Page 26 of Ash Storm

Ash let his fist drop.

“I am the fight master,” he said. “You will address me as hocam while you are here.”

“Hocam?” Ash asked the man to his left.

“It means teacher,” the man said. He was a tall, stocky man in his mid-thirties.

“He’s going to teach us?” Ash asked, raising his eyebrow.

“I think it’s ironic,” the man replied. Unlike the boy, there was no fear in his eyes. This one had been around.

“Ah,” Ash said, nodding to himself.

“So. The rules,” the fight master continued. He stopped to look at each of the fighters in turn.

“You will fight only when I tell you to fight. Anybody who breaks this rule will be kicked out immediately.” He looked at the guards behind him, making it clear he had the manpower to enforce that rule.

“Tonight, you will drink and enjoy yourselves. Tomorrow, you will each fight three men. No weapons allowed. Only the four top fighters will be invited to spend a second night with us. The rest will each leave with one of these.” A collective gasp filled the courtyard as the man flashed a gold coin.

“I didn’t come here for a single coin,” Ash said, speaking loudly.

The man zeroed in on him, a cruel smile shaping his mouth. “Then you’d better be in top form, Romano. Yes, I know who you are. I know who each of you are. I have watched videos of your fights.”

I hope you enjoyed those fake fights Rogue put out.

“The day after tomorrow, the four champions will fight. The winner will leave with a million dollars—in cash.”

“That’s more like it,” Ash said loudly.

“And the others?” That was the Irish boy speaking. Once again, Ash felt a pang in his chest and steeled himself against it. The boy wasn’t his priority. Unlike Reka and Chloe, these men were all here voluntarily.

“Let’s just say the others … won’t need the million dollars.”

“That money is mine. You should all go home now, while you still have a chance,” said the thick-waisted boxer.

Did he sharpen his front teeth?

“Nei tuoi sogni,” Ash replied.

In your dreams.

“Only one man will see zafer,” the fight master said.

Ash looked left towards his Turkish neighbor, who’d become his unofficial translator.

“Victory,” he said helpfully.

There were wrinkles around his eyes Ash hadn’t noticed before. The man might be older than he looked.

“Ah.”

I’m going to have to learn Turkish.

“Now, you will all go shower ahead of the celebration.”

“Shower? Why do we need to shower?” somebody complained. Ash hid his smile. At least this would give him a chance to look around.