RE: Monarch

Chapter 164: Whitefall XX

Kick his fuckin head in!

Id heard whispers of places like this scattered throughout Topside.

They called them pits. Small, underground brawling rings where disgruntled men and women tested themselves against each other. Under my fathers reign, it was one of many outlets the common folk used to vent their frustrations. But Id never expected to find Alten in a place like this. Hed struck me as fiercely loyal and refined. And there was a world of difference between that person and the unrefined edge of this one.

The man Cephur assured me was Alten lifted his leg and stomped downward, sending a gray-skinned orc that must have outweighed him by half into a violent nothingness. Despite the vicious atmosphere, the finishing blow was measuredenough force to end the fight without killing the man or inflicting permanent damage. Sweat and blood dappled his bare chest as he caught his breath, perspiration soaking his dark hair. He glared out at the audience as if daring someone to step forward, golden eyes glittering dangerously. Just looking at him, you wouldnt know it was his third victory of the night. And each one had been just as definitive.

Are you sure we wont be missed? Maya asked for the second time in as many hours.

Itll go on until the early morning. Well be back before anyone important notices, I said, though it wasnt entirely accurate. Most nobles at the banquet were too dull or drunk to notice, but Thaddeus men had been keeping pace from the moment I slipped out of the main hall. The idea of them reporting our movements to my fatherand of him trying to make sense of them amid a morning hangoverwas amusing to no end.

Very well.

Cephur bobbed in his seat, sick with drink, eyes fixed on the ceiling. How are you not completely out of sorts? He asked. I was watchin. You should be more in your cups than I am.

Drunkenness in the wake of victory was expected in Whitefall. The art of drinking less while appearing to gorge oneself was the reverse of drinking more when one was expected to be sobersomething I had no small experience with. To anyone who spared more than a cursory glance, it would appear as if I was the life of the party, when in reality, the very specific wine Id been consuming en masse was barely more alcoholic than a freshly squeezed grape.

Alten twitched, as if hed heard something he didnt like. He scanned the crowd until his gaze settled on Cephur. Slowly, as matter-of-factly as if he was counting off on his fingers and ending with one, Alten flipped Cephur the raven.

Why?

At first I thought it was our apparel. But we werent the only folk of noble stock in the crowd. Like us, there were a few other nobles gathered around the fringes seated as far from action as possible, slumming Topside for entertainment. I imagined on a normal day, one without a massive banquet with many of Whitefalls nobility in attendance, there were far more.

Cephur quickly provided the answer. Instead of taking the insult in stride, he stuck his fist out and returned the gesture. Fuck you too, you daft prick!

Alten held his arms wide and called over the ascending rows of people watching the festivities on flat, backless benches. Got one more in me, old man. Come down here if youre tired of living. Elphions warm embrace awaits.

Cephur nearly rushed forward. Would have, if I hadnt caught him and pushed him back down.

Easy, I said. Guessing recruitment didnt work out?

Cephur shook his head, mouth tight. Real piece of work, that one.

Such a wonderful dog. Alten applauded. Bowing at the whims of that pretty-boy master, hoping for table scraps. Cephurs face turned a brighter shade of red. Wouldnt want to come down into the ring and make a fool out of yourself like last time, in front of that woman of yours.

Last time? Was I understanding correctly? Alten goaded Cephur into a brawl and won? If it was true, it made sense why Cephur insisted Tamara stay at the banquet.

Cephur snarled and nearly tore himself free before I hissed for him to stop. Think. If you go down there and lose, it only strengthens his position. If you win, it looks like your noble master sicced an experienced officer on a commoner to defend his honor.

Maya nodded agreement. Neither outcome serves our purposes.

With an angry grunt, Cephur pulled himself free and stood there, almost vibrating from rage. Hes never lost. And it shows. The boy needs to be knocked down a peg.

From the whispers and gazes directed our way, we were drawing more attention than I was comfortable with. Alten differed from what Id expected, and if he was anyone else, I would have cut my losses. But I couldnt forget the unflinching loyalty hed shown in the dire last hours of my first life, nor the promise Id made to find him again.

I bit my lip. Its time to go. Ill find another way to approach this. Preferably when his blood has long settled.

What about you? Alten called. This time, he was looking directly at me. Beneath the fierce exterior, his stare was calculating, intelligent. Skipping out on your own party to gawk at the common folk, your majesty?

He spat majesty like a foul epithet.

Any face that wasnt looking at us before, swiveled our way. Including a set of green eyes beneath a dark cloak Id recognize anywhere. Sera was standing in the corner, most of her features hidden beneath a hood.

Shed followed us here from the banquet. There was no other explanation.

Her presence, combined with Altens name drop, transformed the landscape of the situation. It made it more difficult to extricate myself from the situation cleanly without losing respect from either of them. Altens actions made little sense. His disrespect to both my charge and my person would have given any noble with half my station grounds to execute him on the spot. Either he had a death wish, or he was spoiling for a fight. Any fight. He reminded me of my fathers men who came back from extended campaigns and struggled to reintegrate into normal life, often creating mayhem and turning petty squabbles violent.

An idea slowly formed in my mind, a way to achieve two aims at once.

I stood to my full height and gave Alten a cocky smile designed to rub him the wrong way. I was told Id find the finest fighter in Whitefall here.

Alten straightened at the praise, though he kept the same stoic expression. Empty flattery.

Hardly, I scoffed, moving towards the ring and then turning to the crowd of faces, still fixed on me. Has he not given us all one hell of a show?

There was a slow uprising of approval.

And he thinks Im pretty!

Uproarious laughter followed. Cephur looked at me as if I was losing it, but his edge was gone, and he chuckled. Only Maya looked relatively unamused.

Maya stood as if to straighten her dress and leaned in. I could feel her breath on my ear. Your actions here will carry. Are you sure you want to make a scene? Hes that important?

I nodded.

Then feigned a drunken stumble, fiddling with my bag and withdrawing a golden rod which I held above my head. I was overpaying by a huge margin, but now that I was back in Whitefall, it didnt matter. In honor of this warriors exceptional talent, drinks for the evening are on the crown!

The raucous cheer was louder than the first, less cautious. For the simple price of a golden rod and laughing off Altens insults, Id pulled many of those in attendance to our side, minimizing the likelihood of interference later. The muscles in the scrappers forearms flexed as he looked around, bewildered at how quickly things had turned. It wasnt exactly fair. Id had far more experience managing a crowd, while his talents lay in other areas. Still, he wasnt stupid. Hed catch on if I wasnt careful. Best to force his hand quickly.

I waved at Alten and gestured to Cephur and Maya that we should leave.

People were already funneling to the bar. Near the front of the line, Sera was reclining on the bar, taking in the chaos. Id bought drinks for the room, defused the hostile atmosphere, and given us a graceful out. But I suspected that wouldnt be the end.

Coward. The single word cut through the excitement of the room like a fired knife through butter.

People froze. Voices cut off mid-sentence and heads swiveled to where Alten stood, fist clenched, wild hair streaming down into his face, covering his eyes. Suddenly, I understood.

Id expected him to escalate, but this wasnt just the raving of an angry man spoiling for a fight. Hed unknowingly displaced his own desires onto Cephur. And I recognized the fragile desperation playing at the fringes of his bravado as something, in my darkest moments, Id seen in myself.

Alten wanted to die.

The reason was beyond me, but the intent was obvious. He couldnt do it himselfpride, religious mores or just plain stubbornness wouldnt let him. So instead, he was throwing himself in the pit fights and lashing out at anyone who came within arms reach, hoping that, eventually, things would take their natural course.

My smile slipped as we faced off. I needed to at least try to give him an out. Its a night of celebration, and my ears are tired from all manner of talk. Surely I heard wrong.

Alten made a harsh sound in the back of his throat and leaned forward, spitting a wad of red onto the ground. People have been spinning yarns in your absence. Whispering how the kings son is a mythical prodigy, gone to learn magic and swordplay among the demis. All the threads of a legend in the making. But that couldnt be more off. I bet youre just another pompous bastard who thinks hes better than the rest of us who took a few years touring the exotic flavors. His eyes flicked to Maya. Even brought a prize back with you.

With a sigh, I dropped the drunk act. Unbuttoned my shirt and removed it, placing it gently atop my coat on the bench. At first I thought it was my scars that drew the gasps and murmurs, but it was more likely the manifested chitin on my arm and my inscriptions.

In the end, Alten wouldnt get what he wanted. But Cephur would.

The ranger caught my arm before I turned and whispered, Hes ambidextrous. Will favor one side for most of the scrap, and when you think youre dialed in, shift to the other.

I clapped Cephur on the shoulder, then descended.

People gave a wide berth as I strolled down the stairs, stretching my arms and shoulders, and dropped into the pit ending up less than a span from Alten. In the background, bookmakers were already scurrying among the crowd watching in rapt attention, taking bets.

I lowered my voice so only he could hear me. This is your last chance to back down before things get unpleasant. Some of my abilities are powerful and difficult to control. Its possible you wont get out of this unscathed.

Whered you get that arm? He was gawking at it.

This? I pointed to it. Demon cut it off. I demanded he give me one in return. Only seemed fair.

Demons, Alten said slowly. Right.

We dont have to do this. We can go to the bar, have a drink, and you can tell me what ails you. I gestured to the crowd. Theyll assume we settled our differences.

Alten faltered at the mention of his troubles, then assumed a martial stance, one foot sliding back for balance, fists raised. Enough stalling.

Ignoring the jibe, I looked back to Cephur and Maya and assumed a regal bearing. Emissary Maya.

Recognizing that she was being called in an official capacity, Maya gracefully rose and kept her face inscrutable. Yes, my prince?

I gestured to Alten. Our friend heres had a long night. This will be, whathis third, fourth match of the evening? Given that Im completely fresh, would you do us the honor of healing him?

Face still framed by his guarding fists, Alten scowled. I dont need your benevolence.

But he looked me up and down again, and his conviction wavered.

This isnt about you. I pointed to the crowd. Its about them. Youve thrown out plenty of wild accusations this evening, but youre not the only one thinking along those lines. Difference between you and them is that youre ballsy enough to say it out loud. Therefore, I dont want to give them any reason to doubt what theyre about to see.

So. You intend to make an example of me Alten winced as Maya crouched at the edge of the pit and jabbed her staff into his back, pumping life magic into him. His bruises faded and his cuts closed.

What I intend is a bit of sport. If I win, youll listen to my proposition and consider it with an open mind.

Uh-huh. And whats in it for me? Alten countered. When youre facedown in the dirt with broken bones and a shattered ego. What do I get?

I grinned. Whatever the hells you want.