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  Lady Licklow simply sniffed again and moved off. Lydiah followed her mother, whispering a soft farewell as she went. Nadiah twisted her fingers together, wondering when the challenge would start—but she didn’t have long to wait.

  “Attention. Attention, please.” Magistrate Licklow was standing in front of the assembled spectators, looking extremely self-important. His rotund figure was draped in a deep purply-blue tharp and he wore vranna hide boots of the same color. “Attention,” he called again even though everyone had already stopped talking.

  Seeing that every eye was firmly fixed on him, the magistrate began. “Ahem. We gather here today for a blood challenge between the esteemed Tranq Prime male Y’dex Licklow and his off world competitor, the human called Rast.”

  At this point, Y’dex and Rast both entered the challenge grotto from a small, side tunnel. Nadiah was angered to see that Rast was flanked on both sides by guards. As if he was some kind of criminal, just because he’s an off-worlder!

  Both the competitors were wearing the traditional Tranq Prime male costume of furry boots and a tharp wrapped around the waist, leaving the chest bare. Nadiah was proud to see that Rast filled out his outfit much better than her intended. Seeing him in the dark green tharp and boots reminded her of when they’d first met, during the luck kiss at Sylvan’s bonding ceremony. I fantasized about this, she remembered. Imagined that he would be the handsome male who would sweep me off my feet and challenge Y’dex for me. Of course, in her fantasy he had also declared undying love for her and that certainly hadn’t happened. But still, at least part of her dream was coming true.

  Tearing her eyes from Rast, Nadiah examined the tharp Y’dex was wearing as well. It was a brilliant blue which looked too bright against his pasty skin. Perfect, she thought, staring at it. A perfect match—the exact color of his best dress tharp. Now if only—

  “The challenge of strength is about to begin,” bugled Magistrate Licklow, interrupting her thoughts. “I will now recite the rules. Ahem. The competitors will each be given a goldur with which to do battle over the pit of ice and fire. The one still standing on the beam at the end of the challenge is the winner. Falling off on either side constitutes a loss and the end of the match.”

  At this point, he reached for two long staffs which were lying at his feet. He seemed to take a moment handling them before giving one to his son and one to Rast.

  Nadiah studied the ancient weapons with a kind of dreadful fascination. The goldur was straight out of Tranq Prime history texts—used only for kin feuds and blood challenges. Each three foot long staff had a heavy, battering-ram type knob attached to one end and a thin, circular blade attached to the other.

  Supposedly each goldur was perfectly weighted so that the contestants could keep their balance while fighting on the narrow walkway that ran over the pit, between the hot coals and the icy water. Supposedly. But she saw Rast hefting his goldur with a frown—from the way he handled the weapon it was plain to see that one end was much heavier than the other.

  It was no more than Nadiah had expected. Still, it made her angry to see Magistrate Licklow pronounce both weapons sound and fit for battle when the one he’d given Rast had obviously been tampered with.

  “And now,” the magistrate said in his pompous, nasal tone. “Let the contestants cross the pit and the challenge of strength begin.” He nodded at Rast, who hefted his obviously overbalanced goldur in one hand and stepped onto the narrow beam across the pit.

  Rast walked carefully but with a natural agility Nadiah couldn’t help but admire. He might be human but he moved like a Kindred, with inherent grace despite his large, muscular frame. In fact, she was so busy watching Rast she almost missed what Y’dex was up to.

  Her fiancée followed Rast across the pit, holding his goldur in both hands, obviously using it to balance himself as he walked. Just as both of them had reached the center of the pit with the hot coals to one side and the icy water on the other, Y’dex hefted his goldur and used the blunt end of it to strike at Rast’s unprotected back.

  Rast hadn’t yet turned around and Nadiah saw what was happening just a split second before it did. She gave a little a cry as Y’dex struck with his weapon. The soft sound wasn’t much but it warned Rast and he braced for the blow. Instead of toppling over into the pit of fiery coals as Y’dex had obviously intended, he jumped lithely and turned to face his opponent, his own goldur held at the ready.

  An angry murmur was heard from the crowd at the cowardly move and Rast spared a moment to look up at Magistrate Licklow. “Hey, is that how you guys play it here? Hit your opponent in the back before he gets a chance to turn around?”

  “Both contestants were in the center of the beam and the challenge had begun,” Licklow said, frowning. “Y’dex’s move is perfectly legal.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” Rast muttered. “Just remind me not to do any real estate deals with you guys.”

  “What is that supposed to mean, off-worlder?” Y’dex sneered, swinging the sharp end of his goldur in a dangerous arc.

  Rast gave him a grin that didn’t reach his eyes and jumped back. “Just that I don’t trust you any farther than I can throw you, cave boy.” He swung his own weapon but it was clear the poor balance was affecting his aim and he missed.

  “Ha!” Y’dex laughed triumphantly. “Is that the best you can do?”

  “With this thing, yes.” Rast raised an eyebrow at him. “Care to trade weapons?”

  “That is against the rules of the contest!” Magistrate Licklow declared before his son could answer. “The contestants must keep the weapons they were given at the start.”

  “Well, isn’t that convenient?” Rast muttered. He used the blunt end of his goldur to poke at Y’dex but the other male moved back in time to avoid it and parried with his own, balanced weapon.

  For a moment their weapons locked and then Rast broke free with a jerk and retreated a step to be out of reach. Laughing nastily, Y’dex pressed his advantage. He came after Rast, swinging his goldur until the sharp edge whistled through the air.

  Nadiah gasped as she saw the cutting edge connect and leave a long, nasty looking slash across Rast’s broad, bare chest.

  “First blood!” Magistrate Licklow trumpeted triumphantly. “Y’dex has drawn first blood.”

  “Yeah and it’s gonna be last blood if I have anything to say about it,” Rast muttered. “Hey Y’dex, think fast.” With a quick advance, he swung his own goldur, causing Y’dex to hop backwards, losing his balance. One of his feet slipped off the beam and landed in the hot coals below. With a howl, he pulled his burned foot up, pivoted, and splashed it through the icy water on the other side.

  “You off-worlder human scum,” he growled, stalking towards Rast, his wet boot squelching as he went. “You’ll pay for that.”

  “Oh yeah? Come at me.” Rast spread his arms. “Come on, I’m waiting.”

  Y’dex glared at him but didn’t move. Instead, he looked up at Nadiah and made a fist. Then, with a cruel smile, he made the twisting gesture that had become so horribly familiar.

  She barely had time to think, Oh no! before the burning blade slid between her ribs, robbing her of breath and doubling her over with pain. A cry of agony escaped her—she couldn’t help it.

  “Nadiah!” Rast turned to her, his face filled with concern. “Nadiah, are you alri—?”

  At that moment, when Rast’s head was turned, Y’dex rushed forward, goldur swinging wildly. Rast turned back just in time to parry the attack but his opponent’s momentum tore his weapon from his hand and flung it far out into the bed of hot coals.

  “Now then, off-worlder.” Y’dex laughed unpleasantly as he advanced on his unarmed opponent. Rast backed slowly away, trying to stay out of reach of the other male’s weapon without getting either sliced or pounded. He was scowling and there was murder in his eyes.

  “I warned not to hurt her again. Didn’t that broken nose I gave you yesterday teach you anything?”

  “You