Bal Vyr showed up about thirty minutes before midnight. He walked on over to us in the midst of our storytelling and told Cloudbreaker it was time to go. Quickly we both got up to which Bal Vyr took one look at me and said, “Uh, you’re coming?”
“Yep. I’d like to see the fight,” I responded. Cloudbreaker and I had agreed to stay together and I wasn’t about to let that waiver for a moment, even though I trusted Bal Vyr more than Grendel.
The disguised Drow made a face suggesting he was baffled or concerned. “Ărajă, I assure you that the place we’re going isn’t exactly... ‘good’,” Bal Vyr attempted to dissuade me.
“I’m a big girl, I can handle myself. I’m just there to keep an eye on Cloudbreaker. I won’t make a fuss about whatever else is happening,” I replied. Bal Vyr shook his head but dropped it and lead the way.
The fight was located around the docks. We walked into a tavern, or rather a shadier version of a tavern, to which I kept close to Cloudbreaker. Bal Vyr went off to talk to someone whom I assumed was in charge of the fight. As Bal Vyr gestured toward Cloudbreaker, a man approached me.
“Why hello ma’am. Might I interest you in any services tonight?” the smooth talker asked, holding a hand out toward me.
My mouth hung open slightly. I’m not sure if it was out of shock of being solicited in such a way, flattery that I was being solicited, or the fact that his teeth were brilliantly white! Something about them was dazzling, but the smile that coupled it made me uncomfortable.
“No thanks,” I quickly clipped out.
“I’m sure we have a variety of those who’d be quite interested in fulfilling a winged woman’s needs,” he persisted with his hungry smile. With eyes hooded and lips pursed, I stepped closer to Cloudbreaker, not caring if I was invading his personal space.
“I’m not interested,” I stated firmly once more, holding my chin high.
“Is this man bothering you Blackwing?” Cloudbreaker asked. My stoic look broke as I heard my new name. Don’t know why considering he had called me by it all evening in the Inn. Yet a smile appeared on my face as I looked at Cloudbreaker.
“No, I’m fine,” I responded while shaking my head.
“Might I interest you sir?” the dazzling toothed man ventured.
“Ha!” Cloudbreaker let out, “I haven’t seen a Goliath in years, let alone a she Goliath. I doubt you’d have one in your company,” Cloudbreaker retorted. Something in my gut twisted when he said that...I doubt explaining it here would help. I should know better anyways. Whatever this feeling that’s coming over me with Cloudbreaker... I hate it. I hate that I’ve allowed myself to like him. But alas, there are more interesting things for me to report than the woe of whatever I feel towards the Goliath.
The man eventually walked off seeing that he wasn’t peeking our interest. As he walked away, I gave Cloudbreaker his space back.
Soon Bal Vyr came over and instructed us to follow him to the pit. Cloudbreaker handed his sword and gear to Bal Vyr to hold. We then walked through a series of doors and through dimly lit hallways. Eventually Cloudbreaker had to go down a hall with the man running the fight. I followed after Bal Vyr into an open room. We walked along panels that held us high above the pit below. Cloudbreaker was already down there and people were loudly chatting amongst themselves.
We pushed our way through the crowd to stand at the railing. The Goliath spotted us and gave a smile. He definitely looked confident, though I couldn’t help but worry what he’d be up against.
Bal Vyr and I placed bets; I putting 2 platinum on Cloudbreaker. Soon the game master called everyone’s attention, stating that ‘Cloudracker’ was the challenger for the evening. The Goliath, in his usual blunt and forceful self reminded the game master it was Cloudbreaker. The man didn’t seem to care much. He continued on and before I knew it, the gates leading into the pit opened up and out walked two wolves. One was small, while the other one was much larger.
At first I thought it was a regular wolf and a dire wolf teamed together. Both wore identical collars and stalked toward Cloudbreaker. I figured it’d be an easy fight for the Goliath. However, those wolves had to have been familiar with the pit for they fought strategically. They would leap at Cloudbreaker, bite him, then jump away before the Goliath could grab any of them. They weren’t even phased by Cloudbreaker’s dominate posture and the cry he sent at them.
The wolves continued their pattern of jumping and biting to the point where I was beginning to worry. Even Bal Vyr gripped the railings a bit too tightly as we watched our friend slowly weaken.
The game master then asked the crowd if anyone wanted to give ‘Clouder’ a hand. Bal Vyr quickly jumped on that and handed the game master Cloudbreaker’s sword. He even paid 20 gold for the sword to be given to him! However the game master had some kind of agenda he was upholding and didn’t give Cloudbreaker his sword right away. Bal Vyr was quite pissed.
While that exchange was taking place, Cloudbreaker managed to grab the small wolf and crushed it in one of his mighty hugs. He then let it fall limp to the ground. The dire wolf did not like that and charged Cloudbreaker. The Goliath managed to catch the wolf in it’s fury and with a greater effort was able to render the wolf like her pup.
I took in a few quick breaths as I realized I hadn’t been breathing. I let a cheer escape me, but caught myself as the wolves crippled forms inflated and became alive again. I hate that I didn’t think to check the magics in the room when that happened. I was so focused on Cloudbreaker, thinking he wouldn’t survive another 5 minutes with those creatures.
At least when that happened, Cloudbreaker’s sword was finally thrown into the ring. Cloudbreaker made a run for it, going into a rage and becoming bigger. The wolves relentlessly pursued, biting at his legs. Once he had his sword in hand, Cloudbreaker made quick work of the wolves, stabbing each and cutting their heads off. It was gruesome, but the decapitations prevented the wolves from springing back to life that time.
In a roar of victory, Cloudbreaker lifted the dire wolf's head above him in triumph. The crowd cheered, my voice joining in with them. Bal Vyr smiled wildly, thrilled that our comrade was victorious.
“I knew he could do it,” he said matter-of-factly.
The announcer even got his name right when he announced Cloudbreaker as the victor. Bal Vyr and I went and collected our winnings before reuniting with the Goliath. He still had the wolf’s head. We said our farewells to Bal Vyr, noting we’d meet up around noon at the bridge that lead to the graveyard.
I wished I had my healing belt. I hate being helpless. I managed to help Cloudbreaker back to Larland’s Chalice Inn. I propped him against a wall in our room.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked.
“Get me my healing belt and some firewater!” Cloudbreaker grunted. I quickly handed him his magic belt before fetching some alcohol to clean his wounds with. I watched as the rags became crimson with Cloudbreaker’s blood.
“Entertaining, no?” he asked. I looked at him dumbfounded for a moment. For a brief second I thought he meant me watching him clean his wounds was entertaining. The majority of the bite wounds had healed up due to the magic of his belt.
“Huh?” I said at first before realizing he was referring to the fight he had just won, “Oh, yes. Very entertaining,” I lied, “I’m also glad you’re alright. I got worried there for a moment,” I confessed.
I then laid on my back as he began to fiddle with his wolf head. I stared at the ceiling for some time. Part of me didn’t want to fall asleep. As wonderful as yesterday had been, that nightmare still lingered in the back of my mind. Would the mark make me sick again and have me hallucinate once more? Was I beginning to become something else? It was those kind of thoughts that kept me awake for an undetermined amount of time.
✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻
Next Entry
No comments:
Post a Comment