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 I thought I could knock him out.
 Cut the chivalry. This is death match and you better fight it that way,
Hammen snapped.
Garth looked around the arena where half a dozen fights were still going on.
In a circle at the south end of the arena a great spider was scampering
around, holding a fighter aloft, the man writhing in agony, the mob in that
section jumping up and down in their seats with wild abandon. On the east
side two small armies of undead and skeletons were busy slashing at each
other, while in the ring to the north of Garth a fighter was strutting about,
holding up the head of his slain foe.
Garth walked over to Ulin s body and looked down.
 Damn you, Garth sighed and, reaching down, pulled out his dagger, wiped it
on the sand, and then cut the man s satchel off, tossing a mana bundle to the
referee. The crowd broke into wild applause.
Garth turned to walk back to Brown s stands.
 Too bad you didn t declare it a death match, One-eye, the referee taunted.
 You could have gotten a prize.
 I don t need any more spells and the hell with the blood money, Garth
snapped in reply.
Still gasping for breath, Garth slowly walked across the arena floor, ignoring
the wild howling of the mob, which stood to give him an ovation. Stepping
under the awning, he went over to the food and wine, pouring himself a drink,
while out in the arena the last fights were played out.
 What happened to Varena? Garth asked, turning to look back out on the field.
Hammen pointed up to the tote board.
 She won.
Garth nodded, saying nothing.
Naru came back in, covered in blood and holding the satchel of a Fentesk
fighter.
 Not this much slaughter in years, Naru announced gleefully.  Many good
spells.
He shouldered up beside Garth and, taking up a decanter of wine, drained it
off with loud, thirsty gulps followed by a rolling, self-satisfied belch.
 Ah, now better. Perhaps we fight, I take your satchel now.
Garth looked up at Naru.
 You know, it s hard to admit, but I ve almost come to like you.
Naru chuckled, his voice edged with sadness.
 Me almost like you. Too bad.
 Fighter, make not friend of fighter.
Garth turned to see Kirlen standing behind him.
 This slaughter is because of you. You realize that, don t you? All the
Houses will lose their best today and tomorrow.
 So stop him.
 We can t. Kirlen waved toward the mob, which was on its feet, howling with
bloodlust as two fighters, their spells expended, staggered about the fighting
circle, slashing at each other with daggers.
 He s killing more fighters out there today than we d lose in a half dozen
Festivals, just so he can get at you and win the mob back.
Garth sipped at his wine.
 And all of you will be the weaker for it. Like I said, the four of you
should stop him.
Kirlen shook her head, saying nothing.
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
 Let me guess. He paid all of you off, didn t he? The potential loss of
contracts made good over the next couple of years.
 The bastard, she said softly, her voice barely audible above the screams.
 And of course you took it.
 The others did too.
 But of course, Garth replied, his voice filled with contempt.  So why don t
you try and kill me now and get the rest of the bribe?
 In due time, in due time.
Garth, shaking his head, returned to his seat.
An explosion of sound swept over the arena as the last fight ended with a
mutual kill, the two fighters stabbing each other, and neither one with a
single heal spell left. They writhed about for what seemed like an eternity
and then both were still. The spectators screamed hysterically, jumping up
and down over the spectacular finish to the fourth round. Even though any who
bet upon it had lost their money, still they cheered over an ending that would
be argued about in the taverns and on street corners for years to come.
 They re certainly getting their money s worth today, Hammen said coldly,
before downing a beaker of wine.
The urn containing the names of the survivors was now brought out again and
the monk started to draw out the new fighting pairs. The first names started [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]