Bakalit leaned over to him and said, “It seems your Loyal Band are better at building than fighting."

  It was clearly meant to be a barbed comment and so Tal replied with something polite," Let's not be too hasty. There are many more matches ahead and I have other contestants in the games." He knew Bakalit was enjoying this unequal competition, but did not want the other man to see his discomfort.

  The Arbiter called the next match. “Kola of the Burners versus Jeska of the Thirstakers!”

  The noise from the crowd changed. Their cheers became a roar. The two tribes were excited and keen for this match because it was a match between their champions.

  Bakalit and Radaki began clapping and nodded to each other.

  Their two fighters entered the arena. Jeska, Bakalit’s daughter, was lean and thin. Her movements were fluid as she walked to the rope ring. Her braid of black hair was so tight it seemed carved from wood, and her dark brown eyes were already focused on her opponent. She wore the black of the Thirstakers, but her gear was simple, designed for movement, not show.

  Kola was a Burner, and he looked the part. He was a fire of a man, all coiled muscle and restless energy. He bounced on the.bzlls of his feet, shaking out his arms as if trying to burn off excess energy. His red shorts were loose fitting, and his skin was streaked with the same red ochre that Gorun had worn. He stared at Jeska with an aggressive grin. He towered over her, well taller than any of the other contestants.

  The horn blew. “Begin round one!”

  The crowd now split into two groups of supporters.

  "Kola! Kola!" shouted the crowd from the Burners.

  "Jeska! Jeska!" came the response from the Thirstakers.

  This was clearly going to be the big match of the day and betting was going on in the stands.

  The match began with the two contestants facing off against each other in the center of the ring, probing and testing each other.

  Jeska dodged Kola's early punches. As Kola moved forwards she punched at him hard and then tried a spinning kick to his leg. Kola blocked the kick with his arm.

  Jeska attacked again and landed a right punch to his stomach followed by a left hook to the chest. Kola staggered slightly but recovered soon enough.

  From where he was sitting, Tal could see how hard she would have to fight to stand any chance against him. She had the agility but he was like a wall - and tall with it.

  He glanced at Bakalit and Radaki, who were watching their champions intently. Bakalit was looking on as a father would, while his daughter fought for her tribe's honor. Radaki’s smiled when Kola threw a right uppercut at He saw how much was resting on the outcome of this match for them. Whelay merely looked on with a slight smile on her face.

  The sun beat down on the sand of the arena, making the air hot and dry. Kola and Jeska circled each other and sweat rolled from both fighters' faces.

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  So far, neither had the edge.

  A break was called and the contestants went to the ringside to get water and to wipe the sweat off their faces.

  The second round began with Jeska running forward and attacking immediately by and hitting a left hook up at Kola's chin. She tried a kick which Kola stopped.

  "Kola! Kola!"

  "Jeska! Jeska!"

  Kola moved forwards and blocked a right hand attack and then punched her in the face knocking her back and opening a bleeding cut to her upper lip.

  Jeska ran at Kola, swinging a high punch at his chin. Kola caught her fist and grabbed it. He grabbed her wrists and swung her around to throw her across the ring, but when she landed she was still inside. She jumped back up onto her feet and tested her fingers still usable. It seemed they were.

  She ran at him and threw punches, kicks, testing him, looking for an opening. She dodged his counter attacks and ducked when he lunged back at her.

  Then Kola tried to grapple her and throw her over, but she slipped out of his arms and jumped away. She attacked again, but Kola blocked her punches with his thick forearms.

  The crowd was engaged with the fight as Jeska continued to dodge and block all of Kolas countattacks.

  This match could go on until the end of the three rounds.

  The arbiter called another break and both contestants left the ring. Kola looked confident but Jeska was breathing heavily and her lip was bleeding.

  After a drink and a face wipe with cloth, the third round began.

  Jeska appeared cautious more cautious as Kola moved forwards, attacking with rapid combinations and quick jabs.

  Kola was a powerful fighter, he knew how to use his reach to his advantage. He landed two blows to Jeskas head which knocked her down. She rose unsteadily and stumbled back a few paces towards the rope.

  Bakalit shouted to his daughter and Radaki cheered for her opponent, but the spectators quietened as Kola landed another left hook to Jeska's face.

  A large cut had opened on her nose as she staggered back from the blow.

  Some in the crowd started booing because they wanted the fight stopped. Jeska's face was swollen and bloody, her eyes red from being hit by Kola's punches, but she was still fierce in her determination. Was she spent?

  Bakalit shouted to his daughter, "Come on Jeska! You can win!"

  "Kola! Kola!"

  The huge man moved in towards her. She seemed very small next to his massive frame. He landed another punch that rocked her and she looked as if she had used up her strength. She stepped back, spat blood and looked at her opponent with a tired expression.

  Kola smiled and cracked his knuckles.

  Then she rolled between his legs and jumped up onto his back!

  She snaked one arm under his armpit and locked her forearm across his throat. With her legs around his middle she squeezed with everything she had got.

  She clung on like an animal.

  He began flailing his arms about wildly, trying to dislodge her. His shoulders were shaking and he was grunting heavily. It looked as though Jeska would choke the life from the bigger man.

  The crowd went silent, watching in amazement.

  Kola made one last desperate effort, but he couldn't break her grip on his neck. His huge body toppled onto the sand and Jeska jumped off his back.

  Kola lay there, unconscious.

  She stood over the giant, blood dripping down her face.

  The crowd cheered as the arbiter called time on the fallen one.

  Bakalit turned to Radaki and said "She was only pretending to be tired!" He laughed heartily and Radaki could only shake his head in disappointment. Whelay congratulated both on the entertaining match.

  Tal looked at the crowd cheering her on and everyone was standing.

  She was a storm in the sand. Her courage, her cleverness in tricking Kola, her refusal to quit even when her face was bleeding and swollen

  He had thought about his own contestants. He had pictured Oran the carpenter with the missing fingers and the others who had volunteered.

  Jeska had something else. She had training. She moved with a deadly grace that his artisans could never match.

  The full weight of the deal he had made settled on him like a heavy stone. One by one, his loyal band would step into that ring. And one by one, they would be thrown out, or laid out on the sand, just like Kola.

  Jeska was the true measure of this contest and would probably be it's final champion.