"Why did you say that?" Jay asked, walking down the tunnel.
"Say what?"
"That you want to promote."
"Why not? I can see from your reaction since you arrived here that this is your home and what you do. It is the most comfortable I have seen you. Would you not fight if you had a promoter?"
Jay thought for a moment before replying. "I enjoy my job as a driver, but there is nothing like the thrill of the cage."
"This gladiator bout tonight. It sounds like a big fight?"
"It is. The gladiator bouts are second only to championship bouts. It's a free-for-all in the cage. It holds a large purse. You will probably find several of the city councillors here later."
"Are weapons allowed?"
"No. All unarmed. It is normally the shark bait that ends up suffering. They fight to remove their debts, with the chance of death being an option. Brawlers, even new ones, are trained to take punches; others, even other fighters, need to be equipped more. A punch to the wrong part of a being can end them if they aren't prepared."
SJ understood this well enough from her elimination training.
"If you could, would you fight tonight?"
Jay stopped, facing SJ. "If the chance came about, I would, yes. I have missed the circuit."
"Do you know how much it costs to enter?"
"I do not know. I received my cut and never paid for entry to any of my fights. I know it can be substantial. My highest-ever purse was a gold coin."
Reaching the end of the tunnel, it opened into a chamber. Various stands and training dummies were around the edges of the chamber. Several beings stood in front of them, practising punches or kicks. Others were wrestling, and the room had the stench that used to escape the boys' changing room at school—stale sweat and male hormones. Several beings stood by others working out shouting orders, and in the middle of the room was a large round table.
The beings at the table wore expensive and garish clothing. Brightly coloured materials and trinkets of wealth are on display.
Jay let out a moan, seeing one of them. "Lenny."
"Who is Lenny?"
"The large orc. He is Gasgut's right-hand man. I always disliked the orc. Has an ego the size of a dragon yet has never once fought in the cage."
Mentioning the word dragon reminded SJ of Carlito. She checked her display and saw it was now 21:12. She still had forty minutes before supposedly meeting him. Even though they could easily be here, she would not know.
Around the table were five beings, Lenny being the only orc. There was also a bugbear, an elf, and two humans. SJ immediately recognised the face of one human.
'What is that worm doing here?' SJ thought.
"Oooo. Interesting development. I wonder how many on the council know what his pastime involves?" Dave said.
'I bet some do.'
Jay walked towards the table. Lenny had his back to him, and the bugbear noticed him first.
"Jay?"
"Yes, Dash. It is really me."
The others at the table turned to look at him. Lenny, the orc's face, turned to anger when he saw Jay.
"Who gave you permission to come here, you traitorous scum?"
Jay ignored Lenny's remark. SJ stepped up beside Jay. The others at the table looked at her and frowned. Looking the man she recognised straight in the eye, she addressed them.
"Malaki, isn't it?"
The eyes of Master Fretun narrowed at the comment.
"Master Fretun to you fae."
"Really? I call no one master, especially a fellow council member." SJ smiled.
"She is a councillor?" the elf asked in surprise.
"No. I am an ambassador and a regional council member, and Malaki here has been causing problems for a good friend of mine."
Malaki sneered at her, his face contorted to disgust and hatred.
"Why are you here?" Dash asked.
"Is this area not open to promoters?"
The look of shock on the faces of those sitting at the table was a picture to behold. "A promoter!" Lenny scoffed. "And who do you have to fight for you?"
"You are looking at him," SJ said calmly.
"What!?" Lenny shouted. "That scum will never fight in the cage again after what he did."
"All he needs is a promoter, and he has one. Do you not have rules?"
Dash spoke, "You are correct; rules must be followed. If you wish to enter a fighter, you must pay the purse fee."
Lenny and Fretun turned to stare at Dash in astonishment. "You can't be serious?" Fretun said.
"Why not? The rules are the rules, and if they can afford the purse, it allows us to win even more," he shrugged.
The other human and elf nodded in agreement.
"How much is the purse fee?"
Fretun smiled slyly. "Twenty-five gold. I suggest you walk away now."
"Twenty-five, you say," SJ called twenty-five gold from her inventory and placed it on the table before the beings.
Fretun's eyes opened wide in amazement. "Where did you get that sort of coin?"
"That's nothing. It's pocket change," SJ smiled.
"Liar, liar, pants on fire," Dave sang.
It was a good job that SJ was already smiling because Dave's sheer stupidity in singing such a childish rhyme made her smile even more.
'Really?' she thought.
"You are lying. That has just used most of your available coin, and you haven't even been to visit the traders yet."
'Well, let's just hope that Jay wins, then.'
Dash counted the gold coins. "She has the entrance fee for the purse. There is no reason to stop Jay from fighting."
"This is a joke, right?" Lenny said, fuming, his fists clenched at the outcome. Malaki was still open-mouthed that SJ had dropped twenty-five gold on the table.
"What time is the fight?" Jay asked, his face a picture looking at the twenty-five gold that SJ had casually dropped on the table.
"22:00, you have about thirty minutes to prepare," Dash said.
"I better get ready then," Jay said as he moved to an empty area of the room.
SJ's dsiplay triggered.
Congratulations! Your reputation with Jay has risen to Friendly.
"Can I offer you a drink?" the elf asked.
"No. I am good, thanks. I have someone to meet soon," SJ said.
Malaki stood from the table, walked towards a fighter, and began talking to him and his trainer. The fighter was a powerful-looking gnoll. He looked over to where Jay was now sitting on a bench. Lenny left the table and walked to where Malaki was before walking off to speak to another fighter. This fighter was a large orc, standing a head above Jay in height. It's massive broad shoulders and bulging muscles on its arms denoting its strength.
"They are up to something," Dave said. "I saw Malaki give Lenny something."
'Damn. I bet it's a potion. I need to speak to Jay.'
SJ walked over to Jay as he sat, stretching his arms across his chest.
"You ok?" SJ asked.
Jay grinned, "Never felt better."
"We may have a problem."
"What?"
"Malaki handed potions to his fighter and Lenny's."
Jay frowned. "Wouldn't surprise me. They are both cheats. It won't be the first time."
"Can we do anything about it?"
"Only if we have a cleric who can prove it. The effects of potions don't show on any identification spell or skill. Only a cleric can perform a diagnosis spell. They use them to check the health of beings and can pick up anything unusual."
That thought intrigued SJ, considering what Petunia had performed on her. She wondered if it was a similar spell.
'I wish Petunia was here.'
"Not sure you would get her in a place like this. Then again, she is no normal cleric," Dave said.
'I still don't know what level she is.'
"Oh. Didn't I tell you? Petunia is level 68. She is among the highest gnomes I have ever met, especially for an Amatherean."
SJ was amazed when she discovered Petunia's level. 'That is high!'
"Very. No wonder she is one of the highest-level clerics on the continent."
'Can you let me know if you spot any legionnaires?'
"Of course. There were a few in the bar area. None down here are."
"Do you need anything from me?" SJ asked.
"Nope. All good here. I need to limber up."
"Have you fought any of them before?"
"Only Olpi, over there," pointing to a human.
"Is he good?"
"He wouldn't be here if he weren't, but I have beaten him enough times in the past. I am surprised he is still fighting. He always said he was going to retire."
"Has it really been years since you have fought?"
"Three now."
"Aren't you concerned?"
Chuckling, Jay replied. "I have been fighting my whole life, since being an orcling. I broke my teeth fighting ogres. There is no one here that concerns me."
"Have you lost before?"
"Yes. On a couple of occasions, beings have landed a lucky punch."
"You mentioned the ones brought here will be fighting. I haven't seen them. I need to find Lurtew."
"The bait is kept out the back. They won't be brought in until the fight is due to start."
"Bait?"
"They are known as shark bait as they come in from the loan sharks."
"How does the fight work?"
"It's a brawl. Everyone starts in the cage together. Last being standing."
"How many?"
"There will be the promoted fighters. So the six of us here, then usually ten to fifteen bait."
As SJ was talking to Jay, Dash walked over.
"Jay. I owe you an apology."
They both turned to look at Dash.
"You don't need to apologise, Dash. The others pressured you. I know how it goes."
Frowning, SJ looked at Dash. Seeing her look, Dash replied, "I was Jay's promoter. I had never seen a brawler like him before. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for him."
"Who are you sponsoring?" SJ asked.
"The dwarf, Kylian."
Kylian stood about five feet tall and was much smaller in stature than the others who would be entering the cage. What he lacked in stature he made up for in pure muscle. Standing bare-chested, the muscles on his body rippled as he worked out. His head appeared to merge into his shoulders; his neck was so thick and muscular.
"He looks strong," SJ said.
"Very," Dash smiled.
Focusing on Kylian, SJ triggered her advanced identification spell.
Kylian Breezeblender
Level: 38
Class: Fighter - Brawler
Hit points: 530 of 530
Mana points: 55
Armour Class: 25
Attacks: Unarmed combat
Special: Windmill, Headbutt
Weaknesses:
Left elbow
Dash left them to it as he walked over to speak to Kylian.
"Kylian is a level 38 Brawler. He has a weakness," SJ said.
Jay screwed his face up, looking at SJ. "Weakness?"
"His left elbow is his weakness."
"You have an identification skill?"
"Yes."
Jay smirked as SJ spent the next few minutes identifying the other brawlers. Two of the other brawlers had weaknesses. The large gnoll that Maliki was with had highlighted his left shoulder, and Olpi had a weak left hip. The skill paid dividends after what SJ had initially deemed a wasted skill.
"Check Jay for weaknesses," Dave said.
Not having thought of it, SJ triggered her skill again.
Jayzareb Sango
Level: 32
Class: Fighter - Brawler
Hit points: 445 of 445
Mana points: 55
Armour Class: 35
Attacks: Unarmed combat
Special: Steel fist, Sledge elbow, Jolt knee
Weaknesses: Nil
"I see you have no weaknesses," SJ smiled.
"That's good to know," Jay said.
"I am guessing that the fights are not to the death?"
"No just incapacitate. Knockouts mainly."
"Looking at the fighters in here, I am worried about what will happen to Lurtew if he enters the cage. Who oversees the bait?"
Jay motioned to a kobold sitting at a side table. "Old Bluey there."
SJ left Jay to warm up and walked over to where the kobold was sitting.
"Can I help you?" the kobold said, looking up from the parchment he was scribbling on.
"I am SJ. New promoter. I believe you are in charge of the bait?"
"Not in charge. I just know how many are here. The chief brings them in."
"The chief?"
"You don't know who the chief is?" Bluey looked surprised.
"No idea, sorry."
"She owns the Griffin. Has done for over two centuries. You must be new to Asterfal."
"I am. Where can I find her?"
"Back up in the main bar, then upstairs. That is where her offices are."
"Okay, thanks."
After walking back over to Jay, she informed him that she would see the chief. His face contorted at the comment to one of uncertainty.
"Be careful. She has a nasty temper."
Walking back up the tunnel, SJ checked her display. She had twenty minutes until 22:00. As she headed to the bar again, the coliseum was filling up in preparation for the main fight. Currently, two orcs were battling each other. Walking up the corridor to where Ruffle stood, she was passed by many, heading down.
The bar was emptier than when they had arrived, with so many making their way to the cage. Looking around the bar, several patrons who obviously would miss the fight were resting in drunken slumber at several tables. SJ made her way across the bar to the steps in the far corner. A troll stood at the bottom.
"I have come to see the chief. I am a new promoter."
The troll looked down at her, pulling a face of disgust, and grunted before he stepped to one side, allowing her to pass. Climbing the steps, SJ found an open area similar to the barracks where Zigferd had his office. A large open area stretched above the bar with large double doors part way down. Several beings were sitting at tables around the edges, and when SJ appeared, they looked up. None of them looked pleasant in appearance. Ignoring the looks, she walked towards the double doors. No one spoke as they watched her walk to the door. She knocked before a female voice replied.
"That better be you, Lacey."
SJ slowly opened the door. The room reminded her of a presidential office. A large desk sat at one end, with sofas in front of it. The walls were decorated with tapestries, and the wealth was clear. A crystal decanter sat on a table, with beautifully crafted glasses by it. The person behind the desk took SJ aback.
A beautiful elf sat behind a desk. SJ didn't have to identify the being to know it was a dark elf. Its obsidian-toned skin gave away its heritage. On entering the room, she felt a static charge in the air and knew this dark elf was a magic user of some kind.
"Who are you?" it frowned a look of contempt on its face.
"I wished to introduce myself to the chief of this amazing establishment. I am a new promoter."
"You are a promoter?" the chief asked, taking in her drab appearance. SJ's dress was still toned down, and she looked like a commoner rather than the elaborately dressed promoters that had been downstairs.
"I am, yes. I have just paid the entry fee and wish to meet this chief I have been hearing about."
Raising an eyebrow at her comment, she looked at her slyly. "I don't waste my time with promoters. I suggest you go back to the locker room."
"I wanted to enquire about the bait you have here tonight."
Frowning, the chief said, "What concern is the bait to you?"
"I wish to free one of them from his burden."
"What? Do you wish to free a bait before they fight? I have never heard something so preposterous. Bait may not be freed from their debts. They all know the requirements under the contracts they sign. Their only freedom is to fight and win."
"She is a piece of work," Dave said, "And be careful she is level 49. You also only have ten minutes."
"How can an unskilled fighter benefit you? They will only lose, looking at the fighters in the cage this evening."
"More meat for the fiends to feed off," she smirked. "Anyway, begone, I need to take my seat soon and feel dirty talking to one of your kind." The look of disgust that followed the smirk riled SJ.
The immediate hatred SJ felt for this being was only being tempered by the false smile she wore. 'I think I just found my first target,' SJ thought.
"Of all the targets to pick, you decide upon a high-level magic user," Dave replied.
'She is just trash. Making her living off the suffering of others.'
"As many in Amathera do, unfortunately."
"So there is no negotiation possible?" SJ said.
The chief stood from behind her desk. The air crackled slightly around her, and SJ could feel the increase in pressure. "I said begone," replying through gritted teeth.
Not wishing to anger the chief further, SJ turned and walked from the office, hurriedly crossing the open area and heading back down the stairs.
'She would have struck me down without even considering any consequences.'
"I don't think there would have been many," Dave said.
With many patrons going to the fight area, the bar staff who worked were making the most of their absence by trying to clean up.
'I wonder where Carlito is?'
"They could be anywhere."
The sound of chanting could be heard filtering up from the corridor that led back down to the cage.
"Five minutes," Dave said.
'It said to meet at the Black Griffin at 22:00, and I am here, so I suppose I just have to wait for them to approach me.'
"Not much choice, really. There is no way we can find out who they are. I doubt you could even find them through identification; otherwise, it would have been done before when searching for them."
Letting out an exasperated sigh, SJ headed back down to the cage. The noise increased with every step down the corridor. On reaching the bottom, the coliseum-style seating was now heaving. SJ wasn't sure how many were crammed inside the area, but it had to be at least a few hundred. Looking at the open area surrounding the cage, some seats now had beings from the locker room. SJ walked out into the open area, and Dash noticed her. Signalling for her to come over.
The noise inside was deafening, the shouts and chants over the various fighters' names being called. As SJ took a seat next to Dash, a cheer broke out as midway up the side of the tiering, a door SJ hadn't noticed opened, and the dark elf she had just met walked out onto a sectioned-off area. Her presence could be felt inside the chamber. She stood and lifted her arms in appreciation of the cheering before slowly lowering them. As she did, the thunderous sound of chanting died away.
"Welcome to the night's main contest," the crowd cheered, the chief's voice amplified around the chamber.
"It is with great pleasure I introduce the fighters for this evening's event. We had five of our finest on the cards for tonight, but I have just been informed that a sixth member will join them this evening."
The crowd murmured at the comment.
"Tonight's gladiator bout will be a spectacle to behold. The rules are simple, as always. Last being standing wins, either through submission or knockout. This evening, our fighters will be joined by twelve who have decided to attempt to win the coveted prize of champion gladiator for the first time."
At the comment, a group of beings was being moved towards the cage's entrance. Looking at who and what made up the twelve was astounding. Three of them appeared to struggle to walk, being manhandled by the guards, who forcefully escorted them to the cage entrance. Obvious that none of them were here by choice. A few of them had tears visible on their cheeks, and it was then that SJ saw Lurtew. He stood with his head up and back straight, fear present in his eyes as they flitted around the chamber. The twelve comprised eight males and four females, ranging from a tiny female gnome to an old and half-crippled-looking bugbear who stood nearly seven feet tall.
The disgust SJ felt at the scene made her blood boil, and her fists clenched tightly as she rested them in her lap. 'The scum.'
"They won't even last a minute in the cage," Dave said.
Once the twelve were forced into the cage, they were ordered to move around and stand at certain spots. Lurtew was positioned off to the side of where SJ was sitting, and she wanted to get up and speak to him but knew it would bring attention to him.
"The first of our fighters this evening. The great Kylian," the chief announced.
The crowd cheered as the ridiculously muscled dwarf walked from the promoter's tunnel. Walking around where the promoters sat, he walked over to Dash and clapped arms with him before turning and entering the cage. SJ could see the shaking shoulders of some in the cage as they cried openly at the fear they felt. Kylian strode across the cage and took his place at one side, turning and waving to the crowd. The spectacle continued until the four others were in position.
"And finally, our recent addition. This is a name I never expected to announce again in the Griffin." The chief's look showed no animosity as she spoke. "It is with great surprise and also interest that I welcome back to the Griffin after an absence of three years. Jay the Beholden."
Several in the crowd who knew the name gasped. Others shouted, and the tone from some was hostile. Jay calmly walked from the locker area, his expression neutral and looking completely relaxed in the environment. He walked over to where SJ sat and offered his arm in the same clasp that Dash had done with Kylian. SJ stood and took his arm, leaning in as she did.
"Please protect Lurtew if you are able."
Jay nodded in understanding before releasing her wrist and turning to enter the cage.
"Toast, miss?" a voice said as she sat. Turning, SJ looked into the eyes of a young female human server carrying a tray of small glasses. Each of the other promoters now held one. Taking the glass, SJ was about to say thank you when the girl winked at her and, leaning forward so as not to be overheard by Dash in Cristian's voice, said, "Welcome to the Black Griffin."
