The Prize of Freedom [Layla/Log]

[Jess]

The Prize of Freedom

CHAPTER 1 : Hard Bargains

"The Finals…? Of which Tournament, did you say?"

Standing before a figure in silk robes and with a curled moustache with her hat in hand so to speak, though only in a metaphorical sense really given she had little money to own a real one, Layla Ral looked toward a pair of eyes which seemed to see her and dismiss her in the same second, and language from the body which told her that her 'master' oh so badly wished to wave her away and be done with her. However, today she was not about to be fobbed off so readily.

“Yeah man, the one we talked about a couple of months ago, right?” Seeming to contrast him perfectly in how even her smooth and silky locks looked a little bit ragged and her ensemble seemed primarily comprised of something likely born from hessian, even while sporting something which scarcely covered her impressive frame and likely was once used to hold fruits or vegetables the bronze beauty maintained her bearing as she confirmed the query with a nod, and perhaps a form of address which seemed to make the man's temple twitch to boot.
“You said you'd put me in for the main event if I kicked ass in the past three events, remember?” Protesting quickly and yet casually against the falsified mix of confusion and concern and even a masked dash of contempt which her question had seemed to inspire in him, while her language was lax and perhaps a little lacking in the decorum which was probably lacking for someone whose rather modest ensemble included the permanency of a band of metal around her neck which was ready to blow at a moment's notice, ultimately her inquest was an earnest one and designed to make good on a bargain which had been struck months before.

Don't act like you've forgotten, you greedy old bastard. For that matter it seeming that the words she chose were certainly more polite than what was running through her mind as she found herself fooled in no way by how he feigned ignorance on the matter, she knew he was only playing dumb and could guess that he knew that as well, and could ably make rather an accurate estimation for the reason behind his apparent lapse in memory or overall mental capacity.
“And well, you're rolling in it as a result, so I figure it's time to make good on your word?” Guessing that he wasn't about to give up one of his best 'prospects' without a good fight after all, regardless of how sorely she needed to be reinstructed in her manners or how rebellious she could get in other areas when given the chance she was a winner who had raked in plenty, and he would have to be a fool to give that up easy, wouldn't he? Yet, given the bond of a word from days before, Miss Ral expected him to do just that.

"You're after the queen's favour, I presume?
Always talking about how if you catch her eye, she'll set you free…
You know it's a pipe dream, right?"

At the very least it seeming that her candour was enough to get him to kick the act of innocence and ignorance and embark on something with laden with a little more ill will, Layla was hardly surprised that she found herself met with a scoffing eye roll for the intention behind the intention she possessed, and frankly if she had been given any kind of choice she too would treat such idealism with similar contempt. Yet, a woman in irons wasn't so often given the luxury of choice, was she?
“So, you're saying it's never happened?” Once more showing a degree of disdain for his words which would be likely yield most in her position a beating, the one advantage that this young amazon had was that she had seen enough to know he wouldn't want to injure his top earner too badly when there was still money to be made off her, and so felt more able to take liberties because of that. I mean, she was still skating on the thinnest ice, but given all she had been through for the sake of this man she had grown used to living on the edge, hadn't she?

"It has, but not often. It isn't some guarantee, and to get there…
The fights'll make you wish you were in hell?"

“So just your normal Tuesday in slave town, eh? I'm down for it…” For this reason the girl perfectly happy to ignore the risk of a beating and ever more so that which was wrapped around her neck and roll her eyes as he fought to change her mind, the which in which Miss Ral saw it she had faced 'hell' time and again both in and out of the arena, and so scoffed at the prospect confidently and clearly as merely another day at the office from her perspective. Hell, it was a good one, because at least this time she might have a chance of getting something worthwhile in exchange for the danger she was due to face.

“Assuming you're not going to go back on your word, of course?” All the while knowing however that the greater obstacle here would not be the foes she would expect to face in front of the crowds but rather the greedy figure behind the scenes she would need to convince to allow her to do so, it was galling for a young woman who knew she could snap him like a twig to need to beg him like this, but really it was the only way for her to escape from being under his thumb, and both of them knew that. Without his go ahead Layla had no chance of reaching for anything to lift her from servitude, but lucky for her, she also knew that the sway she had with her fellows both in and out of this man's business would count for plenty if she decided to blow the whistle on his double cross.

"What? You…! Tch.
And here I was just trying to look out for you, Layla?"

“I can handle it. I mean, it's been months since anyone even got a hit on me in a fight, or at least one I didn't want?” For that reason the negotiation necessary and the young woman who had spent more than half her life clapped in irons exploiting even that scrawny single leg she had to stand on in this regard for all that she could, beyond her friends and the meagre influence she could command from other pressed figures like herself, all Miss Ral really had was the strength and skill that a decade's worth of gladiatorial experience to count on, and now that she had proven herself one of the youngest champions in the history of the circuit she knew that would count for at least something. It could count for everything, in fact, if only she were given the chance.

“I'm ready for this, you know I am. And besides, you put a stack on me winning, and you'll make plenty as well, right?” Expecting the man before her knew that as well given how much money he had made from her as well, and how he still seemed to crave even more thanks to her blood and her sweat, from her perspective there was one way in which her desire for liberty and his greed could be fulfilled simultaneously, and all it took was a little faith. Yet in this example, Layla was not all that overly optimistic about him having the wit and wisdom needed to see that.

That is if you're willing to put your money where your mouth is… Experience telling her that this man was more the sort to believe in material means over risky ventures, like bricks and mortar, and people in collars and cuffs he could coerce and command, Miss Ral knew she could drop the fattest of stacks in his lap if had the courage and she the opportunity to make the most of it, but also knew he would consider himself to be rather remiss to allow her to do so.
“So, am I in?” For that reason finding she was forced to get pushy with him and leave him with as little choice in the matter as she could possibly allow, maybe he was right and she wasn't ready for the challenge which she saw before herself, but reward or no, this dusky delight done being anyone's lapdog. She'd either fight her way to freedom in this world, or the next one.

"If you make it that far.
I mean, if you wanna win the queen's favour you better put on a hell of show…"

It seeming that the 'kindly' master not about to just up and give her what she wanted regardless of how she could frame her proposal, however, whether it was the risk to his commodity or the way in which Layla seemed to rub him up, it seemed that he wasn’t about to let her off all that easy, and as his posture changed the girl who had been in his 'service' for a decade now knew that she was going to get the rub.
What's this bastard got planned, huh? Nothing ever easy with guys like this and today showing that it would be no different, she felt her heart sinking in spite of his supposed approval of her ideas and toward her ideals, and found her fists clenching as she waited on his judgement as a result.

"I'll tell you what. I'll throw you in the opening melee, and if you win that, you get your spot?
That way, fight hard enough, and you'll have two chances to win the queen's favour, right?"

Bastard's hoping I'll fall in the first round, isn't he? Either that or I'll give up now… The man ever crafty and proving that as he showed he would be true enough to his word whilst also working to ensure she had as little hope of success as possible, Miss Ral quivered with anger as he double crossed their bargain in everything but name with little regard to the effort she had put toward fulfilling her end of it, and frankly felt rather tempted to throw caution to the wind right here and now and lay him out for that fact. Yet this time she would be a good little girl, even if not for the most honest of reasonings.

“You're on. Didn't expect you to be doing me favours?” Utilizing her own form of spite in how she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break to her rage and offering up a reason to renounce even the meagre 'approval' he had offered, instead she choked back the urge to howl and tear him into the tiniest pieces she could in favour of showing off a smug smile in order to wipe his own away, but not for long. Turning on her heel to march away right after because of the sheer effort with which it took to restrain herself, the mind of the mocha marvel was flooded with vexation and violence, and looking at him and luxuries he sported thanks to the pain of people like her only made that worse.

“You must like me more than I thought, eh?” Certainly not about to let him see just how angry his betrayal had made her, and doing what she could to keep her tone light and civil as she marched toward the door of the tent, even if she couldn't hold her smile with it as well.
“See you then, boss. Looks I got some training to do…” At the very least happy that she would have plenty to let out on a punching bag or dummy when she found her way back to the training area, Layla could only crack her knuckles as she ducked out of the tent and into the open, and sought out an opportunity to vent her fury properly. After all, right now, it was well needed, wasn't it?

LAYLA RAL - 2064 Words

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CHAPTER 2 : NO GOOD DEED

"Can you belieeeeeve it? Not only did she walk out here with a couple of sticks, but she's won, and without anyone landing a hit on her!
Have we ever seen a performance like this before? Never in my time!
No wonder they call her the Queen of the Amazon's, eh folks?"

A cheer echoing around her as the announcer piped up with excitement and no shortage of appreciation for work done well, Layla Ral looked around at the clamouring crowds as she stood tall in victory and raised her arms high as she basked in their apparent adulation and adoration for what she had achieved. Stood there in brown leather with detailing made to look gold and apparel which one could have vaguely deemed something close to armour, her polished physique was clamped by stiff material which was meant to highlight her more pleasing proportions as much as it was designed to protect her, and highlighted with a skirt which almost looked pleated and a decent set of pads on her shoulders which only made her stature look all the more impressive. If only the same could have been said for what she held in her hands, eh?

Would have been a lot easier if I had my swords, over these drumsticks… This obviously anomaly something which made the awing amazon sigh as she brought her hands back down and looked toward the chunky pair of wooden batons which she held within them, Layla could only grimace as she took in the ugly and marred mauls she had been given, and with good reason really. Both of them seeming to be the definition of the term 'seen better days' and now carrying fresh cracks and gouges from what she had just been through, while they might have done to help a raw recruit practice or were banged up enough that said party wouldn't have lost much sleep about ruining them completely they were scarcely appropriate for what she had just been up against, and in many ways seemed to stand as a testament to the luck she was carrying this evening that both they and she had survived.

Crafty old bastard wasn’t done throwing me curveballs, eh? Annoyed by that fact really given how quickly she reckoned she could have cut through her opposition using the weapons that she preferred, while it was true that a fighter of her calibre still had enough clout to make them count even in conditions like what she had just faced, even if her opponents might have preferred being dealt broken bones from her rather than bloodier injuries the vixenly victor had loathed the inelegance of her attacks while doing so, and guessed that she wouldn't have impressed any afficionado with her assault thanks to that fact. Ultimately feeling like she might have been better armed with a set of toenail clippers in hand, there was only one reason that she could have been offered these when she made for the arena, and it was one which yet again did not surprise her really. It seemed someone hadn't wanted her to succeed, had they?

Ah well, at least I showed that fucker… Sighing as she turned them over in hand because of that and then tucking the weapons into her belt as best could as she began to clear the arena, Miss Ral looked around as people in collars like her own and simple clothing set to her surrounding to drag away what was left of the enemies she had faced in this round, and then began to pull her arms across herself to stretch out her shoulders as she eased herself down from this fight and began to think about her next one.
Shit… Put me through my paces a bit though. Maybe I should take a nap before the finals? Wincing a little as she did so as she could feel the extra effort which her 'substitutes' had demanded from her had seemed to take something of a toll on both her structure and stamina, the bronze beauty could feel tightness and tenseness which felt similar to what she felt after she really pushed herself in a workout which ran throughout her shoulders and arms and even her back, and knew that this would leave her in less of a steady position for her finale. But she wasn't about to let that fact slow her down with the finishing line so close in view, was she?

Could be risky… I bet that old bastard wouldn't wake me up if I slept through… Simply cycling through methods that she could use to ensure her recovery or as much as she could instead of wallowing over her condition or the impact it might have on her later performance, in her opinion what she could have really used was a nice massage with a couple of pretty girls and then an hour or so in bed to help her herself 'reset', but this fatigued fighting femme could only too quickly guess that the figure who had blighted her with those bludgeons would be rather unlikely to offer her even half of that bargain, let alone all of it.
A drink then? Think I saw some of the guys passing around grog… Needing something which would dull her aches then but not rob her of all her senses while doing so, the vixenly victor could vaguely recall the image of seeing some of her cohorts sucking down something with a pungent and familiar aroma from mugs as she had been readying herself for her little 'exhibition round', and hoped that there was still some of it left when she got back to the back and had a chance to recover. However, as she encroached upon the entrance from which she had entered this competition, it seemed for the moment that her respite would need to wait.

Well, well, well… The brow of the bronze beauty lifting a little as she marched back toward the tunnel from which she had emerged and to her surprise seemed to spy a familiar shape waiting a little ways within it, usually at events like this the master was the sort who tended to mix with the crowds in hope of currying favour with local lords or spent his time networking with fellows in the business, and so it was an astonishing fact for Layla to find the man with the key to the cruel collar she had worn for the past ten years was waiting down here for her return.
“You here to pat me on the back? Didn't know you cared…” Only guessing that he had been down here in order to martial the troops and eagerly wait for the chance to see her fall so that he could gloat over the fact and once more tally the proceeds he would make off her in future, the stony face which was worn on account of her win was reward and reason enough for his champion to hold her head high as she stepped from the spotlight and into the darkness beyond it, and so too was it sufficient for her to indulge more of a sarcastic tone in an effort to rub salt into the wound she guessed she had caused with her undefeatable and indefatigable effort toward freedom.

"…An impressive performance, Ral."

That meaning that it felt only sweeter for her to realize that today it was his turn to fight against the urge to give her a rise however, for a second the curt silence he showed in response to her joke seemed to say far more than words ever could, but the compliment that followed only seemed to catch the cattish combatant all the more unawares. Not that she hated it, of course, given how bitter those words must have tasted before leaving those lips, right?
“Right? Be even better later on when I have my swords as well, eh?” The way in which it was delivered making it feel like it had been frozen in ice a century ago, of course, but still it reason for the girl to continue her gloating, Miss Ral clapped her hands onto her hips and lifted the clubs she had been given back up as she denounced the tactic he had chosen in an effort to undermine her, and then bobbed her brows as she threw them to a side in a show which made her disgust for them and the motivation which had brought them only too plain. Yet with what followed, that was probably the worst thing she could have done.

"I'm sure it would be, but…
Boys?"

Perhaps the man in charge or those who he had paid to aid him thinking better of the notion had Layla retained at least some means to intimidate and oppose them, unfortunately all she was left with was her wits and what strength she could muster in her own defence, which didn't prove much when she was struck from the shadows out of nowhere by an assailant she hadn't expected.
“Whummmph!” Left reeling immediately as she turned her cheek and found it met with something firm and fierce and followed up on with the fury of other parties, the feisty femme found herself grunting as she was sent spilling by hits from weapons and fists as not one or even two bodies set upon her, but more like what felt to be a half dozen, all aimed with weapons like what she had just tossed away.

He'd… Go this far? For that reason the fox left with little she could offer in the way of opposition as she stumbled around and tried to tense her body up in order to fight off the worst of pain which was coming her way, the dusky dish was left in a state of disbelief as she realized that her master would rather see her sent to the hospital or some such over being given any chance to free herself, and the mix of confusion and multiple forms of aggression seemed to quickly get the better of her.
“Think this'll… Stop me?” Grunting and groaning as she felt clubs and staffs colliding with her and the sheer bombardment of brutality forcing her to fall to her knees, the lip of the lass bled and her body seemed to ache in spite of the stiff leather she wore over it as her array of assailants let loose their strikes ceaselessly and mercilessly, and yet she did her best to remain defiant in spite of this as she spat and them and the man who paid them angrily.

"Yes and no. You're stubborn enough to get back up after this, that I'm counting on for my future business, but…
Even if you wake up before the finals begin, you won't win them as a bloody pulp, will you?"

The latter confident in his act however and shaking his head from behind the shoulders of the pack of animals he had summoned to deal with her, his hands splayed, and shoulders bobbed as he admitted that even a 'bloody pulp' level beating was unlikely to overcome the drive within his prize, but also expressed assurance that even if he couldn't break her spirit he could her body. After all mentality only half the battle when it came to a fight and the one which was ahead of Miss Ral likely one that even her best would struggle to contend with, with her strength and swiftness stripped away by the pasting she was being given the girl would be left with little chance of success no matter what she wanted. Or at least that was what he anticipated, and well, one would have to be a fool to wager against such weighty odds, wouldn't they?

LAYLA RAL - 1988 Words

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CHAPTER 3 : FINDING YOUR FEET

“Gurrrruuuuggghhhh…” Time and company seeming to have left her both when finally Layla Ral found any semblance of consciousness returning to her after her second round of the evening, all that the mauled miss could do was groan as life and mind came back to the former finery which now found itself buckled and broken, the head of our heroine seemed to spin as she clawed her way back to a waking state and tried to piece together what had happened to her to leave her aching and floored.
D-Damn… Those bitches… Really did a number on me, didn't they? Fortunately that hardly much of a trial given the burning feeling of anger which lingered in her heart still for the brutal beating she had taken in response for her simple act of victory, clumsy limbs seemed to flop around the lass with no more deftness or vigour than that of the form of a fish thrown onto land, and she was made to lament her suffering once more while trying to will herself back to some semblance of wellness.

Even my bruises… Have bruises… This far from an easy task really when it felt like every inch of her had been hit by an avalanche or worse, the breathing of the battered beauty remained long and laboured as she flicked and flexed herself around to test how badly she seemed to be hurt, and found to no surprise that her wellness had been compromised with no shortage of extremity.
Come on Layla… You gonna let this die in the gutter here? In fact the only 'favour' that had seemed to have been done for her that she had been left with all her limbs and appendages intact even if they did seem to ache in a manner which made her feel as if she had been hit by a train, in the distance Miss Ral could hear the rumbling of a crowd but frankly in the state she was in it felt like it might have been two towns over, though that didn't mean she wasn't about to try to rise to meet it.

Get those knees under yourself…! Certainly not the sort who had such absent levels of pride that she was about to lay on the ground when the chance to steal her freedom was only a short series of steps away from the tips of her fingers, deepening breaths seemed to offer her enough of a boost of oxygen or means of distraction to permit her think that little bit clearer, and so she forced herself onto her belly in a two-stage effort to recover at least some semblance of her standing capavity. Though what came next was the real test.
“Hnnnnnggggg…!” Perhaps that fact evident in the way the girl seemed to gurn as she pushed her palms against the ground and found the grasp of gravity exerting itself with what felt like a hundred times more pressure than it ever seemed to have had the right to before, Layla forced herself into the push up of her life and showed little shame in the effort it took her to achieve it, but ultimately seemed to achieve sufficient enough height to pull her knees underneath herself and steady herself, mostly, in a kneeling position.

That's… Better. Or not. Certainly not feeling all that secure even in this pose and it showing in how her shoulders and sternum and skull seemed to roll around from that relatively stable base, while this was certainly something of a problem the greater issue seemed to be the fact that the shift in inclination seemed to make her head howl with pain, and left her sure that she had likely suffered a concussion or something in what had preceded this.
Feels like an elephants jumping on my skull…! This injury only more apparent in the fact that she was even having a hell of a time even focusing her eyes with the way something seemed to be drumming her capping, every beat of her heart seemed to send a surge of fresh pain through her body and to nowhere more than what now lay at her 'peak', and for a moment had left her blinded to any and everything in her vicinity as well.

“Whoa! Jesus, kid…” Fortunately it seeming that sheer force of will could do a lot and so the focus of the femme finally returning and offering her the opportunity to wince as she jolted in surprise at seeing a slim figure lingering nearby, for a second Layla wasn’t even sure whether what she saw was in front of her or not, but took solace in the reality of the situation when said soul seemed to shift as she spoke up.
“What're you, enjoying the show? Scared the life outta me…” Looking the lad over in fact because of that confusion and certainly not hiding a note of contempt for how he seemed to just be lingering close and dogging her like a ghost, she flapped her arm toward him and scoffed at such unsettling positioning and unflinching attention, and as she did so spied a possible reason for it as well.

“Oh, I see how it is, huh?” It taking her a minute and perhaps the vaguest flash of light reflected off a pair of somethings which he held in hand for Miss Ral to even realize the fact that he was carrying something long and sharp in each of his hands and didn't simply have the worlds gangliest pair of arms, while some might have panicked and pleaded because of that to find someone standing over them with a sword in each hand given her day the dusky delight found this development a little easier to take in her stride, and so she simply sagged and ran her fingers through her hair because of that.
“Master probably promised you a month of big meals if you made sure I stayed down, eh? Hell, probably a year knowing him?” Only too readily and perhaps cynically seeming to surmise the purpose for his being here now that she saw both the rags her wore and the razor sharp implements he seemed to be grasping, the bruised beauty knew all too well from her own experience just how readily acts of horror could be exchanged for the promise of a full belly given the ones she had committed, and guessed quickly what had been promised between the boy and the man who had bought him because of that.

“Good deal, I'd say? Looks like you could use it…” Not even begrudging such a decision either given how she had been there and been just as scrawny as this strange figure had once upon a time, even though Layla knew she had better things to be doing than voicing her approval for her own murder she had been exactly where he was, and as she ran her increasingly able gaze over him again noted that there was no significant loss on his part. I mean, the world was dog eat dog like this, was it not?
“Shit, and with my own swords too, eh?” Feeling just a dash of insult however as she looked at the weapons he carried again and realized she had a strong sense of recognition in regard to them, all that the aching amazon could do was scoff at the prospect of being done in with her own armaments, but at the very least took perhaps a note of solace in the fact that they would get to taste at least someone's blood tonight.

“Bastard's got a sick sense of humour, right?” Snickering and shaking her head because of that and perhaps feeling a note of irony in the fact that it looked like it would be her own swords which would end her life, even a kid as skinny as this with steel in hand was likely to get the better of her in this state, and so she knew she was totally at his mercy and sighed at that as she straightened and steadied herself a little better.
“Come on then…” Spreading her hands soon after and seeming to call him to action in fact, Miss Ral wasn't sure if she was trying to call his bluff or simply end her suffering but frankly had gotten tired of waiting, and so one way or another wanted something or anything to happen next.

“Least let me die… With a bit of dignity?” Opting to face her destiny with a brave face and pulling her heels beneath her because of that feeling, Layla drew more air into her lungs and straightened herself up with only a minor sense of agony, and then once more invited her would-be killer to strike her down as she faced her fate with a sense of poise, and felt happy for the fact that he hadn't simply stuck her with the swords while she had been unconscious before.
They're… Calling names, eh? Waiting on the dark deed in silence for a few moments because of that and once more hearing the rumbling cry of the crowds because of that, as well as the echoing announcer to boot, for a moment the mocha minx did not know exactly what she was listening to but realized after a moment it was a reel of names in a roll call, and guessed that if she hadn't missed her own already she would hear it soon.

“So what's it to be, kiddo?” For that reason taking heart and hope from her situation and once more probing the figure she now towered over in order to prompt some kind of response, the darkness of their surrounding made it hard for her to read his reaction again and she could barely even make out the details of his face even, but that didn't mean that she was about to think she had lost this round just yet.
“You gonna be a good boy, or a bad one?” Once more letting loose a long breath and tucking her thumbs into her belt as she did so, the vision of the vixen narrowed as she tried to gauge his response but still found his visage as hard to read as ever, Miss Ral well and truly thought her number was up as he took a step forward and readied the objects in his grasp and had not she been made of sterner stuff she might have yelped or flinched because of this, but was glad she did not.

“You…?” Left blinking instead as it was not the sharp tips or honed edges of her sword which happened to be thrust into her direction but rather the hilts, all too clearly and even more wordlessly did an earnest and wide eyed expression happen to be presented to her as the figure stepped forward and offered her the weapons in hand, for a moment Layla looked into amber eyes with an air of astonishment for the generosity, before settling into a wide grin which seemed to wipe away some of the pain she had been feeling.
“My man~!” Only too eager to bite his hands off with an offer like that or at least metaphorically so, the fingers of the fox remembered some of their former strength as she wrapped them around the handles of her blade, and then stuffed them into her belt and ready for the fight that was to follow.

“Whew…!” Glad that she had the chance to take a breath of relief however and letting loose quite the sizeable one at that, though her body still felt like she had been run over by a heard of wildebeest the faith she had been shown by this small and scrawny stranger did plenty to bolster her spirit, and all too quickly was she ruffling the messy mop atop his head because of that.
“You really had me going there, ya little scamp.” Clicking her tongue and shaking her head as she did so in fact, despite the gratitude the girl felt Miss Ral still couldn't help but rebuke him a little for his deed even if it had turned good, thought did so with softness and humour clear in her voice, like a big sister.

“Sounds like it's time for me to make my grand entrance…” Unfortunately not afforded too much time beyond this however to indulge the budding connection which had apparently been built between them before her own name was echoing from the beyond, the bronze beauty beamed at the sound of her fans waiting for her, and then turned on her heel in spite of the lingering discomfort which rang out within her with every step.
“This one's for you, Kid. Enjoy…!” Not about to let herself or her adoring audience down either when she was able even if most would have called what she had to do next a fools errand, she flashed a wink and a wave over her shoulder to him as she readied herself for what was to follow, and then marched forward with her vigour restored by piss and vinegar. Or at least, a little of it, that was…

LAYLA RAL - 2226 Words

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CHAPTER 4 : GUT CHECK

"Whooooaaaa!!!! Another near Miss for the Amazon!
She isn't moving so well now, is she? Did the melee wear her down more than we thought?"

The action thick and fast and ever more entertaining for it, the figure who called it as it came could hardly contain himself as the wearied and wounded Layla Ral fought on in spite of the injuries she suffered and seemed to at least value the intrigue in the unexpected turn even if the girl herself did not. The dusky dish hardly having a delightful time in fact with how her every step or swing seemed to sting her almost as much as it did the enemies she faced, it was clear to any and all that she was far from her best right now but the reason for this was known only to her and the bastard who bought her, yet that didn’t stop any and all trying to take advantage of that fact. So much for hanging back and letting the ranks thin out a bit while she gave herself a chance to recover, eh?

Not the melee… Not that such a strategy would be all that useful now that the breadth of the arena was decorated now with only a quartet of the very best fighters in the realms around them, the head of our heroine was still pounding hard and her body seeming to be slowing as she found herself up against the metaphorical wall which sheer force of will struggled to overcome, but thankfully not a physical one.
Just some slaving bastard…? This more of a boon than one could know as she was at least provided with the space Layla needed to step around a swipe by the skin of her teeth as she found herself on the backfoot against someone with skill which really deserved her best, though she was intent on seeing this thing through to the end or her end that didn’t mean she didn't harbour a sense of lament for the limited state she had been left in, especially when challenged like this.

He's the least of my problems now, though? Not knowing if she was more aggrieved for how her chances of victory here had been diminished or rather how her opportunity to enjoy the challenge before her had been ruined, whatever the case was Miss Ral was not having a particularly good time, that was for sure, even if she was hanging in there or just about.
“Hup… Ha!” Fortunately the fox finding that she was ever able with the weapons she held in her hands hand and even so in the condition she found herself in, more or less, she used the razor sharp struts she squeezed into her grasp as a means to deflect a continuing onslaught as her enemy seemed to dance before her with a grace and skill which might have matched her even at her best, and through that appeared to hold a distinct advantage when she was rapidly approaching the edge of her tether like this as well.

Only four of us to go…! Nearly there… For this reason the fox forcing herself to think of the positives rather than the negatives and in that seeing perhaps a twisted sense of hope in the idea that there were only three people left on the stone and sand who were aiming to take her life away, while it was most certainly true that it was getting harder and harder to keep herself going the way with which everybody who had before or about her, the amazon wasn't about to let that fact get her down, even if she probably should. I mean, she could have probably taken a dive long ago and played like the possum to have an easy and relatively pain free end to her night, but that wasn't her style, even in straits as dire as these ones.

A spear though… Not a good match when I'm like this? Overwhelmed all the same regardless of her attitude unfortunately and not least because of the disparity between their respective armaments, while perhaps it was convenient that the remaining challengers had seemed to pair off into a duet of duels which meant she only had one foe to worry herself about, Layla could only click her tongue as she found her enemy seeming to outmanoeuvre her at every time she tried to do anything but go on the defensive, and even that wasn't ideal. Left to wince when she found the exposure of her arms and the outer sides of her legs getting a little 'lick' from the weapon she faced, while the outfit she wore was likely to be of marginal use with a flick or a thrust of a weapon like that it seemed her foe was holding back from aiming for more than a little knick here and there, and she could probably guess why that was.

Can't move well enough to close the distance before… Unable to offer much of a reply no matter what he had done thus far and guessing from how she seemed to find herself being countered that her had realized the fact that she was running of fumes by this point, it was clear that he was toying with her to tire her out, and while his other rivals were busy with their own exchange was content just to wait for that little opening he needed in order to finish her off without overextending himself or risking injury before facing his final round.
Who'd they say this guy was again? Viper of something…? Respecting the tactic and probably the man who commanded it as well after the fact given how she would have probably done the exact same in his position, this fierce but flamboyant fighter had skill enough that the aching amazon felt a dash of disappointment at not being able to catch his introduction proper earlier, and perhaps in that transitory moment of concern her mind was briefly absent enough that it seemed to give him exactly what he needed to settle up and move on.

“Hnnngrrrr!” The focus of the flagging femme seeming to be fraying into ribbons as she found herself frustrated and chasing her breath just as much as she did her enemy, inevitably this seemed to cost her as she found his weapon seeming to curve out of nowhere and lurch at her like the whipping and wicked tail of a scorpion, and she was forced to shift both her swords in order to deflect that attention. However, ultimately it seemed that she had been drawn into a feint, or enough of one that she found her options limited even further when it came to his rapid recourse.

Shit! Too fast!? Sluggish enough in her turn that a second shot from the spear which seemed to strike almost instantaneously was lucky enough to be allowed to lunge for her belly with little in the way to deny it beyond leather armour, with timing short and reflex dull all that Miss Ral could do was turn her hips and hope that she could drag what was left of her carcass out of the way of a finishing strike, but even that proved quite the task indeed. The body of the bronze beauty as wracked by fatigue as her mind was and also carrying what she had to guess was more than a few fractures, she was fighting against herself as much as she was her enemy in some ways, and right now odds of two to one were not looking too promising.

“Rrnngggg!” For that reason left to groan as cold steel seemed to tear through her the meagre layer of tanned hide and the skin and flesh beyond to lash at her abdominal area with a feeling of ease, Layla seemed to do enough to prevent herself from being turned into bronzy kebab and was glad for that fact, but satisfied by it neither given the prominence of the injury she suffered and the pain and more it seemed to draw out of her. But that didn't mean she was 'done' either.
Not yet! Far from the sort who was about to let him get away with a 'liberty' like that one without taking something in return and trying her damndest to turn a 'profit' because of that, the mocha marvel shifted her grip on one of her weapons and used both in tandem like a pincer to break the long and flexible 'neck' which was offered out to her by the lunge before he could retrieve the length of his weapon, and then turned toward an enemy who now saw his art countered by grit and determination.

“Hrrraaaa!!!!” Instinct taking over and for a moment the warrior woman a wild thing as she did not even offer the severed head of his weapon the opportunity to clatter to the ground either before she had broken into a pirouette which might have been more at home upon the stage rather than within an arena, the sultry siren span around with blades in hand and swiped at him with both to make sure he had no chance to reply, and found herself feeling rather lucky when she saw both her blows landing in tandem. Clearly offense was more his forte than defence, eh?

One more… Down. Seeming to be spurred by adrenaline and the fight or flight reaction to reply with something which showed some of her old speed, maybe he didn't expect her to be so quick or perhaps doubted that she had anything left in the tank after drawing redness from her belly like that, but either way in little more than an instant the curling combatant had carved a corkscrew through him and left him on the ground in a flurry of fury with tasted as sweet as any kind of champagne. Or so she assumed, given the limitation of a slave girl's diet.
“Haaa… Haaaa… Haaaa…” Such a moment meaning that the full weight of the pain she had been inflicted would only arrive once she had bested her enemy in fact, Miss Ral gasped as the sensation seemed to catch up to her in a flinching moment of agony, and was forced to offer herself a moment of panting breath as she tried to survey herself to size up what she could do next now that she had been wounded so wickedly.

LAYLA RAL - 1760 Words

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CHAPTER 5 : THE PRIZE OF FREEDOM

"And he's down! Wooowwweeee!
Can anything stop the amazon queen tonight, ladies and gentlemen?
She doesn't seem like she's going to be happy with anything other than the crown!"

The air in her lungs only seeming to feel fierier as she did so however but that no surprise with the feverish heat that seemed to suffuse their atmosphere, once more the announcer voiced his surprise at her survival and shared a word of hope and optimism because of it as a reward, but frankly the fighting femme would have fancied something else as her return. What she wouldn’t have given for some booze and a decent bandage right now, eh?
Got me deeper than…Least I had him worse, huh? Pressing her fingers to where it felt like she had been cleaved in twain and finding the spot not only tender but also leaving those digits decorated with no shortage of crimson colour, it was as much as she could do to tuck a wing around herself in an effort to stem the bleeding, but knew that she could not keep that up that for long, what with how she likely still had people gunning for her down here.

Now who's…? Shaking her head and trying to shrug off the howling feeling of discomfort across her abdomen as best she could, the bloody beauty looked toward the spot she last saw her other two opponents fighting before she had become quite so occupied by the wielder of the spear and then beyond, and hoped that if she had any luck left that they would still be tussling among one another to offer her some kind of a chance to catch her breath. But it seemed that any fortune she had was rapidly running out.

Oh sh- The earthy eyes of the enchantress widening as she looked and saw a burly fishman with a prominent dorsal fin holding what was left of his bloodied former opponent by the skull, for a second he seemed to relish the reward he felt in a bare-handed victory over an armed and armoured opponent, but as he saw his final foe looking his way found a better purpose for the body he held and the spikes which were worn. For that cause the final 'finalist' seeming to lift that bested body above his head and then hurl him like a barrel cast by some manner of prominent ape, all too quickly was the weight and more of the beaten figure turned into a weapon and rolling toward Miss Ral with a rapidity she really felt untoward, even if their scenario did make it appropriate.

Bastard ain't about to let a girl bleed out in peace, eh? Flinging herself as far as she could out of the way because of the human weapon which was tossed toward her, though a roll over her shoulder seemed to carry Layla out of the way of immediate harm the dynamism of the act makes her latest injury throb and ooze as she found herself floored by the act all the same, and left to struggle in an effort to try to regain her footing in the aftermath.
Suppose he is a shark, huh? Rolling onto her back and keeping her eyes locked on him all the same and only seeming to aggravate the effect even more soon after, the groaning gladiator was forced to throw herself across the ground over and over while her enemy threw whatever he can get his hands on toward her, and was left gasping as she once more tried to wrap her arm around her stomach in order to stave off further injury or blood loss as a result.

Not even sure I can get back up… Struggling against herself or more accurately the state she is in all the while, a staunch desire to keep herself armed even in this position meant that all she could do was try to press her wrist and forearm against the gash which marked her belly in an effort to try and ebb the flow of life from her a bit, but still she was left with little chance to attend to herself as he moved closer and closer to her with every piece of debris he found to fling in her direction.
Not that he's gonna let me…? Still on her back and nearly defenceless as she found the brute moving in at a distance needed to lash out with more than just the wreckage which was left from the battle, the bronze beauty swiped out at him with her blades to try and ward him off so that she can recover some ground of her own and put him on the defensive, but seems to only prompt a nasty and rather toothy smirk from him as she did so.

Shit! Seeming to be strong enough to swat away her swords with his bare hands like he was doing little more than trying to deter the efforts of an insect to bite him, Layla found one and then the other of her weapons seem to go skipping across the ground as he batted them away with ease, and then stood over with relish and a savage look in his eye as well.
Good job I can…! The aching amazon nothing if not resourceful however and not about to give up hope and beg for her life even in this situation, she drew her hands across herself now that they were empty to protect herself as best she could from anything he could unload next, but instead of taking the brunt of what followed instead twisted herself just enough to avoid a hammering fist thrown down upon her instead, and then used wha was left of her speed to snatch his wrist as she tries to fight back even now.

Damn, not even sure I could choke him out even if I didn't have half my guts hanging out! Clinging to that arm and squeezing it like her life depended on it, which it probably did, the ever feisty fox pulled him toward her and tries to wrap her legs around his neck and shoulder to subdue him with a choke hold even if it wasn't going to be a pretty one, but could already feel him fighting against it as she crossed her ankles over one another.
Too strong…! The unparalleled brawn which any and all fishmen were blessed greater than anything she could ever have hoped to offer with how her injuries had been piling up, and a challenge even without them to be frank, Miss Ral could feel her abs howling louder and louder with pain as he flexes and stretches and begins to pry her hold apart despite her best efforts, and achieved more than that even.

Oh n- Not even realizing that he was not merely trying to rip her off him until she saw that he had seemed to lift her into the air, she reads his intention easily even if there was little that she could do to oppose it, and found herself bracing even before she felt the support which held her in the air suddenly seem to give way and thrust her back down toward the ground with maximum prejudice.
“Unnnffff!” Grunting and feeling the air being driven out of her as he slammed her into the ground like a pancake, her entire body seems to reverberate with pain both because of the powerhouse smash and the combination of the drubbing which she had taken thus far, and left her with no doubt she had most assuredly broken some ribs by this stage as she tried to force something into her lungs and found everything around them seeming to burn with fire and ferocity.

"My loooorrrrd! Jaws has crushed her like a bug!
She can't be getting up after that, can she? There's hardly anything left!"

This alone seeming to be plenty to compel her body to loosen the hold she had over him even if her mind told it not to, every inch of Layla and more than that seemed to be aching for a rest and begging her to just give in, and without even realizing it the feet of the femme seemed to slip apart in spite of her best effort to put a stop to her hold. Though not his.
“Grnnnnngggg…” Only left to groan as she found the world slipping away once more and darkness filled all but the middle-most area of her gaze as her mind tried to sink into the comfort of sleep, the savaged siren slammed her own fist down on an arm and a hand which snaked around her throat as this happened, though more for her own benefit than any damage she could do. Outlaying little more than the pat of a four year old really, the motion was intended to keep her awake or as much so as she could, but even then everything around her seemed to grow dim and distant.

"Looks like he's not done with her…
Oh god, is he going to bite her head off?"

Even the voice of the announcer which had been booming with her ears seeming to quieten to the point where it was barely more than an echo or a whisper in the back of her mind, Miss Ral managed to hang onto enough of her consciousness that she was aware of what he was saying and could see the shark man licking his lips as he lifted her into the air single handed and then opened his mouth, but something else seemed to occupy her mind more than that. Far more in fact.

"Get someone out there to stop this!
It's gonna be a blood bath!"

Drifting from the world in a moment which seemed to stretch from now and until infinity had passed and as she did so finding her eyes and her ears seeming to recognise sounds and pictures she did not expect, the mind of the mocha minx fell into a mix of memory and imagination as she was reminded of things, so many things. Some stuff recent and easy to recall like the smug grin of the master or the hope in the eyes of the lad before but other harder and more distant, she could see herself swinging a stick against a straw dummy or running from an angry merchant before that down the street and then there was one thing. People, a woman with a mark on her eye like hers and a man, holding her close and telling her they loved her, as sun shined overhead. That was a nice one, but all of them and more seemed to ask her one question; is that all you've got, Layla?

No… Frickin… Way! That one answer she was only too happy to give even if she did not know exactly where it had come from, she could feel the life being choked out of her and big and sharp teeth about to bare down upon her as well, and so she did the only thing she could do. The only thing she knew how to do. She fought. She fought with anything and everything she had left, because she wasn't ever going to give up, was she?

“Rrrgaahhhh!” Thrusting her hand behind her back and pulling out what looked to be little more than a letter opener from the back of her belt before she bellowed with everything she had, a surge of strength seemed to surprise both Layla and the shark who gripped her, and allowed the amazon to drive the implement into anything she could hit as a result. Glad that she was so close to him honestly because of this and happier still that her effort seemed to mean that the sharpness of steel was thrust into his neck and gills, whether it was a razor-sharp edge or the element of surprise which helped her didn't matter, ultimately she was happy to hear her enemy roaring in pain as a result, and now his grip loosening as well.

"Even after all that, she's still got some fight in her!"

The crowd gasping at her unexpected action as well but in the moment that barely seeming to register with Miss Ral, the announcer cried out with a hint of hope in his voice at the turn as the valiant vixen pulled her hand back and left her weapon stuck in his flesh, and then swung her toe upward with all she had in order to fully escape his hold.
Not much… Gotta stay on my feet… And… Certainly what followed not pretty and even less gentlemanly but at least allowing the copper combatant the chance to drop down and regain her footing as her foe howled before her and tried to pull the knife out, even with the kick of adrenaline in her system it took more than a little determination for the dusky dish to deny the inertia's attempt to cast her back on her ass or worse, but with sheer force of will she fought against such impulse and cast her eyeline toward the ground instead.

That'll do! Looking around her feet for a weapon or anything she could use to do him harm, it seemed that the fickleness of fortune hadn't entirely deserted her as Layla spied the sharper half of her former foe's polearm resting close to her foot, and after noting that it would be better than nothing in her hand acted to seize it.
“HAAAAAAA!!!!” Kicking what was left of the spear up to her hand with the flick of her toe, she snatched it from the air with one hand and grabbed her wound with the other and then threw herself forward all in the space of a second, and caught her enemy off guard once more as he finally managed to pull the knife she had jammed into his gill free in a charging pounce where sheer inertia seemed enough to tip him onto his back. But still she was only just getting started.

Stay down, you sonnova…! Driving what was left of the spear down more like a dagger and putting enough oomph into her effort that she could pin him into the ground with it and really make him scream as she twisted it around like a screw, even with a wound like that the warrior woman wasn't sure that she had bested him, and so took steps to ensure that fact viciously and violently. Pulling the hand she had been holding her stomach with back and then flinging it toward his snout as she used the split shaft to ensure her grasp, one punch turned into another and another, and suddenly Miss Ral found herself empowered by anger which had been pent up for she didn't know how long.

Stay… The Hell… Down! Rattling his skull over and over again and each of her blows seeming to escalate in both output as the wrath behind it built, not it was the turn of the fangs of the fox to shine as she slugged him over and over again, until her finally she saw that had gone limp and any light in his eyes had seemed to have ebbed. Bludgeoning him with her knuckles into unconsciousness at best and leaving rather a mess as she did so, it was only then that she found her hearing returning enough to register the fact that all the voices in the arena had seemed to have been silenced by her sudden surge, but they soon returned when their leader once more piped up.

"Is he? He's not moving, I think…
I think she's done it!
Yes! Yes she has!"

Everyone stunned by what had occurred given how it had looked like she was about to eat hers but the man on the microphone the first to speak up in the aftermath, astonishment quickly turned to adulation once more as the amazon was left as the last one standing in this fearsome series of encounters, and the crowd quickly followed suit. First one force and then a dozen and far more seeming to rise up in a chorus of cheers which was loud enough to make the ground itself shake, there was no doubt left in the arena that they had found their champion, either in the stands or on the floor itself either.

“You're… Goddamn… Right!” Not that the victorious vixen looked all that pretty as she stumbled backward and looked around at the crowd, once more she found herself holding her stomach wound as she searched the crowd for a sign of the queen's box, and raised her free hand as high as she could in celebration as she did so.
Awwww yeeeeaaahhh…! Clapping eyes on the royal party but afforded only a moment of clarity before her vision blurs, her knees weakened and body buckled all too quickly as she caught sight of exactly what she sought, sending her spilling to the ground as blood gushes from her injury and she finally succumbs to the effects of all she had been through. It didn't matter though, ultimately. After all, even if it was for just a second, she had seen that thumb pointed toward heaven, hadn't she? And that was worth any price tonight, wasn't it…?

LAYLA RAL - 2923 Words / 10961 Total