Chapter 3

Blows and fists won't deflate you, but the sight of losers being taken away will? Hmm, useful knowledge indeed. You are the offspring of that weak-willed, jittery changeling, aren't you? If I let you survive this, you will have to go to one of the four schools but which one? Which one will prove least dangerous for me? The Military Arts Specialiaty School, The Watcher Institute for Learned Youth or the Church and University of Life Texts or what's this? It seems the trio from the Three H Foundation has taken a fancy to you. I wonder, will this be taken out of my hands? Oh but I can already see the advantages: with them, you will learn all disciplines, but specialize in none. And that means, you'll be able to fathom exactly how you're failing in your destiny. Ah, child. You are bringing me far too much enjoyment.

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They were given a respite of a few hours; after all, the townspeople's appetite for carnage had to be whetted. Screams from dying kids filled the small cell the twenty-four survivors were crammed into. Gagging from the stench of the puke and excrement along the edges, Tristan tried to calm herself. Her left fingers automatically curled up to stroke the gem embedded within her palm. With each stroke, her breathing eased and her gag reflexes stopped its threats.

Tiny flopped down beside her, grinning. "Lookit!" He spread open his hands to show her two pieces of bread. She threw him a grin of gratitude as she snatched them up. "Dit - Hhh!" She gasped as bits of crumbs flew out of her mouth.

Stifling his laugh, Tiny indicated that she should finish eating before attempting another word. "Wait here!" he whispered into her ear. Bounding off, he returned a few seconds later with something behind his back. Grinning even wider now, he produced with as much flourish as he could in that cell, a small leather sac swaying about in his grip.

Realizing what it was, she quickly plucked the sac out of his hand and drank deeply. "Thanks, Tiny." She quickly swiped at her mouth to brush off crumbs and regretted it instantly. Now her face was filthier and her action made the odor that much closer. "How -"

He jabbed a finger at the cell door. A slaver was handing out food to everyone. "Think they want us strong out there."

She agreed with a nod. "Did you get some?" A grin told her he got his fill, not just some. She hugged him and went over plans with him before noticing Arite in the corner. Arite was jabbing his thumb at them while jabbering away at half a dozen kids. Narrowing her eyes at him, she knew with drenching clarity that while she had a plan, so did Arite and his plan bode Tiny harm.

A shifting in the atmosphere and the quieting down of the crowd indicated to her that the second part of the competiton was coming up. This was the one the crowds were waiting for, the one the executions had built up to. A shudder serpentined its way up her spine.

Fresh pungent smells filled the cell as one by one, the slaves realized what was imminent. Passionate prayers to various gods were whispered desperately. Tristan's own breathing quickened but as she subconsciously curled her left fingers to stroke the embedded stone, she felt a serenity descend from her head down through the rest of her body. Glancing about, she saw Arite with a small crowd of young toughs around, laughing and gesturing at her and Tiny.

A weapon! I need something if we're to see this through. She closed her eyes to focus on what she saw on the field. Something had tugged at her memory. Relaxing and focusing, she took a deep breath and pictured things strewn about the field. What were they? Clenching her eyes shut, she saw them. Boards! With nails sticking out of them.

She didn't have to wonder why they were there. All she knew now, was she had to have one. So, then the plan was to grab a board and then maneuver Tiny into a corner to protect him. Gods, what are we waiting for? Let's just get it over with!

As if on command, the cell door clanged open and a burly smelly slaver stepped through. Without a word, she started shoving children one by one out the cell. Ones who showed resistance received a heavy cuff across the back of the head. When the slaver approached, Tristan stood up quickly and yanked Tiny up by his collar, then shoved him out the door. She followed with a glance towards the slaver and was rewarded by a nod.

She followed Tiny and the single file to where the sunlight drenched the hallway. Overtaking Tiny so she could protect him from the front, she stepped out into bright blinding light. The roar of the crowds struck her with an almost physical force; she hadn't expected the noise to be a factor. Her left hand began the stroking of the stone but the clamoring had frightened her deeply.

Forget everything else. Just think about Tiny. Looking behind her, she saw that the noise had pretty much affected everyone the same way. Tiny was paralyzed and blocking the rest of the slaves from entering the field. Oh good, he was providing her with an excuse. She ran back to him, grabbed his hand and pulled him into the middle where the first entrants were gathered.

Pushing past them, she dragged Tiny to the edge of the circle closest to the corner with the least boards. That way, hopefully, less to deal with. The last of the slaves wouldn't come out, so a lumbering slaver jogged over, slugged the kid and threw the unconscious child into the middle and immediately a gong sounded.

Running off with Tiny in tow, she ducked under a blow, yanking Tiny's hand hard enough to bend him over and avoid the same blow. As she ducked, she snatched up a board, saw that it had nails with blood and hair on it, and threw it into the crowd. An angry roar followed. She had caught the crowd's attention without meaning to.

She managed to find a board without nails in it and getting to the corner, she threw Tiny into it then turned around to duck under someone leaping at her. Instinctively, she jabbed upwards with the board as the attacker sailed over her and then thrust with all her might while hanging onto the board. It worked. The attacker flew harmlessly away.

Someone struck her from her left side. She didn't try to swing with the board; there was no room. No room? Arite's sneering voice came from somewhere close. "That's him. In the corner."

Tiny! Gotta protect Ti - Another blow hit her on her right shoulder. She thrust her arms out in front of her with a hand on each end to block the blows. "ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!" With no concept that she was yelling, she ran forward with all her might pushing through her legs into the ground and pushed back a couple of slaves into another one. Dashing back to where Tiny was, she swung blindly, and hit Arite square in the nose. Blood squirted and he staggered back. Then, pain exploded in her thigh.

She looked down and her stomach churned in reaction. Nails sticking through a board were imbedded in her thigh! She sensed someone coming at her and she stabbed at the ground with her board. Somehow, her board landed square on an incoming foot and a scream ensued, then someone stumbled back.

"TINY! GET IT OUT!" Her lungs hurt with the effort she put into screaming but next she felt a tug at the board hanging off her thigh, then a wrench. She screamed, then swung with her board, catching someone trying to get at Tiny. Warm liquid was dripping down her leg and it tickled. Looking up, she saw Arite lunging for Tiny, but she was too far away. She flung the board hard and hoped it found its mark.

Hearing a scream of "GET HER!" she ducked but while one attacker missed her, another plowed right into her side. Tumbling over banging into the side of a wall, her breath whooshed out of her. Tiny saw that she was in trouble and chucked the board he was holding over to her, yelling for her to catch it.

She stuck out her hand and caught the board, then swung with all her might. Her jaw fell when she looked to see what happened. It was Burk, a cell-mate. One she had considered friendly. And he looked at her funny, with unseeing eyes. Time seemed to slow then. His mouth was agape, and spittle was flying out as he tried to gasp out a word. Slowly sinking to his knees, he reached out to her and then fell over.

A screeched pierced her paralysis. Arite had gotten to Tiny! Hunching over, she hurled herself at the slaves now surrounding the alarmed boy. A slash ripped her side open but still she scrambled over tumbled kids. Launching herself at Arite, she clawed until she clambered onto his back. Baring her teeth, she took a chunk out of his neck and hopped off as he whirled away in pain. Twisting on her ankle, she stumbled. And took a blow squarely on her back.