Balor

Chapter 1

BALOR

by Mark Carver

Balor  © 2017 Mark Carver

Published by The Crossover Alliance

www.thecrossoveralliance.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons or events or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

CHAPTER ONE

"Lug and Balor of the piercing eye met in the battle.

The latter had a destructive eye which was never opened except on a battlefield."

-Cath Maige Tuired

Son of a—

The fist crashed into Danny's cheekbone. White sparks blasted across his vision, and he slammed shoulder-first onto the mat. The right side of his face burned. His throbbing cheek felt like it was going to peel off.

A snarl of rage and pain gurgled in his throat. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees.

A voice penetrated the buzzing sound in his ear.

"Pull your guard!"

A sudden jolt of clarity seized Danny's mind just as he felt two strong arms wrap around his neck. Pushing off with his hands and feet, he flung himself backwards with all his strength, hoping to dislodge the tightening choke hold. He slammed against Craig's chest with his full weight. Danny heard the wind gush from the other man's mouth and, for a fraction of a second, the grip on his neck loosened.

That was all Danny needed. He pushed Craig's forearms away and slid out from the choke, twisting his body to prevent his opponent from hooking his legs with his heels. He sprang to his feet, and Craig did the same. The two men bounced on the balls of their feet, swaying in an imaginary breeze. Danny's cheek still stung, and his ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton. Craig blinked away droplets of sweat that trickled into his eyes. Danny could see the frustration in his expression.

He had really lucked out. If Craig had jumped on him quicker and tightened that choke, Danny would have been forced to tap out in a matter of seconds. Craig knew it too; Danny could see it in his eyes. Now both men were starting from scratch.

Peckler had been yelling outside the cage during the entire sparring match. Danny clenched his teeth and tried to block out the fat man's bulldog voice, even though he knew he was probably giving him good advice.

Right now, all he wanted to do was turn Craig's frustration into disbelief.

He feigned a left jab, then lunged forward, spearing Craig's midsection and driving him against the chain link fencing that surrounded the mat. His foot slipped on something—sweat, maybe, or probably blood from when Craig had landed that solid punch—and he lost his grip before he could shift his weight to throw Craig down. He found himself face-down at Craig's feet.

He knew it was over.

He had just enough time to cover his head with his hands before Craig dropped to his knees and rained down hammer fists and elbows.