Chapter 203: Haven [1] (1/2)

”I'm a new entrant, Chang” Ju Feng said. ”I'll have at least three matches before I get to fight their champion.” He picked up Chang Chang's cloak and pack. ”Keep these close,” he said, handing them to her. ”They're ready for us.”

No matter how intense her apprehension about the Haven, Chang Chang was grateful to climb the ladder out of the oppressive ship's hold.

On the main deck, night had fallen. Stars canopied the harbor, and the remnants of the day's rain glimmered on the wet wood. Torches lined the deck, lending smoky illumination to a sight Chang Chang could not have imagined in her wildest fancies.

The Haven perched on the water, bounded by a loose circle of four half-sunk ships. The vessels listed at various angles, half supporting each other, their masts crisscrossing in a vast web work of rigging and wood. Rope bridges hung suspended from the main masts, allowing foot traffic to flow between the four ships. Figures swarmed the bridges or climbed, monkeylike, on the rigging to find a better vantage point for the activity.

On each of the four ships, wooden benches were bolted in rows to the deck, creating a sort of graduated seating on the listing surfaces. These rough seats were already packed with people, and the unlucky few who couldn't find a bench were perched on the rails, their feet dangling above the water. All told, there must have been hundreds of people crowded on the ships.

In the center of the Haven, water was allowed to flow freely in a sealed off pool. Wooden platforms, not unlike Ju Feng's raft, had been arranged at various points, so it was possible to cross from ship to ship without touching the water. Four guards arranged themselves on the outer fringes and took charge of distributing weapons.

Chang Chang watched a pair of men walk out onto the platforms. Both carried the same weapon: a spiked ball and chain. To her shock, they bore no shields and wore no armor. The crowd screamed and pounded their feet when the fighters faced each other and swung the chains like deadly pendulums in front of their bodies.

”Heavens teard,” Chang Chang said, shaking his head. ”I'd never have believed such a sight if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.”

”Yeah.” Ju Feng quipped in.

”The platforms are stained red,” Chang Chang said, half to herself. ”What happens if they fall in the water?”

”Nothing, if they can get out fast enough,” Ju Feng said. ”They stock the pool with blindfin, shark, eel, and whatever else they can find that's vicious enough.”

Chang Chang flinched as the combatants leaped at each other. The spiked balls whistled through the air, thudding sickly into flesh. The crowd cheered wildly. Both men fell back, clutching gaping wounds to the leg and flank.

”The winner will bleed to death before he claims his prize,” Chang Chang said.

Ju Feng shook his head. ”He only has to stay on his feet. Once the victor is confirmed, Saragui authorizes the winner to receive healing.”

”Where is Saragui now?” Chang Chang asked, leaning close so Ju Feng would hear her over the crowd.

”You won't see him until after the tournament,” Ju Feng said. ”He watches the matches from there.” He pointed to the largest ship in the circle.

In the Haven, the combatants were already tiring. The heavy weapons were difficult to maneuver under the best of circumstances. On the water they were clumsy and shook both men's balance. The taller of the two swung with both hands. His opponent dodged back but tripped on an uneven board. He went down on his knees at the edge of the platform.

Sensing victory, the man still on his feet leaped across to his opponent's platform. Frantically, the man on his knees tried to scramble away, but there was nowhere left to go but into the water. Hurling the heavy weapon at his opponent, the man dived into the water.

The crowd went crazy, piling against the rails to see if the man would be devoured by sharks.

His head popped up a few feet away, next to another platform. He hoisted himself up, and for a breath it looked like he would make it. But the taller opponent had been watching, biding his time.

As soon as the man's shoulders came out of the water, the taller opponent swung the ball, releasing it to fly across the water.

The ball impacted between his opponent's shoulder blades. Blood spurted, and the man lost his grip on the platform. Jerking, he sank into the water.

Chang Chang thought the wound hadn't been very deep, but then she saw the water churning, the flash of a gray fin.

”Heavens tears,” she said, ”how could he leave him for the sharks?”

”It was a clever move,” Ju Feng said. He watched the man intently. ”He'd already taken a wound to the thigh. He couldn't jump from platform to platform, which is what his opponent was counting on. Essentially, he had one shot, and it turned out to be a good one.”