Darkness Girl: Trickster God

Chapter Forty-Nine: Circles in Circles

There was a loud crack and the boy sprawled forward into the dust. His wooden sword clattered to the ground at the edge of the arena, and there was a round of applause from the spectator stands. His opponent raised her wooden scythe above her head and let out an excited cheer. Regan watched the fight with her arms folded. 

'He tripped,' said Forester. 'That was a lucky hit on her part.' 

'She's good though,' said Sarafina. 'She'll probably make it though.' 

In the arena, the girl was doing a small victory dance. The boy picked himself up slowly. He looked unsteady on his feet as he brushed the dirt off his clothes. 

Pohlman walked into the centre of the arena. He waited for the boy to retrieve his wooden sword before he extended his arm towards the girl. 

'Winner, Lain!' 

The girl with the scythe blew a kiss towards the bleachers as she walked out of the arena. Her opponent followed slightly slower and was met by a Silverwater medic who used a pen light to examine his pupils. 

Regan felt Forester's eyes on her and turned to look at him. 

'Shouldn't you be getting ready? Your fight is next.' 

'I am ready.' 

She heard an irritated snort behind her. 'Not ready enough.' 

Regan watched the porters dragging heavy hessian sacks across the arena to smooth out the scuffs and divots in the ground. 'Hello Ashcroft.' 

Sarafina threw a worried glance at the spectator stands. 'Is it safe for you to be seen talking to us at the moment?' 

'Officially, I'm here to inform you that your opponent has been changed to a current Silverwater member at the request of a squadron leader, as if you don't already know.' 

Regan looked over her shoulder at Ashcroft. 'I've met him. He came and introduced himself like a true gentleman.' 

'Whatever you said to Kai has got him worked up. He's out behind the bleachers punching anything that comes to hand.' 

Regan gave a nasty smile. 

'His frustration amuses you?' 

'Predictability is an exploitable weakness.' 

'Don't mix up the chess pieces with the player. Your real enemy is Bennet.' 

Regan frowned. 'Interesting.' 

'What?' 

'Nothing,' Regan looked away. 'You just sounded like someone I used to know.' 

She examined the spectator stands. She could see Bennet fussing over a small boy with a laptop. On the stage next to the stands, the name of the boy from the previous fight was being removed from the board. Pohlman watched as the names were rearranged then turned around. 

'Next fight. Regan versus Kai!' 

Regan started forward, but Ashcroft gripped her shoulder. She looked back at her and cocked her eyebrow. 

'Bennet is one of my best squadron leaders because she knows how to plan. Don't assume that a victory in this fight will translate as a victory against her.' 

Ashcroft released her grip. 

'Soon Bennet won't be able to fight by proxy,' said Regan. 'I think it's time I showed her what she can expect.' 

Regan stepped into the arena.

***

Bennet switched her attention between the laptop monitor and the arena where Regan and Kai stood facing one another. She watched the boy at the laptop fidget with his shoelaces. He flinched as she clamped a hand down on his head.