***
My hand had bruised horribly for the few days after, but fortunately hadn't affected my grip. I still managed to win my next fight - barely - and the one after that as well. By the time another year had gone by, I was one of the more popular fighters in the Pit. I still didn't win all of my fights, but I managed more than enough to keep me employed for as long as I wished to remain there, according to Tik.
I still found myself winning fights that I shouldn't have, due to "lucky" breaks. And I still didn't know exactly what was causing them. I was almost certain that I was causing the Wards, but every time I tried to test, it never worked. Yes, I probably should have gone to the Quis, but I was afraid. It seemed like I was finally finding my way in the world, and I didn't want that to be taken away. If I went to the Quis and I was a Warder, I'd be sent to the Asylum. Even if I wasn't, whoever was helping me win my fights would be in big trouble, and that wasn't something I wanted either.
So I continued to fight, Wards and all. I was incredibly fortunate that nobody noticed, but one thing I've found is that people usually don't see what they're not looking for. Even so, with so many people watching, I was bound to be noticed one day.
The fight began like any other. I waited with a blend of nervousness and anticipation which, while it had become less intense, still remained churning in my gut even after countless fights. My gate opened first, and I stepped into the pit to a thunderous roar. It appeared I had become something of a crowd favourite. To be honest, their attention made me a little uncomfortable, but I tried to block out the noise and focus on the gate across the sand floor.
The roar of the crowd drowned out the announcer as he gave my opponent's name. No matter - I'd have my chance to size him up before he reached the center of the Pit. Even if it was someone I hadn't faced before - the fighters changed with an almost alarming frequency - there was no weapon or style I didn't feel comfortable facing at this point. I'd won my last half dozen fights, so it didn't even matter if this guy was twice my size and swung an ox by the tail as his weapon. Even if I lost, it would only serve to balance the odds against me for the next match, which in turn would increase the amount I made when I won.
I squinted across the Pit as my opponent came through the gate. Didn't look like anyone I knew. For one, he was too short. He wouldn't even come up to my shoulder. For two, he was thin. All the short fighters I knew were also heavy, like they were trying to make up for their height with muscle. Except - as the figure came closer I realized that he wasn't a he after all. My opponent was a woman.
It wasn't a problem, really. I had fought women before, though the fights didn't tend to go well. Most women took the quick and deadly approach to fighting, which made it easy for them to slip around my attacks and plant a dagger in my back. And, to be honest, I've always been reluctant to hit a girl. Blame it on my upbringing.
Regardless, I shifted my grip on my hammer and waited for the woman to draw near. I wasn't about to make the fight easy on her. She drew her blade - an average looking shortsword - and advanced cautiously. She was still too far away for me to make out her face, but the way she held her sword looked familiar. It only took a few more steps before I recognized who it was.
"Salli!" I shouted above the roar of the crowd. My hammer thudded to the ground beside me, but I paid it no mind. If there was one person in the whole world I wouldn't fight, it was her.
She, on the other hand, didn't seem to have any similar qualms. A mask of determination disguised any hint of her emotions as she quickly covered the distance between us. I was still in shock as she reached me, and it wasn't until the tip of her sword pierced my shoulder that I snapped out of it. She pulled in close to me as she ground the point into my muscle.
"Listen to me," she growled. "You will not make me look bad in my first fight. Pick up your weapon and fight me." She twisted her blade for emphasis. "Got it?"
I nodded, almost imperceptibly, and she stepped back and pulled her sword out, displaying it to the crowd. The blood on the tip drove the people to cheers. Salli knew how to work the crowd, I'll give her that much.
Shoulder burning, I crouched and grasped the handle of my hammer, lifting it back off the ground. There was still no way I was going to attack Salli, but she was right - we had to give them a show, or both of our reputations would suffer.
Her back was turned to face the crowd, and I took advantage of her distraction to heave my hammer up and toward the back of her head. The sudden gasp from the people in the stands gave her all the warning she needed. As if choreographed, she slipped to one side as she turned, her sword coming up to knock my blow off course. The weight of the hammer brought her blade to the ground with it, leaving the two of us face to face. I almost thought I caught a small smile on her face before she smashed me in the nose with her elbow.
Momentarily blinded, I stumbled back, managing to retain my hold on my hammer. I felt more than saw her steel graze my ribs, slicing a neat hole in my shirt but doing no real damage. Her blade was razor sharp. I scrubbed at my eyes with the back of my hand, trying to clear them, and looked up just in time to see a sword point flash toward my stomach. Reacting instantly, I leaned to the side, blocking with my hammer to prevent her from changing her thrust into a cut. It was time to use my strength to my advantage.
I pushed hard against her blade, trying to knock her off balance. Instead, she simply turned with the movement, spinning around to bring her blade back from the other side. But I was faster than she had anticipated, and before she could complete her spin, I crashed into her back, catching her sword arm while my foot tangled in hers. She fell to the ground heavily, breaking my grip on her arm. Before I could even lift my weapon, she was back on her feet, watching me warily.
For a moment, both of us stood there, not moving. Blood dripped from my nose down my chin and splashed onto the sand faster than it could be absorbed, making a small pool. I ignored it. I'd become quite good at that.
With a sudden burst of speed, Salli launched herself at me, her sword arcing through the air at waist level. Fortunately, she was far enough away that I would be able to block easily. I shifted my stance, lifting my hammer into the path of her blade - and my foot hit the pool of blood. It skidded. Not much, but enough to throw my balance off and bring me to one knee. I caught myself with the hand still holding my hammer, trapping the weapon on the ground. Salli's sword, earlier aimed at my waist, was now directly in line with my neck.
There was nothing either of us could do. I was off balance on one knee, and she had committed to the blow. Time seemed to slow as the razor sharp steel inched closer to my neck. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. If the blade severed my head, the best Healers in the world wouldn't be able to save my life. And Salli - she would be evicted from competing in the pit, and likely tried for murder as well.
I couldn't let that happen.
Something flared in my mind, and I grasped at it desperately. It woke to my touch, filling me with a power I didn't understand at the time. All I knew was I had to do something, anything, to stop that blade from cutting into my neck. The power flooded my mind, and it was like a shimmer passed through the air in front of my eyes. When the power faded to the back of my mind and the shimmer disappeared, the sword continued unhindered. My eyes closed reflexively.
A moment later, the cold steel touched my neck.
I opened my eyes.
The crowd had gone silent. Shock had replaced fear on Salli's face. It was quickly replaced by something else - anger? Concern? She swung her blade again, this time at my head. I didn't move, but I felt the same power as before, saw the same shimmer in the air. The steel made no noise as it bounced off of seemingly solid air an inch from my head. Again and again Salli swung at me, and my Ward moved to catch her blows.
My Ward.
Abruptly, Salli stopped attacking me, sheathed her sword, and looked down into my eyes. Around us, the crowd erupted into whispered conversation, like the drone of a thousa
nd bees.
"I'm glad you're not dead," Salli said. "But you could have told me you were a Warder."
"I didn't know."
She nodded and smiled sadly, glancing over my shoulder at the gate behind me. Leaning forward, she whispered in my ear. "Goodbye, Jordel."
Her lips pressed against my cheek, and a moment later she was walking back to her gate, leaving me on my knee in the sand.
I didn't try to run when the Quis came for me.
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