The crowd cheered and screamed, deafeningly loud. Twain’s ears twitched, and he struggled to keep from covering them. “Damn, that’s annoying.”

“You know, some people live for those cheers, for the roar of the crowd,” Spar said. He soaked it up, waving and smiling as he strode toward the center of the Arena.

“Well, not me,” Twain grumbled. Everything is so much louder in the human kingdom. Louder, larger… Do they know the meaning of ‘holding back?’

A whisper tickled his ear. He twitched it, hard, trying to kick off the annoying buzz. It resolved into a voice: Cel's. “Mouse! Mouse, are you there? It’s urgent.”

Twain raised his hand to his ear. “Cel?”

“Shit, Mouse, I’m sorry. His Majesty dropped by, I tried my best, but I’m pretty sure he noticed. He muttered something about the Arena… I’m sorry!”

Twain pressed his other hand to his forehead, grimacing. Day two? I didn’t even make it a week. Barely even made a weekend. He sucked in a breath, then shook his head. “It’s alright, Cel, don’t worry. Even if he comes here, it’s fine. I told him I was sending some men here—it’s fine. He’s expecting to see moon elves in the Arena. He won’t know it’s me.”

“Well, if you’re sure…” Cel said, hesitant. She paused another second, then sighed. “I’m sorry, Mouse. I’m no good at this talking stuff.”

“It’s alright, Cel. I jumped it on you. It’s my fault as much as anyone’s. You’re doing fine.”

Cel sighed. “Dammit. Hurry back already. I hate dresses, you know that, right?”

Twain chuckled. “Got it. I’ll do my best. Keep me updated, Cel. If I absolutely need to, I’ll come back.” He dropped his hand.

“Thanks. Will do.”

“Everything alright?” Spar asked.

Twain shrugged. “It’ll be fine.”

Spar nodded. He flicked his hair and raised his hand, waving at some girls. They squealed and waved back. He nudged Twain and pointed at a second set of girls, slightly lower in the stands. “They’re waving at you.”

Twain glanced up. His braid snapped after him, caught on the breeze. A trio of human girls jumped and waved, grinning widely. He frowned. “And?”

“Gods, you’re so cold.” Spar smiled and waved at them as well. He blew a kiss, and one pretended to swoon.

“Shameless flirt,” Twain accused.

Spar chuckled. “Guilty as charged.”

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“Contestants, over here,” the burly man from yesterday said, gesturing. He held a scroll under his arm, slightly squished and half-forgotten. Carved out of the floor, a box awaited them. Laid out with benches and a railing, a space set aside to warm up, the box laid out of the line of sight of most of the audience, but offered a wonderful view of the ring. Like yesterday, a ribbon marked the ring’s borders within the larger space of the Arena, but today, the ring stretched much wider, over the majority of the floor.

The man leaned against the railing and continued as they filed in. “Same rules from yesterday. Take no longer than a minute to enter the ring. Longer than that, and you’ll be penalized. If the referee calls the fight, stop. You can contest her later, but don’t do it in the ring. Or out of the ring. Any fighting out of the ring is an instant DQ. Oh, and try not to kill—there’s a loser’s bracket.”

One of the humans raised a hand. “What if we’re in the loser’s bracket?”

“Who cares? Do whatever you want.”

He laughed. “Got it.”

The man consulted his scroll. “First up… Jamie and Kat versus Uldan and Dormeni.”

Jamie stood and patted Twain on the head. “See you on the other side.”

“Good luck,” Twain replied.

The elf and dwarf pair stood alongside the beastfolk pair and followed them into the ring.

Spar sat back, hands behind his head. “Ten copper on the odd couple.”

“You’re betting against the girls?” Twain asked, surprised.

He shrugged. “I want a whole bunk to myself.”

Twain glanced at him. “There’s a loser’s bracket, you know.”

“Dammit.”

In the ring, the duos paired off. The rugged man jogged to the center and spoke with the four, heads together. Jamie and Kat nodded, and Kat backed off. On the opposite side, the sun elf retreated out of the ring.

The dwarf hefted his axe. Jamie clashed her claws and bared teeth.

Echoing through the arena, the female voice rang out. “To the north, Uldan, of the Deep Sapphire Mines! To the south, Jamie, from the distant jungles of Bakum!”

“Didn’t she say she was raised in the human capitol?” Spar muttered.

“Wonder what they’re going to say about us,” Twain muttered back.

The crowd cheered. People screamed and shouted, waving flags and banners. Jamie drank it in, egging the crowd on, gesturing for more, more. Uldan glared fiercely, eyes narrowed under his helmet.

“And! Fight!”

Jamie charged at the dwarf. The dwarf blocked. Claws slammed into steel. Jamie pressed down on Uldan, looming over him.

Uldan swung his axe, knocking Jamie back. She staggered. Uldan chased after her, surprisingly nimble on stumpy legs. Jamie jumped back, darting out of the range of the axe.

Uldan lunged, suddenly accelerating, and swung all-out. The axe clipped Jamie’s knees.

Twain cringed, waiting for the blood.

Jamie laughed. A lock of fur fell to the ground, but no blood. “How’s that thick bear fur?”

Uldan stared, wide-eyed. The axe swept over his shoulder, overswung.

With a step, Jamie closed the distance. She pulled her leg back and kicked.

Uldan went flying. The dwarf flipped around in midair and threw his axe. Chain spooled out behind it. The axe bit into the hardpack beneath the sand. Uldan yanked, and flew back toward the bounds of the arena.

“No you don’t!” Jamie shouted. She sprinted across the arena and leaped into the air. Her foot collided with Uldan’s gut.

The dwarf fell backward, hands slackening on the chain. Jamie landed in the arena in a cloud of sand. Uldan crashed down, digging a ditch across the floor on the far side of the ribbon.

Twain pumped his fist. "Ring out! Hey, where's those ten copper?"

"You never accepted my bet, it's null."

Taken aback, Twain furrowed his brow at Spar. "What kind of rule is that? Did you make it up just now?"

Spar nodded at the Arena. "Hold your horses. Fight's not over yet."

The sun elf stepped forward, unhooking a bow from her shoulder.

“Kat!” Jamie sprinted for the edge. Kat jumped up. They high-fived, and Kat took Jamie’s place in the arena.

“Uldan, out! Dormeni takes the field as Jamie tags out for Kat!”