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“I know who you are, Favian. Everybody knows you are a snake. What the fuck am I doing here?”
Favian coughed, spat, then flicked away his roll-up. “Over there.” Favian pointed at Mara.
Fight her? Mara felt a tingle run up his spine and his face went hot. I can’t fight her. He’d seen her fight many times at the arena, including two men at once. She’d beat them all easily. She’ll kill me.
Luanda turned to face Mara, then flicked her head back to Favian. “A fucking child? You are a fucking lunatic. Keep your money.” Luanda stormed toward the door.
The man with the crooked smile waved a finger at Luanda. “Not this way, love. Listen to what the nice man has to say.” He and the two men next to him drew their blades, one in each hand.
“Fucking cowards.” Luanda spat on the floor at their feet.
The man with the crooked smile laughed.
Favian blew out smoke from a fresh roll-up. “Let’s not make things difficult now.”
Luanda spun to face Favian. The cloak floated up briefly to show the glint of her heel spikes. “I will not fight a little fucking boy.” She pointed at Mara.
“I’m afraid the decision has already been made.” Favian raised his open hands out in front of him. “Out of my hands. It’s all been arranged.”
“How about I fight you, coward?”
“Now, that would be an unfair fight. I haven’t brought you here to die.”
All the men laughed.
“So you brought me here to kill a child? I get it. I kill him, you tell the guards, and they hang me. Then you get to stop losing your money betting against me at the arena. I’ve heard about your losses. Suck it up, coward. Try betting for me to win.”
“Enough of your shit, woman,” Favian shouted as he stood. “Bring her out.”
From behind a stack of crates in the corner, a woman in a dirty white dress appeared with a man holding a knife to her neck. “Lulu, help me, please,” she shouted, face wet with tears.
Luanda made for her but stopped as the man pulled the woman’s head back by the hair. “Let her go, bastard.”
“Now, now.” Favian sat back in his chair. “She doesn’t have to get hurt now, does she? Just do as you’re bloody told. What you are being paid to do. And she’ll flutter out of here, free as a bird.”
“You fucking bastard.”
“There are only so many insults that I… or she,” Favian pointed a thumb at the crying woman, “can take.”
Luanda stood only five or six steps away from Favian. She could kill him if she moved quick. Mara looked at the woman in the dirty dress. But then she’d die.
“Now turn around, if you would be so kind,” Favian said. Then looked at Mara. “Forward, boy.”
Mara stared at Luanda as she turned. He didn’t want to move. He didn’t want to be in the room. He wanted to be somewhere else. Alone. Even the Spring, back in the stinking gap between the shacks. He didn’t want to fight Luanda. He didn’t want to die.
“Boy,” Favian shouted.
Mara moved away from the corner to stand ten or so steps from Luanda. He looked into her eyes. She looked angry, but not at him. She’s angry at Favian. Like I am. We should kill him together.
Luanda unbuttoned her cloak and threw it aside. She wore her arena fighting costume, spikes and all. “Forgive me, child. I will avenge you, if not in this life, in the next.” She unhooked the clawed gloves from her belt and pulled them on. “I’ll make it quick. You will not feel a thing.”
Luanda took a slow step forward, her foot hovering in the air. Mara looked over to Favian to see the smoke between his lips like it was stuck there. One man was mid-yawn, his mouth open wide enough for a fist. Beast, where are you? Help me.
Mara drew his blade before Luanda’s first step hit the ground, then moved to the right as she began her next. Luanda’s eyes widened, her head turning to try to keep up with him.
Now behind her, Mara paused. Luanda’s foot changed direction in the air to follow him. He looked to Favian, who frowned, eyes wide. I should kill you, not her.
Mara moved in. As he got close, Luanda’s spiked heel was on its way toward him. He dodged it with ease, and pushed his blade into her side, right up to the handle, then swept it forward as he returned to his starting position.
