Wyatt
Why did I drink so much last night? My head is pounding. I can barely move my legs thanks to that strenuous climb up the Cap. The ale flowed freely last night; I shouldn’t have indulged. Especially after little to no food, yeah, that would have been the smart thing to do.
Not that I’ve ever been called smart.
Damn, why does the sun have to be so bright?
No one is around, but it must be near midday, they should be here, mulling about like usual. Where is everyone? Shrugging, I don’t think twice about it until I near the training field.
Iza heartily laughs. “There’s no way the skinny little runt could beat me. Never in a million years.”
Wait. Am I the skinny little runt?
I look at my body, I’m not as muscular as Kaleb or Ronan, but I wouldn’t call myself skinny. I’m already stronger and bulkier than I was when I first arrived.
Arel catches my eye, andMisneach, I remember now, Iza challenged me to a fight.
Whipping around on my heels, I hope to slip away unnoticed. Iza shouts at me, and my heart lodges in my throat. Grimacing, I turn to face her.
Kaleb beams with delight, and Ronan is his usual stone-faced, while Arel looks apologetic. I eye Iza up and down, she’s slight, about a head shorter than me, but there’s a look about her that tells me she would have me pinned in seconds.
“What’s the matter, little cub, scared to fight a girl?” Iza pouts her lips, resting her hands on her hips, tapping her foot.
Little cub? I have a faint memory of her calling me that last night. What does it mean? She continues to tap her foot, watching me.
I grew up with Andi and Elana, and I know manipulation when I see it. If I say no, then I have to fight her, and even I know that the chances of me winning this are slim. Minuscule. But if I say yes, she’s going to rip me into shreds. Not only her, but the others too. Although that will happen either way when I lose.
Kaleb laughs, walking over to Iza, he rests his arm over her shoulder. “I don’t see any girls around here.” He looks around everyone, then back at Iza. She elbows him in the ribs, kicking away his feet, and Kaleb lands with a thump. “I was… joking.” He tries to laugh as he stands up, flinching from another whack by Iza.
I debate my options, watching her topple Kaleb in a split second. This is not going to end well. “Fine, let’s do this. But do me a favour? Leave the face, I know how much you love looking at it?” I say with a wink, walking away, dodging her first punch before the fight has even begun.
Arel and Kaleb walk over to me. Kaleb playfully punches my shoulder. “Rile her up first, maybe not your smartest idea.”
There we go again. Why am I this stupid?
Trying not to look terrified, I glance at Arel. “Any advice?” I ask while rolling up my sleeves, instantly wishing I had put on something warmer this morning. The ground is covered in snow, and the damp is already seeping into my shoes.
Arel watches Iza before turning back to me, frowning. “Nope.”
He pushes me into a drawn-out ring, black ash to contrast with the snow. Stumbling over my feet, Iza eyes me like she is sizing up her next meal. Folk congregate around the circle,watching us, placing their bets with Kaleb. I don’t have to hazard a guess as to who they think will win.
Surely no one is foolish enough to bet on me.
Arel walks into the centre. “Alright, first person to force the other out of the ring wins. What does the winner get?” he asks.
“Just the joyful reminder that I am the best fighter here?” Iza says as she bounces lightly on her feet.
“Ok…ay, and Wyatt?”
Iza laughs. “He’s got no chance.”
Arel shrugs. “Alright, let’s begin.”
Iza stalks her prey. Her knees bent, her arms hanging free, watching every move I make. I copy her movements, watching for a twitch in her stance, for a weakness. She lunges forward, grabbing my arm, twisting around, and kicking the back of my knee. I fall instantly but roll over and jump back to my feet.
She might win, but it’s not happening that fast.
Iza jumps forward again, swinging her fist out. I lift my hands up to protect my face, but she diverts, landing a punch to my ribs. I kick her in the side, catching her off guard. She stumbles but remains standing. “Come on, little cub. That all you’ve got?” She spins and swings her fist out, almost hitting my face, I duck just in time.