loganjacobs
patreon
The OP MC 5 Chapter 7
🕑 Added 2021-02-20 02:57:16 +0000 UTCA cheer erupted from the watching townspeople, and the red-haired guardsman finally looked up. His forehead was dappled in sweat, and his breathing was ragged, but he had a huge grin on his face.
“Kylor is the victor!” I announced, and even more cheering echoed my words. I strode across the field to where the red-haired guardsman kneeled, and I offered him my hand. “Welcome to the crew.”
“I would have done anything to travel with you again, sir,” Kylor replied in a serious tone.
“Well, you did good.” I grinned. “Now you get to relax and watch the final events with me.”
“It would be an honor,” he said before he trotted over to join the other victors.
The next event was a horse riding obstacle course complete with low jumps and a water crossing. The track wove through town in a figure eight pattern, and it was marked with colorful strips of fabric. Part of the challenge was finding the right path to take, while the other part of the challenge was being the fastest rider.
It would be hard to watch the race as a whole, so the majority of the crowd waited by the finish line. I had runners posted along the track to bring me updates, so I was able to just sit back and enjoy it.
“Riondale passed the first checkpoint,” an out of breath Dalwin reported.
“Isak and Asher are neck and neck,” Kylor informed me.
Then Corvis came barrelling down the finish line, and gasps erupted from the crowd. He’d come out of nowhere and taken the lead, and I was just as surprised as the rest of them. Although, it shouldn’t have been too much of a shock that the horseman would be well equipped to maneuver a horse through an obstacle course faster than anyone else.
I grinned as he crossed the finish line. It would be good to have him back on my team, as well. It would put my mind at ease knowing I had the best damn horseman riding with me, and our steeds were lucky to have him.
“Corvis is the winner!” I announced to the cheering crowd.
“About time I earned a spot!” The horseman flashed me a toothy grin. “You sure can design some stiff competition.”
“I had to have the best of the best.” I shrugged. “At least that includes you.”
“Damn straight,” he growled, and he jerked his chin in a farewell before he trotted his horse back toward the stable.
“Now, it’s time for the next event,” I declared loudly to the gathered crowd. “It’s another one inspired by games from my old world, but we had to switch things up a little bit due to limited prep time. Still, I think everyone will enjoy it.”
“Everyone, back to the field of competition!” Mahini announced, and she ushered the people away from the finish line of the horse race. “The next event will be starting shortly.”
“This way, contestants,” Elissa added, and she waved her arm over her head to get the attention of the competitors.
Eva and Elrin followed behind the other two judges, and the crowd split into two groups with the audience going one way and the contestants going in another direction. Once everyone was where they needed to be, I strode into the center of the field so I could be seen by them all.
“Before you are large rocks,” I announced as I gestured to the starting line. “You will carry them to the marker before tossing them as far as you can. The contestant who’s rock goes the farthest will be the winner.”
A few grumbles echoed from the competitors, and a couple of people split away from the group gathered at the starting line to join the audience. The field of competition had narrowed even further, but I didn’t want any weak willed individuals on my team, anyway.
The sun had travelled across the sky and was bearing down on us with the full heat of the afternoon, and sweat dappled upon my brow. We didn’t have much daylight left, so I was anxious to get to the final results.
No matter who won the next few events, my entourage was already packed with some pretty cool people, and a shiver of excitement shot down my spine as I pictured the time I would spend with the timid general store owner.
I made a mental note to ask the girls how they felt about Caelia later, and then I returned my focus to the first ever, soon-to-be annual, Bastianville Games.
The next game was modeled after strongman competitions I’d seen before, so I’d opted for large, evenly shaped rocks for the competitors to carry. Each small boulder weighed around a hundred pounds since I wanted it to be a challenge to lug it across the field.
Only the strongest and most determined would make it through to claim the empty spot on my entourage.
The contestants were lined up and eyed me expectantly, so I moved to a position on the sidelines before I raised my arm above my head for the seventh time.
“Go!” I shouted without preamble, and the competitors all dropped into squats in order to grip onto their mini boulders.
Jaxtom made his rock look small, but Riondale seemed dwarfed by his, and everyone struggled to keep a hold of their small boulders. The contestants lurched forward with staggering steps, but they progressed across the field to the marker at a steady pace. Then Wilihard dropped his boulder about halfway down the course, and he shook his head in dismay as he walked to the sidelines.
I moved to comfort him, but he flashed me a broad grin and held up his hands as though to ward me off, so I got the hint. Wilihard was one of the older miners in town, and he’d lived here since before it was renamed as Bastianville. I was sure his pride would be more injured than his body if I went to give him reassuring words, so I stayed where I was and contented myself with giving him an approving nod.
Wilihard’s son, Niconor, was doing much better than his father, and the younger man groaned with effort as he hauled his small boulder across the field toward the marker. The miner passed by Jaxtom, Riondale, and Jorgen as he crossed the distance with a determined expression on his face.
“Come on!”
“You can do it!”
People chanted at the competitors from the sidelines, but it certainly seemed as though there were a few favorites among the audience, and the young miner in the lead was a crowd pleaser. He flashed them cheeky grins and feigned yawns as he made his way steadily down the field.
Niconor was already close to the marker, and he would be the first to make it that far, but Riondale’s three cousins, Brynn, Thanor, and Ean were hot on the miner’s tail, and all four of them passed in front of the miner at the same time.
However, Brynn dropped his large rock with a loud grunt. Thanor’s rock went next, and then Ean’s, and finally, Niconor stepped forward until he passed by every other contestant. He’d spanned the entire length of the course, and then his knees landed in the mud.
We had a winner.
“Good job, Nic!” I congratulated. “You’re officially a member of the Bash A Team.”
“It is a great honor, Great One,” the miner said with a tired smile.
“I know it is well earned,” I assured him. “I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working today. You left it all on the field, and I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
“You noticed, huh?” Niconor smirked. “I hoped so.”
“I see all things, Nic,” I reminded him in a godly tone, but then I jerked my chin toward the winner’s circle. “Go on and join the victors while we set up for the next event.”
“I’m relieved I don’t have to compete anymore,” the miner admitted. “I’m bone tired after the previous races.”
“Which is how we will know the winners are the best of the best.” I nodded sagely.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Great One,” Niconor said over his shoulder as he headed toward the other winners where they stood near the judges.
The boulder carrying was entertaining, but the results were surprising. I hadn’t expected the young miner to do so well in the event, let alone be the victor. I’d have to get to know him better so I could understand his strengths and weaknesses, but I supposed spending time in the mine hauling rocks around had given him an advantage. I still needed to learn the mining skill myself, but it seemed as though there were always more pressing things to focus on.
Maybe Niconor could help me resolve my dilemma soon.
I was definitely collecting a motley gang of mismatched people, but I was excited to see how everyone handled the journey to the palace. Many of them would be like fish out of water as soon as they left the safety of the small town, but I knew they would be fine as long as I was around.
And I was going to be around for a long time.
In any case, it would be much more enjoyable to have friends with me than to just hire a bunch of guards and soldiers.
Mahini suddenly caught my eye as she began to cross the distance between us, and I flashed her a broad smile.
“Are we ready for the next event?” I asked.
“Everything is prepared.” The desert goddess nodded curtly. “I am anxious to see this one. It will be quite a contest.”
“If you’re excited, then I’m definitely eager,” I laughed. “It’s hard to get you excited about much.”
“Not much is exciting.” She shrugged. “Besides you, anyway.”
“Alright, alright,” I chuckled. “I’ll announce the next event. Will you bring the javelins over to the starting line?”
“I’ve already distributed them among the contestants,” the desert goddess replied with a mischievous twinkle in her ice blue eyes. “You just need to explain the rules.”
“Thanks.” I smirked, and then I turned to the gathered crowds of townspeople before I raised my voice loud enough for all to hear. “Who’s ready for the next competition?”
A loud roar of approval echoed my words, so I could only assume the people were more than ready for the next event, and I marched over to the starting line where the contestants were eyeing their mock javelins curiously. The girls, our helpers, and I had already sharpened the ends of multiple long, thick straight branches, and while the spears were crudely made, we’d had very little time to work with.
Elissa passed by the line of contestants with a basket full of strips of fabric in different colors and designs. All the competitors then marked their chosen projectiles with the colorful strips so we would be able to identify the winner after they were launched from the contestants’ hands.
Jaxtom, Riondale, and Jorgen stood side by side on one end of the starting line, and on the other end stood Stryker with two woodsmen, Jeron and Maud. Scattered behind them were the rest of the Bullard guardsmen with Jax’s apprentice, Janus, and in between the two groups of men stood a young girl, but she couldn’t have been older than sixteen. She had ashen hair pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail, round cheeks, and was incredibly tall for her age. Her limbs were long and slender, and she held the makeshift javelin awkwardly. Her face was full of pride and determination I wouldn’t have expected on one so young, but the expression fit in perfectly with the men around her.
I’d never met the young woman before, so I made a quick save point to remedy the situation. Then I strode toward the girl with a friendly smile, and I waved when I caught her attention.
“I’ve never met you before,” I observed. “What’s your name?”
“Oh my, it’s the Great One!” the girl gasped, and her eyes flicked from my face to the ground multiple times. “M-My name i-is Celeste. It is an h-honor, Your Greatness.”
“How old are you, Celeste?” I asked in a gentle tone.
“I-I’m fifteen,” Celeste stammered out.
“Where are your parents?” I furrowed my brow as I shot a glance at the audience.
“Dead, sir,” Celeste said in a somber tone.
“I’m sorry,” I replied, and I gave her a sympathetic smile. “Where are you from?”
“Castle Bullard,” Celeste explained, and when she finally met my eyes, I noticed the purple hue.
What a strange girl.
Celeste didn’t seem hesitant to answer any of my questions, but she didn’t volunteer much information in her answers, which only left me wanting to know more.
“So, what brought you to Bastianville?” I pressed.
The other contestants began to notice the delay in the event, and I heard discontent murmurs among the crowd. It didn’t matter, though, since I planned on resetting back to my save point anyway.
“My parents dying.” Celeste shrugged, and I frowned.
Was she not upset? Or maybe still in shock?
“Do you mind if I ask what happened to them?” I kept my tone comforting and friendly, but I was officially dying of curiosity about this girl who felt confident enough to stand next to the strongest men in town with her head held high.
“They were killed by the dragon,” she explained in a low voice, and pain sprung into her violet eyes. “T-Thank y-you for k-killing--”
“You are more than welcome.” I squeezed her in a quick hug while she was still mid sentence, but my heart hurt for the young girl who had already suffered so much loss.
No wonder she’d ended up in Bastianville, it probably seemed like the safest place in the world after what happened in Bullard.
I’d learned enough, though, so I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will power.
Chime.
I eyed Celest for a moment as I thought over what I’d learned, and then I cleared my throat to get everyone’s full attention.
“On my mark, you will throw your javelin across the field and over the tall string.” I gestured to the makeshift goal posts we’d erected and strung a piece of rope across. “Go up and over the rope, and then whoever’s javelin flies the farthest past that point will be our winner.”
The contestants all nodded their understanding, so I repeated the arm over the head movement as I declared the event officially started.
“Ready… Set… Throw!”
The sticks whooshed through the air as the contestants grunted with the effort it took to throw their spears, and then a chorus of thuds echoed across the field as the javelins landed in the dirt.
I crossed the course to the other side where the ends of the sticks jutted from the soil like a porcupine’s quills, and I moved straight to the one in the very front. I yanked the makeshift javelin out of the dirt and held it up over my head for all to see. The color wrapped around the base was a dark green, and I knew immediately who it belonged to since I’d watched the contestants tie on their ribbons earlier.
“Jeron is victorious!” I shouted, and the woodsman pumped his fist in the air.
“Congratulations.” Riondale shook Jeron’s hand, but he couldn’t hide the disappointed expression on his face.
“Well fought,” Jax growled as he clapped the woodsman on the shoulder, and the burly blacksmith forced a smile.
The other competitors rushed to congratulate Jeron, and soon the woodsman was blushing from all the attention, so I decided it was time to save him.
“Alright, alright,” I chuckled as I pushed Janus back away from the winner of the javelin toss. “It’s time for Jeron to join the winner’s circle.”
“Thank you, Great One.” The woodsman nodded, but he let out a small sigh of relief as he followed me away from the field of competition to where the winners stood beside the judges. “I can’t believe I actually won…”
I didn’t know much about the man, but I knew he made a living cutting timber for the Bastianville lumber mill. He’d also been among the first to volunteer for the small militia force I’d gathered to protect the town, so I knew he had guts. I’d have to spend some time getting to know all my entourage along the journey to Vallenwood, but for the moment I had a tournament to finish.
“Welcome to the big leagues.” I grinned, and then I turned to the judges. “How much time do we need before the next event is ready?”
“Our runner to the mine entrance should return any moment,” Elrin informed me, and the mayor of Bastianville rubbed his hands together with excitement. “This next one should get interesting. The competitors are already getting tired, so it will be a feat of strength to return the victor.”
“That’s why I pushed the more physically taxing events for the second half,” I explained. “I wanted to see how my people would perform under great pressure and challenging circumstances, so I had them get harder and harder as they progress. The final winners will be some of the strongest people Bastianville has to offer.”
“You deserve the best of the best, Great One.” Elrin inclined his head, and his eyes twinkled as his gaze flicked to his daughter.
“I agree.” I grinned.
Then Corvis trotted over with a broad smile on his face, and he saluted briskly as he came to a halt.
“The marker is placed at the mine entrance,” the horseman announced in a pleased tone.
“That means we’re ready, Bash,” Elissa informed me. “You can announce the next race now.”
“Thanks, beautiful.” I planted a quick kiss on each of my women’s foreheads before I jogged back to the center of the field where everyone could see and hear me.
The gathered crowd of townspeople quieted as I took a stance in the middle of the field, but I waited until I felt all eyes on me before I began to speak. I waited patiently a few more moments, but then I sensed I was the center of attention once more.
“The next event is a foot race,” I announced loudly. “The first person to retrieve the flag at the entrance to the mine and bring it back to me will win the next spot on my entourage.”
“To the mine?”
“That’s so far!”
Isak, Asher, and a few others split away from the group of competitors to join the audience.
“Anyone else wanna change their mind?” I asked, and I shot the remaining contestants a critical glance.
They looked run down and tired, but determined to see the tournament through to the end. The stoic demeanors and lifted chins made my heart swell with pride for the people who followed me, and I would have been happy to have any of them with me on my journey. Time was of the essence, though, so I still needed to thin the herd by a few more people.
Which was exactly what the next events would do.
“Runners to your marks,” I shouted, and the group of competitors all rushed over to the starting line. I raised my arm over my head for what felt like the millionth time, and then I lowered it with one swift motion. “Go!”
The racers all dashed off at a fast pace, and it didn’t take them long to leave the field and get out of sight. We’d have to wait patiently for someone to return with the flag, but I trusted the townspeople not to cheat in any way. There was too much at risk for them since it was common knowledge that I knew everything before it even happened.
“What do we do now?” someone from the audience asked.
“Wait for someone to come back,” I laughed. “But you’re welcome to watch from the gates if you want to.”
“At least here we can see you!” Deena hollered in a teasing voice.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I flashed the woman a cheeky grin, and the crowd cackled with laughter.
It was good to feel the people’s happiness before I left on another quest, and pride filled my chest. Sometimes, all that mattered was that I’d made an impact, but being adored and worshipped by over a hundred people was pretty cool, too.
I joked and small talked with the audience for a while, and then I spent some time discussing possible winners with the victors of the previous events. A lot of people were placing bets, and I heard Jax’s name thrown out a few times. The blacksmith’s effort and determination had been obvious to everyone, it seemed.
“Look over there!” a voice called out, and everyone fell silent as all eyes turned to the edge of the field where the street led into Bastianville.
A figure appeared at the end of the dusty street, and dirt kicked up around them in a cloud, so it was hard to see who it was from where I stood. I squinted in an effort to see better as the figure drew steadily closer, and then my eyes widened in shock.
It was Celeste.
The ashen-haired teen had a frown of concentration on her face, and her knees lifted high as she ran at full speed toward me. Her violet eyes lifted to my face when she was a few paces away, and she skidded to a halt a few feet away from me. The young girl flourished the white flag we’d placed at the entrance to the mine, and she presented it to me with a stiff bow.
“Your flag, Great One,” she gasped out as she heaved in oxygen. Her face was flushed crimson, and sweat stuck some stray strands of silver hair to her forehead.
“Celeste wins!” I announced as I shoved the flag up into the air and waved it around. I grabbed her by the wrist and lifted her arm up, too, and the teen giggled self consciously as everyone cheered and shouted. Finally, I dropped her arm and shot her a wide grin. “Looks like you’re headed to Vallenwood. Better start packing your bags.”
“I thought there were more events still…” Celeste frowned. “But of course, I will do as you say, Great One.”
“There are,” I laughed. “I’m just teasing. Go join the winner’s circle while we get ready for the next event.”
“Yes, sir.” The young girl nodded curtly, and then she trotted over to where the victors stood.
I scanned over the heads of my entourage in progress and took a quick tally of who was coming with me so far. Caelia, Bellona, Sarah, Adelina, and Celeste added a feminine touch to my group while Bron, Niconor, Jeron, Kylor, and Corvis kept our forces strong and capable. I was excited about both the new and familiar faces among my team members, and I was confident the journey would be more than entertaining.
My entourage was almost complete. Now, I just needed to round it out with some tough-as-nails brawn.
“The next event will be a little bit different,” I said in a loud voice, and the crowd immediately hushed to hear what I was going to say. “This one is a more dangerous. While there are no weapons involved, the contestants could get hurt. Only those willing to risk bodily harm should step forward.”
I paused to give the remaining contestants time to think this over and decide if they wanted to drop out, but everyone stayed where they were. I glanced over who was left, and I nodded in approval.
Jaxtom and Riondale stood side by side at the front of the group, but Jorgen, Thanor, Bryn, and Ean were behind the pair while Janus and Stryker stood off by themselves. While younger than the other men, the blacksmith’s apprentice was already just as muscular as they were, and the barkeep could certainly hold his own as well.
This was going to be good.
“The next event is a wrestling match.” I paused to let my words sink in, and I noticed a couple of the contestants nodding their understanding. “You’ll have to beat all the other competitors fair and square in order to be considered the victor. We’re pairing you off tournament style, and we’ll narrow it down by a process of elimination. Does that make sense to everyone?”
I got nods and “yeahs” in response, so I grinned.
“Good.” I clapped my hands together. “Now, I’m going to divide you into two groups. Those who have lived in Bastianville for a long time, please step forward.”
Jax, Janus, and Stryker stepped forward from the group, which left five of the Bullard guardsmen in the other half. It wasn’t quite even, so I’d have to separate them more randomly.
“Jorgen, you go with the first group,” I instructed, and the hunter obliged. “We’re going to have two matches happening at once, one fight for each group, so for the first one I’ll let you choose your own opponents.”
The men shot each other anxious glances, but then they quickly paired off. Once everyone was divided up the way I wanted, I nodded my approval, and I turned to the judges with a questioning look.
“Ready when you are!” Eva called out to me in a sing-song voice.
“Our first set of matches consist of Bastianville’s own blacksmith Jaxtom versus the mug-wielding tavern keeper, Stryker!” I announced in an excited voice. “This one’s gonna be good, folks. Hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen!”
By this point, the sun was coming dangerously close to the horizon, so I felt a little hurried to finish the tournament before we lost all daylight. There would be seven matches total, so I hoped doing them two at a time would give me enough leeway.
Plus, it allowed me to play out one of my lifelong fantasies of being a referee for a pro wrestling match.
“In our next ring will be two of the Bullard Boys!” I declared with a dramatic flourish. “We’ve got Bryn the Bandit facing off against Ean the Inevitable!”
Cheers and shouts came from the audience, so I could tell everyone was enjoying my theatrical announcements, and I chuckled to myself as I got everyone into place. We’d created two circles on the field and stamped down the grass and dirt until it was flat and hard, and then we’d roped the circles off. It wasn’t a WWE level ring or anything, but it would do for now.
I’d managed to get a hold of a bell to ring, too, so I paced between the two rings holding it aloft while I waited for the four fighters to climb inside the rings. Once Bryn, Ean, Stryker, and Jaxtom had all nodded their consent, I dinged the bell with one of the spoons we’d used earlier.
With that, the contestants locked arms and began their struggles. I kept my eyes on Jaxtom and Stryker since I felt like that would be the fight to watch, and I heard the murmured bets being placed among the audience. This time, they were split evenly between the two men, and I wondered how the two men would feel about the spontaneous popularity contest going on unbeknownst to them.
Stryker gripped Jaxtom by the forearms as he attempted to twist the blacksmith’s arms off his shoulders, and the two men swiveled before smashing back together in a battle of strength.
Bryn and Ean were a little more hesitant to get their hands dirty, and they jabbed experimentally as they danced around each other in the circular ring. Then they let out growls of determination as they crashed together with a thud of muscle against muscle.
The air was filled with the sound of grunting and skin slapping against skin as the contestants grappled with each other, but a moment later, Bryn had Ean on the ground.
I rushed over to smack the earth three times to count the guardsman out while I counted out loud, and when I reached three, Bryn leapt off his opponent’s back to release him.
“Bryn is our first winner!” I announced, and I ducked under the rope to lift the guardsman’s hand into the air. We walked in a circle around the ring just like they did in the professional wrestling matches, and I suddenly wished I’d had my girls dress up in bikinis for the event.
I supposed there was no need to rub my massive good fortune in everyone else’s faces, though, so I shrugged off the thought and refocused on the wrestling match still going on in the other ring.
Jaxtom and Stryker were still evenly matched, and the shouting from the audience grew heated as they jostled each other back and forth. The dirt beneath their feet was even more stamped down than it had been when they started, but there was also a spattering of footprints from where they’d shuffled their feet.
Suddenly, Stryker lunged to the side, and he left an opening for the blacksmith to tackle him around the waist. Both men went down in a tangle of limbs, and their struggle caused dust to fly up and block my view. When the dirt settled, Jaxtom had the barkeep locked in a headlock, and Stryker’s face was turning a deep shade of purple.
I rushed forward, slipped under the rope, and began to count. “One… Two… Three! Jax wins!”
“That’s more like it!” The blacksmith tossed back his head and let out a big belly laugh.
“The event isn’t over yet,” I warned with a smirk. “You still have two more matches to fight, my friend.”
“I’ll kick anyone’s ass ye throw at me, Bash,” the blacksmith countered with a wink.
“Looking forward to it.” I grinned, and I clapped him on the shoulder before I turned to the men who hadn’t fought in a match yet. “Next, we have Janus versus Jorgen, and Thanor versus Riondale! Hang onto your socks, people, it’s gonna be good!”
Hoots, hollers, and whistles echoed from the audience, and the competitors waved to their fans as they made their way inside the rings. Even the straight-laced, duty-focused Riondale was grinning as he took his stance in the circle across from his cousin.
This was the time for the underdogs to prove themselves, and I held my bell aloft again before I signaled the start of the next two matches. At the ding sound, the four men launched themselves forward and locked arms in a tight struggle. It seemed as though the two pairs were just as evenly matched as the first set of fighters had been, but this time I was mostly paying attention to Riondale’s fight.
I secretly hoped my young lieutenant would be able to travel with us since I knew I could rely heavily on the honorable man, but I didn’t want to play favorites at all, so I made sure to keep an eye on Janus and Jorgen as well.
The young apprentice blacksmith was the same height as the hunter, but that’s where the similarities stopped. Jorgen was thin, limber, and built for the hunt while the younger man was bulked up like he hit the gym every single day, but I knew his career forced him to exercise regularly.
As I watched Jorgen struggle to maintain his footing amidst the onslaught of the apprentice’s moves, I realized the younger man could very well win the match. Janus proved me correct an instant later, and he flung the hunter to the ground like he was light as a feather. Jorgen hit hard with a loud “oof,” and he didn’t move to get back up.
I slipped inside the ring and squatted down beside where Janus held Jorgen down, and I counted out loud just as I’d done before. “One… Two… Three… Janus is victorious!”
Surprised gasps erupted from the crowd followed by some disappointed grumbles, and I wondered how many people had just lost money.
“Bash!” Mahini called out. “Behind you!”
I turned around just in time to see Riondale sweep Thanor’s feet out from underneath him in a swift kick, and then the young lieutenant leapt onto his opponent faster than I could track with my eyes.
I rushed over to count Riondale’s cousin out, and then I held up the lieutenant’s hand. “Riondale wins!”
This news definitely pleased the crowd, and I saw a lot of money exchanging hands as the losers and winners separated from each other. We now had only four contestants, and our winner would be determined in a few more matches. I eyed the remaining competitors with a shrewd eye to make sure no one was hurt, but they all seemed eager to keep going, so I nodded approvingly.
So far so good.
“In our next two matches we have some audience favorites,” I announced loudly as I paced in front of the four remaining contestants. “Jaxtom will face off against his very own apprentice, Janus, while Riondale fights another cousin, Bryn.”
“My money’s on the blacksmith.”
“You’re crazy, the soldiers have this one.”
“Go, Jax, go!”
“Kick ass, Riondale!”
The crowd was in an uproar, and everyone seemed anxious to find out who the strongest man in town was. These four men had gone through all the challenges of the day, and while they hadn’t won an event yet, they still had more grit and determination than anyone I knew back in my old world, and I was eager to have men like that on my team. The next set of matches would determine our final two contenders, though, so nerves were raw as the two pairs faced off.
Soon, my entourage would be complete, and we’d be off on yet another adventure through Sorreyal.
I rang my bell again, and the sound of grunts once again filled the air. My gaze flicked back and forth between the two matches anxiously since I wasn’t sure which was the most nail biting of the two. On the one hand, I fully expected Riondale to beat his cousin, but the lieutenant had failed at every other event so far. In the other ring was Jaxtom against his own apprentice, and if anyone knew the burly blacksmith’s weakness, it would be Janus. Still, I’d be embarrassed for my friend if he ended up getting beaten by a kid.
Riondale growled as his cousin got him in a headlock, and the young lieutenant did an evasive maneuver to free himself. Then he whirled on his opponent and once again tried his kick move that had succeeded in his previous match. Bryn saw it coming, though, and the dark-haired soldier hopped nimbly over the swing of his cousin’s limb.
The lieutenant jumped to his feet, and he lunged at his cousin’s arms. Riondale held Bryn in a bear hug, and then he pulled him to the ground. The two rolled around and each took a turn holding the other down, but then Riondale held firmly to the top position while he gripped Bryn’s arms in his fists.
I rushed over to do my counting thing, and when I got to three, Riondale released his cousin with a relieved sigh.
“Ri-guy wins!” I shouted, and my lieutenant flashed me a grateful smile, but then I turned my attention back to the match between Janus and Jaxtom.
I was just in time to see the tall blacksmith lift his apprentice clear into the air, and he slammed the young man back first onto the ground with a loud roar. Janus hit with a thud, and he shouted in pain, but he didn’t move to get up.
Worry filled my stomach as I made my way over to the young apprentice, but he was still conscious and breathing fine, so I went ahead with my counting thing.
“One… Two… Three!” I shouted. “Jaxtom wins!”
That’s when I realized the final showdown would be between the two buddies and the men I considered to be my best friends, Riondale and Jaxtom. I wanted them both to win, but that was impossible given the circumstances, so I’d have to settle for only one winner.
I swallowed hard, but at the same time, a shiver of excitement ran down my spine. At the very least, it would be an entertaining match.
The sun was casting its last dying rays of light across the sky, and the brilliant orange and purple hues created a living painting as the backdrop to our final match. It was theatrical, and dramatic, but that was perfect for the scenario. We had just enough daylight left for one more fight, so we had to make it count.
“Do you guys need some water or a quick break?” I asked the two last contestants.
“I’m good,” Jax growled, and he crossed his arms over his chest as he shot a competitive glance at Riondale.
“No, thank you, sir.” Riondale shook his head, and his gaze flicked sideways to Jaxtom.
The two were almost comical the way they were getting competitive over the spot on my entourage, but I wasn’t about to stop them from creating some entertainment for the entire town.
“Alright then.” I nodded. “To the ring.”
Both men nodded in response, and they slipped beneath the rope to enter our makeshift wrestling ring. Their clothes were already dirty from their previous scuffles as well as from the prior events they’d gone through, but they both had stone faced expressions.
“Ready?” I asked as I held the bell aloft, and when they nodded again, I rang it loudly to signal the start of the match.
The two men locked arms, and they stared sternly at each other as they both looked for weaknesses. Their feet shuffled back and forth as they fought over control, and they both kept their footing as they maneuvered around in a circle.
The audience was quiet as everyone watched intently, but it was getting harder to see in the steadily growing darkness of twilight. Suddenly, several torches were lit, and I smiled in gratitude at the townspeople who stood holding the lights up so everyone could see the fight clearly.
The two men grappled with each other, and they grunted with effort as their muscles bulged from the strain. They shuffled back and forth, and around in a circle, and we all held our breath as we waited anxiously for someone to get the upper hand. Minutes passed without anything changing, and I began to wonder who would get the final spot on my entourage.
“How’d a tiny guy get so tough,” Jax growled in a strained voice.
“From taking on big guys,” Riondale replied with a cocky grin.
“Enough banter, time for one of you to win!” I laughed from the sidelines as two of my favorite people fought over the right to travel with me.
They went back and forth a couple more times, and I started to sense the crowd getting bored. They were so evenly matched on strength, skill, and grit that this match could go on all night long, but I knew everyone was just as eager as I was for the full entourage to be announced. It felt like hours passed without much change, and I was beginning to wish something, anything, would happen.
Several tense moments later, Mahini appeared silently by my side, and her ice blue eyes scanned my face for a moment before she spoke. “What if there is no clear winner, Great One?”
“I was just having similar thoughts,” I admitted in a reluctant tone. “They could do this for hours.”
“If it were up to me…” Mahini trailed off, and then she shook her head. “Nevermind.”
“What?” I pressed, and I bumped my shoulder against hers. “You can tell me anything, just speak your mind, my love.”
“What if we announced a tie?” The desert goddess arched an eyebrow as she presented the option. “The other judges and I agree that would be the best approach.”
“I’d hate to have to choose between the two of them,” I mused, and then I nodded. “Let’s do it.”
“By your command, Great One,” Mahini murmured, and she slunk away as quietly as she had appeared.
A moment later, the three women and Elrin approached the ring where the two men still held each other at arms length and struggled to get the upper hand.
“Stop the fight!” Elrin called out in a loud voice.
Jax and Riondale paused, but they didn’t release each other from their grasp.
“We have made a decision,” Elissa announced.
The crowd gasped, and whispers swept through the audience.
“Both of these men have fought hard all day long,” Eva said in a loud voice.
“Therefore, we proclaim the match a tie!” Mahini finished.
A cheer erupted from the people, and everyone clapped their hands in approval. Jaxtom and Riondale glanced at each other in confusion, and they shot me a questioning look.
“It’s true,” I chuckled. “You’re both going with me to Vallenwood.”
“It’s about damn time!” Jax growled, but then a huge grin split his face, and he dropped his hands from the lieutenant’s shoulders.
“Are you certain, sir?” Riondale questioned, and his gaze flicked to the happy faces of the audience. “Wouldn’t the people prefer their blacksmith win?”
“Everyone watched you both,” I explained in a patient tone. “I think they’d rather celebrate your victory than watch you two move an inch at a time all night long.”
“Good point.” Finally, Riondale grinned, and I clapped him on the shoulder as I mirrored his expression.
“Besides,” I said, “I couldn’t leave my two best men behind, now could I?”
“I would hope not, sir,” the lieutenant replied, and he struck out his hand to Jaxtom. “Good match, my friend.”
“Aye,” the blacksmith growled. “Yer a tough one, kid.”
That was high praise from Jaxtom, and Riondale knew it. His face bloomed a brilliant shade of red, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I think we all earned a drink or two after this day,” I declared, and I tossed my arms around each man’s shoulders. “Stryker! You got any ale left?”
“Aye,” the barkeep hollered from across the field. “But save some for the rest of us.”
“Did you hear that?” I laughed. “Party at the tavern! Everyone’s invited!”
My words were greeted with another round of cheers, but I noticed a final round of money being swapped as the audience began to disperse. The people holding the torches led the way toward the street, and then everyone in town filed behind them toward Stryker’s tavern.
The small bar wouldn’t be big enough for everyone, but I could at least buy everyone in town a round before the night was over, so I hurried after the crowd. The girls caught up to me about halfway there, and they all gave the two men their congratulations as we walked.
“It will be good to serve you again, my lady,” Riondale told Eva.
“Let’s see what all this fuss is about,” Jaxtom murmured to Mahini in a conspiratorial tone.
“It will be much easier with you on our side,” the desert goddess replied, and I couldn’t agree more.
A short while later, I was sitting in the crowded bar with my newly formed entourage gathered around me. My girls sat by my side as we toasted to the various winners of the day, and the rest of the town took turns coming up to congratulate the victors.
I had twelve people to travel with me and my women to Vallenwood, and I couldn’t be happier with who’d ended up on my team. I had the married couple, Sarah and Bron, to keep us all grounded, Bellona to outfit us in the best attire, Caelia to coax out of her shell, Adelina and Celest to get to know, and Kylor, Corvis, Niconor, and Jeron were all strong enough fighters to act as my guardsmen.
Jaxtom and Riondale swapped barbs and banter while they drank, and their antics caused everyone to laugh. I was excited about having the two of them join my team, and I knew their leadership skills would come in handy on the road.
It was a night I knew I would always remember, and I cherished every moment of it. My girls finally pulled me away in the wee hours of the morning, and I waved a drunken goodbye to the townspeople remaining at the bar. Most of my victors had already said their goodnights and farewells, and they claimed the need to prepare for the journey as their reason for leaving the party early.
I couldn’t blame them, though, since there was still a lot I needed to do to get ready for the trip to Vallenwood, but that would be the focus of the following day. For the moment, I was content to pass out in a drunken stupor among the super hot women who loved me.
I woke up reluctantly the next day to the sun blazing in the window like a hot stove burner. It had to be close to midday already, and I groaned as I pushed myself out of the bed. I was alone in the bedroom, so I quickly dressed before going in search of the three beautiful women I called mine.
I found them downstairs packing for the journey ahead of us, and I grinned at the sight of their busy movements. They had to be well acquainted with loading our saddlebags by this point, but this trip would be a little bit different. For one, we’d have more people with us than we’d travelled with for a while. Secondly, we were going to a social function for nobility, so we’d be packing more heavily.
Going to the king’s palace meant dressing the part, after all.
I was grateful Bellona would be going with us, so we would have constant access to a professional seamstress. I’d be sure to make an awesome impression on all the nobles with her at my back.
“Need help?” I asked with a wide grin.
The girls jumped and turned around to face me with admonishing but playful glares.
“Bash!” My wife slapped my arm playfully. “Don’t sneak up on us like that.”
“Sorry,” I chuckled. “But in all fairness, I’ve been standing here for a minute. It’s not my fault you didn’t notice.”
Mahini shook her head, and Eva snorted, but no one argued my point, so I grinned proudly.
“Here.” Elissa grabbed an empty bag and shoved it into my hands, and she flashed me a wink before she turned back to her own belongings. “Come back when it's full.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I chuckled.
I did as I was told, and when we were done at the house, the four of us went into town for the rest of our supplies. We arranged for everyone to have a horse, plus a couple to pull the wagon full of supplies. Then we purchased tents for everyone and enough food to last us the whole trip. It took us most of the day to make all the necessary arrangements, but I made sure to stop by each of the stores to ask if they had any special requests.
It took us two full days to get everyone and everything ready, but then my crew assembled near the stables on the morning of the third day for a final check over. I had everyone line up while I inspected the ranks, and I made sure they were wearing good travelling clothes before I nodded in approval.
“Bellona,” I said, and the seamstress stepped forward. “Did you manage to make uniforms for the entire entourage?”
“I started them.” She frowned. “I’ll have to finish them along the way. My apologies, Great One.”
“No need to be sorry.” I smiled gently at the seamstress. I wanted only good vibes on this trip, and that started with how I handled situations like this. “It’s not like you had a lot of notice. Do the best you can with the time you have. I just want us all ready to be presented to the king by the time we reach Vallenwood.”
“It will be done.” She smirked. “And you’ll be the best dressed archduke there, I can promise you that.”
“Good.” I nodded, and then I turned my attention to the rest of my team. When I was satisfied, I clapped my hands together. “Time to head out, people!”
We mounted our horses, and Riondale helped Bellona up on top of the wagon’s bench before he took a place beside her. Then the lieutenant snapped the reins, and the horses drug the cart forward.
When my entourage was ready to leave, I clicked my tongue to Goliath, and the war horse neighed before he trotted forward to the head of the line. Then, with some of the best damn people in all of Sorreyal at my back, I rode out of the gate of Bastianville with my head held high.
Vallenwood and the king awaited.
