Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Vennkor

S and crunches underfoot as I turn a full circle to survey my new surroundings. The Arena is never the same two days running. Obstacles are added or removed as the Hov desire with the intention of keeping the fights interesting for their patrons.

What remains the same every day are the packed rows of seats that completely encircle the stage. Those patrons seated farthest away are so high up that I must tilt my head back if I wish to see them.

Rather, I focus on keeping all expression from my face. The Hov have taken everything from me—my freedom, my family, my future, my self-respect. I will not give them the satisfaction of knowing my true thoughts.

Raising my flavel, I rest the handle against my good shoulder. On the far side of the Arena, a cell door, set deep in the thick wall surrounding the Arena, is rising. Behind that door is my opponent .

I did not bother looking for my own fight in the lists this morning, so I do not know who I am to be pit against. It makes little difference to me; I will either win or lose. Knowing ahead of time serves me nothing but worry, and I have enough to worry about without knowing my opponent.

Waiting in the hypogeum somewhere beneath my feet is the Female. Nina. She said her name was Nina. I speak it aloud, knowing nobody can hear me over the cheering of the crowd. It is a strange word that does not quite fit my mouth. Nina. Nina.

Instinctively, I widen my legs, settling into my fighting stance. To my right, an artificial boulder provides a little cover. To my left, sharp spikes rise out of the sandy floor. Each is nearly as tall as I am, and they are spaced about half an arm’s length apart, but with my wide shoulders they will act more as a hindrance than help, and I could become trapped between them if my opponent lures me that way. I make a note to keep away.

Nina . Her name is a talisman. The shouting of the crowd fades from my notice.

I did not want to be the one to tell her about the Arena. Although I knew I should have been ignoring her, I could hardly bring myself to break her hope. And break her hope I did. She wears all her emotions on her face, and I saw the light dim in her eyes as she heard my words. I saw her panic, just as I smelled it—metallic, almost like blood.

Somebody slams into my back, throwing me forward. The flavel flies from my grip as, too late, I try to catch myself. I hit the ground hard, jarring my bad shoulder.

Fek! I scramble to my feet, turning to face my attackers. I was so focused on the Female that I forgot I might be pit against more than one opponent.

Elated by their early hit, the two Kiligar’os charge again. They are small creatures, closer to Nina’s height than my own, and deadly fast. Only Reke is faster. They have fangs with which they latch onto their prey, and their jaws are so strong that nothing short of breaking the bone will release their bite when they do not want to let go. They always fight in pairs or trios, clamping onto their prey one after the other until their prey becomes weak and desperate.

I now understand why the Hov supplied me with the flavel. Swinging it in wide circles would have kept the Kiligar’os pair at bay. I spare it a single glance, but it is too far beyond my reach, and attempting to pick it up now will once again present the two Kiligar’os with my unprotected back.

With nothing but my sheer strength with which to defend myself, I raise my fists and lower my center of gravity. This is going to be one fek of a fight.