[Lovvorn]

Lovvorn relaxed on the feather-bed, his naked bulk sinking deep into the mattress. Without the cover of his robe, it was quite easy to see that almost every inch of his body was tattooed with some type of magical rune or symbol. Each could be activated with just a touch of the finger or brush of the hand; he had hundreds of spells literally at his fingertips. Of course, some parts of his 'spellbook' were a bit harder to access than others, so for those locations he chose spells that were of a more intimate nature, like the ones that had been used most recently.

For now, both eyes were closed, but his lips were curled up into a satisfied smile. One hand was stuffed behind his head, and the other rested on his full belly. He belched, and patted his stomach lightly.

"You gonna pay me or what?" said the woman who was getting dressed in the corner.

"eh?" replied Lovvorn.

"Pay."

"Ah, my dear... A night of passion with a mage of my stature is payment in itself."

"uh-huh."

"What? You disagree?"

"I knew I should have gotten the money up front. Now I'm gonna have to call Leonardo-"

"Oh nononono... No need for that." Lovvorn sat up. "Now where did I throw my clothes?"

"In the corner... here."

The lady-of-the-night scooped up a double-armful of purple and red cloth and tossed it at Lovvorn. Lovvorn caught his clothes and began searching through the numerous pockets...

"Hmmmm.... wait a minute.... I seem to have left my...hey!"

The woman held up Lovvorn's coinpurse and shook it lightly. She had lifted it when she picked up his clothes.

"Now let's see... how much do you owe...." said the woman. She dug around in the coinpurse and began pulling out money. "Hey... what's this humming coin? Is it magic?"

"What humming coin?"

"This one." she held up a silver-colored coin with a pulsing rune on one side.

Lovvorn's eyes grew large, and the jovial smile vanished from his face.

"What is it?" said the woman.

"H-How long has that coin been humming?"

"How should I know? It's YOUR coin."

"Oh...Oh dear...." Lovvorn swallowed hard.

"What's it for?"

"Eric's in trouble!" shouted Lovvorn. "Clothes!"

Instantly, his colorful robes vanished from his lap and appeared on his body. Now fully dressed, Lovvorn leapt to his feet.

"Coin!" he shouted. The coin disappeared from between the woman's fingers and materialized in the palm of Lovvorn's outstretched hand. He shoved it deep into his pocket and then vanished.

"HEY!!!" screamed the woman. Then she realized that she still had the mage's coinpurse. "I guess he wasn't so bad after all..."

---

[Eric Hood]

As the fluid boiled in his stomach, Eric's muscles contracted and throbbed with new energy. His jaw clenched, his nostrils flared. All the colors of the rainbow suddenly turned to red. He struggled against the heavy chains that still held him fixed to the bars of the cage. Each jerk was stronger than the last and soon the cage rattled violently with his fury

...Lovvorn... where are you... thought Eric before the potion-induced rage dissipated his thoughts like the sun on the morning dew. Eric was no more... now there was only savagery and violence.

His insect opponent simply stared at him, mandibles working against each other in anticipation of a meal.

"Let him go," said Fletcher. The burly guard unlocked the chains.

Eric flew like an arrow. The chitrack made its typical slicing motion with its ridged forelimbs. Eric, whose reflexes were superbly quick even when NOT enhanced... reached out and grasped the speeding limb as it tried to detach his head. Blood flew as the ridges bit into his fingers.

With a snarl, Eric twisted the limb and stepped to the side. The exoskeleton cracked, but the chitrack had already sank its other spiked limb into the meat of Eric's right thigh. Oblivious to the pain, Eric jerked free... losing his large leg muscle and several tendons, but taking the chitrack's forelimb in exchange.

The crowd wailed in drunken ecstasy.

[Aeragar]

The Alpha werewolf grinned evilly. He had to admit that the dark side of intoxication was alluring. The dark, drunken ecstasy of the crowd watching blood sport, the depth of addictive rage that the potion bestowed on Eric Hood, all tempted Aeragar to let go of the hidden vestiges of hatred and resistance he felt toward the drunken swami and what he represented and utterly prostrate his will before the gods of drink, a willing slave. The proud Alpha shook his head, his pride already stung from the groveling he'd been tempted into since the ace of cups had made him an offer he could not refuse. The drunken swami even now leant him power to shore up the weakness of a permanent mental wound. At times he was swept up, even inspired by the Swami's intoxicating presence, but at other times such as this one he had doubts and a powerful resentment. Still, Aeragar could not help the evil smile that crossed his lips as he bathed himself in the fathomless wanton rage that filled Eric's mind and mended his flesh with its fire.

[Eric]

Eric hobbled a short distance and fell to one knee. The potion was already regenerating his damaged leg. The Chitrack dropped onto its remaining five legs and moved towards him. It kept its body low to the

ground, glassy eyes fixed on the bleeding human.

Eric stood and repeated his running charge.

In one fluid motion the chitrack drew back, spread its wings and was airborne. It shot up to the top of the cage and then back down, right on top of Eric. The bug's front limb impaled the fighter through the right

shoulder, and its weight pinned Eric to the floor.

The insect lowered its mandibles towards Eric's face. Acidic digestive juices dripped onto his cheek.

Though his conscious mind was gone, the fighting instinct was still strong within December's front-man. Eric brought his left hand up and placed his forearm across the insect's neck-joint. He pushed.

It was his strength against the beast's... Ordinarily it would have been no contest, but Eric's muscles burned with unnatural fire. He forced the creature far enough away from him to bring his leg muscles into play. With one fierce shove, he pushed the chitrack back, planted both his feet on the thing's midsection, and thrust outward with all of his enhanced might.

The cage shook as the chitrack impacted the iron bars. The insect fell forward and landed on its feet. Eric rolled to a crouch, his shoulder already knitting itself back together.

The two opponents squared off, facing each other. Then the dance began again...

---

[Damion & Zade]

"WOW! Did you SEE THAT!" shouted Damion. "Excellent show... excellent!"

"You say that about all of them, Damion." Zade peered over the balcony and into the crowd. She wasn't the least bit interested in the fight, though she was slightly curious as to how December's man would fare in

the bout. "Tell me, is this how the royalty entertained themselves in your little kingdom?"

"Actually, yes. Except for the berserker potion, of course. Most of those fights were far to quick to be of any serious entertainment value."

"I see." Zade sighed. She continued to scan the crowd, and Damion, as usual, continued talking...

"Of course the fighters were much better. Skilled men. Like our Mr. Hood down there. Care to place a wager, Zade?"

"Okay. December attacks before the end of this fight."

"eh?"

"That's my wager."

"I don't like your bet. Pick another... preferably something to do with Mr. Hood."

"All right." Zade watched a few moments of the bout. The insect seemed to have the upper hand...claw... again. "My bet... December's man takes the bug."

"And what do you wager?"

"If I win, assuming I get you out of this night alive, you give December whatever it is that he wants and go back to your little kingdom."

"Poor show, Zade. You know I can't do that even if I wanted to."

"I know nothing of the sort."

"Well, I can't. If I return home I'd be killed."

"This, I've got to hear."

"It's nothing really. Typical royal intrigue: I was the eldest brother... the next in line to the throne. Of course my father was...and still is... in perfect health, but my younger brother would take no chances. He had me tried and certified as incompetent and incapable of running the kingdom in the event of my father's death. Then he threw me out of the palace and threatened to toss me to the animals if I ever returned."

"Incompetent, eh? That I can believe."

"I'm surprised Fletcher didn't tell you."

"Why would he do that?"

"Well...You and Fletcher... he said... oh, never mind. Forget I mentioned it."

While Zade made a mental note to have a long talk with Fletcher, Damion's continued ramblings were lost in the sudden roar of the crowd.

---

[Eric & The Chitrack]

Eric was down.

Flesh hung off of his left leg in long strips, flayed to the bone by the insect. Eric rolled and barely avoided being skewered alive by the Chitrack's one remaining foreleg. Then he stood, his leg already healing, and ducked under another slashing attack. And another.

The Chitrack pressed him fast and hard, driving him back towards the corner of the cage.

The crowed 'ooohed' and 'ahhhhed' with each attack, waiting for the misstep that would cost Eric his head.

With desperate fury, Eric launched himself at the beast. He slammed into the thing's chest and they both fell to the floor. The insect rolled, attempting to gain the upper position. Eric made grabbed the

bug's leg, but before he could get a firm grip, the insect flung him away like... an insect.

This time it was Eric who's back smacked against the cage's steel bars. He felt his spine crack in several places and then instantly begin to repair itself.

Eric got to his feet; his first few movements were clumsy and slow. Recognizing injured prey, the Chitrack moved forward. Eric saw the beast's sharp mandibles descend towards his head. He attempted to flee, but his leg slipped and he fell. As he hit the floor, the last of his vertebrae clicked back into place....

---

[Therus]

"WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!!" shouted Therus from the interior of his cage. It had been only a few minutes since the guards had taken Eric, but already he heard the screams of the crowd in the arena room above. That meant something was being slaughtered. He hoped it wasn't Eric.

"I AM AN INVESTIGATOR FOR THE CITY OF MONTFORT! I DEMAND YOU LET ME OUT OF HERE!!"

"Oh really," said a guard. The dirty but well-armed man sauntered over to the cage. "Being Tower Guard might get you some respect, but I didn't know Montfort even HAD investigators. Maybe you should investigate a way to get out of that cage before the next fight..."

"What you don't know could fill several barns. Several LARGE barns."

The guard reached through the bars and made a grab at Therus, who just managed to step out of the way.

"Look," said the guard. "Bad enough I got to stay down here with you and miss your friend gettin' ripped apart by the bug, but I ain't takin' no lip off of no prisoners! Keep givin' me lip and I'm gonna cut yours off!"

"Oh, really?" said Therus.

"Yeah."

"Open the cage and do it, then. Man to man."

"Fat chance."

"Fat? I know I said man to man, but let's leave your mother out of this."

"WHAT!"

"...course, your mother doesn't like being left out of much... or is it that she doesn't like much being left out of -"

"C'MERE!!!" The guard. He reached through the bars again, but this time Therus grabbed his thick arm and twisted it. He yanked, and the guard's face smacked against the bars.

Therus reached out and tried to grab the keys from the smelly man's belt, but the guard had already pressed his dagger against Therus's throat. A thin trickle of blood snaked down Therus's shirt.

He released the guard's arm and backed away from the bars.

"Nice try..." said the guard. "Almost didn't see that comin'... almost. Don't try that ag-"

The guard's words were cut short. The man stiffened, eyes wide... and then coughed up a mouthful of blood. There was a wound in his chest. It looked as if he had been stabbed by a large sword, but there was no such weapon anywhere nearby, except on the guard's own belt.

Therus backed even further away and watched in awe as the guard was lifted several inches off of the ground by some invisible force. The guard jerked his last death-throes, and then was still. There came a loud, sucking sound, and then the guard's dead body collapsed onto the floor just outside the cage.

"Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-"

A blue mist slowly rose from the floor around the body. The fog thickened and coalesced into a man. He was wearing a hooded blue cloak and had a sash wrapped around the lower half of his face. His boots and gloves were black, and he was holding a curved sword that was wet with the guard's blood.

Therus pressed himself against the back of the cage.

"I seem to have made a habit of rescuing men of the law..." said the stranger. "... let's hope you fare better than the last one."

"Who-Who are you?"

"I have been called many things... but I like 'Blaymore' best."

The strange man reached down and snatched the keyring off of the guard's belt. He unlocked the cage and opened the door.

"Are you injured?" the stranger said.

"No."

"Good. Make your escape and bring help. Tower Guard if you can find them. With luck we can catch BOTH of them in one trap."

"Both of who?"

"Sinterbourne and -" Blaymore paused, and frowned behind his mask. He nodded to himself. "Just bring help."

"What about the guards?"

"December's man is putting on an excellent show... most of the guards are watching. Any that remain shall be taken care of before you encounter them."

"Someone will see the body and-

"Shhhh...." Blaymore knelt down and ran his gloved hands through the air around the body. The corpse shimmered and glowed slightly, and then began to change, taking on Therus's own appearance. The investigator gaped as he say his own dead corpse lying on the floor at Blaymore's feet. Blaymore rolled it into the cage and closed the door. "Go now. And try not to be seen. I can't risk an alarm until after he gets here."

"Who?"

Blaymore's form began to grow hazy and less distinct. Then he was gone.

---

[Eric and the Chitrack]

Scrambling to avoid the crushing mandibles, Eric reached for the insect's closest leg, grabbed it and yanked it away with as much force as his enhanced muscles could summon. The exoskeleton cracked and the

long rear limb came loose in his hand, covering him with ichor. Eric swept the detached limb underneath the creature attempting to knock the unbalanced insect down. The insect hopped over its own leg and then spread its wings.

Airborne, it swooped down at Eric... and was knocked aside when the human fighter brandished the limb like a club.

The crowd exploded in screams and applause.

The chitrack shot forward once more, this time its ridged forelimb caught Eric across the chest. The impact spun Eric around and slammed him into the bars. He ducked... and sparks flew as the chitrack's exoskeleton raked against the metal.

Still using the bug's leg as a weapon, Eric slashed and swatted as his opponent until he connected. The insect hit the floor and immediately rushed at him.

When it drew near, Eric jammed his weapon directly into the beast's mouth. Mandibles closed around the limb and gnawed at the tough exoskeleton for a moment, trying to dislodge it. That was all Eric needed.

While the beast's jaws were busy, he ran forward. The thing slashed at him, but in a flash, Eric jumped and landed on the insect's back. He closed his mighty hands around the neck-joint and squeezed... not trying to strangle, but to crush the thing's neck entirely. Behind him, the chitrack's wings spread once again. He kicked at them with his feet, but did not let go.

Suddenly, Eric felt a sharp pain rush through his entire body. At first Eric thought that the chitrack had somehow stabbed him. But that was impossible, the creature's limbs simply couldn't move that way. Then Eric realized that he *was thinking.*

The potion was wearing off... the pain he felt was his muscles finally feeling the strain of his exertions. His strength would soon be gone... any wounds he received now would most certainly be fatal...

Eric squeezed and pulled with all his remaining strength. Antenna waved in front of his face... and Eric leaned forward and bit one of them off. Eric strained further. Exoskeleton, thinner at the joints than

anywhere else, suddenly cracked. Eric's finger sank into the beast's flesh.

Wings waved frantically, buzzing behind him

Eric wrapped his entire arm around the chitrack's neck and yanked up and back.

There was wet crunch and Eric found himself dislodged. He fell to the ground, and the chitrack's head landed just off to his right.

The screams of the crowd were lost on Eric. Everything was still... silent... As the potion finally released its hold on his body and mind... it also freed something else. Something hidden deep inside him bubbled up from the depths of his mind. Eric looked out from eyes that were no longer his own. He looked down at his bruised body and tried to move. He couldn't. He was no longer in control. Something else was moving for him... He saw himself stand and then saw the crowd as the entity looked at them through his eyes. He felt his lips turn up into a slight smile. All the colors in his field of vision turned from red to gray, and then to black. Eric was no more...

---

[Damion & Zade]

"I told you." said Zade. "December's man won."

"Yes, but you also said we'd all be fighting for our lives by now. I knew I should have taken that bet."

The crowd below them was still screaming, even while the cage was being lowered back down into the bottom level. Zade watched Eric Hood as he disappeared. There was something about him that was different...

"Maybe I won that one, too." said Zade.

"Won what?"

"I think I just saw a signal. Did you see Hood's face? Looked like he was smiling. Who was he smiling at?" Zade signaled the guards, telling them to keep a close watch on the crowd.

"Oh, BAH! He's smiling because he won! And don't forget he's still got enough foosh running through his veins to-"

"Wasn't that kind of smile..."

"Sure it was!"

"He moved differently than before. Almost like another pers-"

"Of COURSE he moved different! He just went toe-to-toe with a giant BUG! You'd move different too, I assure you!"

"DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!" came a unanimous shout from the crowd. "DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!"

"Well, I guess we know what's next then, don't we?" said Damion.

"You're not serious."

"I can't disappoint them! Besides, I'm tired of bugs." Damion waved at the crowd.

"The Fire Drake and the second prisoner?"

"NO! I want HOOD again! You..." Damion pointed to one of the guards that stood just outside the entrance to the balcony. "Run downstairs and tell Fletcher to forget about the other prisoner. I want Hood in the cage with the drake. Hurry!"

The guard cast a sideways glance at Zade. She nodded and he hurried off.

---

[Fletcher]

When the guards opened the cage door, Eric Hood walked out as if he were going on a nice, leisurely stroll.

"Not so fast," Fletcher pushed Hood back into the cage. "Audience want's an encore. Stand back there..."

Eric stepped forward again.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Silence.

Eric's eyes fixed on Fletcher. They were filled with some emotion that Fletcher could not fathom... not hatred, or fear... something else.

"I'm going to kill you." said Eric. His voice was a low whisper, barely audible.

"Ahhh, yes." said Fletcher. "Mr. Hood is still with us. Guards! Tie this man up in a corner somewhere! You... get that dead insect out of there... and don't forget the head. Clean up what you can...Get ready for the drake! Hurry, now! "

Four guards grabbed Eric and hauled him out of the cage. They chained him and, quite literally, threw him into a corner. Fletcher held up a small bucket and shoved it at one of the guards...

"Find a brush and put this stuff on the bars and animal chains. Put some on yourself as well... heat resistant something-or-other the alchemist made up. Sorry, Hood..." Fletcher looked at Eric, who had not stopped staring at him, "... won't be enough left for you. Move It, People!"

"Mr. Fletcher," said one of the men. "I think the other prisoner's dead. The guard we left is gone."

"We'll look into it in a minute. Come ON, Men! The audience is waiting! You and You, follow me upstairs..."

The next fifteen minutes were a bustle of activity as guards and handlers made preparations for the next bout. The bars and floor of the cage were coated with a thick, slimy substance that quickly dried into a powdery residue. The heat resistant coating was also applied to the set of tools and chains that the handlers used to finally draw the eight foot long fire-drake out of its solid-metal cage. The beast's tail snapped back and forth with agitation, and its breath, while not fire, was hot enough to sear skin... as more than one handler found out. The beast's hide was covered with scales that pulsed red-hot. A full grown drake could melt metal weapons with a touch, but this immature one was could only render them too hot to handle unless they were enchanted or protected with some kind of coating. With a few screams and many burns, the drake was loaded into the cage and chained into place.

Upstairs, the row of seats nearest the arena platform were moved back several feet. Several patrons protested, but when they were quickly silenced with stern glares from Fletcher.

At last, everything was made ready.

Fletcher hurried downstairs and watched as Eric was unchained and thrown into the cage. As before, the prisoner was led over to the side of the cage opposite from the his opponent and chained firmly into place.

The cage door was then shut and locked.

"Do you know what this is?" Fletcher held up a small vial. Eric's gaze never ventured away from Fletcher's face. "Answer me." demanded Fletcher.

"I am going to kill you," said Eric.

"This..." Fletcher shook the vial, "... is the berserker potion identical to what I gave you earlier. And this..." Fletcher placed the vial in a tray and grabbed different one. "Is what I'm going to give you when you get upstairs." Fletcher uncorked the vial and sniffed the contents. "Not up to Damion's usual standards, but a fine wine nonetheless." Fletcher took a long sip, swallowed, and then spat into the vial. Then he replaced the cork and put the false potion back onto the tray. "We'll see how you fare with THAT running through your veins. It'll certainly put a stop to all of that 'I'm going to kill you' foolishness."

"Have you ever seen a human body with all of the bones removed?"

"No, I can't say that I have. But I hear that fire-drakes eat the bones as well as the flesh, so I'm not likely to find out tonight. Good-bye, Mr. Hood. I would instruct you to give us a good show... but somehow I don't think that will be possible."

Fletcher turned and walked away. Eric's maniacal gaze followed him into the darkness.

-------------

[Damion and Zade]

"Do you hear something?" said Zade. She looked around at the archers. They shook their heads.

"What is it now, Zade?" said Damion.

"I hear something."

"The only thing I hear are my loyal patrons. Look... the fight's about to start. Care to place another bet, Zade?"

Zade ignored him and concentrated on filtering out the rising crowd-noise. There was something there...

As she strained to hear, her left ear twitched...

---------

[Aeragar]

A high-pitched whine, gradually lowering in pitch to become a low buzz snatched a bit of the alpha werewolf's concentration away from the intense euphoria brought on in Aeragar's mind by the alcohol enhanced blood-lust of the crowd. He had again succumbed to the allure of the dark side of intoxication.

"What was the meaning of this sound that had brought him to his senses?" he wondered.

[Fletcher]

The crowd erupted into a frenzy as Fletcher appeared and stood upon the platform.

"DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!" they shouted.

Fletcher retrieved the megaphone from the floor and put it to his lips...

"GENTLEMEN!!!"

"...DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!..."

"WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY-"

"...DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!..."

"I GIVE YOU THE RETURN OF THE NIGHT'S ONLY VICTOR!"

"...DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!..."

"THIS TIME HE FACES THE FURY OF-"

"...DRAKE! DRAKE! DRAKE!..."

"THE FIRE DRAAAAAKE!"

The crowd cheered as the platform began to rise. The temperature in the room had nearly doubled by the time the cage was finally locked into place. Both combatants were still bound to opposite ends of the cage. The drake pulsed an angry red, and strained against its heat-resistant chains. Eric Hood, his arms and chest already erupting in first-degree burns, simply stood motionless, his eyes fixed on Fletcher.

Damion's assistant, sweating profusely, walked over to Eric's side of the cage and waved for the guards. A burly man approached and handed him a tray with a the vials of potion sitting on it.

...mmmmm..

Three other men, coated from head to toe with the fire-retarding substance, took their positions by the drake. They prepared to release the giant lizard on Fletcher's command.

...mmmmmmmm..

"Care to tell me that you're going to kill me one last time?" said Fletcher as he picked up the vial. He stood directly behind Eric, using the prisoner's body to shield him from the heat that was radiating from the Fire Drake.

"You'll see." said Eric.

...mmmmmmmmmmmmm...

"Fine then. Drink..." Fletcher stuck his arm through the bars of the cage and put the vial to Eric's lips.

...mmmmmmmMMMMMMMM...

Eric opened his mouth and accepted the fluid. It was wine. He swallowed it and smiled.

...MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

"Release the Combatants!!" Fletcher shouted. The guards began to unlock the chains that held the drake...

...MMMMMM-KRA-BOOOOOOOOOM!!!"

The sound was like nothing anyone had ever heard before... like mountains warring against each other. The crackling portal began as a giant thunderbolt striking in the center of the crowd... nearby patrons were thrown violently to the ground by the shockwave. Those that had not averted their eyes saw the jagged crack of light expand, throwing off arcs of power as it grew. Lightning lanced through the air and left deep scorches down the stone walls of the room. The portal widened into a perfect circle.

Then the shapes appeared.

Dark forms moved around inside the light. They marched forward...

Ten armed men emerged into the room, most with weapons drawn. They were followed by a short, portly man dressed in a purple and red robe. The mage frowned when he saw Eric Hood and the fire-drake caged and in chains. He nodded his head at Eric and then joined the armed men... the air around him shimmered with raw power.

Next to emerge was a tall hulk of a man, his face hidden in a permanent shadow. At his side was a grotesque creature that was mostly humanoid, but also had elements of lizard and... something else. Its long prehensile tail was curled around its master's lower thigh. Sharp teeth and razor-sharp claws clicked as it stepped out of the portal.

The shadowed man took a position in the center of his small army, immediately behind the mage. He placed his hands on his hips. The portal slammed shut behind him.

"NO ONE MOVE!" shouted December. His voice was twice as loud as Fletcher's had been with the megaphone. "THIS OPERATION IS NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!"

[To Be Continued]