“Very well. The Skrizzit will come to you in the camp.”
With that, the announcer turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving the stunned guards and staff in his wake.
“Youreallypissed him off,” the nearest guard said.
“The law is the law,” Bodok replied with a shrug.
“Yeah, but he can make things difficult for you.”
Bodok turned to the man with a genuinely amused look in his eye. “I am scheduled to be led to the slaughter in a few days’ time. I do not think it can be much worse.”
The guard laughed. Much as he hated to admit it, he kind of admired the man’s spunk, even if he would be dead soon enough.
“All right, let’s get you back, then. Head this way. We exit out to the left. You lost a lot of people money tonight, so if we see anyone in the streets, do not engage with them, is that clear?”
The blue man nodded and trudged ahead. “I have no desire to engage with anyone.”
The guard snorted a little laugh. “Clearly.”
They made their way down the corridor and out into the night air. Fortune smiled upon them and they were alone, no disgruntled patrons were anywhere near. Both Bodok and the guards were equally pleased. The walk back could be an unpleasant one if they had to deal with a potentially violent crowd.
In short order they arrived at the sentry post outside the training facility. The man looked surprised.
“You’re back. And still alive.”
“It would seem that way.”
“Hm. Interesting. Wasn’t expecting that. Well, we’d best get you inside then.”
Bodok stepped through the gate, exiting the freedom of the open air, exchanging it once more for captivity.
“Go on, you know where to go,” the sentry said.
He nodded once and went on his way.
“So, must’ve been quite a fight then,” the sentry noted.
“He fought two, actually,” one of the guards replied. “Went and took down Jarsuvius, if you can believe it.”
“Jarsuvius? Really?”
“Yeah. Pissed off the boss like you wouldn’t believe. So much that he’s got him scheduled to fight Maxxis in the next tournament.”
“Maxxis? Poor bastard.”
“You’re telling me. Well, he’s your problem for now. Oh, and the Skrizzit will be coming to see him tomorrow. He’s getting his runes fixed. Lot of good it’ll do him.”
“But if that improves his stamina and extends the match, there might still be some interesting bets to be made,” the sentry noted, a pensive look on his face. “That is, for those who know he has a good reason to survive a little longer than otherwise expected.”
The guard took the hint and gave him a knowing wink. “Yeah,someonemight just be able to make a nice little profit if they had that kind of information.”
“Indeed,” the guard said with a wink as he gestured for his men to follow. “Make sure our boy gets his rest.”
“Count on it. I’ll be seeing you soon,” the sentry called after him.
“You certainly will.”
It was late afternoon the following day when the Skrizzit finally arrived. The short creature with long arms and lumpy, pale skin was covered in such a dizzying array of fine lines that it almost looked like a topographical map on its flesh.
