“Not zombies, no, but they did put people in the ring with wild animals.”
Suddenly, another man strode out of a tunnel. He was tall and muscled, and with no sign of a deformity. He wasn’t quite handsome, but an air of confidence radiated off him. The crowd cheered.
He looked up at the Sapa and bowed his head.
Then he leaped over the edge and into the pit.
Nera leaned forward, watching intently. This was no cowed prisoner. The man had no weapons, but he wore some primitive armor. Scarred leather plates on his arms, legs, chest, and abdomen. This was a warrior.
The zombie lifted its head, its bloodstained face turning to the man. It straightened, obviously sensing fresh prey.
It attacked so fast it made everyone gasp. Nera wondered if a fresh feed enhanced the zombie’s reflexes.
It didn’t matter, because the man was ready. He kicked the zombie, making it stumble, and then brought a vicious chop down on its back. It hit the dirt, and the man kicked it again. Then he circled the pit, calling to the crowd, pumping a fist into the air.
The crowd loved it, chanting what Nera guessed was his name.
She watched the zombie and man fight again. She noted where the man hit. He knew the zombie’s weaknesses. She saw the way the creature’s left arm dangled uselessly, and realized their joints were weak.
Not long later, the man came at the dazed zombie from behind. He gripped its head, and in a quick move, snapped the creature’s neck.
The zombie fell in the sand, still twitching.
From above, a guard dropped one of their large, polished knives down to the warrior. In one smooth move, the man beheaded the zombie, then raised the weapon above his head.
The crowd roared in delight.
The man leaped out of the pit and strode up the stands. When he reached the Sapa’s platform, he bent down on one knee in front of her, his head bowed.
She reached out and touched his head, then gestured him to the furs beside her.
As the man grinned and waved again at the crowd, he settled in beside the Sapa. Two people hurried over to give him food and drink.
“Niklas.” Nera leaned in close to him, savoring the warmth and strength of him. “The zombie, it had weak points.”
“Its joints. Go for the knees and elbows.”
Of course he’d noticed. “Yes. Disable it and you have a better chance of killing it.”
He nodded.
The Sapa called out and the guards moved over, walking along their line. Nera forced herself to cower, clutching Niklas’ arm. He frowned down at her, but that just helped her charade. The guards eyed her, talking to themselves.
They’d seen her kill their guard, but a man was very different from a zombie. And she hoped they were out for some revenge.
“Leave us alone,” Nera called out, making sure her voice wobbled. She felt the confused gazes of everyone in their group.
“Nera, no,” Niklas said.
A guard butted him with the end of a spear. The guards gesticulated to her and to each other, then one leaned down and yanked her up.
She let out a frightened cry. It sounded pretty darn good, she thought. She heard the crowd titter with excitement.
The guards shoved her to the edge of the pit, holding her teetering on the edge. Another zombie was marched in and set into the pit. She eyed it. It was a big one, a male. It circled the pit, stopping to investigate the bloodstains where the body of its fallen comrade had lain.
Nera glanced back at Niklas. His face was set in hard lines, his eyes a mix of anger and concern.
She winked at him, and he froze.
