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In the
Town of Ravenscar in Front of the Pit
"Are you
certain she'll help us?" Catriona whispered to Davyn.
"Ayanti and
I grew up together," Davyn said. "My--the wizard didn't approve of a
human and a centaur having a personal relationship. But we became
friends anyway. She'll help us."
After a
time, Ayanti returned, pulling a wagon with an iron cage in the back.
Inside the cage was a strange beast that resembled a boar, though it was
closer to the size of a bull. Instead of fur, it was covered in
greenish-black scales, and it had long lizard-like tail. The beast
snorted and rammed its curved tusks against the iron bars of its cage,
impatient to be free.
Nearra was
horrified. "Is that abomination Maddoc's doing?"
Davyn
nodded. "That's how he pays Bolthor. Bolthor gets the wizard whatever
supplies and servants he wants, and in return, the wizard uses his magic
to create monsters to fight in the Pit. This one looks to be a cross
between a boar and a lizard."
The beast
slavered and whipped its tail about, eager to get to killing.
"It's
disgusting!" Catriona said.
"I wonder
what sort of spell Maddoc used to create the animal," Sindri said. "Do
you think he might tell me?"
Ayanti
pulled the wagon up to the ramp at the edge of the Pit and started to
unlock the cage door. Though the centaur had showed affection for the
wolves and the bear, it was clear from her expression that she held
little love for the lizard-boar. Nearra couldn't blame her.
As soon as
the door was open, the lizard-boar jumped onto the ramp and ran down
into the Pit without any urging from Ayanti.
"What now?"
Nearra asked.
Before
anyone could say anything else, a shout came from edge of the crowd.
"Cheaters!
Thieves!"
The crowd
grew quiet, and turned to look at the cause of the commotion. The two
bullies who had "greeted" the companions at the edge of town were
pushing their way through, weapons drawn and faces twisted into masks of
fury.
The crowd
lost no time parting to make way for the angry thugs.
"I think
perhaps it's time we were going," Elidor said nervously. But before any
of them could move, Snake Skin saw them and jabbed his sword in their
direction.
"You gave us
iron coins coated with steel!"
His partner
grinned and brandished his weapon. "So now it's time to give you a taste
of our steel!"
The two
thugs rushed toward Nearra and her friends, swords raised high and
murder in their eyes.
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