“He’s killing more fighters out there today than we’d lose in a half dozen Festivals, just so he can get at you and win the mob back.”

Garth sipped at his wine.

“And all of you will be the weaker for it. Like I said, the four of you should stop him.”

Kirlen shook her head, saying nothing.

“Let me guess. He paid all of you off, didn’t he? The potential loss of contracts made good over the next couple of years.”

“The bastard,” she said softly, her voice barely audible above the screams.

“And of course you took it.”

“The others did too.”

“But of course,” Garth replied, his voice filled with contempt. “So why don’t you try and kill me now and get the rest of the bribe?”

“In due time, in due time.”

Garth, shaking his head, returned to his seat.

An explosion of sound swept over the arena as the last fight ended with a mutual kill, the two fighters stabbing each other, and neither one with a single heal spell left. They writhed about for what seemed like an eternity and then both were still. The spectators screamed hysterically, jumping up and down over the spectacular finish to the fourth round. Even though any who bet upon it had lost their money, still they cheered over an ending that would be argued about in the taverns and on street corners for years to come.

“They’re certainly getting their money’s worth today,” Hammen said coldly, before downing a beaker of wine.

The urn containing the names of the survivors was now brought out again and the monk started to draw out the new fighting pairs. The first names started to go up and the entire arena came to its feet.

“You’re fighting Naru,” Hammen whispered.

“Damn.”

Garth slowly stood up and looked over at the giant, who stood gaping at the board until his servant finally told him what the symbols meant. Naru turned and looked back at Garth and, with a huge beefy hand, motioned for Garth to walk out with him. As Naru started out from under the awning and into the bright light of the arena Kirlen hobbled up to his side, said something, and then turned her back as Garth walked by.

Garth came up to Naru’s side.

“This will be to the death, One-eye.”

“Too bad. Like I said, I was getting to like you, even though you are as dumb as an ox.”

Naru threw his head back and laughed.

“All think that funny. How come Naru so dumb and yet control mana so well? Don’t know.”

“A freak of nature,” Hammen sniffed.

“I like you too,” Naru said, looking down at Hammen. “You be my servant after One-eye dead.”

“Not likely.”

“How much did Kirlen offer you?” Garth asked.

“Choice of her spells I kill you.”

“Did you ever think why she wants me dead?”

“You cause trouble.”

Naru looked back down at Garth and shook his head.

“Somehow this not seem right. Naru like good fighting, but too many friends die today. Too many. Naru have no one left to play with when this done.”

As they reached their circle Garth looked around and saw Varena walking slowly toward her circle, a Purple fighter moving to take the other side.

“Who is that against her?” Garth asked.

“It’s not good. That’s Jimak’s favorite. The way the fixing is going on, I wouldn’t be surprised if he loaned some of his own spells. I hope she got the same offer from her Master.”

“Damn fool wouldn’t take it,” Garth said. “Too much honor.”

“Don’t worry about her now,” Hammen replied. “Remember, you caught that big lummox by surprise last time. He won’t let it happen again. Don’t let him get close to you. If it turns to hand-to-hand he’ll rip you apart and pick his teeth with your ribs. How are you feeling?”

“Still a little light-headed from the last fight.”

“Just great,” Hammen sighed.

The final trumpet sounded and the referee came over to Garth, showing him the two tokens. Again Garth took the white. The referee went over to Naru and a moment later she returned to her box and sent up a red flag, to the cheering of the mob.

“Good luck, Master.”

“You never wished me luck before.”

“Well, you never needed it before.”

“Thanks for the confidence.”

“It’s not a question of confidence,” Hammen replied. “It’s a question of being a realist.”

“Fight!”

Garth stepped into the circle and, concentrating his will, he immediately started to draw upon his mana. He delayed launching an attack, deciding instead to hold back, building up his strength as much as possible. Naru finally made the first move, sending a mammoth forward and Garth finally replied by again creating a wall of trees, fronted with an impenetrable growth of brambles against which the mammoth raged and trumpeted, especially when the brambles started to pierce the mammoth’s feet. Garth was surprised when Naru, using mana he had not suspected the giant would employ, sent wolves into the attack. They slipped through the trees and Garth, in turn, created wolves to fight and block them. An explosion from another circle erupted, nearly knocking Garth over and he spared a quick glance back to see Varena and her opponent engaged in desperate struggle, the circle engulfed in flames.

Garth turned back to his own fight and was startled when he could not see Naru. The giant seemed to have disappeared!

There was a crashing of trees and to Garth’s left, at the edge of the circle, the giant came crashing through, the trees around him withering and dying. Garth conjured one of the trees to life. Naru, laughing, turned on it, fighting it hand to hand, tearing limbs off the tree and tossing them aside so that the tree-creature simply fell over and collapsed.

Now came wave after wave of attack against Garth, orcs and goblins, enraged dwarfs swinging their battle-axes, and nameless creatures out of the darkness.

Garth countered by striking at Naru’s mana, weakening the lands that supported his magic, setting up circles of protection for when Naru’s minions came too close, counterattacking with winged creatures and Llanowar Elves that gleefully struck at the dwarfs, crushing them down.

His mana weakened, Naru was forced to withdraw to his own half of the circle, laying out a wall of fire. The two stood gasping for breath, Naru shaking his head and laughing, the laughter coming like the panting of a bull.

“You good fellow. Too bad must die now.”

Naru waved his hands and a new onslaught began. Creatures in the air, on the sand, and rising up from underneath, coming one after the other. Garth gave ground slowly and the mob, wild with hysteria, sensing that the fight was coming to a climax, roared with delight.

Garth erected more trees, stepping back slowly, warding off the attacks that broke through but each time it seemed as if he had less power than before. Naru again reached the edge of the forest and waved his hand. Some of the trees ignited in flame and Garth instantly replaced them. Again there was the burst of fire and again they were replaced.

Naru stood back for a second, shaking his head with frustration. Garth stood at the far side of his circle and then, ever so slowly, he fell down on his knees as if his final power had been expended.

Naru, with a wild cry, raced into the trees, which towered up over him, the crowd roaring insanely, expecting him to crash through and deliver the coup with his bare hands.

Garth instantly came to his feet and pointed straight at the forest. Above the roaring of the crowd another sound now washed over the stadium, the miniature forest shaking and trembling. A loud, howling roar exploded and from out of the forest a green head appeared, its fangs glinting in the hot, late-afternoon sun. The head of the Craw Wurm weaved back and forth, like a serpent’s, looking for its prey. The creature arced over, its long sinuous body weaving up out of the forest and then crashing back down.

A loud, bellowing roar of pain thundered out of the woods. Trees swayed back and forth, crashing over. For a brief instant a stone giant started to form at the edge of the forest. Garth waved his hands and the Craw Wurm's tail lashed out, toppling the giant. Continuing to control the Wurm, Garth now redirected its attack at Naru.