Barbarian Gladiator (Princesses of the Ironbound Book 4)

by Aaron Crash

  The orc warrior tried to retreat but found himself backed into the ice wall.

  The clansman put all of his weight into the strike as he sank his ax into the shoulder of the surprised orc, severing his arm.

  Oygoth gripped his spewing stump, howling.

  Ymir thought it was pain. It wasn’t. The orc dropped to the ground. On his knees, he rammed the hilt of his sword into the sand. He then threw himself forward, impaling himself on his own weapon. There was no losing when you were a part of the Betrayer’s horde.

  Gulnash and his remaining Gungarr hooted and cheered, laughing. The rest of the arena was again stunned into silence. Some spectators left because they couldn’t handle the gore.

  Ymir went over and kicked the Gruul onto his back.

  Oygoth’s eyes were growing blank, but he was still there. Ymir spit onto his face. “And that is what you deserve, following a dog and then killing yourself like a cowardly fool.”

  Gulnash and his orcs stormed out. Ymir turned and grinned.

  This would be a fine way to end his life, in battle against a truly evil fuck, someone not even the Shieldmaiden would turn her back on. That the Wolf wouldn’t even piss on. Such villains were rare, but when they exposed themselves, it was your duty to kill them. The Axman didn’t give a shit, of course, but the Shieldmaiden cared for her people, and when some vile waste of breath went to hurt you, it was your duty to hurt them first.

  A variety of spells hit the field, ice, fire, a crackling blast of lightning. Old Ironbound’s faculty stormed the sand. From Brodor to Professor Albatross to Ymir’s history teacher, Nile Preat. One of the Aquaterreb teachers, Phoebe Amalbeub, hit Gulnash with a torrent of water that dropped him to the sand. Professor Amalbeub’s green eyes glittered as she flicked water from her pink hair. Even the fairy professor, Lolazny Lyla, joined the teachers’ onslaught. The Fayee fluttered about even as she laid down a whirlwind of sand, ice, and fire.

  Gulnash and his orcs were forced back.

  Issa Leel strolled forward. “There will be none of that on this day. Especially none of that from you, Gulnash the Betrayer.”

  He laughed loud enough for all to hear. “Two chieftains down. One chieftain to go. And one old, dry cunt of a Princept.”

  Ymir exploded into laughter, laughing until he had to wipe the tears from his face.

  “Why do you laugh!” Gulnash roared.

  “Not old, fool,” Ymir laughed. “And definitely not dry. Go back to your bench before I take your crystal ring and shove my ax up your ass.”

  “Enough!” Issa Leel ordered. “We shall have a short pause before the final match of the day.”

  Ymir walked back. He’d won, and it was good to breathe. He walked back to the benches and sat. “There are only four betrayers now.”

  The Princept hadn’t admonished Ymir, not for spitting on Oygoth’s face and not for defending her honor, however lewdly. They sat, the sun dropping behind the western stands. Ymir saw that Ziziva was busy selling kaif and puff corn, and some were eating nervously, but the sweets weren’t selling as much, except to the orcs, who loved their sweet cream with the slaughter on the sands.

  Gatha sat with her teeth clenched. She’d been trying to walk on her ankle, but it was clear it hurt her. She might struggle through the pain, she might destroy the joint, but she wouldn’t have her normal speed. In these bloody games, speed meant everything.

  Issa Leel looked even more wan as she went to the pedestal. She’d left her feathered headdress behind. She stood at the pedestal and did the drawing.

  “Duke of wind. Queen of wind.”

  Ymir’s heart fell. The queen of wind was Gatha’s card.”

  “Eshnag of the Gulnash horde! Gatha of Ssunash!”

  “Fuck,” the she-orc raged.

  Eshnag of the Gulnash horde was the duke of wind. He leapt up, holding a wicked hooked ax, a huge cruel weapon but one that Ymir could appreciate. Eshnag also had a buckler and a short sword on his hip.

  Another long pause. Then Issa Leel called out in a choked voice, “The three of wind. A Slaying.”

  Gharam sat with his head down, shaking his head. “Another wind card. It’s a bad omen, for this match, for the Kurzig Durgha, for the future of Thera.”

  Gulnash raised his mace in triumph and pointed it at Gatha. “Should’ve joined my ptoor, princess. Don’t worry, we’ll bury you ass up so I can enjoy you cold.”

  Gatha stepped up, face set, because she would face death with no emotion. With hands resting on the hilts of her swords, she limped out.

  Not a gasp was heard from the thousands who watched.

  Her father, that piece of shit, let out a single disgusted laugh.

  “By the shit that feeds the Tree,” Della cursed. “We can’t let this happen. Let’s go. Let’s go kill them all and fuck the consequences.” She was serious.

  Ymir had to grin. “Juicy as always, Princept.” For an instant, he was tempted to follow her out there.

  Then Charibda surprised them all. She leapt to her feet. “Durgha K’Danzga! I call the rule of will! I will take Gatha of Ssunash’s place, though it will mean my life!”

  “Never!” Gatha’s anguished voice filled the stadium. She whirled, snapping out her tusks and flinging slobber. She tossed away her swords, unsnapped her armor, and fell to her knees. Her fury made her tear at her hair. Angry tears washed down her cheeks. “You can’t! I will not allow it! Never, Charibda. Never!”

  The arena was hushed. Even Gulnash wasn’t jeering, nor was Eshnag, standing at the pedestal. All was quiet.

  Charibda walked out on her strong, thin legs. “You can’t stop me, bitch. It’s the rule of will! I call it.”

  “Sweet life, no,” Della whispered.

  Ymir knew they were never going to stop the mermaid.

  And Gatha had no say. That was why she’d fallen to her knees and lost all sense of honor and decorum. She would have to watch while her friend and lover died because, even if the mermaid slew Eshnag, she would be ritually sacrificed on the pedestal at the center of the arena. She could choose her executioner, but she had just given up her life to save Gatha’s.

  Ymir sprinted out onto the sand because as Charibda walked by Gatha, the she-orc went to grab her friend. Why? To kill her? To beat her? To plead with her?

  It wasn’t clear because there was madness in Gatha’s eyes. This was the very worst thing that could ever happen to her.

  “You can’t do this!” Gatha screamed, her heart breaking.

  Ymir caught the she-orc in his arms while the mermaid princess walked out to face her death.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  CHARIBDA DELPHINO FELT cold.

  All day long, she’d been sweating, unhappy, and scared. Now, as she walked on her strong legs in the shadows of the western stands, while the arena cheered, while Gulnash laughed, while her opponent, Eshnag of the Horde, smirked, Charibda felt cold.

  This was her death. Even if she won, she’d have to give up her life. Perhaps that wouldn’t be so bad if she’d known one last bit of love before she died. She hadn’t even kissed Ymir. Yet, the love of his women—Lillee, Gatha, and Jennybelle—had warmed her when nothing else could.

  Gatha couldn’t fight, that was clear, and it was Charibda’s life or hers. It would make people rethink what they thought of mermaids. It would make them reconsider who Charibda Delphino had been.

  No, that wasn’t true. Ribby Delphino had been troubled, quick-tempered, a scold, always looking to be offended and then lashing out when she was. That had been her old self, when she’d hated the dirt worms. This new Charibda? Who had self-control? She’d grown into herself, enough to exchange her life for the life of her lover.

  This new Charibda made her smile.

  It was a shame to die when she’d just learned to enjoy a good chitub.

  She saw Eshnag at the pedestal, with his big ax and his black hair tied into a ponytail. She was taller, but not by much, and far more slender.

  “You are a pre
tty one.” Eshnag’s eyes dropped to the slight swell of her breasts underneath her seashell cuirass.

  She didn’t answer. She wasn’t thinking about this beast. She’d kill him easily. She was laughing at how everyone had been so shocked when they’d seen her come walking out onto the sands of the arena as part of Old Ironbound’s Gungarr.

  And she was laughing at how good her life had been—not these past two years, no, but for much of it she’d known love, and the swim, and the kindness of a good family, and good food, fresh fish, crushed sweet kelp, and any number of delicacies.

  And, yes, Tori and Ziziva’s sweet cream had been so very delicious.

  Charibda turned to see Ymir and Professor Linnylynn Albatross talking intensely. The Williminaville professor had come out to put a stop to Gulnash’s charge after Ymir spit on his dead opponent. What were they talking about? And why did Ymir have his satchel in his hands?

  Professor Leel stood at the pedestal, tears in her eyes, though her voice was strong as she called out the sacred litany. “Our lives are short, but the war is forever! Fight and die!”

  “Fight and die!” came the words from everyone except for Charibda.

  Time stopped for her. She had a minute to relive her entire life, and it had been good, and now it was over. Because yes...she would fight and die.

  In that second of stalled time, she whispered the two words. “Fight and die.”

  Then it was time to fight.

  Eshnag armored himself in ice, which Charibda undid in a minute with an inanis cantrip. She then took the melted water of his armor and drove it into his face. She added lightning as well, blinding him with pain and electricity. She went to stick her trident in his chest, which would end the fight in seconds, but he dove back, came around, and swung his ax at her.

  She cast her net and caught his ax, but he was strong. She was pulled forward, but she expected it. He wanted to get her close so she couldn’t use her weapon, but he didn’t know who he was dealing with. Charibda had the reflexes of a stansha ray. She dropped the net for a moment, took her trident in two hands, and drove the shaft forward, into his tusks, snapping one and crushing a cheek bone. Blood poured down his face.

  The orc let out a howl and charged forward, and Charibda drew up the water under her, creating a wave, which she rode upward, turning her legs into a tail.

  The orc was below her for an instant, and he had his ax, but it was caught in the tangle of the net.

  Charibda shifted her tail into legs, which included her heel spikes. Everyone wanted to know why the Aquaterreb could transform their legs to mimic a human’s but kept that spur. It was because the merfolk wanted to remind themselves, and everyone else, that they weren’t human. They were Aquaterreb, and they should be respected if not feared.

  She used her heel spikes to cut open his other cheek, then slashed her spur down his arm, opening his flesh. She landed on her feet.

  Eshnag had dropped his ax, but he hadn’t had time to draw his sword. He lunged for her, desperation fueling him.

  Charibda knew she wasn’t going to be able to wrestle with the orc, but she did bet on him not knowing a thing about the Aquaterreb. If he had, his first move wouldn’t have been to summon ice armor. It was Flow magic, and she’d grown up breathing water and braving the chill depths, so cold they would’ve killed this green man immediately.

  The mermaid dropped her trident and let the orc warrior grab her. He went to spear his unbroken tusk into her throat, but suddenly she didn’t have legs. Her tentacles flailed out, three catching her while two others twisted around his arms. One circled his neck. She’d spent countless hours swimming and strengthening her tendrils, and she had this orc trapped. She slithered another tentacle around his head to snap it back, as she removed the tendril around his throat. The big vein on his green neck throbbed. His eyes widened—

  As she let her true face show—black eyes, black lips, and long fangs. Her hair darkened and scales broke out across her cheeks, shoulders, and chest.

  “Am I pretty now, fucker?” she snarled. Then she ripped out his throat. Blood poured down her chin, and she slithered back on her rolling tentacles.

  Eshnag hit his knees and bled out onto the sand.

  The arena went wild, and Gulnash stood, shaking his head, while his two remaining team members called out Gruul curses.

  Charibda retrieved her trident, and spun it around, even picking up the dead orc’s ax and adding it to her victory dance. Her face was human beautiful again, her hair a light blue with a streak of purple. She showed them her dance. She didn’t need music—she had the drum of her own heart filling her. She was alive, she’d won the Slaying, and she wanted to enjoy her senses before she lost them forever.

  If the stories were right, she’d swim into the sky, because the ocean was a vast sea, with depths that led to paradise itself. But she wouldn’t be with her friends again. And she wouldn’t see her mother until Beryl Delphino joined her in the sky ocean.

  She ended her victory dance with the arena quiet again. Some were weeping loudly enough that she could hear their sobs.

  Issa Leel raised her hands. Tears coursed down her cheeks. “You, Charibda Delphino, used the rule of will to take the place of Gatha of Ssunash. Your life is forfeit. Who should be your executioner?”

  “Ymir, son of Ymok, of the Black Wolf Clan!” Sweet Ymir. She would kiss him, taste him, before he killed her. He’d be quick. She wouldn’t suffer.

  Ymir strode out with his ax and his leather satchel.

  Why would he bring his school gear? Charibda was confused.

  There was a bustle at the western benches. Gatha took up her sword and limped toward Gulnash, shrieking, cursing, exploding with rage and grief. Della and the one-armed Gharam pulled Gatha back, while Gulnash laughed.

  Charibda winced, closing her eyes. Gatha would never forgive her. She would feel this wound all her life. The mermaid felt bad, adding to Gatha’s pain, but the she-orc would be alive to feel it.

  Ymir dropped his ax to the sand.

  On the pedestal, he set out eight candles and lit them with an “Ignis ignarum.”

  “What are you doing?” Professor Leel asked in a choked voice.

  “Lighting the eight candles of the death ceremony. It is the way of my people, the savages of the Ax Tundra. The Black Wolf Clan.” He grinned. “The Gruul aren’t the only ones with sacred rituals, Professor.”

  Ymir lifted his dagger, and a ring, and put it on the stone. “The three hoops, representing, the Axman, the Shieldmaiden, and the Wolf.” He nodded at Professor Leel. “You may go, Issa. I know what needs to be done.”

  Issa Leel stepped back, until it was only Ymir and Charibda on the field.

  Charibda knew this was her chance to kiss the barbarian. She went to him, feeling his body, enjoying his heat. These land people were always so hot, and most of the time, especially in the summer, so sweaty. The mermaid surprised herself by enjoying that sweat now. Then she kissed him, drinking him in. She liked the stubble on his jaw, the softness of his lips, and the searching warmth of his tongue. His smell filled her—it was animal, and strong, and wonderful. What love they could’ve had. And she would die without showing him her special gift. Ah, well, Ymir was a smart one. He’d either find a book that described it, or he would take another Aquaterreb lover, some lucky mermaid who would remember Charibda Delphino, the mermaid who fought and won at Old Ironbound’s one and only Kurzig Durgha. Who sacrificed herself to save her friend.

  Charibda pulled back from the kiss. The sun had dropped behind the western stands, so the entire field was in shadows now. It seemed like they had all the time in the world. Gulnash watched, but he was quiet, as was everyone who remained in the arena. Many had left because they didn’t want to see the mermaid die.

  Odd, there was no wind, but seven of the candles had gone out. And why did that emerald green on the hoops look like seaweed? Why would the Black Wolf Clan have a totem that included seaweed? They lived inland.

&nbs
p; The mermaid furrowed her brow. “Ymir. What is really going on?”

  “I need your final breath,” he said quietly. “I talked with Professor Albatross, and we think we have a way out. Forever changing.” He smoothed her brow. He caressed her hair. “You are forever changing. Like the sea, and not just your legs, but who you are, inside. Forever changing. And you will be forever changed. We think with this ritual, you won’t be able to breathe our air anymore. We might be able to change that, but we might not. You might die.”

  Charibda straightened. “I left that bench to die. I will take the risk. Will this help you?”

  “I believe it will. With the ring that Gulnash made, I think what you do here, now, will make the difference between life and death for not just me, but all of Thera.”

  The mermaid smiled at him. “You fucking better tell everyone that it was Charibda Delphino who gave you what you needed.”

  His smile was gentle. “I will never grow tired of telling the tale of Charibda Delphino.”

  Tears filled her eyes. There was an Aquaterreb saying, that the sea folk are the happiest of all the Tree of Life’s fruit for the ocean always washes away their tears. This wasn’t true on land, however. Her tears tracked down her dusty face. “I have one other condition.”

  “Tell me,” he said.

  She smiled even as she cried. “I will do this for you, Ymir. For another kiss.”

  Again, he took her into his arms, while everyone watched, and kissed her again. Their first kiss had been sexy and happy. This one was sad.

  Ymir finally broke it. He wiped her tears away. “Weep not. For it should be us who are weeping. If this goes as we think, we will lose you forever.”

  “The sea is forever, silly barbarian,” she said. “And in forever I’ll find my home.”

  For the first time in her life, she saw Ymir strain to keep from showing any emotion. The strongest man she’d ever known had to swallow, hard, to keep his eyes clear. “What you’ve said is more true than you can ever know.”

  He told her what he needed. Then he stepped back. “I call forth the final breath of the Storm King’s daughter, forever changing and forever changed.”