Book 4 Chapter 29

Muttered whispers broke out as the audience tried to understand what just happened. Mali’s wriggling form could be seen on the ground in front of Maria, his body covered from head to toe in the grasses and roots that had captured him.

One of Fari’s clanmates nudged her gently, reminding her to end the match, and she quickly recovered, coughing lightly in embarrassment. She had expected something after all of Dun’s work to get them here, but this… Wasn’t this going to far? What was Dun trying to accomplish? “The match is over!” She called out, her voice ringing across the basin. “The girl wins!”

It was only now a smattering of cheers and applause came from Tirr’s side of the basin, mostly from the members of Tirr’s honor guard and those that were already familiar with Maria’s strength. They had all known she would win, though the way she did it had been surprising. For the rest of their allies though, they felt a sudden appreciation for Dun quickly befriending these newcomers.

The rest of the lakebed once again grew eerily quiet, with the only noise coming in whispered speculation and the sound of Rev and a few of his clanmates as they ran down to Mali. They reached him quickly and cut at the bindings holding him. They struggled as the grass seemed to have a mind of its own, fighting against their hold and resisting their blades.

By the time Rev and his men were working on freeing his son, Maria had already left the lakebed, climbing up towards Tirr who was giving her a proud smile. “Good job,” The child god said cheerfully, “Using the Blessing to speed up and control plant growth was smart, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone apply that for combat.”

As she smiled though his voice suddenly took a teasing tone, “But don’t think it would have gone so easily if your opponent hadn’t been so weak. Nobody with a brain is just going to lay there and let you catch them.”

Maria just rolled her eyes in response, “I only did that because I wanted it to end, I’ve already thought of a few tricks, maybe I’ll even catch you by surprise…”

Tirr, grinned, before looking over towards Doron, “Are you ready? If you fight well enough the others might just be scared enough to forfeit.”

Doron nodded before rolling his neck with a loud crack, “I’ll do what I can, but I don’t think any of us can match that… I’m sure that kid is going to have nightmares about weeds for months…”

As Tirr laughed Dun just smiled nervously at the side… He glanced at Maria for a moment but she had turned back into a simple teenage girl, laughing as she spoke with Sera and held Garm. Nothing like the terrifying demoness they had all just seen down on the lakebed.

A traumatized Mali had been retrieved and brought out of the basin, his father guiding him away while flashing Dun’s side venomous looks. He spoke to the Jacta leader quickly, muttering in hushed tones before having his son brought away.

Seeing Mali removed and the lakebed cleared, Fari rose again, “It is time for the second match! The next contestants shall enter and prepare themselves!” A fierce-looking warrior from Clan Jacta moved into the basin, though he had none of the confidence Mali had carried before. Instead, he seemed to be slightly distressed as he walked down the slope.

Doron moved down as well, stretching as he checked the sword at his waist, something Dun had lent him. Seeing him enter, many of the audience wondered if he was as strange as the girl before. They couldn’t help but hope not, as the girl no matter how strong, was still just one person…. If this man was as strong as that, would that mean all of this flatlander’s followers this strong?

Fari found herself of the same mind, though she had confidence in her warriors, she was already resigned to the possibility of losing this battle… What was more important was just how much strength these flatlanders controlled.

Even without the emergency they faced, if the god called Tirr believed the shards belonged to him, he would have come to these mountains to claim it eventually, by words or by force… And if he had multiple people as strong as that girl… Was this Dun’s true intention, she wondered, a warning of just what these people were capable of?

Seeing both the contestants ready, Fari went through the same checks, watching as each contestant's arm rose to signal they were ready, before nodding as she announced they could begin… Though this time her eyes carried a different interest from before…