Chapter 9

CHAPTER IX

BETTING PRICE

The Master and Tiki Bison returned to the children, which were bewildered that the bison was joining the return of the old man. Gary finished talking to the fish-man named frank, turned to his friends, clapped his hands, and said triumphantly, "Ok, now then, I should be seeing my friend."

"Where are you going?", asked White Ezra, concerned why everybody is leaving him and his brothers.

Gary responded confidently, "To wish a friend luck" And with that said, Gary hurried down the stairs.

Gary went down the two flights of stairs and saw his old friend, Blinkoff. When Gary sees Blinkoff, he asked him if he is prepared.

Blinkoff was stern half-goblin that knew how dangerous it was doing this job. He was one of the few level headed, non-chaotic beings with goblin blood I've seen in awhile. He stood around 4', due to his human side; had a brown sharp beard, much like Gary's; had brownish green skin; and big pointy ears coming out of his

head, going back, up, and out. He was wearing armor made of obsidian with small, diagonal lines through it, appearing as a diamond like pattern. He was holding an ax crafted by a dwarf, specially made by his friend. Beside him lay a helm that would cover his entire head, leaving only his eyes exposed when he wore it.

Blinkoff turned slowly by Gary's question, and replied deeply, "this isn't a game, Garrison. You and I both have people at home, people that don’t know our dark work to put food on the table and need us alive."

Gary hesitated after a sigh before responding with, "I know Blinkoff, believe me I do, but we need to believe we can overcome our upcoming trials; only then will we prevail."

A chuckle came from blinkoff before responding, "Deep Gary, deep; but deep words cease to do miracles for the common men like us. Well, non-magic users and common men like us. We should take it up sometime."

"Magic?", questioned Gary, "Blinkoff you know harnessing inner power such as magic is uncontrollable. Though I'm glad you’re a little uplifted about your upcoming conflict. But seriously, Magic!? I knew there was more goblin about you than appeared."

"Well", said the half-goblin, "It wouldn’t hurt learning some for our combat reasons." With that said, he smiled, picked up his helmet and said, "Well, I'm up next, as you already know wish me luck!" He then put on his helmet and headed through a hallway

Gary chuckled, sighed then went back upstairs.

Upon arriving upstairs, Black Ezra said annoyed, "We have been waiting here quite some time, are we going to anything soon!"

The Master said a little nervous, "Calm down. Things will begin soon." He glanced over at Gary for a second.

He gestured the people to the edge of the pit, which he found an area close enough to the edge to see down amongst the group of other spectators. The children looked down and saw the pit had a beige stone for a floor, chipped and scrapped from...multiple reasons, and splotched with blood and burn marks. The

cobblestone walls were covered by sixteen doors made of steel bars going in a net like pattern.

After a few minutes of waiting, I said in a unrecognizable voice, due to voice altering magic, on the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the 'BACK ALLEY BRAWL'!" The audience cheered. After a few seconds, I proceeded with, "Our next 'partisipants' is an old favorite, Blinkoff!"

The half goblin entered through one door of the pit's door wearing his armor and holding his ax high in the air, basking in the cheer of the audience. I thus continued, "And a new competitor to 'Back Alley Brawl'; he's half orc, half gnome. Please welcome 'Krogthar The Masculine'!"

Out of the opposite door from which Blinkoff emerged, a faded deep blue being emerged with the strong body of an orc and long fingers and toes of a gnome, with a head too big for a orc or gnome to have naturally with a head of long, spiky, black hair. He wore outfit of brown fur covered leather on his chest and waist, as well as gloves and boots of same material with thinner hair. He held a iron hammer with a wood shaft

Then, when everything settled, I counted down, "Ready?.......FIGHT!" With that said the competitors in the pit charged towards each other. Krogthar raised his hammer above his head, ready to strike the half-goblin, which saw the upcoming blow and did a quick swing to the orc's chest before jumping back. The half-orc, stunned by the attack, recovered his stance and charged as if he were a bull toward Blinkoff.

Blinkoff snickered and ran toward the giant gnome like being he was combating, jumped in the air and rolled over his opponent's back as he slashed with his dwarven crafted ax; he then followed by kicking off his enemy.

The large headed behemoth hit the wall. Blinkoff landed the jump,turned around, and leapt toward the towering being. He pushed the blade of the ax in to the thick hide that Krogthar possessed. Blinkoff yelled over the screams of the half orc, "Do you give up?"

Krogthar conceeded with his hammer, and life, in hand.

Blinkoff was satisfied and relieved he didn’t kill the new combatant and didn’t get killed himself. He did a small victory routine in celebration of his win.

I spoke in the intercom once more, "After a good fight, I'm proud to present our winner, BLINKOFF!"

The crowd shouted in joy and sorrow of the many bets being won and lost.

At the sight of the previous events unfolding before their eyes, the children were shocked, if not disgusted, at the horrifying image they had witnessed.

Gary cheered at the sight of his friend's triumph.

Tiki Bison stood, on his hind legs with his arms crossed, on The Master's shoulder, who was mimicking the pose.

"A good match," The Master said, "I don’t expect anything less from him."

Black Ezra, and his brothers, turned toward their friends behind them, and replied, barely holding back his anger, "What...was that?"

The Master answered the question, more calmly then it was asked, "That, dear children, is the reality some people must do in order to provide; Provide for their families, and survive enough to purchase food, water, and shelter."

"Why do something so grim," Grey Ezra asked, "Why don’t they do something simple yet efficient, like Gary?"

Gary, who a bit surprised to hear that from a child living in the woods their whole life, gestured to his pitchfork. "You forgot I said this was my other job," He said, unhappy with the truth it held. With a droop of his head and a sigh, he raised his head in confidence and said sarcastically, "Well everyone, wish me luck!" He then prodded down the stairs.