Chapter 13: Unmasked

Ariel gripped the arms of her seat hard, knuckles white. Her brow was starting to perspire as she watched the fight between Lord Richard and the traveler continue.

Something was wrong.

Not even three minutes ago the masked man had been matching Richard blow for blow. Now his right arm dangled limp at his side and he struggled to defend himself. Richard meanwhile was attacking ferociously, pressing hard into him with his unoccupied left hand when the chance arose.

She cringed as the masked man blocked a slash to his head, only to have Richard drive an armored fist into his face. He staggered backwards and fell, rolling out of the way as Richard almost skewered him. He got to his feet, only to find himself on the defensive again as Richard resumed his assault.

"Eric, we have to stop the match!" pleaded Ariel as she turned to her husband, grasping his arm.

"We can't," said Eric, his own hands clenched into fists.

"What do you mean we can't!?" said Ariel, tightening her hold. "Look at his arm! Richard barely grazed him and now he can't use it! He's clearly done something to that sword!"

Eric turned Ariel. "I know! And I want to stop this as much as you do!"

"Then why don't we!?" she demanded.

"Because this is the sort of tactic Ursula and Morgana would use!"

A cry of alarm returned their attention to the arena. The traveler staggered back from one of Richard's thrusts, barely able to avoid the strike. Richard chased after it, stabbing like a woodpecker at a tree. The traveler dodged as fast as it could, unable to find an opening to use its bokken. One of the thrusts grazed its shirt, coming dangerously close to finding skin.

"I don't like this, Ariel," said Eric, wincing as Richard almost slashed the masked man's neck. "I really don't. But you know better than I do what Ursula and Morgana are like. They'll never fight fair. It doesn't matter who we choose to protect Melody. They'll have to deal with these same sorts of tricks."

Ariel wanted to rebuff Eric's reasoning, but she knew he was right. The sea witches never played fair. In fact, no villain ever did. They would always try to take the underhanded route or find some way to turn the situation to their favor. She could not afford to extend a sense of honor to enemies who had none.

She bit her lower lip nervously as the traveler almost took another slash to his head. "Come on," she mouthed silently. "You can do it. You've just got to."


A/N: "Titan Dune" by Two Steps From Hell

The traveler dodged a third slash to its head, smacking the sword away with its bokken before retreating back. Richard slashed again, forcing the traveler to parry before it turned and ran, putting distance between them.

Richard laughed menacingly. "That's right! Run away, Hood! Run away and cower!"

The traveler scowled. Richard had turned into a completely different creature. It severely underestimated him, and now this grudgingly enjoyable fight had turned into a desperate struggle. Where had his speed come from? Where did he get this ferocity? The traveler was fast, but in its current state it was having trouble just avoiding the strikes. Richard was coming within fractions of inches of scoring hits now. It absolutely could not afford another cut. If it lost use of a leg or its other arm the fight would be over.

"You feel that, Hood?" called Richard. "That cold queasiness in your gut and the shaking in your legs? That's called fear! I'll bet that's what your mother felt when she first saw your hideous face! Pity she didn't smother you and spare us your existence!"

The traveler's anger flared like a volcano. A gust of wind ripped off it, blowing grit into Richard's eyes. He staggered back, rubbing his face.

"Shut up!" snarled the traveler. It ran back at Richard as fast as it could. Richard was not prepared when the traveler parried his sword aside and then threw a hard kick into his chest. He was thrown back several feet, landing hard on his shoulders and flipping backwards.

"You say anything about my mom again and I swear I'll rip your limbs off!" shouted the traveler threateningly.

Richard scrambled to his feet, his eyes red with grit and anger. "No one kicks me and gets away with it!" He rushed straight at the traveler and stabbed at its head. The traveler instinctively moved to block, parrying the sword to the side with its bokken.

Suddenly Richard twisted his rapier around the traveler's bokken, parrying it to the side to leave it completely open. He bent his left hand down and shoved it at the traveler's face. It lurched back, but not before its nose caught a faint scent. It was a noxious smell that reminded it of a particularly strong bottle of grain alcohol John kept under the bar.

Then the traveler saw a small tube jutting out from underneath Richard's wrist.

It realized what Richard was about to do. It started to back away, but it was too late. Richard twisted his wrist around, sending a jet of clear liquid straight into the traveler's face and soaking its shemagh. The goggles protected its eyes but the breath it took sucked the fumes in. Instantly its throat and lungs burned like fire. Its head spun as the world started twisting and spiraling with distortions, as though it were looking trough the surface of a lake. Its legs became shaky as its thoughts started to wander. It felt groggy and nauseous, not sure if it wanted to lie down or vomit.

The traveler saw Richard swing his sword again. It swung its bokken to block, but its movements were sluggish and its vision unfocused. It stopped Richard's sword but not the fist that slammed into its throat after. The traveler gagged as its windpipe closed up, still fighting for breath.

"You're mine now!" exclaimed Richard as he bashed the pommel of his sword into the traveler's forehead. The traveler staggered backwards, dazed by the blow as Richard sliced into its side before bringing his own leg up and kicking the traveler hard in the chest. It went rolling head over heels, coming to a stop on its back.

The traveler tried to control its breathing, but whatever Richard sprayed was making staying awake a real effort. It felt like it could pass out any moment. Already its side was going numb as the poison spread towards its hip. At least, it thought that was its hip. It was having trouble telling where its body parts were.

A hand grabbed its shemagh as Richard's face filled its vision. "Let's see that ugly mug of yours!"

The thought of its face being revealed pushed adrenaline into the traveler's system, granting it momentary clarity. It seized a handful of dirt and threw it in Richard's face. He released the traveler's shemagh, rubbing furiously at his eyes. The traveler shot up and bashed the top of its head into Richard's jaw, knocking him away. Richard lay on the ground rubbing his head as he tried to clear his eyes.

Head pounding but identity safe the traveler grabbed its bokken and scrambled to its feet, staggering to the other side of the arena. It had to put distance between them so it could recover. It reached the wall and leaned against it, yanking the front of its shemagh down. It breathed as deep and fast as it could, greedily taking in the untainted oxygen to try and clear its lungs. The effects started to wear off, but not nearly fast enough.

"You!"

The traveler looked back to see Richard on his feet, clearing the last of the dirt from his eyes. His hair had come free of its tie, hanging in a discordant mess around his head. His eyes blazed with rage, bloodshot and focused solely on the traveler. He looked as in control of himself as a rabid wolf.

"You'll pay for that!" Richard snarled. He sheathed his sword and then drew it again, spraying a contrail of fresh poison through the air. He marched towards the traveler with heavy furious steps.

Suddenly someone jumped down in front of the traveler and ran towards Richard.

"No! Come back!"

The traveler recognized Sarah's voice. It glanced up to see her leaning over the edge of the arena. In its scramble to get away it had not realized it stopped right next to them.

A startled cry came from the crowd. The traveler could hear shouts of "stop" and "come back" joining Sarah as she shouted, "Jenni, stop!"

The traveler's blood ran cold. Did Sarah just say…?

To the traveler's horror Jenni was standing right in Richard's path, her moth-eaten white dress covered in dirt from jumping into the arena and a gray cloth bundle at her feet. She spread her arms wide, her little legs trembling as the enraged swordsman advanced on her.

"Leave Hero alone, you meanie!" she shouted, her body shaking with fear.

Any dizziness or lack of coordination the traveler felt vanished. It started to run but stumbled and fell. The poison had reached its right hip and was now spreading into its leg muscles.

Richard roughly shoved Jenni aside. "Out of my way, brat!"

Jenni got back to her feet and ran after him. "Stop it! Leave Hero alone! Leave Hero alone!" she screamed, pounding away at Richard's legs.

Richard turned on her. "Get your filthy hands off me!"

He drew his left hand back. Jenni's eyes went wide as she froze.

"Richard, stop!" shouted the traveler.

WHACK!

Richard struck Jenni hard across the face, knocking her away. She gave a startled cry, the force of Richard's backhand causing her to roll away.

The traveler was in motion before it even thought about moving. It rushed at Richard, ducking underneath his slash and throwing its shoulder into him to knock him off his feet. Before he could get up the traveler punched him across the jaw then raced to the unmoving girl.

"Jenni!" The traveler scooped her up in its good arm, cradling her close. "Come on, Jenni! Say something!"

A faint trickle of blood came out the side of Jenni's mouth. Already a large red mark was developing on her cheek as the first tears started. Her face scrunched up as she started to cry.

"You idiot!" yelled the traveler, giving her a shake. "What were you thinking coming in here!? You know how dangerous this–!?"

An animalistic howl made the traveler whip its head around. Richard was standing over it, his face the embodiment of crazed anger. Dirt marred his cheeks as loose strands of hair hung over his face. His eyes gleamed with an insane rage, only seeing the traveler as it pulled the rapier back for a murderous stab.

"Stop this!" called Eric from the royal box.

The traveler's heart stopped as Richard ignored the order and thrust. It could see the burning desire to kill in his eyes. He was blind to everything else, including Jenni.

Ariel rose off her seat. "Stop!"

SPLURCH!

The traveler's hand moved without thinking. It dropped Jenni and grabbed Richard's blade, holding the rapier in a death grip that stopped it cold. Richard pressed hard, trying to slip the blade through as his other hand squeezed around the traveler's neck, pinning it onto the ground as he pressed his knee into its gut.

But the traveler's grip was solid. It felt the pain all too clearly as the blade cut deep into its hand, and it felt the blood that went running down its forearm. It wanted to let go so badly, but it refused.

"Lord Avitas!" shouted Eric. "Stop at once or you will answer to me!"

Richard snapped back to his senses at the command from his king. He growled at the traveler and then slowly stood up, reluctant to let it go. He yanked his sword back, cutting the traveler's palm further. He glared angrily down at it before closing his eyes and smoothing his hair back. His face fell into a poised mask, hiding his former rage as he brought his breathing under control.

He turned to the royal box and bowed. "My sincerest apologies, your majesties. I…lost myself in the heat of things. I beg your forgiveness."

"Return to the starting line," said Eric. "And stay there until I say otherwise."

"As you wish, sire." Richard bowed to him, casting an angry glance at the traveler out the corner of his eye before walking away.

The traveler growled like an animal as it sat up. How it wanted to turn Richard into a corpse right there. It would be easy. Just one blow and he would be snuffed out like a candle.

The sound of crying pulled the traveler's attention back to Jenni. The girl was getting to her feet, wiping her eyes on the back of her arm as she sobbed.

"Jenni!" The traveler started to rise but stumbled when its leg refused to work. It settled for awkwardly shuffling forward on one knee, all but dragging its leg with it. "Jenni, are you okay?"

Tears streamed down Jenni's face, dripping onto her dress. "I'm *sniff* sorry! It's all *sniff* my fault! I didn't *sniff* mean to get *sniff* in the way! And now *sniff* I've ruined *sniff* everything!"

"Hood!" shouted Sarah. "Hood, is she okay!?"

"She'll be all right!" called back the traveler. "I think he scared her more than anything!"

The traveler turned to Jenni and smiled, not bothering to pull its shemagh up as it wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of its wrist. It had already lost the feeling in its hand.

"Hey, it's all right," it said soothingly as it awkwardly tried to tuck her hair behind her ear. "You were just worried is all. You don't have to apologize for caring about someone."

Jenni sniffled again. "But Hero...your hand."

The traveler looked at its right hand. It was worse than it thought. Its palm had been cut deep. The wound bled freely, dripping into the dirt. It hung limp at the wrist, completely devoid of pain or any responsiveness. The sensation was gone below its forearm and it was creeping further as the poison spread.

"This? Ah, it's nothing," said the traveler, putting on a brave face for Jenni.

Inside the traveler was approaching a panic attack. It was in real trouble. That was both of its hands gone and its arm and leg would soon follow. Holding a weapon was impossible now if it didn't count its teeth, and that was assuming it could even stand again. Going by how its leg felt, that did not seem likely either.

Its chances of victory had all but disappeared.

The traveler was about to tell Jenni it would be all right again when it noticed her dress. A strip of fabric a foot long and three inches wide had been cut out of the skirt, exposing her legs underneath. That had not been there when it tucked her in that morning.

"Jenni, what happened to your dress?" asked the traveler.

Jenni wiped her eyes on the back of her arm, her right cheek starting to swell. "We *sniff* had to use it."

"Use it for what?"

Jenni walked over to the gray bundle and picked it up, dusting it off as best she could. "For your *sniff* cape," she said as she came back. "It was full of holes and you left it. So we fixed it."

With that Jenni unfurled the bundle. The traveler's mouth hung open in disbelief. The familiar fabric of its cloak had been left on one side, but the other had become a kaleidoscope of various fabrics patched onto it, each hastily stitched together. All of the various holes and nicks it accumulated during its travels had been covered. Even the massive tear where the devil worm ripped through had been repaired. But there was something familiar about the fabrics and their colors. The traveler had seen them before. It was sure of it.

Then in noticed a foot long, three-inch wide strip of white fabric along the edge, exactly the same size as the piece missing from Jenni's dress.

Suddenly the traveler recognized the fabrics. This was the orphans' clothes! They used parts of their only clothes to mend its cloak! But even then, there were too many. Where had they found all this extra material?

"Hood! Hey, Hood!"

The traveler looked up to the stands at Sarah's voice. She was at the edge of the ring with Isaac, John, the tavern waitresses, and all the orphans seated on the shoulders of tavern regulars. And each of them had a patch missing from their clothes. Sarah had a piece taken from the bodice of her dress. Isaac was missing a strip from his vest. John had a patch cut from his apron. Every single one of them had a patch or strip missing somewhere on their clothes.

Sarah cupped her hands to her mouth. "Don't give up, Hood! You can do it! We know you can! You promised me, remember? You have to win!"

At that the group burst into shouting, each giving their own words of encouragement.

"Get up, Hood! Don't quit!"

"Ye can do it! We believe in ye! Get on yer feet!"

"Hood! You better win or I'll…I'll…well, I'll do something! Just win!"

"Give him one for us Hood! In fact, give him two just for me!"

The traveler looked at the cloak. It recognized the fabrics like the back of its hand now. There was the blue and white floral pattern of Alice's dress. That was a patch from Hector's pants. The orange strip along the side was from Rebecca's skirt. That green square was definitely from Sarah. There was the patch that came from John's apron. It would recognize that stain anywhere. It wanted to reach out and touch them, but its paralyzed arms prevented it from doing so.

"Why?" asked the traveler. "Why'd you do this for me?"

Jenni sniffed before smiling, trying her best to put on a brave face for the traveler now. "Because you're a hero. And you said a hero always needs a cape. Remember?"

The traveler could only stare dumbfounded at the cloak as Jenni's words sunk it. It was at a loss to form any of its own. What was it supposed to say? What could it say? What could it possibly say to convey the profound feelings of awe, honor, and gratitude that swirled within it?

It stared at the cloak again. It was more than a traveling cloak now. It was an embodiment of their trust, their faith, and their belief that the traveler could save them from the injustices that had fallen on them. It was a symbol of the bonds they had forged in the past seven weeks. It was an affirmation of their hope that it could make things right. Their hope that it could be the hero they needed.


The child sat with its father at the edge of the cliff, watching the mother brown bear fish in the river below. She buried her head in the cold waters, wading after the bright red salmon heading upriver to spawn. On the stony bank her cub waited, seated patiently beside the fish it had eaten earlier. It batted a dead leaf back and forth, amused at how it flopped about.

As interesting as the child found the bears, much like many of these excursions its father brought it on, two hours of watching had started to turn interest into boredom. Already the cub had eaten its fill, and now the mother was fishing for her own dinner. It was rather uneventful.

"What are we waiting for, again?" asked the child, kicking its feet back and forth.

"Your next lesson," said its father as he scanned about.

"Which is…?"

"You'll see. Ah, right on time."

He gestured to a movement in the dense brush lining the river. The bushes were shaking as something came closer. The cub perked its ears at the noise, abandoning the leaf as it sniffed the air. Its mother was oblivious, her head buried in the water.

An enormous male brown bear emerged from the thicket. The child had seen large bears before, but this one was a giant among them. His shoulder was taller than the child's height, thick brown fur riddled with scars of battles long past. His claws alone were almost as long as the child's hand. The hump on his back shifted with each heavy stride, beady eyes scanning about as he sniffed.

The cub letting loose an alarmed squeal. The noise alerted the sow to the danger, but it also alerted the boar to the cub.

The child covered its mouth in horror as the intruder ran after the fleeing cub. It knew male brown bears would kill cubs if given the chance. To them they were not offspring. They were food. It started to get up, intent on doing something. Anything to save the cub. But its father grabbed its shoulder, keeping it from rising.

"What are you doing!?" exclaimed the child. "That thing's gonna kill it!"

"Just watch," said its father.

The bruin was almost on top of the cub when its mother came charging out of the water, snarling and roaring at the intruder. The big boar had barely turned when the mother struck him, knocking him down as jaws large enough to encompass a man's head clamped into his neck. The sow clawed furiously at his face and shoulder, shaking her head back and forth. The male bellowed, pushing one enormous paw into the mother's neck and throwing her off. The cub darted for the safety of a hollow log, scurrying deep inside.

The male bear shrugged, his neck bleeding from the mother's assault. He started after the cub again when the sow put herself between them, squaring up with the much larger male. He growled at her, lashing out with his paw. She backed away, wary of the knife-like claws.

The child looked to its father, eyes pleading with him to intervene. His own eyes told it to be patient. Everything would be all right. All the child had to do was trust him.

The cub cried from the log, frightened by the advancing male. Suddenly the mother charged the male, roaring and snarling as she ran down an adversary almost twice her size. The larger male swung at her. The mother halted her charge, but she refused to yield. She charged again, front paws flailing wildly at the male's face. He did not back off fast enough and her claws found his muzzle, tearing long gashes in him. She bit one of his ears, tearing out a chunk.

The bear roared and threw her off, pawing at his bleeding face and ear. The sow rose and charged a third time, but the boar had enough. One cub was not worth risking further injury. He turned and fled into the brush, off to find a place to nurse his wounds. And perhaps prey that was far less guarded.

Satisfied the danger was gone the sow snorted and went back to the log, calling her cub out with low grunts and growls. The cub cautiously poked its head out, emerging only with encouraging noises from its mother. Seeking safer waters, the mother led her cub upstream, her offspring staying close by her side.

The father grinned as he watched them go. "The Pit hath no fury like a parent's love."

The child gaped. "She won! The mama bear won!"

"Indeed she did. And yet, she should have lost. That male was younger, larger, and tougher than her. Not only that, but more experienced. By all rights she and her cub should be dead."

"But then how did she win?"

"Because she is stronger."

"I don't get it," said the child, watching the animals walk off. "He was way bigger than her. How can she be stronger?"

The father pointed to the cub. "Because of her child." He rose up, knocking pebbles and dirt off his legs before hoisting the child onto his shoulders. "This is your lesson for today, and I want you to take this to heart. Any brute can find strength, whether mortal or beast, if they devote the effort and time to it. But true strength–the kind that allows one to defy the odds, break limits, and accomplish the impossible–that strength does not come from one's self. It comes from others. When you find something you wish to protect above all else, that is when you will find your true strength."


The traveler leaned forward, pressing its head against the ground. What was it doing? What the blazes was it doing!? It got so caught up in the thrill of battle and keeping its identity under wraps it forgot its reason for entering the tournament in the first place. This was not about thrills or vengeance or retribution. It was not about punishing Richard or paying debts. This was not about keeping its face and magic hidden. This was about them. Sarah, Isaac, the children, the tavern, and everyone Richard ever hurt. It entered this tournament for their sakes. It was fighting to protect them.

And here it was, kneeling down in the dirt with three ruined limbs because it was still holding back.

The traveler grit its teeth. No more. No more handicaps. No more even playing field. If Richard wanted a fight, then the traveler would give him one. But they were going to do so on its terms, not his.

The traveler sat up, plastering a bashful smile over its face. "You're absolutely right! How could I ever forget that!? No wonder I was having such a hard time! I forgot my cape! Here, help me put it on!"

Jenni gladly did so, running up to the traveler and throwing it around its shoulders before securing the clasp. It would have helped, but it could no longer move either of its arms.

"Hey, can you keep a secret?" asked the traveler.

Jenni nodded eagerly. "What secret?"

"Promise not to tell?"

"Mm-hm!"

"Cross you heart and hope to die?"

Jenni quickly drew an "X" over her heart.

"Okay…" The traveler looked side to side, and then leaned close to Jenni. "This is a magic cape!"

Jenni's eyes went wide with wonder. "It is!?"

The traveler nodded. "Oh yeah! Watch, I'll prove it! Nagate!"

A sensation of heat spread through the traveler's body, causing it to draw a hissing breath. It felt like fire had been poured into its blood, now burning its way through its veins. But as it burned it destroyed the poison blocking its nerves and the effects of the noxious fluid Richard sprayed it with.

The effect was immediate. The traveler's vision cleared as the numbness left its arms and leg. It felt a tingle in its palm, shoulder, and side as the cuts started healing over, the skin stitching itself back together. Its vocal cords returned to normal. Then the burning faded away to dull warmth before vanishing completely. It gave its arms a few shakes and flexed its hand. It was a little sore, but other than that good as new.

"Ta-da!" declared the traveler, holding out its hands for Jenni to see. No need for a false voice when she knew what it sounded like already. It wiggled its fingers, showing her they were fine. They felt fine too. Better, in fact.

Jenni squealed delightedly and threw her arms around the traveler. "You're all better!"

"That's the magic of the cloak!" said the traveler. "But remember, this is our secret. No telling, okay?"

Jenni nodded vigorously. "You'll win now, right?"

"Of course!"

"Promise?"

"Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Jenni smiled and shook her head. "No."

"Then I'll win. All you need to do…" The traveler bowed its head to her as though kneeling before royalty. "Is give your brave knight the word, your highness."

Jenni looked past the traveler at Richard. His foot tapped the ground impatiently as he scowled at the traveler. Jenni stuck her tongue out at him before turning back to the traveler, making Richard's jaw clench.

"Hero…"

"Yes?"

Jenni punched her tiny fist into her equally tiny palm. "Kick his butt."

The traveler grinned as it pulled the shemagh back over its mouth. "It'll be my pleasure."

If the traveler had eyes in the back of its head it would have never forgotten the look of utter shock and disbelief that crossed Richard's face when it got to its feet, took Jenni's hand and led her to an approaching guard.

"He'll take you back to Sarah," said the traveler. "Can you promise not to jump in the arena anymore?"

Jenni nodded. "I promise."

"Good girl." It unclasped its cloak and folded it over before handing it to her. "Hold onto this for me. I don't want to get it damaged."

With that it nodded to the guard and he escorted Jenni back towards the stands. The traveler watched until the guard hoisted Jenni into Sarah's outstretched hands before it turned and walked towards Richard. It ran a finger along its throat, restoring the deeper voice it hid behind.

"How are you standing?" demanded Richard when the traveler was closer.

The traveler said nothing.

Richard's eyes flicked to where Sarah was both scolding Jenni and expressing her relief that she was not seriously hurt. "Sarah…she had that rat sneak something to you, didn't–?"

"Shut up."

The barely restrained anger in the traveler's voice cut off Richard's words like a surgeon's blade. "What did you say to me?"

"Shut up," growled the traveler through its teeth. Its hands were clenched so tight its nails were on the verge of cutting its palms. "You rotten…two-faced…lousy…son…of…a…bitch!"

The traveler grabbed its left sleeve and ripped it off, proceeding to do the same with the right one. Both of the traveler's arms were wrapped in bandages all the way to the shoulder, the lines of lean muscle chiseled out by countless fights and battles showing through. Attached to its forearms by leather straps were five black metal rods, each an inch wide and a foot long.

Richard's eyes went wide. "What!?"


"Dad, what are those things on his arms?" asked Melody as the traveler threw its sleeves aside.

"Training weights if I'm not seeing things," answered Eric, not taking his eyes off the traveler. "It's an old fashioned but effective way for soldiers to build speed and strength while training. It can be hard on the joints, though."

Melody looked back to the arena. The traveler pulled its knife out and started cutting at the straps.

"You mean he's been weighed down the entire time?" said Ariel.

"It looks that way," said Eric.

"But the way he moves!" said Aquata. "How much weight could he have on?"

Eric reached down and pulled up a small spyglass, having brought it in case the duel went to the far side of the arena. "I'm just making a guess here, but it looks like…wait, that can't be."

"What?" asked Melody. "What is it?"

Eric lowered his spyglass and rubbed his eye before looking again. "Those rods are lead!"

"What about it?" asked Aquata.

"Lead is heavy," explained Eric. "Even heavier than iron. If I'm guessing the size of those correctly, each one would weigh…around twenty pounds!"

Melody and Ariel spun in their chairs. "Twenty pounds?!"

As though proving Eric's claim the traveler cut the last strap on its left arm and let the rods drop to the ground. The metal impacted the dirt with a heavy thud, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Even the noise sounded heavy.

Ariel looked back to the ring in astonishment. "But that means…"

Aquata finished crunching the numbers before her sister did. "He's been fighting with a hundred pounds on each arm!"


The traveler could hear everything the royals were saying now that its hearing was back to normal. That king was not far off, but he was still short five pounds a rod. It slashed the other one off its arm, then lifted up its pant legs to reveal even more rods attached to its calves. Another round of gasps went up.

"So you've been carrying some extra weight?" scoffed Richard. "Am I supposed to be trembling in fear because you shed a few pounds?"

The traveler narrowed its eyes as the last weight came off. It turned around and walked to a pair of small pebbles.

"Answer me when I'm talking to you, Hood!" snapped Richard as the traveler picked up the rocks.

He was completely unprepared for the speed the traveler sent the first one flying at him. The air whistled as it flew, streaking past Richard's ear before embedding in the arena wall. His hand snapped up to his ear, unsure if it had grazed him or missed.

"How's that for a few pounds?" asked the traveler. It winged the other pebble at Richard's neck, nicking him before he could guard. He gasped as he clutched the spot. When he pulled his hand away there was a faint red color on his fingertip.

"Did that hurt?" asked the traveler.

"You…!" Richard scowled, clenching his hands into fists. "What did you do?"

"I got serious. As in I'm gonna seriously beat you to a pulp! But first…" The traveler turned towards the stands. "Everyone! Listen to me!"

"What are you doing?" demanded Richard.

The traveler glanced back at him. "I'm destroying you."


Ariel leaned towards Eric. "What's going on?"

Eric shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."


The traveler walked towards the crowd. "You don't know me! Most of you at least, and not like this! I'm a newcomer here! But even though I've only been here a few weeks, I've gotten to know many of you!"

The traveler pointed to a balding man near the edge of the arena. "Your name's Rolland! You run a bakery near the plaza! Your daughter Ingrid turned ten last week! And you–yes, you Marissa–your husband Wallace is the butcher across the street from them! And Theodore next to you, or Big Teddy as we all know him, runs the bank three blocks over! His wife Eleanor teaches at the school with the creaky white door! That's his brother-in-law Gregor there! He works at the docks with his son Stephen! Good kid! Strong as an ox too!"

Murmurs started to run through the crowd, most recognizing the traveler from rumor but having never met it. How did it know so much about them? Richard eyed the traveler suspiciously, uncertain how its capacity for remembering faces and occupations would be his ruin.

"Point is I'm still a stranger here!" continued the traveler, making sure to speak loud and clear. "But you've all welcomed me as a friend! You've made this wanderer feel at home! And like so many of you…!"

The traveler spun back to Richard, pointing straight at him. "I know what this two-faced vulture is really like!"

More murmurs went through the crowd. Some had no idea what the traveler was talking about. Others could not believe it was about to do what they thought it was. In public, no less.

"Oh yeah, I know all about his double life!" said the traveler. "I'd bet I know more about it than most of you!"

Richard's eyes went wide as he realized what the traveler was planning. Then his face became calm and composed, hiding his colors under a veil of dignified gentility. "What are you talking about?"

"For those of you in the dark, let me tell you about Lord Richard Avitas! Especially your king and queen!" The traveler turned towards the royals and waved at them. "Hey, you two! Pay attention!"


"The very nerve!" scoffed Grimsby as the traveler lowered its arm. "Who does this man think he is! Why, I've half a mind to go down there and teach him some manners!"

"No," said Ariel as she leaned forward in her chair. "Let him talk."

"But your majesty!" protested Grimsby. "For him to address you like that!"

"Let him talk, Grims," said Eric, noticing the worried expression on his wife's face. "Ariel, is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," said Ariel. "It's just a feeling."


The traveler started walking around the arena, collecting its bokken as it went. "To you nobles, Richard's just a fellow nobleman! A decent guy you respect! He's your friend and confidant, and you trust him! Handsome to boot! Oh, don't deny it, silver spoons! I've seen the way a lot of you ladies stare at his mug!"

A few of the noblewomen blushed, hiding their faces from the suspicious eyes of their husbands or fathers behind fans and parasols.

"But that's the Lord Richard you know!" continued the traveler. "And the Richard you know is not the Richard I know! He's not the Richard the rest of us know!"

The traveler pointed its bokken at Richard. "Because the Richard Avitas we know is none of those things! He's a liar! A thief! A blackmailer! A cheat! An abuser and a bully! And a coward!"

"How dare you!?" shouted Richard, playing the role of the offended and outraged lord perfectly. "How dare you sir!? You dare to spout these lies before all these people!? In front of our king and queen, no less! Have you no shame!?"

Richard turned to the crowd. "Good people of Seahaven! My king and queen! Do not listen to these venomous false words! They are the last desperate cries of a cornered fox! This man is a coward and a vagrant, who hides his face out of shame for his criminal habits! Always on the run, taking what he can when it suits him!"

"I'm the coward?" said the traveler. "That's rich coming from you! But since I'm a coward, why don't I tell everyone what a fellow coward like you does!"

It pointed to the crowd, moving from person to person as it spoke. "A coward like Richard takes whatever he wants from Rolland's bakery when he can't pay the lease, whether it's bread, money, or even his wedding ring! He doesn't care that he couldn't work a few days when Ingrid came down sick! And he'll take extra just because he can! A coward like Richard wants his flour from the Guthenfort mill for a quarter what it's worth, and if they refuse he'll have his lackeys burn their stockroom in the dead of night! If he can't have any for cheap, we can't have any at all!"

A few shouts of acknowledgement came up from the stands, remembering the inexplicable fire in question.

"A coward like Richard tears apart Samantha Willhelm's home because he doesn't think a woman has the right to refuse him! A coward like Richard doesn't have to want for anything, because if he wants it he'll just take it! From anyone! A coward like Richard hasn't worked a day in his life because he's lined his pockets with everyone else's labor! A coward like Richard doesn't care who knows about this kingdom's inner workings so long as they offer him enough money for it! Say…like Strihaven!"

Gasps went up from the crowd. Accusing someone of stealing and coercion were one thing, but treason was a class of despicable all its own. The very accusation of it was a serious matter.

"Lies!" protested Richard. "I assure you, all lies! This man speaks nothing but deceit! This is a shameless act of desperation! He is trying to stain me with these unjustified claims!"

"You want justification!?" The traveler and Richard turned to the stands, both recognizing the voice. Sarah was standing on her seat, looking more furious, defiant, and brave than she ever had. "I'll give you justification, you gluttonous toad! Kids, stand up!"

The traveler grinned. "Atta-girl."

One by one thirty-three kids rose to their feet. They all stood in line with her, looking just as angry as their caretaker.

"Your majesties, forgive my frankness but I can't be silent any more!" she shouted towards the royal family. "My name is Sarah! These children you see are orphans from across the Alliance! Five years ago, we were able to support them because of my father's fishing fleet! When his ships sank and my father became ill, he turned to Richard for help! Instead of helping us, he tricked us and drove us into poverty! I can't prove it, but I know he did! And because of him we've been scraping by on almost nothing for the last two years! These are all the clothes we have! Our home is falling apart! We can't afford to send them to school, and I've had to give up my own studies to care for all of them!"

Sarah pointed down to the traveler. "Until this man selflessly offered his help to us, we barely had enough to feed them once a day! I've lost track of how many nights I've gone to bed hungry so they could eat, or how many times my father was bedridden because we couldn't afford his medicine! It's only because of Hood that we've started to put our life back together!"

Her finger shifted to Richard, trembling with anger. "And the reason it came apart in the first place is because this…this…this monster took everything we had!"

"My good lady, I've only ever been fair with you and your family!" said Richard. "And I feel for your misfortunes, truly I do! But I had nothing to do with them, and I pray that no more will befall you!"

"Liar!" shouted the traveler. "You don't give a damn about her misfortunes!"

"And you do!?" retorted Richard. "What care would you, a wandering rogue, ever show to children? Why, I wouldn't be surprised if you're forcing this poor woman to feed and shelter you! That's what you vagrant types do! I bet you even forced that girl to jump in the arena just to garner sympathy! Just like you tried to force yourself on that woman!"

The whisperings and gossip started up again. Suddenly the name Hood was familiar. Was he not the masked man who attacked Richard at that tavern, and then dragged a barmaid off to try and have his way with her?

The traveler hated to admit it, but Richard was doing a pretty good job playing the part. He was not going to go down without a fight, whether in the arena or in the court.

"Your majesties, I bring it to your attention that this man here is little more than a violent thug!" said Richard, gesturing to the traveler. "Seven weeks ago, he attacked me during a discussion with this lady over alleviating her family's burdensome debt! I barely had half a word out and he assaulted me, stole one of my family's rings, and then dragged her away! Rumor has it he tried to take this woman's virtue by force!"

"Thats a load o' codswallop, ye black-hearted son o' a crocodile!" shouted John as he shot upright. "We made that swill up t' keep ye off his tail! And it was darned worth it t' see ye chasin' yer own shadow!"

The traveler grinned under its shemagh at the look of disbelief on Richard's face. Clearly he had not anticipated this.

"Don' believe a word he says, yer majesties!" called John. "I'll vouch fer Hood! He's been workin' fer me th' past five weeks now!"

"He has?" asked Sarah and the other bar staff in surprise and confusion.

"He's only done right by Sarah an' these kids!" continued John. "Never laid a finger on her! Sooner cut off his hands than do it! Th' only thug down there is Richard! Man's slimier than a slug's backside! I was there when these two had their spat! Richard struck Sarah an' made her crawl like a dog when she turned down his stinkin' hand in marriage! Just like th' other 'undred times he's tried! Hood gave th' bugger what he had comin', mark me words!"

"And that violent thug just saved a child from getting stabbed by you, Richard!" added Sarah.

"You cretinous tramp!" muttered Richard under his breath. The traveler saw anger flash over his face at having his word spoken against. "I'll get you and that fossil for this!"

Voices from the crowd started calling out in agreement with John and Sarah, attesting to the falsehood of the rumors against "Hood." The buzz from the stands rose to become an angry clamor. People were starting to get to their feet, shouting down their own accusations at Richard as they found their courage for the first time.

"His cronies took my mother's necklace! It's all I had left of her!"

"My neighbors refused to sell their farm to him! A month later his entire crop died!"

"You see that sword? My son made that, and he threatened to cut off is iron supply if he didn't get it for nothing!"

"My daughter came home with a black eye after going to work for him!"

The accusations were coming louder and faster now. The stands were getting worked into a frenzy. Richard's composure was starting to slip, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Eric stood up in his seat. "Everyone! Quiet!"

The din rapidly died away, all attention diverted to the king. The traveler was impressed that a man could command such immediate and wiling obedience from his people. Not at all like the eastern rulers, who ruled by dominance and oppression.

"Lord Avitas, I don't know if any of this is true, but I will not turn a blind eye to it!" said Eric. "What do you have to say?"

"It's all lies, your majesty!" said Richard, bowing to Eric. "Every one of them! There's not a shred of truth to it!"

"Figures," muttered the traveler.

"How do you explain yourself then?" asked Eric.

"Quite simply they…they, uh…you see…"

The traveler smirked as Richard swallowed nervously. It figured this would happen. Richard's confidence was about to cause his downfall. He had been so sure no one would ever call him out he never bothered coming up with a contingency. Now he was caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Namely, someone else's cookie jar. Specifically, everyone else's cookie jar.

"I, uh…I…" The corners of Richard's mouth started to twitch with a nervous tick.

"What's wrong, Richard?" said the traveler loudly, walking around to face him. "Answer him! I mean, if it's all just made up, you'll have no problem setting the record straight! Surely an honor-bound noble of Seahaven would never do such awful things to the people, right? And he would never lie to his king, especially not with everyone watching? Right?"

Richard's hands were starting to tremble, both from rage and nerves. "Quiet, you!"

"Sorry. Can't help being a chatterbox." The traveler turned to Eric. "Since Richard's a bit tongue tied at the moment, I'll explain for him! It's all true! That and more! And we have proof! Plenty of it!"

It returned its focus to Richard, pointing its bokken at him. "Richard looks like a noble! He talks like a noble! And he sure lives like a noble! But underneath all that he's a thug! Nothing more than your average, run-of-the-mill, greedy bully that gets off putting people under his thumb! He threatens them, disgraces them, abuses them, robs them, and beats them down when they stand up to him! And you know what else? He enjoys every second of it, because it's the only way this sniveling good-for-nothing boy can feel he's worth something!"

That was it. Richard lost his genteel mask. The beast inside shone through with all its fury and spite and villainy.

"You insufferable sack of filth!" he yelled. "How dare you speak to me that way!?" He raised his sword and charged the traveler, intending to skewer it completely.

Without the weight holding it down the traveler sidestepped Richard's thrust with ease. It grabbed his wrist and twisted hard. Richard immediately released his sword, dropping it to the ground. The traveler jerked him around before planting a boot on his rump and sent him rolling over the dirt. He scrambled back to his feet and started after the traveler again.

The traveler grabbed Richard's sword. "Forgetting something?"

Richard came to a stop, glaring hatred at the traveler like few ever had. "Mangy rat! You'll rue this day! I'll get you! You, and everyone that's helped you hide!"

"The only thing I've regretted about crossing you, Richard, is that I didn't take you down when we first met!" The traveler threw the rapier at Richard's feet, and then drew its bokken and stabbed it in the dirt. "Because for seven weeks I've had to see your handiwork every day! I've seen those kids hungry, and dirty, and cold! I've seen Isaac so sick he couldn't walk! I've seen Sarah work herself ragged just to keep them fed while you bleed them dry! I've seen the lives you've ruined and the dreams you've trampled on! There isn't gonna be another week! No more hiding! No more watching! We're ending this right here, right now!"

The traveler reached up to its throat, forcing magic into its voice as it undid the enchantment. It pulled its goggles down around its neck, keeping its eyes closed. Then it undid the knot on its shemagh. An audible hush went over the crowd as everyone held their breath.

"You wanna see my face so badly?" asked the traveler as the shemagh's ends came free.

Richard's eyes went wide at the change in the traveler's speech. "That voice…!"

The traveler grabbed the front of its shemagh. It was done hiding from this man. It was done hiding period. It left the east was so it could stop hiding and running. This was not the east, and these were not easterners around it. Seven weeks was long enough. If there was ever a time and place to shed the disguise, this was it. There were still things to be afraid of in this world, but this man and these people were not among them.

"Here you go!" The traveler pulled the shemagh off, exposing its face in full.

Richard almost dropped his sword as a synchronous wave of shocked gasps and whispers went up from the stands. For those who recognized the traveler, it came from the shock of seeing a familiar face. For those who did not, it was the shock of seeing who this mystery man really was. Several people sipping drinks sputtered and coughed as they forgot how to swallow. Sarah nearly fell off the arena wall as the orphan's eyes went wide as they ever had. Isaac dropped his cane and his jaw. The regulars and waitresses of the Mermaid's Trove exclaimed their surprise as they recognized their new bartender. Only John and Jenni were unfazed, grinning at seeing the traveler in its true form.


Remora clutched the edge of her seat so hard it splintered. Electricity surged over her fingertips, scorching the wood underneath. The air around her became charged, making the hair on people's heads stand up as the smell of burning wood became stronger. Several people sniffed and then scooted away, mistaking the odor for something else.

"You!" Remora hissed loudly as she beheld the traveler's face.

Riptide saw and felt the abrupt shift in Remora's mood. "What's gotten into you?"

An arc of electricity flashed to his hand, making him yelp as it went numb.

"You're alive!" growled Remora angrily, barely containing her power as it responded to her mounting rage. "You're still alive! How are you alive, brat!?"


The raven smirked as the traveler's face was revealed in full. "Long overdue, but better late than never."


Up in the royal box Ariel, Melody, and Aquata bolted to join Eric at the edge. He was rubbing his eyes, hardly able to believe what he was seeing. None of them were quite able to. Melody grabbed her own spyglass, quickly bringing the traveler into magnified focus. Ariel was looking through binoculars, her mouth open in astonishment. She did not even register when Aquata took them from her, jamming the lenses to her eyes the wrong way around.

"I can't see anything!" said Aquata. Ariel reached out and flipped the binoculars over, not looking away from the traveler for an instant. "Oh, that's bett–whaaaaaaaaaaat!?"

Eric lowered his spyglass. "But that's…he's…he's a…!" Eric could not find the words to finish the sentence.

Since he could not, Melody, Aquata, and Ariel did it for him. "A girl!"

The traveler was indeed a she. An attractive young woman, probably around the same age as Melody. Her features were graceful and soft, perfectly accenting her oval face. Her small nose and almond shaped eyes were clearly as feminine as the gentle curvature of her jaw and the slant of her eyebrows. She had fair skin and somewhat thin pale pink lips. A pale narrow scar ran over her right eye. Her straight brown hair fell to the small of her back, swaying gently in the faint breeze that appeared. She had an ethereal beauty to her, as though she were an elf from a fairy tale. Yet there was a striking ferocity to her as well–an intensity like looking at a raging fire.

Yet she was also the most alarmingly striking person the royals had ever seen.

The traveler had piercings, and not just a few. Not like the sailors who favored the rare gold ring in their ear or nose. Melody had never seen someone pierced to this extent. The traveler had a single black labret piercing in her lower lip and a pair of vertical black barbells through each eyebrow. The breeze lifted her hair to reveal her ears bore no less metal. There were two small black rings just above her lobes and four finger-length black spikes through each helix. They gleamed in the sun like polished obsidian.

Then the traveler's eyes opened.

Melody had seen all sorts of eye colors, both among merfolk and human. But she had never seen eyes like this. They were such a bright shade of amber it would be inaccurate to call them anything but golden yellow. A faint ring of orange was around the pupils. They almost looked like they were glowing. Even without them looking at her Melody felt intimidated by their color. They were the eyes a predator would have.

The traveler's eyes glanced up at Melody, looking straight at her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she quickly lowered her spyglass. Just that glance had made her feel incredibly small, as though she were before an enormous shark or whale.

Whoever this woman was, Melody was sure she was dangerous.


"You!" shouted Richard, pointing his sword at the woman.

"Surprised?" said the traveler, a few strands of hair falling down to frame her face. "Wait, don't tell me! It's the piercings, right? Or is it the eyes?"

"I know you! You're that freak barmaid John hired! Joanna!"

"Wrong," said the traveler as she undid the wrappings on her arms. The fabric pooled onto the ground, revealing three encircling bands of black arcane writing tattooed around her forearms. She then peeled the bandages off one hand, leaving the blood-soaked ones in place. No sense in giving away her healing ability just yet. "I never gave my real name to anyone."

Richard's sword was shaking. "This…this is absurd! You're a woman!"

"If by that you mean I'm not a man, then you're one to talk," said the traveler.

Richard turned to Eric, ignoring the barbed comment. "Your majesty, she must be disqualified!"

An overwhelming chorus of boos immediately went up from the stands. Richard flinched at the immense negative response. A few people even threw things at him, though he was so far from the stands no once could hit him.

The booing quickly ended when Eric raised his hand for silence. "On what grounds, Lord Avitas?"

"The obvious! She's a woman! This tournament is a man's contest!"

More booing answered his words.

"If that's true then how did a boy like you get in?" asked the traveler loudly.

The boos turned to laughs, which made Richard's face grow a shade redder. Even more when Ariel and Aquata covered their mouths to conceal a pair of un-royal snorts. The traveler watched as Grimsby and Eric whispered back and forth. Then Eric leaned over to Ariel, sharing more hushed conversation. Ariel asked something to Melody, but the princess only shook her head. Grimsby pulled out a leaflet of papers from his jacket, which he began flipping through until he found the desired page. After a brief discussion with Ariel and Eric he gestured for quiet once more.

"Though this is a highly unusual situation," declared Grimsby. "A review of the rules set forth by his majesty does not reveal anything that forbids a woman from participating in the tournament."

"What!?" exclaimed Richard. "You must have missed something!"

"He did not, Lord Avitas," said Eric firmly. "And neither did I. The only rule deciding who can participate is that they must prove themselves physically eligible to enter. Man or woman was never mentioned. And this young lady cleared all five of the preliminary trials. And, since a champion has not been decided, I–."

Ariel coughed suggestively as she elbowed his arm.

"We have decided the match will continue," corrected Eric. "On the condition the young woman gives her name!"

The stands exploded into cheering. People jumped to their feet, applauding and hollering in approval. The orphans and the tavern patrons whooped loudly. Richard only turned redder and angrier.

Ariel rose from her seat, her very presence commanding quiet as she approached the edge of the box. "Miss, what's your name?"

The traveler paused. How long had it been since she used her real name? If her memory was right it had been almost two years. Other than that, she always went by aliases or did not give a name at all. But out here no one knew any of those, so it was safe to use her real name again. In fact, it was probably safer to do so.

She grinned lopsidedly. She looked forward to hearing it again.

"It's Lara," she said, lifting her goggles onto her head so the eyewear doubled as a hairband. "My name is Lara Anclagon."


A/N: The secret has come out. The repentant traveler is the golden-eyed Lara Anclagon. Not a man, but a woman. Not a violent vagrant, but a hero to the people. The preconceptions of the masses are broken, as are the restraints holding her strength back. She walked into the arena a mere mortal, her name and powers hidden in the name of secrecy and honorable combat. Now she stands unchained and unmasked, ready to face the deceiver Richard with her might. The tournament is coming to a close, but the battle is not over yet! Does Lara have what it takes to defeat Richard? Find out next time!

Be honest, how many of you thought the traveler was a man up to this point? Well, I never said the traveler was a man or a woman for that matter. Try rereading a few of the traveler's...I mean, Lara's parts of the story. How much does knowing the traveler is a woman change your perception of her?

As Genie would say, "Made you look!"

As always, your comments/thoughts/constructive criticism are welcome!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. I do not own the listed song(s). Everything else, however, is mine =)