A few other unremarkable fights went by until the first announcer came back out again. His face had turned a deeper shade of red and I thought he might be in his cups already.
He raised his hands to quiet the crowd. “I know some of you came for our next event. I certainly did. So why hold off a minute longer? It is time to start the Companion’s Cup!”
More cheering and somehow, a head of lettuce was tossed into the ring. I would’ve loved to meet the person who had literally thought to bring lettuce for just such an occasion.
He continued, “Our first round starts now, folks! Sharky D and his Siantine badger Charlie versus Sarina Harkonine and her magnificent peryton Momo!”
My jaw dropped as I saw the two fighters walk out with their companions. The Siantine badger named Charlie was in all ways a typical, husky badger. It was its size that threw me off. By the look of it, three to four hundred pounds. His head was wide, and as it yawned, it exposed rows of deadly teeth.
I teased Tejón by saying, See that, buddy? That’s what I named you after. Not so much anymore, but when you were smaller, you looked like a badger.
Tejón huffed irritably and looked away. I am no longer sure if I like that name. The beast is so small.
Don’t worry, buddy, they fight like mad, I amended. He looked back toward the ring and seemed to ponder the creature’s capability again.
The peryton was as strange and beautiful as Pachi, a deer with wings folded on its back. It had the head and antlers of a deer, and even its front legs ended in hooves. But this creature had massive wings, bright green and blue feathers reflecting in the sun, scaled hind legs, and taloned bird feet. Its tail was a cascade of plumes that balanced its sleek frame.
“Spit on a stick, Teegan!” I said. “Have you ever seen one of those before?”
Teegan looked equally impressed. “I’ve only ever heard of them. That is a rare and powerful companion. What a lucky player.”
The bout began.
Solo matches were predictable in how they began and progressed, to an extent. One or both of the attackers had to strike out at their opponent. The fact that each side now had two members, and one was a beast with varying physical capabilities, made the entire situation become something more akin to a battle.
Sharky D was a warrior of some kind, and he held a large rectangular shield and a longsword. He stepped toward his foe, Charlie the badger moving at his side.
Their opponent, Sarina, had a buckler strapped to the back of her left hand and gripped a handful of javelins. She held another of the small spears in her right hand. The peryton trotted in place, almost like a horse, and remained behind her.
The warrior leapt forward and attacked, but Sarina quickly avoided the blow and thrust the tip of her spear into his side. The blow was ineffective, though, as Sharky D wore a powerful coat of scale mail.
Though the Spear Maiden was fast, she could not dodge a second attack so well timed. She held up her buckler and blocked the badger’s claws. The beast snarled and pounced, seeking to end its reluctant foe. But as it jumped forward, Sarina performed a surprising backspring, giving the peryton room to attack. While the badger was committed and unprotected, the peryton flashed forward, its antlers goring the badger in the neck.
“Did you see that?” I whispered. “That peryton moves almost like Pachi when she activates Flamewalking.”
Teegan nodded. “Her form blurs when she moves. It’s almost like she is bending space to do so. I’ve only seen the ability in vampires.”
I hissed back, “EO has vampires?”
“EO has everything. Shush.”
The warrior pressed forward and activated a Shield Bash that took the spear maiden off guard. Though she blocked it, the force knocked her off her feet and left her vulnerable. Again, the badger jumped out to attack the woman.
Yet as the badger closed in on the fallen Spear Maiden, she spun on the ground and used her momentum to throw her weapon. It sunk into the badger’s opened maw, piercing the roof of its mouth.
Hearing his companion shriek, the warrior turned at the worst time. The peryton bashed the man’s shield and sent him sprawling, then charged again and whipped its tail out at the fallen warrior. Unprotected by his shield, he was unable to block the spray of quills that flew in his face.
Sharky D’s screams were louder than his dying badger’s. He flailed on the ground a moment before Sarina, already back on her feet, sank another of her javelins into his neck.
Sarina and Momo the peryton walked away.
The bodies were removed, and the announcer squawked like a rooster to the crowd’s delight. I decided to set out and get some air. We weren’t due to fight for a few rounds, so I asked Tejón if he wanted to join me.
As we walked out of the viewing box beside me, he said, Yes, I grow tired of this. I will fight, especially if we can have a nice dinner tonight, but it was hard to watch the badger die. He was brave,
He was. That’s all we have to be, too. I don’t care if we lose, okay? Let’s just try to protect each and do our best. I found someone sweeping up and asked for directions to the bathrooms.
The arena had a separate area for the beasts that fought here. Tejón said he was quite impressed with the facilities when he returned, and I laughed, taking some water from my pack.
We found a place to sit down against the stone wall, hearing the muffled roar of the arena as it progressed through two more fights.
Finally, a runner found us in the hall and waved us over. We followed the boy around until we stood under the archway that led into the pit. My stomach did
