Chapter 40
Preparations for the Grand Melee
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Disclaimer: This story is not meant as 'erotica', but dark adventure-fantasy. It may contain material that sensitive readers might find uncomfortable. Please be advised.
Taking in a deep breath, Leita looked around at the circle of gladiators surrounding her and Kalder. Some of them looked almost frightened, others wore cocky grins. Most simply bore a focused expression, their minds already working through the battle that was about to begin. Hands tightened around the handles of weapons and shields twitched with anticipation. It would be a furious and pitched battle, but all of them seemed ready for it.
"Three hits and you retire." Colja instructed the encircling group. "Manage to land more than three hits of your own, between both of your opponents, and you will be rewarded with a little extra something from the kitchens tonight." He held up a finger. "Fail to land a single hit before you are taken out and you will be 'rewarded' with some 'special training' from myself." Giving them a warning look, he smiled wickedly. "It will only be rewarding to me, though."
There was a slight ripple of chuckles through the circle, but none of them held any doubts that Colja could be just as, if not more so, sadistic as Kalder when it came to training. It served as an ample threat to make sure they would put forth their best efforts in the practice. However, few of them really needed much incentive. For most of them, this would be a chance to finally get a little payback for days of rough training at the hands of the House Champion and the rising star. Most of them knew all too well just how capable both of them were, so very few really looked like they had any expectations of doing more than getting in a one or two hard hits with their practice weapons before they got knocked into the dirt by one of the two.
Most would likely focus more on Leita, whom they recognized as being capable, but didn't regard as being on the same level as Kalder. Kalder truly was the more formidable fighter, due to his years of experience and physical assets. However, she intended to show any who mistook her as the 'easy target' the folly of their choice. Of course, this was likely how it would be in the actual Grand Melee, with most of those who came to grief them favoring her as a target over him. So, it would be good for her to get prepared for it. That aside, the exercise seemed a bit off to Leita.
In the Grand Melee, each pair of fighters from the different Houses would be set against all other pairs, not just all against her and Kalder. However, Colja's little exercise here was clearly meant to be everyone against just the two of them. She'd started to argue that difference, but Kalder had been quick to point out the real purpose of arranging it this way.
"For one, this is meant to be worst case scenario." He'd explained irritably. "For two, the fighters we're going to face in the Melee are all going to be the best of their Houses. Most of them will be more than equal to three of these people put together. For three, there isn't even half as many fighters as well be a part of the event. We might not have so many coming at us at a time, but this gets us prepared for dealing with a lot of attackers at once and for the comparable threat of what we will be dealing with as far as individual skills."
While that made a kind of sense, Leita still felt it would also be wise to let her get used to the general chaos of a free-for-all, so she could better understand what she was going to be getting into. There would be different tactics to a fight where everyone was everyone else's enemy than just everyone focused solely on them. Of course, another part of her was rather looking forward to this little exercise and getting to see just how well she faired against her peers in the stable. Her practices with the newest gladiators and the little game of having them all come at her at once to show how little they really knew, had given her some experience with managing multiple foes. This would be a significant step up, both in number and level of skill, if not something new.
"The fight will go until everyone has been eliminated and then we will tally how many hits our two Grand Melee competitors took." Colja continued, turning to look at her and Kalder. "The Mistress has sweetened the game by offering a very special reward that will go to either these two or to the rest of the stable depending on whether or not they take at least twenty total hits. With there being twelve of you, one should think that would not be so hard."
Kalder smirked. "Honestly, there's maybe only four of you that I think are going to be an actual challenge." He rotated the padded version of a battle-pick he held in his hand. "So, try and surprise me, if you can."
"And hope we don't take those four down first. They might the only chance some of you get to make a hit." Leita added with a grin, receiving a snort of agreement from Kalder.
It was, in truth, rather an underestimation of the general ability of most of the stable, but there really was only four that she felt really would be significant threats to them. Both Boske and Huelin had developed into very strong fighters over the last weeks, each rising fast in rankings within the arena. Yulmier, who'd been trained in House Warforger, had amazing offensive skills and power, though his defense was much less impressive, and Birgitte was an ex-soldier of Garsi, who had been formally trained to fight in the Heltran Badlands.
Just those four, working together, would have provided a solid challenge. Adding in the other eight gladiators, even if just providing them support, would make it very hard to manage not to get hit the twenty times. While she and Kalder were both better than any single one of them, she wagered they might both find it difficult to keep up with it all. Not to mention, she was still completely certain how well she and Kalder could act as a team.
She supposed they were about to find out.
"HOLD!" Came a shout from a guard at far end of the yard, just as Colja was about to call for them to begin. They all looked around to see Sasinel crossing the pitch towards them, looking grim. The circle of gladiators parted to let her pass, moving closer as she walked up to Leita and Kalder, waving for Colja to join them. She waited for the rest to close in before she began to speak.
"The Mistress has sent me ahead of her from the arena with some news. Myrinus has been killed." She said gravely, her voice loud enough for the rest of the gladiators to hear, but obviously meant primarily for the three Elements. Regardless, murmur began rippling through the gathered gladiators. "He was fighting against House Victorious' gladiator, Casaires. He'd conceded defeat in arms and signaled surrender, but Casaires killed him anyway, murdering him on his knees."
Leita felt the breath get knocked out of her by the news. Not just by the fact that Myrinus had died, but by how he had died. What she was describing sounded more like an execution than an arena match. The mariner had been an honest friend, one of the first she felt she'd really made in the House. She'd always hoped she'd once more get to see him, even if it was standing across from him in the arena.
Kalder's expression showed obvious anger at the news. While he and Myrinus had never been anything resembling actual friends, he had seen him as a peer and had respected the mariner's skills. Even though he had no longer been a fighter for House Firebridge, there had been too much history with them not feel outrage at his being mercilessly murdered.
"There is more." Sasinel said darkly, her eyes fixing directly on Leita. "Right after the killing, Lord Venge visited the Mistress' box to let her know that he was entering Casaires into the Grand Melee as one of his two competitors. While he was quite politic about how he said it, making it seem more like bragging, it was obvious why he'd timed things as he had. Myrinus' slaying was intended as a message for our House and, likely, for Leita directly. The Mistress is certain that Lord Venge intends to ensure that you do not leave the sands."
Kalder shook his head in disgust. "Damn than Venge! Myrinus and I may not have seen eye to eye, but he didn't deserve this. Especially not as some arrogant message! If Venge thinks..." His jaw clamped shut, grinding together like stones, in anger.
"I will pray to the Sea Gods he worshipped on his behalf." Colja said softly. "It is what he would want. I will also make prayer to the Fire Gods that they grant vengeance to his killers."
"If you'll allow me, I'll pray with you." Said one of the gladiators, one of the newest to the stable, Lillis. Though she'd not known Myrinus, she was from the country of Aegeia, which bordered the Southern Reaches and her own culture was as spiritual as Colja's.
The aljin nodded to her, looking grateful for her show of support. When two other fighters also pledged to take a kneel with him in honor of Myrinus, he nodded recognition to them as well, seeming pleased. However, when he looked back to the sidil, his face darkened into something dangerous.
"I would assume that the Lady will not be allowing this to go unanswered." He said in as menacing a tone as Leita had ever come from the man.
"Well, Lord Venge made a mistake in putting his messenger into the Melee." Leita replied, her voice low, but strong. "His answer with be me sending Casaires' corpse back to him."
Sasinel's expression tightened, looking uncertainly at Leita. "The Mistress believes that is what Lord Venge wants your reaction to be. He wants you focused on Casaires in the fight, not on the Melee itself. Most likely, he will make sure that others have been tasked with blind-siding you and doing the work for him. She is recommending that Kalder replace you with Colja."
Kalder's eyes narrowed, looking towards Leita. "I've fought Casaires myself. He is definitely skilled, but I honestly believe Leita is good enough to take him. I can make sure that no one comes to stab her in the back while she does."
Colja sighed, frowning as his mind worked over things. "Except that, with both of you so focused on this, it is far more likely that you will lose the Grand Melee in general. I would expect that this as much a part of his plans as any possible plot against Leita. Even if she survives, with your attentions on revenge and defending against whatever attempts he has orchestrated will cost us the purse. I can only assume that is why the Mistress wants to replace Leita."
Kalder didn't immediately respond to that. "Then you'd need to replace me too, because I'm not going to just let this go either. If she's leaving this decision on me, I say we stick to myself and Leita. Leaving her a part of this will mean they are focused on their own plans as well. In fact, I wager it will be several other Houses that he's roped into helping with this. That means several of our opponents will be just as distracted as us. We'll kill BOTH of Venge's men AND win the Grand Melee, just to spite him."
