Chapter Twenty-One

**The Night Pit: Round 3**

“For her fourth win of the night, let’s hear it for The Valkyrie,” the announcer bellowed. He let the drunken crowd roar for a moment then continued, “our next match will determine who she will face off with in tonight’s championship round.”

Jason helped pull Vanna out of the pit. “That was amazing,” he cried.

Vanna smiled knowingly, “I told you I’d be fine.” One of Vanna’s entourage brought her a fresh drink and she downed the beverage in a single gulp. “Come on,” she said to Jason, “I don’t want to watch this fight I want to be surprised about who I’m going to fight.”

Jason frowned, “don’t you want to work on some kind of strategy?” He asked.

Vanna waved her hand, “this is all for fun. Besides my skills are ranking up like crazy, I don’t even have any ability points to use and I got dodge to the second tier. I’ve also leveled up and on top of that I’m winning a fortune, I might even be able to buy a horse after tonight.”

Jason’s heart began to race, “Vanna we aren’t going to turn this into a regular thing are we?”

“Ha,” she laughed, “don’t worry Honey, I’m not going to leave you for the gladiator life.”

“So,” Jason asked impishly, “those winnings, how much are talking?”

Vanna shoved him away with a smile then kept walking without answering Jason. To pass time the pair played a couple rounds of 39 Thieves. Despite possessing supposedly better than average luck Jason still failed to win a game. Once they heard the crowd’s cheers grow in intensity they decided to return to the fighting pit.

As they arrived they witnessed the victor's finishing move as he performed a forward flip kick knocking out his opponent. The crowd applaud then the announcer jumped into the pit. “And the winner is Maelon Dragon Blood,” the announcer roared. Jason took in the man, he wasn’t overly muscular, but his limbs were exceptionally long. Even though the man couldn’t have been older than forty his hair was steel grey and he possessed eyes green like young olives.

The man did not gloat in his victory but waited in silence for the announcer to continue talking. “Let us give our victor a short break before the championship match,” the announcer told the crowd.

“No,” Maelon said. He hadn’t spoken loud, but everyone paying attention to the pit had heard his words. “I am ready now,” he proclaimed. His voice was void of all emotion, no pride, anger, excitement, only determination.

The announcer gaped at Maelon, he hadn’t expected this. “Well, if the Valkyrie is ready then we can continue,” he finally said unconfidently, obviously unaccustomed to anomalies such as this.

Vanna moved next to Jason and then called out in a clear voice, “I am ready.”

The announcer smiled, happy everything was falling back into place. “Alright then,” he said quietly. “Tonight my friends, you are in for a treat. Two newcomers will meet tonight in the ring, but only one will arise a champion.” Maelon had backed up to one wall of the pit and Vanna jumped in on the opposite side. The announcer pointed to Maelon, “all the way from Draccia, we have the man of mystery, the dragon’s spawn, the bane of monsters, Maelon Dragon Blood.” The crowd cheered loudly, the man’s shroud of mystery had enamored the audience throughout the night.

The announcer pointed at Vanna, “and here we have the deathly beauty, the soldier turned sell sword, Vanna the Valkyrie.” The crowd cheered even loader, Jason didn’t know how, but Vanna had won the sailors’ love that night. The announcer bowed to both of them, his tripoint hat nearly touching the sandy floor each time. He climbed out of the pit then raised his hands to silence the crowd, “gentlemen, I give you your champions. Let the fight begin,” he swung his arms down and the crowd poured jeers and encouragement into the pit: “Silence her Maelon”, “Cut him down Valkyrie”, “fight you ninnies”.

Unlike the crowd the fighters didn’t jump into action. Vanna dropped into a defensive stance and Maelon began to move slowly against the edge of the pit eying Vanna for any weaknesses.

The Draccian’s snakelike eyes unsettled Vanna and her guard began to waver. Like a sudden gust, Maelon surged forward. With exact precision he brought Vanna’s guard up with a uppercut while simultaneously kneeing her stomach. Before Vanna could strike back the man already retreated and was back against the wall.

Unlike all the other fighter Jason had seen that night, Maelon seemed to fight with strategy and he could already tell Vanna’s unreformed fighting skills would seriously be put to the test.

The strike Maelon landed to Vanna’s chest caused the woman to heave as she attempted to breath air back into her lungs, but she recovered quickly. Watching Maelon was like watching a praying mantis, he stood still up until the moment he attacked. Vanna tried to close the gap between them and bring him into a grapple but Maelon would push her back rather than engage. Mixed in with the crowds cheers and calls Jason began to notice boos and he understood why. Although Maelon fought with precision and grace he did not fight in the exciting and unpredictable way the sailors would have liked.

In a fury of motion Maelon was able to get himself behind Vanna then performed a forward kick driving his foot into her spine. There was an audible crack and then an uproar of cheers and Jason panicked, fearing his friend’s back broke. Vanna cried out sharply and hit the ground with a loud thud. Maelon’s boos were now replaced by cheers and cries of “finish her”. But the hunter backed away from his fallen opponent and to Jason’s surprise Vanna began to slowly rise.

The Valkyrie’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, she knew she was severely outclassed but she wouldn't be whipped around like a rag doll. Over the course of the night she leveled up her fist fighting skill to the second tier and had gain an ability point via leveling up. She knew it was a brazen decision but used the ability point on her fist fighting skill. The Valkyrie roared and the chants of “finish her”, transformed into calls of “Valkyrie, Valkyrie”. Maelon however wasn’t fazed by this display, his face showed neither signs of worry nor amusement. Instead he was blank and again stared down his opponent with his sinister green eyes.

Vanna charged. She reached out to take a hold of Maelon and the hunter as expected tried to throw Vanna off. However, as Vanna grabbed ahold of his arms she activated her ability. Jason laughed as Vanna screamed out “SMACK DOWN” like a professional wrestler and thrust Maelon to the ground. Vanna pinned Maelon to the ground and waled punches on his face.

The Valkyrie delivered half a dozen punches before suddenly her body began to rise from the ground. While Vanna was punching him, Maelon grabbed her tunic and pushed up. The hunter now had both of them standing up and both hands on Vanna’s collar. Her feet dangled, suspended above the ground, and her eyes screamed with panic.

For the first time in the fight Maelon showed some form of emotion. A discrete smile crept across his face which only Vanna could see. Her eyes went wide then Maelon flung her body across the pit into the wooden wall. She hit the wall and slumped to the ground in a barely conscious state. Maelon slithered across the pit and stared down at Vanna’s broken form.

Without hesitation or warning he kicked her head and Vanna’s world went black.

*****

Vanna woke up and her head felt like it was being weighted down by an anchor. She could see but her vision popped with white and black fuzz for a moment and her head spun like she was six drinks deep (she was actually seven deep by her last fight). A putrid smell hit her nose and she looked around her. Her vision snapped back and she saw she was in the makeshift medic’s office on one of the cots. Something next to her moved and she turned her head to see Jason, she smiled weakly, “hey Honey.”

Jason tried to frown but failed and his face broke out in relief, “Vanna thank God.” He tried to hug her but her face contorted in pain and he stopped.

“How long have I been out?” Vanna asked, her voice was thick like molasses but lacked any smoothness.

“Only about thirty minutes, I was really scared at the end of the fight and some people helped me carry you here. The doctor said you’d be alright just needed to rest. I tried to get him to check you for a concussion but he looked at me like I was crazy, I guess they’ve never heard of blunt head trauma here,” Jason grumbled. He looked seriously at her, “are you feeling alright?”

“My head feels like snow in June and everything sounds like rain on a tin roof, but I’ll be alright,” Vanna smiled. With slight effort she rose from the cot and they left the clinic.

Despite the fights being over for the night, the clubs was still rowdy. The sailors didn’t need sport to drink but it did seem like the wealthier patrons left by that point. Vanna held a palm to her head and said, “I’ve got to find the announcer for my winnings.”

The two asked around for how to find the man and eventually a bartender pointed them towards a booth hugging the wall similar to the doctor’s workspace. However outside the booth there lingered half a dozen guard and it became instantly clear why. Inside all the bookies and a few assistants were counting out their winnings for the night. Stacks of silver and gold coins were sorted and filed away into incremental sacks and chest. Jason even saw a few platinum coins he didn’t even know existed until then. One of the guards yelled at them harshly asking them why they were there.

Before either of them could answer, the announcer swaggered out of the office and clapped his hands, “well done Valkyrie, you put on quiet a show tonight. Especially considering many of your opponents were double your level or more.” He pulled a small cloth sack from his belt and tossed it up and down. He hesitated then threw her the sack, “1 silver for each of your first three matches and 5 for winning the semifinals.” He shrugged his shoulders, “we don’t reward losers,” he said smugly referring to her fight with Maelon. Vanna caught the pouch and eyed the man suspiciously. His early gregarious aura had been replaced by a cutthroat's arrogance.

The announcer turned to Jason and gave him a knowing nod, “Come back anytime, my friends.” He turned away and the guards told them to leave.

Jason wanted to tell Vanna she risked almost dying for only 8 silvers but stayed his tongue. Her choices were her own and he had to realize that, but still they needed to have a talk. Vanna pocketed the money then the pair left the club, wary and not looking forward to the long journey instore for the following day.