Trials Chapter 23: Discussion

                Alaster loved fighting: a fact that would surprise no one. All northern men loved fighting and strength and the honor found in fair combat. In that way he was much like the amazons he held in such contempt. As much as he despised his partner in the heat of battle he held secret respect for her. The contradiction of which plagued his thoughts almost every day. Still as he swung at the lynx before him the agile cat ducking it adeptly he couldn’t help but smile. She had given him a gift; trust. With Lemere  by his side he no longer had to watch his back, he no longer had to defend, with her by his side in battle he was able to cut loose and focus on the battle in a way he never achieved with any of his men back north. This gave them both an edge that was usually the deciding factor and it was what they would need to survive the horde of predators that surrounded them.

                Alaster gripped the lynx around the throat finally managing the capture one of the wiry creatures he immediately hurled it into two others that were about to pounce on him. “Is there a reason these cats are so riled up?” He took a step back as three more lynx leapt forward to engage.

                “We’re trespassing.” Lemere answered doing her best to keep a horde of the feline’s at bay. “This whole area is mainly under lynx control.”

                “I thought the amazons owned this forest.” Alaster remarked. He threw his hammer clearing a path as the cast jumped away from its trajectory. It landed with a thud near Lemere who immediately picked it up a spun around bludgeoning the horde.

                “You can’t own the forest.” Lemere  added, finished with the hammer she hurled it in a high arc. “We spent ten years teaching you humans that.”

                Alaster jumped into the air grabbing his hammer mid-flight then using the momentum and gravity slammed into the ground creating a small shockwave that scattered more of the lynx. As the dust settled a sizeable crater was left at the point of impact. He climbed out brushing the dirt off his iron shoulder pads. He looked to see the remaining lynx scattering to the treetops.

                “COWARDS!” He bellowed as the last of them disappeared into the brush. He raised his hammer turning towards Lemere a cocky smile on his face. “The day is ours!”

                “Not likely.” Lemere replied taking in a breath she walked over to her partner pressing a fist against his shoulder. She was only mildly surprised when in didn’t give.

                Alaster eyed her taken aback by her sudden gesture. “Woman?” he questioned as Lemere openly leered at him.

                “They’ll be back.” She spoke her words becoming increasingly more agitated. “There more like dogs than cats, and if they bring an alpha with them?!”

                “Let them come!” He puffed his chest. “They’ll learn the pain of northern man’s fist.”

                “You just never learn do you?!” Lemere yelled surprising them both. She pressed a hand against her chest calming herself down. “This isn’t just about getting your fix of fighting and carnage.”  She walked over to Alaster retrieving the statue of Volsta strapped to his back. She looked it over touching it gingerly it had received a few chips and scuffs from their skirmish. “You have no idea how important these games are.” Her voice was almost a whisper and her eyes had a far off look.

                “Where’s all this coming from?” Alaster questioned. He wouldn’t admit it but her outburst made him a little ashamed and dare he say concerned. “You’ve never complained about my methods before.”

                “Well this is different.” Lemere addressed him seeming regain some awareness. “There’s more at stake than just our lives.”

                Alaster grunted at the last remark out of words or retorts. He hoisted his hammer over his shoulder and fell in line behind her. It was then he decided he would never fully understand women.

                The pair continued through the forest at a light pace. They were taking a different route back in hopes of throwing the lynx of their trail. What seemed like hours had past without so much as purr being heard through the brush. If they were being followed Alaster had to admit he wouldn’t be able to tell. What concerned him more was Lemere, she had been quiet since her little episode and that was unnatural. One of the things that annoyed him the most about her is that she usually never shut up. She was always going on about her friends or, family or, something that happened at her little bar. Yet now she seemed lost in thought. It suddenly occurred to him that he had never bothered to ask why they had entered these games. At first he didn’t care, he assumed they had entered for the reason any warrior would; the sport  of it, the glory you gain from crushing your peers in fair combat. Her sudden silent treatment made him reconsider, but what possible reason could she have? She seemingly had everything an amazon could ask for. Freedom, family, a place all her own, even a strong northern man to drag around as her personal slave. What more could she want?

                He jogged up to her grabbing her shoulder. She stopped looking at him expectantly raising an eyebrow.

                “Yes.” She turned to face him slightly taken by the look of sincerity he had.

                Alaster paused for a moment forming his thoughts. “Be hones t with me.” He said. “Why are we-“

                “Do you smell that?” Lemere interrupted her face contorting signifying it was something foul.

                Alaster breathed in and nearly gagged from the scent. He couldn’t place it but it was familiar. “Orion’s Beard!” he exclaimed.

                They both followed the scent until it became clear what was so familiar about. Lemere pushed past a bushel of ferns to stumble across the body of lynx mail spread eagle across a fallen over tree trunk. His body was covered in slash marks and stab wounds.

                “Did the lynx do this?” Alaster asked.

                “No.” Lemere answered. She turned the body over showing a burn mark on his left side under his pectoral. It was the only part of his body not lightly covered in fur. It was in the shape of a fish swimming encircling another. “Look, this man was an Kerla Si.” Lemere was worried this man seemed familiar and Urlak Si don’t usually travel this deep into the forest alone.

                Alaster turned away from the corpse to investigate the surroundings the leaves around the area were covered in blood. “Who could have done this?”

                “Another team perhaps.” Lemere proposed. “Killing isn’t forbidden.” As she continued looking she gasped peering under the fallen log. Leaning against the side covered mostly in leaves was the body of an amazon woman. They were competitors. She looked closer at the body. Something seemed off. Her body had no wounds of visible signs of her death. She moved away some of the leaves and lifted the body to lay her out to be identified. They would have to report this so they could have a proper burial. Then she noticed a stream of blood coming from her chest. She removed the woman’s top and discovered a small hole in her sternum the blood was flowing from.

                “What on earth could of caused this?”

                “A gun.” Was Alaster’s answer.

                “A what?”

                “It’s a weapon that fires projectiles at high speed like arrows.”

                “So it’s like a crossbow?”

                “No it’s very different and much more dangerous.”

                Alaster scratched his head at the sight of the wound. “They’re very rare it’s surprising that another contestant would have one.”  He looked at the amazon her face was in complete shock. She clearly didn’t know what it was that killed her. “The lynx don’t think we did this do they?”

                “That would explain why they’re so excited.” Lemere thought out loud. “They’re very protective of their own kind. If they think we killed one of them on their territory they’ll hunt us down.”

                Suddenly whispers could be heard from the treetops and the sound of something moving between the branches.

                “We need to move!” Lemere shouted taking off into the jungle. Alaster followed instantly on her heels.