Read Online Drenai Series 08 - Winter Warriors by David Gemmell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David Gemmell
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black man.
'I'll. . . whip . . . him too,' muttered Bison.
Dagorian moved to Bison's left and between them he and Nogusta half carried Bison to a bench seat. The big man slumped down. 'Semifinals, eh?' he said, spitting blood to the grass. 'Just two more and I'll be champion.'
'When is the next bout?' asked Dagorian.
'They are preparing for it now,' said Nogusta, massaging Bison's huge shoulders.
'I think he should withdraw,' said the officer.
'Don't worry about me,' said Bison, forcing a grin. 'I'm just acting like this to fool them all.'
'It's certainly fooling me,' said Nogusta, drily.
'Have faith, black man,' grunted Bison, heaving himself to his feet. The Ventrian champion was waiting for them. He tied his long dark hair into a pony-tail and gave a wide smile as the older man entered the circle. At the sound of the drum Bison surged forward, to be met with a kick to the chest that halted him in his tracks. A chopping elbow opened a huge cut on his cheek, then Kyaps ducked down, threw an arm between Bison's legs and heaved him high, hurling him out of the circle. The old man landed hard. He lay still and did not move. Nogusta and Dagorian moved to his side. He was out cold. Nogusta felt for a pulse. 'Is he alive?' asked Dagorian.
'Yes.'
After some minutes Bison stirred. He tried to open his eyes, but one was swollen shut. 'I guess I didn't win,' he mumbled.
'I guess you didn't,' agreed Nogusta. Bison smiled.
'Still, I earned some money,' he said. 'I only bet myself to make the semis. Ten to one they offered.'
'It'll cost you what you won to have your face mended,' Nogusta told him.
'Nonsense. You can stitch the cuts. They'll be fine. I'm a fast healer.' He sat up. 'I should have entered the boxing,' he said. 'I would have won that.'
The two men helped him to his feet. 'Let's go see Kebra win,' said Bison.
'I think you should have another nap,' advised Nogusta.
'Nonsense. I feel strong as an ox.'
As they were about to move off Kyaps strolled across to where they stood. He was a full head taller than Bison. 'Hey, old man,' he said. 'The next time you see me you kiss my boots. Understand?'
Bison chuckled with genuine humour. 'You have a big mouth, child,' he told him.
Kyaps leaned forward. 'Big enough to swallow you, you Drenai scum!'
'Well,' said Bison, 'swallow this.' His fist smashed into Kyaps' chin, and Dagorian winced as he heard the snapping of bone. The Ventrian champion hit the grass face first and did not move. 'See,' said Bison. 'I should have entered the boxing. I'd have won that.'
Chapter Three
Kebra the bowman was relaxed, his mind focused, his emotions suppressed, all thoughts of Bison's actions forgotten. Anger would not be an ally now. Archery required calm concentration and great timing.
He had entered the tourney in the fifth stage with only twenty archers left. The target, thirty paces away, was a straw man, with a round red heart pinned to the chest. Kebra had struck the heart ten times with ten shafts, giving him 100 points. The Ventrian bowman standing to his right had hit nine, and two other men had seven.
These four alone moved on to the sixth stage.
The crowd among the competitors was swelling now, and once again Kebra could feel the old excitement coursing through him. He had watched the other three competitors, and only the stocky Ventrian posed any real danger. But the man was being unsettled by the mainly Drenai crowd, who jeered and shouted as he took aim.
The next event was one of Kebra's favourites. He had always enjoyed the Horse, for it was the closest the tourney could offer to combat shooting. Led by running soldiers four ponies bearing figures of straw tied to the saddle, would pass before the bowmen. Each archer was allowed three shafts. There was a larger element of luck in this event, as the horses would swerve, causing the straw figures to sway in the saddle. But the crowd loved it. And so did the Drenai champion.
Kebra stood waiting, one shaft notched to
'I'll. . . whip . . . him too,' muttered Bison.
Dagorian moved to Bison's left and between them he and Nogusta half carried Bison to a bench seat. The big man slumped down. 'Semifinals, eh?' he said, spitting blood to the grass. 'Just two more and I'll be champion.'
'When is the next bout?' asked Dagorian.
'They are preparing for it now,' said Nogusta, massaging Bison's huge shoulders.
'I think he should withdraw,' said the officer.
'Don't worry about me,' said Bison, forcing a grin. 'I'm just acting like this to fool them all.'
'It's certainly fooling me,' said Nogusta, drily.
'Have faith, black man,' grunted Bison, heaving himself to his feet. The Ventrian champion was waiting for them. He tied his long dark hair into a pony-tail and gave a wide smile as the older man entered the circle. At the sound of the drum Bison surged forward, to be met with a kick to the chest that halted him in his tracks. A chopping elbow opened a huge cut on his cheek, then Kyaps ducked down, threw an arm between Bison's legs and heaved him high, hurling him out of the circle. The old man landed hard. He lay still and did not move. Nogusta and Dagorian moved to his side. He was out cold. Nogusta felt for a pulse. 'Is he alive?' asked Dagorian.
'Yes.'
After some minutes Bison stirred. He tried to open his eyes, but one was swollen shut. 'I guess I didn't win,' he mumbled.
'I guess you didn't,' agreed Nogusta. Bison smiled.
'Still, I earned some money,' he said. 'I only bet myself to make the semis. Ten to one they offered.'
'It'll cost you what you won to have your face mended,' Nogusta told him.
'Nonsense. You can stitch the cuts. They'll be fine. I'm a fast healer.' He sat up. 'I should have entered the boxing,' he said. 'I would have won that.'
The two men helped him to his feet. 'Let's go see Kebra win,' said Bison.
'I think you should have another nap,' advised Nogusta.
'Nonsense. I feel strong as an ox.'
As they were about to move off Kyaps strolled across to where they stood. He was a full head taller than Bison. 'Hey, old man,' he said. 'The next time you see me you kiss my boots. Understand?'
Bison chuckled with genuine humour. 'You have a big mouth, child,' he told him.
Kyaps leaned forward. 'Big enough to swallow you, you Drenai scum!'
'Well,' said Bison, 'swallow this.' His fist smashed into Kyaps' chin, and Dagorian winced as he heard the snapping of bone. The Ventrian champion hit the grass face first and did not move. 'See,' said Bison. 'I should have entered the boxing. I'd have won that.'
Chapter Three
Kebra the bowman was relaxed, his mind focused, his emotions suppressed, all thoughts of Bison's actions forgotten. Anger would not be an ally now. Archery required calm concentration and great timing.
He had entered the tourney in the fifth stage with only twenty archers left. The target, thirty paces away, was a straw man, with a round red heart pinned to the chest. Kebra had struck the heart ten times with ten shafts, giving him 100 points. The Ventrian bowman standing to his right had hit nine, and two other men had seven.
These four alone moved on to the sixth stage.
The crowd among the competitors was swelling now, and once again Kebra could feel the old excitement coursing through him. He had watched the other three competitors, and only the stocky Ventrian posed any real danger. But the man was being unsettled by the mainly Drenai crowd, who jeered and shouted as he took aim.
The next event was one of Kebra's favourites. He had always enjoyed the Horse, for it was the closest the tourney could offer to combat shooting. Led by running soldiers four ponies bearing figures of straw tied to the saddle, would pass before the bowmen. Each archer was allowed three shafts. There was a larger element of luck in this event, as the horses would swerve, causing the straw figures to sway in the saddle. But the crowd loved it. And so did the Drenai champion.
Kebra stood waiting, one shaft notched to
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