“Well, that’s going to be an issue.” Jo said.

“A problem of their own creation.” Cruck’aa mumbled.

“Normally I’d agree, but I don’t think any of them,” she gestured in front of her. “had anything to do with it.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I mean…you’re right, I don’t. But I’ve got a hunch.”

Jo had resumed her place beside Cruck’aa, both of them leaned against the wooden wall that blocked the inner arches of the contestant’s side. Together, they watched as every single contestant that still remained in the tournament filter through the outer arches and onto the square outside the coliseum, disqualifying themselves immediately.

Just a few minutes before, the outcome of Harshnag’s fight had spread through the packed hallway like wildfire, a murmur that eventually grew to loud outrage. Many had openly questioned why a Frost Giant had been allowed to compete in the tournament. Of course, the poor attendants hadn’t a clue on the matter. None of them so much as knew what the next fight would be, let alone why Harshnag was a contestant, as one senior attendant explained at length to everyone. Despite the logic behind his words, his answer had only further infuriated the rest of the contestants, and it didn’t take long for one to loudly announce his departure from the whole debacle, storming out of the coliseum in a dramatic huff. Despite warnings that he would be disqualified, the contestant’s forfeit began a leak that could not be stemmed, and try as the attendants did, in less than ten minutes, the entire hallway had been vacated. It looked remarkably different without a mob of people testing its capacity.

Once the hallway had been cleared out, the remaining attendants – each looking more panicked that the last – gathered in a rough circle, their worried voices echoing off the ceiling. Outside that circle stood an equally worried Harshnag, his mammoth voice careening down the length of the hallway and out into the city. Evidently, the Frost Giant had been amongst the crowd when it had come to light what had occurred, though surprisingly, no one paid him any heed. Including the attendants now.

“How do you suppose the crowds will take this?” Jo asked, watching as Harshnag tried to butt into the conversation. “Pretty sure this thing was supposed to be all day.”

“They’ve gotten what they paid for.” Cruck’aa replied, crossing his arms.

“Has it been that long? I haven’t been keeping track.”

“We’ve been in this damn place since before noon.” Cruck’aa grumbled. “Probably an hour before sunset now.”

“It is?!” Jo started. “Gods, I haven’t noticed at all.”

“Well, when you don’t keep track –”

Cruck’aa snapped his beak shut as Harshnag broke from the circle of attendants and rushed over to them, footsteps echoing through the hall. He looked exactly as he did just a short time ago, only shrunken down. And although Harshnag might have passed for a simple mountain-man, Jo couldn’t help but stare at the odd-looking shrunken dragon skull that adored his head.

“By the All-Father!” Harshnag boomed; despite his smaller size, Harshnag’s voice remained impossibly loud, sending Jo and Cruck’aa into the ceiling. “None of them are willing to listen to me!”

“What did you expect?!” Cruck’aa snapped, smoothing out his feathers. “You’re the cause of this problem in the first place, why would they listen to you?!”

“Because I’m trying to fix it!” Harshnag yelled, sending Jo’s heart back into her throat. “I didn’t think it would be this bad! I’m no different than any other contestant,” He ignored the look that Jo threw at him. “but if everyone is afraid of me for some reason, I need to fix it!”

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“Unless you can go back in time and stop your first fight, I’m not sure there’s much you can do, Harshnag.” Jo said, shaking her head.

Harshnag’s eyes grew wide. He scratched at his beard and turned slightly, lost in thought.

“No one in Waterdeep can do that.” Jo said flatly.

“Oh, I’m sure we could find someone.” The giant shot back.

“Uhm…perhaps, but even if we did, I’d doubt they’d want to come in and fix your mistakes.”

“Oh,” Harshnag chuckled deeply. “I could convince them easily enough.”

“And when Werond finds out?”

Harshnag thought for a moment, then deflated, his furrowed brows giving way to a resigned look.

“Well, I’m not sure what to do then.” He whispered, though his voice was anything but.

“Accept that the tournament is now over and move on.” Cruck’aa said.

“We couldn’t do that!” Harshnag gasped. “What about all of the adoring fans out there?”

“Adoring – who cares! They’ve seen enough! Just because they’re going to miss the –”

Cruck’aa snapped his beak shut again and stared, eyes smoldering with anger, as an attendant broke from the circle and jogged over to them. Sweat beaded on his forehead and dotted his grey tunic, elevating the anxiety in the man’s eyes.

“Excuse me,” the attendant said. “I don’t mean to interrupt –”

“Yet you do anyways.” Cruck’aa shot back. Jo glared at him.

“– but might we receive some assistance from you two?” he carried on, oblivious to Cruck’aa’s words. “As you can see, the current situation is rather…grim, and no doubt the Masked Lord will be furious if we don’t think of anything. We need to have something to end the tournament on. We cannot simply end the tournament as is, that directly goes against –”

“Cut to the point.” Jo said.

The attendant jerked, then nodded.

“Right. We want you,” he pointed at Cruck’aa, beady eyes opening wide. “to go out and compete one more time. That will allow us to stall for time until we can find someone to fight Harshnag here.” The attendant nodded at the shrunken giant next to him. “The Masked Lord always wants the tournament to end with a bang, but with everyone gone, that’ll be rather hard to accomplish. If we can stall for a bit though –”

“And you just assume I’ll dance for you people?!” Cruck’aa snapped out of his astonishment and marched into the attendant’s face. The man did not flinch. “You don’t own me!”

“Sir, you’re still here, which tells me you still want to fight.” The attendant shrugged. “I’m grasping at straws right now.”

“You indeed are! You have no right –”

“If it helps sir,” The attendant interrupted. “we have some harpies you can fight.”

Cruck’aa cocked his head, eyes narrowing. His ruffled feathers suddenly flattened.

“Fine.” He replied calmly, sending a jolt through Jo. “Just let me know when I need to be out there.”

The attendant nodded. Beside him, Harshnag breathed a sign of relief. Jo, however, could not hide her astonishment.

“Hold on,” she turned towards the Aarakocra, who regarded her with an even eye. “you’re okay with that?!”

“I hate harpies.” Cruck’aa said. He scratched the underside of his beak as though that explanation was enough.

“Okay!” The attendant said, clapping his hands together before Jo could continue. “That’s settled then! Now we just need to find another person to fight Harshnag.” He turned towards the Frost Giant. “I don’t suppose you know anyone that can hold their own against you?”

“Ha!” Harshnag puffed out his chest. “There isn’t a soul who can –”

“Pavel.” Jo said.

Harshnag glared at her, then reluctantly nodded.

“Alright, yes, Pavel can hold his own against me for maybe a small amount of time, but –”

“That’s all we need!” The attendant flipped to Jo, ignoring Harshnag’s irritated sigh. “Ma’am, do you know where –”

“Healer’s section I bet.” Jo jerked a thumb over her shoulder, tapping the wood behind her. “He hasn’t come back yet.”

“Right, and would he be willing –”

“Yes, but you’ll never know until you ask him.”

“Correct. Thank you.”

The attendant nodded to all of them, turned on his heel, and jogged back to the waiting circle of attendants. The group of them spoke in hushed voices for a moment before splitting up; the man who spoke with them dashed towards the opening of the section and out onto the sands, while the rest of the group jogged to the far side of the hallway, disappearing as they turned the corner.

A strange sense of loneliness tugged at her as Jo glanced at Cruck’aa and Harshnag; it felt odd to have the entire length of hallway to themselves.

“Well, I’m glad that’s all figured out!” Harshnag said. He stretched his arms over his head – almost touching the ceiling – then plopped down where he stood, crossing his legs. “Nothing else to do but wait! Sit with me, we can talk until it all starts!”

Cruck’aa immediately followed suit, sending another jolt through Jo as he crossed his legs just like Harshnag. A thoughtful expression was painted across his face, one that did not change as Harshnag began to prattle at him. It seemed as though the Aarakocra was in a different place.

After a moment, Jo shrugged, and followed suit, sitting down with the other two and leaning her back against the wood.

When in Waterdeep…