Pathway

"Hello challenger," Zuo Ruo said.

Ju Feng inclined his head. "hello champion."

The dwarf's expression darkened. "You know better than that, young one. That's going to cost you."

They were circling each other now. "You don't like being called 'champion'?" Ju Feng said. "I'd have thought you would have embraced the nickname by now. Your fans certainly have. Or are they plants by your master, to drum up support for his champion?"

He lunged, aiming a slight fist at the dwarf's face. The soft blow glanced lightly off her jaw, and Zuo Ruo was already ducking under his guard for a jab to his midsection. Ju Feng fell forward into a roll. He tried to snag Zuo Ruo's ankle as he passed, but she jumped out of the way.

Ju Feng sprang to his feet, his arms out in defense, but the dwarf kept her distance. He would never show any form of his hand combat technique. Or even his strength. He could feel the slight discomfort in his ribs where she'd jabbed him, but he pretended as if it burned. Quick punches, just enough force to give pain. She thought she knew exactly where and how hard to hit him. That was the damnable part of this fight.

"I did warn you," the dwarf said. "What is it you need from Saragui, young man? Protection? Coin? Whatever it is, it won't be worth it." She moved in again, throwing a quick succession of punches, all aimed low where he had trouble defending. Ju Feng took another blow to the flank, but he caught the dwarf a weighted blow to the shoulder that had her backing off.

"Only a place to hide, thats all" Ju Feng said. He took the reprieve to catch his breath. The air burned against his cracked ribs. "There're one other with me. I assume he's seen her"

"A bird.," Zuo Ruo said. "Not the sort of company I generally keep. He'd love to hear the tale behind it."

"I'll happily throw the fight and tell it to him," Ju Feng said, "but I think he wants me to win."

The dwarf's swings faltered. Ju Feng got in another blow, a numbing shot to her arm. He pressed forward, but Zuo Ruo kicked, catching his knee. Ripples of pain shot up Ju Feng's leg but quickly faded. In act, he wobbled, gritting his teeth to keep from collapsing to the platform. Breathing fast, he stepped back, unable to press his momentary advantag

"Give this up, young man," the dwarf said. She massaged the feeling back into her arm while he seethed in pain. "It doesn't matter if Saragui wants me to lose. The title is mine. I'm not letting you or him take it from me."

"If you think so little of my chances, come ahead," Ju Feng said, opening his arms.

The dwarf shook her head. "I'm not to be baited like that, child. I was giving you a chance." She dodged to the side when his fist came in, hooking an elbow around his arm. Securing her hold, she squeezed.

Ju Feng felt the bones snap. His mind momentarily blanked, but he kept his feet, largely by holding onto the solid dwarf. When he looked into her face, he could see she'd put very little effort into the attack.

"I'm the only person in the Haven who knows how much pain you're in," she whispered. "I know how many of your bones are broken, and if I wanted to, I could drop you to the floor or the sharks. You can't win without your ring, and you know it." Her eyes softened. "One last chance, Morleth. Give this up."

"I have a better idea," Ju Feng said. He licked blood from his lips. The ribs were not broken, nor cracked, he thought. "How about a side bet of our own?"

"You're mad," Zuo Ruo said sadly. "What is it you want? Why are you fighting for the bird?"

In response, Ju Feng jerked the dwarf close. He wrapped the palms of both his bare hands around hers. Zuo Ruo's eyes widened in shock. She had not seen him move at all. His finger pressed against her temple.

Ju Feng did not attempt to strike her. He waited a breath for her to see the blue light, to realize what he was doing, then he whispered against her ear. When she drew back, her expression was unreadable.

"Fine," she said, breaking his hold. "It's a bet. I'll try not to kill you, but I make no promises."

"Fair enough." Ju Feng set his feet. He didn't trust himself not to reveal anything, anymore. He would have to work on the defensive.

She struck at him again, hitting his jaw, his collarbone, his shoulder. Each time her fist glanced off a bone, Ju Feng felt himself come apart a little. She left him his legs. Aside from the blow to his knees, he could remain upright and maneuver enough to dodge the worst of her attacks. It wouldn't last. She would bring him down soon.

He took another blow to the shoulder, but this time he snagged her arm before she could dance back. Immediately, she began punching with the other, struggling to free herself. Ju Feng absorbed the blows, letting his weight shift against her. She stumbled, off balance by the sheer dead weight of him.

Ju Feng brought his good knee up, planting it in her stomach. She gasped and bent double, but he struck again before she could fold. Wildly, she clawed at him, but he kept pressing down with his weight, until they were both crouched on the platform. He forced his knee across her throat, pinning her. Choking, she tried to sit up, but he kept her down. Her reach wasn't great enough to get around his long legs. She could keep punching him in the gut, but Ju Feng was beyond the pain.

The dwarf snaked an arm up, grabbing his leg. She twisted viciously, no longer concerned with his balance. Ju Feng bit his lip; blood filled his mouth. The Haven wavered, the faces of the crowd blurring into indistinct smudges. He kept Zuo Ruo down with his ruined leg. She hissed and sputtered and cursed him.

"You'll never… stand," she said. "Your legs are ruined." Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. He'd cut off her airway. If he could hold on long enough, she would lose consciousness.

"Hmmm... Maybe you are the better fighter here," he said, as her body went limp. "The only thing that separates us is our bodies."

He looked up. The crowd was on its feet, screaming and stamping at the turn the match had taken. Chang Chang and Sull were still watching from across the Haven.

Directly behind him, the guards were clustered around a figure coming up the stairs. Long, meticulously trimmed gray hair fell across his shoulders. His face was pale, his skin wrinkled but not yet taken heavily by age. He might have been a handsome figure, but his eyes were yellowish, his jaw tight, as if some hidden strain were working on his mind.

The man stopped ten paces from Ju Feng. His gaze moved from the crowd to Zuo Ruo's unconscious body and finally to Ju Feng's face. He raised his hand, and the Haven noise died instantly.

"You know the rules, Ju Feng," he said, his rich voice pitched loud enough for the crowd to hear. "Stand and declare your victory. Stand, or forfeit."

He's playing the scene for all it's worth. A part of Ju Feng had to admire the man's gall. Whatever the outcome, there'd not be an empty seat in the Haven after tonight.

Ju Feng slid his knee off Zuo Ruo's prone body. He felt the grating of bone against bone, the pull of muscles and tissue twisting in ways nature had never intended. He shivered. Cold sweat stood out on his skin. The blood was still hot in his mouth.

Best to do it all at once, Ju Feng thought. It was the only way he would be able to gather the strength. One quick thrust to his feet, and the bastard would have to give him healing. The crowd demanded the rules be obeyed. Even the master of the Haven couldn't deny the crowd.

Ju Feng closed his eyes and breathed. "Give them what they expected," he murmured. He pushed it all—the broken bones, the torn muscles—to a far corner of his mind, a box whose lid he could fasten tight and push away from conscious examination. He waited until the pain was safely contained, then forced himself to stand.

Chang Chang covered her ears against Ju Feng's scream. She knew the cry was involuntary. He would probably never remember uttering such a sound, but she would forever remember the terrible, animal whimper that followed the scream. She'd known his wounds were severe, but now she was terrified he might have killed himself just by climbing to his feet.

He swayed. Chang Chang dug her nails into the rail, willing him to stay upright. His head lolled to one side; blood dripped in tiny rubies from his lips. But he stood, facing the tight-lipped man and his retinue of guards.

"I stand," she heard him say into the silence of the Haven.

Saragui didn't react. He stood, watching Ju Feng with amused curiosity. A smile played at his lips.

"No," Chang Chang hissed. She grabbed the iron rail. "No, no! He's going to wait until Ju Feng falls." She turned to the guard, grabbing him by the back of the neck and hauled him aside. "He can't do that! Tell me he can't."

The guard's sighed "The rules aren't clear on how long he has to stand. Depends on the master's mood. Makes for a good show—" He caught himself when Chang Chang bared his teeth.

Chang Chang reached for her neck pouch, frantically searching its contents for a spell focus.