The Loyal

3 - Strike First

Dain stumbled along, struggling to keep up with the two guards escorting him. Everyone locked behind bars were wishing him luck, apparently they'd all heard Curse speaking with Gilno. Curse had woken Dain again when the guards had arrived, saying he'd pray to Jurian. This was the kindest thing Dain had heard. People generally didn't pray to the gods to bless a friend rather than themselves.

The guards where fitted in an assortment or leather and chain mail. The both carried a battle axe, encouraging Dain to stay exactly where he was; between the two. The prison hall was a tunnel roughly two thousand feet long, every wall filled with cells. There weren't many guards in the corridor, but as far as Dain was aware, no one was able to escape their cell from the inside.

"Hurry up!" On of the guards growled, taking his arm and yanking him along. " Aland won't look kindly on a slacker."

"Aland?"

"The games planner. Who else, you idiot?"

Dain didn't rely. A name such as Aland or Gilno was something he'd never heard before. Dain decided to talk to Curse to find out their nationality. The older boy seemed to know quite a lot about the world, unlike Dain.

His guards guided out of of the hall, ignoring all the cries from prisoners. Dain struggled to look at each of them in the eye. Some many of them were bruised and broken, even worse than he was. The escorts led him up several flights of stairs, passing many roughly dressed men and women.

They reached a partially open door. From what Dain could see, there was a desk shoved against the wall and a messy bed. One of the guards knocked sharping, giving Dain a glare.

"What is it?" A short, white-haired man widened the entrance, taking a quick glance over his guests. "Is this Dain?"

"Yes."

"Okay, wait outside. Welcome Dain. Come in. I heard you might have a deal for me?" The middle-aged man, stood aside.

Dain took a seat, uncomfortable at the casualness of the games planner. The room was roughly the size of the cells, and much messier. There were sheets strewn across the carpeted floor and pinned onto the walls. Aland started pacing the room.

"You're due to fight in half-an-hour. Why should I take you out?"

"Um. I can't go in yet, I'll die in a few minutes. I want to have a few days rest. And," Dain took in a deep breath," I want to go in with the dragon. I want to fight with her."

"Hmm."

"People would come from all over the world to see a dragon fight. If you allow me to go in with her, she'll co-operate. Otherwise, who knows what damage she'll do."

Aland nodded, "good point. Alright, deal. I'll give you two days. But don't expect anymore favours. Guards, we're finished!"

The conversation went smoother then Dain expected. In just two days, Dain would be with Sirath again, even if they were on a battlefield, they would be together. Somehow, they would get out of this, they would survive.

Dain returned to his cell, just in time to enjoy a meal of broth with Curse. Despite being a prisoner Dain found that he wasn't as afraid as he would usually be. He was safe, more or less. Sirath was okay, and Dain had a companion.

Curse explained that Gilno, and apparently Aland were both from his kingdom, Sunhaven. He knew Gilno since he was born, and it was a huge coincidence that they were both in the Nighthaven Colosseum cells. While they ate, Curse told Dain of all the fights he'd been in and some tactics. They ended up using the cells as a fighting ring and brawling.

"Hold your fist closer to your head." Curse instructed, taking a false jab at his friends side. "Always strike first.

"Swinging your arm around can be powerful, but is obvious. Try a few punches straight on."

Dain was soaked in sweat, weary and sore. "Will I get my sword?" He gasped, stumbling back from Curse's range.

"Yes. But you never know when you'll need to throw some punches. How good are you with sword fighting?"

He didn't want to admit it. Dain was ashamed to tell Curse that he'd never done it in his life. At the Skyhaven prison,you didn't get into fights unless you wanted to be beaten up by your attackers and then the guards. Learning all the techniques in brawling was enough to make Dain realise how little he knew. "I . . . um . . ."

"What?"

"I've never used my sword. It was a gift, but I've never used it. I was hoping I'd just stay with Sirath and she'd take care of it."

Curse frowned, confidently striding forward, leaning away from a poorasthat's all well and good when you have a dragon handy. But what if the games planner refused your request? What would you do?"

"Improvise. I don't know, I've never fought before." Dain lunged, shoving his elbow into Curse's neck, mentally cheering at the success of the attack.

"Yet you were raised in a prison?" Curse head butted the younger boy, causing him to stagger into the bed, falling to his knees.

"I never fought," Dain struggled to his feet, shying away from Curse.

"Break it up!" A guard began hammering on the door. "You, skyhavian, do we need to give to a cell to yourself?"

"No sir. Everything's fine." Dain held his side, taking in sharp breaths.

"Give a call if you need help."

Curse fell exhausted to his bed, dousing the sheet in sweat. "We'll try again later. I know this is really hard for you, and painful. But you need to practice. Who knows when your attacked and your dragon isn't around."

"I know. Thanks. Listen, when Sirath and I escape, we'll bring you with us."

Curse didn't answer. His green eyes bored into Dain's, despite the fall of sweat from his eyebrows. "Why would you do that?"

Dain didn't understand. Why would he leave his new friend in the prison, waiting for the fight which would finally end his life? Curse was something Dain had never had before. He'd never known a guy who didn't mock him. Between his father vanishing, and the HavBoys, Dain had never have a male friend. "Because your my friend,"

"But I'll only make your escape harder.Your people need you. You cant compromise them for me."

"Sirath and I need you.Without you, I'll probably die a day after escaping this place,"

"Have a little trust in yourself," but Dain could tell Curse was secretly very pleased. "Go to sleep Dain, you need to recover."