Alex smiled. “Aye, I’ve gained a few ideas.”
His words came out too quick before realization registered in his mind.
Lily’s eyes darkened dangerously. It was too late to apologize for the words. If he did it now, his shoulder would be bruised before the skirmish.
While Alex became part of the conversations again, hundreds of more people entered the arena. Some had come for lessons, but most came to see the general in action. People seemed to think the group couldn’t hear them, but they could. Alex watched as more people entered and some pointed at Shade and sighed. The people were excited because they didn’t miss the upcoming match. Alex’s hope was that they didn’t come to see his utter defeat.
Once the hour was up, the general gained the instructors attention by a sharp whistle. “Your time is over! It is our turn now! Move off the field!”
Many people began cheering while everyone else scurried from the arena floor. The general issued orders to flatten the ground of the central section. While a large group of people with rakes smoothed out the sand, the large group followed the general over to five, very large crates. These crates were situated between the target practice area and the match grounds. The sand was soft and there wouldn’t be much traction to gain speed the usual way, but Alex grew up on an island of sand and knew a trick to gain speed without exerting the added force needed to traverse this environment.
The five crates were there for sparring sessions. The general explained how they made it safer for practical fighting sessions. The first crate held pink padded clothes and the next held wooden helmets. They were each given a cloth chest protector and a metal helmet that covered most of the head except for the eyes. The next crate held thick red cloth strips and every person received as much material as needed, but since Alex’s staff wasn’t lethal he didn’t need one, nor did Gyro. The forth crate held a washable red paint while the last held water to wash the wrapping cloths and weapons once finished. The water had been used and was already dyed a deep red.
Before Alex put on his chest protector and helmet he needed to work with Shade. Two long padded strips were in hand as he walked up to Shade. He knew what was coming so he opened his mouth, so his brother could easily access his sabers. One cloth was all that was needed per tooth and it completely wrapped his saber and tied it off at the top of the dangerous tooth. Alex then did the same for the other fang. Shade tested his mouth movement and didn’t like it, but he knew that it was needed to participate. He wanted to show off again and this was the price he’d gladly pay.
Testing the sharp backside of the sabers and seeing that the cloth held, Alex told the general that they were secure and wouldn’t cut through. They needed to be absolutely sure that Shade wouldn’t accidently harm anyone. As long as the cloth wasn’t ripped off, his sharp backsides wouldn’t rupture the cloth easily.
Alex slid on his padded armor and helmet. All of the others slid theirs on as well and everyone’s weapon was covered with cloth. Maiot covered each of the six individual claws, Lily encased her short swords. Marlin covered both his hook and bobber. Quinn’s lance was completely covered and the tip was heavily padded into a ball. General Rakkian covered his deadly battleaxe, his spiked gloves, knees and the tips of his feet.
They each had to coat their weapons into the paint and quickly did so. Alex dipped either end of the Xeal staff into the solution. Shade dipped in only his front paws. While everyone drenched their weapons, a boy brought a warhorse into the arena for Quinn. The steed was slightly larger than the ones they’ve seen thus far in the city, but Clift was still larger and Shade even more.
“May the best team win,” Alex said, extending his arm.
General Rakkian grasped his wrist and Alex his. “Don’t let me down.”
Alex’s pack soon walked away while hearing the cheering fans. They walked all the way towards the other end of the central arena. It took them almost two minutes to reach their end. By the time they made it, they were all prepared to begin. The general held his covered axe in his right hand. Maiot and Gyro’s items were out and Quinn was already mounted atop the horse, lance pointing high into the air.
Then General’s voice boomed and the crowd quieted. “This is a challenge I have issued to our newest recruits! They have accepted it honorably! The rules are simple! If you receive the red paint on your clothed torso or helmet, you are considered dead and must stop fighting! We keep fighting until the last person has been struck down! I need four observers to make sure everything’s fair!” They didn’t have to wait long until a person stood at each corner of the field.
Lily and Marlin were standing to either side of Alex while Shade stood beside Marlin.
Now was their time to put their trust in each other.
We each have our targets. Alex thought quickly. Marlin aimed for Gyro, Lily requested Maiot, Shade had Quinn and finally I had to somehow deal with the general himself. He was larger, stronger and more experienced in combat than me, but I can move quicker. The four of them went down into their battle stances as did the opposing team. The entire crowd quieted as they also began to feel the tension rise. Then they heard the horse snort when Quinn’s heels dug in his side.
Alex yelled “GO!!!”
As he said it Quinn kicked his horse into a quicker run.
The four of them began running together, but Shade burst into the lead running position. His paws powered through the sand and quickly closed the distance to the rider. It took only seconds for Shade to get into position. Once he did, he locked his legs and came to an abrupt halt. He waited while the lance was lowered into an attack position. He still waited while the horse charged. The end of the lance was pointed directly at Shade’s face. Suddenly Shade instantly dodged to his right. Putting more effort into his back legs caused him to rotate into a different position. Quinn tried, but couldn’t stop Lily’s plan for Shade.
Lily guessed last night that the general would use someone with an item suited for a person riding a horse effectively. There were only a few items capable of fighting on equal terms with a Shadow fang and a lancer stood in the top three items of her list. She then explained how Shade should react to dismount a rider from his steed. She wasn’t wrong in her assessment and they were already grateful for her advice.
After the dodge, Shade extended his head and opened his mouth. He then clamped it shut as he grabbed the shaft of the lance. He then jerked back violently. The rider had a firm grip on his item and when Shade jerked, Quinn was knocked off balance. With the lance still in his mouth, he used it to trip the horse’s front legs. It worked because as the horse slammed into the sand, cursing loudly, and Quinn was thrown clean off the steed. He lost the grip on his item just before landing himself.
Shade spat out the lance and placed a red paw on the man’s chest. Using the back of his paw, he made a red X over the man’s sternum. After showing that he won his challenge he sat right next to his fake kill.
Once the other team saw how easily Shade won, they changed their charging tactics. Captain Maiot broke ahead of the general and Lily charged in front of their line. Once they met, a major brawl ensued. They both kicked and used their items in a blurring fury. Alex has never before seen Lily move with such deadly speed and accuracy. She was death incarnate, slinging red paint like blood from the tips of her blades. Her pure moonlight hair billowed behind her as she struck, dodged, dashed and parried with a grin of happiness. Astonishingly the two were evenly matched though she held the height advantage over Maiot. Neither relented or inflicted a painted injury.
Marlin and Alex continued running and they passed them. Then Gyro ran in front of the general. General Rakkian stopped suddenly and had a malicious expression along with his dark calculating eyes, aimed in their direction.
Gyro continued running and Alex watched as his shield grew into an enormous sphere that completely enveloped the wielder. The sphere reflected objects like a mirror everywhere, but that was a passing thought. The two could see their distorted imag
es reflecting off of the sphere. The sand didn’t seem to slow the item’s progress as it was flattened under a tremendous weight. The problem was that the sphere shield rolled directly in front of them. If they didn’t move out of the way or do something they would be compressed and lose.
Marlin spun his cane in an arc, swinging his bobber, at the end of a set amount of line. He screamed as he swung his item in a wide circle. It made a perfect arc. The bobber connected directly to the side of the rolling shield, making an audible twang that filled the arena. It seemed to make the sphere sound like an enclosed bell. When the bobber connected with the sphere it sprayed red paint just about everywhere. Marlin had increased the weight of the bobber to its maximum, seeing how his opponent could survive the weighted strike. With the successful and solid connection, the sphere veered off to the left sharply.
Marlin then continued following up Gyro’s sphere with blow after blow, repeatedly using the end of his pole along with the immensely heavy bobber.
With everyone now occupied Alex continued running down General Rakkian. He then realized something was terribly wrong when he saw him again.
His battleaxe wasn’t covered any longer. The two sided naked axe looked more menacing than ever before, seeming to pulsate with bloodlust, twin to its owner’s mental state. Rakkian’s expression had turned murderous for the first time since they’ve met and he wanted blood. But by the time Alex realized this, he was within the general’s territory. His eyes were focused intently on something, but not on Alex. Rakkian was glaring behind him.
Alluan’s top general swung his unguarded axe, once he realized Alex was in his way. Alex barely managed to duck under the swinging arc before it took his head clean off and landed unharmed in the sand. He still felt the blade’s wind on the nape of his very neck, glad to still be alive. If there was any leisurely delay in his body’s reaction, his severed head would be moisturizing the sand.
When he landed on the ground General Rakkian began heavily running for something. Alex followed Rakkian’s intended path with his eyes and saw he was heading straight for Lily. He wanted to kill her, but why?
Then it suddenly made sense, all the anxiety he felt before falling asleep came together. Last night Rakkian said for her to not worry about his men. They were told to allow her freedom if she remained on her best behavior. He didn’t say anything to her about himself, being among the ones who wanted her head. When Alex first saw him, there was a thought he had about his walk being dangerous. He also realized that Rakkian’s constantly calculating eyes were deciding on the best way to get a hold of Lily for himself. He had orchestrated this whole event during their meeting in the mess hall, just so he could get her out in the open. He wanted to kill Lily. My Lily!
Alex didn’t have time to yell nor do anything except try and catch up before Rakkian cut Lily out of his life forever. After all she’s been through, what could be worse than this. His heart was beating quickly, but not the way he needed it to be. Come on, I need the speed and strength. Where is it when I need it?! Alex yelled internally. But the feeling wasn’t coming when it was so sorely needed. He didn’t like knowing that the feeling that heightens his body’s latent abilities was so unreliable. It was infuriating not being in control of himself.
Alex managed to scramble to his feet in an attempt to catch Rakkian before he reached the intended target. Even without the speed and strength he had to stop the general before she was lost to him forever. Alex implemented his trick so that he could run well enough to close the distance with the general.
As he ran, he used his toes to make an added and smaller kick to his charge. When you run on the ground, you kick up the soil to increase your speed. His trick could only be used for those who remained barefooted in loose soil. Shoes cannot be of any use to run in this terrain. When you see a trail of human footprints in the ground you see the balls of the footprints, and if they are pushed deeper than on the heel they are most likely running. So when Alex kicked with his toes, his speed increases slightly. This sand was a hindrance, but he used his keen observations to turn it into an advantage.
General Rakkian’s heavy feet couldn’t and wouldn’t be capable of this.
The distance between them closed, but he still had a firm lead. Alex saw his wide back and knew that he was intent for the kill. He wouldn’t hold himself back. Lily’s back was to them as she continued to fight Maiot with ever increased ferocity. She was completely unaware of the fact that danger now came at her from both sides.
Rakkian raised his axe with both hands, high over his head. His blade would easily split through her helmet, skull and cleanly through her entire torso. Alex was reminded of the time when the executioner lifted his enormous axe, intent on taking her head. There wasn’t any way Alex would ever put her through that misery ever again. He wouldn’t allow her to be killed. This was going to be too close. Just as the blade began its swift descent down towards Lily’s head, he leapt.
With his leap being too slow, Alex unconsciously arched the spherical knot of the staff around to lengthen his body’s distance. Rakkian’s descending blade was barely an inch from Lily’s head when Alex’s staff solidly connected with the right side of his face. He used his entire body in the swing to knock the general off balance and away from his intended victim. It worked because his body began shifting towards the left. With the successful strike, his axe’s trajectory was shifted. The blade swept away from her head, but it still managed to cut the back of her exposed right arm. His blade made a straight and solid cut almost from her shoulder all the way down to elbow. It was too close, but she was only mildly wounded where she could have been killed.
Alex released the grip on his staff, while still in the air, and tackled the general to the ground. He landed directly on his face which made his helmet fall off and roll away. His axe had been dropped during Alex’s strike and their powerful collision. Once Alex found himself in an advantageous position he took total control.
Straddling his back, Alex grabbed both of the general’s struggling arms. He was trying to punch the ground for some reason, but he couldn’t allow Rakkian to accomplish what he was planning. Alex’s arms shot downward before the fists connected. With a firm grip on each of his wrists, Alex wrenched his arms behind his back, forcing them up high. Alex was furious as he brought them back into an even more painful position, gaining even more control himself. The position was so excruciating that Rakkian screamed out in real pain. Alex needed to know what he was doing so he didn’t knock the general into an unconscious state just yet.
His screams made the robust crowd silence almost immediately. He kept trying to struggle in vain as Alex held the better advantage. Face flaring red, Alex tightened his grip even more.
He yelled at the general “What do you think you’re doing!? Why did you just try to kill my Lily!?”
He yelled back “Because I wanted to…!”
“Wrong answer!”
Alex wrenched Rakkian’s left arm back even further and painfully dislocated it out of the socket. The sound of the satisfying pop echoed off the stadium walls and people cringed from the excruciating noise. He screamed even more loudly and his echo drowned out the dislocating sound. All the sounds of the spectators ceased in absolute shock. Even Lily and the others stopped fighting because they too became silent.
“One last time, Why would you want to kill her!?”
“THAT IS ENOUGH!” A highly feminine voice ordered.
Alex looked in the direction where the voice originated and saw a group of people by the entrance that he’d come in earlier. Each person wore a green tunic with gold trim just like the general’s.
Leading the group of people was a woman with an air or royal authority.
She was a beautiful woman around her early thirties. She wore a simple solid green dress that seemed to form on her slender body and around the edges of the dress held golden embroidery. She was also wearing high heels, but she was still far shorter than he. She carried a small case, simil
ar to what Niranene had, in her left hand and on each wrist was a golden bracelet. The woman’s skin was darker than Alex’s, but lighter than the general’s. She had a beautiful and serene expression with long black hair, laying freely down her back. Crowned atop her head was a golden tiara.
The general lifted his bald and sandy head up to look at whoever the woman was. Then fear and shame cross his expression once he recognized the woman. His voice quivered and was hushed, but Alex still heard him.
“Queen Allahandra,”
Chapter 20
While continuing to subdue the powerful general, Alex watched as every person inside the arena began going down on one knee and bowing their heads. So this was truly the queen of Alluan. It seems like everyone showed the upmost respect for the woman. From the look on everyone’s expressions they all loved her with adoration and fierce loyalty. Some people were whispering her name while others remained absolutely still. He knew immediately that this woman was the real deal and not some imposter or stand-in. She was the leader of the resistance and queen of Alluan. The best hope to defeat the king.
The queen began walking through the first field with an elegant sway in her gait. She moved in a way that showed her royal authority. Her dress moved with each step she made while her long hair billowed out behind her. She was an impressive woman, but behind her emotionless mask was a smoldering anger.
As she walked toward the fighters her guards moved into a new position. See didn’t seem disturbed by their suddenness because they were doing their duty and protecting such a vital person. Three guards moved directly in front of her and Alex knew that those three men were close range warriors. Then three more guards blocked either side of her and there were five in the back and they carried multiple forms of ranged weapons. Every item has been brandished, showing that it would be foolish to approach her unannounced, unless you wished for death for it would be assured without difference.
Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy) Page 41
