Chapter 284 - A Coin for a Count (1/2)

Aegin was still as he watched from the sidelines, his gaze calculated. The third fight he'd seen, the scarred man, who had won against his previous two opponents, picked up his current opponent and slammed him onto the ground. When his opponent stilled, the crowd started counting.

”1!...2!...3!...4!...”

The opponent shifted coughing as he recovered from being winded. The scarred man advanced again as his opponent got to his feet.

A swipe of his massive arm, and the poor guy was down again. He'd feel that shortly.

This time, the count made it all the way to eight before the bell to the side was rung and the crowd cheered.

The big scarred guy spread his arms in victory and circled around the inside of the wooden pit. Because it was a pit, the ring was about twenty paces across, but it was another storey and a half down from where all the spectators were seated. Well, more like squashed in like fish in a barrel. They made use of every available space possible. Whoever ran this place was certainly getting their money's worth. Aegin could tell they'd probably get it from the bets alone from what he'd heard in passing.

Finally, after the fifth win of the scarred man, Aegin saw just what he was looking for. The next challenger was much smaller than those before, but he also possessed a far darker shade of skin, and much to the crowd's shock, he was blind. But Aegin could tell by the way he walked in. By the baring of his shoulders and the placement of his feet. This man was going to win.

Most people immediately laughed, placing their bets on the sure thing that was the scarred man. Zu, if Aegin had caught his name properly. He honestly hadn't been caring about it much though. Aegin stepped forward, weaving through the crowd until he stopped beside the man taking all the bets.

”I'll bet on the blind guy,” said Aegin, holding out his two silver.

A few people around him chuckled.

”Odds are fifty to one kid,” said the man who was taking the bets.

Aegin nodded, ”That's fine”.

The man sighed, ”Fine. Your funeral”.

Aegin didn't think so.

The bell tolled for the match to start. The scarred man approached, baring his teeth in a grin. Aegin grinned with him as he watched the blind guy shuffled a few steps back as if nervous. The scarred man roared and charged, ready to absolutely devour the poor guy.

Even Aegin didn't blink as he watched the blind man circle one foot back in an elegant side step before he continued to swing his leg, hitting the scarred man right in the centre of his back as he passed him. The scarred man ran head long into the wall of the pit. The crowd flinched, and seemed confused for a moment as if they couldn't believe what had just happened.

Aegin smiled as the blind man took three steps towards the centre of the ring. The scarred guy stood up, shaking his head to get rid of his dizziness. He'd had plenty of momentum going into that wall. Aegin was surprised he hadn't knocked himself out.

Still, he had no chance. The Blind guy was a Havoi Master.

The fight dragged on and on, the crowd becoming more and more agitated as they realised they'd lost. The few among them who'd dared to take a chance barely uttering a word for fear of being mobbed.

Finally, after what must have been at least twenty minutes the big guy just sort of swung and then collapsed.

There was an awkward silence, then the bell tolled.

Aegin turned back to the man taking the bets with a smile, ”50 to one did you say?”

The bets man rolled his eyes and handed over a gold coin, ”Don't go tripping over yourself on the way out”.

Aegin chuckled, then paused as he sensed someone coming from behind him. He frowned, prepared to side step before he realised that in order to do that...it wouldn't look human. He hesitated, and in that hesitant moment took the blow. He took it easily, using the momentum to flip himself over the rail and landed on his feet in the pit below. He glared up at the man who'd hit him, who was looking pretty damn smug with himself.

”That was rude,” Aegin huffed.