Wandering Wolves

23. Life Race

The crowd cheered once more as another races slammed into the spiked wall. Stella and I looked away. I wanted to vomit.

"How can these people think this is amazing to watch?"

"Doesn't matter as long as they have something to bet on. It's amazing to watch as long money is involved." Stella looked down at the final three racers. Kate miraculously wasn't having any trouble controlling the Fleckals around the track. However now that there's only three of them left she's probably the next target. Kate nearly dodged a spike trap set off by the guy behind her. He came up beside her ramming his sled into hers. He kept trying to break her sled as they rounded the bend.

"Looks like its time, you got this?" I turned to Stella. She nodded and took off into the crowd.

 Kate struggled for the longest time against him. He wasn't budging as they rounded another corner. Kate's sled was on the verge of breaking.

"Come on Stella" I whispered. Kate's running out of time, it's now or never. A flash of light reflected off the knife signaled that Stella was ready. I couldn't see her in the crowd but the knife hit the target dead on. The guy cried out in pain from the knife now wedged into his calf. Kate leapt off her sled onto his just as another knife was thrown. This time the knife activated a trap. Sending out a spiked log from the wall. Kate ducked but the guy was concerned over his leg than the spiked log. He collided with it, scattering blood onto the track as Kate quickly took hold of the reins. Part of me wanted to vomit but the other part cheered for Stella's miraculous knife throwing. I glanced over at the pharaoh who now seemed a little suspicious. He must have saw the knives but couldn't understand where they came from. Either way the crowd roared with applause as there were only two racers left. 

Kate raced on towards the leader. He kept himself distant from the other racers hoping they all would kill themselves long before tangling with him. He was clearly being paid off by Hamet. His sled and Fleckals were much more top notch than anyone else's. As Kate approached he swung out with those huge battle axe that was attached around his back. She ducked and rammed the sleds into each other. His sled shattered hers into pieces as he took another swing. With reflexes that I've never seen before, Kate grabbed the handle of his axe. It swung her right to their other side of his sled. Still hanging on tight as he tried wrangling his axe free.

I bet he has no idea the strength of this woman he's fighting. Back at Ameliasburg, she held Beda's arm down with no problem at all. Still desperate the racer pulled out a knife, just managing to cut Kate's upper arm. She kicked the knife from his hand. Another knife sailed out from the audience, activating a trap. This time from the sand rose a giant spiked wood log that stretched horizontal across the entire track. Knowing that Kate wasn't letting go of his axe he swung it towards the log, preparing himself to duck. She swung from the axe just barely managing to get her boot under his chin as she sailed up in the air. The spiked log swiped her back, cutting through the clothing Stella made, as she rolled over it. From Kate's kick, the front half of his face didn't make it under the log. I placed a hand over my mouth as the spikes punctured into his face. 

Some people next to me had to look away. I maintained watching as Kate landed on the back edge of the sled. I don't know how she managed it but she had grabbed the reins when she landed, making sure she didn't fall off the sled. She tugged on them. The Fleckals rose up from the sand, sliding to a halt. The crowd remained silent at first then burst out with a thunderous applause. Even I found myself clapping, actually satisfied that this crazy plan worked. Kate leaned against the front end of the sled, exhausted and probably in some pain from the spikes.

 Pharaoh Hamet stood up from his throne beckoning the crowd to silence. 

"Well done, we have our champion!" His voice ring through the entire arena sending the crowd cheering again. Kate got off the sled and walked on the track towards the throne. She stopped in front of it. Some of the Pharaohs guards tensed as she approached. Hamet took another step forward.

"Our newest champion, Knightly Rivers, you have won the life race thus granting you the opportunity to declare a single wish."

Kate, still keeping the helmet on, pointed straight at Pharaoh Hamet. The crowd started murmuring until the Pharaoh spoke.

He grinned "I am well aware of what your proclaimed wish is, however this wish can not be granted. A champion such as yourself would not risk their lives to sit upon my throne. You surely would go for riches upon your wildest dreams. Perhaps even a luxurious room inside the pyramid to spend your time as you wish?"

Kate shook her head no.

"Well then, how about you remove your helmet and tell us your new wish?"

I held in my breath. Knightly was not even here yet and already he was asking for the removal of the helmet. I felt a tug on my cloak as Stella appeared beside me.

"Nicely done" I stated.

"So far so good but this all fails if Knightly doesn't come through." She peered out at Kate.

"Given his determination I doubt that guy would fail. He'll come through, Stel."

"Take off your helmet" with a much more stern voice the Pharaoh demanded. 

Her hands reached up around the helmet. With a tug she slowly took the helmet off. The crowd was a mix of murmurs and surprise as Kate Oliver appeared before them.

Pharaoh Hamet gripped his hands against the side wall of the arena "I knew you were here, hiding in my city."

"Wasn't exactly hiding, I even ventured into your pyramid the other day. Could do with a clean if I'm honest."

She was mocking him and he seemed furious, however he was keeping his composure up for the crowd.

"So it was you and your crew that broke in and took some of my girls. I'm curious though, what it is you want from me? You've obviously arranged all this just to speak with me."

Kate chuckled "I don't want anything from a pig like you. However what I do want is Knightly Rivers to become Pharaoh. Unlike you he'll burn the whips from your slavers, free the slaves including all the people you have locked up in that pyramid and finally open those damn gates surrounding this City." 

"You come to my city and decide to change things up a bit? The Pharaoh, me, has ultimate rule in Maganti and makes the decisions that better suit the people."

"In what way are you better suiting the people?"

"Why, I'm giving them this life race. People make money off of this becoming rich beyond their wildest dreams. I'm giving them a wish, any wish that can be granted and the safety of being behind the walls protecting Maganti."

"Almost any wish granted but feel free to say what you want to make yourself feel better. However I don't really see anyone rich here. You give people money just to shut their mouths up about your rule. What they really don't see is that they may become rich beyond their wildest dreams but they'll never become rich beyond you."

That got some people in the crowd talking. The pharaoh wanted to say something but Kate interrupted.

"You keep them locked up in this city, holding their families as hostage. They can become rich but can't spend it on anything other than what you provide. Bet it's a nice pocket of money for you. Oh, but you really get to have everything you want. You can't even find someone that wants to be with you. One look on their faces and they're disgusted. Perhaps it's because you have to chain them up to get off. You're a sick disgusting man who's been deceiving everyone in this city."

"Guards!" Hamet shouted and two of the guards jumped into the arena. One took a strike at her with his spear. Kate dodged, elbowed the guard in the face then shoved him into the other guard. She took the spear from the one she elbowed and pointed it at the other guards throat.

"Was a nice try but I'd save your man power if I were you."

He snarled "What the hell do you want?"

"I already told you what I wanted. I will tell you this though, I didn't arranged this to talk to you."

Could see from here he was thinking about what she said. His eyes went wide as he realized "What have you.."

The arena shook, taking some people off their feet. Stella and I looked at each other and smiled. Knightly, you beautiful bastard, you came through after all. The other guards ran up to the Pharaoh alerting him of what is most likely going on at the front gate.