Angry shouting came closer, and I looked at him in fear.
‘Tor, she’s so small, and in his mood, he will tear her apart.Let the river take her instead.At least she’ll have a chance,’ Atlas reasoned.
Torgrin’s expression was one of deep anguish.I didn’t want to go into the rushing crimson water in the dark, but I knew I couldn’t walk, and I sure didn’t want to be torn to pieces by anyone.
‘Put me in the river,’ I told him.
He shook his head.‘You will drown,’ he growled at me.
‘I’m a good swimmer,’ I lied.I saw several enormous figures emerging from the trees.‘Help me to the edge.I can get in on my own.’
Torgrin hesitated for a second, then half-carried me down the bank, coming to a halt on the river stones.The water was moving fast at this point in the river.I swallowed my fear and stepped away from him on unsteady legs.
‘Wait!’Torgrin shouted.
He gripped my arm, looking down into my eyes.‘Do whatever it takes to survive.No matter who or what gets in your way, survive!’His words seemed eerily familiar, like a forgotten dream.He tugged on my arm painfully when I didn’t respond.
‘Do you hear me?Survive, no matter what!’
I nodded to let him know I understood, and he pushed me hard into the raging river.I went under.Iron-rich water filled my mouth as the current dragged me away.
I gasped for air as the memory faded, and the painful stab of my ribs pulled the arena into sharp focus.
Switching off the pain and exhaustion, I sat up and tore off my breastplate.The mace’s spikes weren’t only embedded in the steel but in my chain mail as well.If anyone but Cillian had made this armour, I would be dead.
I got up with a grunt of pain and stood on my breastplate with both feet.I pulled on the mace, but it didn’t budge.
I ducked as the knife from Ugly Giant’s face flew towards me.He missed me and started coming for me with his bare hands.I pulled on the mace desperately, but it didn’t budge.I yelled and prayed to the gods, pulling with all the strength I had left.I cried out with relief when it finally came free.
Ignoring the pain as my ribcage flared, I lifted the mace above my head and swung it, hitting him square in the head.He dropped like a stone.
Unfortunately, the blow didn’t kill him.He sat up, his head a mangled mess.I scrambled for the discarded knife at my feet and knelt at his side, prepared to shove it straight into his eyeball.He froze in a half-seated position.
‘Yield.’My tone was deadly.
He nodded his bloody head.
‘Say it!’I screamed.Okay, maybe I was losing my sanity a bit, but it had been a long day, and I disliked this creature immensely.
‘I yield!’he snarled in my face, and the crowd roared.
Feeling relieved it was over, I dropped the knife and stumbled away.
I looked down at myself and saw that the shirt I had under my armour had ripped at some point.It dangled from my shoulder, revealing more than was appropriate.I probably should have cared, but I couldn’t muster the energy.
I searched the crowd to see if Cillian had stayed to the end.When I finally found him, my heart rate calmed, and my shoulders relaxed.He smiled at me, but then his expression changed to horror as his gaze moved over my shoulder.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.I circled around to see Ugly Giant standing once more.One of his arms was still hanging uselessly by his side, but his other hand was holding the mace.
Movement caught my eye as Torgrin jumped down from the balcony and into the arena.I was stunned by how perfectly he landed on one knee.
He pulled out his sword as he stood and strode towards us with a deadly expression.I started walking backwards, keeping my eye on the mace.The ugly giant wore a manic grin as he began swinging the bloodied weapon.
I ducked as it came flying at me.He had missed, but the mace swung back to cut the side of my face, and I hissed in pain.
‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ I said, holding a hand to my bleeding cheek.My eyes went to Torgrin, who was now standing directly behind his soldier.
Ugly Giant spun around to see what I was looking at.The man didn’t have time to take a final breath.Torgrin’s sword cut through the air, and the surprised man’s head went flying.
