At my yell, Holly jumping, Lane and Owens turning to see what's going on, and Davos looking back, confused.

“You son of a bitch!” Gotta sell it or he won't bite. “I've been putting up your horseshit since I got here and I'm sick of it.” Other people turning to see what was going on. “You and me, right now.” Extending my arm and pointing my knife at Davos. Rath turning to ask him something, and he shook his head and laughed, a bemused expression replacing his confusion. “You ain't fighting tonight so you got no excuse.”

Davos starting to reply but beaten to it by voices coming from the crowd.

“Who you think you're talking to?” one yelling.

“He'll mess you up,” another says.

Davos glancing at the assembling crowd, then looking back. “You want it, you got it.” His yell causing them to roar in approval.

“What in the hell are you doing?” Holly gets out through gritted teeth.

“The tournament's not happening tonight so my job's totally busted. He's been pissing me off since we got here and now I'm gonna pay him back for it.”

“You just, you're just going to-” Spluttering.

“He insulted you when you were talking with your people.”

“So what?” Her reply reflexive. Pausing and taking a deep breath, “Are you saying you're doing this for my sake? Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Just thought you should know the kind of garbage you're dealing with.”

The crowd expanding around us in a ring, clearing a space and the bets starting to fly in.

“A hundred on Davos.”

“Five hundred.”

“Two hundred says he beats him without even getting hit.”

“Screw it, a hundred on the other guy, you got balls.”

Lane walking to the center of the area, bearing a long suffering expression, and beckoning each of us over.

“Is this really necessary?” he says.

“Aw c'mon,” says Davos, full of confidence, “its not like we have anything better to do.”

Can't do it. Can't hold it in. Don't spook him, its so close. My cheeks starting to hurt as my smile took on a manic quality.

“Okay,” sighs Lane. “Typical tournament rules, start five paces apart. You're done if you can't continue or you tap out.”

“Flares?”

“Fl-, what? No.” Lane says, in surprise. Davos looking a touch less certain than moments before.

Too much too much. Need to reel it back.

“Oh, okay, so this year's tournament rules.”

“Been the same rules for the past several years,” says Lane, his eyes sliding over to Davos, then sliding back. “Get ready, we'll start as soon as you are.”

Holly's expression contrasting with the excitement surrounding her, a sour twist to her mouth, but saying nothing as the plain looking riveted leather helm and buckler from my pack were put on my head and offhand forearm.

“Can you hold this?”

The woman looking at the offered pack. “You don't have to look so happy about this.” Her hand reaching out to take it.

“You're doing me a huge favor. I really appreciate it.” Another lemon added to her mouth. “Oh, and I can't use this.” Merely touching the whitish colored dagger made the hair on my arm stand on end.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Be careful with it. I'm giving it to you so I don't accidentally pull it and get disqualified on a technicality. Oh, and this one too.”

Taking both, the white metal one and the other, plain steel with a red glow.

On the other side of the circle Davos now wearing a helm with a solid skullcap and chain draping over the top of his shoulders, only leaving an opening from his eyes to mouth. A longsword in his right hand and a dagger with an extended crossguard in his left.

No shield and two weapons. Risky. But with that helm he's got to be wearing something solid under that cloak. Makes sense for this kind of straight up combat but he's going to be slower because of it. What'd Barnes use, an axe? Probably better for armored opponents. Only have daggers, fighting against that kind of armor requires something heavier, maybe a hatchet. Need to get in fast to keep him from using that sword properly and aim for the joints, or his face, or manage to get a really solid strike on something vital.

Getting a forward grip on my knife and getting into position. Davos walking up to the other side and taking a relaxed stance. He's either not taking this seriously, or its bait. Lane to the side of us, his arm up. You're too open, you're not taking this seriously, you're taking it too easy because you think its Barnes. Even if its bait you're not going to be ready. You're a dead man. Davos seeing something in my face and starting to tighten up his stance.

“Go!” Lane's arm dropping.

Running in and reversing the grip on the knife. Keep the shield in tight and watch for his sword, need to get past its range. Almost there. Oh, you stupid fuck, only now did you realize you're in a fight for your life.

His sword late and slow. Inside its range, my buckler blocking near the crossguard and my knife stabbing down at an oblique angle, aiming right at his neck, near the collarbone.

Davos pulling back enough so the knife hit the front part of his chain coif but didn't sink in, only bruising his flesh. Now backpedaling, dodging and parrying each thrust aimed at his face while trying to regain some distance.

Feint high, Davos trying to parry a strike to his face that never came. Strike low, the dagger puncturing through his armor on his left side, scraping a rib. Twisting the blade to open the wound.

Rather than pulling back to minimize the damage, Davos using the opportunity to take a stab at my face with his offhand, halting my advance and allowing him to get a step back. The man following up with an arcing slash from his sword, giving him a little more breathing room.

You're not getting away that easy. Kicking at the dirt to send a spray of sod and stones and momentarily blind him. The maneuver earning angry yells from the spectators. Davos retreating once again, holding his weapons defensively while trying to regain his bearings.

My strike to his eye deadly and sure, but with a flash of inspiration, or sheer panic borne of desperation, Davos twisting his head, causing the knife to hit the solid metal of the skullcap above the chain, producing a loud metal on metal screech, but little real damage.

Off balance, dammit, too far forward, can't follow up. A hatchet would've been better, that first hit would've put him down. Even a club, that last hit would've brained him. Paying the price for poor preparation. Not a usual thing, a straight fight with an armored opponent out in the open, but next time should have something for it.

Davos going into a fury. A series of hits in quick succession threatening to push me back, and then a kick aimed at my knee giving me a choice: take the hit and try and end it now, or avoid it, give him a little room, and wait for a better opportunity.

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My jump back to avoid the kick exactly what he'd been waiting for. Davos raising his dagger defensively and readying a mammoth swing with the sword. Throwing my knife to distract and bracing my shield to take the hit.

Damn. He put all his strength into that one. The force sending me tumbling a little ways to the side to mitigate it. My thrown knife now sticking out of the leg he'd kicked with, a few inches above the knee, but too shallow, not enough force to really get through his armor. Back to my feet, with a new dagger in hand and at the ready. What's your move? You've definitely gotten tougher since we last saw each other but your left side's getting dark with blood and at this rate you're going to bleed out.

Davos entering a fencer's stance, keeping his injured side back and his right arm out. Cautiously advancing, testing with the sword, but keeping his distance, preventing me from getting into range. After foiling a few of my attempts to get close, getting a little more aggressive, adding in some controlled slashes and varying his aim.

Face, face, side, straight thrust, low, next is, side. Slamming the incoming strike with my shield to knock his arm wide and open his defenses. Two quick steps in and my knife coming in again at his face. His lips spreading into a grin. Vanishing from sight.

Nice trick. Good application. Right side. Found that's better for running away or getting distance, but that's a nice trick. You're wide open. Reversing the grip on my dagger and bracing the hilt with my left.

Davos coming in from the side with an overhand chop, anticipating victory. Turning sideways and his blade flashing downward, inches in front of me and my braced knife tearing into his throat, through the chain and gouging out a large chunk of his neck. Exultation turning to disbelief, and then agony, as he fell to the ground. Dropping his weapons and both hands clutching the wound to try to keep his lifeblood from pouring out.

Around me yells, most in surprise and anger, and someone from the crowd running over to his fallen form. Missed the artery. Goddamn it. My breathing ragged, sweat pouring off my face and my heart beating out of control. Missed the artery. Holly's look, calculating, appraising, and then a smile. Smiling back.

“Well done,” Karson bellowing, clapping his hands together, tempering some of the anger from the crowd. “I'm looking forward to the day we fight.”

Davos being propped up by two members of the house and Rath going over to help. They'd already tended his wounds and had managed to stop the blood loss. The bastard will be up in no time, the only thing hurt is his pride. Need to get that knife back, the one in his leg. Maybe head over there, pull it out and put it back in his leg a little deeper this time.

Looking around. Lane is with Owens and they're, oh hell, talking to one of Shaker's goons. Time to go. More than worn out my welcome by this point.

“”Hey,” the voice Holly's, as she comes jogging over. “Hold on, before you run off I wanted to talk to you. Here.” Returning my pack.

“Sure. Right here, though? Let's take a walk. Somewhere else. Out of here.”

“I know a great place,” she says. “The food's fantastic. Just hear me out, you're under no obligation.”

“Are you trying to recruit me?”

“Yes.” she says, simply.

“Isn't that a bit of a risk? I assure you, I'm not out on house arrest, and I'm certainly not out on good behavior.”

“That kid seems to like you and he's a sweetheart. I also saw inside your head, a little bit, at least. You don't seem as bad as the rumors say.”

“Maybe I wasn't trying hard enough at the time.”

“Fair enough.” Letting out a laugh. “Dinner's on me. Let me give you my pitch. You're under no obligation.”

“And, after dinner?”

“I guess,” now smirking, “we'll see where the night takes us.”

This girl.

“Sounds good.”

Turning to leave and finding that our exit had been cut off by some of the newer members of the house. Looking much more curious than hostile.

“Um, sir,” says one, giving me the Academy salute. Some of the others tentatively saluting as well.

“Don't. At ease. Don't worry about that. You can forget all that now that you're here. What can I do for you?”

“We haven't been able to see any of the tournament these past few days,” he says, “but that was really something. Who are you with?”

An odd question. With me, same as it ever was. One of their after the fact excuses for breaking everything up, that we'd been too fragmented. And People come in, heads all wrong, and now there's even less to get them straight.

“We're with House Koln.” Holly filling the void after my silence stretched out too long.

“Koln?” says another, “I don't think I've heard of them”

“It's a big place, there's probably a lot you've never heard of.”

“I didn't mean anything by it.” His palms up defensively.

“Don't worry. It's a fact. You got a lot to learn. Why'd you come out here, anyway?”

Glancing at each other.

“Well, it's important,” says one.

“Duty,” from another.

“We have an obligation for future generations,” says a third.

All of them looking at me expectantly. Probably want a cookie after those answers. Hopeless.

“Okay. Those are all reasons. Make sure you put some more thought into what you're going to try and do now that you're here. Holly, there's something I need to do before we leave. If you'll excuse us.”

Several other groups trying to approach as we were walking back over to where Davos was resting. Turning them away politely, but firmly.

“I swear these Academy brats get more braindead every year.”

“Maybe they're the same and you're only getting less patient,” says Holly. “They definitely seem to rile you up. I've got pretty good memories of the Academy, actually.”

“Yeah? Never went. After my time.”

“That certainly explains a bit.” The woman grinning again.

Davos' wounds already healed. They'd removed his armor to get better access and he was sitting passed out in a chair next to a table. At our approach Rath turning and letting out a grunt as an acknowledgment.

“Rath. The game fell through and the bird's on the up. Mind your manners, little brother.”

Rath seeing my pipe, doing a double take, and then giving a laugh and shaking his head.

“Rath, could you get my knife?”

The kid going over to the pile of gear they'd pulled off Davos and sifting through. Returning with my weapon. “That is a fancy disguise, Mac,” he says. “What is it?”

“Melgorehn's Mask,” immediately relies Holly. Shrugging in acknowledgement. She's well informed. “That was our best guess at what you were doing. I've never seen it though, its extremely rare.”

“I found the scroll awhile back and I've been sitting on it. More trouble than I figured but the results speak for themselves. If you ever find another, my recommendation is you hold on to it.”

“Its remarkable,” studying my face, “using something like that you must have been after something really valuable.”

Keeping my expression serene and Holly laughing at my non response. Changing my focus to Rath.

“Rath, I know you signed up with these guys and, honestly, I'm glad that worked out. But remember to keep an eye out for your next move. Get whatever you can here but don't get too comfortable. The reason I came over is because I'm probably going to be leaving the city for awhile. The tournament getting canceled tonight's a sign, and only the latest of many, the guild's dead and its not coming back. That's just how it is and its way past time we all moved on. So take care of yourself.”

“Same to you, Mac.” Shaking my offered hand. “Good luck, I hope to see you again soon.”

Giving a final wave to Rath, turning and heading toward the exit. About fifteen steps from the door Lane, Owens and Karson intercepting.

“I knew I had a good feeling about you,” Lane clasping his hands, “and I'm relieved you're more than just talk. Holly, I eagerly await your leadership's response.”

Holly nodding politely.

“However, now we're in a bit of a predicament,” he says. “Director Shaker just sent a messenger over requesting assistance.”

“Assistance, why?”

“Tonight's games were going to be a little different. We've been doing these one on one fights for the past several years, and they've been popular but they've led to a number of grudges. And, frankly, they've gotten a bit boring. This year we were going to have the final bouts against actual monsters. We helped bring several of them in. Apparently they were getting ready for the first match and they got out of their cages. All of them. They're suspecting sabotage.”

Life is not something that often offers second chances. It's cruel and mercurial. But when the opportunity presents itself, only a fool wouldn't snatch at that second chance.

“Someone let all those monsters out of their cages, and Shaker needs help?”

“They were trying to get everything under control earlier,” says Lane, “but they're having a bad time of it. With Davos down, and more than half the house drunk, we're extremely short staffed right now. Its urgent.”

Be a fool not to try.

“Holly, its times like these where I'm reminded why I joined House Koln in the first place. Because when something happens, when someone reaches out their hand, we come together and we help. I think its clear that we have an obligation, a duty. If Shaker and his people are in trouble over at the colosseum I think its important that we do everything we can to get inside. And help. Wouldn't you say?”

Halfway through my statement, my request, Holly putting a hand over her mouth, eyes twinkling. Listen, babe, if you're interested in having me join up with you guys, you're gonna have to meet me at least part way. What can you do for me? Up to you. Show me.

After a pause, and after taking a small breath, her hand dropping, revealing the picture of solemnity. “You're absolutely right. I insist that we help. It's the right thing to do.”