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I was hurt. A trickle of blood ran from the top of my head and slithered down my face. My arm was bent and twisted at an angle I didn’t like and caused a spasm of pain up one arm.
What should I expect when I was standing there, nothing more than a lump of meat for him to beat at?
The snorlak frowned and grunted, snorting through his pig-like nostrils at me.
He’d taken offense to me being able to stand, it seemed.
So, finally, once and for all, knock me out already!
The snorlak shoved his back hoof into the dusty floor of the fighting pit and shifted his weight.
Nice, I thought. A tell to make sure your opponent knows—well ahead of time—what you’re planning to do.
Finally, he pulled his head back, let out a shriek, and bolted forward.
He struck me in the chest, winding me, and knocking me to the ground again. But not hard enough to make anyone believe I could manage to get up.
The snorlak turned to the crowd and raised his arms victoriously.
Oh, man. No wonder this guy’s rank was as low as I pretended mine was. If he spent this long preening himself in order to look good in front of an adoring crowd, there was no time for fighting.
The snorlak turned to me and had a serious look in his eye.
This was it. Finally, the blow that would knock me out. Then I could go to my cell and rest and forget this entire thing had happened.
The snorlak pulled his arm back and swung the ax down at me.
Okay, so I wanted him to knock me out, not kill me!
I rolled to one side, avoiding the blow.
“Stay still!” the snorlak bellowed.
I have been!
He swung his ax again and this time it came for my arm.
I couldn’t let him chop it off so I rolled aside again.
The snorlak snorted with anger and yanked the blade of his ax free from the ground and prepared to swing again.
“Hold still so I can claim my Prize!” he said, bringing the blade back around. “I’ll think of you while I bury my other ax inside her!”
His words made me think about Harper, that gorgeous girl who had claimed my heart.
Claimed my heart.
Was that right?
Had she already made me hers?
The ax came in again and I swung my sword around to block the attack and shift it off course.
The ax slammed into the pit’s floor and I rolled up onto my feet.
If this snorlak won this fight, would he claim her? Claim my precious Harper?
The thought of his snorting ugly shovel-face pressed against her, with her needing to smile and cater to his every need…
