The Winter Queen of Havenshire

CHAPTER 4: TWO SWORDS AND THE DANDY

Rojier looked at Ferine with disgust.

"How am I supposed to follow that?"

"Try harder," she replied.

"We're on the same team," Rojier argued.

"Only if you survive to fight another day."

He heard her laugh at him as she walked away. The nerve of some people. They could not appreciate greatness when they saw it.

Ferine walked off leaving Rojier alone at the entrance to the Arena from the Hammer's Hall. Was it his lot to suffer for the rest of his life? He was meant for greater things.

He checked his clothing. He wore dark blue shirt with matching pants. A rapier hung sheathed from the waist. He had two swords crossed on his back. He made sure his black gloves were tightly one. He tugged on his blonde hair which was tied neatly in one tail.

He stepped up to the wooden door which lead into the arena. He jogged in place warming up. He threw punches in the air making sure the muscles in his arms were loose.

The door slowly opened revealing him to the crowd. The crowd cheered with adulation as his name was announced.

"The Romancer, Rojier!"

This was the part he loved. The praise, the love, the attention was what he craved. The killing not so much.

He looked for the women closes to the arena floor. He smiled at one. Waved at another. Winked at different girl. Then blew a kiss to another.

He stopped when he saw Captain Tearlach, a tall, brooding man with long, black hair and a bushy mustache. He was an ugly fellow with a scar running down his left cheek.

Next to him was his dainty, but beautiful wife. She had curly red hair and almost childlike freckled face. She was much too pretty for a man like Captain Tearlach and much too young for that matter.

He mouthed the words, "I hope you die, today."

The man held grudges. How was he supposed to know that she was his wife? For that matter, how on earth could a man like that get a wife at all, let alone one so young and beautiful? Sometime life was just not fair.

He turned his gaze to Lord Fonce, his benefactor and enslaver. The only reason he still lived was because Lord Fonce took great pleasure tormenting both he and Captain Tearlach. Captain Tearlach obviously wanted him dead while the Lord Fonce enjoyed trotting a live and healthy Rojier into the arena, parties, and festivals to show Captain Tearlach who had the real power.

All it did was antagonize Captain Tearlach more. Something that was making Rojier more and more uncomfortable. He was too young and honestly to good looking to die. He was a lover not a fighter.

Rojier waited for his challenger or challengers to enter the arena. One fighter meant he was good. The more there were to oppose him, the less the quality of an opponent they proved to be. Rojier desired neither. A quality opponent could kill him by superior skill. Multiple challengers could get him killed by accident or luck.

His stomach tightened with anticipation. A large door opened on the other side of the arena. One man entered. Two more followed. Finally, a fourth man appeared. Each carried a sword.

It was quantity not quality. Good. He would also face one more than Ferine which protected him in the eyes of the fans. That is if he survived. He was a member of the Hammer's Fist, whether they liked it or not. He would bring more honor to his squad. The time had come to put on a show.