Arena Fight! Round One

“Rhek and Rhuk, I must say...I'm quite surprised to see you here today. To what do I owe the pleasure?” King Dunne was eloquent by Giantish standards, even if he prided himself on human standards of nobility. He met the pair alone, confident in his martial prowess. His single eye fixed on Rhek, who well understood why the old tales spoke of the Cyclops losing nothing. The single eye was a gift from the gods, able to catch glimpses of the future. Many would walk the path of a soothsayer, but Dunne was one of the many to apply the gift to battle.

By his own estimation, if it were a battle of pure strength he and Dunne were likely evenly matched. Making the massive advantage of being able to predict Rhek's every move something he couldn't match. Rhuk had many talents, but wasn't much of a fighter and being surrounded by all the king's men didn't lend itself to a long engagement. Without the narrow terrain of the prison mine or Agnes's assistance, he had to be patient. The disgusted sneer towards Rhuk was making that hard.

“I'm sure your scout has already passed on the details.” He replied, swallowing his pride and offering a short bow to the king. “General Naak tried to catch the witch, she was too much for him but their group wasn't ready for a second fight so soon after. Brought them to prison, Raan said you'd want them for entertainment.”

“I understand that much, but why are you and...that one here?” Dunne's clear attempt to bait Rhek didn't go unnoticed, but he did his best not to show his anger.

Rhuk was the one to reply, trying to console their brother who tended to take more offense at such things they were used to. “Was that part not told to you as well? The companions are not random street kids the witch picked up as servants. Tumlin, Taronite...surely one so worldly as yourself has heard such names.”

King Dunne stroked his manicured beard for a while reflecting on what he knew of the wider world. “Yes...those two combined would represent a significant force. One that, as always wouldn't make a distinction between allies and rivals of mine in these lands.”

Rhek saw the opportunity to play into Dunne's typical rhetoric, responding with “Exactly. If the little kingdoms are investing this kind of team of assassins, they're preparing for all-out war. We saw it around Vinvintin, Trelle doesn't need an excuse, and I was able to get it out of the Kneeling that Zylpolis has been arming soldiers aggressively. If his Tumlin clan is involved, Sturnheim to the east may be sending soldiers to the harbor as well.”

“Fine.” Dunne replied, leaning back satisfied by the siblings's story. “From the sounds of it, we should dispatch these three immedately. Already don't like the idea of trying to keep a witch captive. You two in the mood for a show?”

It didn't take long before the two giants were seated next to Dunne in places of honor looming above the fighting pit. The higher steppes had these natural depressions, almost like something several giants carved intentionally. Drinks were served, meat roasted over giant bonfires, and men crowded around the pit placing bets as a perky young giantess in what could only be described as a crude replication of a city-state gown stepped up on a plinth laid at the open end of the pit.

“Warriors! Your benevolent King Dunne has prepared a show today to reward your service! In honor of our newest recruit has brought you a gift...the vexing Forest Witch and her little companions. Now I hope you boys won't be too mean to our guests...” She ended with a playful wink that roused the jerring crowd.

“Ahhh, it isn't a proper fight without Melo.” King Dunne said to Rhek as he leaned forward. Still casting subtle glances at his new ally, watching closely for any sign of a potential move. This was all part of the plan. Rhek needed the inititave against the man who could predict his every move. The only shot was to keep him so engrossed he wouldn't notice it coming.

The crowd hooted and jeered as Melo announced the contestants. Agnes, Chloe, and Hektor were brought out in a basket together then lowered into the pit. Dunne leaned forward and examined them closely. Bellowing “You there, witch! Aren't you a little old for something like this?”

Agnes felt Chloe's warning shot was enough of a retort. One King Dunne seemed to enjoy judging from his burst of laughter.

“Hah!” He cried, clapping Rhek on the back. “You brought me some spirited entertainment.” He motioned to Melo and the crowd hushed as the announed inhaled.

“It's time boys...we have a great show for you today! You've heard the tales of the fated forest witch. Can she and her compaions stand their ground against this dee-lectable monster from the heart of the jungle!?”

Three giants approached the pit carrying a much larger, enclosed basket lashed to a tree trunk they held. Whatever was in there thrashed and rocked the makeshift palanquin that barely held together long enough to toss into the fighting pit. The deep green scales certainly suggested a creature more at hone in dense jungle than the blue-hued grasses of Giant Country. But it was hard to imagine such a creature relying of stealth and subterfuge.

“One, two, three, four, five, six...” Agnes counted off as the heads spread out and wriggled free of each other. Six heads coming out of a scaly body about the size of an elephant. Agnes simply sat down, offering a sharp command to her companions. “Tumlin, little cat burgular. Don't attack, just buy time.”

“What the heck is that thing Granny Agnes?” Chloe shouted back as she took up a position in front of the witch.

Agnes didn't look up when she answered, simply twisting her staff against the ground. “It's called a hydra, dear. Do they not put on shows about the great hero anymore? Try not to breathe too deeply near it and if you cut off a head two more will grow.”

“I didn't know those were real...” Hektor added, drawing his sword and making his way to the front of the group. “But if Ms. Agnes needs time, I can give her that!”

“Atta boy, Tumlin. A few minutes should do.”

First one, then two, then three, then four, then five, and finally six heads noticed the three companions before all six let out a mighty roar. The body lurched forward and the creature closed the distance between them.

The smell was the first thing Agnes noticed, focused as intently as she was on her work. It was hard to split her concentration as she did between protecting the three of them with a moving shell of breeze blowing outward and working her magic through the stone below. The stone arms in the prison were powerful, but something nagged at her about how crude they were even if she was able to summon them much easier than before.

“I am, after all, a sculptor's wife.” She muttered to herself.

Meanwhile, up above King Dunne was proud of his work. Laughing again before asking Rhek, “Come on...you've seen them in action. Think they can handle this one?”

“Seems like a waste, I thought you liked a good story.”

“Now what, tell, could that mean?” Said Dunne, leaning in eagerly.

Rhek was impressed by Kneelings and their tactics in wars of words. His time with Hektor taught him a lot about this subtle dance. The idea of honestly being a cover for deception never occurred to him before. Giants, he figured, were simply too straightforward. Even in debate, the stronger position is respected. That's why he knew Dunne would never see this, even with his divine sight.

“The witch was pretty talkative, she bears a grudge of a personal nature. How has the boy who led the prison uprising fared?”

“She tried to form an alliance?”

“Yes, and Rhuk convinced me that was a sign of trouble.”

“So what about the boy?” Dunne asked, barely noticing the roar of the crowd as the hydra made its first strike. “He's good, always a fun show. I have to watch myself not using him too much.”

“He's the witch's grandson.”

Dunne stared at Rhek, mouth agape as a pistol shot rang out and the now eleven-eyed hydra screamed. “And here I was going to make you fight her to test your loyalty. But we cannot miss that story at all. Thank you, Rhek.”

Dunne beckoned one of his men over and whispered something to him as Rhek watched the fight unfold. Hektor was nimble, he asked Rhek to help him train when they had time. For such a little fellow he ended up making a great escort. Agnes was the group's main weapon, Hektor only had to keep an enemy busy and he was incredibly hard to hit. Even when Rhek was really trying, the truth was those sparring sessions were good for him.

Even Chloe was impressive. Rhek still didn't know what to think of her new weapon. It wasn't a warrior's tool, but if it could ever be produced in large numbers and fire a little faster he could see how humans could make use of it. Their numbers were always the greatest threat. If there was a warrior with such a weapon though, the young lady certainly felt like one. The way she picked spots to reload, her aim to rob the beast of two more eyes and pull it away from focusing entirely on Hektor.

“Those two really did grow quickly for Agnes's sake.” He thought to himself. Watching Dunne become more engrossed in the show.

Just when it seemed like Hektor was backed into a corner the crowd roared then were immediately silenced by a deafening crack in the earth. First one, then two, then three, then four, then five, and finally six stone heads tore free of the earth and lunged at their flesh and scale counterpart. They ripped through all six heads of the enemy hydra in one smooth motion, toppling the creature before it could regenerate.

Agnes slowly stood and turned to Dunne, offering him a cheery wave before blowing a kiss to the roaring crowd.