If I did my job well he would take my place in her bed. I wonder how long it will be before he has the same nightmares as I do.
The trumpet sounded and the crowd hushed. A herald mounted the King's Rostrum, announcing the next bout. The Baroness of the Five Rivers, Lady Del Mannion, had challenged Lord Salmar to an honour battle, and the challenge was accepted. Ramis, gladiator of her stable would be pitted against Kharam of Lord Salmar's stable. The whispers changed to a din at the announcement.
I knew what they were saying. A comparative novice, against the undefeated champion. And an honour battle, no money at stake, but the life of the gladiator as forfeit. What was she thinking? I remembered her face light up in something like joy as she told me what their reaction would be. She had been right. Perhaps then they were what she called them.
Fools. Like me. And predictable.
I stepped into the middle of the sand, the bull by my side. At a trumpet signal, we bowed, first to the King's Rostrum, where the Convenor of the Games sat below the empty throne on a smaller carved chair. Then to the owners' box, one last glimpse of her triumphant smile almost unmanning me. I needed to block out anything else now. This would be the hardest thing I had ever done in combat.
I took up my battle stance, facing the bull. He grinned now, a grin without amusement. I enjoyed the thought of wiping that grin, if only for a moment. I would be able to make him sweat, maybe even fear for a moment, before I had to do my duty.
"I am going to enjoy you pony. My last one didn't last very long, but his ass felt good before I ruined it."
I waited him out. If he was a talker, so much the better. I would give him nothing, and hopefully infuriate him a little. He was a professional though. He took up his own battle stance, nostrils flaring, the heavy nose ring moving as he snorted. He was ready. This one was always ready.
The trumpet sounded, and the cries of the crowd grew to an almost unbearable constant din. I raised my short sword to 3rd position, the half-shield on my left arm poised and my body angled to take most advantage of it. Then I waited, circling slowly, my mane bobbing against my back. I let my tail slowly sway from left to right as I moved trying to distract him, smiling grimly as the bull mirrored my actions down to the tail swish. He gave a small salute, bringing his sword edge on to his muzzle, a knowing grin spreading. So he knew now; he was facing someone who at least appeared to know what they were doing.
The crowd hushed, waiting for the moment. When it came, I almost missed it, the bull waiting until our circling had brought him in direct line with the sun behind him. From the penumbra he struck, speed and agility incredible for one so big.
I dodged to the left, sword coming down in an arc to block his thrust, a quick pirouette before I could return for a counter blow aimed at his head. Metal rang in the air as his own sword moved to block my stroke, and then I was forced to parry a hard strike towards my legs.
The crowd exploded, tension building and releasing in one. They could see this would be a good fight, possibly a bloody one. A perfect end to the day's festivities.
We moved apart again, circling before reengaging, a fast combination of blows and parries, before I feinted a thrust, turned and swung instead. I caught the edge of his half shield, cutting his massive arm near the elbow. It enraged him, but did not seem to stop him, and he snarled and charged, launching a series of hard full blows that I parried with ease. Not too much ease though, I slowed my timing just enough to explain why I could not have got in a strike while he wound up for his next blow. I had his measure, or so I felt.
After several more minutes of this, my forelock fell into my eyes damp with sweat and I pushed it to one side, looking at the bull as he tried to regain his composure. In my heart of hearts I knew I could take him. I had marked him three times, though not badly, but I had held back. Now for the hardest part of all.
Seemingly possessed by a rush of blood, I charged to a raucous cry of approval from the spectators, sword glinting with late afternoon sun. At the last moment I changed my grip, moving in for a backhand strike aimed away from his shield. I had seen his last bout, and I knew it was a favourite move of his. I had telegraphed the blow, just enough. His experience did the rest.
He moved sideways, catching my sword on his and using his shield arm as a club to knock the sword from my grip. As I stumbled, a hard kick from his right leg took my own legs out from under me and I fell forward onto the sand. I moved fast, rolling to the left as the sword came down in the dust I had just vacated, but before I could move any further the bull was on me, his bulk crushing me against the sand, a weight smashing into my muzzle and leaving me partly dazed.