it seemed to be pushing itself backwards with each flap. The sand of the arena floor began to swirl about beneath the force of the flying Beast's attacks, and before long it had coalesced into a full-fledged whirlwind that wasted no time in catching the Grand Mantis and picking it up off the ground completely. The other Beast flailed wildly as it was cast about by the miniature tornado, and it looked like it was going to be torn apart by the force of the winds. However, before that could happen, the whirlwind dissipated and the Grand Mantis fell back to the ground. As it scrambled to right itself, the Zuu swooped in again.

For a moment, the Zuu's form completely obscured the Grand Mantis from Gavin's perspective, and all he could see was the flapping form of the giant bird as it apparently exchanged blows with the six-legged Beast. Then, the Grand Mantis skittered back into view, appearing to be dragging one of its forelegs. Hissing at the Zuu, it backed away as the flying Beast appeared to be struggling with an injury with its left wing. Indeed, as the Grand Mantis began to circle around its opponent, the Zuu seemed barely able to keep itself in the air, much less counter the still-nimble moves of the land creature. The Grand Mantis lashed out with its good foreleg, catching the Zuu's wing and causing the other Beast to recoil. After another moment, it edged forward and lashed out again. The Zuu soon found itself backed up against one of the Arena walls, and this discovery came too late to prevent the flying Beast from losing its aerial momentum and collapsing to the ground.

The Grand Mantis backed up, and for a second held perfectly still, crouched much as it had been when the Zuu had been diving in on it. Then, in a similar flash of motion, it lunged forward and dug four of its six legs into the Zuu's body. The giant bird convulsed as the other Beast tore into it with its claws and mouth, but was unable to dislodge the creature. The next few seconds were a flurry of motion where the Zuu struggled against the relentless assault of the Grand Mantis while the crowd let out a deafening roar. After another moment, the Grand Mantis relented and backed away, though the Zuu's convulsions did not end. Indeed, as Gavin watched the bird, it seemed to be shaking even more violently than before. Gradually, a reddish glow began to appear along its edges, and the whole Beast dissolved into a bright red silhouette before fading out of existence entirely.

One of the Aristocrats to Gavin's right was laughing delightedly. Oh, poor Trinias! he declared raucously. I hear he'd been training that Beast for months!

Four figures in full armor and armed with spears went out to herd the remaining Beast back through the gateway, an ordeal that took some minutes and was treated by the audience as another match in itself. Finally, the announcer returned to his position, and beckoned for silence.

Our second match for this day, he declared, illustrates the greatest of challenges, as a human commoner dares challenge, one on one, the ferocity of nature; to defeat, with naught but his own sword, a Beast!

A...are these matches to the death, then? Gavin asked. He had a sneaking suspicion in his gut that told him what was about to happen, and it was giving a new magnitude to the beating of his heart.

A contestant may choose to forfeit the match at any time, Westmarch replied. But there is no guarantee for safety once the match has begun. And rarely will a combatant wish to risk the brand of cowardice rather than face noble defeat, after he has already entered the Arena for all to see.

...and the attendant-in-arms to sir Jamian of Northend, the announcer continued, Kain Unford!

A single person emerged from the left gateway, clad in a mail vest with buckler and sword and not displaying any significant degree of confidence in his gait. Gavin could only assume that it was Aster.

And to challenge this courageous soul, added the announcer, pointing to the other gateway, a creature from the hidden depths of the Ashwood, whose very footsteps are enough to shake the very earth! This great destroyer is master of all that it sees, and the very sight of it cans strike fear into the hearts of all but the toughest souls! By the provision of master Corun of Ashwood, we present to you today, the Great Woodlands Behemoth!

The name made Gavin apprehensive, but his first look at the Beast was worse. Its terrific blue-black form barely fit through the gateway from which it emerged. A tremendous Beast supported on four hoofed legs of sufficient size probably to crush three people standing together at once, the Behemoth threatened to dwarf even the deceased Zuu. A pair of tremendous horns, each the size of a grown man, protruded from its head; and Gavin truly could feel the ground shake as the creature trotted out onto the field. As the gate was closed behind it, the Beast fixed its shining black eyes on Aster, and let out a tremendous roar.

Gavin felt a lump in his throat so large that he was barely able to breathe. He glanced at Kestra, whose emotional state did not look to be any better. While the two of them struggled to work through being frozen in terror, the announcer abandoned his position for safer ground, and the match began.