Page 34 of Fighting Gravity
Before I went on, a few smaller lifeforms were pitted against each other in a pre-show of blood and gore, getting the crowds pumped up for the main event. By the time I was allowed onto the sand, it would be drenched in the blood of a dozen other creatures, exactly how audiences liked it.
I was eager to know what Ket had in mind for me. It had been a while since I had a good fight. He was a collector, like so many others of his kind, and I was certain he would not disappoint.
My wrist com buzzed just as I was about to approach the starting gate into the arena. I lifted it to my mouth, knowing exactly who it was before they spoke.
“Rhone?” Veron said. “I thought maybe you’d finally loosened up and visited a brothel when you didn’t return to the ship, but now I have doubts. Can I ask why I’m tracking you in the middle of thatdrekkingasteroid instead of heading back?”
I rolled my shoulders and stretched my neck from side to side, hearing my well-used joints pop.
“Just tying up loose ends here on Tao,” I sighed.
“What loose ends? We have a ship. The crew is en route and will be here soon. Let’s—”
A primitive horn blew, making the crowds bellow a deafening cry of barbaric excitement.
Reminded me of home.
“You didn’t,” Veron said. “You’re fighting in the pits.”
“If you really do want to remain my second, Veron, then you should know what to do next. And if you don’t know, perhaps I need another second.”
She said nothing after that.
The corner of my mouth slanted and I flexed my hands, ready to use them on whatever adversary Ket threw into the arena with me.
Before I had approached the entrance gate, Ket’s goons double-checked my person for weapons, again looking over the Sylvar on my bracer. Not that I planned to use the antique, but if anything were to happen that caught me off guard, I had a blade at my disposal. A rather formidable one.
Ket stood at the helm of the hooting mobs and raised his hands up in the air, a maestro to his own symphony. He reveled in his popularity and I knew it. It was easy to stroke the ego of a man who put it on such a big pedestal. His love for fame would be his downfall, even if he didn’t know it. But on that day, all I could focus on was getting back what was mine and regaining control of the entire situation. I wanted my prisoner. Then I wanted to leave on my ship. And if I killed a few shikari on my way out of the dung-hole that was Tao Prime, then that was a bonus.
15: Rhone
Entering the arena, the mobs went wild, shaking the foundation with their bloodthirsty roars. I took a deep breath of the violent stink of the place, my nose stinging with the filthy smells. It riled the beast inside, preparing me for the coming fight.
Coming to the center of the arena, I took another glance at Ket lounging in his oversized chair like it was a throne. That was when I caught sight of Quinn standing behind him, collared and watching. My step faltered at that, my Thel vibrating softly in my chest.
Clearly my body thought she was mine, too. I would have to get that under control, but first, a fight.
Around me, there was very little to use as a weapon aside from rusted metal rods, hand carved wooden spears, and chains coiled along the ground. I laughed internally at the barbarism. In gek fights, we provided all the weaponry one could desire. Ket’s arena was basic and primal.
When the first door slid open across the sands from me, the crowd chanted hungrily, feet pounding on the ground. My adrenaline rippled through my veins and I stood ready, staring at the dark passage beyond the door. I crouched and slowly picked up a heavy chain in both hands. Cracking my neck from one side to the other, I waited until my first opponent lumbered onto the grounds.
I didn’t know what it was. It had long, spindly legs, two layers of mandibles, and a wiry mane that trailed down a long, curved spine. When it emerged from the passage, it uncurled on two back legs, spreading four arms wide when it spotted me. The wiry mane began to vibrate, filling the air with a strange, high-pitched hissing sound.
When the creature headed toward me, I braced, eyeing a tall, stone pillar on my left. Likely starved and aggravated by the noise, the creature charged. At the last second, I ran for the pillar, leaping up and launching myself off the stone. Throwing the chain across the creature’s body, I flipped around onto its back and managed to snag it. The wiry hair was sharp like strands of metal and sliced at my arms while I whipped the chain around it another time. Shrieking, the creature bucked and squirmed as I pulled the chain taut.
It took ages for the creature to stop flailing. Desperate, it made one last attempt to get me off of it and rolled onto its back. I wrapped my long legs around its skinny form, securing it as I tugged harder on the chains.
The crowd went ballistic until finally, my opponent stilled. Once the last traces of life had been leached from its body, I kicked it to the side, rolling it off of me to stand. Small nicks and cuts littered my chest and arms, but it was a mild inconvenience. I began to pace, staring up at Ket like I was starved and crazed. With the back of my hand, I wiped sweat and dust from my chin and snarled at the smug look on his face. I was already so irritable and eager to throw one of the rusty rods at his head when he reached back and grabbed a short chain attached to Quinn’s wrists, yanking her forward so hard she nearly tripped.
I should not have given two dreks when she stumbled into his lap. I shouldn’t have cared when his hands started to roam her body, touching her all over in ways she clearly didn’t like.
I should not have been concerned.
But Ket was doing it on purpose, flaunting her in front of me to rile me up.
And it was working.
The way he was acting was insulting.
