Death Or Fortune

by James Chesney

  "Pare, drink some of your water you look horrible." He could only shake his head. In the fight to keep what was left of his breakfast down he had forgotten he even had his water skin. Mangosh was holding a claymore in one of his hands. Darmot had his armor and shield polished to a mirror like finish. As Pare took a long swig from his water skin the crowd erupted again as the two met in the center of the platform. With a roar that could be heard in the streets, Mangosh launched himself forward to attack Darmot. The crash of the two blades echoed around the inside of Pare's skull. He closed his eyes and hung his head low pressing his hands against his temples.

  "Why did he have to buy me all that ale last night? Never turn down a free drink is what my Pa always told me." Pare lifted his eyes up to look at Jasmin again to see she was not paying attention to him at all. Her eyes were locked on Darmot and his battle below. It was not going well for him. Each time he attacked, Mangosh was able to counter or shake off the blows as if it was nothing at all. Darmot however was not that lucky; he was taking a pounding from the large Orc. Any other man would have folded under the pressure of those hits. At first Pare thought Darmot was holding back as he did with the first fight. Soon it became apparent that Mangosh wasn't just another fighter. The creature was a seasoned warrior, a match for anyone on the field of battle.

  Pare got to his feet with Jasmin and the rest of the crowd as Mangosh landed a solid kick into the chest of Darmot sending him flying backwards, landing on his back. He did not remember reaching up to take Jasmin's hand, it was just there. He looked over at how her hand was wrapped all the way around his, it was an odd feeling. This isn't how it was supposed to happen. Darmot was losing to the Orc. Laying there on the platform floor, trying to catch his breath Mangosh moved in for the kill. Reversing his hold on his blade he raised it in his arms as he moved towards Darmot, still on the floor.

  "NO!" Jasmin screamed "Darmot no!" Pare felt her grip tighten over his little hand. He wanted to look away. Yet as the point of the sword started to fall towards his friend on the floor he held his gaze. He kept telling himself not to watch but his head would not move. Darmot saw his impending doom and tried to roll away but he was not fast enough. The blade entered his body just below his breast plate, above his waist. Pare felt Jasmin begin to sway, he turned towards her and gripped her leg. He was doing his best to pull her down into her seat. A hush fell over the crowd as the Orc turned from his victim lifting his arms in celebration of his victory. Pare could only now hear three people. Jasmin was crying out in anguish to her husband who was near death on the arena floor. The other person he could hear was Darmot. His cry of pain silenced the people of Eystlund. Mangosh ignored it all, roaring to all the humans who would not love him.

  Pare looked down at Darmot for the final time. "It's not too late. I can do something, he is still alive." Pare looked at his best friend’s wife and pulled her down into her seat at last. Placing his hands on her cheeks he told her, "I am going to get him. He is going to be all right." He has to be all right he thought to himself as he started to run past all the people in the stands to the center aisle. As he raced down the steps he paused. Darmot had dropped his sword and shield and was trying to push the massive weapon out of his side. Pare had a strange flash of memory at that moment back to the fight with Captain Nikle. Running down the stairs two and three at a time Pare was determined to get there in time. He could stop the fight, he would stop the fight and save his friend.

  Just as Pare was ready to jump to the arena floor he saw Darmot getting to his feet. His shield arm pressed to his side he used his sword like a cane to get to his feet again. As his blood had started to pool in the floor, it was now running down his leg. Mangosh turned to the human and laughed. He moved towards Darmot again, screaming that he did not need his weapon now. Pare could not wait any longer, he jumped to the arena floor and started to run as fast as his little legs would carry him. Hans was on his knees, head bowed in prayer. Hetaron stood and watched as the Orc advanced on Darmot who was still holding himself up with his sword.

  "Do something, stop the fight you guys." Pare yelled at them. He was not slowing down, he had his eyes locked on those steps. He would save Darmot, he had to save his friend. Pare never expected Hetaron to stop him. He was sure the wizard would help him save Darmot. As he was ten feet away from the stairs reached out and stopped the little halfling from going any farther.

  "What are you doing Hetaron, I have to stop the fight." The mage said nothing as tears began to roll down the Halflings face. Pare could not believe he stopped him. Tried as he might he could not break free from his grip. "Let me go he," screamed pounding on the wizard with his two small fist. Held in the wizards iron like grip he watched as the Orc was now running towards Darmot with his hands double clutched and held high over his head.

  "Hans, do something please, help me." Pare took one quick look at the cleric and saw that while his body was there, his mind was with his god. Just as the Orc was ready to pound his raised fists into Darmot’s head the man stepped to the side lifting his blade. Pare began to scream to his friend to run as Darmot lashed out at the Orcs exposed mid-section. Darmot’s blade opened a deep and wide gash across the Orcs gut as he passed by. Mangosh took three more steps and stopped pressing his hands against his body, trying to stop the spray of blood coming from his body. His blood was soon running over his fingers. As large as his hands were, they were not big enough to hold it all in.

  Mangosh never saw the attack that killed him but Pare did. Still holding his side Darmot took one last swing at the Orc hitting him in the back of the neck. Mangosh the Orc stood there a moment longer, dead on his feet Darmot having cut clean through his neck. As the Orc fell to the platform floor no one cheered louder at that moment than Pare. He was now free of the wizard and started to run for the stairs once more. He watched as Darmot stumbled towards him, still using his sword to stand. "Jasmin" he thought to himself and turned to look for her in the stands. When Pare could not see her he felt his little heart skip a beat.

  "Where did she go" he asked himself out loud. Pare then turned again towards Darmot just in time to see him fall from the top of the steps down to the arena floor. Landing in a crash of armor, he laid there motionless. Pare jumped off the steps and ran towards his friend only to get cut off by Hans and his longer legs. "Oh, now you do something!" fresh tears began to roll down his eyes.

  Pare stood and watched as Hetaron and Hans moved Darmot away from the platform. Pare looked up and saw his charge running towards them, screaming Darmot's name at the top of her lungs. Hans and Hetaron laid him down again just as Jasmin rushed to their side. "Do something Hans" Pare screamed in his mind. He watched as the cleric kneeled down on the ground next to his friend, placing one hand on his chest the other near the wound in his side. Pare took small steps, to be closer. Darmot's eyes were open, he was looking at his wife.

  "Hello my love." Jasmin did not say anything, she just kneeled there and cried. "I won again my dear, see there was nothing to worry about." Jasmin just nodded her head, pressing her husband’s hand against her tear streaked face. "I think I am going to take a little nap now." Pare's heart stopped as he watched Darmot's eyes close. Jasmin's body began to shake from her sobbing, it was more than the little halfling could take. Launching himself towards his friend’s body he began to scream.

  "Wake up Darmot, come on. What are we gonna do now huh, wake up that’s what." Pushing past Jasmin he put his hands on Darmot's face. "Come on Darmot, wake up. Don't you leave us here, I don't know where to go." Jasmin put her arms around his little body and pulled him near, they cried together as they watched for some signs of life from his eyes. When the light started to shine, neither of them knew what it was. Pare looked over at Hans, lost in prayer over the body of their friend. Pare saw it hanging from his neck, hanging down over his body. A medallion of the blazing sun, the symbol of the god Solarth had started to glow. Soon the glow began to grow and both man and cleric were a washed in light. Pare did not unde
rstand it but he knew now that Darmot's fate was in the hands of the god now. "I better go get his sword." he said to no one at all. Pare knew then that Darmot's work was not done. "If I know, so does Solarth" he assured himself as he ran up the steps two by two. Picking up Darmot's sword and shield he ran back to his friend’s side, where he belonged.

  35. Avoidance

  To this day I do not remember much about the fight with Mangosh. Other than to say I was over powered yet still prevailed. Perhaps it was an after effect of the healing Hans did to me there at the side of the ring. I remember the blade cutting into my flesh, I remember falling off the stairs where I passed out. Everything else was lost in a haze. The only thing I remember from that day is waking up and looking into the eyes of my wife. Who I thought was going to kill me for almost dying. I stood up, looked around at my friends and gave my thanks to them. I walked out of that arena with my head held high. This was not the first time I stared death in the eye. It was not the last.

  When I returned to the inn later that day I promptly passed out. While Hans was able to heal my wounds, I still felt like I was crushed under a boulder. I woke up once that night due to a dream I had been having. I don't remember what it was about but I think it had something to do with the halfling I found sleeping at the foot of my bed. I looked down at Pare, curled up into a ball using my left foot as a pillow. I softly said his name while shaking my foot under his head. "Oh, hello Darmot. How are you feeling? Hans said you might need someone to watch you tonight. I figured Jasmin had enough to worry about with you fighting Cynthia tomorrow. She came to see you by the way. Hey, have you ever smelled Hetaron's robes? I think he keeps zombie flesh in there or something."

  Had I not cut him off there he may have talked to me for the rest of the night. I asked him why he was sleeping on my bed and he started up again. I tried to tell him that I was fine and just needed my rest. "But Hans said..." I had to cut him off again and told him to go back to his room. Slightly dejected he slid off the bed and did just what I had asked. Just before he closed the door I told him thank you. "What for?" he asked me. I told him just for being there. He gave me a half smile and closed the door behind him. I laid my head back down on my pillow and closed my eyes. I thought about the things Pare had blurted out and something came back to me. He said I was fighting Cynthia and that she had come to see me. While thinking about staring down those ice blue eyes I told myself one final thing before drifting off to sleep. I was moving to a different inn, far too many people knew where to find me.

  When I woke up in the morning I felt like a new man. I dressed early and went in search of some food as I had not eaten in well over a day. The fight from the day before was nothing but a distant memory at that time. I was glad to be alive but it was time to move on. Ready myself for the next fight. Every man who had fought Cynthia in the tournament took her too lightly. I would not make the same mistake. I was well aware of what she was able to do. As I sat there chewing up a mouth full of overcooked potato's a plan formed in my mind. It was risky but I had to do something to make her weakness work to my advantage. She was quick but not as strong as me. She took advantage of people in the ring by using that speed. She was also smarter than everyone she had faced so far. I went into the fight that day thinking she would assume the same of me.

  After a fight with Jasmin and Pare I got ready to leave for the arena. She kept asking me, pleading with me not to fight, Pare was just there to agree with everything she had to say. His heart was in the right place. Looking back I feel bad about the things I said that day. I was bull headed and cocky. I am lucky to still have her in my life today. When Hetaron came to our room I knew it was time to go. I gave my wife a kiss on the cheek and told her one last time not to worry about me. I did not understand then why she was so upset. Seven years later, I understand it a little better. From the time I closed to door behind me till the time I was standing across the platform from Cynthia the day was a blur. Hetaron was grim and silent the entire day, Hans just asked me not to repeat what had happened the day before. I remember laughing at him as I was walking up the stairs.

  I looked around the floor, I could still see my blood from the day before. For a single moment it gave me a chill but I quickly put it out of my mind and turned to look at Cynthia. She shook out her hair before placing a helm on her head. "I told you not to get in my way." She said to me with a grin on her face. "I have a job to do here so don't take it personal. I promise not to make your little wife cry again." I shook my head at her and looked down at my sword. I gave it a good shake, feeling its weight in my hand. Waiting for the signal to start the fight I studied it from the hilt to blade tip as if I had never seen it before. When the signal did come, I slowly slid it into its sheath hanging from my hip.

  "What are you doing? Are you going to run away?" she said to me.

  "I am not going to fight you. I will not have your blood on my blade."

  "Is this some kind of trick?" I lifted up my shield and balled up my fist setting my feet.

  "I am not going to fight you but I am not going to run."

  "What is this, some kind of noble crap, come on you coward." I could see and feel her anger. So far my plan was working.

  "If you want to kill me, you can try but I will not fight you." When she started walking towards me I knew I had scored first blood. Now I just had to get her into my trap. She launched forward to attack me and I just kept backing away, blocking her blade with my shield when it got close.

  "Fight me!" she was no longer amused and the smile on my face was doing nothing to help.

  "I could use someone like you, someone with your skills but I will not fight you." Not only was I drawing out her anger I was getting it from the crowd as well. Even when the booing started to rain down I still refused to draw my weapon. I continued to back away from her blade while taking a moment to look behind me. I only had ten more feet between myself and the edge of the platform.

  "You couldn't afford me no matter how pretty you are, now fight me!" I thought about reminding her of just how rich I was at that moment but did not want to let my guard down. I was running out of room and her blade was getting faster. I took one last look behind me and saw I was close enough for the final part of my plan. Then all I had to do was wait.

  "I am going to ask you to leave the ring now, I don't want to hurt you." She was boiling over at this. She backed up for a moment and then came forward once more to attack me. She never even paused when I dropped my shield. As her blade was rushing towards me I reached out and took hold of her sword arm. She let out a small gasp as I held tightly to her wrist. I quickly reached out with my other hand and grabbed hold of her armor just below her chin. As she tried to pull away from me I only hoped she was not hurt. I tucked my legs up rolling back on to my back, pulling her down with me planting my feet on her chest as she came down. For a moment I thought she was going to say something, I could see the words forming on her lips just as I started to push her up with my legs.

  Even with her armor on, she wasn't that heavy. Pushing with all my strength I launched her backwards and sent her flying through the air, past the edge of the platform, down to the ground below. As she landed on her back, her screams filled the air. Not of pain but of rage. I had cost her a chance to face Rogar. I stood there at the edge of the platform looking down on her. If she could have killed me with a look, it would have been then. I could only smile. There was now only one person between me and the tournament championship.

  36. Father II

  Walking down the steps of the platform some of the booing had changed to cheers. Not that I cared either way. I had beaten Cynthia without doing her much harm. More than anything I damaged her pride and perhaps her backside a little. She was fuming at me. That much was clear. Not that it mattered to me, her blood was not on my hands. "I will never get close enough to him now. What is the matter with you, this wasn't personal. Do you have any idea how much money you just cost me?" I tried to tell her I was sorry but she wouldn't li
sten. I told her then that I would make it up to her and that she should come see me in Arcadia. That I would be more than happy to put her to work and help her recover anything I may have cost her. She took one long look at me and could tell I was being serious. At the time I had no idea just what it was that I would be asking of her. Looking back, I wish I had never made the offer.

  "You going soft on me Kromwell, you know that woman would have killed you had it come down to it." I looked at the dark mage and shook my head. I reminded him that not everyone is like him and that I did what I did for a reason. "Perhaps, she could be a valuable ally but not someone we need on our bad side." I told Hetaron that he worried too much and I started to make my way out of the arena. I didn't want Jasmin and Pare waiting for us too long. I saw the dreaded Rogar on my way out of the arena. Massive did not begin to describe the beast. He had destroyed everyone who had fought him so far, I doubted he would have much trouble with the next man he faced. I had two days to prepare for him. I just hoped it would be enough.

  Jasmin talked me out of moving to a different inn. It would only be for a few more days as it was. Just as I tried to make my point one last time about how it might be safer for us to move anyway, there was someone else knocking on the door. I could only point to it, hoping she would see my point. She told me I was being silly and maybe I was. I opened the door to see the same man who I had threatened at my father’s home. "Master Kromwell sends his regards and would like to see you as soon as possible. He said it is a very important matter." When I asked what it was that he wanted the brute just told me that I had to come. I told him that I would be along shortly thinking it had to do with my mother. "I will wait for you downstairs then." Wishing I had my sword on me I reminded him that I knew the way to my parent’s home. Yet when I walked out of the inn he was there waiting for me. He had an extra horse for me to ride.