Read Online Freelance Heroics by Stephen W. Gee - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephen W. Gee
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focus on how to win.”
Gavi sat down. “Okay. Suggestions? Real ones.”
Mazik flashed her a lopsided grin. “I stand by ‘Don’t get hit,’ but I know what you mean. You saw the charge crystal, right?”
Gavi nodded.
“Well, those take a while to charge, and you can’t do it days ahead of time or anything 15 . He probably prepared that one during the previous match, and I don’t see him recharging it now. Plus I’m pretty sure those things break if you charge them too many times in a row, so unless he has another one, you’re probably fine.”
Gavi calmed down somewhat. “So, what do you suggest I do?”
Mazik smiled tightly. “Attack immediately. Hit him and never let up.” He squeezed Gavi’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Gavs. We’ve beaten the odds by so much today that even if we lose, we’ll probably be able to con our way into a guild. If not here, then somewhere else.”
Gavi took a deep breath. “Thanks. I’m good now.”
Mazik squeezed her arm again and let go.
Gavi left the sword she received from the Tyrant with Mazik, and picked up the blade she got from the arena’s armory. She also checked the knife strapped to her thigh and the holdout crossbow holstered behind her. When there was nothing else to delay her, she nodded. “I’m off.”
* * *
“This is it, gentleladies and gentlemen—the final match of the day! Whoever emerges the victor here will secure victory for their team, and prove either that Houk’s most vaunted adventuring guilds aren’t what they’re cracked up to be, or that these young upstarts still have a ways to go. Though I think they’ve done admirably so far, don’t you?”
The crowd roared its by-now drunken approval.
“The final member of Team Kil’Raeus has an inspiring story. Once a simple waiter at a local watering hole, The Joker—”
From somewhere in the stands, an especially drunken cluster cheered.
“—her ingenuity and tenacity has helped her repeatedly triumph over superior foes. Though the least powerful caster competing today, anyone who thinks that makes her weak is in for a surprise! But can she triumph over the veteran Cóstan Sūréjà? There’s only one way to find out! Here she is now—Mis Sarissa Gavin Ven’Kalil!”
The Gate of Life cranked open, and Gavi emerged. She was lost in thought, trying to figure out how to get the jump on her opponent, when the crowd’s reaction shook her from her reverie.
They’re going nuts. Whether from the drink or the previous matches or Houkians’ love for the underdog, the crowd was going bonkers. Gavi faltered as the adulation hit her.
An idea occurred. Gavi drew her sword, pointed it at her still-distant opponent, and gave the universal signal for You’re going down!
The crowd went wild. Gavi felt a mixture of excitement and fear, the adrenaline-borne delusion of Maybe I can do this . . . battling with her “realistic” voice saying, Well yes, but probably not.
Cóstan smiled as Gavi reached him. “The crowd seems to be on your side today.”
Gavi returned the smile, though hers was sheepish. “Sorry about that. I thought I could use a little wind at my back.”
Cóstan chuckled. “By all means. Let’s have a good match.”
“Yes, thank you.” The two moved into position.
Gavi closed her eyes. She could feel the crowd’s energy like a physical force around her. It was different, being down here. She had been to the games before, and there was a feeling of oneness to being part of a crowd all focused on the same thing, especially when they were rooting for the same side. Now she was at the middle of it. It was simultaneously uplifting and intensely isolating.
She took a deep breath. Gavi knew she could handle the crowd in one of two ways. She could be sensible and ignore them from now on like Raedren did, or she could continue acting like Mazik. Of the two, being sensible and serious was more her style.
But if I do this the safe way, I’m going to
Gavi sat down. “Okay. Suggestions? Real ones.”
Mazik flashed her a lopsided grin. “I stand by ‘Don’t get hit,’ but I know what you mean. You saw the charge crystal, right?”
Gavi nodded.
“Well, those take a while to charge, and you can’t do it days ahead of time or anything 15 . He probably prepared that one during the previous match, and I don’t see him recharging it now. Plus I’m pretty sure those things break if you charge them too many times in a row, so unless he has another one, you’re probably fine.”
Gavi calmed down somewhat. “So, what do you suggest I do?”
Mazik smiled tightly. “Attack immediately. Hit him and never let up.” He squeezed Gavi’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Gavs. We’ve beaten the odds by so much today that even if we lose, we’ll probably be able to con our way into a guild. If not here, then somewhere else.”
Gavi took a deep breath. “Thanks. I’m good now.”
Mazik squeezed her arm again and let go.
Gavi left the sword she received from the Tyrant with Mazik, and picked up the blade she got from the arena’s armory. She also checked the knife strapped to her thigh and the holdout crossbow holstered behind her. When there was nothing else to delay her, she nodded. “I’m off.”
* * *
“This is it, gentleladies and gentlemen—the final match of the day! Whoever emerges the victor here will secure victory for their team, and prove either that Houk’s most vaunted adventuring guilds aren’t what they’re cracked up to be, or that these young upstarts still have a ways to go. Though I think they’ve done admirably so far, don’t you?”
The crowd roared its by-now drunken approval.
“The final member of Team Kil’Raeus has an inspiring story. Once a simple waiter at a local watering hole, The Joker—”
From somewhere in the stands, an especially drunken cluster cheered.
“—her ingenuity and tenacity has helped her repeatedly triumph over superior foes. Though the least powerful caster competing today, anyone who thinks that makes her weak is in for a surprise! But can she triumph over the veteran Cóstan Sūréjà? There’s only one way to find out! Here she is now—Mis Sarissa Gavin Ven’Kalil!”
The Gate of Life cranked open, and Gavi emerged. She was lost in thought, trying to figure out how to get the jump on her opponent, when the crowd’s reaction shook her from her reverie.
They’re going nuts. Whether from the drink or the previous matches or Houkians’ love for the underdog, the crowd was going bonkers. Gavi faltered as the adulation hit her.
An idea occurred. Gavi drew her sword, pointed it at her still-distant opponent, and gave the universal signal for You’re going down!
The crowd went wild. Gavi felt a mixture of excitement and fear, the adrenaline-borne delusion of Maybe I can do this . . . battling with her “realistic” voice saying, Well yes, but probably not.
Cóstan smiled as Gavi reached him. “The crowd seems to be on your side today.”
Gavi returned the smile, though hers was sheepish. “Sorry about that. I thought I could use a little wind at my back.”
Cóstan chuckled. “By all means. Let’s have a good match.”
“Yes, thank you.” The two moved into position.
Gavi closed her eyes. She could feel the crowd’s energy like a physical force around her. It was different, being down here. She had been to the games before, and there was a feeling of oneness to being part of a crowd all focused on the same thing, especially when they were rooting for the same side. Now she was at the middle of it. It was simultaneously uplifting and intensely isolating.
She took a deep breath. Gavi knew she could handle the crowd in one of two ways. She could be sensible and ignore them from now on like Raedren did, or she could continue acting like Mazik. Of the two, being sensible and serious was more her style.
But if I do this the safe way, I’m going to
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