Mira relaxed against the wall behind her. Other elementalists came to turn the battlefield back to a natural state after the clash of magic destroyed most of the ground. Once the earth smoothed again, the queen called for the next pair of competitors. Aisling and Grandy leapt forward.
The slim woman stood across the brutish dwarf until the bell tolled for them to begin. Aisling fought with dual daggers against Grandy’s large great sword. Mira studied the woman’s movements and realized Bragnoun trained Aisling himself. The younger, dark-skinned woman would have been his daughter’s age.
Metallic clinks echoed in the awestruck arena. Aisling’s hooked daggers clashed against the dwarf’s sword rapidly as Grandy fought against her onslaught of hits. He jumped from a stab and swung his sword at her, but she was no longer there.
Mira’s ears perked up as the woman reemerged behind Grandy. She laughed as the woman’s boot kicked the dwarf to the ground. She knew that Tegan and Grandy were better a pair, as Tegan had the brains between them, but Mira had never seen a natural teleporter before. She could slightly mimic it by disappearing in the dark mist, but Aisling left behind no trace.
His frustrated swings at her gained speed before she grabbed onto his beard and both of them vanished. When they reappeared with Grandy just in front of the line, he stumbled backwards and out of the designated arena.
“Grandy Nordesbane has stepped behind the yield line and forfeited. Aisling proceeds to the next round!” Prince Krission announced.
“What?” The dwarf shook his fun.
“It was fun darling,” Aisling winked, “Bragnoun said you may find my battle style funny. I did not expect you to laugh so loudly.”
“I have many questions. But first, congratulations.”
“Thank you, Lady Mira,” She grinned, “I can only go where I can see with what I can carry. That is everyone’s first question.”
“That must make things easy for your line of business.”
“Of course,” She giggled, “I can answer anything else when I see you tonight at the second round.”
Before she could reply, the woman disappeared. Mira saw her reappear by the large oak doors and sneak past them. She chuckled and looked towards the stunned Grandy.
“What?” He looked at his father, “How… what?”
“She dropped you at the line, boy,” Tegan slapped a hand on his shoulder, “You knew you weren’t going to make it much farther than here.”
“But now I look pathetic compared to everyone else!” He grunted.
“You’d do that anyway,” The father teased, “Come on, boy. Cheer up.”
The queen called for the next pair. Mira watched Bobabano and Jonen walked to the center of the field. Her mind raced. She did not know if she wanted to be in the stadium for this duel. Bobabano stretched his arms and practiced a few swings. Jonen adjusted the plate armor and got a better hold on the strap of his borrowed shield.
“I’m surprised you agreed to go this early,” Jonen tied his long hairs back from his face.
“Mira is watching now,” The orc looked over at her, “I want her to see this.”
“Why?” He looked at Bobabano, “She wouldn’t like –”
“I want her to see me win,” His face darkened, “Because, halfbreed, I will not stop until you kill me.”
“What do you –”
“You will have to kill me to get me to stop fighting for her,” He raised his sword upwards to announce he was ready, “During this duel, and going forward. I will not let you win.”
Jonen pursed his lips as he slipped his helmet on, “I don’t want to fight you.”
“Good,” His black eyes callously looked at him, “That just means I will win.”
“Don’t mistake my words,” Jonen raised his sword as well, “I won’t just let you win.”
The bell tolled and Jonen raised his shield. Bobabano’s large sword slammed against it and knocked him back. The reverberation from the attack echoed into Jonen’s core. He slammed his shield into the next attack and slashed with his own sword. Bo’s sword collided with his and Jonen absorbed more vibrations.
“She would be nothing with you,” The orc huffed and slashed at him again.
“She could be happy,” He bashed his shield against the blade.
Jonen tried to keep up with each attack, but Bobabano was quick. The large, muscular orc moved with his weapon in a way Jonen only ever saw Mira move. An astounding grace that only someone deeply connected to their weapons could have. He could find the holes in Jonen’s defense and slice his armor. As he dodged from one attack, Bobabano reached out and hooked his foot around his ankle. The orc swung him back and the half elf stumbled to the ground.
As he rushed over to attack, Jonen unleashed his built-up spell. As the orc's sword impacted Jonen’s shield, the spell threw Bobabano in the air. He landed with a hard thud that made the half elf wince. Both got back to their feet and launched towards one another again.
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“You’re not a mage, Bobabano!” Jonen absorbed another hit, “You know it will be harder to win against me.”
“But not impossible,” He tripped him again, “I will win.”
As the orc spun to slash into the ground, Jonen rolled to avoid the attack. He leapt to his feet and caught the orc’s sword with his own. Sparks flew as their blades crashed. Bobabano swung with a shield breaking strike that threw Jonen off balance. As he steadied himself, the orc punched him in the face. He felt a crunch against his jaw and spat out blood.
“That was a little low, wasn’t it?” Jonen panted.
Instead of a response, Bobabano continued his attacks. Jonen felt the vibrating magic building inside of him. It crawled underneath his skin and begged him to let it go. Once Bobabano sliced downward for another attack, Jonen gripped onto the energy and ripped it outward. The concussive force knocked the sword from his opponents hand, and it clattered to the ground away from them.
“Cheap,” He slid to grab his sword, “Just like you.”
Jonen followed and used the advantage to strike against the orc’s armor. As it cracked beneath his attacks, he forced more energy into them.
“You can still yield,” Jonen grunted as he slashed into a crack of Bobabano’s armor.
“I refuse,” His hand gripped the sword and the whiplash from his attack cracked Jonen’s armor, “We will go until you yield or one of us dies.”
The borrowed sword found its way past his armor. The half elf cursed as the metal dug into his side. The two exchanged blows again before Bobabano kicked the shield off Jonen’s arm. He tumbled backwards and held the sword up to protect himself as the orc swung down.
“You are weak. Puny. Worthless.” Bo grunted with each hit, “She deserves better than you.”
Each insult was accented with a striking blow.
“That certainly isn’t you,” Jonen gritted his teeth, “At least I love her!”
The next swing launched his opponent backwards. Bo’s ankle crunched against the ground as he landed. He stood and limbed towards Jonen with fiery anger.
“Is that what you think?” Bobabano jeered, “That I don’t love her? That I wouldn’t do anything for her?”
“If you did,” His sword bounced off the man’s armor, “Then you would want her to be happy.”
“You know nothing!” Bobabano grabbed Jonen’s sword in his hands, “Everything I do is for her, you insolent halfbred idiot!”
As the blade sliced his hand, the orc struck it with his own. The sword shattered and the fragments exploded between them. Jonen looked at the broken blade until he felt the man slam him down.
“What she needs is a man,” Bobabano narrowed his eyes, “Someone to support her. Someone to raise her above anyone else. A man that can give her the world.”
The hand against Jonen’s throat pinned him to the ground. He clawed at Bobabano hands to free him.
“I adore her,” Bo grunted, “She is my queen. I will love her the moment she is ready for me to.”
Jonen slammed a hand against him to get the orc to let go. He elbowed him and tried to throw him off. Their raw strengths couldn’t compare. He did not want to use his magic here. If he released a spell this close, it could break the orc’s neck. Bobabano tightened his grip on his throat as he struggled. Jonen wheezed and tried to get the larger man off of him. The orc responded by turning his hand slightly to show he could easily snap his neck.
“If you ever hurt her,” Bobabano growled, “I will kill you myself.”
Jonen reached up to slam the broach but found Bo’s hand quickly covered it to prevent him from forfeiting. His vision tunneled as he stared into the orc’s dark, infuriated eyes. He slapped his hand against his arm to signal him accepting defeat.
“I’m going to remember this sight fondly. You begging for your life,” He smirked, “Now be a good little boy and forfeit.”
As Bobabano removed his grip from Jonen’s throat, he coughed and slammed a hand against the broach. As it crunched under his hand, the blue force field threw the orc from him. He wheezed in air to his burning lungs. He blinked the dark dots from his vision and threw his armor off to try to breathe easier. After he did not sit back up, a group of healers ran to him. The enchanted shield dissipated after a moment and Jonen tried to speak.
“Throat,” He pointed when he couldn’t understand his own rasped words
He closed his eyes as the healer delicately touched his neck.
“His windpipe is crushed, Master Healer,” A soft voice announced, “I do not know the appropriate spell.”
The older man crouched next to him. Jonen felt calloused fingers brush his throat before a warmth expanded it. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. His lungs no longer screamed in his chest.
“Thank you,” His raspy voice was more recognizable.
“Carry him,” The old man instructed, “He has some gashes that need mended as well. Make sure he gets water.”
Jonen sat upwards and felt two healers throw his arms around their shoulders. They carried him across the field to the other large oak door. He coughed loudly and his scratchy throat protested each time.
“Bobabano Cauldronbone, Captain of Agrowl’s Navy, is the victor!” Queen Azalea announced, “May our next pair of competitors prepare themselves.”
Mira watched the healers drag Jonen off the field. Her eyes flashed white in anger as Bobabano approached her. He sat next to her and took off the plated armor. She waited for him to speak in his native tongue before she berated him.
“That,” Bo chuckled wearily, “Goddess, that felt good.”
“Almost killing him?”
“Don’t exaggerate,” He poured water over his head to cool off, “You saw how I was stronger than him. I knew I was. I won.”
“I asked him not to hurt you if you attacked him,” Her jaw clenched, “I see that was a mistake.”
“What?” Bo blinked, “What is this nonsense you just said?”
“I asked Jonen to hold back his talents,” She said sternly, “Because I know he could kill you.”
“When did you speak to him?”
“Bobabano.”
Mira stood in front of him. She placed her foot against the bench he sat on and leaned towards him so only he could hear.
“I know that you would fight him eventually, in as public as a place as possible. I specifically asked Jonen not to use his talents against you if he didn’t have to because it would kill you.”
“You shouldn’t think so little of me,” He scoffed, “Why you would even tell him that?”
“Imagine how it would look if the knight seduced into betraying his people,” She narrowed her eyes, “Bested or even killed my lover?”
“So, this is about him, then?”
“No, Bobabano. It is about you,” She grabbed his face in her hand, “Your status as my primary would be ruined because Jonen could’ve beaten you. You would look weak.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“He didn’t try to defeat you in battle because he cares about our reputation.”
“I could have won,” The orc shook his head, “After all, magic is the only thing he has that I don’t.”
“Bobabano Cauldronbone,” Mira let go of his face and glared at him, “You are strong and confident to the point of arrogance –but there are many differences between you.”
“Then tell me what he has that I don’t,” He grunted.
“It’s best to stop this conversation here,” Amethyst gripped his shoulder, “As there are more eyes and ears that can understand us.”
“We can discuss what you did later,” Mira sighed, “But my arm was broken, and I need to make sure I set it correctly before it is done healing.”
“What?” Bo and Amethyst said at the same time.
“Was it not obvious? Even the healer commented on it.”
“Let me walk you to the –” Bo stopped when he saw her glare, “No. Never mind. I will stay and watch the rest of the fights.”
“Amethyst,” Mira dipped her head in a slight bow, “Good luck. I do not know if I will see your fight.”
She grinned, “I’ll try to remember to tell you everything.”