CHAPTER 85 I Appreciated the Headbutt

CHAPTER 85

I Appreciated the Headbutt

Rufus

Donna had not come clean on the way to the inn … and neither had I.

How was there so much to do in so little time?! Between reporting to the Continental Council, meeting up with the fan club, and getting up the final ounce of courage to actually tell Brownie that I was, in fact, the leader of her fan club, well, there wasn’t enough time. I could feel the pressure build even as we made our way across the bridge, up the hill, and through the market to Bea’s Bed they are starting now!” Bronwynn yelled at me over the din. “I have twenty-four cousins. My parents are one of seven children each, remember?”

I nodded, beginning to feel the pressure than the usual overstimulation of sights, sounds, and sensations from the press around me. The match started, and the unease was still there, still nagging at me and distracting me, so I clung to the other thought as an easy distraction.

The half giantess I was courting had enough family to make up for my lack. Maybe there would be time to swing by Gren’s Keep and introduce Bronwynn to my sister. Jessica was always saying I should come by … Maybe it was time?

“She’s so good!” Bronwynn laughed, dragging my attention to the stage. Candace had her blades spinning around the dwarf holding an ornate hammer. Torren had sustained a few superficial cuts but otherwise seemed to be holding his own.

I realized, with my discerning eye, that the dwarf was enjoying himself. After he blocked the next volley of shadow daggers, he used the momentum of his swing to finally get close enough to the giantess to be right under her. With a triumphant yell, Torren activated, “[Control: Size]!”

The otherwise shorter dwarf used the famous racial skill that allowed him to shrink or grow in size. Suddenly, he was bigger than Bronwynn’s cousin, with enchantments on his clothing and weapon to grow with him. The hammer hit Candace in full force, knocking her back.

With a single step too far, her heel landed just outside the line.

“Victory to the fresh blood! Torren wins again!” The audience went wild , and I found my arms unconsciously wrapping around the minstrel cheering beside me. I couldn’t even register if she was actually cheering or booing at that point. “Rufus? ”

It was just as bad as I remembered it being, and I tried to will my hands to let go of Bronwynn, even when she was the only thing keeping the ever-growing sensory overload from cloying its way into overwhelming me as hundreds of people pressed against me. They weren’t pressing on me physically but with each wave of shouting building on top of the constant notification tabs sending me notice that there were more and more messages waiting and the feeling of being trapped, hoping to be there with Bronwynn while she enjoyed a show.

“Guild Master Warren’s Penalty Bout is up next!” a young voice cried.

The date. Their date. I used my own recommended breathing technique to calm down and tried to separate myself further from the crushing weight of everything.

Bronwynn had, at some point, turned and shoved my nose into her collar. The smell of her, a bit of resin and cinnamon and citrus from her hair product filled my nose. Donna snorted nearby and headbutted my shoulder. I didn’t know if she was telling me to get over it or concerned, but I appreciated the headbutt either way.

[You have taken 60 points of Blunt Force Damage from Belladonna Windrunner. Health 556/616.]

Bronwynn’s voice, my lifeline, whispered in my ear, “This way,” as she all but dragged me from the town square.