Trail of Bones: A Young Adult Fantasy Novel (35 page)

“Ok. Don’t go far. We need you, Dox; we all do. Remember that,” said Navarro as he grabbed a servant’s cloak from a nearby table.

“I will,” answered the beast-man.

****

“I’ll go high, you go low,” said Magnus as the two moved up the hill towards Gork.

“Great. That won’t hurt at all,” griped Kelor as he scrambled forward.

The Ghast Gorilla had to track two targets at once. He started with the wolf, hurling a number of stones and boulders in Magnus’s direction. The wolf, however, was far too quick and avoided the incoming attacks with minimal effort.

The distraction worked, providing Kelor the seconds necessary to advance without resistance from Gork. When the gorilla finally looked in the cat’s direction, Kelor was within striking distance.

“Kelor, wait for my signal,” ordered Magnus as he circled the top side of the arena.

Gork’s confidence changed to frustration and confusion. The wolf was up and over his right shoulder and coming on quick while the panther was low and to his left, creeping up for an obvious attack. The gorilla’s head snapped back and forth as he tried to keep his eyes on both potential threats.

“He’s mine!” shouted Kelor.

“No, wait!” yelled Magnus, but to no avail.

The panther lunged forward and swung at the gorilla. The Ghast ignored the wolf, turned to face the cat, and was more than ready to defend himself. Gork dodged the slash of Kelor’s claws, and countered with a blow from above, his fist landing squarely across the feline’s back.

The ape rose up again for another swing until Magnus’s fangs pierced the flesh of his calf muscles. Gork jerked his leg free and kicked in the direction of the assault but Magnus had already let go and retreated, a lesson he had learned from the battle of Thornmount. It would take far more than a bite to the leg to defeat the Ghast. He had to wait for the right moment.

Kelor stumbled backward and away from the gorilla. He had taken a pounding and his reflexes were slowing due to stiff and wounded muscles.

I can’t believe I’m going to say this… I can’t believe it’s come to this,
thought Kelor. “Now what, Magnus?” asked Kelor.

The wolf moved back to his original position, high and above the ape and opposite of Kelor.

“Make as much noise as you can!” instructed the young Shade Wolf.

This time the panther obeyed. He screeched and yowled, followed by hisses and growls. As Gork turned to find Magnus, the cat created more noise, louder and louder to keep the ape’s attention. The wolf crept closer as Kelor continued his verbal assault. Combined with the noise of the crowd, the panther’s roars and snarls panicked and confused the Ghast.

Magnus dashed in, aiming for the gorilla’s back, and attacked. The wolf’s claws dug into the ape’s backside, and then Magnus bit down hard. His teeth knifed into the gorilla’s shoulder and bicep. And then the Shade Wolf shook his head from side to side, like a shark tearing its prey into pieces.

Gork screamed in pain as he reached back and grabbed the wolf. The ape could only get one hand on Magnus, as his other arm was contorted and disabled by the wolf’s vice-like bite.

The gorilla finally gripped the wolf and forced the attacker from his limb. Gork cocked his wounded arm and punched Magnus’s ribs. The wolf yelped in agony as the crowd cheered with excitement.

The Ghast cocked his arm again but the panther attacked before the ape could deliver the blow.

Kelor was right on target. His jaws clamped down on Gork’s forearms, snapping one of the bones in the ape’s wrist. The panther’s claws sliced the gorilla’s thigh and mid-section as Kelor struggled to maintain his bite.

Magnus was able to escape as the ape diverted all his attention to the cat.

When the Ghast finally shook Kelor loose, his arm was a useless mess. It hung at his side, oozing with blood. Strips of flesh dangled in huge chunks, hanging by a thread of skin or ligaments. But Gork would not fall.

The gorilla roared, pounded his chest and barked at Kelor and Magnus as they started circling again.

****

“Aren’t you going to do something?” asked Korwin, standing in his usual spot next to he Warden. They were both high in the arena stands, removed from the immediate action.

“Why?” answered the Warden. The captor watched as Kelor and Magnus executed another series of coordinated attacks. The wolf would run in, snip and bark at the ape and then retreat… all to set up the panther’s attack from the other side. Then it was the cat’s turn, offering noise and distraction for the wolf to leap in and strike.

Korwin watched. He could see the Ghast Gorilla being outsmarted. Though strong and remarkably resilient, the beast would eventually fall.

“It’s not fair. He was only supposed to fight Kelor,” said the Storm Elf . Although Korwin had witnessed the tournament fights dozens of times, he actually felt pity for the ape. It reminded him of Rawrf.
So much potential… so much wasted,
he thought as he waited for a response.

“Fair? Master Wizard, this is the Trail of Bones. No rules, no mercy. Remember? Let it begin and let it end so. Don’t you agree?”

The elf nodded. “Though it appears there is much more to the wolf than we thought.”

“Indeed,” said the Warden, nodding in agreement.
An astute observation.
He thought.
The wolf has been holding out on me! And what of Kelor? I would not have thought the cat would accept the help of another, especially from a wolf. That could pose a problem. With the wolf’s influence, the panther could be more even difficult to control.

The captor watched as the wolf and the panther dodged, attacked, and fought as a perfect team.
Alone they are easy prey… but together…together they would have no equal. Forget the coin, the wolf must go! The cat’s will was nearly broken… ready to submit, ready to obey. Magnus could ruin all that. The wolf must die.

****

“Come on, Magnus. Think of something fast, this isn’t working!” shouted Kelor as Gork’s fist just missed the cat’s head, taking out a swath of turf.

The panther was right. Though they had kept Gork on the defensive, the creature was more than capable of taking the punishment. All it took was one lucky blow from the gorilla and one of them was done – the beast was still that strong.

Kelor was growing restless. So were the crowd and the Ghast Gorilla.

“Boy die. Gork slay wolf pack. Gork kill all stand in his way!” the gorilla boasted, taunting the duo by pounding his chest with his one good arm.

Love until your heart stops beating… hunt until your prey is in your jaws…
Magnus could hear the words of his father echoing in his mind.
If you fight, fight with all your strength until your win your enemy’s throat…throat! That’s it, the ape’s throat!

“Kelor!” shouted Magnus.

The cat looked over at the wolf.

“Legs. Go for his legs,” whispered Magnus as he pointed his snout towards the gorilla’s lower limbs.

“What?” Kelor shot back.

“Just do it. Trust me,” answered Magnus.

“You better be right, mutt,” grumbled Kelor under his breath.

Magnus titled his head back and howled. All eyes in the arena turned to him, even Gork’s.

After a moment, the Ghast Gorilla turned to find Kelor, but it was too late.

The cat raced in low and fast and seized the ape’s leg in his jaws. The panther would not let go, not this time. He could feel the gorilla’s muscles tighten as he bit down harder.

Gork pounded Kelor, trying to rid himself of his enemy.

Meanwhile, Magnus circled, staring at the Ghast’s throat, waiting for the precise moment to attack. The ape thrashed back and forth as it wrestled with Kelor.

Come on, Magnus! What are you waiting for?
thought Kelor as he could feel his grip beginning to weaken.

Wait, Magnus, wait. The throat! You must win his throat!
Magnus reminded himself as he crouched ready to strike.

There! Now!
With his jaws opened wide, the wolf jumped.

Gork leaned back, groaning from Kelor’s bite but also revealing his neck and throat. From the corner of his eye he could see the flash of Magnus’s teeth and the black fur of the wolf’s coat. Then the Ghast felt Magnus’s jaws lock onto his neck and rows of teeth sink in.

The young wolf thought of his friend Adolphus. He thought of his brother Asher. He thought of the villagers of Thornmount. He thought of his pack… and he thought of his friends, Kelor, Navarro and Dox.

Magnus felt no pain, only a resurgence of strength and vigor. He did not feel anger… or hate… or the desire for vengeance. He felt the love of his friends… both past and present. He felt a sense of purpose.

Gork gagged as the wolf’s bite crushed the muscles in his neck. Magnus’s jaws constricted the ape’s windpipe, smashing the soft tissue in the gorilla’s throat. He tugged at his foe, but gasped as the last bit of air left his lungs. He gurgled and then dropped to his knees, the wolf still clamped to his throat.

The Ghast Gorilla’s eyes rolled back in his head as the last bit of life was ushered out of his body.

Magnus let go when Gork’s body fell to the ground. He panted to catch his breath and looked at Kelor. Unable to stand any longer, the wolf dropped to his belly.

The panther crawled over and lay next to Magnus. “Go low, huh? Next fight, you go low. See how that feels.”

The pair laughed, but then simultaneously winced as pain from their numerous wounds rebelled.

Kelor and Magnus looked up at the crowd. They listened to the cheers and ovations. They had each won many fights, but this was the first time they really felt like victors… they felt like champions.

CHAPTER 29

“No!” shouted one of the servants. “I’ll take care of the wolf. The others need your help with Kelor.”

After each fight the panther had to be corralled. The servants would corner him in one area of the pit or arena and then fasten the poles to his collar. It had become part of the ritual. Kelor remained defiant until he ran out of options; then and only then would he surrender.

After this bout, however, Kelor didn’t feel like fighting any more. He didn’t growl or hiss when the servants approached. He was too tired and could barely move, let alone walk. The Ghast Gorilla had really punished him, and he was feeling every bit of the abuse. The servants attached their devices without incident.

“You did good, Magnus,” said Kelor as the posse of servants led him away.

Magnus felt a bit of jerk on the end of the chain still attached to his collar. A servant, wearing a hood, tugged the wolf to his feet.

“Come on, mutt, let’s go!” the servant ordered.

Startled, Magnus looked up into the hood of the shrouded servant.
Mutt? Only Kelor calls me that,
thought the wolf.

Navarro smiled down at him and then winked. “We’re gettin’ out of here. Dox is waiting for us back at the tent, and then we’re gone,” whispered the bard as he led Magnus out of the arena.

Magnus nodded. The bard was right. They had outstayed their welcome. The Warden and the elf would have to find others to participate in their sick games. The moment had come to take a stand.

****

“What are you going to do?” asked Korwin as he and the Warden walked down to the arena floor. The Warden wasn’t paying attention; his mind was elsewhere.

Most of the crowd had departed save a few stragglers and some of the Warden’s men. The wager tables were closing up and the coin collected. Tear-down was underway around the arena.

“Did you see what Kelor did tonight?” asked the Warden.

“Of course. We all did. It was magnificent. A battle that will be long remembered,” responded the Storm Elf.

“No… after the fight. After he won. He just sat there… he let the handlers lead him away without a challenge.”

“So?” commented Korwin.

“He’s only done that once, his first fight, and he hasn’t done it again since. It’s that wolf. Something’s going on between those two. I can feel it,” answered the Warden.

“You’re overreacting. All is well. You’ll see,” said Korwin.

The more The Warden thought about the incident, the more agitated he became. “No… Kelor’s all claws and rage. But that wolf… you can see he’s figuring things out. He’s clever. He’s trouble.”

“Shall I meet you in your chambers to divide the night’s take?” Korwin asked.

The Warden shook his head. “No.”

He looked at the carcass of the deceased gorilla. Then he peered down the path leading to the tents. Without a word, the Warden turned and walked toward the holding tents.

“Where are you going?” asked Korwin, annoyed.

“To get rid of that wolf,” said the Warden.

****

The servants led Kelor right past Dox and to the front of the cat’s cage as they had done on many occasions. But before they could prod the beast to enter, Dox was on his feet.