I make my way through the crowd, and they part to let me through, even before the gang members push them out of the way.It's strange having this much attention on me but also wondrous.So many times, I've wondered what it was like for the gladiators in the colosseum, and it isn't just the moment of victory I've wondered about.It’s everything else.The glory of being chosen by noble patrons.The grand processions down from Ironhold every morning.I was permitted to stand at the side of the road and watch one of those processions once.It felt electric even as a bystander.To have all those people screaming your name… even this must be just a fraction of what it felt like for the gladiators.
I pull my thoughts back to the task at hand as I approach the ring.It’s marked by barrels set in a rough circle, with sawdust in between to absorb any blood.It's already stained red in several places from previous fights.
My opponent is waiting for me.He's only a couple years older than I am, lean and quick, practically dancing along the tops of the barrels.An announcer, a heavily built woman in her forties, steps into the ring, her voice echoing out through the warehouse.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we've had plenty of fights today but probably none like this!Are you ready for our last bout?”
The crowd roars its approval.Of course it does.I’ve seen the way announcers like this can work the crowd.This one doesn't have the magic to project her voice but I can feel a trace of psychomancy at work as she speaks.It's not enough to control the minds of the crowd but it can help push their emotions to new heights.
“In this corner,” she says, gesturing to the young man running back and forth along the barrels, “we have the paragon of speed, the master of the quick kill, Quintus!”
The crowd cries out their approval, and Quintus takes a bow before front-flipping into the fighting pit.
“And in this corner,” the announcer says, “you know him, you love him… it’s Kai!”
I step into the ring while the crowd chants for me.Quintus doesn't look happy about it as he waits at his side of the ring.His magic gives him an edge in speed, making him move faster than it seems he should be able to.From what I hear, he was a slave messenger for a noble house before the rebellion freed him and he worked out that he could put his talents to use in the ring.
I face off against him, stripping off my tunic, my oiled muscles matching his.He flashes me an arrogant smile.I ignore it.
“Both of these two young men are rising stars in the fighting pits of this city,” the announcer says.“But which of them will be victorious today?Who will prove he's the better fighter?Let's find out!”
She hurries from the ring, while around me I can hear people calling out encouragement, and shouting odds to one another.
“Three to one on Kai!”
“Evens on Quintus!”
It seems I'm meant to be the underdog here.I guess the bookmakers think that Quintus will be too fast for me.I'm determined to prove them wrong.
“Begin!”the announcer shouts once she's safely out of the ring.I move forward, hands raised, waiting to see what my opponent will do.
He's on me in a flash, lashing out with punches and kicks faster than I can follow.I cover up, spreading a surface of magical force over the areas he's targeting.I can't cover my whole body with magic, but I can use it to limit the impact of his blows.
Even like that, I must grit my teeth to ignore the pain of being struck again and again.Quintus dances around me, picking me off with shots I don't see coming.
“You thought you could fight me?”he demands, taunting me as he continues to pepper me with blows.“You thought you could keep up with me?No one's as fast as I am.”
“No one talks as much as you either,” I snap back.
It brings a fresh barrage of strikes my way.I cover up absorbing them as best I can.The crowd is booing me and cheering for Quintus.
“Fight back!”someone yells.
I don't, though.I keep defending, keep shifting planes of force in front of his most dangerous strikes, using my arms and my shins to block the rest.I let him throw everything he has at me.
Gradually, Quintus starts to slow.It's almost imperceptible at first, given how fast he is, but I can see his breathing growing ragged.That's the opening I've been waiting for.I can't keep up with him, but I can outlast him.
I bull forward, shrugging off Quintus’ best attacks, moving in until I can grab him, one hand around the back of his neck, the other freed up so that I can cover it in magical force and use it like a hammer to slam into his ribs and stomach.I work his body with my fist, and when he pulls back I throw a kick that slams into his solar plexus.He should have dodged it but clearly he doesn't have the energy left.
I move in again, still attacking his body, slamming fists and feet and knees into it.Quintus is gasping for breath now, looking as though he barely has the strength to stand.He lunges at me, using what must be the last of his power, and it's fast enough that I barely get out the way in time.I trip him, clipping him with a punch on the way down.
He groans and lies there, while around me people are yelling at him.
“Get up, Quintus!”
“Get up, I have a week’s wages on you!”
But he doesn't get up.He lies there, obviously not having the energy to rise.Finally, the announcer steps on to the barrels.
