“To hell with ya, ya bony armed bitch!” the man exclaimed after the dagger’s handle smacked his forehead leaving a knot, “I’ll show ya how to throw a blade with me cock! Should I get loose!”
“Who are those men?” Dracon asked, before either lord could answer, they were approached by a group of women.
“So, it begins.” Lord Finney said with a wide smile. He walked to meet the approaching group.
“Not this time Hiram, we want to see this one.” A blonde woman led the group of women passed him and Lord Vette to Dracon. The woman grabbed Dracon’s bicep and squeezed, “You are a real man, aren’t you? Chiseled right from stone!” She said to the giggles of the women with her, “What is your name?”
“Dracon.” he answered, the women circled him, each reaching out and feeling him in one spot or another. It made him jump and fidget, turning to face each grab, or squeeze, the women felt obliged to attack him with.
“Truly? Your mother let your father name you that?” the woman asked with a chuckle.
“Come now, ladies, there’s still an hour or so before we retire inside for your desires, let us get him good and relaxed. Veronica, behave, you’ll have your chance.” Lord Vette shooed the women away. The women moved away from Dracon, but before leaving each put a different colored coin in his palm, some slipped them into his pockets. Dracon was confused and looked at Lord Vette as the women smiled and winked, walking away.
“What’s all this?” He asked.
“Tokens, my good man.” Lord Vette said, “Later, you can redeem them with the women who gave them to you.”
“Redeem them for what?” Dracon asked.
Lord Vette laughed and looked at Lord Finney.
“I’ve never seen so many tokens on one man before, who wasn’t the emperor?” Lord Finney exclaimed, also watching the group walk away and bowing low to the departing ladies. “Ridiculous.” He said as he stood back up, “If he weren’t your guest, I’d have him flogged.”
Lord Vette laughed.
“I’m sure you could garner the same number of tokens, should you enter the fighters square.”
“I’m not built for such things, Cosik; I’m built for pleasure.” Lord Finney smiled.
“Excuse me, Lord Vette, a word please.” A guard approached the men surprising Dracon, he didn’t see where he came from.
“Gentlemen,” Lord Vette nodded to Lord Finney and Dracon, then walked away with the guard.
“Those men,” Lord Finney said stepping from the stone walkway to the grass pointing at the men chained to posts, “Are criminals. Thieves, brigands, some simply irritated their lord. Now they are here for our amusement. A death sentence really. No lord has ever shown mercy, they will be stabbed to death at some point. As you can see, they make a sport of throwing daggers at them, but eventually someone will grow tired of them and simply slit their throats.”
“It reminds me of a game I saw in a bar in Rethland.” Dracon pointed out.
“Yes, the game is based on this here, a reminder to the commoners to mind themselves. Does little good though, most lords play this game weekly, with a greater number than three.” Lord Finney said as they arrived near the throwing point, three chalk lines in the grass, each ten feet away from a pole and a live target. Another fouled attempt on the mouthy prisoner caused him to lash out with more vile words for his attacker, yet another woman.
“I suppose no matter the punishment, there will always be those who dare to commit the crime. Is it only for the women?” Dracon asked.
Lord Finney had a surprised look, shocked at Dracon’s profound comment
“No, it’s for us all, the women play more than the men, simply because no lord wants to be laughed at for missing. Women don’t have that sense of pride and enjoy the game for what it is.” Lord Finney explained, “Would you care to try?”
“I’m not sure I could handle a dagger, with all these tokens to juggle?” Dracon chuckled.
“Oh, you are going to be very popular tonight. If it pleases you, would you consider my Gidallia on your first go around?” Lord Finney asked.
“I don’t understand?” Dracon asked.
“My Lord Dracon,” Lord Finney laughed, “I think you do?”
Dracon looked away from the chuckling Lord Finney, back at the three men tied to posts, entertaining the lords and ladies with their torture. He wondered how many men were fawning over Talila, if he was garnering such attention, it must be tenfold for her? After all, she was younger, and more beautiful, than any of the ladies at the party. Lord Finney continued to drone on about one thing or another, and Dracon smiled and nodded politely, inspecting the area around them for any other surprises. He spotted Lord Vette returning from the manor with two guards trailing him.
“Gentlemen, shall we move to the arena? I have word Lord Hillard has a special creature to enter in tonight’s games. He wishes to challenge your lady’s champion.” Lord Vette announced upon his return.
“And the guards, Cosik?” Lord Finney asked looking at the men who accompanied Lord Vette.
“Unrelated, a different business altogether, relax Hiram, they aren’t here to throw you out, not yet.” Lord Vette smiled, “Shall we?” he tilted his head and his glass, aiming both at another area for them to follow him to.
Lord Finney started first. Dracon nodded to Lord Vette then looked again at the two guards several yards away. He followed Lord Finney, who Lord Vette began to walk with, side by side with Dracon trailing. Dracon scanned the area and could see there were more guards slowly joining the party in pairs. They stayed outside the range of the guests, but it was clear to Dracon they were gearing up for something, possibly to control the beasts.
“What manner of creature did old Jessup buy for himself now?” Lord Finney asked, “You know he’ll claim to have personally captured it?”
“Of course, he will, what fun would there be in the truth? It is a surprise, whatever it is.” Lord Vette glanced back to see if Dracon was still following.
Many of the guests started to rush in the same direction the three men were walking. There was a lot of activity accompanied by roars of awe and wonderment coming from the guests closest to the area. They arrived at a small outdoor amphitheater carved in the ground below the rest of the garden. The guests had to walk down to reach seats circling an arena that wasn’t much more than a large dugout circular pit. Dracon followed the two men down to the very edge of the pit while other guests filled the stands surrounding it. Talila was already standing on an overhang, only big enough for her, that extended a few feet over the pit. Below her was her champion, Um’Vec, caged. Opposite was another man on a similar overhang, standing over his champion. Dracon glanced down into the pit, spotting Um’Vec, who roared up, rattling his cage, to the delight of the crowd. Across from him was a centaur, Dracon slowed his walk to get a good look at it. He had never seen such a beast, half horse and half man. It held a sword and a shield. The creature was as tall as Um’Vec and outweighed him by several hundred pounds. The crowd was a buzz with curiosity regarding both monsters in the pit. Um’Vec’s cage was still attached to the cables that lowered it down and there was another cable to a pin on the cage door.
Talila spotted Dracon in the crowd walking to the edge of the pit. She looked down at Um’Vec, who had stopped raging in his cage and was looking up at the crowds in the seats circling the pit. It was a small coliseum built to accommodate the hundreds of lords and ladies in attendance.
“This is my champion!” Talila yelled, the crowd hurried to their seats not wanting to miss a thing, they hushed to hear her words. Talila pointed at a man across from her on a similar outcropping over on the other side of the pit, as if she were about to battle him personally, “This man, this lord, you call him. He thinks this offspring of his and a horse he calls his wife, can stand against the mighty Um’Vec!” the crowd erupted in laughter. Um’Vec rattled his cage growling menacingly.
“Lord Hillard, the donkey fucker!” someone in the crowd yelled,
the rest of the crowd howled even louder.
“Who will wager against my champion? Who wishes to lose their money?” Talila yelled to the crowd while turning in a slow circle.
“She’s a fiery one, isn’t she?” Lord Finney commented to Lord Vette.
Lord Vette glanced over at Dracon a few feet ahead of them, watching the start of the battle.
“Yes, she is,” he responded leaning closer to Lord Finney, “I mean to make her mine, by nights end.”
“Cosik, you’re incorrigible!” Lord Finney chuckled.
“I’ll wager, her champion dismantles that horse beast!” Lord Vette yelled, raising his hand up. Lords in the crowd started yelling amounts back at him.
“You insult my wife, a lady of the emperors very own court. I will have satisfaction. When my centaur dispatches your beast, you will be on your knees before me, in my bed chamber!” Lord Hillard announced, “I will teach you what it is to be ridden like a horse!” The crowd reacted to Lord Hillard’s threat with a series of boos and laughs, which angered him even more, “You’re all fools!” He yelled back at them, “We all know a knight atop his horse is the most formidable on the battlefield, I give you a creature that is just that, and more! A creature at one with the steed below him, one mind, one body!” The centaur reared up, then trotted to the center of the pit, raising his sword and shield over his head. The crowd turned their favor back to Lord Hillard, and bets were made in his favor, making him stand proud. He stared across the pit at Talila in smug satisfaction.
Lord Vette walked to the edge of the pit, then looked at Talila and Lord Hillard, respectively.
“This is to the death. Say your goodbyes now.”
“Not needed!” Lord Hillard yelled before Lord Vette could say another word.
Talila looked down at Um’Vec and in evil tongue yelled, “Live!”
Um’Vec roared as the pin was pulled, dropping the door to his cage. Um’Vec rushed out of the cage and roared at the centaur, who reared up, then braced his shield and charged at Um’Vec, sword first. The centaur kicked Um’Vec repeatedly with his front two hooves, one blow catching his nose and bloodying it. He swung his sword at Um’Vec who punched the centaur in the space between his front legs, knocking it back enough to cause his sword to miss Um’Vec. It raced around in a small circle then charged back at Um’Vec. The bugbear meant to crush the creature and attacked with his mighty bracers, banging against the shield so hard, the centaur shrunk away from the power of the blows. The crowd screamed for death. A quick stab sent Um’Vec reeling backwards, grabbing his belly where the centaur stabbed him with his sword. The centaur was unrelenting and gave chase, swinging wildly at the injured bugbear. The crowd roared at the sight of blood in the pit. Talila stepped closer to the edge, concerned for her champion, so close, Dracon thought she might jump in to aid her pet.
“You see there, little girl! My champion is mighty!” Lord Hillard yelled across the arena at Talila.
Um’Vec stumbled to the ground, landing in a sitting position against the inner wall of the pit. The centaur kicked Um’Vec with his hooves until Um’Vec slid all the way to the ground, lying on his side with one arm up trying to block the onslaught, the other holding his belly. The centaur rose up on its hind quarters and came back down with its front hooves together twice in a row, flattening Um’Vec fully on the ground. Um’Vec did not stir. The centaur raised his shield and sword in the air and started to prance in victory. The crowd roared their approval.
Talila stood with her mouth open, shocked, and surprised at the dominance of the half horse, half man creature, over her champion. Tears filled her eyes.
“Get up, Um’Vec! This is not how you serve me!” Talila yelled down.
Um’Vec snorted suddenly, then shook his head. He rolled to his side and looked down at the wound on his belly. Um’Vec scooped up a handful of dirt and jammed it into his wound, then rubbed it, making his face wince from the pain. The crowd quieted as he rose to his knees, then his feet. Um’Vec looked up at Talila just as the centaur turned to face him again.
“Waste no more time with that horse! Show me you are my champion!” Talila growled.
The centaur did not wait, renewing his attack on the bugbear, charging full speed, shield up. Um’Vec stood firm, bracing himself for the charge. The centaur barreled into Um’Vec, shield first, pushing him backwards as he rode on. Um’Vec held onto the shield with his heels dug into the ground but still sliding backwards, creating two ruts in the ground. Before he hit the wall of the pit, Um’Vec wrestled the shield from the centaur then bit him on his neck and shoulder of the human half with his toothy maw. The centaur cried out, trying to use his arm that once held the shield, to push Um’Vec off. He struggled to stab Um’Vec, but the bugbear reared back, momentarily letting go with his mouth and grabbed the centaur’s sword arm by the wrist, then bit it, ripping free the muscle from its forearm. The centaur again cried out in pain. Um’Vec crouched, grabbing the centaur under its front two legs, lifting them over his head. The centaur jumped up trying to kick Um’Vec with his back two legs, but Um’Vec seized the opportunity to spin and twist the centaur to the ground. The crowd was stunned silent as Um’Vec climbed atop the centaur holding it in place by one front leg and one back leg. Um’Vec tore into the belly of the beast with his teeth, feasting on it. After a few moments the beast was reduced to twitching limbs as life left its body. Um’Vec ripped open the chest of the human half of the centaur then ripped out his heart. The crowd was groaning at the brutality of the feast. Um’Vec stood up and roared to the sky, silencing the crowd completely. Blood dripped from his hands and face. When he stopped, he walked below the outcropping Talila stood upon and held up the heart.
“I eat at your pleasure, I eat in your honor, let me eat this heart, that I might serve you better.” Um’Vec growled, the crowd was stunned that the beast could speak a language of its own and that Talila could understand it.
Talila looked up from Um’Vec to Lord Hillard across the pit from her.
“Feast!” she growled.
Um’Vec wasted no time, devouring the heart in seconds. The crowd was disgusted and awed at the sight. Then suddenly, they erupted in cheers at the entertainment they enjoyed.
Dracon watched quietly, caring very little for what happened to Um’Vec. His concern was on the guards that slowly started to fill the garden, more and more by the minute.
“Again, an impressive display, Lady Talila, your champion is as formidable as it’s mistress.” Lord Vette made his way to just behind Talila, “I believe Lord Hillard will be hard pressed to recoup the cost of that creature.”
Talila turned around and walked off the edge of the pit, joining Lord Vette.
“He was too loose with his tongue, and it cost him.” she said.
“Well played, for a moment, I thought you were going to be the loser.” Lord Vette offered Talila a glass of wine. She took it politely then gave him a nod of appreciation.
“I take it we won more gold?” Dracon asked stepping next to Talila, placing his hand at her lower back. She smiled up at him.
“I do believe that you have.” Lord Vette smiled, “why don’t you follow me up to my manor where you can watch us set it aside for you?”
“I’m sure that’s not necessary, after all, we won’t be leaving until you say we can, isn’t that correct?” Dracon asked in return.
“Yes, of course, but I insist, I wish a moment away from the din of the party, to a more private locale where we can discuss these lands of yours, and of course, your king.” Lord Vette motioned for Dracon and Talila to walk on the path ahead of him. Dracon noticed the guards were stealthily closing in. It was clear their attention was on him and Talila.
“Of course.” Dracon held his arm out for Talila to take.
“Allow me,” Lord Vette insisted, holding his hand out to Talila to take instead of Dracon’s.
Talila eyed the two men curiously.
“What of my champion?”
“He’ll be
fine in his cage, I’m sure.” Lord Vette motioned for Talila to take his hand. She reluctantly stepped away from Dracon and took Lord Vette’s hand, “Why don’t you walk ahead of us, Lord Dracon?”
“Cosik, you’ll cover my bet this time, won’t you?” Lord Finney asked from the path behind them. Lord Vette ignored him, instead, he kept his eyes on Dracon.
Dracon turned then followed the path to the manor, he knew something was amiss. He wondered if it were Katlin, furthermore, he wondered how Katlin made it to the manor, if it was related to him? Lord Vette grabbed Talila’s arm very tightly, pinning it between his elbow and ribs, he was no longer gentle or gentlemanly, but rough, as though she were a prisoner, all the while he kept a smile on his face. Talila fought back the urge to sear the flesh off his hand that held her so roughly. Ahead of Dracon, guards lined the path leading to the nearest wing of Lord Vette’s manor. As they passed, the guards walked with them as an escort, there were twelve in all. They eyed Dracon cautiously. Dracon knew they were found out somehow.
A guard rushed ahead and opened the double door entrance to the manor’s wing. A man wearing light blue robes was standing in the doorway. The man stepped aside as Dracon reached the doorway. Dracon turned his head to look back at Lord Vette.
“Just inside there, my lord.” Lord Vette nodded to the guards who moved closer to Dracon. One motioned with his hand inside the doors.
“This way, my lord.” He said.
They led Dracon to a large dining hall with a long table in the center. Lord Vette, with two guards trailing, walked Talila to the other end of the table and pulled a seat out for her.
“Sit.” Lord Vette forcibly pushed her into the chair.
Dracon started to walk over to them, but guards stepped in front of him before he could.
Dracon and the Edge of the World Page 13
