UPDATED VERSION
Chapter 2 Where Syd fights a Girl
"You are the infamous Master of Shadows?" asked Syd.
"I think I just confirmed that," the girl replied.
"No, no way. I'm not going to fight a girl. The games off," said Syd shaking his head, backing away.
The crowd groaned and swore.
"Oh, come on softy," the Master of Shadows called to Syd playfully. "Fight me. I promise I won't cry."
"Great! The whole match has been held for nothing!" people shouted. "Everyone was really looking forward to this match and now we come here to find that the so called Master of Shadows is a blimmin' GIRL!"
"What a waste of money too!" Frank grumbled.
"Waste of money! You can't possibly be complaining about that, oh Lord Francis?!" Cat mocked. "Besides that, are you saying that girls aren't as strong as boys?"
Frank turned red under her glare and tugged nervously at his collar.
"No Cat, that's not what I meant," he mumbled. "It's just that, you know, girls can't fight, fight."
"Oh yeah? Well, we'll see about that!" Cat retorted and then jumped to her feet and turned to the girl who was sending back the evil eyes at the crowd who swore at her. "Hey, you!" Cat yelled in her roughest voice, catching the girl's attention, "Go on then if you think your good enough. Fight him!"
"Cat! What in the world are you thinking?" Frank gasped, yanking her down to her seat. "She can't fight him!"
"Well as I said, we'll just see about that!" Cat said as she took 5 pounds from her pocket. "Five pounds on the girl!" she shouted starting a bet.
"10 that she'll get creamed," said a smelly bearded man sitting beside and the bets went on.
"The match continues!" shouted the host looking relieved.
"What! No!" Syd objected staring at Cat. She shrugged and looked sheepish. I forgot that Syd has a law against hitting girls, she thought guiltily. Well, too bad! And waved the thought away.
"But I-," Syd started.
"Oh is the big bad boxing champion scared of little old me?" the girl teased again taking of her robe and throwing it aside. She was wearing a simple dark tunic and pants with knee high black boots. Her long black hair was neatly braided with ribbons and swished with her movements. "Give me what you got!" she said bending her knees to a defense stance.
Syd hesitated and looked around for help.
"No? Alright then, I guess I'll start!" she said and she kicked off the ground and did an amazing flip landing a kick squarely on Syd's shoulder. With a loud OOMF! Syd went crashing down on to the muddy ground.
All was silent then suddenly cheers and jeers rang out all together. Cat cheered the loudest but then quieted down when Syd shot her a betrayed look. It's so hard to cheer for the girl when your best friend- trying-to-be-your-future-fiancé was the opponent. Cat sighed as the match continued.