The Broken Scale (The Dragon Riders of Arvain) (37 page)

             
The hit was so powerful that the ringing sound of the sword hitting the shield lingered around the arena for a few seconds. The sound was quickly replaced with the ground soldier’s cries of pain. He had held his ground when the hit came, but since he was flexing when the hit came his body had no give and the force behind Shane’s swing broke the man’s arm and threw him to the ground.

             
Shane did not pursue his challenger after he fell, as Hayden had done; Shane was in complete control and knew that as soon as his swing found its mark that the fight was over. Shane stepped forward and tried to help the whimpering man up, but the judge was afraid he was going to try something underhanded and would not let him close.

             
Hayden replayed his own fight and Shane’s fight to Draek, trying to be as detailed as he could. He knew how frustrating it was to not be somewhere where something was going on.

             
Draek was resting on his usual hill, letting the sun warm up his blood and muscles, when Hayden told him that he had won his first fight. Draek was proud of what his rider had accomplished; Hayden felt his pride and emotion run over their mental bond. Sometimes it was frustrating never having privacy in his own mind, but it was moments like this that made it all worth it.

             
Once Shane finished his fight it did not take long for the others to finish theirs. The crowd stomped and screamed as they watched the fights. Hayden was the first to finish so he not only got a break during the next round but he also got to watch everyone who had made it through the first round compete in round two.

             
Shane and the other fighters came to rest on the benches near Hayden but no one spoke. Some concentrated on catching their breath so they would not start round two panting like animals. Hayden relaxed more than the others because he did not have to fight the next round.

             
The break seemed to be over rather quickly and the fighters got back to their feet and made their way to the judges, who were going to tell them who they would be fighting next. Once that was done they went to different spots on the field with their opponent and waited to be told to begin. Hayden wanted to try to watch as much as he could so that he would have somewhat of an advantage in the next round.

             
The judges told the fighters to begin and Hayden quickly became confused and lost in the initial melee. Almost every fighter added his or her battle shout to the continuous loud noise of the crowd, and everyone started hacking away at each other at the same time.

             
Hayden became so lost he almost missed Shane ending his fight just as fast as Hayden had done in the first round. Shane never drew his sword; he had no need for it. The fighter against him tried to ram him with his shield as soon as the judges started the fight.

             
Most fighters would have either tried to dodge it, or if they thought they were stronger they would have lowered their own shields and met their opponent head on. Instead Shane used all his might and stomped his foot right in the middle of the shield.

             
The other fighter flew back from the impact, but his feet kept trying to run in the air until he landed in a cloud of dust on the ground. Shane made no move to continue the fight because it was obvious from the lack of movement from the fighter in dirt that the fight was over. It was a mistake that cost the fighter the competition.

             
None of the other fights were nearly as monumental, but they were all still entertaining. At this point in the competition most of the fighters that did not have a chance had lost. So the remaining fighters gave the crowd a better show and some of the fights lasted a few minutes.

             
Soon the second round was over and Hayden was back on his feet, feeling his nerves growing back inside of himself, preparing to take the field again. When they called the remaining fighters over no one spoke again. The judges had no need to tell the fighters to quiet down but they still did so.

             
The numbers were called out and the fighters began to hear their fate and learn who was to be their next opponent. Most of the numbers that were called Hayden heard but did not understand; his mind was only truly looking for his own number.

             
His was the second to last one to be called, leaving his opponent to be the last one called. He did not know the fighter that belonged to the number that was called off, but he soon learned who it was as he made his way to were the judges wanted him. Hayden tried to loosen up as best as he could as Shane stood in front of him and prepared to fight his friend.

             
Hayden cleared his mind of his doubts and worries; in his mind he was not fighting his friend. He was fighting another nameless warrior who stood in his way of the competition. He knew that neither of them would get seriously hurt, but accidents did happen during these games.

             
Hayden controlled his breathing, deep long breaths to slow down his heart and pump oxygen into his lungs. His shoulders rose and fell with every deep breath; Shane’s body was a mirror image of his own. They had both been trained by the same man and they both knew what they had to do.

             
Hayden saw the judge point at him and ask him a question; he did not hear the question but he knew what was asked so he nodded his head to show that he was ready. His mind blocked out the crowd, the judges, other opponents and every other sound. All he could hear was his heart beating throughout his whole body. All he could see was the man clad in copper armor in front of him.

             
He was focused on this fight and this fight alone, to him the whole world had stopped to watch this fight play out. He never heard judges start the fight or cheering of the crowd at the expected action, but once Shane lunged forward he knew that the fight had started.

             
Shane did not move in slow motion, if anything he moved faster than he had before. Hayden’s body knew how to react before his mind knew that he was responding to the impending fight. Shane tried to strike first and brought his heavy sword down towards Hayden’s right shoulder.

             
Shane kept his shield held up just under his chin to protect himself from the counter attack that Hayden was most likely to do. As the sword feel down, Hayden parried it with his own blade and went to hit Shane with his shield. Shane was thinking the same thing and the shields hit with such force that it knocked Hayden back and gave off a loud ringing sound that echoed throughout the whole arena.

             
Shane quickly advanced with a thrust, but Hayden had already regained his balance. He dug his left foot into the packed dirt and moved his shield to intercept the sword. Shane’s blade, deflected off of Hayden’s shield, would have caused a normal fighter to stumble, but Shane used the momentum from his thrust to turn his body around and slash at Hayden.

             
The move sent the crowds to their feet, seeing the two riders go at it and for Shane to almost flip in the air as he struck at Hayden. Hayden never lowered his shield, so he was able to block the second blow, even though it was not well placed and Shane had just thrown it at him hopping to hit something. The sheer force behind it almost dented Hayden’s shield and he was sure that his shoulder would be sore the next day.

             
Hayden knew that he was only on the defensive and if he didn’t start throwing some attacks against his friend he would lose this competition. As soon as Shane’s sword cleared his shield Hayden swung a counter attack, stabbing his sword at Shane’s side that had become exposed during his giant leap.

             
Shane lowered his shield to block the move but it was what Hayden was expecting him to do; he knew that with his body in the middle of moving that he would not be able to step out of the way and with his sword finishing out his previous swing he had no choice but to block with his shield or get stabbed.

             
Once he made the block, Hayden slammed his left shoulder into the center of Shane’s chest. He was armored, so it did not hurt much, but it did succeed in sending him stumbling back and knocking the wind out of him. Hayden took the opportunity to sprint at his friend and bring his own sword down in a large over handed swing.

             
Shane inhaled a deep breath and raised his sword to parry Hayden’s. The moment the blades hit, and Hayden’s bounced up slightly, Shane head butted Hayden as hard as he could. Hayden felt his sword meet resistance and saw Shane’s helmet come down towards his face. For just a second he could see his own shocked reflection in Shane’s copper helmet before it made contact and Hayden’s world went dark.

             
“Hayden, wake up. Hayden can you hear me?” Shane asked. Hayden heard the words but found it hard to answer them, his mind was a little fuzzy, but his body was not responding at all. He finally managed to open his eyes and all he could see was blurry shapes.

             
“Good, he is awake. Can you hear me, Hayden, can you speak to me?” Shane continued to ask. At first Hayden wished that he would just go away and let him sleep the massive head ache off, but his mind started to recall what he had been doing before he got knocked out.

             
“I cand talkd fined,” he tried to say. The words did not sound right to him at first than he remembered the head butt he had gotten and tried to gently touch his face. His nose and lip were badly swollen, his nose probably broken, and when he removed his hand there was a decent amount of blood on his fingers.

             
Shane looked at him apologetically, but Hayden was not mad, he understood that it was a competition and he was trying to win at all costs just as Hayden had been trying to do. Shane was still wearing his helmet and there was still blood smeared on it from where he had hit Hayden.

             
“So Id tate it Id did not wind?” he asked as they tried to help him up into a sitting position. Shane tried hard to laugh at his friend, but he failed at his attempt.

             
“Yes, I am sorry you did not win, but you gave it a good shot.” Shane tried to encourage his friend while he wiped up the rest of the blood that had settled on Hayden’s armor. Shane had to leave because the next round was starting and he had to take his place.

             
There was a group of people that stayed in the arena during the different events and helped wherever they could. Doing everything from bringing water and stretchers to the competitors to cleaning up blood and sometimes cleaning up worse; they did whatever was requested of them and at this time they were helping to clean up Hayden.

             
Hayden was unable to watch the next round, which was made up of only four fighters, but Shane returned to his side quickly and told him that he was going on to the final round. He told him that he would be fighting a female fighter that had yet to be touched, but he was more worried about Hayden than the fight.

             
Hayden was able to sit up on his own finally, and all the bleeding had stopped. His eyes were watering, but that was because they had just reset his nose. Hayden watched as Shane made his way to the center of the arena for the final round. Shane was calm and relaxed, he did not underestimate his opponent, but he was confident in his own abilities.

             
Hayden was in awe as the two began the dance of fighting. Hayden could not follow either of them; as soon as it seemed that one had an advantage the tables would turn. Hayden sat with his mouth open, like almost everyone else in the arena, and waited for someone to tell him that the fight was over.

             
It seemed to last for ages, seasons appeared to change around them as the two fought with all their might. Shane had strength on his side while the woman had speed; they appeared to have almost equal amount skill with their weapons.

             
In the end it was Shane who pushed through, hitting harder and harder with each hit until it started to chisel away at her defenses. They had started off trading blows, but she started to receive them more than she dealt them. She tried blocking his strikes every way possible but, as sweat began to make its way down her face, her own moves became slow, and as the two blades met in mid air it was hers that got pushed back.

             
The sound of metal on metal was a continuous ring that sounded throughout the arena, allowing those that could not clearly see the fight a way to hear it and know what was going on.

             
She was not done yet though; she tried a few quick jabs and side swipes at Shane’s mid section. Shane ignored the strikes and continued to hammer down his devastating blows. She could not follow through with the attacks; she had been planning for Shane to stop his barrage of offense moves to block her quick attacks and allow her a few seconds to right herself before his sword started to come back down.

             
Since he ignored her swipes and jabs she had to pull them all back before they could make contact. If not she would have left herself completely vulnerable to his blade, and although she might have done a little bit of damage to him if he landed a hit he would knock her out or worse. Finally the judges stepped in and tried to call the fight.