All Adventure Begins with Tragedy

Chapter XVIII: The Dual

I woke with a start, on the floor. Apparently I had fallen off the bed during the night. Most likely that resulted in me falling in the dream.

The dream! Was Clare okay?

"Hey sleepyhead! Get up! You got a dual today!" I threw a pillow at Adalayde skull.

"Shut up, I'm tired!" I say after the pillow hits her full on.

"All righty then grumpy, don't fight to the death with your only friend!"

"Fine... I'm coming.." I grumbled.
I tenaciously got off the floor and began exercising. I knew that was the best way to deal with injuries. After stretching and doing some quick pull-ups, I put on my gear. My cloths and light armor, my weapons, and finally my specially designed cloak. I was as ready as I would ever be. I walked out of the room with the same feeling in my gut I'm sure one being led to execution would have. Adalayde was right out the door, waiting for me. We soon met up with Jonathan and Luke and then they all led me to an arena that had apparently been constructed while I was out.

Adalayde left us so I could "get ready."

It was a simple area, just an oblong oval surrounded by fences to keep the contestants in the ring. Around the entire plaza were rows and rows of stands. They were almost filled up. The fences were about waist high and seemed to be padded. On each end of the arena was a covered hut for the contestants to prepare in. It reminded me of a less glamorous version of a certain colosseum in Oasis City, Fya.

Anyway... I checked to make sure I was ready to fight and began to walk towards the exit, intending to walk into the arena.

Jonathan grabbed my shoulder and yanked me back. I cringed as it was my hurt shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing!" He demanded.

"Umm... walking into the arena?"
"Wrong answer. You are sitting down and waiting for an hour. That's how gladiator fights work."
"Oh? Okay then..." I sat down on some cushioned seats and prepares to wait.

After about half an hour, Eliza walked in.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Drew?" I asked confused.

"Oh yeah, I'll go right back over there. I just wanted to wish you luck and whatnot. I really hope you can evade him enough to not die," she told me.

"You know my strategy?" I asked surprised.

"Of course I do!" She said as if that was normal.

"How?"

"It's obvious to anyone that really knows you."

I looked around. Both Jonathan and Luke were nodding silently.

"Does Drew know?"

"No, he's too pissed."

"Oh. I really hope he doesn't kill me."

"We all do Silver, We all do. Good luck out there!" She flashed me a rare smile and swept out of the room.

"Well what now?" I asked the two guys.

"We sit more, what else? You still have about half an hour before the fight," Luke answered.

I plopped down and resumed the boring task of waiting. Soon I became to anxious and started pacing. Thankfully, I didn't half to wait long before another distraction wandered in. It was Adalayde.

"Can I come in?" She asked from the doorway.

There was a light curtain as the door to the outside world. The door that led into the arena was an ornate gate that would be apparently raised when the tips was ripe. However, it was just decoration and I could have easily walked through it, the bars were pretty spread apart.

"Come in!" Jonathan responded to Adalayde.

"Thanks, oh hi Silver. You okay?"
"Yeah, thanks Adalayde, I'm fine," I told her.

"Degobies shit. Sit down. You are flushed far beyond faking you are okay! Did you guys seriously not notice that?" She demanded at Jonathan and Luke.

"No. We're boys, what did you expect?" Jonathan gold her.

Adalayde pushed me down into one of the extremely cushioned chairs.

"Sit there for a bit. I'll go get water for you!" She stood up hurriedly and rushed out the door.

I rolled my eyes at her back and immediately stood up and resumed pacing. She wasn't gone for more than five minutes, and when she got back, she wasn't happy.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Sit down for the gods' sake!"

I reluctantly sat down, wishing not to be killed by an angry someone trying to help.

She thrust the water into my hand and forced me to drink it all.

"Maybe we should call off the dual...." She mused.

"No!" All three of us instantly yelled.

"And why not? He's obviously not feeling well!" Adalayde retorted at Jonathan and Luke.

"He's just anxious, he's going into a life and death situation, of course he's stressed," Luke told her trying to calm her.

"Well it's not healthy!  He should not be this flushed!" She retorted, obviously straining her voice.

Luke rolled his eye and guided Adalayde to a seat. I resumed my pacing while Adalayde watched me nervously.

After what seemed way to long, It came time for the dual. The low white noise of the crowd had risen to a steady roar with the increasing number of people coming. They sat in anticipation, waiting to see the contestants walk out.

Some announcer started talking and the crowd quieted down. He was a good speaker, and his voice reverberated throughout the arena.  However, I did not here a word he was saying, and was instead having a mini panic attack with my time so near.

"You got this... stay strong and don't die," Jonathan told me.

"Good luck out there, and put on a show!" Luke wished me.

"Just don't die. Please please please don't," Adalayde said through a thin film of tears. She pressed me into a brief hug. Brief meaning way to long.

"I'm going to be fine Adalayde! But I need to go," I pat her hair and then started to pull away. She reluctantly let go.

I was about to go out. I was watching the announcer carefully for the signal. On a sudden whim I took out my sling and loaded it, then wrapped it around my wrist to conceal it. The announcer gave the signal and my gate was raised.

I stepped out confidently. My confidence shattered as an arrow plunged into the wood above my head. I knew the shot had struck true. Drew was putting on a show as well. We both walked about ten meters in from our doorway and stood there.

"May the best man win!" The announcer was saying. "Three... two..." he paused for dramatic effect." One... FIGHT!!" 

And the arrow was already airborne.