Page 23 of The Ballad of a Bard

He let out a wet sound, as her other blade came around to his front and she jerked it forward. It bit into his meaty skin, down to the bone. He let out a fatal gasp as red sprayed and she slit his throat. With an extra twist of her wrist, his head came clean off. She released herself from the back dagger, finding her footing on the solid ground once again.

Applause burst into action as she heaved.

Her chest rose and fell with every breath she took, exertion clear on her face. Her name became a prayer on the mouths of the many above her as they all praised her over and over again. She bent at the waist, bowing before them all before walking over to the body and freeing both of her blades from his skin.

West didn’t need to see anymore as he turned and let go of the gate. She’d be finding her way down here soon enough. And when she did, he’d have words with her.

Crimson hadn’t expected the second fight to happen right after the first. A momentary reprieve, at least, but it seemed as though Grimm had other plans in mind for her as the gate rumbled open and a second competitor ran out. She barely had the chance to catch her breath before engaging in the second round of the night.

One that she almost lost, thanks to her lack of energy.

It was almost fifteen minutes, but her life was worth more than five extra crowns. Without her, Cobalt would have no one to take care of him. So when she couldn’t dance around the fighter any longer, she ended it. A well placed thrust of her knife and it was over. There was so much sweat that crested down her spine, over her face, through her leathers. They would need a good wash before she could wear them again without cringing.

Crimson tucked her blades away at her hips and made for the gate as it opened for her.

Grimm was there, waiting already.

“I thought I told you to make them longer.” He barked at her, folding one arm over the other on his chest. “That was hardly half an hour worth of good fighting.”

“You didn’t tell me that it would be back to back matches, instead of spread out over the span of the entire evening.” She fought back. “That’s not what I agreed to when I said I would make them last. Next time, break them apart or lose your best warrior.”

He laughed, low in his massive throat and held his arm out to her, a sack dangling from it. “Fine. Here. I hope four additional crowns is satisfactory since it wasn’t a full half an hour.”

“It’s not, but I don’t have any other choice.” She snapped. “Make sure to fill it all the way next time, or that will be the last time that Red Lyric steps into the ring in this arena.”

Grimm towered over her, a furious expression on his scarredface. “Don’t forget whoownsthe Pits, Red Lyric. I can make or break you, in a matter ofseconds. Just because Zion schedules the matches, doesn’t mean that I can’t change them up at the last minute.”

A bucket of ice water dumped over her, chilling her to the bone as she took in his threat. But she was too tired to mind her mouth, to watch her tongue.

“And don’tyouforget, that you need entertaining fighters for your onlookers. I can make and breakyoujust as much, Grimm.” With that, she pushed past him and headed for the additional chamber off to the side.

“You’re up in four days, Lyric!” He added with a growl. She simply waved her hand in the air in acknowledgment and vanished around the corner as she turned into the room. There were five fighters along the wall, bodies pressed together but she avoided them all easily enough. She found her bag and tossed the coins inside before departing to find the bathing room.

Crimson felt sticky in places that she should never feel that way, and she wanted nothing more than to bathe but that wasn’t an option. Not when she had a shift with Roland in twenty minutes. She glanced towards the hallway, searching for any passerbys before having the chance to slip behind the door.

It wouldn’t do her any good to appear as Red Lyric one moment before shutting the door, only for a female to magically take his place as she came out. Especially not when they were the same height and build. Renfri would never spill the secret, but Crimson was still more than cautious down here.

She waited until it was clear, quickly entering the chamber and swiftly locking the door after it shut. The bag dropped from her shoulder as a hand clamped around her mouth and she was forced to swallow her scream.

His head angled against hers, whispering, “Don’t make a sound, Red Lyric.”

His breath was warm against her neck, and it sent the wrong kind of shivers down her shoulders. She gulped, forcing the noise down into her lungs as he huffed lightly and tugged the pin out of place. Her hood slipped from her head, revealing her ruby locks.

With a brush of his mouth against her ear, he murmured, “Or should I say Crimson?”

Ten

West experienced the tremor that vibrated down her lithe figure as he held her captive within the bathing chamber. Pressed against her like this, there was no mistaking her for anything other than a woman.

It stirred something inside of him.

Her bag immediately fell from her grasp as he wrapped his hand around her mouth and held her firm against his chest. He couldn’t risk her screaming and alerting anyone nearby. Her shallow pants were hot in his palm as he continued to hold her there. Even if there was a layer of dark grey fabric that separated them, thanks to her cowl that kept the bottom portion of her face covered. He didn’t raise any sort of steel to her pale throat, nor did he threaten her.

There was no need for that after all.

“I’m going to let you go, but don’t go anywhere and don’t yell for help, alright?” West softly announced to her, requiring her agreement before unclamping her mouth. Her head dipped in silent confirmation of his ask, and he slowly released the pressure on her face.

“Who are you?” Crimson questioned with a timid voice that belonged to a spotted doe, a frightened fawn.

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