《Warrior of None》


 Chapter 1: The Circle

    Chapter 1: The Circle


    Dust and sand mixed with the tang of blood. The taste dried her mouth, and brought her back to her senses. Her head was ringing and swollen with pain. Bright light blinded her eyes as they opened and all at once panic struck her heart. She couldn¡¯t remember anything, not even her name. Big brown eyes were staring right at her, an ugly man with no teeth. Hot sand was under her sandals and brown rags covered her body.


    ¡°What?¡± She croaked.


    The brown eyes of the man staring at her widened, as if bulging out of his bald head. ¡°Your name? Once again, I need your damned name!¡± He smacked a stick of graphite against a wooden board he was holding. She stood in rigid silence. A lot of eyes were staring at her, she realized. The circle of sand she stood in was a large arena with countless people sitting in the stands. She herself stood in a row of other people holding rods.


    ¡°Do I really have to ask again?¡± The man barked, scaring a tiny black beetle from his writing board.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know my name,¡± She answered honestly.


    As if pleading to a higher power, the bald man lifted his face to the sky and mumbled to himself. ¡°Fine, fuck, your name is¡­¡± he followed the flying insect. ¡°Beetle, whatever.¡±


    Beetle opened her mouth but the man was already moving down the line. She had no idea where she was, who she was or what was going on. She looked to her left, where the most muscular man she had ever seen stood, and not just because she couldn¡¯t remember anything beyond ten minutes ago. He was tall, nearly twice her height, swarthy with black hair and scorched by the sun.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Beetle said under her breath, finding her own voice sandy and tired. This was her first time really hearing it, as far as she knew. She sounded mean.


    The large man glanced down at her, but said nothing.


    ¡°Where are we?¡±


    The man stared in complete silence and returned to looking straight ahead. Beetle chewed her cheek and looked to the right instead. There, an older man was standing, also much taller than her, though not as much as the previous. Beetle¡¯s brow furrowed, she just realized she was short. The old man¡¯s pale blue eyes regarded her deeply. He was a man who may have been handsome long ago but since became cracked with cynicism, age and the sun. A great pink scar split his lip in such a way the glint of his tooth was visible. His eyes were still, almost lifeless as they stared, it was as if his soul was buried long ago. Still, they seemed to peer through her. A shiver ran up Beetle¡¯s spine.


    She grimaced. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    The man didn¡¯t answer, he just pointed to his ear. Was he deaf? Something itched just under Beetle¡¯s own ear, now that she was thinking of it. Her shoulder lifted to rub her ear and flakes of dried blood dusted her rag wrapped shoulder. Her ear was bleeding? She reached up to probe each ear, only to realize she was holding a heavy wooden rod in one hand. Ignoring the weapon, she stuck a finger in each ear, the stains of an old blood flow present in each. What happened?


    A rumbling cheer broke her thought and snatched her eyes forward. The stands shook with life and hands thundered in claps. Iron shrieked and a gate was being wrenched open on the other side of the arena. It had begun, whatever it is. Beetle tightened her grip on the wooden rod in her hands and she wasn¡¯t alone. The row of people she stood with hunched and took fighting stances, all facing forward.


    A wet gurgling howl filled the air and the cheers grew louder. A mob of beasts rushed out of the black behind the gate. Their howls deepened as they spotted their prey. Their eyes were a gross yellow and their bodies were like large muscular hyenas, but patchy with needle-like fur and rashed with flaking scales. Their tongues lolled out of their oversized mouths, forked and hairy. Beetle felt her heart stop at the sight of the creatures. The creatures pounded the sand and closed the distance.


    Screams cut the atmosphere and blood plumed from the impact. Necks were crushed between large teeth and hook like claws ripped through flesh. A creature snapped at Beetle and while her mind went blank with fear, her body, whoever¡¯s it was, jumped into learned action. Her rod shot out to strike the creature in the eye. Blood popped and Beetle dodged to the blind side. Her fingers danced on the wooden weapon until her hands were at the very bottom. With the full length, she swung wide. Wood cracked and her weapon smashed into the creature¡¯s throat with a yelp.


    Beetle¡¯s ears rattled with the delight of the roaring crowd as well as the horrid screams of the victims. Her rod beat down the creature in front of her. She didn¡¯t know how, but her hits were strong, precise, expert. She lost herself to the battle


    Slowly, Beetle¡¯s mind frazzled back to the fore of her head. She was standing, covered in red. All around her, the black flies were already settling on the corpses of those who stood next to her as well as the fallen beasts. The tall man from earlier was dead by her left, his throat mangled beyond recognition. The old man, however, was alive. His arm was ripped open but he was alive.


    Once again the crowd roared and knights clad in thick gray leather came roving into the arena with menacing whips and masked faces. Beetle raised her rod, ready for round two. A hoarse voice stopped her though.


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± It was the old man with a split lip. ¡°Let them be.¡±


    For some reason or another, Beetle listened, and rough hands came down to wrestle her into chains. The next thing she knew, she was being marched across the sand in irons, the old man behind her and some other nameless fool in front of her. The heat of the arena was snuffed out as she passed one of the portcullis gates under the stands and disappeared into the darkness of the arena dungeons.


    ***


    Water dripped. Everything was uncomfortable. Rough stone bricks colored gray and nothing else made up the floors, the walls, and the ceiling. There were no windows, there were no friendly faces. Beetle sat on a rough bench that didn¡¯t help the soreness in her legs. Her face was downcast, staring at a puddle where some water had collected amid a depression in the bricks. A tired face was staring back at her. It was her face, though she had never seen it before.


    Green eyes, dim and haunted sat on a fair face covered in purple bruises. Her hair was yellow and tangled, striped with grime that her beaten rags also wore happily. She didn¡¯t seem like much, but she could see the definition of muscle in her arms and shoulders and the faded scars here or there spoke of a powerful past. Beetle had no idea who this was. Her hand came up to brush more of the dried blood from her ears.


    ¡°Kid.¡±


    Iron rubbed on wood and Beetle turned to look at the old man. He was the only one not minding their own business. One of the knights hurried past, the old man completely silent until he had passed. ¡°Do you know your name?¡±


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    ¡°Beetle,¡± Beetle replied and the old man nodded along.


    ¡°Your mother gave you that name?¡± He said, his lip pulled over a sarcastic yellow smile. Beetle frowned, something in her chest felt agitated at the comment, but she couldn¡¯t understand it. Her voice came out, mean and low.


    ¡°The toothless man gave it to me.¡±


    The old man flicked his ear and nodded at hers. ¡°I think I might know what ails you.¡±


    A weird flutter filled Beetle for a moment, some akin to hope, but before she could ask, a woman holding a handkerchief to her nose stopped in front of her. She was tall, but then so was everyone compared to Beetle. She stared down at Beetle from behind her handkerchief, eyes the same shade of bronze as her cheeks. Riding boots protected her legs and thick yet quality linen made up the rest of her burgundy ensemble, giving her an air of cold nobility. The lady smelt of perfume, and for the first time, Beetle realized she stunk.


    ¡°Beetle,¡± the woman recited, ¡°come with me.¡±


    A loud groan echoed down the line of the chained, but Beetle remained seated, confused. The old man¡¯s voice came along with a gentle prod to the rib.


    ¡°Get up, you¡¯ve been chosen.¡±


    Patience was absent in the lady¡¯s eyes, and jealousy was ever present in everyone else¡¯s. Beetle stood up with the face of a lost lamb and with a tug of her chains, she was towed away from the others. Their footsteps followed them as echoes down the bleak hallway. The sounds that accompanied the footfalls were anything but calming. Screaming patients, or what Beetle hoped were patients, could be heard alongside the jangle of chains and the clink and clang of metal work. There was no doubt, Beetle had found herself in a strange and dangerous place.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Beetle said, once again surprised at how rough and mean her voice sounded, what¡¯s more is that it didn¡¯t sound anything like anyone else''s. ¡°Where am I?¡±


    The lady gave Beetle a pitying look and then tugged her along faster. ¡°Yenillii Arena.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it,¡± the captive admitted.


    Another look. ¡°You¡¯re from Farroux, no?¡± The lady asked, still hurrying Beetle along.


    ¡°Farroux?¡±


    ¡°Your accent,¡± the lady explained. ¡°It sounds like a high Farrouxish accent. Flowery, hush.¡± Her eyes scanned Beetle with heavy scrutiny. ¡°It doesn¡¯t suit you.¡±


    Beetle frowned at that. ¡°What does suit someone being treated like this?¡±


    A pause. ¡°Not much.¡±


    The pair scuffed against the stone, coming to a stop. Here, candles, though small, were lit along shelves on the wall. Some held small statues, others held crude drawings and in between them all was a door banded with iron. Fresh air seemed to push from under the frame of the portal, tickling Beetle¡¯s shins with a cool breeze. Before Beetle could ask anything, the lady pushed the door open and white light bathed the poor creature.


    When her vision came back, she was standing in a new room, her sandals on clean wooden floors and her ragged body out of place among vapors of incense and clean tapestries. Large floor to ceiling windows let in gusts of air and sunlight. A circle of lounging chairs sat in the center of the room, ringing a low table. On one of the velvet seats was a man, likely in his thirties, with a wide pearly smile. His fingers were weighed down with rings and a blue cloak was wrapped around his body. His face was like porcelain, never touched by the sun, and his chin was freshly shaved, with only the slightest hint of black stubble under his ears.


    The lady who was guiding Beetle gave a flourishing bow and spoke with her nose pointed to the ground. ¡°Lord Gallo, the fighter you requested.¡±


    ¡°Miss Chiara, thank you,¡± Lord Gallo replied. His voice was gentle, and probably the friendliest tone that Beetle had encountered all day. The lady, Miss Chiara, backed out of the room and closed the door. An instinctual fear crawled up Beetle¡¯s spine at the sudden isolation and her eyes looked past Lord Gallo to one of the open windows.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Lord Gallo bellowed. ¡°Beetle is it?¡±


    Beetle took a single step forward, she was uneasy. Lord Gallo¡¯s eyes were digging into her, as if he was expecting something. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯m Beetle.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a peculiar name,¡± Lord Gallo remarked.


    A strained smile, one of frustration, stretched Beetle¡¯s face. ¡°I only got it an hour or so ago.¡± Her voice became irritated. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where I am, or what¡¯s going on, or who you are.¡± She could feel the blood rush to her face as her anger manifested. Her fingers curled into fists but before she could shout, Lord Gallo held up a diplomatic hand.


    ¡°A strange thing to say, but nonetheless, allow me to shed some light on your situation.¡± The man shifted, sitting up perfectly straight. ¡°I¡¯m your new Patron.¡±


    ¡°Patron?¡±


    ¡°Do you know where you are?¡±


    Beetle furrowed her brow. ¡°Yenillii Arena.¡±


    ¡°On Perdi.¡± Lord Gallo explained. ¡°The infamous Island?¡± Beetle had no idea what he was talking about, and it must have shown because Lord Gallo simply continued. ¡°Perdi operates outside of the many countries and kingdoms of the continent. As such, it attracts a lot of different types and businesses, with the most famous establishment being this arena, which has served the island since its founding.¡±


    ¡°And how do I fit into this?¡± Beetle found her voice.


    ¡°Simple.¡± Lord Gallo folded his hands together. ¡°You just had your debut and I liked what I saw, so I purchased your contract. You''re my fighter now.¡±


    Beetle narrowed her eyes and took a defensive step back. ¡°Do I get a say in any of this?¡±


    Lord Gallo chewed his cheek and sighed. Slowly he stood up and walked over to Beetle. Her blood quickened and her muscles tensed as he stood a pace away looking down at her with studious eyes. ¡°Most Yenillii fighters don¡¯t get patrons, and instead just fight until they die, subsisting on scraps and sleeping in piss smelling cells. The lucky few like you, get a contract. I take over your daily needs, sending food and setting up accommodations and even promoting special bouts. In return the arena gives me a percentage of their sales and tax. You don¡¯t have a say, I¡¯m afraid, but I promise you, I¡¯ll be a kind patron. If you want or need anything, you only have to ask.¡±


    ¡°I want to leave,¡± Beetle said without hesitation.


    Lord Gallo closed his eyes and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. A cringe formed down Beetle¡¯s spine and she quickly jumped out of his grasp. His eyes were open now, staring blankly at her. Every warning was firing in Beetle¡¯s mind, and then Lord Gallo split into a grin. ¡°I have an idea.¡±


    Silence. Beetle was too busy calming her heart to say anything.


    ¡°I paid a good amount for you because of your performance. Once you pay it all back through bouts, I¡¯ll end your contract and even get you off this island. Deal?¡± He held out his hand again, the same one that had gripped her shoulder. His smile was wide but his eyes were desperate.


    Beetle hesitated, she hesitated long enough for him to drop his hand back to his side. Lord Gallo sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll consider your silence some sort of agreement,¡± he said. ¡°Now you should rest up. You fight The Crocodile tomorrow.¡±


    Before Beetle could even ask, Lord Gallo clapped his hands and Miss Chiara popped back into the room.


    ¡°Take her to her new room,¡± Lord Gallo commanded. His eyes flickered over Beetle once again. ¡°And make sure she gets whatever she asks for.¡± Beetle opened her mouth, but he interrupted her, ¡°in reason.¡±

 Chapter 2: The Crocodile

    Chapter 2: The Crocodile


    If it wasn¡¯t obvious that Lord Gallo was wealthy, it was when Beetle was all but pushed through the door of her new room. Not only was it situated above ground, but it was one of the highest points of the complex that surrounded the arena. The windows actually had glass, as well as iron bars preventing escape, and through it, the sun cast an orange hand across her new gilded cage. The stone floors were polished into mirrors and clothed in woven rugs dyed red, and at the center of the red sea was a wooden bed with a plump mattress fit for someone far above the station of a beetle.


    The lost warrior stood alone in the room, the sounds of sea birds providing some sort of auditory backdrop as loneliness battled her confusion. Her eyes were drawn to a dresser settled against one of the walls, the drawers slightly ajar, as if purposely to tease her curiosity. And that¡¯s all it would do, for now.


    Beetle couldn¡¯t take another step. In a moment of defeat, she simply let her knees buckle to the carpet, her dirty rags rubbing against the clean fibers of a higher society. The irony didn¡¯t pass through her head as she laid it on the solid ground. The rug didn¡¯t provide much cushion and her green eyes stared dead at the bed maybe two strides away. Beetle buried her face against the ground and let her fatigue take her, she didn¡¯t want his presents, she wanted her freedom, and her memory. Black stole her consciousness, and an empty sleep seized her body.


    ***


    A gentle light caressed Beetle¡¯s face and she sucked in a waking breath. The orange evening was now a pale morning. The back of Beetle¡¯s head was on a pillow and her body was comfortable on a mattress. Fear gripped her chest and with a rush of blood she shot up, scrambling out of bed and onto her feet, only to realize that at some point, someone moved her to the bed, unless she moved herself.


    Rubbing her face, Beetle groaned to herself, ¡°I¡¯m getting tired of this.¡± That voice, who owned it? ¡°Who are you?¡± Beetle asked herself. ¡°Why do you sound so rough?¡± She frowned. ¡°Who in all the void knows?¡± A single ¡°Ha!¡± Beetle shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m losing my mind.¡± A pause. ¡°Again, apparently¡ª¡±


    Beetle froze. A wooden tub was sitting where she had fallen asleep the evening prior. The structure was well built, banded with iron, and sitting innocently on the rug. Someone had definitely visited her in the night. A chill crawled up her spine and her instinct saw her creeping towards the bath.


    It was a simple enough ordeal, wooden planks banded in metal and a towel placed by the edge. Even so, the fact remained that it wasn¡¯t there the night before. Beetle¡¯s finger dipped into the water, only for shock to find her face. It was warm. Another one of Gallo¡¯s luxuries, she figured. She hated the thought, but she did need a bath.


    Beetle pressed her shoulder against the frame of the bath and with one mighty shove, she pushed the entire assembly across the rug until the wooden tub slammed into the bedroom door. Next, Beetle ran her hand along the far side wall, just in case, before letting her grimy rags fall to the floor. One foot and then the other, the warrior lowered herself into the warm embrace of the water. The crystal liquid generously took the color of her filth and in moments, Beetle was clean, and the water was worse for wear.


    Taking her time, Beetle traced the scars both old and new along her skin. Her body was something like a book, with scars being the written language, only she couldn¡¯t read. But she didn¡¯t need to know the secret language of her wounds to know it was a long story. A moment longer, and Beetle was out of the water, wrapped in a towel and scavenging the dresser drawers.


    Just as she pulled on a loose linen short and matching beige trousers, there was a knock on her door. The tub jumped as someone tried to open the door and then a long sigh.


    ¡°Beetle.¡± It was Lady Chiara.


    The warrior tucked her shirt in, tying the waist with a brown sash. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time for your appointment with the quartermaster.¡±


    Beetle slipped on her sandals and took a moment of silence for herself.


    ¡°Beetle?¡± Lady Chiara¡¯s voice was grating.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Beetle said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right out.¡±


    ***


    With Lady Chiara, gloomy and pissy, by her side, Beetle walked the steps back down from the apartments of the arena to the bloodlust depths. The hallways of the apartments were nice enough, but the thin carpet that dominated that place rubbed down to stone by the time they were below the arena and any decoration turned to pragmatic stands for candles or altars. Even the people changed. From the decent looking folk of the apartments to the desperate. One face stood out as Beetle walked, that of the pale eyed old man of the day prior. When she passed him, his eyes lit up and he flicked his ear.


    ¡°Do you know him?¡± Beetle asked Lady Chiara, forcing the out of place silk-laden lady to look at the old man. Her face was unreadable, stuck in a forever grimace.


    ¡°Some nameless peon, same as most here,¡± Chiara offered generously. The lady¡¯s face changed as they approached a heavy door. A rooster was freshly painted on the front of the door, colored in some royal purple. The strange bird wore a silver crown. Chiara placed a hand against the door.


    ¡°This will be your place of training from now on, where you can find your equipment and speak with the quartermaster.¡±


    Beetle nodded.


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    Chiara leaned closer to the shorter woman, eyes digging with a glare. ¡°Do not obstruct this doorway.¡±


    Beetle snorted at that, ¡°No surprise tubs in the quartermaster room, then.¡±


    With a long sigh, Chiara pushed the door open and escorted Beetle through.


    The air inside was musky, leading Beetle to believe it was connected to the outside somehow. Beyond the smell of sweat and old leather, the room was exactly as Beetle expected it to look. It was large and square, with a row of different weapons against one wall and mannequins of armor against another. On the far side of the room was a door that may have led to the outside or maybe even the arena waiting chambers and at the center of the room was a large square demarcated by cut logs and filled with sand. Standing in front of the training square was a young man with a wide smile.


    He looked young and what was more, his dark complexion was flawless. There wasn¡¯t any sign of work or strain under his brown eyes and even his black curls were shiny, healthy, and pulled away from his face by a band of silver.


    ¡°Quartermaster Jacob,¡± Lady Chiara introduced.


    ¡°Quartermaster¡­¡± Beetle felt the word in her mouth. Jacob looked more like a noble brat than a quartermaster for some nefarious arena.


    ¡°She¡¯s all yours,¡± Lady Chiara said without flair, eagerly stepping out of the room and closing the door. Jacob jumped at the sound of the door closing and tipped his head.


    ¡°A pleasure to meet you. Do you prefer Beetle?¡±


    The warrior cocked a brow at the question. ¡°It¡¯s my name, I suppose I don¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    Jacob cleared his throat. ¡°Well, some gladiators have arena names.¡±


    ¡°Like ¡®The Crocodile¡¯?¡± Beetle was walking towards the rows of weapons. Her eyes bounced from iron rod, to straight sword, from hammer to cleaver, until it fell on a long hafted axe, the same size as her, with a biting beard. Her fingers reached out to it.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Jacob agreed. ¡°Though I guess arena names are typically used by the free fighters.¡±


    Beetle lifted the axe from its home and felt the weight in her arms. It felt familiar, comfortable. Her fingers found worn in grooves, the stain of oil from fingers and salt. She flicked her eyes over to Jacob. ¡°Free fighters?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Jacob nodded eagerly. ¡°As I gather it, there are two types of gladiators. Those who came here willingly, free fighters, and those who¡­¡±


    ¡°Are forced to it,¡± Beetle finished his sentence. She turned to him fully now. ¡°The way you¡¯re speaking about it, I¡¯m going to assume you¡¯re new to the arena?¡±


    A shy smile broke across the man¡¯s face and he nodded his head. ¡°You have a good sense about you.¡±


    ¡°Who was the quartermaster before you, then?¡± Beetle found herself asking.


    ¡°Before me?¡± Jacob shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m the first. I may be new, but Lord Gallo isn¡¯t exactly a veteran. He and my father are old friends, so he gave me the job maybe five days ago, but he only gained interest in Yenellii a week or two ago.¡±


    Beetle¡¯s jaw dropped and she couldn¡¯t hide her surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m his first fighter?¡±


    ¡°And only,¡± Jacob agreed.


    Her brow knit. ¡°Now tell me The Crocodile is also new.¡±


    The quartermaster¡¯s lips sealed quickly. Beetle searched his face and finally he spouted. ¡°It¡¯s only until first blood. The match, I mean.¡±


    Beetle closed her eyes. If this was the world her past was steeped in, she was starting to understand why her voice sounded so angry. ¡°When is the match?¡± Another pause. Jacob looked as if he was about to burst with embarrassment. Beetle felt her face flush with frustration. She took a step forward with her axe falling into both of her hands. ¡°When is the match, Jacob?¡±


    The far side door burst open, letting in a glow of natural light and a hush of heat. A pale faced man with an eyepatch and beard poked his head in. ¡°The Verdokian is ready. Introduction in twenty minutes.¡±


    Beetle glared at Jacob, who shrunk in his spot. ¡°Jacob, what¡¯s a Verdokian?¡±


    ¡°The Crocodile is a Verdokian,¡± Jacob answered. ¡°You know, someone from Verdokia¡­ the land of the lizard people.¡±


    Wide eyes dug into the poor man. ¡°Only until first blood, huh?¡±


    ***


    The pathway to the arena proper from the quartermaster room was nothing special. It was a sandy stone corridor which crisscrossed with a bunch of others and ended with an iron grate and ear shattering cheers. With one step, Beetle exited the cold dungeons and entered the hot sands of the real world. Roaring chants caused her ears to throb, and her eyes were pained by the unabated sunlight. The hot sand reflected the light angrily, and the dark leather that protected her chest and skirted her thighs trapped her sweat in the worst way. Her fingers tightened around her axe, though an onlooker might say the massive weapon was holding her rather than her holding it.


    Inside the circle, Beetle couldn¡¯t piece together where she fought yesterday. The sand was clean, without stains or gore, and the only other thing inside the damnable arena was her new enemy: The Crocodile.


    He was tall, even by Beetle¡¯s standards, and he was wide. A tail as thick as a leg poked from his rear and muscle rippled under thick green scales. He didn¡¯t wear any armor, just a leather skirt for modesty and a baldric across his shoulder that held a curved sword. Some announcer was garbling his achievements to the crowd, sending them into rolls of shouts with each word. It was gibberish to Beetle, her attention was trapped in The Crocodile¡¯s yellow eyes. A toothy grin split his face and a new feeling hit the warrior¡¯s chest. This wasn¡¯t a soldier, nor a thug she was looking at. This was a bona fide gladiator, and one by choice at that. This was his home, this was his lair.


    ¡°To first blood!¡± The announcer finally said. ¡°Once drawn, the match shall end!¡± Another cheer. ¡°Until then, may mercy keep you above the sands.¡±


    A gong blasted.


    Beetle gripped her axe, her fighting instincts flaring. The Crocodile twitched, muscles flexing, sword still hanging on his hip. Cheers kept the arena from silence, then all at once, the great beast of a man turned into a blur of speed. Pain cracked Beetle¡¯s ribs. Yellow eyes were inches from hers, a scaly fist crammed in her chest.


    ¡°You¡¯re in my way, Monkey...¡±

 Chapter 3: First Blood

    Chapter 3: First Blood


    The crowd was roaring. Beetle stumbled back, her chest pulsing with pain. Crocodile wasn¡¯t even looking at her anymore. He had his mighty arms lifted up as he grinned at the crowd, soaking in their admiration. A masked knight, the same as those who corralled Beetle after her first fight, came stomping over with a long metal rod of dents and blood stains. Without ceremony the knight patted down Beetle¡¯s leather armor, and then with a shove, a dry woman¡¯s voice came. ¡°No blood.¡±


    Cheers rose to new heights at the announcement, and once again Beetle was in the lion¡¯s den. Crocodile gave Beetle a sideways glance, still intent on energizing the crowd. Looking past the Verdokian, Beetle noticed Lord Gallo sitting at the edge of his seat, hands tight and eyes wide. Lady Chiara was beside him, unamused as always. Sat far above either of them in a box all her own was a strange woman of immaculate ostentation. Her skin was the purplish milk of midnight, her eyes silver, and her body adorned in a gown of gems and silks that curtained her form tightly and gave her the allure of a constellation. She was far away, but even so Beetle could feel the sneer on her lips.


    ¡°The Duchess is watching, Monkey,¡± Crocodile idled. ¡°Let¡¯s put on a good show, no?¡±


    Beetle¡¯s eyes fell back down to Gallo, her gut clenched and when her eyes met her opponents, she had no intention of fulfilling anyone¡¯s wishes. Her teeth gritted and her fingers strained against her axe. With a stomp, she fell back into a fighting stance. Crocodile hissed a mocking laugh and matched her.


    Before Beetle could move, Crocodile closed the distance, his clawed feet ripping at the sand. His fist came in, but Beetle saw it this time. The shaft of her axe caught the rough of it, then a second fist came in. Beetle danced backwards, avoiding it. Another leap backwards and the distance was growing.


    Metal screamed and Crocodile¡¯s sword came slashing down.She didn¡¯t even see him rip it out of its sheath. The blade whizzed by her ear, taking a strand of hair along with it, but Beetle¡¯s reflexes were on her side. Crocodile cut in, elbow flying. This time Beetle stepped forward, swinging her axe wide, as if he was further away. Confusion bunched her opponent¡¯s face and as his elbow narrowly skimmed past her face, the thick of her haft knocked into his shin and then with a pull, the beard of the axe came sliding back to hook his leg.


    Behind Crocodile, Gallo shot upward in the stands. At the sight, Beetle loosened her grip. Crocodile¡¯s knee slammed into her gut, bending her forward. The Verdokian leaned in, hissing in her ear.


    ¡°Why stop?¡±


    Beetle just looked up at him with eyes of hate. Something akin to knowing reflected in the lizard man¡¯s own eyes and he snickered. His foot hooked her ankle and then with a shove, he knocked her to the ground.


    Pressure formed on her chest as the Verdokian placed his foot on her. He leaned in. A wide toothy smile threatened her. ¡°Listen, Monkey. If you don¡¯t fight like you mean it, I will kill you.¡±


    Beetle laid there, staring up at him. His was now the only face she saw against the backdrop of a free sky of blue.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she croaked, finally. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I really mind if you do.¡±


    Crocodile fell down to straddle her and lifted her head up by the collar of her leathers. He wasn¡¯t saying anything, but he was listening, that was clear by his somber face. With a shove, he slammed her back into the ground, never breaking the skin.


    Air escaped Beetle¡¯s lungs and her shoulders pinched with pain. She croaked again, the words hardly leaving her lips in gasps. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ even know¡­ if I have¡­ a life worth living.¡±


    ¡°Then give up,¡± Crocodile spat. He stood, his claws still entangled in her collar. He started to drag her from her spot. ¡°Let the fool who chained you win. Die like a human.¡±


    Crocodile threw her to the ground. Her body bounced on the hot sand, only to land looking at the crowd. Their mouths were open with shouts of joy and glee. Lord Gallo was shouting too, standing from his seat, hands cupped around his lips, eyes boring into her. She didn¡¯t want to fight for him, she didn¡¯t want to live in his cage. Her eyes closed, her vision shut off. She wanted to leave, and maybe this was the way.


    Heat. Something hot was burning through her sorrow, something angry. The salt of the ocean was on her tongue, a taste she remembered. A fiery spirit used to dwell in her chest, an untameable wave, a forever wind. ¡°Are you really so broken in, you¡¯d die as a toy?¡± It was that angry voice, that hate filled voice she didn¡¯t recognize.


    ¡°Answer me,¡± Crocodile recited. The voice of her head was now his own. He stood over her. ¡°Are you a toy, or are you gladiator?¡±


    ¡°Stop asking me stupid questions,¡± Beetle hissed. ¡°I¡¯m fucking Beetle!¡± Her fingers tightened on her axe and with a wide swing along the ground, she forced Crocodile in a backwards leap. She rose to her feet, body bruised but working. The heat was in her chest and she rushed in. Crocodile tried to dodge, but Beetle was quicker.


    Her foot slammed the sand and she pivoted. The flat side of Beetle¡¯s axe slammed into Crocodile¡¯s ribs. A hissing yelp. No blood. Crocodile swung his sword to give him space. Beetle stepped into the swing and let one hand fall from her axe. She ducked the swing, slammed the haft of her axe on his arm. Her free hand slapped back onto the wood of the axe and with a twist, she trapped Crocodile¡¯s wrist between the haft and beard and before Crocodile could do a thing, she leaped upwards, bringing the butt of the axe with her.


    The wooden edge slammed into Crocodile¡¯s chin. Teeth clattered against tongue and a spurt of blood splattered out of Crocodile¡¯s mouth. Immediately a whistle blew and the masked knight came rushing back in. First blood.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ***


    For all its grandeur up top, the underside of the massive Yenellii arena was a cobbled hole. Phin, an old man with pale eyes, walked the halls with a bundle of spotty linens. He was there when Beetle made her debut, he sat next to her in the chain gang, and now he was walking under where she fought, wondering how she was fairing. He snorted a laugh, the sound bouncing off the empty stone halls. ¡°She better not go down easy.¡±


    Boots clacked in the distance, pulling Phin from his thoughts and forcing his eyes up. A tall man dressed far too nice for this part of the arena was walking right at him, eyes steady. Phin curled his fingers anxiously.


    ¡°You,¡± the stranger came to a stop, right in his way. They were about the same height, except the stranger was something of a bulky man with a shirt that tightened over bulging muscle. Phin, on the other hand, was an older gentleman, whose glory days appeared to be long faded, though something in his smile hinted at a different story.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going, sir?¡± Phin lathered on the diplomacy. ¡°I was just on my way to the surgeons¡¯ rooms.¡± It wasn¡¯t a lie, he had the linens, and as of that morning, he was put on an errand by the Yenellii managers, deemed too old for a sponsor.


    ¡°Funny,¡± The larger man said without humor. ¡°I was just going to ask if you knew the way.¡± He stepped out of Phin¡¯s way, eyes narrow. ¡°My name is Rethur, a recent hire.¡±


    ¡°Phin,¡± the old man said with a step. They started to walk. ¡°I didn¡¯t know they even hired people, as that implies a salary.¡±


    ¡°Depends on who you mean by ¡®they¡¯.¡±


    They both stopped and faced each other. If it wasn¡¯t clear before to Phin, now it was, he just didn¡¯t think it would happen this quickly.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Phin narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°I should be asking you that question,¡± Rethur answered. ¡°What business do you have with Beetle?¡±


    Instead of answering, Phin rubbed his chin. ¡°I see.¡± He took a step back, dropping the linens and putting space between the two of them. ¡°We know how this goes, I¡¯m assuming I¡¯m not your first.¡±


    Rethur cracked his neck and hunched up his shoulders. ¡°And you won¡¯t be the last.¡±


    They rushed each other.


    ***


    ¡°That was one void-be-damned of a blow!¡± Crocodile bellowed. His voice bounced off the close walls of the surgeon¡¯s room. A disgruntled man of a height not dissimilar to Beetle¡¯s was cringing, doing his best to suture the energetic lizardman¡¯s cheeks. Blood dribbled with saliva. Beetle sat on a thin bed not unlike Crocodile¡¯s except she wasn¡¯t being fussed over, just holding a large flask of water mixed with vinegar and lemon.


    It was weird, Beetle figured, to be sitting in the same room as her previous opponent, but something about Crocodile was contagious, be it the grace he presented in his loss, or his neverending optimism. For what it was worth, Beetle was content with the shimmer of social contact that wasn¡¯t contingent on control or ownership.


    ¡°Would you really have killed me?¡± She found herself asking the Verdokian.


    ¡°Pah,¡± Crocodile nearly shoved over the doctor to answer. ¡°No. I take my job seriously, I wouldn¡¯t ruin my career by breaking the rules for some runt like yourself.¡±


    Beetle found herself smiling, ever so slightly. ¡°Then why bother threatening me with it?¡±


    The doctor yanked Crocodile back still, the Verdokian obliged. ¡°Because you needed to hear it, Monkey,¡± Crocodile winked. ¡°I¡¯m a fighter, and I only fight other fighters, not whatever it is you were when you walked in. You¡¯re strong, and I may not know your circumstances, but I hate to see good muscle wasted.¡±


    Beetle cracked something that may have been a laugh at that. ¡°Well thanks, anyway.¡± She felt genuine, he felt genuine. It hit her, she didn¡¯t even know her circumstances, same as Crocodile, but then again, she did meet someone already who might know. ¡°You¡¯re a free fighter, right?¡±


    Crocodile pushed the doctor away completely now, a frown forming on the surgeon¡¯s face. With a throw of his hands, the small man stomped away, leaving the room entirely. Crocodile leaned in. ¡°Sure am, why?¡±


    ¡°Can you wander wherever?¡±


    ¡°For the most part, yeah, though I tend to stay in my villa back in the city.¡±


    ¡°V-villa?¡± Beetle¡¯s eyes widened for a moment before she shook the image of a lizard with a mansion out of her head. ¡°I have a favor to ask, I want to get in touch with someone without Lord Gallo knowing.¡±


    ¡°Geez, Monkey, I don¡¯t really do favors like that for free¡­¡± His yellow eyes narrowed on the warrior. ¡°I¡¯ll do it for a rematch.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Beetle held out a hand. Crocodile slapped her hand with a heavy scaled palm.


    ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°An old guy with pale eyes. He had his debut alongside me, I don¡¯t know his name, but he knows something about blood in the ears.¡± Beetle rushed her words.


    ¡°So I¡¯ll ask any old geriatric ape I see if they know about bloody ears?¡± Crocodile shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to find the guy, but I can¡¯t promise anything.¡±


    The surgeon¡¯s door flapped open. Beetle jumped in her seat, sitting straight up and away from her new friend. From the maw of the portalway, Lord Gallo walked in, eyes wide and a smile wider. Something in his face made Beetle¡¯s stomach drop. A shadow appeared behind the man, it was Lady Chiara, her face somewhat smug.


    Gallo looked at Crocodile, his smile faltering slightly. ¡°If you¡¯re done here, I wanted to congratulate my new champion.¡±


    ¡°Shall I escort you out, Mister Lavoash?¡± Lady Chiara offered from the sidelines. Crocodile¡¯s smile turned into a thin toothy line.


    ¡°No need.¡± He stood up. As he walked by Beetle, he gave her one last grin. ¡°Good luck, Monkey.¡±


    Gallo glared at Crocodile until he was completely out of sight. ¡°What a tool that one is,¡± he muttered to no one in particular. Beetle¡¯s small joy from earlier was nothing now, not as she sat alone with Gallo and Chiara.


    ¡°So you¡¯re here to congratulate me?¡± Beetle asked, as if pushing the conversation would get it over with sooner.


    ¡°In a way¡­¡± Gallo feigned disinterest. ¡°Truly, I have a surprise for you. Want to see?¡±

 Chapter 3.5: Message from JB

    Hello!


    This is JB. Typically I would have a new chapter out but this past week has been super busy for me and I haven''t been able to create a quality chapter 4 for our heroine Beetle, and so I''m delaying the next chapter a little further along, but don''t sweat, Beetle''s story will continue and in the interim, have some tidbits about her story and the setting.


    Tidbit#1: The Isle of Perdi actually occurs in the same setting as my book "The Emergence" that was linked at the end of Chapter 3, but the connection between the two won''t really be made apparent until "The Emergence: Book 2" is released Summer 2025. If you are familiar with that setting and noticed a lack of magic in Beetle''s story, I have too, and I''m wondering the best way to introduce the unique magic system into her struggle.


    Tidbit#2: Crocodile is a Verdokian! Verdokians are a very aggressive and warlike species from the southern edge of the continent that Perdi floats near. That said, Crocodile is a lot sweeter and kinder than his kin, perhaps he has his reasons, as compassion is a rarity among the scales. Regardless, he is one of the toughest fighters that the Yenellii Arena has to offer, if not from his sheer ability, than from his insurmountable optimism and courage. Mentality is everything, and Crocodile is a champion at positivity.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Tidbit#3: In Chapter 1, Lady Chiara noted that Beetle has a Farrouxish accent. If you wanted a good example of what that might sound like, think French.


    Tidbit#4: I''ve been working on the setting that Perdi lingers around for many years, and it is my hope that Beetle''s story can be your way into the wider world she finds herself in. I truly am thankful for any and all readership and as always, thank you and appreciate you for taking the time to enjoy!


    If there is anything you''d like to see in this story or even if you have ideas for really cool gladiatorial battles scenarios, leave some comments, who knows, maybe I can work it in!


    See you sooner rather than later,


    JB

 Chapter 4: Death Creeps

    Chapter 4: Death Creeps


    ¡°A dress?¡± Beetle stood in Lord Gallo¡¯s Yenellii apartment. It was clear she was uncomfortable and much like the last time she stood among the fine rugs and fancy baubles, she was out of place¡ªa leather clad gladiator speckled with the dirt of the day.


    Gallo, on the other hand, was smiling at her as if she was a prize to be cherished and adorned with jewels, which in a way wasn¡¯t far from his current intentions. In his hands, he held a red dress that eerily looked to be Beetle¡¯s size. It covered the body well enough, but left the collar open, and was lined with very fine thread patterns and even flecks of silver. Lady Chiara stood behind Beetle, her presence pushing her towards the garment.


    Gallo nodded and smiled wide. ¡°Yours.¡±


    ¡°I hate it,¡± Beetle said, on instinct.


    Pain hit Gallo¡¯s face for a moment before he regained his usual smile. ¡°Surely not, it¡¯s perfect for you. Red matches you so well.¡± He looked past the short warrior to his employee. ¡°Lady Chiara, do you not agree?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Gallo, it has exquisite taste and the perfect color.¡± Her words were hollow.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want the damn dress,¡± Beetle was starting to match her angry voice with her words.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Gallo snapped back, his facade fading for a moment.


    ¡°You know what I want.¡± Beetle¡¯s glare cut stone.


    Gallo looked away for a moment. ¡°This dress could get you there.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    ¡°I intend to take you out to the city in it, so you can enjoy the island, free of the arena.¡±


    Beetle faltered for a moment. Ignoring the obvious issue with Gallo¡¯s plan, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to see the rest of Perdi, and maybe make some connections on the way. Smart as that sounded, a certain stubbornness seemed innate to Beetle. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn what you intend,¡± her words shot him down.


    Chiara¡¯s ringed finger suddenly brushed Beetle¡¯s arm and as the warrior leaned back to see what the woman was doing, she was suddenly ear to ear with her. ¡°Listen,¡± the woman¡¯s voice was even harsher than Beetle¡¯s, even as she whispered. ¡°You¡¯ll take the gift and go to the city.¡±


    ¡°Fuck all I will,¡± Beetle shouted back. Chiara winced for a moment before whispering in return.


    ¡°Gain our Lord¡¯s trust, and maybe the next time you take the dress to the city, you go without an escort.¡± Chiara leaned back and away, leaving Beetle wide eyed and thoughtful. Gallo was smiling from the sidelines, seemingly unaware of Chiara¡¯s promise.


    ¡°Leave the room,¡± Beetle demanded, ¡°and I¡¯ll change.¡±


    The dress was shoved into her arms by an ecstatic Gallo. ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡±


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Chiara cautioned, but Gallo was already hurrying the servant out through the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll knock when I¡¯m ready,¡± Beetle shot another glare. ¡°And I¡¯ll gouge out any eyes that come in before then.¡± She was getting the hang of her voice now. For whatever reason, her threat seemed to put a thoughtful look on Gallo¡¯s face, and instead of some creepy answer or smile, he gave a sobering nod.


    With a click of the door, Beetle was alone. A long breath slipped out of her lungs and the tension in her shoulders drooped. Lord Gallo was a creep. Beetle looked down at the dress in her hands and groaned. Lord Gallo wanted a doll, would she really give him one? Beetle threw the dress onto one of the lounge chairs, hoping it would wrinkle, as she walked over to the man¡¯s desk that sat idle by a window.


    Sitting on the wooden face, Beetle stared back at the crumpled dress. She wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s toy, nevermind Gallo¡¯s, but she couldn¡¯t deny the benefit of being able to traverse the city. Her heels tapped against the side of the desk, swinging as she thought.


    ¡°Almost done?¡± Gallo¡¯s voice peeped through the door.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you wait!?¡± Beetle growled back. Was this a necessary compromise taking his offer, or was she just feeding into his disgusting tendencies. Beetle rolled her jaw in thought, eyes lazing downward to the desk. Idly curious, and perhaps eager to stop thinking about the dress, Beetle slipped off the desk and pulled one of the drawers open.


    Inside the wooden compartment was an array of papers, nothing too unusual. A charter receipt for a voyage that ended in Perdi maybe a month or two ago, some slips about cargo receivals. Beetle flipped through the papers, only for her to suddenly stop halfway through, eyes wide.


    A seriously dangerous face was staring up at her from one of the pages. It was a crude drawing at best, but all the identifiable features were there. Beetle¡¯s face was on the page, the same face she recognized from mirrors and puddles. It was exactly the same as her own, save a few new scars and bruises she was sporting. A name was written under the drawing ¡°Rewe de la Hache¡±. A Farrouxish name, monikered like a bandit or in this case, a pirate. The rest of the page covered a reward for Rewe¡¯s capture. Beetle¡¯s brow furrowed, was this really her?


    Another knock on the door. Beetle pushed the drawer closed and stomped over to the dress. She would find out. Lord Gallo has nowhere to run if he is escorting her through Perdi after all. Kicking her leathers off, Beetle pulled the dress over her shoulders, opting to keep her simple wear on. The dress was long enough to hide her pants anyway. Looking more or less stuffed in a wrinkled mess, Beetle called out. ¡°Ready.¡±


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ***


    Beetle forgot what real air smelled like, what it tasted like. The sun was as hot as it was when it beat down on the center arena, but out in the city, a sea breeze cut it in half. Beetle was draped in her red dress, walking on the sun-baked stones of Perdi City¡¯s streets. All around the warrior, tall buildings of plaster and red tiled roofs crowded, as did a medley of people.


    Some wore similar clothes to Gallo, in the style of vibrant robes, while others wore a simple array of loose shirts and baggy pants tied at the ankle. Notably, none looked as beaten as the fresh gladiators that roamed the pits of Yenellii, giving Beetle the sense that the ill-gotten practice might be limited to the looming megastructure that dominated the landscape behind her. Whatever the case, Beetle was just happy to be free from its shadow, if only for a little bit.


    A stiff breeze washed over her face, and the sparkle of the ocean glinted between the buildings in front of her. The dense salt and shouted sailor-slang told her the docks were just down the way, and it took every ounce of willpower not to run to them and hop on the first ship she spotted.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lord Gallo¡¯s voice cut the scene. He had been walking on her left while Chiara took Beetle¡¯s right. Beetle spared the man a glance before looking forward to the city.


    ¡°About as pretty as a painted egg,¡± Beetle answered. Gallo raised a brow and Beetle sneered.


    ¡°You¡¯re in a wonderful mood, today,¡± Lord Gallo answered with unearned familiarity.


    Before Beetle could answer, a leather ball came whipping by and bounced right off her knee. Beetle froze and watched the toy roll away from her. Two children, one boy and one girl, hardly past eight or nine, were staring at her in horror. With a scrunch of her brow, Beetle forced a kind smile and knelt down to palm the ball. ¡°Is this yours?¡± She offered it.


    With big blue eyes, the children nodded in silence. They were ignorant to the tension as Gallo stared at Beetle and yet were just as horrified by their accident. Even with the ball stretched out, they didn¡¯t move, but glance between their beloved toy and the stranger they struck. Beetle stood up and took a stride towards them. Lady Chiara went to grab her wrist to keep her in the escort, but Beetle pushed through.


    Suddenly free of her employers, Beetle knelt by the children and handed the ball to the little girl.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry,¡± the boy said. Beetle forced a kind smile, but she could tell the feature was unused to her face.


    ¡°Accidents happen,¡± Beetle answered. The girl hugged the ball defensively.


    She shuffled in place, nervous. ¡°Do you want to play?¡± It was an olive branch, one that forced a small laugh out of Beetle. The innocence of the question touched the cold warrior in a refreshing way.


    ¡°What game are we playing?¡± Beetle asked.


    ¡°Kick.¡±


    ¡°Beetle,¡± Lady Chiara called from the background, calling Beetle back to reality.


    The warrior flashed a glare over her shoulder, then looked back at the children. ¡°Can I have a go?¡± They nodded, unaware of Beetle¡¯s plight. The ball was put into Beetle¡¯s hands, and she flashed a smile at her accomplices. Her fingers tightened on the leather ball and with a sudden jerk, it flew out of her hands, as if she accidentally dropped it. The children giggled and as Beetle pretended to stumble to grab it, she kicked the ball between two plaster buildings.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± Beetle ruffled the little girl''s hair before dashing after the ball.


    ¡°Beetle!¡± Lady Ciara immediately leapt after her, but Beetle had already cut into the shadows.


    Lord Gallo¡¯s voice followed her through the alleyway, the old fool likely chasing her. Wind whipped at her eyes as she ducked this way and that, finding the alleyway to stretch into a sort of shambled spider web of corridors, the buildings bundled up along the coast with little planning. Her sandals were soft on the gravel and stones, but Chiara¡¯s boots were loud, and Gallo¡¯s shouting was louder.


    Beetle¡¯s ears perked and as she ran, she listened. Instinct took over and after dashing and ebbing through different branches, she double backed just as Lord Gallo was cutting past. His eyes widened, but he couldn¡¯t react in time.


    With a crunch, Beetle rammed her elbow into the man¡¯s throat, her small frame slamming into him with so much force, he was lifted off his feet and smashed into the wall of a building. Fear was in his eyes as Beetle snarled. ¡°Who is Rewe de la Roche?¡±


    All the color drained from Gallo at the question. Lady Chiara came swinging past a corner and stumbled onto the scene. ¡°Beetle!¡± She shouted and pulled a long knife from her belt.


    Beetle ripped Gallo from the wall and swung him to his knees. Gripping his shoulder and one of his arms, she twisted it, threatening to snap it out of its socket. ¡°I¡¯ll happily make your Lord half a man if you come any closer,¡± Beetle growled. She leaned to the fearful man¡¯s ear. ¡°Who is Rewe de la Roche?¡±


    ¡°Dead,¡± Lady Chiara answered for him. Beetle¡¯s eyes were slits and she pressed down on Gallo¡¯s arm, straining the bone with a creak.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Gallo cried, ¡°alive!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Beetle repeated.


    ¡°A pirate,¡± Chiara answered again. ¡°Wanted in Dalme, Kanespin, and Farroux.¡± The servant took a step forward and leveled her blade. ¡°You realize the trouble you¡¯re in?¡± Her voice was low, a threat.


    ¡°Then why hold back?¡± Beetle pressed harder on Gallo, his voice rising to a squeal. Through the pain, he gasped.


    ¡°Spoken¡­. Just like Rewe.¡± His eyes glanced up at her, it was a look that sickened Beetle.


    Beetle looked down at him, suddenly fearful of something. ¡°Am I Rewe de la Roche?¡±


    Lord Gallo opened his mouth, Beetle was staring at him, waiting. As his tongue started to move but then steel flashed and Lady Chiara was next to them both. Skin ripped against her knife. Red fanned through the air, a bloody dance through the wind, and a gurgled plea followed it. Gore was bubbling in Gallo¡¯s mouth, his throat wide open, and Chiara cleaning her blade.

 Chapter 5: The Runaway

    Chapter 5: Runaway


    Water dripped, tapping ancient stone. With all the water issues of the lower dungeons of Yenellii, Crocodile figured one might think that Perdi was as rainy as the isles of the Loshes. That, or some disturbed architect did their best to make the lower level as dismal as possible by biting into wet bedrock. A shiver ran down the Verdokian¡¯s spine, he hated the dark and damp of the dungeons.


    His clawed toes clicked against the floor as he walked, on either side of the hulking gladiator were rows of rusted cages, each stained prison either empty or holding some miserable fool. Out of all the prisoners who were squished into their tormented cell, only one was standing.


    Crocodile¡¯s voice called over the dripping water ¡°Are you Phin?¡±


    The old man crinkled a smile at Crocodile. He stood tall, despite the bruises of a beating still shining under his eye. His clothing was not much better, having been torn and shredded in some struggle or another. Lucky his scratchy braies kept his modesty, not that Crocodile hasn¡¯t seen worse in Yenellii. ¡°I suppose I am,¡± Phin answered.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you for a bit now,¡± Crocodile lowered his shoulders, relaxing in front of his find. ¡°I guess I wasn¡¯t the only one.¡± Water dripped.


    Phin¡¯s smile spread into a toothy grin, and Crocodile couldn¡¯t help but grin back. ¡°I heard you caved some poor monkey¡¯s face right in, dead on the spot,¡± Crocodile leaned close to the cage. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t guess by looking at you.¡±


    ¡°Sure did,¡± Phin answered, casually. ¡°Self-defense, you see.¡±


    ¡°Right right,¡± Crocodile nodded. ¡°How long do they have you here?¡± Water dripped.


    ¡°Two more days,¡± Phin shrugged. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen a guard yet, so if they extended it or shortened it, I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Crocodile said. ¡°The pit bosses don¡¯t really care to feed prisoners. Either you hit your cell time, get sent to the arena as fodder fun, or get buried.¡±


    ¡°You speak with experience,¡± Phin laughed. His tone didn¡¯t match the dismal nature of the cells, it was the tone of someone who had experienced plenty worse, someone who knew the comedy of mortality. Crocodile closed his eyes, he could respect that. ¡°But,¡± Phin¡¯s voice continued, pulling Crocodile back into the conversation, ¡°I have a feeling you didn¡¯t seek me out to give me advice.¡± Water dripped.


    Crocodile flashed a toothy smile. ¡°Right, I came looking for you as a favor to a friend.¡±


    ¡°What friend?¡±


    ¡°Beetle.¡±


    Phin furrowed his brow, before coming to a slow understanding. ¡°The blonde?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Crocodile said. ¡°She said you might know some things that could help her out with her little problem.¡±


    ¡°I do and I¡¯d be happy to share,¡± Phin tapped the iron bars of his cell. ¡°In a couple days at least.¡±


    Silence overtook the pair. Crocodile was staring at Phin. He seemed to be an alright sort, but something stuck out to the Verdokian, something unnatural. ¡°Mind if I ask you my own question?¡±


    Phin shrugged. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Water dripped.


    ¡°Why bother helping her at all? That¡¯s seriously suspicious behavior in a place like this.¡±


    A wall bouncing laugh broke from Phin at that and all tension faded. The old man looked at Crocodile almost as if he was the crazy one. ¡°I¡¯m a geriatric oaf, a grandpa type if you will. Besides, she reminds me of my own child.¡±


    Crocodile closed his eyes, soaking in the words. He scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll never get used to you monkeys.¡± Water pattered, Phin¡¯s eyes darted behind Crocodile.


    With a sharp rasp, Crocodile¡¯s curved sword came screaming out of its scabbard and the Verdokian spun on his heel. A man in a thick leather coat stood behind him, water pattering on his shoulder. He held a club stained rusty from various victims and to his left and to his right were other thugs, making three in total.


    ¡°What is this,¡± Crocodile growled.


    Phin¡¯s voice came in harsh. ¡°Smash my cell lock, quick.¡±


    Crocodile didn¡¯t even turn away from his new enemies. His meaty tail slammed down against the cell and the rusted padlock sparked to the floor. At the display, one of the thugs took a step back. A low growl, or perhaps purr radiated from the Verdokian. ¡°That¡¯s right, stupid monkey, you¡¯re fighting a crocodile.¡±


    Phin stepped out of his cage and stood next to Crocodile, holding up his bare hands in some attempt to back up his new gladiator accomplice. The scene froze with both parties ready to spring, but neither side moved. A sinister laugh came from the Verdokian.


    ¡°Who moves first?¡±


    ¡°Rah!¡± A battle cry burst from the center thug and he closed the distance with a hefty swing. Crocodile easily ducked away from it, but another was already on its way. With his free arm, Crocodile knocked Phin away from the fight, content on keeping all his worries concerned about his own hide. The club came back around and the other thugs joined it with their own weapons.


    The Verdokian¡¯s blade crashed into the club, knocking it away with brute force before shredding down its length and biting into the arm of the thug. A hoarse cry of pain bounced off the walls, but Crocodile stepped into the cut and slammed his scaly forehead against the thug¡¯s, crumpling the man to the floor. The cowardly thug from earlier turned from the fight, but as he presented his back, Crocodile thrust his blade under his back ribs, snagging the lung and with a twist and pull, sent the man to the floor in silence. Only the final thug behind the reptile was left.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Crocodile¡¯s tail slapped, and with the crack of bone, the final body hit the stone. Water dripped.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give Lord Gallo¡¯s thugs one thing,¡± a stranger¡¯s voice chimed in the distant shadows, ¡°they were quick enough to beat me here.¡±


    Crocodile¡¯s eyes adjusted as the stranger stepped forward. He was short, maybe half of Crocodile¡¯s height and a finger or two shy of Beetle, but that wasn¡¯t the most striking feature of his; he was a frog-man. The stranger stood on two webbed feet and held a staff with similarly webbed fingers. The edges of the staff tapered to a thin-yet-blunt blade-like edge, giving the ends of the weapon a paddle-like appearance. While he stood like a man, his face was entirely that of a frog, save for wispy black strands of hair under his nose and chin. An old scar in the shape of a perfect circle marred his cheek and a wide-brimmed hat was tied to his back.


    ¡°An Aquatid,¡± Crocodile was frozen in surprise. His eyes scanned the staff in the frog¡¯s hands, just now noticing the many notches along its length. ¡°With a paddle-staff. A barkskin warrior?¡± The yellow eyes of the Verdokian lingered on the circle scar. ¡°A disgraced barkskin warrior.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t take lessons of grace from a Verdokian,¡± the Aquatid answered, spitting the word more than saying it. ¡°Let alone a brood-lost Verdokian.¡±


    Crocodile¡¯s eyes rounded to yellow saucers. The very accusation riled an old anger in his gut. ¡°Watch your tongue, frog.¡±


    ¡°Nearly half the notches on my staff were from Verdokians who hissed the same warning,¡± the Aquatid brandished his weapon. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I already gave my word I wouldn¡¯t kill you.¡±


    Crocodile pointed his blade. ¡°Name yourself and then let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    ¡°Gaju.¡±


    ¡°Easy, Crocodile,¡± Phin warned from behind. ¡°Something¡¯s off about this one.¡±


    Before Crocodile could answer Phin, Gaju kicked from the ground, closing the distance. His paddlestaff swung wide. Crocodile dashed in, juking the strike. The other end of the staff came whirling in, but Crocodile clashed his blade against the aquatid¡¯s weapon. Despite metal hitting wood, the specially hardened staff took nothing more than a knick before spinning into a new attack.


    Crocodile ducked a swing just in time, pedaled out of the way of another. With a crash, the Verdokian backed into a cage, the occupant shooting up in surprise. Gritting his teeth, Crocodile collected a hit on his blade, then another. He was pinned down by the sheer volume of attacks. Wait, an opening!


    The Verdokian¡¯s tail snapped from behind, but the Aquatid saw it coming. The paddlestaff slammed into his exposed tail, sending a rush of pain up Crocodile¡¯s spine along with a crunch of bone. With a wide fist, Crocodile countered with a swift jab to the face, knocking the aquatid back enough for his sword to swing.


    Metal hissed through the air, creating a whirlwind of cutting strokes. The curved saber was in full force now. Step by step, Crocodile was pushing Gaju back. A bright light blasted from Gaju¡¯s chest and golden ethereal ribbons snaked down his arms and up his weapon.


    ¡°Magic?¡± Crocodile swore.


    Gaju¡¯s paddlestaff struck out at sound snapping speed. Crocodile just barely managed to avoid the strike. With a scream, the enchanted staff ripped clean through the cell from earlier, cleaving the surprised occupant in half and back though the other side of the metal cage. Scarlet sprayed the walls and painted both fighters.


    ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t going to kill me?¡± Crocodile growled.


    Gaju laughed. ¡°I am getting impatient.¡±


    Crocodile clenched his jaw and struck out with his sword at full force. The aquatid quickly caught it against his staff, but Crocodile let go of the sword and ducked under the clash. WIth his full weight, the Verdokian tackled the Aquatid to the floor. Clawed hands gripped the frog¡¯s neck and he began to squeeze. A warm pulse of life tickled his scaled palms as Gaju struggled. Gold ribbons bursted again down the aquatid¡¯s arms and then with unexpected strength, far beyond the physical ability of the frog, the Aquatid¡¯s elbow slammed into Crocodile¡¯s wrist, snapping it.


    ¡°Grah!¡± Crocodile screamed in pain, but Gaju¡¯s other hand came swinging in, and with a powerful snap to the side of his temple, Crocodile¡¯s vision blurred. Another crack. Darkness.


    ***


    Beetle stared at Chiara, wide-eyed. The woman was standing there, wiping the blood of Gallo from her knife. Both of them ignored the man on the ground, his throat slit and his body lifeless. Chiara was looking at Beetle as if her gaze would hold her still.


    ¡°Beetle.¡±


    Beetle shook her head, voice light with surprise. ¡°Rewe.¡±


    Chiara spat. ¡°Rewe. You need to stay calm and stay still, understand?¡±


    Taking a step back, Beetle slowly shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Chiara warned. It was then that Beetle noticed the woman¡¯s eyes flicker to the roof tops. Masked faces peered down, at least a dozen.


    ¡°Chiara,¡± Beetle took another step back. ¡°Who are they?¡±


    Lady Chiara was shaking her head, as if her denial would make Beetle forget, make Rewe forget. Chiara took a step towards her goal. Beetle¡¯s eyes snapped back to her and then with a silent breath, Beetle dashed into the alleyway.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Chiara roared behind her. ¡°I¡¯ll get her,¡± she shouted to someone. ¡°If he shows up, shoot to kill!¡± The rest of her orders blurred as wind picked up around Beetle¡¯s ears and the alleyway swallowed her vision. Her legs were pumping, her heart racing, and her mind so saturated with questions it went blank.


    As the warrior ran, her dress clumped around her knees, until finally frustration forced Beetle to rip it off over her head and toss it aside, content to sprint in her short-pants and leather vest. ¡°Beetle!¡± Chiara¡¯s voice was right behind her. She didn¡¯t look, she didn¡¯t want to know. Her legs pumped faster.


    Beetle jumped over puddles and sprinted so fast her feet barely touched the cobblestone. As she passed a stack of wooden boxes, she threw them down. Chiara swore behind her and Beetle cut into a branching alley, before turning into another. The veritable web of buildings quickly turned to her advantage as she spun and wove through them, until she didn¡¯t know where she was anymore relative to where she started, and Chiara¡¯s footsteps were unheard. Remembering the eyes on the roof, Beetle caught sight of the closest door and pushed through.


    With a heavy slam, the warrior closed the door behind her then looked inward to her new hideaway. Three sets of eyes were staring at her, blank and surprised. A man with grizzled hair stood over the shoulder of a woman of equal age. She wore a long braid that was streaked with silver. She was sitting at a lovely table with a young boy no older than ten. All three of them were in the middle of serving each other dinner. Beetle¡¯s eyes were wider than theirs. She stood there, a madwoman in short-pants, a blood stained leather vest, and the smear of dirt. Her eyes dropped to the food on the table.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ bisque,¡± the woman said.

 Chapter 6: Its Bisque

    Chapter 6: It¡¯s Bisque


    ¡°Beetle!¡± A cheerful voice squealed and before the warrior knew it, a small boy was leaping onto her bed of rags. He had dusky brown hair like his parents and was a pale complexion long since freckled by the seaward sun. With a thump he landed on Beetle and a bright crescent smile broke across her face. She gave him a squeeze before rolling to her feet.


    ¡°Let our guest get up on her own energies, Charles,¡± the boy¡¯s mother, a brunette Lynfairish woman by the name of Brenna, chided. Beetle¡¯s little nest was tucked in the corner of the sitting room of the plaster home, a small but cozy area of chairs that overlooked the fireplace on one end and the way to the kitchen and dining area on the other. By all means, Brenna and her husband Gareg were not struggling on Perdi, but could be counted as a family of moderate wealth made from Gareg¡¯s partnership with three fishing vessels. The tall building even had an upstairs which served as the sleeping quarters of the family.


    The generosity of Brenna¡¯s family was not lost on Beetle this past week, and in spite of her ability to offer them nothing but labor, they didn¡¯t make a single move to kick her back to the streets. It put a cozy grin on Beetle¡¯s face. She wasn¡¯t sure if she had experienced this level of compassion when she was Rewe de la Hache, but she certainly never did as Beetle.


    ¡°Mar Brenna,¡± Beetle piped up in the formal fashion, having learned from Charles the clever little honorifics of the islands.  Brenna was just outside the sitting room, still in view, but attending to the pot on a closed stove which dominated the kitchen and dining area.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Brenna glanced over her shoulder, but kept her attention to the pot. Beetle could make out a smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re not going to thank me again, are you?¡±


    Beetle stretched and looked down at her clothes. The thick linens of a dock worker covered her bruised form. ¡°What if I was?¡± Her voice was quiet. The anger that usually laced her tone seemed subdued for now.


    ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s pointless,¡± Brenna laughed. ¡°Thank me as many times as you want, you know I would have still taken you in. It¡¯s the way of Iac to be generous without counting.¡± The woman turned to regard Beetle entirely. ¡°Will you be helping Gareg today?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Beetle answered immediately.


    Brenna nodded at a wooden bowl. ¡°Then grab some breakfast, you¡¯re going to need it.¡±


    ***


    The dock air was mild and salty. Very little wind was coming off of the blue waters that morning, and the chatter of gulls mixed with the shouts of dock workers and the clambering of tools. Gareg and his partners owned a good portion of the wooden dock, and in particular had a warehouse and a dry dock for ship maintenance. While some other days of work under Gareg included organizing the warehouse and hauling things to and from the boats, today had a special task, one that was introduced by Gareg¡¯s overeager face. He was tanned dark from the sun and his friendly nature stamped an ever smile on his cheeks. His white linens were as pure as his intentions and no matter how smudged he or his clothes were from work, he was happy. Beetle learned one truth, however; Gareg¡¯s joy increased thricefold whenever a difficult task was upon them.


    ¡°Mar Gareg¡­¡± Beetle started slowly. The two stood in the dry dock, where one of the shipping vessels was suspended on thick timbers, exposing the underside of the boat to the air. It was a beat up hull, fit with barnacles and marred wood.


    Gareg¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Mar, huh? You¡¯re learning the old ways of the island quickly! Very good!¡± He clapped his rough hands. ¡°Now we show respect to our vessel, Mar Maria!¡±


    Beetle cocked her head, but before she could ask, a sanding block was slapped into one of her hands, and a chisel into the other. Gareg pointed his own chisel at the hull, taking a stance not unlike a commander at arms. ¡°Today, we rid Maria of her barnacles and prepare her for refitting.¡±


    Though Beetle couldn¡¯t remember a time she had ever done this, a deep set instinct inside her told her that Rewe hated doing this. Gareg must have seen the distress on Beetle¡¯s face, because his smile grew wider and he slapped her back playfully, pushing her forward a step. ¡°Busy hands ruin idle minds. Trust me, Mar Beetle, work will cool your mind.¡±


    ¡°You think so?¡± Beetle¡¯s voice came harsher than intended, but Gareg didn¡¯t seem to mind. The warrior closed her eyes and forced a smile. ¡°Sorry Mar Gareg, that¡¯s not how I wanted to say that.¡±


    ¡°No heed, no mind,¡± Gareg waved it away, but before he could bring his chisel to the first barnacle, one of his workers, a tall man by the name of Umbel came running into the workshop with a piece of paper flapping in his hands.


    ¡°Mar Gareg!¡± He huffed, face purple with exhaustion. ¡°Look!¡± He slapped the paper to the side of the boat, spreading it for both Gareg and Beetle to read. It was a poster advertising the Yenellii arena. If Beetle¡¯s blood froze at the name of the arena, what it was advertising sent it aflame with anxiety. Gareg¡¯s demeanor changed too, his smile curled into a rare scowl as he read the poster outloud. ¡°Your Duchess Maelys presents at the Yenellii Arena: the Infamous Rewe de la Hache versus the beasts led by Diamond the Magnificent.¡±


    Beetle¡¯s eyes read the rest of the poster, specifically, ¡°will the evil Rewe be able to defeat the beasts before they devour Crocodile and his allies?¡±


    ¡°Pox!¡± Umbel swore, and Gareg closed his eyes, as if swallowing his own anger.


    ¡°Do you know Diamond?¡± Beetle asked on instinct.


    ¡°I know Rewe de la Hache!¡± Gareg¡¯s anger broke free for a moment. Beetle shrunk in place. Umbel clenched his jaw.


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t? We used to have six ships, you know? And¡­¡± Umbel¡¯s brow knit. ¡°To think while I pain away at remembering it all, she is playing gladiator for that rotten Duchess.¡±


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Beetle was silent. She never told Gareg or his family who she was, just that she was a runaway from the arena. Taking a step back, the warrior cleared her throat. ¡°Is Rewe really that awful?¡± Her voice cracked, knowing how ridiculous the question was after hearing Umbel¡¯s story.


    Gareg chewed his cheek. ¡°That¡¯s enough talk of that creature. Busy hands ruin idle minds.¡± He held up his chisel.


    Umbel nodded. ¡°Aye.¡±


    ¡°Would she ever leave a friend?¡± Beetle found herself asking quietly, not unlike a child. The yellow eyes of Crocodile flashed in her mind.


    ¡°What friends?¡± Umbel answered, summoning a glare from Gareg.


    Beetle swallowed hard. ¡°I know Crocodile.¡±


    The two workers gave Beetle a soft glance. ¡°When you were a captive?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Beetle answered. ¡°He was nice to me.¡±


    Umbel shook his head. ¡°Shame, then. The beasts-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say horrible things,¡± Gareg cut Umbel off. ¡°The last thing Mar Beetle needs is grief.¡±


    Gareg¡¯s compassionate glance was wasted on Beetle. The warrior shuffled past the two and slammed her chisel into the side of the boat. With a silence visage that spoke of no emotion, Beetle worked hard against the barnacles. Gareg and Umble clamored to join her, but as time whittled on, Beetle¡¯s pace never slackened, her eyes ice on her task.


    Maybe Rewe hated this work, but Beetle would do it for those who showed her generosity, the Warrior thought. Maybe Rewe didn¡¯t have friends but¡ª With a slip, Beetle¡¯s knuckle gashed across a barnacle. Yelping, Beetle stuck her knuckle into her mouth and sucked on the cut. Red spread on her teeth. ¡°Shit.¡±


    Gareg glanced at her, but instead of smiling, he wore a cautious face.


    ***


    Beetle sat awake in her nest of blankets. Her knees were pulled against her chest and she stared into the opaque darkness of the kitchen. Upstair, nothing was stirring and outside, only the rare footsteps of some vagabond sounded against the brickway. A cold ocean breeze was snaking through the alleys, finishing the scene with a hollow whisper, a sound counter to the raging screams of Beetle¡¯s mind.


    The poster was a trap. It didn¡¯t take the infamous Rewe de la Hache to figure that one out, even a Beetle would suffice, but at the same time, it was a good one. Rewe would just let it go, not give it a second thought, at least Beetle figured. It was ballsy of the Duchess to assume that Beetle wouldn¡¯t do the same as Rewe, but it was clever. The warrior bit her thumb. She couldn¡¯t let Crocodile suffer because of her. She couldn¡¯t let anyone else suffer because of her. Unknown sins weighed on her mind.


    A footstep. Beetle twisted on her bed to see Gareg stepping into view from the shadows of the stairway. ¡°Mar Gareg?¡± Beetle whispered.


    ¡°Mar Beetle.¡± A dim, weak smile greeted her. ¡°I had a thought.¡±


    ¡°That couldn¡¯t wait until morning?¡± Beetle blinked, her gut churning anxiously; did he figure it out?


    ¡°I was thinking, I¡¯ve been enjoying your company so much, I never thought to offer you a way off the island,¡± Gareg settled down next to Beetle. ¡°One of the boats is heading close to the coast of Farroux on its next journey, leaving in the morning. I figured, if you wanted a way home, that could do.¡±


    Beetle¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re not kicking me out, are you?¡±


    Gareg shook his head. ¡°Never. You¡¯ve been a good guest, should you want to stay, well I could set you up at the warehouses and hire you for wages, but I had a feeling that I should at least offer. Do you want a way out?¡±


    Silence hung between the two for a moment before Beetle cracked a sad grin of her own. ¡°Did you know I was leaving tonight?¡±


    ¡°I could see it in the way you worked,¡± Gareg answered.


    ¡°So I have a way out,¡± Beetle droned. A sigh. ¡°A way out, easy, free.¡±


    Gareg¡¯s own brow furrowed now. ¡°I admit, Mar Beetle, I¡¯m starting to have a thought that is rather frightening.¡±


    Beetle blinked, eyes readjusting on her benefactor¡¯s face. ¡°If I told you that I¡¯m refusing both your offers, would that settle the thought.¡±


    Gareg looked away for a moment before slowly nodding. ¡°I think it might.¡±


    Forcing a shallow, hush laugh, Beetle tried to hide the burn behind her eyes, the wetness forming. ¡°Then rest easy, I¡¯m refusing you.¡±


    Gareg still wasn¡¯t looking at her. ¡°No way to convince you to take my offers, huh?¡± It was said as if in jest, but pain was in every word. Beetle stole a glance down, his hands were in tight fists.


    ¡°No,¡± Beetle answered. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    ¡°A shame,¡± Gareg was looking in the darkness. ¡°Well you know my door if you ever need me or my family again. We are here for you, Mar Beetle.¡± The words were hollow, save for the warmth the man placed in Beetle¡¯s name.


    ¡°Tell Charles that I¡¯ll miss him,¡± Beetle stood up.


    Gareg ventured a glance at Beetle. They were stuck eye to eye, shimmer to shimmer. ¡°He will be in tears,¡± Gareg said flatly. Beetle stood up at that but before she could get more than a few steps into the kitchen, Gareg called out in a hushed voice.


    ¡°Take that bundle by the counter, Brenna saw it made for you. It¡¯s bisque.¡±


    Beetle lifted the fabric bundle, feeling the jars underneath. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Since she¡¯s asleep,¡± Gareg hushed even more. ¡°I¡¯ll say it for her: Iac watch you.¡±


    Beetle nodded in silence, not even sure if Gareg could see the movement. She idled for a moment and then with a burst of anxious energy, she swiftly opened the kitchen door to the outside world and closed it behind her.


    A purple midnight rose above the tall buildings of Perdi and as Beetle stood there in the wind of the night, she knew a chance at peace lingered behind her, but then, it was a peace that only Rewe de la Hache would have taken. Beetle put a foot forward, one step closer to the Duchess¡¯ trap, and one step closer to saving her only friend.


    Her voice was swept into a seaborn breeze. ¡°I¡¯m coming, Crocodile.¡±

 Chapter 6.5: Note

    Hello!!


    There won''t be a chapter this week, as I spent most of it sick. That said, I''ve been working on a new cover for our story and can''t wait to show you all!


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Don''t fret: Beetle''s journey will be back soon! I''ll be playing catch up these next few days, so keep an eye out.


    I''d appreciate any comments in the meantime, letting me know what you all think of the journey so far and your expectations. At the end of the day, I want this to be an exciting adventure not just to write, but to follow and read. I really hope Bsetle''s story can serve as a first foray into my little world. Either way, I appreciate your time as always!!


    Thank you all,


    J.B.

 Chapter 7: Carnivorous Butterflies in your Stomach

    Chapter 7: Carnivorous Butterflies in your Stomach


    Quartermaster Jacob stood frozen in fear. The blade of Beetle¡¯s axe scratched at his neck with each breath. His eyes were wide and his assailant was silent and calm. Together they stood just past the door of Lord Gallo¡¯s equipment room where Beetle had readied for her bout against Crocodile. Beetle¡¯s whisper cut the silence.


    ¡°What do you know about the Duchess¡¯s trap?¡±


    Jacob went to turn to face his captor but Beetle tightened her grip on him and pressed her blade firm on his throat. Jacob yelped, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here, I don¡¯t know anything about the duchess. I don¡¯t know anything!¡±


    Beetle stood in fresh armor with her axe in hand, having taken advantage of the empty training room before the quartermaster showed up. Beetle considered releasing the poor sod. ¡°The halls were empty, it was easy to get in here.¡± It was a statement, not a question.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why,¡± Jacob answered. ¡°The quartermasters weren¡¯t told anything about the guard schedules.¡±


    ¡°Did you know that you¡¯re useless?¡± Beetle growled, sounding very much like Rewe.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Jacob yelped.


    A sigh. ¡°Do I need to kill you?¡± Beetle wasn¡¯t so much asking the man as wondering if it was a cruelty she needed to partake in for her own safety.


    Jacob¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why would I ever answer yes to that?¡±


    ¡°Leave the poor creature alone, Rewe,¡± a familiar voice echoed from the hall that led to the sands. Miss Chiara¡¯s eyes flashed in the darkness. With a shove, Beetle released Jacob. Her hands came down on the haft of her axe and her knuckles whitened as she gripped the weapon tight.


    ¡°Easy,¡± Chiara chided. ¡°Save your strength for your bout.¡±


    Beetle hesitated for a moment. ¡°You can save the act, I¡¯m not stupid. I know this whole ordeal was a lure and here I am, baited and vulnerable.¡± Beetle resumed her battle stance. ¡°I¡¯m here, let¡¯s just get it over with.¡±


    Chiara stabbed a thumb behind her. ¡°Your friends need you out there.¡± She took a step forward and a wicked smile formed across her face. ¡°And besides, who said it was you we were after?¡± The strange woman walked past Beetle, boots clicking on stone. ¡°Play your role,¡± Chiara said idly to the wind as she walked. ¡°And maybe the Duchess will let you in on our little secret.¡±


    Beetle glanced at Jacob, who sat on the ground in silence. The warrior turned, but Chiara was gone. Beetle hefted her axe over her shoulder and then against all her judgement, took her first steps towards the hallway to the arena. With each silent step, she could hear the cheers getting louder; the unintelligible garble of an announcer, and the scream of braying beasts.


    Darkness took Beetle¡¯s sight as she entered the network of back halls, only to return to her in the form of a burning beige, the color of sun off of sand. The cheers erupted in her ears full force now and with a scuff of her sandal, she took her first step back into the circle. As the sun heated her shoulders and breathed on her face, the stands pulsed with life. People were screaming for Rewe, they were screaming for the pirate queen, but it was Beetle who stood there, eyes forward.


    At the center of the arena, Crocodile stood chained to a thick wooden pole fit for a ship¡¯s mast. Tied opposite of him was the old man with the split lip, the man who knew the secret of her bloody ears. Crocodile¡¯s yellow eyes widened at her approach and his toothy face split into a smile. ¡°Ah, there she is!¡±


    ¡°Here I am,¡± Beetle smiled back.


    ¡°Rewe de la Hache!¡± The announcer boomed through a cone of copper held to their lips. He was a portly man with an incredibly deep voice, but more importantly he stood next to the Duchess herself. Duchess Maelys stood proud, a lingering smile on red painted lips. She stood still, like a cat waiting for the mouse to move, so much so that her gem encrusted gown refused to glitter. The crowd¡¯s chants exploded once again.


    ¡°From the shores of Farroux, to the waters of the middle sea, the waves of Kanespin, and the shores of Perdi,¡± the announcer continued. ¡°She has at last stepped from wooden plank to sacred sand. With her infamous axe ¡®Marrower¡¯ she has arrived to bring us not only entertainment, but deep dread at the horrible possibilities one such as herself can inflict¡­ or?¡±


    A suspenseful pause. ¡°Shall we see a new side to the infamous criminal of sapphire turned ruby  waters? Is she here to break skulls, or is she here to save what few friends she can call her own? Crocodile! A Verdokian of endless battle appetite and¡­¡± Even the announcer deflated a little at the sight of Phin. ¡°And her very own father!?¡±


    It was a reach, even Beetle could tell that much. Phin looked up at the announcer, baffled and even a little insulted, but the announcer continued. ¡°Well, we shall see, but if she does intend to save her friends and family, she must get through not only the beasts of sicklecoat, but the Duchess¡¯ very own gladiator. You know her, you love her! Diamond the Magificent!¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    At that, the braying sounds of beasts cut to a new height and the sound of iron ripping across iron shook the ground. With a flourish of inhuman screams, a chariot pulled by seven of the strange spiked hyena creatures from Beetle¡¯s first day came rushing from the portcullis. Atop the gilded vehicle stood a woman with a face painted blue. Her teeth were sharpened to points and perfectly white. Her hands weren¡¯t even holding the reigns of the chariot, but rather a long scourge in each, fitted with devious nails and blades. Her armor was as conspicuous as the rest of her, being painted a bright white, same as her dyed hair, and consisted of molded leather patches sewn together in such a way it looked like esoteric fashion. By just looking at her, Beetle couldn¡¯t guess how she fights or even how she survived so long on Perdi.


    The crowd was on its feet now, and the screams of the beasts were drowned out by the mob¡¯s own roars. The noise was so great, the announcer''s last words were completely drowned out, but Beetle could only assume what he had said. Diamond lept from her chariot and with a crack of one of her lashes, the ropes holding the beasts to the vehicle were severed.


    Without wasting a moment, the terrine monsters rushed towards the mast where Crocodile and Phin were tied. Crocodile shouted. ¡°Monkey!¡± He was wriggling against his chains, tail flexing.


    Beetle¡¯s eyes slipped from Diamond¡¯s and she took a few sprinting steps towards her friends, only for Diamond¡¯s lash to rip across the sand in front of her. Beetle spun backwards as the second lash gouged the air where she once stood.


    The axe, Marrower, came up as Beetle faced her opponent. Diamond only smiled, wicked and hollow. With a burst of energy, Beetle rushed the gladiator, only to end the jog short and kick the sand of the arena into a plume. It was unexpected, as Diamond¡¯s aggravated shout attested, giving Beetle enough time to break off and land near the mast.


    Saliva splattered on her as the closest beast turned  from Crocodile and snapped at the warrior. Eager to protect their dinner, the seven beasts started to ring Beetle. Crocodile sighed loudly by Beetle¡¯s back. ¡°A fine mess, being your friend.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Phin agreed.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Beetle chided, eyes flickering between her opponents, waiting for an opening.


    With a trilling laugh, Diamond trotted into the ring of beasts. The creatures didn¡¯t bear her any mind, as if she was just another one of their own, as she entered the scene. Sand was stuck to her painted face and her smile was crooked with a half-grimace. ¡°You¡¯re quite the small one, aren¡¯t you? Sneaky and sniveling.¡± Diamond teased.


    ¡°Less surface area,¡± Beetle answered quickly.


    ¡°Harder to hit,¡± Crocodile agreed from behind.


    ¡°This is a weird ass fight,¡± Phin blew a sigh.


    ¡°Well she¡¯s a weird ass lady,¡± Beetle held Marrower ready.


    ¡°The thought of putting Rewe de la Hache in her place gave me butterflies, you know,¡± Diamond¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Doubly so if I can break that wise cracking face of yours. Void knows I always hated you.¡±


    Thoughts of Gareg passed through Beetle¡¯s mind and her voice dropped to a hurt growl. ¡°How can you hate me if you never met me?¡±


    ¡°Figures,¡± Diamond flicked one of her lashes, as if preparing her arm. ¡°Lost in your own bubble, no care about any far reaching effects. I should have guessed as much.¡±


    ¡°Monkey,¡± Crocodile hissed. ¡°A Verdokian would have shoved an axe down her throat by now to shut her up.¡±


    Beetle shot a glance at Crocodile, the mast between him and Phin was covered by his chains and hulking form, not a spot of wood between iron and flesh. Crocodile matched her gaze and gave a nod. The wind cracked. Time slowed down. Beetle¡¯s ears perked before it could reach her and with a fluid motion, the warrior leapt out of the way. One of Diamond¡¯s scourges ripped at the ground, opening inviting a howl from the beasts and then all at once, the real fight began.


    Seven monsters bared down, but Beetle was ready for the first. Marrower came in hard and strong, crashing into the beast¡¯s spiny skull and exploding it into a pink cloud. One of the forked tongues flickered at her from the side, snapping against her arm and ripping it open. Red trickled. Beetle backed up to get more room but the six remaining beasts closed in.


    A mighty paw came to trip up the warrior but Beetle nimbly dodged it again. She was backpedaling now, threatening with Marrower while trying her best to avoid attacks. Diamond was lingering in the background, strolling along with a big smile as the crowd cheered her on. She was enjoying the show as much as the Duchess. One slip, one trip, and one of the mighty jaws would latch onto Beetle, there was no doubt.


    ¡°Void it all, Monkey,¡± Crocodile shouted from his mast. ¡°Just do it!¡±


    ¡°Do what!?¡± Phin shouted.


    Beetle hitched a breath and pushed forward at last. The beasts lunged at once. The first missed, and the second was close. Beetle turned her shoulders to push by the third and fourth, and with a stroke of luck, she tumbled past the remaining monsters, rolling right next to the mast. Diamond was aware, and with a snarl, she lunged.


    Beetle hopped over an arcing scourge, only for the second to slap against her leather cuirass. The material took the worst of the blow, but the force knocked the wind out of Beetle. The warrior stumbled backwards just as the scourges came back again. Diamond was dancing, her scourges raining blows. Beetle held out Marrower, using the thick hilt to knock away anything she might, but the lashes gouged at her armor and exposed skin. Rusty nails and shards of metal ripped at her skin, leaving bloody but shallow marks. Beetle grit her teeth, now understanding Diamond to be more show and pain than efficient murder.


    A howl. The beasts were back and Beetle was on the defensive under Diamond¡¯s assault. Crocodile was shaking against the chains while Phin had his eyes closed. Beetle stole another glance at Crocodile. His teeth were clenched, he was ready, he was willing. Beetle fell backwards, finally out of the scourge¡¯s range, and just as the beasts charged the gap, Beetle swung Marrower wide¡­ in the opposite direction.


    Metal snapped and a loud wail came from Crocodile. His shoulder was bleeding heavily, Marrower having cleaved into it through a chain. The binds slackened and then with a shrug, the chains fell to the sands. Crocodile stepped forward and Phin stood behind the mast.


    ¡°Alright, Monkey,¡± Crocodile grinned madly. ¡°Now it¡¯s time for the real fight.¡±

 Chapter 8: Secrets

    Chapter 8: Secrets


    Crocodile kicked off the ground into a full sprint. Diamond¡¯s face twisted with both surprise and rage, but before Crocodile could close the distance, the remaining sicklecoat beasts jumped in between. With a thrash of flesh on flesh and scale on scale, Crocodile plowed into them. Claws on both sides flashed and the struggle began. Before Diamond¡¯s face could turn smug, Beetle saw her opening.


    Sandals pounding against sand, Beetle kept her eyes on Crocodile¡¯s back as she ran. The Verdokian was fending off multiple beasts with a practiced ease, even with one arm. Beetle leaped, praying for forgiveness as her sandal clapped against Crocodile¡¯s back. With a push of her leg, Beetle springboarded off the gladiator and over the beasts. Diamond¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief but her wrist flicked anyway.


    One of diamond¡¯s lashes cut through the air, the sharp end spearing into Beetle¡¯s leg with a burst of red. The lash was impaled in her leg and with a tug, Beetle¡¯s trajectory was pulled towards Diamond just as she revealed a thin dagger in her other hand. Marrower hit the lash and both Beetle and the scourge clattered to the ground. Beetle rolled with the crash, avoiding the dagger and popping back onto her feet by Diamond.


    Pain shot up Beetle¡¯s leg, nearly toppling her as she swung her axe. Diamond was all daggers now and nimbly avoided the strike, only for the beard of the axe to tug backwards and hook her shoulder. The flexible gladiator wasn¡¯t bothered beyond the pain and moved with the blow, slamming into Beetle faster than expected. The two were sent to the ground.


    Diamond rolled on top, the taller woman getting leverage. Another dagger flashed in her other hand and with both twin needles she struck. Beetle wriggled away from the point of the blade and with a grunt, shoved her elbow in a jab, cracking against Diamond¡¯s nose. Blood popped and Beetle was free of the grapple.


    Swinging Marrower wide across the ground, Diamond was forced to roll away but before Beetle could use the space to stand up, Diamond was lunging forward again. A hot pain ripped through Beetle, one of the needle daggers grazed her arm, the other batted away by Marrower just in time. Beetle was pushed back into the sand, Marrower too close to use.


    Letting go of her weapon, Beetle reached out and grabbed Diamond by the wrist, trying to keep the daggers from her face while using her knee to batter the gladiator with short strikes. Diamond let out grunts of pain but narrowed her eyes, pushing her weight down and edging the points of her blade to Beetle¡¯s face.


    A shrill scream rattled from somewhere in the crowd and through the stinging sweat, Beetle saw something flash in her periphery. Steel flew through the air and slammed into Diamond, sending the gladiator off Beetle and into the dirt. A throwing knife was embedded in her arm, the serrated edge down to white bone. Beetle looked up.


    A path of blood was opened in the crowd. Two assassins were climbing down from the stands, one of the masked knights bloody in the sand. Over Diamond¡¯s pained growl, Beetle could hear orders being barked as the other knights started to react. Over where a bloodied Crocodile was facing off against the final two beasts, one of the sicklecoats broke off to attack the newcomers. A flurry of knives left the trained arms of the black-clad murderers and the sicklecoat slid into the sand, dead and bloody.


    Beetle could see their eyes beyond their masks, set on her, set with fury and rage. If anyone was to kill Rewe de la Hache, it was going to be them, that¡¯s what their gaze said. Their arms raised, knives bristling, but a shadow appeared behind them, even more sinister than themselves.


    Miss Chiara appeared, one hand on the shoulder of the furthest assassin, her other wrapped around a curved blade. With a tug, a spray of scarlet erupted from one of the assassin¡¯s throats. The final assassin panicked and threw his blades at Beetle before turning to Chiara.


    Sun glinted off the knives, but before they could find Beetle, an aquatid jumped in front of the bloodied warrior, knocking the knives out of the air with a staff as if they were toys. Bone cracked and the living assassin was sent to the ground, arms broken behind his back. He was on his knees as the knights of the arena finally made it to him, eager to slap him in iron.


    ¡°Rewe!¡± The assassin gurgled between shoves. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, Rewe!¡±


    Beetle blinked and noticed for the first time, her vision was blurry. She looked down at her leg, still bleeding from the lash, then at the rest of her body. Beyond her vision, Crocodile was sitting down, crimson but breathing, while Phin was leaned against the corpse of a sickleback, better off than everyone else. Beetle blinked again, her ears picking up Chiara¡¯s voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± the Aquatid, Gaju, answered.


    Chiara¡¯s voice was pointed somewhere else, ¡°Patch Rewe up, get her to the duchess¡¯s carriage. Bring the others.¡±


    Beetle let her head lay back in the sand, the blurry sky above. ¡°Fuck this.¡±


    ***


    The door to the duchess¡¯s carriage closed with a puff of velvet. It was par for the course, the entire interior of the gaudy vehicle was lined with the fabric dyed blue and dotted with silver stars. Beetle sat on the comfiest booth she ever had the honor of gracing, her body aching and in pain. She was bruised, bandaged, and understandably not in the best of moods.


    Countering that, the Duchess Maelys sat across from her, grinning a pearly grin and dressed in a flawless silver gown. Her midnight purple skin matched the ensemble and the constellation-like freckles of her face only added to her cosmic appearance. It was to Beetle¡¯s knowledge that Maelys was from the Eastern Continent of Befur, but of what manner of creature she was, it wasn¡¯t in Beetle¡¯s recollection.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Well, well!¡± Maelys tapped the wall behind her and with a tug, the carriage started to move. Beetle winced at the jerking motion and shot the duchess an annoyed look. Outside, Beetle could barely hear the carriages the others were stuffed into over the sound of wheel on cobble.


    ¡°Dear, look at me,¡± Maelys chastised, stealing Beetle¡¯s attention once again. They stared at each other for a moment. Angry green eyes against the heavenly pearls of a duchess. Maelys¡¯ lips spread into a wider smile. ¡°You could boil water with that look.¡±


    ¡°Tell me everything,¡± Beetle growled.


    The duchess¡¯s smile faded a little. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re confused¡­ shall I call you Rewe?¡±


    ¡°Beetle,¡± the warrior insisted.


    That caught a reaction as Maelys cocked a brow. ¡°A¡­ joke?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Beetle said simply.


    ¡°Very well.¡± Maelys sank into her chair. ¡°As you may have gathered by now, you are being used.¡±


    Beetle puffed a breath through her cheeks. ¡°No shit. Why am I here and why?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here because a few months ago you killed the son of the Thrice-fold Slayer,¡± the duchess leaned forward, catching Beetle¡¯s eye. ¡°Do you remember that?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Beetle squinted, as if it would unfog her thoughts. ¡°I can¡¯t remember anything.¡±


    ¡°Because of a special toxin, haramush, that was applied to you,¡± Maelys explained. ¡°Lord Gallo¡¯s company works out of Southern Yzaille where it can be found. One of his agents secured the toxin and then secured you with it. A few days later you were on my island.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to explain a little more than that,¡± Beetle spat.


    ¡°There was no way we could control Rewe de la Hache as is, and I had no connection to the haramush, so I tapped Lord Gallo to do the retrieval and in return, he could play patron to his favorite idol so long as he kept you ignorant.¡± The words flowed from Maelys simply, as if she was discussing the weather.


    Beetle shot out of her chair, only to stumble back into it as the carriage bumped on the road. ¡°You!¡± Beetle growled as she tried to stand again. ¡°You were the one!?¡±


    Maelys held out her palms. ¡°Now, now, I can see why you¡¯d be upset, but let me explain the whole ordeal. I do have a fancy little offer for you.¡±


    ¡°Shove your offer!¡± Beetle spat. ¡°I oughta gut you.¡±


    Maelys grinned. ¡°You¡¯re sounding like your old self already.¡±


    Beetle closed her eyes at that and Maelys continued while the warrior fumed. ¡°Listen. This was against your will, obviously, but now that you know, we could go into this as partners.¡±


    The warrior was clenching her fists white. Every fiber in her body wanted to beat the duchess into a pulp, but for some reason, instead she asked, ¡°into what?¡±


    ¡°Thrice-fold Slayer is after you, and he will find you,¡± Maelys explained slowly. ¡°I expected him to find you without me ever advertising you to be on Perdi. One reason I wanted you ignorant is so you could play gladiator without care and let him come to you so we could intercept him, but now that you know, I don¡¯t see any reason we can¡¯t continue the plan with you as a partner.¡±


    ¡°Why do you want the Thrice-fold Slayer?¡± Beetle found herself asking.


    ¡°Easy,¡± Maelys¡¯ smile never faded. ¡°I want to capture him and turn him over to the kings of Dalme and Kanespin as well as the Queen of Farroux, and in return, they will recognize Perdi as a sovereign nation and me as its queen. I see no reason not to share those spoils with you. As for why those kings and queens would want the Slayer so badly, let¡¯s just say he is called the Thrice-fold because he has slain the last monarchs of each of those countries. He was a Black Scorpion.¡±


    Even Beetle remembered that name. The Black Scorpions, the deadly assassins for hire from the sands, second to none in the art of death. Beetle was clenching her jaw. ¡°You expect me to work with you, after all of this?¡±


    ¡°Rewe likely wouldn¡¯t,¡± the Duchess sat back. ¡°And I doubt Beetle would, for free at least.¡±


    Beetle sat there in silence, staring at the woman across from her. Every beat of her heart was an angry one and every pulse in her head carried a violent thought. The duchess used her, stole her memories, and threw her into a prison whose warden was a creep. Rewe de la Hache would stand up right there and wrap her fingers around the duchess¡¯s neck, but Beetle, Beetle knew her friends were in the carriage behind her, she knew the duchess knew more, and she knew she wouldn¡¯t escape the island alive if she chose violence right here and now.


    Opening her mouth, Beetle¡¯s tongue felt sour as she spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll play along, but with conditions.¡±


    Maelys dipped her head. ¡°Naturally.¡±


    ¡°When we capture the Slayer,¡± Beetle¡¯s mind drifted to the pain Rewe inflicted on Gareg. ¡°I want four ships, three fit for commercial fishing and one for deep sea, as well as a crew for each.¡±


    The duchess¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Four vessels!?¡±


    ¡°Or I could ring your neck right here and now and we both die before you get a whiff of royalty.¡± Beetle sat back. ¡°You need me on board, but I don¡¯t need you.¡±


    Maelys¡¯ smile was gone, teeth clenched. ¡°Oh my, what a thinker you are.¡± A tense pause. ¡°If you want to play fisherwoman, I won¡¯t stop you, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Two up-front,¡± Beetle piped.


    The duchess blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Two ships up front,¡± Beetle clarified, ¡°for fishing.¡±


    ¡°And how do I know you won¡¯t use them to escape?¡± Maelys hissed.


    ¡°Escape?¡± Beetle was grinning now. ¡°Why would a free partner need to escape?¡±


    Maelys¡¯ grin spread again, thick with poison. ¡°You really are Rewe de la Hache. Fine, it¡¯s a deal.¡±

 Chapter 9: A Priest Who Hates Bears

    Chapter 9: A Priest Who Hates Bears


    A partnership with the duchess had perks, that much was clear. Beyond the payment and the lack of perverts named Gallo, Beetle quickly found that she was allowed to use Maelys¡¯ estate as she saw fit and in particular was advised to visit the ward where Maelys¡¯ personal doctor practiced in order to sort out the wound in her leg. Before arriving, Beetle was told two things: first that Pierre was an ex-priest of the Serene Church of the mainland who used magic to heal, and that second, Pierre didn¡¯t have any haramush for Beetle to worry about.


    That said, Beetle didn¡¯t quite believe the duchess but the hole in her leg wasn¡¯t getting any smaller. The warrior stood outside of the heavy doors of Pierre¡¯s ward, dressed decently for once. Her outfit was simple but it was stitched well, cotton and dyed green. The shirt was a little long, and the pants had to be rolled up to her knees to prevent her leg wound from oozing onto the fabric. Each clumsy step felt like Beetle was being stabbed all over again.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t afford a crutch?¡± Beetle mumbled to herself before pushing the door wide open. Immediately the scent of perfumes sterilized the air and forced a dry cough from Beetle. While the hallway was open to the natural light of the estate¡¯s gardens through wide windows, the ward was dim and lit only by orange candles and struggling light that filtered through colored glass.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Beetle took her first step into the ward.


    ¡°Hello,¡± A voice shot up from her leg.


    ¡°What the!?¡± Beetle nearly jumped back in surprise but before she could, a firm hand kept her still. The sober face of a nun looked up from next to Beetle¡¯s wound. The woman was clothed in simple brown robes and had her silvering hair tied back in a bun. Her eyes were nearly black and her skin a chalky white.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move so suddenly,¡± the nun chastised before standing up. ¡°You¡¯ll bleed all over the place.¡± Her hands stiffly guided Beetle by the shoulder, urging her forward.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Pierre,¡± Beetle stammered, still shocked by the sudden appearance.


    ¡°I¡¯m Pierre,¡± the nun said simply. The two stopped by a simple cot that was propped near a wooden wall of fanciful grotesques.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t Pierre usually a-¡±


    ¡°Yup!¡± Pierre shut Beetle up quickly. ¡°Lay down please, I¡¯d like to close your wound up before you get much paler.¡±


    Beetle complied, easing herself onto the cot. It was scratchy and the strange carvings of animals on the walls made the whole experience even more surreal than it already was. Cold air rushed over her wound as Pierre peeled back the bandages. A scowl found the nun¡¯s face. ¡°Iac in the Valley,¡± she swore, ¡°you¡¯d think the medics over at that arena were butchers.¡±


    ¡°Hah!?¡± Beetle went to sit up to look, but Pierre pressed her back down.


    ¡°Sutures are all wrong, you¡¯re still leaking, I¡¯m going to take them all out before closing you up with mist-talking.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Beetle relaxed on the cot, staring at the wooden birds and beasts. ¡°I never saw mist-talking in action, at least, not that I can remember.¡±


    ¡°It could be that you just don¡¯t remember,¡± Pierre plucked at the sutures with a metal instrument. ¡°Farroux is Serenist just like Lynnfaire. Every Deacon and Nun knows a little mist-talking.¡± Pierre hummed and pressed a cold cloth to Beetle¡¯s wound as she continued down the way. ¡°Probably the only good thing the Serene Church ever shat out.¡±


    ¡°Jaded?¡± Beetle cocked a grin.


    Pierre looked up at her patient and chuckled grimly. ¡°So very much. I¡¯m an Iacist nowadays, I run a group over in town, there¡¯s not many of us on Perdi, though.¡±


    ¡°Do you know a Brenna?¡± Beetle found herself asking.


    The metal instrument clinked against a bowl and Pierre pushed the cold cloth hard against Beetle¡¯s wound, stemming the bleeding. ¡°Yup, Lynnfairish like me. Left the country to practice safely, like me. I also know your pal Lovoash.¡±


    ¡°Lovoash?¡±


    ¡°Uh, Crocodile.¡±


    Beetle tilted her head to get a better look at the nun. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°We got each other to Perdi, believe it or not,¡± Pierre answered. The nun looked down at the wound and started to move her lifts in a soft chant. It was quiet at first, but soon a hissing sound came and a dense blue mist pooled in the nun¡¯s mouth. Beetle watched in silence as it spilled out in a small waterfall, bathing over her wound. As the mist enveloped her bloody, misshapen gash, the heat of the wound turned numb and her muscle and skin started to rejoin. A minute later and all that was left was a barely visible scar.


    Pierre slapped the scar, making Beetle flinch, but there wasn¡¯t any pain, just the feeling of complete exhaustion. The nun smirked. ¡°Stay off it as best you can, just to let the body rest.¡±


    Beetle sat up. ¡°Thanks.¡± Curiosity brimmed in her head and she continued. ¡°Tell me about Crocodile.¡±


    Pierre stood up and crossed her arms. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not one for telling stories, but he is an alright fella. Tough, can handle himself in a fight, but you know all this.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me something I don¡¯t know,¡± Beetle insisted.


    Pierre shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t  gossip, besides, I don¡¯t think it would be right to spill his secrets.¡±


    ¡°I bet he¡¯d spill one of yours,¡± Beetle gave a snake¡¯s grin. ¡°Go on, tell me something he¡¯d say about you and then something you¡¯d say about him in return.¡±


    Pierre cocked a brow. ¡°He¡¯d say I absolutely hate bears, and I¡¯d say go ask him yourself!¡±


    Beetle waved a hand. ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯re right- wait why do you hate bears?¡±


    Just as Pierre was about to answer, a soft knock sounded on the open door and both women turned to face the man at the entrance. Recognition flooded Beetle¡¯s features. ¡°Phin!¡±


    ¡°At long last.¡± Phin tipped his head. He looked the same as always, with the recent battle having done little to make him look any worse or better. The man stood in the beige capris and shirt of the arena and the only scars he wore were the ones he had always worn. ¡°I was hoping we could finally have our conversation.¡±


    Beetle nodded and looked at Pierre. ¡°Thanks again, for your help.¡±


    ***


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    If the manor of the duchess wasn¡¯t ostentatious on its own, her vast gardens that expanded from the rear were nothing short of imperial or queenly. Trees and flowers and shrubs both native to the island and brought from far away places created a manicured grove, pathed with polished stones for walking and a myriad of fanciful benches for sitting. No matter how or where you stood, the sound and slight glitter of trickling water was ever present, betraying the exquisite piping system that kept the artificial streams and miniature waterfalls moving. The water served as a nice sound during breaks in conversation, as well as a mental break from the sweltering midday heat of Perdi.


    ¡°So you already learned about the haramush toxin,¡± Phin said. He walked beside Beetle, the two of them hiding from the heat under the endless canopy of the garden. ¡°Seems I was a little late.¡±


    ¡°In your defense, everything moved rather quickly,¡± Beetle replied.


    ¡°And yet your memory is still¡­ missing?¡± Phin¡¯s pale eyes scanned Beetle¡¯s face. At this point, Beetle couldn¡¯t tell who was more scarred, the split lipped man in front of her or herself.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Beetle looked away. ¡°Still gone. Sometimes at night I feel bits and pieces of Rewe, but nothing concrete.¡±


    ¡°How does Rewe feel?¡±


    Beetle scrunched her face at that. ¡°Angry, mostly, unpleasant. From what I hear, I¡¯m not so sure I want to remember.¡±


    Phin shrugged. ¡°Well, I guess no one can blame you. In a way, you lucked out. You got all of Rewe¡¯s ability and none of her pain.¡±


    A sarcastic snort came from Beetle at that. ¡°Yeah right, I lost that fight against Diamond. I have all of Rewe¡¯s enemies and none of her skills.¡± Beetle gritted her teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to expect. I don¡¯t know who Rewe pissed off, I only seem to find out when the blades are already drawn.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should train,¡± Phin stopped walking. The two faced each other as Phin continued. ¡°Could be that relearning how to fight like Rewe can reawaken your old skills, and who knows, maybe it¡¯ll bring your memory back with it, so at least then you know who to look out for.¡±


    Beetle gave a small nod. ¡°Not a bad idea, though I¡¯m not sure I want to remember.¡±


    Phin shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s up to you, but you said it yourself, you need the skills.¡±


    ¡°Who would I even train with, you?¡± Beetle scoffed.


    Phin rolled his eyes. ¡°I was thinking perhaps you should learn from who beat you.¡±


    ¡°Diamond!?¡± Beetle shouted.


    With a hand, Phin hushed. ¡°Just try it. If you can learn from who defeated you, I have a feeling it will awaken some of your old skills.¡±


    Beetle looked up to the swishing trees and puffed a breath. Turning from each other, the two restarted their walk. ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± Beetle said as they walked. A pause. ¡°Though I wonder.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Phin hummed.


    ¡°Why are you helping me?¡±


    Phin furrowed his brow and kept his eyes forward. ¡°In a way, you remind me a lot of my own kid.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not just saying that because the moron announcer called you my dad for audience appeal, right?¡± Beetle cracked a grin.


    ¡°Stars, no,¡± Phin returned the gesture. ¡°The thought entered my mind when I first saw you in the arena, far before that moment.¡±


    ¡°And that feeling didn¡¯t change when you found out I was Rewe de la Hache?¡±


    He raised his eyebrows. ¡°I guess not, no.¡±


    ¡°Some kid,¡± Beetle looked at the man. ¡°I¡¯ll go seek out Diamond, and you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be around,¡± Phin said, ¡°Crocodile invited me over to his estate before he left. I figured I might as well go see my scaly co-hostage.¡±


    A raw chuckle slipped from Beetle. ¡°Give him my best.¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, I think you already gave his shoulder your best,¡± Phin answered morbidly.


    Another chuckle. ¡°He lived.¡±


    ***


    Diamond gripped Beetle by the collar and slammed her into the wall. The gladiator was wearing fine silk and without her face paint, her pallid complexion (nearly the same shade as her hair) amplified the red of the cloth. Her hair was as wiry as ever and her face furious. The two fighters were on the second floor of the manor in the hallway by a large bow window that overlooked the port village below. The gladiator spat at Beetle.


    ¡°Why the fuck are you here, worm!?¡±


    Beetle held up her palms in surrender. ¡°Maelys took me in as a partner.¡±


    ¡°Partner!?¡± Diamond shrieked. ¡°You!?¡± She slammed Beetle into the wall again, shaking her by the shoulders. ¡°But I¡¯ve worked for her for years, doing¡ª¡± Her eyes narrowed and Beetle could see the rage past her dark eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you.¡±


    ¡°You were going to kill me before!¡± Beetle narrowed her own eyes.


    Diamond gritted her filed teeth. ¡°Why did you come to see me?¡±


    ¡°I, uh,¡± Beetle could tell that Diamond wasn¡¯t about to do her any favors, let alone train her. Knocking an idea back and forth in her head, Beetle caught Diamond¡¯s stare. ¡°I wanted to apologize.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°For what I did, in the past I mean,¡± Beetle quickly explained. ¡°As Rewe.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck are you talking about?¡± Diamond¡¯s grip slackened.


    ¡°Well I must have done something to make you hate me so much, right?¡± Beetle offered a weak smile.


    Diamond let go completely now, face down and in deep thought. She snarled. ¡°Are you trying to tell me, you have no idea what you¡¯ve done?¡±


    Beetle flinched, unsure if she should continue. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ right?¡±


    Diamond just stared.


    Waving her hands, Beetle tried her best to defuse. ¡°But I¡¯m different now! I¡¯m Beetle, no longer Rewe. I¡¯m sure I can fix whatever Rewe did.¡±


    Before Diamond could open her mouth, an orange glint reflected from her eye and her attention was snagged to the window. Beetle followed her sights. There, through the window and far into the port town below, a black smoke was rising from the docks, with an orange flame licking the roofs.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± Diamond muttered, but Beetle stared with horror widened eyes.


    ¡°Gareg!¡± Beetle shouted before pushing past her rival, breaking into a sprint.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Diamond shouted after her.

 Chapter 10: Fiery Fools

    Chapter 10: Fiery Fools


    One step into the dock town and a cacophony of chaos took over all of Beetle¡¯s senses. Unlucky homes and businesses were on fire, people were jostling, striking and screaming. A vibration of anger thronged up and down the streets, bodies pressed building to building. Blood was smeared on walls and loud tears and cries challenged the shouts. People were getting trampled, and yet the darkness of unintelligible rage kept the mob from noticing.


    A shiver ran down Beetle¡¯s spine and she held Marrower in front of her. A man came rushing from the mess of people, recognition in his eyes and the steel of Marrower reflecting the glow of the fire onto his face. He was roaring about something, but instinct kept Beetle light on her feet. WIthout thinking she sidestepped the man and popped his nose with a quick slap of Marrower¡¯s broadside. The man went down right in front of Diamond.


    ¡°Alleys?¡± The gladiator suggested. This wasn¡¯t the time to ask why she was even here, Beetle knew that. Her eyes followed the smoke in the sky, she had to get to Gareg and his family.


    The pair slipped from the violent scene and into one of the alleys. Heat from the fires didn¡¯t disappear in the dark pathways and instead provided a constant reminder of danger as they sprinted across uneven cobble. Beetle hopped over a man on the ground and then took a hard right. The screams of the mob were dampened here and after a few more minutes, Beetle was huffing and puffing outside of Gareg¡¯s home, the building intact and without a lick of flame near it.


    Beetle slammed on the door and when no response came, she shouted. ¡°It¡¯s Beetle!¡±


    At that, footsteps hushed behind the threshold and the door opened. Brenna stood in the way with Charles hiding behind her leg. Her face was pale with worry.


    ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Beetle spoke first. Brenna didn¡¯t waste any time.


    ¡°Gareg is still at the warehouse.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get him,¡± Beetle turned away, ¡°keep the door closed!¡± With little else, she sprinted away with Diamond in tow, the jaded gladiator studying her former enemy with a curious expression.


    ***


    Every stride further from Brenna¡¯s house was another leap closer to the pit of fire that was the town. Flames had jumped to fresh buildings and now half the mob was taking it more seriously. Buckets and people shouting for water were now as common as the blind fury from before. Despite that, the brawls and thrashing violence hadn¡¯t ended.


    Beetle ran ahead with Diamond close behind. They stuck to the alleys and backways up until the salt of the ocean mixed with the scent of fire and blood. Between them and the harborside warehouse was nothing but open road and docks. The area wasn¡¯t spared from the riots, and small shacks were lit up like bonfires and fistfights were as numerous as more deadly clashes. Whatever caused the madness, Beetle didn¡¯t know.


    A single step out of the shadow of the alley and into the flicker of hate was all it took before several rioters sprinted over to Beetle. Not a word was said as a large man swung a piece of wood at the warrior. Rewe¡¯s instinct overtook Beetle and after a quick dash to the side, her elbow slammed into the man¡¯s windpipe. Another rioter was on her, but Marrower swung sideways, knocking the rioter out with a clean blow.


    Diamond walked behind Beetle as she shoved and pushed her way through the mob, clean while sweat and blood splattered on the warrior in front. Frustration and worry filled Beetle. She could see the warehouse across the web of docks and water, it was clear of fire, but the mob was ever present on the planks.


    A woman bumped into Beetle just as she and Diamond started to skirt the sides of the docks. Without thinking, Beetle shoved her off and into the ocean. Rewe smiled behind Beetle¡¯s eyes but when the sound of a desperate gulp rang in Beetle¡¯s ears, she snapped to. The woman was thrashing in the water, breathing more ocean than air.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Beetle swore and knelt by a post of the dock, reaching into the murky water with Marrower. The stranger¡¯s fingers grabbed hold. A random man reeling from a punch sent by another bounced off Beetle. The warrior felt her stomach lurch and her knees lose balance, between the tug of the woman and the slam of the man. Air whipped by her ears for a split second and with a cold strike, Beetle fell into the ocean.


    Water lapped at her ears and gargled her senses. Bubbles and blackness foamed across Beetle¡¯s vision, and the woman beside her thrashed helplessly. A stray kick caught Beetle in the arm, knocking Marrower from her grip. The weapon sank slowly, but Beetle kept her eyes up and with a kick of her own, swam to the surface.


    The dampened song the sea immediately broke to the sharp roar of the riots. The orange glow of fire bounced off Beetle¡¯s face and there she was treading water by the docks. Reaching under, she pulled the woman beside her free of the water and guided her to the planks. Together they rolled onto the wood.


    Diamond knelt by them, staring quietly. Beetle looked up at her rival. ¡°Thanks for helping.¡±


    Diamond shrugged. ¡°Eat shit.¡±


    ¡°Right, almost forgot, you¡¯re a bitch,¡± Beetle scrambled to her feet, barely avoiding a stray rock someone had thrown.


    ¡°Your axe?¡± Diamond looked at Beetle.


    ¡°No time.¡±


    Arms forward to part the crowds, Beetle resumed her march to Gareg¡¯s warehouse until at long last, the peeling wood of the side door was under her calloused palms. She pushed. Nothing. Beetle pounded on the door. ¡°It¡¯s me, Beetle!¡±


    Nothing.


    ¡°Mar Gareg?¡± Beetle shouted, pounding harder. Finally the door whipped open and the two gladiators were pulled inside before it slammed shut once again.


    With a bang, Gareg dropped some heavy crates back in front of the door, sealing the trio inside the warehouse. It was dark, with the only light coming from windows cut out near the roof. Beetle¡¯s eyes adjusted to the darkness, finding Gareg¡¯s tired gaze.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Mar Gareg, are you okay?¡±


    Diamond rolled her eyes in Beetle¡¯s periphery. ¡°Mar.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Gareg answered, ¡°but what are you doing here?¡±


    The words stung a little, especially coming from the usually jovial Gareg. Beetle knitted her brow. ¡°I told Brenna I¡¯d come get you.¡±


    Gareg closed his eyes at that and collapsed onto one of the crates, head in hand. ¡°Did anyone see you go to my house?¡±


    Beetle shared a look with Diamond, who shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Beetle answered. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°The rioters,¡± Gareg explained slowly, ¡°Want you dead.¡±


    The blood drained from Beetle¡¯s face. ¡°Rewe?¡±


    Gareg gave her a glance and sighed. ¡°Yeah, Rewe. When she survived her fight due to interference¡ª I guess some people didn¡¯t take kindly to it.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯d do this!?¡± Beetle waved her arms. ¡°They are only hurting themselves!¡±


    Diamond spat a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s a riot, dumbass. Probably started quite targeted, but the more people join in, well, the crazier things get.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure a rival of the Duchess started it, as well. The mess will be blamed on her.¡±


    ¡°Because of an arena match?¡± Beetle still couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it, that such a sport had that much pull on the people of Perdi.


    ¡°Yenellii is a sickness,¡± Gareg said. ¡°It rots rationality and incites bloodlust. The people want red, and when they don¡¯t get it.¡± He waved his hand at the door, where the shouts still panged through.


    Beetle chewed her cheek and sat next to Gareg. ¡°You know, I got you some boats.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Gareg looked at Beetle like she was crazy. Diamond stared too, the curious look from before back on her face.


    ¡°I got you some new boats¡­ you know¡­ for¡­¡± Beetle scrunched her face in thoughts. She knew what she was apologizing for, but it was strange, apologizing for something she didn¡¯t remember doing.


    Gareg smiled, slightly, and painfully. ¡°You¡¯re trying, Rewe.¡±


    Beetle looked at the man intently. Her usual indomitable spirit was a wilted leaf at the sound of her true name. ¡°Beetle, please,¡± she requested.


    ¡°Mar Beetle,¡± Gareg offered another small smile, this one more genuine.


    A loud thump sounded against the side of the warehouse and then in the distance horns and whistle started to blast. The shouts of anger turned into screams and barking orders. A curling grin found Diamond¡¯s face. ¡°Ah, it seems our Duchess¡¯ troops have arrived to see peace anew.¡±


    Gareg slapped his knees and stood up. ¡°Give it a while longer, then we can make our way home.¡±


    Home. Beetle nodded, whatever that was these days. The thought didn¡¯t linger long before Diamond answered it as if she heard it.


    ¡°Which means,¡± Diamond stared intently at Beetle, ¡°we will be going back to the estate.¡±


    ¡°Not sick of me yet?¡± Beetle forced a wicked grin.


    Diamond stood unphased, shrugging. ¡°We will see who is sick of who after a few training sessions.¡±


    ¡°Training sessions?¡± Beetle lost her sarcastic grin. ¡°You mean?¡±


    Another shrug from the gladiator. ¡°I¡¯ll train you, for now.¡±


    Gareg watched the exchange silently, only to perk up. ¡°Shoutings over.¡± The other two stood completely still, and sure enough, the ringing of the riots was gone, and only the gentle lapping of the waves remained. The riot had ended.


    ***


    The duchess¡¯ favorite tearoom had the perfect view of the gardens below and soaked in the greenery through crystal glass windows that trained from ceiling to floor. The natural colors blended nicely with the earth tone furniture and painted walls. The centerpiece of course was the low tea table which dominated the room and was hewn from seemingly an impossibly big single piece of wood, though any carpenter could tell you the trick behind it. Around the table were the gentle green and yellow lounge chairs, plumped and fit for napping or chatting, but despite all this luxury, neither Beetle nor Maelys were sitting.


    ¡°I knew that fucking rat would try this,¡± Maelys was spitting venom as she paced by the window. Beetle stood silent, watching her so-called partner curse and sputter like a dockworker. The duchess was in a shimmering dress that was akin to a sleek waterfall of molten silver more than fabric, adding to the contrast of her brutal words against her refined visage.


    ¡°Fucking rat?¡± Beetle tipped her head into the conversation for the first time, already having heard at least fifteen minutes of swearing since she was called upstairs.


    ¡°Some rival lord nutjob,¡± Maelys turned to Beetle now. Her midnight skin was flushed deep purple with anger, and the constellation of silvery freckles underlined some serious furious eyes. ¡°The bastard, half-wit, no-balls, jackass took advantage of the assassins and riled up the people by saying you were spared on purpose. The brainless people of Perdi ate it the fuck up and made a damn mess of the docktown.¡± Maelys was fuming.


    ¡°Or maybe,¡± Beetle couldn¡¯t help but poke, ¡°they were sick of being ruled by¡­¡± Maelys raised her eyebrows, daring Beetle. Beetle obliged. ¡°A nightkin who walked in one day and started calling the shots.¡±


    All the anger seemed to drain from Maelys and a sickeningly mirthful look sparkled in her eyes. Without warning, a deep, taunting laugh trilled from the noble. ¡°This place was a dump, a pirate haven.¡± She nodded her head, ¡°though I suppose the irony is now they are mad about a pirate.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember being a pirate,¡± Beetle threw in.


    ¡°Semantics, dear,¡± Maelys was finding her usual self. The duchess let out a long breath. ¡°And you¡¯ll have to excuse my earlier outburst.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Beetle¡¯s sarcasm sharpened a smile. ¡°Tantrums are expected when it comes to nobles.¡±


    ¡°Careful now, darling,¡± Maelys shot a look. ¡°I fear your smile will run away when I tell you the real reason I called you up here.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Beetle raised her brow.


    Maelys settled into one of the lounge chairs. ¡°Yes. You see, that riot put me in a funny little place.¡±


    ¡°Very funny, it seems,¡± Beetle agreed in such a way to summon a small glare from the duchess. Maelys reclined in her seat, taking on the posture of an empress.


    ¡°Indeed. Well, now it seems I must placate the people and get them back on my side, and thankfully, being the wonder that I am, I already know how to do such a thing.¡±


    Beetle motioned for Maelys to continue, but the duchess waited for Beetle to sigh and say, ¡°how so?¡±


    Maelys smiled wide, eyes crinkling. ¡°I¡¯m going to give that shithead rival of mine a fair chance at killing you.¡±

 Chapter 11: Settle it in the Arena

    Chapter 11: Settle it in the Arena


    Beetle cleared her throat. She heard Maelys¡¯ words just fine, but the casual look on the duchess¡¯ face didn¡¯t quite match the levity of the words she was spouting. Maelys smiled up at Beetle from her lounging chair and with a heavy sigh, Beetle took her bait. ¡°Do I get a say in my own murder or?¡±


    ¡°Murder?¡± Maelys¡¯ voice jumped to a pitch of incredulity. ¡°I said I would give him a chance to kill you, not murder you.¡±


    Beetle couldn¡¯t help but make a face. ¡°What the fuck is the difference?¡±


    ¡°You should watch the swearing, dear, it¡¯s unbecoming,¡± Maelys chastised as if she wasn¡¯t spouting every curse word in the book just ten minutes ago. ¡°And to be clear, I will be giving Lord Dharin a chance to kill you during a perfectly legal match in the arena. It will be yourself against his champion and we will let the sands of the arena decide who should live. It will quell the masses and whatall.¡± She waved a hand. ¡°Easy as pie.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Beetle rolled her eyes, but she knew it was no point in arguing with the duchess at this point. ¡°Who is this champion?¡±


    Duchess Maelys shrugged without an ounce of care in her face. ¡°Ask your friend Jacob, Dharin is his father after all.¡±


    ¡°And when is the fight?¡±


    ¡°One week.¡±


    Beetle closed her eyes. ¡°Never have I met such a timely and informative planner such as you. I can¡¯t even remember what I did for scheduling before you graced me with your cursed presence.¡± Her words dripped with sarcasm only to turn grating and sharp.


    ¡°Dear, you can¡¯t remember anything before meeting me,¡± Maelys said.


    Beetle squinted at the smug noble. ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try my patience,¡± Maelys settled further into her seat. ¡°Now either be gone or start serving me drinks.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Do you know where Jacob is?¡±


    Maelys slumped and waved Beetle away. ¡°Ask someone who cares to know, dear. Triflings aren¡¯t worth my attention.¡±


    ¡°But you just told me I should seek him out?¡± Beetle was gritting her teeth.


    ¡°I also warned you that if you stay much longer, I¡¯ll have you bringing me refreshments.¡±


    Beetle threw her hands into the air. ¡°I can¡¯t handle you.¡± Snagging a final smirk from Maelys, Beetle stomped out of the room and whizzed by the guards in the hall.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Diamond¡¯s voice hissed. Beetle looked up from her march, catching the ire in Diamond¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Going to go find Jacob,¡± Beetle answered swiftly.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Diamond corrected. ¡°It¡¯s training time.¡±


    ***


    ¡°You know,¡± Diamond mused, ¡°I never thought the infamous Rewe de la Hache would be this easy to boss around.¡±


    The gladiator was standing in a well spaced sparring room with Beetle. A set of wooden dummies lined the stone wall and a thin layer of sand covered the otherwise unforgiving stone floor. Despite the amenities, Beetle was directly facing Diamond, heavy wooden axe in hand, while Diamond held two whips.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m not Rewe,¡± Beetle circled her, looking for an opening. Diamond sputtered a laugh.


    ¡°With how terrible you are at fighting, I almost believe you.¡± To punctuate her words, Diamond flicked her wrists. ¡°I¡¯m only holding whips, how hard can it be to close in.¡±


    Taking the bait, Beetle dashed in, but as soon as her axe was swinging, Diamond had already looped a whip around it and was forcing it the wrong way. A swift fist came up and planted Beetle right in the gut. Beetle checked her shoulder forward and untangled herself with a shove. The two reset. Without missing a beat, Diamond pushed forward, her whips lashing out.


    Ropes cracked in the air and painful slashes ripped across Beetle. Her back foot was heavy as Diamond continued her onslaught. The gladiator¡¯s attacks were quick, Beetle only had time to catch so many on the hilt of her axe, and definitely no time to make a push of her own.


    ¡°You know how to use that axe, right?¡± Diamond chuckled.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Beetle was gritting her teeth now. She pushed forward, avoiding a strike from the whip. Beetle jabbed forward, punching Diamond with the head of her axe, but as she brought the weapon back around for a proper swing, Diamond slammed her foot down onto Beetles and bucked forward, slamming her forehead into the warrior¡¯s nose. Blood popped and Beetle fell backwards.


    Sand poofed. A harsh ringing was squealing in Beetle¡¯s head, just loud enough to gurgle Diamond¡¯s laugh.


    ¡°Thing is, Beetle,¡± Diamond started, ¡°you live on your back foot. You¡¯re so defensive you get caught up in your head and when you do strike, sure you know how to move, but you are so focused on what you¡¯re doing, you don¡¯t even take a moment to see your opponents counter attack. In short, you lack confidence.¡± The gladiator was standing over Beetle. ¡°A sentence I never thought I¡¯d be saying to Rewe.¡±


    Beetle sat up in the sand. ¡°Oh fuck off, I¡¯m confident.¡±


    ¡°With your tongue maybe.¡±


    Beetle shot an eyebrow at that.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Diamond frowned. ¡°That came out wrong, you know what I mean.¡±


    The warrior didn¡¯t say anything, she just sat there. Frustration was welling up in Beetle¡¯s chest. She knew the moves, she had the muscle memory, but she didn¡¯t have the skill to put it all together. Was it because she wasn¡¯t like her old self anymore? Did all of her skill fade away with her malice?


    ¡°You throwing a mental tantrum, there?¡± Diamond was lording over her now.


    ¡°Yeah right.¡± Beetle picked herself up from the sand and sucked in a breath. ¡°Just strategizing is all.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Strategizing,¡± Diamond nodded sarcastically. ¡°Yeah well, let¡¯s hope that¡¯s enough to win in a week, huh?¡±


    Beetle shook her head and held up her weapon. Again she rushed Diamond. This time Diamond didn¡¯t let her get close but instead leapt back and put her cracking whip between them both. A red lash struck across Beetle¡¯s cheek, and another hit her arm. The third strike Beetle avoided and by the fourth, she had closed in. Frustration was bursting in Beetle¡¯s heart and anger was rising in her head. She was mad, but instead of getting clumsy, her eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Kill the bitch,¡± Rewe¡¯s voice growled. Beetle narrowly dodged Diamond¡¯s lash, eyes blank and mind racing. Her fingers danced along the haft of the axe and just as Diamond went to defend herself, Beetle swung her weapon at an odd angle, using sudden leverage changes to slam the axe under Diamond¡¯s armpit.


    The blow forced a cough of air to burst from the gladiator and just as Diamond was going to call the match, Beetle¡¯s elbow shot out and smashed into her throat, foot hooking behind Diamond¡¯s and with a nasty shove, the gladiator was sent to the floor hacking.


    ¡°Go on,¡± Rewe hissed. Her hands slid down the axe as it swung over shoulder. The axehead screamed through the air.


    ¡°Beetle!¡±


    Beetle¡¯s eyes widened and with a final twitch, the wooden axe crashed into the floor beside Diamond¡¯s face. The wooden blade immediately burst into splinters.


    ¡°The fuck¡­ are you doing?¡± Diamond coughed. ¡°You got me the first time, fuck.¡± She rubbed her throat. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today, I¡¯m fucking done.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Beetle managed, eyes staring at Diamond¡¯s disgruntled face. ¡°You said I was too backfoot,¡± She excused.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean you have to give my forehead a piercing,¡± Diamond sat up. ¡°I won¡¯t fall for that shit again, so get your act together.¡± She mumbled under her breath. ¡°Jerk.¡±


    ¡°What a shock,¡± Beetle growned. ¡°Can¡¯t please you, can I? Am I too meek or too harsh, which one?¡±


    Diamond sighed and looked over at Beetle. For a while she just rubbed her throat. ¡°Your mind¡¯s a mess, that¡¯s all I know. Like scrambled eggs up there.¡±


    Beetle¡¯s shoulders relaxed. ¡°Might be right on that one.¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± A man¡¯s voice came from the entrance to the sparring room.


    Both Beetle and Diamond looked over and there standing in the threshold was Phin.


    ¡°Oh hey!¡± Beetle was happy for the distraction.


    ¡°I wanted to swing by and see how the training was going,¡± Phin offered, ¡°Crocodile told me about the Duchess¡¯ plans.¡±


    The warrior walked over, making a point to ignore Diamond¡¯s scowl. ¡°You¡¯ve been talking with Crocodile?¡±


    Diamond hollered over the broken axe, ¡°I¡¯ll just clean up this mess alone then?¡±


    The two conversationalists looked over to the gladiator. Phin cleared his throat. ¡°Been staying at his estate ever since the arena decided to cut ties with my contract. Actually, he asked me to see if you¡¯d like a room to use, seeing as I doubt you want to stay here.¡±


    Diamond muttered to herself as she walked away from the splintered mess, presumably to let whichever poor servant stumbled upon it deal with the broken weapon. Taking that as a sign that training was over, Beetle and Phin walked out into the hallway.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take him up on the offer,¡± Beetle said. There was no way in the great void that she would spend a night under the same roof as Maelys. ¡°How¡¯d he know about the fight?¡±


    Phin shrugged. ¡°Information burns quick in Perdi it seems.¡±


    ¡°Oh right, you¡¯re not from here,¡± Beetle looked over the man¡¯s scarred face and split lip. ¡°How¡¯d you end up in Yenellii?¡±


    ¡°I took a thrashing from some pirates and was sold off when I survived,¡± Phin answered with a certain ease. ¡°That said, I knew enough about this place and its customs from hearsay, so I wasn¡¯t quite as gobsmacked as you were.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure anyone was,¡± Beetle forced a small smile. The empty halls contained their chatter all the way to the front atrium where a few guards stood sentry.


    ¡°Though I wonder,¡± Beetle mentioned, ¡°if this amnesia is permanent, or fading away.¡± She dare not finish her thought concerning the implications of when her old personality collides with her new one.


    Phin seemed to sober at that. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, myself.¡±


    ***


    Not much was said on the subject on the rest of the way to Crocodile¡¯s estate, but after a walk along the cobbled streets of the up-town hills and estates, the duo had made their way safely. Crocodile¡¯s abode was big, but not quite as fanciful as the Duchess¡¯, and sported a hole in nearly every wall or at the very least, some gash or impact. The rugs were torn and crumpled, and the only help Crocodile seemed to keep on staff was one old lady who was even wrinklier than the lizard man. When Beetle asked for her name, Crocodile assured her that she goes by ¡°Granny¡± and to watch out for her sharp tongue.


    Even so, the formalities were short lived as Beetle felt the day¡¯s weight on her shoulders and with Granny in front, was led to her new chambers. The room itself was not much beyond a bed and a dresser by a window, but what really caught Beetle¡¯s eye was the fact that the mess of the rest of the house had even made it to this remote bedroom. The carpet was torn and one of the walls was beaten near halfway through.


    ¡°I know there was a riot yesterday,¡± Beetle remarked, ¡°But I don¡¯t remember it being localized in Crocodile¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°The entire man is a mob on his own,¡± Granny spat. ¡°You¡¯ll do well to be the opposite of him when it comes to manners.¡±


    ¡°O-oh,¡± Beetle looked at the small woman, slightly perturbed that even when hunched and elderly, Beetle was the exact same height. Granny just grunted at that and with a click of the door behind her, Beetle was alone with her own bed, once again.


    This time, she was in a dump of a room when compared to the golden luxury that Gallo offered her, but this room had no bars. Beetle fell face first into the bed, letting the scratchy covers tickle her nose and itch her legs. In seconds, sleep devoured her.


    Through the blackness of sleep and in the palace of dreams, an angry voice scratched on Beetle¡¯s ears. No, not a voice, a battle. Rewe¡¯s eyes shot open and her dream flushed into view. The waves were pounding gray against her ship, threatening to split the vessel. Metal clanged and men shouted. The enemy ship was hooked on ropes and grapples, and blood soaked in the wash of the waves. Red lapped at Rewe¡¯s black books.


    ¡°Captain!¡± A grisly man shouted at her. Blood speckled his beard and a serrated sword the size of a leg was secure in both his anvil hands. ¡°We got them on the ropes Captain!¡±


    A wicked grin spread across Rewe de la Hache¡¯s blood smeared face and her fists tightened around Marrower¡¯s handle. ¡°I want them all gutted.¡±

 Chapter 12: Blood and Anger

    Chapter 12: Blood and Anger


    Rewe¡¯s gaze washed over the battle scene. The decks of both ships were smashed together, rigging tangled and a sheen of red foam lapping from the sea. Salt and iron dominated the smell, and beyond the ever shrinking pockets of fighting, Rewe spotted the last true bastion of the enemy.


    The two ships had collided at an angle, leaving a wedge of sea between the stern of both vessels, and there, across the gap was the enemy¡¯s captain. He stood tall with a feathered hat and beside him a man, or perhaps a boy, stood dressed in dark leathers not unlike the Black Scorpions assassins. What courage was left in the enemies ranks were attempting to regroup with the duo, while Rewe¡¯s own thugs couldn¡¯t break their defenses.


    The assassin¡¯s curbed blade sang through the air with a literal melodic whistle, a signature feature of the famed yexara blades of the Ashishian desert. In return, blood spurted and criminals yelped at the cutting swings. Laughs of morale broke from the enemy captain¡¯s lips as he too swung his blade in defiance of Rewe¡¯s assault.


    Anger seeped into Rewe¡¯s veins and her teeth clenched. With a numb jaw and her fists white against the haft of her axe, the terrifying scourge of the sea kicked off into a sprint. Wood creaked underneath and water hissed in the air. Wind cut at Rewe¡¯s eyes and the world turned to  blur as she charged. The iron of some enemy soldier came in from the left but Rewe ducked under it and ran by the fool, catching him along the way with the beard of her axe. Screaming trailed behind her as she dragged the bloodied soul into her charge. Another enemy, and Rewe swung her captive forward.


    A cleaver ripped into the man¡¯s skull as horror etched on the wielder''s face, he had cut his ally, but before the terror could drop, Rewe was leaping  forward.


    Smaller than the man, Rewe jumped up head first, slamming into his jaw. Blood popped from the man¡¯s mouth and as he fell backward, Marrower came in at an arc, equal parts hacking and crushing through his ribcage and slamming him into the deck. Rewe felt her anger flare and she knew all eyes were on her. Let them come.


    Confidence and overwhelming bloodlust splashed with each step as Rewe continued her bloodied advance. Enemy sailors fell as quickly as they came and limbs littered the way until the edge of the boat came quickly at hand. With nothing but the wedge of sea to bar Rewe from the enemy stern and captain, the warrior jumped.


    Rewe¡¯s boots slammed onto the deck of the enemy ship. Surprised faces looked behind trembling weapons, but Rewe was already on the move again. Two strikes was all it took to clear the scum away from her path and in a final burst of speed, Rewe narrowed in on the enemy captain.


    The captain¡¯s laugh was gone and his eyes widened in fear. He struck out with his blade but Rewe pushed past it with ease, fury burning in her chest. Her axe swung behind her, knocking away an interloper before resting on her shoulder. Rewe¡¯s fist shot out at the same time and crashed into the captain¡¯s mouth, shattering his teeth. Her hand slipped purposely off his face and let her elbow come slamming in after as she stepped into the blow, crushing his nose. The captain reeled, but Rewe shrugged her axe off her shoulder and hooked it behind his leg, flipping him to the watery deck with a bang.


    The fighting had died down now. Rewe¡¯s thugs were winning the fray and the enemy captain laid on the deck sputtering red from every hole in his face. The warrior placed her boot on the man¡¯s face and pressed her weight down slowly. Her fury turned dead and her eyes stared at the man with a cold hate.


    The yexara blade whistled, forcing Rewe to leap back from the captain. The assassin stood there now, his will not yet broken. A cruel smile broke Rewe¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll show you mercy,¡± she said, ¡°if you snap your sword.¡± She knew what she was asking, she knew that the people of Ashishia believed the souls of their ancestors lived in the family blade.


    Without answering, without hesitation, the young man rushed Rewe and she felt her anger bubble up again. A whistle swung from the assassin, a duck from Rewe. A stab from the assassin, but Rewe was already on his flank, teeth bared. Hate was in her blood, it was so natural now. The young man¡¯s eyes widened as Rewe slammed into him, Marrower glinting in the sun, ready to catch his falling body on its edge.


    ¡°Please,¡± the word was mouthed on the boy, and for a second, just a fraction of a second, Rewe felt¡­


    ¡°Guh!¡± Beetle gulped a heavy breath. She was laying in her bed. Her palm came up to slap her forehead, some sort of distraction from her beating heart. ¡°I¡¯m Beetle,¡± she practiced. ¡°I¡¯m Beetle.¡± Even still, an ember from the dream seemed to stick in her throat, some sort of frustration or maybe irritation, or perhaps the seed of anger.


    There was a knock on the door and Beetle turned her head to look at it. Crocodile¡¯s voice came grinding through. ¡°Hey, Monkey, you alive in there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Beetle croaked through her sleep.


    ¡°Want breakfast with me?¡±


    ¡°Human food or Verdokian?¡± Beetle asked.


    A grunt. ¡°It¡¯s the same thing, jackass.¡± The tone was playful.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right out.¡± A small curve found Beetle¡¯s face. She was upset, still, and that heat hadn¡¯t left her, but she was glad that if Rewe had enemies everywhere, at least Beetle had a friend.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Crocodile¡¯s voice was fading as if he was walking away from the door. ¡°I invited that Jacob kid as well, figure we can get the details on your upcoming fight.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, Croc.¡±


    Nothing but a distant laugh.


    ***


    Just like the rest of Crocodile¡¯s house, his dining room looked like it was the scene of a brawl. Gouges were taken out of the wall and scratches nicked the furniture. The Verdokian himself sat at the head of the short table while Granny refilled his bowl with some sort of thick oatmeal which sort of seeped through his big teeth. Jacob sat by him, noticeably silent as the big Gladiator waited for his seconds.


    Beetle let her wooden spoon tap her bowl, having eaten most of her gruel already. ¡°Say, Crocodile,¡± she broke the mood. ¡°Why is your house trashed?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Crocodile turned from Granny after thanking her.


    Beetle shot a breath through her nose, ¡°The place looks like someone let loose one of those sicklecoat beasts in here.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± Crocodile said between slurps, ¡°back in Verdokia, the king¡¯s throne is cut with one slash from every blade his army holds, the thing is a mess of splinters.¡±


    ¡°You saying you have an army?¡± Beetle offered an unamused glance.


    ¡°He¡¯s saying he has no excuse for practicing indoors like a lughead,¡± Granny snapped as she walked over to Jacob. ¡°Dear, what¡¯s the matter? Do you not like your food?¡±


    Jacob looked up at Granny and shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°Then eat, boy! You¡¯re bones!¡±


    Jacob heeded the woman¡¯s words and stuffed a spoon into his mouth. ¡°Mmm!¡± He exaggerated towards Granny. The housekeeper gave him a half smile and walked off to bring her pots to the kitchen.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Beetle caught the quartermaster¡¯s attention. ¡°Tell me about my opponent.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I should,¡± Jacob said meekly.


    Beetle squinted, ¡°What!?¡±


    ¡°Hey, woah!¡± Crocodile took even more offense, ¡°then why bother coming and eating my food?¡±


    ¡°I just needed to ask Rewe something,¡± Jacob insisted.


    ¡°Beetle,¡± Beetle corrected.


    ¡°Or Monkey,¡± Crocodile added.


    ¡°Beetle,¡± Jacob nodded. ¡°Did you kill Lord Gallo?¡±


    Beetle dropped her spoon. ¡°Gallo?¡± She nearly forgot about that creep. ¡°What? No!¡±


    ¡°So it was the Duchess,¡± Jacob mumbled. He stood up, forcing all eyes on him. ¡°That¡¯s all I really wanted to ask.¡± With little else he started to walk away from the table.


    ¡°Kid, at least tell us a little about the opponent!¡± Crocodile hollered.


    Jacob scooted closer to the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this, he is a Harnian.¡±


    ¡°Void,¡± Beetle swore. ¡°First you set me up against a Verdokian, now a Harnian.¡±


    ¡°A real Harnian?¡± Crocodile sat up straight.


    ¡°Horns and everything,¡± Jacob waved. ¡°I¡¯d say good luck, but¡­¡±


    Beetle crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. ¡°Yeah, whatever,¡± she put forward aloofness in spite of the sudden anxiety, ¡°beat it.¡±


    Jacob didn¡¯t have to be told twice. Without missing a beat, the quartermaster left. Crocodile turned to Beetle and hushed, calm once again. ¡°Sorry about that, Monkey. Guess you have your work cut out for you.¡±


    Beetle sat in frustrated silence for a moment, thinking about Maelys setting her up and then on her dream. She leaned back and let out a sigh to the ceiling. ¡°You know I used to be a great fighter,¡± the words were alien to her, but she knew it was true. ¡°I bet Rewe could take down a Harnian with ease.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, maybe,¡± Crocodile said, his voice turning serious. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Beetle said. ¡°I¡¯m just frustrated. Trapped on Perdi no matter what deal or direction I take. Trapped, trapped, trapped.¡± She drummed her fingers on the table.


    ¡°You sure it¡¯s Perdi that has you trapped?¡± Crocodile mused. ¡°Believe it or not, most people come here to find something.¡±


    ¡°Even those dragged here against their will?¡± Beetle glanced at the Verdokian.


    ¡°Nah, but they still find something, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Crocodile answered.


    ¡°Why did you come?¡± Beetle asked.


    ¡°Do you know what a brood is in Verdokia?¡± Crocodile asked.


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    The gladiator leaned back in his chair, matching Beetle¡¯s stature. ¡°All the hatchlings of the same year, of the same territory are grouped together,¡± he started. ¡°Around the third year, we fight, and we fight, and whoever is the last one standing becomes the Broodmaster. A good position, really.¡± Crocodile¡¯s eyes glazed. ¡°You get your pick of anything, even the crown if you¡¯re the best of the best. Sure, some hatchlings don¡¯t make it out, but most leave with little more than hurt egos and some flesh wounds.¡± His eyes met Beetle¡¯s ¡°I was the first to be defeated and unfortunately, that¡¯s one of the instances you wish you died instead when you want to live in Verdokia. The rare honor of being the Broodbastard.¡±


    ¡°Broodbastard, huh?¡± Beetle mulled over his words.


    ¡°Yup!¡± Crocodile nodded. ¡°So I decided to become the best fighter I could be, and what better place than the infamous arena of Yenellii. When I¡¯m bored of that, I¡¯ll head home and kick some skulls in until everyone forgets the Broodbastard thing I had on my head.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Well, that¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I guess now you gotta ask yourself, why the void are you still here?¡±


    ¡°I made a deal with Maelys.¡±


    ¡°Beyond that, Monkey,¡± Crocodile sat up. ¡°Are you looking for your memories, or are you looking for something else?¡±


    ¡°Something else?¡± Beetle raised a brow.


    Crocodile shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s just a suggestion, after all, you¡¯re the one who isn¡¯t going by their name even after remembering it.¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going by your real name either,¡± Beetle chided.


    Crocodile gave her a sober look. ¡°Because I am ashamed of it.¡±


    The two stared at each other for a while. It wasn¡¯t clear to Beetle if Crocodile was really ashamed of his name, or if he just called her out on a level she wasn¡¯t expecting. Either which way, the seed in her throat was still on fire from her dream, and an anger was brewing in her gut. Rewe was a person full of hate, a hate which fueled the strength behind her axe. Beetle was just confused.


    ¡°You got six days,¡± Crocodile suddenly said. ¡°To figure out a way to beat a Harnian.¡±


    ¡°Best get to it then,¡± Beetle stood up.

 Chapter 13: To the Death

    Chapter 13: To the Death


    A week of training both passes by quickly and stays a little longer than welcome. Beetle found herself improving, of course, but every night, she was reminded how she wasn¡¯t as good as she used to be. Her mercy and general decency found in her amnesia seemed to be anathema to who she used to be, and in a way, sometimes she wondered if it was holding her back. Those thoughts were the scariest, the thoughts that wondered if being Rewe was better than being Beetle. Of course to the naked eye, maybe no one could see the difference, but Beetle knew in her heart how big the gap was between her now and her then.


    These thoughts bombarded Beetle as she sat in the waiting chambers just outside of the sunny veil of the arena. A stone hallway funneled to the sands where her fight would commence, but for now, she waited while a pre-showing of first blood bouts warmed up the crowd. She was armed with a new axe that was quickly dubbed Marrower by the announcer, though Beetle hated the name. Her chest was secure behind a leather cuirass centered with a metal plate and from the waist, ribbons of leather straps fell down to iron greaves. Her fingers were cold on her weapon, she wasn¡¯t sure if Beetle could win this fight.


    The sound of metal on metal faded from the arena and with the sudden blast of a horn, Beetle knew the announcer was getting ready to announce her fight. She stood up, hefted her axe over her shoulder, and walked down the stone passage towards the eye of light at the end.


    ¡°Rewe de la Hache!¡± The announcer screamed into a cone, blasting the announcement off every corner of the arena. In return, a unified boo haunted the stands. If nothing else, Jacob¡¯s father Lord Dharin seemed to have the crowd on his side, though Beetle was sure that wasn¡¯t a hard thing to do knowing her past.


    ¡°...in a fight to the death!¡± The announcer continued, ¡°against Lord Mar Dharin¡¯s very own champion from the great eastern continent of Befur! That¡¯s right, one of the legendary descendents of the Harnian tribes in our very own arena, I speak of none other than the great Harnian, Retkragg the Chopper!¡±


    An explosion of cheers met the name and with a hefty shake of the ground, Beetle¡¯s opponent burst from his own corridor. Retkragg held his hands up to the crowd, soaking in the praise. He was tall, dwarfing Beetle by twice her height and even Crocodile by a few feet. His arms were like tree trunks and his body was only covered by an armored skirt, letting his bare muscles and coarse hair soak in the heat of the sun. His physique was impressive, but what was more striking was his head and his legs. His head was that of a bovine, fit with horns decorated with barbed wire twisted around them, and his legs ended in brick-like hooves. The bovine nature of the Harnians was not a secret, but this was definitely the first time Beetle ever saw one in person.


    While Beetle stood in awe at the sight of the giant gladiator, she barely noticed when Retkragg pulled a bundle that was slung around his shoulder, a bundle of two massive scabbards both bigger than Beetle herself. From the leathery cocoons, Retkragg picked up two greatswords, one for each hand. They were big and brutal and under normal circumstances, Beetle assumed it would take three hands to hold just one.


    The doubt that was in Beetle¡¯s chest grew and she found herself shrinking a little. Her eyes flicked up to the gilded boxes that held the most esteemed patrons of the arena. There, Maelys was smiling at her with Chiara at her side. Did she think the threefold slayer would appear? The box next to theirs held a man who smiled even wider, he looked very much like Jacob if not older and more dignified. Lord Dharin. ¡°A mighty opponent!¡± The announcer cut through Beetle¡¯s thoughts, ¡°and a mighty bout! A bout¡ªto the death!¡± A roar from the crowd and Beetle knew that the match had begun.


    ¡°Rewe,¡± Retkragg rumbled. His voice was heavy and spoke of a life of battle and hardship. ¡°Are you as formidable as the stories say?¡± He was shrugging his shoulders, stretching his swinging arms as he asked.


    Beetle took her stance, axe held to the side. ¡°Probably not.¡± This was true, at least.


    ¡°Are you ready to kill?¡± Retkragg asked next, taking his own stance.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing my best not to think about it,¡± Beetle quipped, and then with a push of her backfoot, she charged. Being the smaller one, she knew she had to get in and get in quick.


    From one foot to the next, Beetle felt her training pay off. She was nimble, and Retkragg could only shift his weight in anticipation, or so she thought. With expert deception in his footwork, Retkragg unleashed a surprise attack. His swords came crossing through the air like two iron tombstones just as Beetle got into range. The dance truly began, and despite the Harnians size and weight, he was quick.


    Beetle juked just in time to avoid the strike, but just as quickly, Retkragg was repositioning and sending two more strikes. Beetle didn¡¯t have time to think, she leapt to the side, but the cold metal caught her and with a flash of heat, she felt a portion of her left ear explode with pain. Blood spat onto her shoulder and a piece of flesh arced through the air. If this was first blood, she already lost.


    The warrior shot into range, ducked and in a low profile. Retkragg tried to reel back to get distance again, but Beetle let Marrower swing wide to hook his leg. With a thunk, Retkragg sunk one of his blades into the ground, pinning the beard of Beetle¡¯s axe instead. Before Beetle could react, Retkragg shifted forward and with a solid kick, sent the warrior into the sand. Beetle¡¯s ribs ached as she slid through the rough grain.


    Metal flashed and on instinct Beetle rolled out of the way just as Retkragg¡¯s blades slammed into the ground. Beetle found her feet but Retkragg sliced his blades free, slapping a cloud of sand at the warrior. One arm up to shield her eyes, and Beetle realized she had lost hold of Marrower when she was kicked.


    The crowd was roaring in celebration as the two gladiators circled each other. Beetle could only hold her hands out while Retkragg stomped with pride, the axe safely behind him and his twin greatswords barring the way. It was a dare, a dare to try.


    Beetle was hurt, half of her ear was missing and her chest crackled with each movement. She had no weapon, she had no hope. She chewed her cheek raw with anxiety and adrenaline. All her training, wasted, all the skill of Rewe, gone. She was going to die here, as a plaything passed between nobles and lords.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Her breath hitched. A toy, she is going to die a toy in a world that doesn¡¯t deserve to exist. Rewe¡¯s brow furrowed and hate leaked into her stomach. People were smiling, people were jeering, as two fools fought to the death. Retkragg stood, smug and proud, a puppet with a purpose. Rewe looked up at the Maelys. Chiara was gone as was Dharin, but MAelys still sat there, mouth wide with joy. Green sickness swirled in Rewe¡¯s red hate. Yenellii was disgusting, Perdi was disgusting, everyone was disgusting.


    Sand plumed into the air as Rewe rushed forward. Retkragg laughed and swung his blades, but Rewe slide under them, only to pop up when she got past their range. With a kick, the warrior pushed past Retkragg¡¯s legs and snatched Marrower. A greatsword came swinging in, but Rewe caught it on the hilt. The force of the blow barely moved her and with a flick, she sent the blade down the haft of her axe and into the hook of the beard. A twist and a tug, and the greatsword was trapped.


    The other blade came stabbing in, but Rewe used her leverage on the first to throw the swing off and get out of the way. Retkragg let go of his trapped blade but it was too late. Rewe ducked into his space and with a slam, she sent the head of her axe into Retkragg¡¯s gut. The Harnian bowled forward, and as his face came into range, Rewe flipped Marrower around and sent the butt of the haft right into the gladiator¡¯s eye. A grotesque pop precipitated a gasp of shock from the crowd.


    Rewe was grinning, the hate in her stomach hot in her limbs. A howl of pain came from Retkragg and he brought his hands up to cover his face. Rewe spun behind him and hacked Marrower right into his knee. The pained howls turned into gurgles and the Harnian fell into the sand.


    Red painted the grains and with a gruesome chop, Rewe hobbled the gladiator. The announcer was shouting and the crowd was screaming, some in delight, some in fear. Retkragg couldn¡¯t look up at his murderer, his face shoved in the sands of death. Rewe cracked a grin, not one of joy, but one of a hate so strong, it couldn¡¯t manifest a scowl. She brought Marrower up to her shoulders and then with a heavy overhead swing, Rewe sent the blade through the neck of Retkragg.


    A stream of red exploded from the gladiator and the referee knights were calling the match. Beetle tried to look down at her victim, but all she could do was stare through the blurred vision of Rewe. The warrior gave Retkragg one more jeer before spitting on the body. Her face was red hot, but tears were starting to well behind her visage of anger. Beetle could only fear that Rewe was back.


    ***


    It took a while, but eventually Beetle calmed down and before long, she felt her rage fade away. Although the feeling left, Rewe¡¯s thoughts never did. They were sick, and angry, but at least Beetle¡¯s actions were her own, for now. If Gallo was alive, Beetle figured she would have been desperate enough to ask for more haramush drug. Her memories were her own, sure, but she wasn¡¯t convinced it was worth the pain and fear.


    Her ear pulsed. It hurt, of course, but it was wrapped now. If the mental anguish wasn¡¯t enough, the physical harm from the bout still haunted her body, which was why Beetle snuck away from the arena and back to Maelys¡¯ estate to find Pierre. The warrior had no issue gaining access to the manor, but as she pushed aside the heavy doors to Pierre¡¯s clinic, her face furrowed in confusion.


    Inside, the place was cleaned out, with no sign that Pierre had been there. Beetle took a step into the room. Pierre¡¯s medical tools and cots were gone and her iconography and sundries were missing. A footstep and Beetle spun around. Standing in the threshold was Maelys. The purple noble was sporting a wide grin.


    ¡°Nice work out there, Rewe,¡± Maelys chimed.


    Disgust curdled Beetle¡¯s stomach. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± She almost didn¡¯t care to ask, ¡°did Dharin get the message?¡±


    Maelys¡¯ smile never faltered, but something evil twinkled behind her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid so.¡±


    ¡°Afraid?¡±


    ¡°He hung himself,¡± Maelys explained. ¡°The poor fool.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize he was an emotional man,¡± Beetle found herself saying, though the smile on Maelys¡¯ face told her the truth. The warrior remembered the empty seats. ¡°And before the match was even over, I presume?¡±


    Maelys¡¯ eyes were threateningly serious despite her grin. ¡°Ah, yes. He was so distraught, he couldn¡¯t bear to see the end.¡± A pause. ¡°Well, I think you deserve a reward.¡±


    Just the thought made Beetle gag. She shook her head. ¡°No, no reward.¡± Beetle could feel Rewe¡¯s thoughts, feel her anger. That wasn¡¯t the life she wanted, not after being free from it for whatever little time she was. She didn¡¯t want to hate as much as she did, and Maelys, well Maelys was hate and anger.


    ¡°How generous of you,¡± Maelys cocked a brow.


    ¡°No,¡± Beetle continued to shake her head. ¡°I mean to say I¡¯m done.¡±


    ¡°Done?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be partners anymore. I did what you wanted.¡± Beetle pushed past Maelys¡¯ but the duchess grabbed her arm. Rewe¡¯s hate flared for a moment, but Beetle responded first.


    They stared at each other, Maelys wore a scowl while Beetle¡¯s face was blank.


    ¡°The threefold slayer is still out there,¡± Maelys stated.


    ¡°I can¡¯t help you with that,¡± Beetle¡¯s voice was monotone, a side effect of all the emotion she was holding back.


    ¡°Rewe,¡± Maelys chided, ¡°don¡¯t be an idiot.¡±


    Beetle shook her arm free. ¡°Just¡­ fuck off.¡± She started down the hallway, but Maelys called after her.


    ¡°What are you going to do instead, hm? Go back to being a filthy animal? The Sicklecoat cells would love to have a new beast!¡± She hollered. ¡°What are you going to do!? You have nothing, I have everything! This was for you, not me!¡± When Beetle didn¡¯t respond, a threat spilled. ¡°I won¡¯t protect you from the threefold! I won¡¯t! I¡¯ll let him gut you!¡±


    Beetle closed her eyes, as the blur of Rewe¡¯s anger was starting to take over. Maelys was a woman to hate, the kind of person Rewe killed in droves a long time ago. Beetle felt her conflict with every step, why did she ever stop? No. Beetle burst out of the manor, sucking in the fresh air in an attempt to cool her wits. Maybe Crocodile could help?

 Chapter 14: Sitting on a Razor鈥檚 Edge

    Chapter 14: Sitting on a Razor¡¯s Edge


    The air was humid on the island that afternoon, even as the sun was turning the sky gold in preparation for the evening. Because of the usual humidity of Perdi, many of the manors and homes of the island were built in such a way as to trap cool dry air on the inside and keep the sweat far away from the lounges. Of course, the holes in Crocodile¡¯s abode didn¡¯t help, and the steaming anger whisking off of Beetle herself was no less anathema to the idea of chill.


    Crocodile was sitting on a throne of beat up cloth and old wood staring at the mess of a warrior with an unending lizard stare. Phin was no less concerned, but his eyes bore a certain wisdom as he watched his younger comrade boil under her own thoughts. Crocodile spoke first. ¡°I don¡¯t think I ever saw you this put out.¡±


    It was true. Beetle couldn¡¯t deny it, this was the angriest she had been since she lost her memories, and that alone was saying something. Something inside her itched, and she knew it was Rewe¡¯s hatred. She knew that she was between her old self and her new ideals, and the friction was just causing heat and frustration.


    ¡°You really took it out on that Harnian,¡± Phin added, though his voice was cool and  collected.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I just be mad without it being a big deal?¡± Beetle snapped. Phin held up his hands and Crocodile flicked his tongue.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Crocodile said, ¡°no judgement from me. You fought like a Verdokian.¡±


    Phin shrugged along with Crocodile¡¯s assessment. ¡°Do Verdokian¡¯s usually carry the rage with them after the fight is over?¡±


    Crocodile chuckled. ¡°Not if they win.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pissed and angry and all I see is red,¡± Beetle admitted, ¡°is that what you guys wanted to hear? Are you fucking royal philosophers now? Wisemen?¡±


    ¡°Friends.¡± Phin sat back, ¡°besides you came here to see us, not the other way around.¡±


    A cackle from Crocodile. ¡°He¡¯s got you there, Monkey. You didn¡¯t just come here to stew, did ya?¡±


    Beetle sighed. She knew she was being a jerk and she knew her friends were right. She had plenty on her chest, especially as her old self was finding its way back. If nothing else, there was one truth from the whole experience that was weighing on her. ¡°I¡¯m a murderer.¡±


    ¡°Were a murderer,¡± Crocodile corrected, ¡°unless you count bloodsports, then yeah, think we are all murderers.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Beetle waved a hand. ¡°I mean I feel it in my gut. I hate this world and everyone in it, or Rewe does, or I did, I don¡¯t know.¡± She closed her eyes, but instead of darkness, all she got was a headache. ¡°I killed so many people just because I hated the world we were born in, and the worst part is I¡¯m not sure I was really wrong.¡± She opened her eyes to Phin¡¯s gaze. Beetle held it for a moment. ¡°If I killed people like Maelys, people who are scum, then was Rewe really a monster. This world really is messed up, was it so wrong to fight back?¡±


    ¡°What about Gareg and his family?¡± Crocodile piped up. ¡°Some collateral you pulled on those folks with your piracy.¡±


    Beetle flinched. Sure she felt the guilt and the want to never cause that pain to someone ever again, but at the same time¡­ Gareg just lost a couple of boats, right? Beetle held Crocodile¡¯s gaze. ¡°I still feel that anger, this desire to say fuck it and to start¡­¡±


    ¡°Cleaning up?¡± Phin wondered out loud.


    ¡°That¡¯s a prettier way to put it than my memory does,¡± Beetle forced a strained smile. ¡°But fuck it, Rewe got to survive. Rewe got to be free, and who knows how many Maelys or Gallos I erased from people¡¯s lives.¡± Beetle threw her hands in the air. ¡°If Perdi is anything but a mirror of the world, can you really blame Rewe for lashing out against it, doing what she wanted, and wiping the smirks off the faces of the fat and greasy along the way? The content bastards who just go along with the broken world? Those who cheer in the stands¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you really want to be Rewe again?¡± Phin¡¯s words rattled in Beetle¡¯s head. She just gave every reason to take back her mantle of de la Hache, and yet her heart was hesitating. Gareg lost boats, but the eyes of everyone else who hated her betrayed a greater loss her actions had taken. She remembered the looks in her dreams, the face of the yexara wielding boy. When did Rewe become indiscriminate? Beetle couldn¡¯t remember, and for once, neither could Rewe.


    Crocodile shivered. ¡°Shit, this is some deep talking. Like, who else could she be?¡±


    Those words cinched Beetle¡¯s heart. ¡°Who else could I be¡­¡±


    A loud bang resounded off the front door. Beetle all but jumped from her seat while Crocodile twisted a frown. Granny came shooting across the room to see to it. Immediately a loud and angry voice started barking at the old woman and with equal gusto, Granny started barking right back. Beetle and Crocodile shared a look before rushing over with Phin trailing behind.


    There, by the open door was Jacob, his face purple from screaming and his eyes shot with old tears. As soon as his gaze bounced to Beetle, he grew a darker shade. ¡°You!¡± Spittle and anger came from his lips. He pointed a finger, but Granny held his arm down. He tried to push forward but soon Crocodile was holding the boy by the threshold. ¡°You killed him, didn¡¯t you!?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Beetle shouted back, though her chest was cold with panic.


    ¡°You did!¡± Jacob spat. ¡°I know you did!¡± He tried to lunge but Crocodile held him firm.


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    ¡°Think it might be time for you to go,¡± Crocodile said with a firm undertone of a threat.


    ¡°You killed my dad,¡± Jacob choked on his tears. ¡°You and that bitch duchess.¡± He sobbed, his anger faltering. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    Beetle stood in silence while Crocodile talked. ¡°No you won¡¯t,¡± Crocodile said, ¡°Now go clean yourself up. She said she didn¡¯t and she didn¡¯t.¡±


    Jacob slackened and took a step back. ¡°I will, though.¡± He pointed another finger at Beetle. ¡°I will.¡± With that he turned to the streets and started to shuffle away. Crocodile and Beetle stood in silence for a while and Phin stood with his arms crossed, in the shadows with Granny.


    A thought struck Beetle. She remembered how back when Maelys first tricked her to the arena, she turned down Gareg¡¯s offer to flee as Rewe would have in favor of protecting her friends and now here her friends were, standing between her and Jacob, being her alibi. She shook her head, she already had thought enough to pop her brain a thousand times over for one day. ¡°Granny, do you have a book I could read?¡±


    ¡°You going to your room?¡± Crocodile asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ***


    Beetle laid on her bed, a book tented over her face and her arms splayed. She was on her back and her head was toast. The book did little to distract her from thinking and now she laid with the evening minutes dwindling and the moon just starting to show. She was thinking about her friends, her old friends, before Crocodile and before Phin. Way back, she could sorta remember that she once did have friends as Rewe. What happened? A snort. Rewe started to see the flaws in her friends, the pains of the world reflecting off of them, started to see behavior she didn¡¯t agree with, personalities that rubbed her the wrong way. Just like everything else, Rewe saw the world paint them and she was disgusted, it was blinding to every other quality. It was her first step in isolating herself, festering.


    ¡°Haramush!¡± Beetle groaned into the pages. ¡°My kingdom for haramush!¡± She sat up, the book falling into her lap. Her hair was a golden mess and her eyes were baggy. ¡°How the fuck do I know that quote?¡± She wondered out loud. With a final look at the book, she shoved it off of her and groaned. ¡°I¡¯m going to finish today as Beetle,¡± she told the object.


    With little else, Beetle shuffled out of her room, hair still a wiry poof and face tired. ¡°Crocodile!¡± She shouted into the halls.


    ¡°What!?¡± A roar came back.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to Jacob¡¯s and tell him what happened to his dad.¡±


    ¡°Why!?¡±


    ¡°Shit. I¡¯m sick of making up reasons  for all my actions, good enough?¡±


    Crocodile poked his head out of an adjoining room. ¡°Can I come?¡±


    Beetle waved her arm. ¡°Sure.¡±


    ***


    The moon casted a pale hand over the streets of the upper district. Perdi¡¯s cobble streets were bare and the humid day had turned into a windy vesper. Beetle enjoyed the cold touch on her skin as she walked with Crocodile, but in spite of it all, there was an energy in the air. Crocodile must have felt it as well, as he was oddly silent and twiddling with the pommel of the saber he always kept strapped to his hip.


    Crocodile broke the silence. ¡°Monkey.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a weapon on you?¡±


    ¡°A knife.¡± Beetle lifted the hem of her baggy shirt to show the leather sheath of a short dagger. ¡°Why?¡±


    The two turned onto Jacob¡¯s street. It was a straight road with large manors on either side, but what was more, from it you could see an unobstructed view of the hill that overlooked the city, the same hill that the duchess¡¯ residence sat on. There, between the city¡¯s wealthy district and the duchess¡¯ own estate, was a field of glowing torches.


    Crocodile pointed a finger. ¡°That.¡±


    Beetle¡¯s eyes widened and she shot from Crocodile¡¯s side, rushing to Jacob¡¯s abode. It was the third house on the left. Normally Beetle might have been impressed by its size, but for now she felt a cold dread. The door was smashed in. Gritting her teeth, the warrior sprinted into the house and was immediately hit with the sight of a struggle.


    Broken glass, wood and overturned furniture littered the scene, but what was more, there were splatters of blood on the floor, a blood handprint on the wall, and a lone tooth beside a shattered vase. Crocodile was quick to back Beetle up, spinning in place as he took in the sights. Finally, as Beetle was poking her head into another room, Crocodile piped up.


    ¡°Monkey?¡±


    Beetle turned. Crocodile was squared, staring at the entrance that they had come in from. There, a dark lady with sinister eyes stood. Her clothes were functional and her noble boots were unmistakable.


    ¡°Rewe,¡± Chiara called softly. ¡°The duchess would like to have a word with you.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Jacob?¡± Beetle hissed.


    ¡°He¡¯s already at the meeting.¡±


    Crocodile nudged the tooth on the ground with his boot. ¡°All of him?¡±


    Chiara shot the Verdokian a look. ¡°Most of him.¡±


    Something clouded Beetle¡¯s judgement. An old instinct told her to strike right now and ask questions later, to end the dance, but for whatever reason, she continued to talk. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    For the first time, Beetle saw Chiara give a genuine smile. It was a gross one, the kind that made her squirm with hate. The strange noblewoman took a few backwards steps back into the moonlight of the streets and then with a nod, started to walk away.


    ¡°Your call, Monkey,¡± Crocodile turned to Beetle.


    ¡°It¡¯s not our problem,¡± Beetle concluded, ¡°probably.¡±


    ¡°I have a feeling that you might be the only one thinking that,¡± Crocodile answered.


    A sigh. ¡°Even I don¡¯t believe it. Fuck, let¡¯s go.¡± Beetle groaned and somewhere deep inside she felt Rewe flare with disappointment. It was one thing when she was saving people like Crocodile, but not a few hours ago, Jacob was threatening to kill her. Then again, it didn¡¯t take a genius to know that this entire ordeal was precipitating a greater event.


    ¡°Those sure are a lot of torches,¡± Crocodile murmured. Beetle looked up as she walked on the road, Chiara¡¯s shadow up front.


    ¡°They for me?¡± Beetle called to the noblewoman.


    Before Chiara could answer, Beetle suddenly froze. She saw something in her periphery, if just for a moment. She turned to a building to the left. It stood silent, like a corpse. The night wind was blowing and a decorative tapestry was flapping along a balcony. Could her eye have simply picked up the movement of the cloth in the wind? No, whatever she saw moving along the building in the corner of her eye had a face. Her gut twisted, hand reaching towards her knife.

 Chapter 15: Through the Neck to the Head

    Chapter 15: Through the Neck to the Head


    Gone. Beetle relaxed her fingers. Whatever shadow she saw was gone. A gloved hand grabbed her arm and the warrior spun. Chiara was there, eyes questioning Beetle. Returning the look with a sarcastic grin, Beetle pointed a finger.


    ¡°Rooftop ambushers again, Chiara? I¡¯m not Gallo, I won¡¯t fall for it that easily.¡±


    Crocodile, who had been watching the exchange, looked up at the roofs. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    A genuine look of confusion twisted Chiara¡¯s brow. ¡°What?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Come on, we have a meeting to attend, preferably before the fires flicker out.¡±


    Beetle and Crocodile looked down the cobble road to the blazing orange that sat between the upper city and the duchess¡¯ hill estate. It was so bright, that it looked like they were walking towards the day itself. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have much to worry about there,¡± Beetle muttered.


    The group fell into silence and with no more shadow sightings, the rest of the walk was quick. Eventually the cobble of the roads gave way to cheap flagstone cut from the island¡¯s cliffs and that too eventually led to an ancient meeting place nestled between two tiny hills and dominated by short grass. It was clear this area was man-made so that people could stand on the hills and look down at whatever orator was speaking in the center, except what was actually there had Beetle¡¯s eyes wide and her heart in her throat. Before she could speak, she realized that Maelys¡¯ masked knights were on her flanks with Chiara grinning at her side. Altogether they looked down into the open space.


    A circle of masked knights held torches and laced between them were pale faced cityfolk from the highest walks of life. Nobles, merchants and any other important soul was being held back by the knights while at the center stage was Maelys with a wicked grin. She was dressed in a silver gown, and despite the violent scene next to her, she looked serene and wickedly happy. Behind her were gallows and on the end of every rope, whimpering and waiting for the inevitable, were the oligarchs of Perdi, Jacob included.


    Beetle whipped around to glare at Chiara. ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t want to play the game,¡± the noble woman answered, ¡°so our duchess figured she couldn¡¯t rely on you any longer to reach her goal. In her words, it was either the sneaky way or the bloody way.¡±


    ¡°Salutations!¡± Maelys called over the murmuring crowd. Her gaze shot over the torches and pierced Beetle. ¡°I see you finally arrived at the party!¡± The torches of the knights forced the darkness to the periphery and masked the night, creating a dome of sorts and as a result, an uncomfortable intimacy. Beetle tried to peer behind the duchess in the distance, but it was true, the light had stolen her night vision and all she could see was the evil grin of Maelys.


    ¡°What are you doing, Maelys?¡± Beetle called out, the two ex-partners yelling over the crowd. Crocodile stepped forward.


    ¡°Let the boy go!¡± His eyes were on Jacob. The newly appointed oligarch was bloody, with his eyes pounded shut with bruises and welts, to say nothing of the sorry state of the others on the gallows. Each uneasy breath saw the oligarchs wobbling on the thin wooden bench that they stood on. One kick, purposeful or accidental, was all it would take to snuff out the oligarchs of Perdi, leaving but one authority.


    ¡°I figured,¡± Maelys called out with a joyful trill, ¡°that there was more than one way to become a queen.¡± A laugh. ¡°Duchess is nice, but a queen wouldn¡¯t need a bunch of out-of-date slobs holding council and consents. I dare say I¡¯m not one for petty politics.¡± She turned and without ceremony, kicked the bench.


    Rope strained and the bodies dropped. Only one or two oligarch¡¯s had a clear snap of the neck, while the others were left dancing on the end of their noose, Jacob included. His face was purple as he kicked. Beetle lunged forward, but Chiara stepped in, knife in hand. Before the blade could sink into the warrior, Crocodile tackled the noblewoman, taking the blade to the arm. Maelys¡¯ laughter dwarfed any screams of terror and the masked knights closed in.


    The barrier of darkness that ringed the scene was suddenly broken and a blurry figure dashed in. A sword flashed from the cloaked assassin and as the blade arced, the steel sang. Beetle¡¯s ears perked in recognition. Shouts broke from the knights but the assassin was already upon them.


    Blood sprayed. Spears and swords of defiance were swung at the assassin, but he ducked under with a grunt, hamstringing his opponents. He threw out his arm and a spray of needles plunged into reinforcements. With a punch of his hand, his yexara sword gurgled throats and stabbed through backs and rib. Maelys was screaming now and just as the knights turned from Beetle and Crocodile, the warrior snapped back to reality.


    Crocodile booted Chiara off of him with a steady kick before turning to Beetle. ¡°Run!¡± Was all Crocodile said, and with only swinging shadows waiting at the bottom of the hill, the two broke into the darkness.


    ¡°What the fuck is going on!?¡± Crocodile swore as the pair¡¯s boots met cobblestone streets. Night air was harsh in their lungs as they sprinted.


    ¡°No idea,¡± Beetle puffed, ripping her knife free as she ran. ¡°We have to get to the lower city by the docks. This coup won¡¯t end here.¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Before Crocodile could reply, a throwing knife zipped by both their heads. The Verdokian spun around just as Chiara closed in.


    ¡°Crocodile!¡± Beetle turned.


    ¡°Keep going!¡± He yelled back, ripping his blade free from its sheath. ¡°The others need to be warned.¡±


    Beetle wanted to argue, but her instincts knew better, and after a silent prayer to anyone and anything, she ran further into the darkness.


    ***


    Crocodile held his blade towards Chiara. He could hear Beetle¡¯s fading steps as well as the shouting of knights in the distance. Narrowing his eyes, Crocodile chuckled. ¡°I sort of wish you were that frogman, I have been itching for a rematch.¡±


    ¡°Gaju?¡± Chiara¡¯s frown was ever present, but before she could ponder further, Crocodile kicked into a charge. The behemoth Verdokian barreled forward, and despite his cocky attitude, he felt every inch of calculation in his mind. Crocodile wasn¡¯t a fool, he knew how dangerous Chiara was. AS if reading his mind, the noblewoman danced out of his way, only to pounce at his flank, a knife in each hand.


    The gladiator quickly threw his blade in the way, but just as one of her knives sparked off of the metal of his sword, the other slipped by and dragged a sharp point along his already bleeding arm, opening the wound from earlier even wider. Pain snapped up Crocodile¡¯s arm and if he bled as fast as a monkey, he wasn¡¯t sure this fight would have a happy ending.


    He clenched his teeth and twisted his stabbed arm, grabbing Chiara¡¯s wrist as if to keep the blade in his flesh. She twisted the knife and tears welled in the Verdokian¡¯s eyes, but he kept his hold on her. His free hand brought up his sword, but before he could swipe his prey, Chiara twisted, shoulder popping and with a strange movement, she wiggled free, leaving her knife behind. The acrobat leapt backwards and with a snap of bone, her arm was functioning again.


    The fuck? Crocodile sprung forward, this time swinging early. Chiara dodged to the left, but Crocodile was expecting it, and sent a slice of his blade her way. Metal shrieked and Chiara redirected the blow at the last second with her dagger. She spun to his side and tossed a blade from under her coat. The knife whizzed by Crocodile, but in the short moment he was distracted, Chiara closed in. The gladiator stepped back, just dodging a swipe of her knife. His fist shot out, slamming into her gut.


    With a loud gasp, Chiara reset the fight, putting distance between her and the gladiator. Pain was evident on her face, but Crocodile knew it was clear on his own. A slight woozy feeling was ticking at the back of his head and he could see the rivulets of blood trailing down his stabbed arm and dripping from his fingers. He had to end this fight before it caught up to him.


    ¡°You never fought a Verdokian before, right?¡± Crocodile idled.


    Chiara just offered him a curious look before diving back in. That answered the question for him. A new plan emerged in his head and as Chiara came into range, Crocodile stabbed forward. Chiara  dodged, but kept her momentum forward. She went to strike, but Crocodile side stepped, giving Chiara his flank. Her eyes were greedy, and she capitalized, all in a split second. There was no way for Crocodile to get his sword around in time before she could slice his neck from the side or stab his lung through the ribs, and yet as she closed in, Crocodile¡¯s eye glinted with a red, reptilian bloodlust.


    A loud shriek burst from Chiara¡¯s lips as the sound of bone cracking echoed. Crocodile¡¯s tail had crashed right into her at full strength. The meaty appendage slammed her right into the ground. Crocodile didn¡¯t turn to look at her as she laid flat on her back, breath ragged.


    ¡°Oof,¡± the gladiator taunted. ¡°Sounds like a few ribs turned to dust there. I bet it burns to breathe.¡±


    Chiara couldn¡¯t form words through the huffing and puffing. Her fingers tightened on her knife, as if summoning what remained of her strength, but before she could do anything else, the moon cast a shadow of Crocodile¡¯s tail and with a whipping motion, he snapped his tail down against her face. The puffing stopped, the fingers froze in a death grip, and Crocodile felt a squirm in his chest.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said to the corpse. ¡°What¡¯s done is done.¡± Crocodile shook his head, only to startle at a new sight. Two masked knights had wandered over from the massacre in the distance. Their hands were tight on their spears and were shaking with either fear or anger. Crocodile ground his teeth in anxiety, his head was fuzzy for this.


    A shadow flashed behind the knights, steel sang an eerie song, and in one fluid motion, both of the knight''s heads flew off their shoulders with a gush of blood. The cloaked assassin stood behind the victims as they crumpled to the ground, his sword still humming gently.


    Crocodile took a step back, his own blade in guard. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡±


    Silence. Crocodile¡¯s eyes narrowed, heart pounding from his throat to his leaking arm. ¡°A black scorpion assassin?¡±


    The assassin said nothing but with a flourish, they spun their long, curved yexara blade free of gore and slammed it back into its scabbard. The humming stopped.


    ¡°The Thricefold Slayer,¡± Crocodile was stepping backwards, he didn¡¯t want anything to do with this, not in his current condition. Not that he was afraid, or at least he told himself. ¡°You are him, I¡¯m sure of it.¡±


    With a crack of a moment, the Slayer dashed forward. Crocodile slammed a foot back to brace himself and cut with his sword. His blade sliced the air, and as realization dawned, the Slayer had vanished back into the night. Crocodile stood there, sword out, but alive and untouched save for his arm.


    ¡°The Monkey isn¡¯t going to believe this one,¡± Crocodile gulped, heart still racing.

 Chapter 16: Civil War

    Chapter 16:  Civil War


    Beetle''s sandals slapped the cobblestone underneath. Her legs were burning with fatigue and puffs of hot breath had her throat hoarse. In her past life as Rewe, she was sure she wouldn''t be running so hard for someone else''s sake, but she owed this much to Gareg, or perhaps to whatever ideal she was trying to imprint on herself. They had done so much for her, but all Beetle had ever done for them was bring harm their way, to say nothing of Rewe¡¯s crimes.


    The moon was still high above and the light was sickly pale, but the lifeless form of the city was stirring with shouts: Maelys'' takeover had begun and no doubt any known dissenters were being removed. The idea bothered Beetle, the thought of Maelys getting her way, but worse still was the thought of finding corpses instead of her friends. She pushed her legs harder and dipped into one of the many alleys.


    As she turned into the dark funnelway, a pair of dead eyes caught her vision. A man with his throat cut lay slumped against one of the alley walls. No doubt a knight had made their way through here. The sight of the dead man slowed Beetle to a trot, and she could feel anger in her heart. Once upon a time, Rewe used to say to herself that the world wasn¡¯t meant to be like this. Beetle chewed her cheek and with one final look, returned to a sprint.


    ***


    By the time Beetle made it to Gareg''s front door, screams and shouts were the cacophony of the night. With her back on the door to make sure no one was following from behind, Beetle pushed through. The night air was replaced with the musk of stale dinner long since cooked and eaten. Beetle turned to the scene.


    The table was pushed up against the wall and several clay dishes were scattered and broken on the floor. All the cabinets were torn open and every basket was toppled and ripped to shreds. A cold fear beat through Beetle  as she stepped forward.


    "Mar Gareg? Mar Brenna?" Beetle called to the hollow home. Her sickening feeling worsened when nothing returned her shout. It was a terrible anxiety, one that clawed at her heart and soul.


    "Probably dragged out and killed," Rewe thought, her wicked voice grating in Beetle''s mind.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Beetle thought back. The idea was hard to swallow, even if it was starting to seem possible.


    ¡°You saw the man in the alley, who is to say they stopped at him?¡± Rewe wasn¡¯t wrong.


    Biting her lip, Beetle pushed further into the house. With her sandal, she kicked over one of the destroyed baskets and mounted the stairs to the top floor. ¡°Mar Brenna?¡± She called again, voice bouncing up the stairwell. At the top of the stairs, Beetle pushed the door to their bedroom.


    ¡°Hello?¡± The door creaked open, but Beetle¡¯s voice was met with emptiness. The bedroom was divided into two parts, one presumably for Charlie and the other for his parents. The beds were ripped apart with blankets and pillows every which way. The mess that Beetle used to sleep on was slumped in the corner, and a trunk was hanging open by a dresser. Beetle¡¯s blood ran cold.


    ¡°Mar Charlie? Are you under the bed?¡± Her voice was a squeak.


    ¡°Dead,¡± Rewe thought again, but Beetle did her best to ignore it. Her anxiety was starting to churn to something more molten. Stepping over to the trunk, the warrior found it was filled with nothing but cloth, as if whatever was kept safe in the chest had been removed. Beetle backed up and slumped onto the bed. Wood creaked.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Beetle swore through her fingers. Without thinking, her other hand was twiddling with her dagger. Each beat of her heart seemed irritating, especially as realization dawned. Rewe was grinning, she thought she was right.


    ¡°They could still be alive,¡± Beetle argued to no one but herself, but any sadness she was feeling was masked with an old anger.


    ¡°Good for them,¡± Rewe replied. ¡°Better than everyone else right about now. Perdi is a bloodbath.¡± Rewe¡¯s scowl was on Beetle¡¯s face. ¡°Perdi is disgusting.¡±


    The warrior stood up, and slowly made her way back downstairs. ¡°You know,¡± Rewe continued. ¡°If you really think about it, you could have avoided all of this if you just slit that bitches throat when you first met her. Void, if you just slit Gallo too, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have even met her. Let¡¯s go further than that,¡± the thoughts were unceasing, and Beetle¡¯s heart was racing with adrenaline. ¡°You ran back to save Crocodile, and made yourself a tool for the bitch, you didn¡¯t need to do that. Why did you even bother, you barely know the Verdokian, and he was only caught because he interacted with you. You reached out a hand of friendship and doomed him and Phin. He is probably dead in the streets.¡±


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    Beetle took in a deep, shuddering breath and tried to still herself in the kitchen, but her thoughts kept coming. ¡°This world is cruel, its people are even more cruel. Everyone¡¯s greedy, everyone¡¯s selfish, no one cares, and they want to use you and everyone they possibly can. It doesn¡¯t deserve life, it never had. Beetle¡¯s way is being a tool. You made deals, as if you had agency, as if Gallo or Maelys cared to uphold their promises. Honesty died before you were born, you know better than that!¡± With a burst of frustration, Beetle threw her arm over the counter, knocking the bowls to the floor. Beetle looke to the exist, to the portal back to the wretched city.


    Rewe¡¯s voice pounded. ¡°Stop trying to live like a Beetle in a world that only knows Rewe.¡± Her fingers tightened on her dagger and she held the point forward. ¡°Go kill the bitch and gut anyone in the way, then get the fuck off this island so you can go back to making this forsaken existence wish it never opened its eyes.¡±


    Rewe walked over and placed her hand on the door to the city, her breath hot and her heart pounding. Maelys had to die, right now, by her hand. Fuck Perdi, let it all bleed and burn. With that, Rewe pushed through and exploded onto the streets, weapon in hand.


    ***


    The way to Maelys¡¯ estate was similar to the one Rewe had taken to get to Gareg¡¯s home in the first place, except this time, she made no effort to hide her presence, and as she ran through the main streets, the masked knights started to swarm. On her peripherals, cityfolk were being beaten or harassed, some were already slaughtered while others put up a fair fight, but all in all, most people had the intent of getting as far from the estate on the hill as possible and preferred to run in the direction Rewe had come from.


    A masked knight rushed over the moonlit cobblestone and with a mighty sword, took a swing at Rewe. The pirate barely gave them a glance and swiftly dodged the swing before savagely punching the point of her dagger under the knight¡¯s armpit. With a sickening crunch, Rewe slipped the dagger free and pounded it into the back of their neck.


    Another knight appeared. Blood sprayed. Before the knight even had a chance to attack, Rewe had zipped over to him and placed three brutal stabs into their belly, the stiff blade making easy work of the thin cuirass. The spear in the knight¡¯s hands slackened and Rewe ripped it free. Her dagger slammed back into its sheath and with both hands on the spear, Rewe charged up the street, the silhouette of the estate lingering on the night¡¯s horizon.


    Cries of pain and battle came from the buildings on either side of the road, and out from the alley slithered some more of Maelys¡¯ thugs. The first caught Rewe¡¯s spear on his shield but no sooner did Rewe slide up the length, grip loose, and rip her dagger free again. She parried his sword and sliced his armpit open. The knight¡¯s arm went limp and Rewe sprinted onward. The next knight wasn¡¯t alone and a group of three rushed the long pirate.


    This time Rewe staggered her approach and when the knight flinched too early, Rewe redirected her spear and plunged it right into the knight¡¯s neck. Crimson sprayed and the other two knights rushed in, specked with gore.


    Rewe ducked a sword swing and spun to avoid a stabbing spear. Her dagger danced and sliced open the back of one of the knight¡¯s knees before plunging into the wrist of the other. Screams of pain hollowed the knight¡¯s throats, but with both hands on her spear now, Rewe silenced them with quick strokes of her weapon. Their bodies crumbled and Rewe pried her dagger free.


    Rivulets of red leaked between the cracks on the cobble and Rewe continued her warpath up to the estates. The buildings grew taller as the pirate went further into the wealthier districts of Perdi, and in turn the alleyways on the sides grew darker and more dangerous. Knights were flooding in and out, as were looters now, and victims. The whole of the city was in distress as Maelys¡¯ coup was in full swing.


    A knight closed in, Rewe blasted her spear through their gut. The pirate¡¯s sprint didn¡¯t falter, and as he ran, she took her impaled victim with her, slamming the spear time in a knight already embroiled in a fight with a townsman. Rewe let go of her spear and ripped the sword from the dying soldier and kept her momentum forward.


    With a zip, an arrow whizzed by, thunking into the townsman from earlier. Rewe spun into one of the alleyways, just in time to miss a second arrow. She collided with a knight, knocking the soldier¡¯s mask clean off. The young man fell backwards and Rewe bared her teeth. With eyes frozen in fear, the young knight looked up at Rewe, shaking. He scrambled to his feet, back against the wall and shield in front. He was a coward, weak behind a wooden disc.


    ¡°Beetle!¡± Diamond¡¯s voice cut through the darkness of the alley. Rewe didn¡¯t flinch, Beetle wasn¡¯t there. The pirate¡¯s eyes never left her victims. He was young, sure, he was scared, sure¡ªRewe gritted her teeth¡ªbut he was also doing the will of Maelys. He was perpetuating her will. This was the real world, you don¡¯t get forgiveness for being young. Rewe ripped the man¡¯s shield away and with a fluid motion, sent her stolen sword in to gurgle his throat.


    The sword snagged flesh and Rewe¡¯s arm tugged. Blood sprayed into the air but Beetle¡¯s eyes widened. Diamond stared her in the eye, shocked. Beetle¡¯s blade had sunk into her chest. Beetle watched as the gladiator slowly fell. Even in the dim light of the moon, Beetle could see Diamond¡¯s fingers were purple and broken, her arms striped red from abuse, and now her own sword was jutting from her body. Rewe¡¯s rage was set aside for a moment, as a cold shivered the warrior.


    ¡°Diamond?¡± She whispered, but her question was cut short by the twang of a bow. An arrow ripped into Beetle¡¯s back and before she could turn, three more came pounding in. Blood colored her vision, and with a stumble forward, blackness stole her.


    For a moment, in her own personal void, her ears still took in sounds. A humming, and the song of a yexara. A few shouts, the sound of metal on flesh. That humming, that song, Rewe knew it.