Chapter 14 - The Iron Gauntlet (3)

"Are you joking?"

"No, I need your spear. You can have my sword in return."

"How about I take your life."

The man lunged forward, attempting to skewer Roran. Roran slipped sideways, dodging the blow with ease. Compared to Kell, the man was clumsy and slow.

"I don't want to kill you," said Roran, "I'm going after Duran and I need your spear to beat him."

"Fighting that monster is suicide!"

The man struck again, Roran repelled the attack with his shield.

"I can beat him, I just need the right tool."

"That's a load of crap. Stop pretending to be sympathetic. The second I give you my spear you'll stab me."

"I won't!" Roran was practically begging. "There's no prize money for killing gladiators in this game. We don't have to fight, just give me your spear."

"Go to hell!"

Roran fended off a handful of strikes, each one more clumsy than the last. This must have been the man's first time in the arena, the additional prize money enticing him into playing the death game. Roran doubted he would choose to move past the first round if he survived.

"Please don't make me kill you. Just give me your spear and walk away, you can go back to your people after this. You'll still receive a prize for participating."

The man didn't respond. He was done listening to Roran. He snarled and lunged again, aiming his spear straight at Roran's heart. Feeling a small part of himself shrivel and die, Roran knocked the strike aside with his shield and moved in with his sword, slashing hard and fast just like Kell had taught him.

The man staggered backwards, clutching his side. When he didn't go down, Roran clenched his teeth and swung again. Blood sprayed into the air and the man finally fell, his spear falling from limp fingers.

All around him, he could hear the announcers voice ringing out, "It looks like the little murderer from Millgrove decided to take his frustrations out on a random gladiator. Someone should have told him that we don't award points for wanton death. At this rate he'll be standing alongside Morena the cruel and Gress the unkillable in no time."

The audience laughed and cheered, some clapped their hands while others jeered and threw insults. Biting hard on his lip, Roran raised his hand and gave them all a single finger response.

He finally understood Kell's feelings, he understood why she hated them so much. He hated them now too. He wished that the announcer was here in the arena, amidst all the chaos and carnage, risking his life for the entertainment of others. Roran would show them all just how much of a murderer he was then.

"Roran, focus!"

Roran snapped his head up. Nul was staring at him, a hand on their own throat and yelling, their voice projecting all the way across the arena. People around them were wincing away, covering their ears.

"Keep pushing forward," Nul yelled.

Beside Nul, Kell raised her spear. Roran nodded, his plan coming back into focus. He was going to kill Duran.

Roran's shield didn't have straps so he tossed it to the dirt and scooped up the spear. He raised his spear to Kell, returning the gesture. Then, spear in one hand and sword in the other he turned and started walking towards Duran.

"Apparently Roran the murderer is collecting weapons. I hope he knows he can't keep them. Maybe he's just losing his mind."

Biting his lip, Roran pushed the announcer and the audience out of his mind until they were nothing more than background noise. He focused on the sights and sounds around him. Morena was happily wandering through the arena, glowing brightly from a collection of orbs. Jorgen was also shining brightly. A handful of gladiators were attempting to gang up on Jorgen but his bo staff proved to be too fast.

Druan was happily chasing after a kid that had managed to grab an orb, he looked to be younger than Roran. The kid's single orb paled in comparison to Duran's collection. It looked like the sun chasing the moon, hoping to devour it.

The kid stumbled and Duran swung his hammer. As the kid fell to the dirt, Duran's hammer whistled over his head, barely missing him. Scrambling to his feet, the kid sprinted blindly through the arena, running straight towards Roran.

Behind the kid, Duran was huffing, his breath slow to come back. While Roran had been retrieving his spear, Duran had continued to run around the arena terrorizing people and the exhaustion was taking its toll. Sweat ran down his face in rivulets, streaming down into his armor. Even propping himself up with his hammer seemed to provide only mild relief. This was the best time to strike.

Roran took a few steps to the side, placing himself in the kid's path. Just as the kid was about to ram into Roran, he looked up and skidded to a halt. He was gasping for air and tears were streaming down his face. Flinching away from Roran, he held up his hands, the orb shining in his palm. The poor kid didn't even have a weapon.

"Please don't kill me! I don't want to do this anymore."

Roran looked past the kid to Duran. He was still catching his breath and collecting himself. Stabbing his sword into the ground, Roran reached out and plucked the orb from the kid's hands.

"I'm borrowing this," he said. Grabbing the kid's shoulder, Roran gently pulled the kid behind him. "Go find somewhere to hide and stay out of the way."

The kid nodded and sprinted away. Tucking the glowing orb into his pocket, Roran retrieved his sword and started walking towards Duran. The living boulder had finally caught his breath and was glaring daggers at Roran.

"You annoying little mouse. Why won't you leave me alone?"

"This is my only chance to kill you."

Duran snorted. "You no kill me. Go away."

"I have something you want this time."

Duran narrowed his eyes, looking at the glow coming from Roran's pocket.

"Fine, you want die so badly, I squish you."

Swapping weapons, so the spear was in his main hand, Roran dropped into a fighting stance.

"Let's end this."