Earth 481

Kendra had spent a sleepless night. At first she had lain flat on her back listening to the sound of Carter's even breathing - how could he have drifted off so easily, she wondered? When that position became uncomfortable, rather than tossing and turning and risking disturbing him, she moved to the couch in the living room. Sleep eluded her there also - for most of the night. The hours around dawn did see her drifting off - but it was a shallow, unrestful sleep that left her bleary-eyed in the full light of day.

Carter was already up and had gone to stand on the platform outside Talyn's quarters. There was no sign of the Avianoid and she guessed he was giving them some time on their own - on what might be their last day, she thought bleakly. She stood in the open doorway and studied him for a moment. He was obviously deep in thought, with a solemn expression on his face - planning his strategy for the fight, she hoped. She was aware that she didn't love him in this particular life - though she remembered other times when she had - but she'd grown fond of him. And today he was going to fight for her life as well as his own. With that thought in mind, she stepped quickly towards him and hugged him. He looped his arm round her shoulders and for a while they just stood like that.

Behind them, Talyn gave a discrete cough. He added ''I've laid food for you both. The Stewards will be here in about an hour.''

With that, he withdrew, leaving them in privacy once more.

Eating was the last thing Kendra felt like doing, but she followed Carter into the dining area. She sat down, but only picked at what looked like a generous feast. Carter was eating in moderation, plainly with an appetite but not stuffing himself before the fight.

He noticed her watching him and - of all things - tried humour - of sorts.

''The condemned man ate a hearty meal.''

''Don't talk like that!'' she snapped.

''Sorry'' he took hold of her hand, squeezing it gently. ''I'm going to win this one.''

I wish I could be sure of that'' she thought.

The Stewards duly arrived, bringing the armour provided for Carter. It was not much like their own, but it did cover his torso and the lower part of his legs. They had allowed him his customary mace and - rather surprisingly - a shield. He was not used to the latter and balanced it on his arm, rather awkwardly.

They were escorted out to the balcony. Both of them were surrounded by four Stewards for the flight across the city to the arena. Kendra's guards - as they had become by then - guided her towards a platform set low down and giving her an all too clear view of the arena floor. It was here that Carter would come to reclaim her - or she would be led away for her own death.

Carter was standing just off-centre in the arena, gently flexing his muscles. It was a couple of minutes before the Peregrine Champion arrived. It wasn't easy to tell with Avianoids, but she thought he was by a few years the older. He was not as tall as she'd pictured him in her head, lean but with muscles more pronounced than some of his race. Carter had more weight and - perhaps - more strength - but he had never fought a flying opponent before.

Someone struck a gong and the fight began - evidently Avianoids saw no need for pre-fight speeches and 'those about to die salute' stuff. The Avianoid took off, hurtling straight at Carter, who quickly hefted the shield in an effort to ward off the attack. The Avianoid dodged at the last second, leaving Carter to turn rapidly in anticipation of an attack from the rear.

That seemed to set the tone of the fight - the Avianoid dodging and weaving, Carter blocking his opponent's attacks. With horror, Kendra realised what the Peregrine champion was doing. He was wearing Carter down. Carter must have realised it too, for he suddenly soared, doubling back and attempting to use the backdraft from his more powerful wings to knock his opponent off-balance. It didn't work - the Avianoid simply rode the backdraft as he would have done a mountain wind. Worse than that, he suddenly changed direction and lashed out at Carter with the talons on the end of one of his wings.

Carter wobbled in the air for a moment. Kendra could see blood on his unshielded arm - the one that held the mace. Some of the crowd cheered and she hated them for it.

From her point of view, the fight took a turn for the worse at that point. Carter was injured and the Avianoid began to press home the attacks. Before too long, Carter was bleeding from his legs as well as his arm. For a moment Carter flew close to Kendra. She saw in his eyes what he was about to do and tried to keep her face expressionless. Dear God, let it work, she thought.

Carter flew straight at the Peregrine champion, who responded by suddenly leaping upwards and forwards, passing over Carter's head. Then he reached downwards with all his talons - hands, feet and wing ends and clawed at Carter's wings. Kendra could have admired the flexibility in that move if it hadn't filled her with such horror.

Carter screamed and then he was falling, wings badly torn, eyes closed.

The Avianoid's own nature betrayed him. He was a predator, a carnivore. His prey was helpless, defeated. His instincts let him do nothing but close in for the kill. When his opponent got close enough, Carter's eyes flew open. His arms had been outspread as he appeared to fall helplessly. Now they swept together, catching the Avianoid's chest between shield and mace.

It was the Avianoid who hit the floor of the arena. Carter made an awkward landing and limped over to his fallen opponent. The Peregrine champion wasn't dead but Carter had cracked - or broken - several of his ribs. The lighter, more fragile skeleton of the Airborne hadn't stood up to the double blow.

The crowd in the arena was silent now. They were waiting for the kill-blow from Carter's mace. He looked up at Kendra, meeting her eyes. She nodded.

X

A small part of the audience space had been set aside for ground-dwellers. Rip, Leonard, Sara and Naomi had managed to shove and push their way into a corner of that, having heard what was going to happen.

Carter was standing still over his fallen opponent. They were standing still, watching him.

X

General Laurel Lance was standing in the far corner. Neither she nor the Legends had noticed each other. She was happy. Hall had won but he wasn't in good shape. He and Saunders could be captured and taken to Savage - as soon as she got the information she wanted from them.