The Arena

Together

Swords swung, clanging together in a wooden madness as stubbed spears flew, shields vibrated from collisions and sand flew into the air. The fighters were excited about the two new men in their training session. Children playing in the arena audience seats were slowly ignoring each other as they watched the two new men in wide eyed awe. Forest held two swords, swinging heavy and slow, he had selected two handed swords to wield with one hand each. Once he grabbed the two he swung them about himself while watching Isabella, his eyes slightly slanted as he winked to her. Lukas pointed out that the man was trying to show off his skill which only made her roll her eyes which in return made Lukas happy. Isabella studied the way he moved as she tried not to lose track of her own sparring practice. Fry kept aiming for her weak spot, the cuffed arm, swinging and jabbing for it when he got the chance. Turning her body to protect her left side, she took a narrow stance and ignored the wiggling chain. Right arm swinging the sword, her movements were swift fast and light, when she wielded a hammer she was slightly slower but not as slow as Forest was with his movements.

"They are good." Fry said as they sparred, his eyes dashing to the two new fighters for the moment.

"Indeed they are." Isabella agreed as the wooden swords clashed once more. Fry did not break the clash but leant in to lower his voice.

"That big one looks at you weird." His voice was lowered and his eyes squinted slightly. Her eyes drifted over to Forest, his eyes were on her and her movements.

"How does he look at me?" Isabella asked, not taking her eyes from Forest.

"The same way Lukas does."

James had scoffed at the new coin he had to pay just to watch the training session. It had been more than a day since he saw his precious through that grid while squatting in the filth of the ground. He thought it best to give her a day to herself to think. Now her watched her, unhappy about her delicate arm being cuffed to the barbarian. He watched her move, he was impressed with her movements but upset with her hands. They were pained. James could tell by the way she constantly rubbed them against the soft material of her skirt. That skirt, he looked closer and smirked, if she wore that outside the arena he would lock her up so no other man could see her, as it were he could not do that. Every man in the arena would look her way, their eyes obvious in destination. That new fighter had the same look in his eye that Lukas had before he pressed his filthy lips onto hers. It was not sitting well in James' stomach, two large men pressing in on her. She must be so confused in there, with that barbarian holding her hand she must be thinking she should be with him, and not James. Those hips were supposed to hold his children, James' offspring, not the barbarian's abominations. James could only hope she was able to fend for herself in there without him, keep her virginity just for him. With her hand cuffed to that fighter he doubted she still kept it, he would have no doubt taken it from her the moment they were alone, or perhaps he did not wait for them to be alone and ravished her in front of his peers. His poor love, raped and in need of his loving embrace to carry her to safety.

"James." Blacksmith Edmund said from beside him. James slid his eyes to the foolish man for a moment.

"I will be seeing Judge Falon soon." Edmund said looking at his daughter as she rolled over Lukas' back, causing the man to turn as they switched opponents.

"Good." James snapped looking back to Isabella. "Get her out of there and in to my arms."

When Warden Markus was summoned to the courthouse on a fight night he was not happy. The visiting king was sitting in the royal box, talking to the prince and general as Markus walked into the courthouse. Instead of a full court, a criminal waiting to join his fighters and victims waiting for a sentence, Markus saw Judge Falon alone. The judge stood by his desk, hands behind his back and hair combed by his fingers.