their
money pouches were gone.
“I’ve been robbed!” One of the
spectators cried. But the man’s voice was soon drowned out by the crowd’s
murmurings. Aidan watched as the man joined a small group of spectators who had
also apparently been robbed and scoured the sea of people in search of the
thief.
Frowning, Aidan scanned the
crowd for Nester, but the brownie was nowhere to be found.
When the last bet was taken,
the announcer addressed everyone again. “And now, without further ado, may the
best man win!” He quickly shuffled out of the ring.
Aidan bowed and extended his
fist, hoping Caiyn, whom he sensed was more of a seasoned fighter than Hugo,
would return the honorable gesture. “It is an honor, sir. Aidan will be careful
this time and make sure no one gets hurt.”
To Aidan’s relief, Caiyn
understood his gesture and bumped his fist. “Never underestimate your opponent,
Aidan,” he said, then returned to his stance. The fight commenced. Caiyn
shifted the weight on his foot and sprang forward through the air, aiming a
side-kick toward Aidan’s lower ribs.
Aidan sidestepped before
Caiyn’s foot made contact.
Appearing surprised, Caiyn
tumbled to the ground, then rolled back toward Aidan
to recover his attack. Aidan peered over his shoulder at Caiyn, who attempted
to drop him with a back-sweep. Caiyn’s leg impacted the back of Aidan’s, and a
loud snap was heard.
Caiyn let out an earsplitting
cry of pain. A hush drew over the spectators as he collapsed to the ground,
holding his ankle.
Aidan gasped. He spun around
and knelt down to tend to the injured man. “Aidan is sorry! Aidan is sorry!
Stay still! Aidan will get you to healer!” Picking Caiyn up, Aidan looked
around frantically for the nearest aurorium.
“Put him down,” a gruff voice
ordered, breaking the shocked silence of the crowd.
Startled, Aidan looked toward
the voice. It was the armored man he had seen earlier. He approached Aidan.
Like everyone else, Aidan easily towered over the armored man, but Aidan’s size
didn’t appear to intimidate him.
The man crossed his arms and
looked at Aidan expectantly. “I said, ‘Put him down.’”
A bitter taste came to Aidan’s
mouth. Something about the armored man bothered him. He carefully set Caiyn
down and backed away.
The armored man smiled and
then nodded toward an unseen person within the crowd. Moments later, another
armored man emerged. He approached, hefted Caiyn’s body, and carried him off.
After his comrade left, the man
turned back to Aidan. “My name is Gaston, and I will gladly take up the
challenge.”
Aidan gaped. He tried to
protest, but no sound came. He felt small nudging on his side.
“Did you ’ear that, mate? This
bloke wants to challenge you! Give ’im a good one, an’ we’ll be soddin rich
after this!”
Aidan glared at Nester. “No!
No more fighting! No more violence! Too many people got hurt today! Aidan is
tired!”
Gaston stroked his thin black
beard in thought and then smirked at Aidan. “Entertain me, creature. Entertain
us all. It’s amazing that someone like you has been spared from death.”
Aidan met Gaston’s gaze.
“Aidan does not cause trouble, so people do not bother him.”
“Surely not. They know better than to wrestle with a half-breed. ”
He paused and scrutinized Aidan more closely. “That is what you are, I
presume.”
Soft mutterings swept over the
crowd. Even the announcer looked stunned.
“Soddin’
’ells, Aidan! You’re gonna just
stand there an’ let ’im insult you like that?”
Aidan shook his head at
Nester. “Aidan does not know what this man is talking about.” He faced Gaston
and then sighed heavily. “If it means Aidan can get some food and warm bed
afterwards, then fine—Aidan will entertain.”
“That’s it, mate! Knock th’
sense outta ’im!” Nester quickly scrambled out of the ring and disappeared in
the crowd.
“Wonderful.” Gaston grinned
and stepped backwards, beckoning Aidan
money pouches were gone.
“I’ve been robbed!” One of the
spectators cried. But the man’s voice was soon drowned out by the crowd’s
murmurings. Aidan watched as the man joined a small group of spectators who had
also apparently been robbed and scoured the sea of people in search of the
thief.
Frowning, Aidan scanned the
crowd for Nester, but the brownie was nowhere to be found.
When the last bet was taken,
the announcer addressed everyone again. “And now, without further ado, may the
best man win!” He quickly shuffled out of the ring.
Aidan bowed and extended his
fist, hoping Caiyn, whom he sensed was more of a seasoned fighter than Hugo,
would return the honorable gesture. “It is an honor, sir. Aidan will be careful
this time and make sure no one gets hurt.”
To Aidan’s relief, Caiyn
understood his gesture and bumped his fist. “Never underestimate your opponent,
Aidan,” he said, then returned to his stance. The fight commenced. Caiyn
shifted the weight on his foot and sprang forward through the air, aiming a
side-kick toward Aidan’s lower ribs.
Aidan sidestepped before
Caiyn’s foot made contact.
Appearing surprised, Caiyn
tumbled to the ground, then rolled back toward Aidan
to recover his attack. Aidan peered over his shoulder at Caiyn, who attempted
to drop him with a back-sweep. Caiyn’s leg impacted the back of Aidan’s, and a
loud snap was heard.
Caiyn let out an earsplitting
cry of pain. A hush drew over the spectators as he collapsed to the ground,
holding his ankle.
Aidan gasped. He spun around
and knelt down to tend to the injured man. “Aidan is sorry! Aidan is sorry!
Stay still! Aidan will get you to healer!” Picking Caiyn up, Aidan looked
around frantically for the nearest aurorium.
“Put him down,” a gruff voice
ordered, breaking the shocked silence of the crowd.
Startled, Aidan looked toward
the voice. It was the armored man he had seen earlier. He approached Aidan.
Like everyone else, Aidan easily towered over the armored man, but Aidan’s size
didn’t appear to intimidate him.
The man crossed his arms and
looked at Aidan expectantly. “I said, ‘Put him down.’”
A bitter taste came to Aidan’s
mouth. Something about the armored man bothered him. He carefully set Caiyn
down and backed away.
The armored man smiled and
then nodded toward an unseen person within the crowd. Moments later, another
armored man emerged. He approached, hefted Caiyn’s body, and carried him off.
After his comrade left, the man
turned back to Aidan. “My name is Gaston, and I will gladly take up the
challenge.”
Aidan gaped. He tried to
protest, but no sound came. He felt small nudging on his side.
“Did you ’ear that, mate? This
bloke wants to challenge you! Give ’im a good one, an’ we’ll be soddin rich
after this!”
Aidan glared at Nester. “No!
No more fighting! No more violence! Too many people got hurt today! Aidan is
tired!”
Gaston stroked his thin black
beard in thought and then smirked at Aidan. “Entertain me, creature. Entertain
us all. It’s amazing that someone like you has been spared from death.”
Aidan met Gaston’s gaze.
“Aidan does not cause trouble, so people do not bother him.”
“Surely not. They know better than to wrestle with a half-breed. ”
He paused and scrutinized Aidan more closely. “That is what you are, I
presume.”
Soft mutterings swept over the
crowd. Even the announcer looked stunned.
“Soddin’
’ells, Aidan! You’re gonna just
stand there an’ let ’im insult you like that?”
Aidan shook his head at
Nester. “Aidan does not know what this man is talking about.” He faced Gaston
and then sighed heavily. “If it means Aidan can get some food and warm bed
afterwards, then fine—Aidan will entertain.”
“That’s it, mate! Knock th’
sense outta ’im!” Nester quickly scrambled out of the ring and disappeared in
the crowd.
“Wonderful.” Gaston grinned
and stepped backwards, beckoning Aidan
Similar Books
