The venom within the words is what was still on Wulf's mind as he entered into the Arena. Wulf knew that a gladiator didn't live long if it became personal but he couldn't shake Tiigra's words from his head.
He tried to clear his head but it was hard. He knew both of these gladiators.
In front of him stood Antonya. She was unarmored and carrying two swords. Antonya was from a neighboring village. She was two years older but they had still played together at festivals and other gatherings.
Also standing in the Arena was the two-handed Swordsman who had defeated Pantor: Teofilo.
Since there was three combatants no one required them to meet in the center of the Arena. Wulf and Teofilo both carefully moved in a circle around the center towards each other and away from Antonya.
"Do you fear me Wulf. I carry Barbarian Slayer with me. Can you guess why I named it that?"
Wulf did not let the ex-soldier goad into an impulsive action. He stayed wary looking for an opening.
Wulf followed up the bash with stab of his sword. With Teofilo still on the ground Wulf gained the advantage. The sword stabbed Teofilo's right arm.
Teofilo attempted to stop the bleeding of his chest wound. He stood up. Teofilo maneuvered to face Wulf but could not find an opening to attack.
As Wulf and Teofilo face off against each other Antonya attacked Wulf from the rear. She charged head on into the backside twirling her two blades. Amazingly Wulf was able to spin to the side. He raised his shield in time to block her blow. "Wulf you never thought I was a good as you! This time that opinion will be your demise!"
The audience is shocked into silence as they witness the mostly unlucky event that any could ever remember. As Antonya charged head on to the now facing her Wulf she tripped on the Patron's robes. It caused her to lunge forward past Wulf. Wulf strikes her is the back as she passed him. It is a killing stroke.
Wulf whirled to face the barely standing Teofilo. Wulf attacked head on forcing him back to the wall striking him in the chest with a killing stroke.
Wulf exited the Arena exhausted. Fighting two random gladiators is hard but fighting two that you knew. That was draining.
Wulf greeted Baer and Tiigra. Tiigra told them that her "friend" would buy the first round for them. Wulf smiled Tiigra perferred to call her toadie, her "friend". She sound nicer and didn't sound like she was simply a user. Wulf didn't care either way as long as they paid for everything and he could save his Talos for what really counted.
That night in the tavern Tiigra suggested it was time to move up to the big time, a Prime Locale. Baer didn't not want to leave yet. He believe there was plenty worthy competition here. Wulf knew that the Serpent Man had worried him. Baer wondered in a Serpent Man could fight at this level what was waiting for them at a Prime Locale.
"What was waiting for them?" That was really what the question was wasn't it. Wulf wasn't ready to give up on here yet. He believe for Tiigra and himself that they could draw better opponents next month.
Wulf agreed with Baer to stay but told Tiigra it would be only for one more month. Then if the competition wasn't better for all of them then they would move on. Tiigra was happy with that and asked her "friend" to buy them all another round of drinks and a meal to go with it.
Which of course her "friend" did just that.
Wulf smiled as he drank. Life as a gladiator was great especially when you had a little fame established.
No comments:
Post a Comment