Page 5 of Gladiator Moon

“I see the dawning on your face! You remember him, I see!”

“I do. The ugly dude. Big head. Muscles on muscles.”

“That’s him, except we see him as the epitome of attractiveness.”

The vision of him came near the end of my daughter’s wedding. I wasn’t sure what it was or who he was.

“I don’t want to fight anyone.”

“It is not about what you want, my dear. It’s about what he wants. And he wants you. In the Games. Which begin soon. Very soon. In fact, you are the last piece of the puzzle. You will fight for my king, or your children will disappear.”

“Ha! I’d like to see you try it, buddy.”

“Banish me then. How easy would it be to just get rid of me?”

“Only to have your weasely ass come back again. No, thanks. I might have to do more than banish...”

“Don’t reach for your water bottle, Sam! Do not fight me, please. I am a master wizard.”

“What did you say about needing me to summon the single flame? Something about you needing me to summon it.”

“Oh, never mind that...”

“Well, I think this super-weird conversation needs to come to an end. I’m not sure who you are or what you want, exactly, but you threatened my kids, so that means... to the gas planet for you!”

“Which one?”

“Let’s go to Neptune. I was just looking at some pictures of it the other day. So pretty. And fresh on my mind.”

“Perfect, and oh, what a terrible punishment for a bastard like me.”

“Right... I might need to be done with you.”

“Hurry, or I will pick off your weakest first. Paxton.”

And with that, and against my better, though very clouded judgment, I summon the single flame, and see within it not the bluish, swirling gasses of Neptune, but something far stranger.

Far, far stranger.

Chapter Two

I feel myself moving toward this arena, even as it moves toward me. Except... I haven’t consciously visualized it. Da hell? Meanwhile, I stumble forward, my feet landing in soft soil. The weird man is still hanging onto me. I shrug him off aggressively, even as he cackles gleefully. “Master will be pleased!” he says over and over.

I inhale air that seems to be of a different chemical make-up. It hits my lungs painfully, but my lungs, true to form, adapt quickly, shrugging off what is potentially lethal poison. Still, it hurts, so I consciously switch off my breathing.

“Where are we?” I growl at the little man. Indeed, I tower over him.

“‘Tis the world of Grandar, my lady. It occupies a space between dimensions. No one can find Grandar. In fact, Grandar must find you. And by Grandar, I mean me!”

“What does that all mean exactly?” I growl.

“It means you have been invited to participate in the Gladiator Games, Miss Moon.”

“Feels more like I’ve been kidnapped!”

“Not quite, but you have been duped. Your own unique abilities have been used against you.”

“Okay, whatever. I’m outta here.”