Greetings everyone!
I hope everyone had an awesome weekend. We had a super busy one. I made pickles (my cucumber produced three massive fruits so I had to pickle them) plus I baked most of Sunday. I didn't even have time to work on Fell Dragon because of it, but such it is.
Today's update spans several days and from several people's perspectives, so don't get confused! I hope you all enjoy it!
Saita refused to look up at the balcony where she sensed her family sitting as she walked into the competition grounds. She wasn’t emotionally strong enough to see them. She hadn’t wanted them here, yet she longed to reach out to them despite the consequences. She barely listened to the instructions of the judge about what was expected of them and was snapped back into reality when she heard the phrase ‘gravity controlled.’
“Excuse me?”
The judge frowned and repeated himself. “The weight is set to your corresponding weight and will be increased from there using gravity-controlled programming to make the weight heavier with each lifting opportunity. Each of you will get two attempts at a weight you struggle with before it is deduced that you cannot lift more than that.”
“Why is it set at our weight?” asked a serpentine-like creature.
“With the competition allowing for different species and genders, this was the fairest way to judge your strength when lifting. It’s not about how much you can lift but how much your strength can lift in terms of your body weight. There are one hundred of you in total. The first half will lift to double their body weight before lunch and the other half will lift after lunch. Come evening time those that remain will continue to lift until no one can lift more than the weight given to them. The winner will be determined by their weight category. Which you can see here.”
Saita looked up at the board, it was no surprise that she was the one at the bottom as a lightweight while a four-armed giant that stood next to her was at the top of the weight class.
“As you can see it wouldn’t be impressive to watch a Gargantum bench press me, but it would be for the human.”
The Gargantum nodded his head and said. “Makes perfect sense.”
He then looked down at Saita and said. “May the best athlete win.”
“Do I know you?” she asked.
“You beat me in an S-class fight before coming here. I know your strength. Should be interesting to see where you place in terms of strength and not just speed.”
The Human chuckled nervously as she left the platform. She would be lifting later and had no reason to remain. She did, however, remain in the enclave under the stadium to watch how the competition faired. She was strong, she knew that, but she doubted that she could ever win this competition. She had only entered to try and enjoy herself. Once more she looked up at the balcony longingly. She wanted to go up there so much but had to restrain herself.
“You want to go to your family?”
“Is it that obvious?” she turned to ask Bolx.
“If you stood any more left the cameras would be able to show everyone how you felt.” He said gently. “I know how you feel but last through this week and I am sure they will call for you to talk to them. You just need to be a little patient.”
“That is so easy to say.” She said with a sigh.
“I know.”
They watched the first lot of competitors finish their lifting. Only a handful had managed to lift double their body. Then lunch was called for, but Saita remained where she was, waiting for her name to be called. Bolx grinned at her eagerness and said. “I can’t wait to spar with you.”
His comment took her by surprise, and she gave him a confused look. “Excuse me.”
“You have not been allowed to train against anyone while you were here. I look forward to the day you and I can have a training session.”
“Heh, that sounds like it could be fun. Yeah, why not.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Good luck, they just called your name.” he grinned. “And you are blushing, it’s cute.”
Saita made her way onto the platform to start her lifting sequence. She easily managed to get twice her body weight before retiring for the rest of the afternoon. The crowd had been stunned by her ability. They had not expected a human to be able to compete with the likes of the Saith or even the Gargantum. Yet she had no delusions of grandeur. She was not going to be able to pick up more than the Gargantum and it was only a matter of time before she would not be able to lift as much without hurting herself and she could not risk that. She just needed to show off a little. Just enough to get Edzeeker’s attention. Then it was onto her fun. She had missed brawling while she was on the Saith planet and longed to get to the fight and she hated that the event was only at the end of the week. She would need to rein herself in a little before the fight. Yet she couldn’t help but grin. She loved the cheers that had come from the crowd as she showed off her strength. She was going to have some fun before this was over.
Edzeeker had not been pleased when Bolx had refused to make contact with him. He was well aware of the girl being on the Saith planet and he had hoped that Bolx would bring her to him, but he never had, and it was starting to infuriate him.
“I do not have time to wait for him to do the right thing. If the girl is to realise what she must do I need to get to her now.” He got to his feet from the seat he had taken in meditation. “I can sense you far better than you can sense me, Princess. I know where to grab you at your weakest. And history already tells me what you are going to do. I am coming for you.”
Myla watch Saita come in third in the strength competition and was well aware that the girl had not showcased her full strength but was rather saving it for the final two days of a 32-man round-robin. Yet, her daughter had the largest smile on her face as she accepted the medal to commemorate her placement. There had been pride followed shortly by guilt and shame. Her daughter’s face showed fresh scars of a battle she had had to partake in since Pura had her removed from the humans. Myla had been so preoccupied with Karesh’s injuries that it had taken her nearly a week to realise what she had said to Saita. The horror of those words washed over her now as she saw how happy her daughter was among people who were not her own. She had helped in chasing away her daughter with the very words she had taught her. Doran had been right; the future Saita had been right. She had thrown her daughter away and judging by the look on her face she was happy here.
“She looks so skinny.” Said one of the dignitaries that sat with them. “Why are all you human women so skinny? How will she ever manage to compete in the fights if she is so skinny.”
“It is all about the speed. I am sure she will give us quite a show.” Said another. “She has the strength, and likely the speed, now to see her intelligence. I saw her name down for riddles. That is surely the true judge of a character.”
Other people were praising her child and she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She had no right. Words had gotten them into this mess, and she was damned that they were going to make it worse.
“They are right. She does look a little skinny.” Said Pura. “Are you not feeding her Your Majesty?”
“She is very much an adult, and I can’t make her eat if she doesn’t want to.”
“She didn’t have much taste for food before…” Myla started.
She fell silent before saying. “We never did figure out why she didn’t want to eat.”
Pura turned to Saasha and said. “We had our own internal struggles while Karesh waged war with you.”
“The girl is smart and strong. She has grown well here in the past few weeks. Have you given my offer some thought?” she asked the Human King.
“I will have to see how this turns out. If what you tell us is true, then I will need every last human soldier on my side to fight what is coming.”
Saasha nodded her head. “Know that she is welcome to receive any form of training here with us as well.”
“She is not going to want to come back.” Whispered Myla. “We used words that have pierced her heart and she will not forgive us.”
“You don’t know that.” Said Doran.
“Her heart is not as cold as what you may suspect it being.” Said Brucel. “It may be hurt but I doubt it is cold. Trust may be something she will struggle with for a very long time.”
“That explains her reluctance with Bolx.” Chuckled Saasha.
Myla was aware of the Saith that seemed to disappear now and again only to be seen walking with Saita around the competition grounds. She hadn’t been aware that there was any form of relationship. She looked to Pura with grit teeth, and he simply said. “She is an adult, and I am not going to interfere with what she is doing outside of what I decreed.”
She returned her gaze to the field in hope of seeing her daughter, but she had disappeared with the Saith Bolx.
“You could have taken second.” Said Bolx with a grin as Saasha spun the medal’s ribbon around and around on her finger as they walked.
“I could have but then I may have strained something, and I would rather take the championship thank you.”
“I don’t think you will manage that. Before the hiatus, Siar was the champion and since she didn’t have to bear Seana she is likely still strong if not stronger after her training.”
“You have so little faith in me?” she grinned at him.
“Don’t make me pick between you and my sister. That’s not fair.”
She chuckled and handed him the medal. “Here you go.”
“It’s yours.” He refused to take it.
“But I want you to have it. I wouldn’t have made it this far if you hadn’t convinced me to come here.”
“It’s not necessary, Saita.”
“Just take it.” She put it over his head, then paused a moment before going blood red in the face.
She stood on the tips of her toes to kiss the end of his nose. Startled the Saith could only stare at her dumbly. He was sure his ears were going blood red.
“Thank you for giving me the time I needed. For letting me grow and learn to feel again.” She whispered as she stepped back. “And not pushing for more than what I could give.”
“What has gotten into you?” He gently took up her hand.
“Just want you to know. That’s all.” She tugged him by his hand. “I hear there are all kinds of food to try, and I’d like to take some home to see if I can taste it.”
“Alright then crazy human, I’ll indulge you but don’t think for a moment that I will let you get away with taking our first kiss with just a peck on the nose.”
She then laughed; he hadn’t heard her laugh without sarcasm since he had come to know her. She pulled on his shirt to follow her. He obliged, willingly.
Pura had skipped listening to the riddle competition but rather waited until he could see Saita again. He would see her now and again walking the competition ground with the Saith by her side. He knew the history of the Saith Bolx as that had been shared with him, but he had had no idea that he would have pursued that here. What was he hoping to achieve? The King had been angry at first but remembered then that he had barred the girl from making any kind of connection with humans. With being unable to form close bonds with another human being this was going to be a possible outcome.
Saita was too far away for him to sense her feelings, but he had seen her smile as they had walked together. She was happy. He had last seen her this happy when she was a child. He hated the fact that he had made up his mind. He needed her focused on a task and there was no one else for it.
“Have you told anyone yet?” asked Saasha.
Her voice startled him, and he spun around to see her staring at him. “What?”
“Have you told your family yet?”
“That is none of your business.”
“True but it will affect the life of one of my subjects.”
Pura sighed and said. “There is no need to tell them yet.”
“Better sooner than later.” Saasha looked out towards the other competitions happening around her and he sighed. “Family is everything to me Pura as it should be to you. If you want the girl to trust you, you need to be open and honest with her. Or you are just going to end up in the same mess you are currently in.”
“I’ll tell them when it is confirmed. There is no reason to be concerned as of yet.”
“Another thing you need to consider before you put the girl to work is that she needs to deal with her past. Yes, she may only have a handful of years left to live but they don’t have to be torturous.”
“So, you know about that too then?”
“She knows too. I think that is why she is taking a chance with Bolx while she can. Try not to interfere with that. It wouldn’t be a terrible thing if one of my family is bound to one of yours if they do it of their own free will. Unless, of course, you have another race you would like to bind her to.”
“Heavens no!” he laughed.
“Just watch a little more before you make your decision Your Majesty. See how the orphan has grown.”
Well now, what is Pura hiding from his family? And how will it affect what he is to do in the coming updates? Who knows? You'll have to keep reading! I'm still debating whether I should split the last update in two or wrap up on Friday. I'll see how I feel later in the week. See you all on Friday!
For those of you just joining us, please note that this is the third book in the Fell Dragon series. Follow this link to read the two earlier books:
Fell Dragon Book 1
Fell Dragon Book 2
Start of Book 3 here
As the series continues, it will combine with another book series I wrote. To avoid confusion about what is happening, introductory chapters will be introduced separately so that you don't have to be lost. However, these chapters will contain spoilers. You can find these chapters here:
Races Explained
Banishment
Royal Guard
Saasha’s Direct Family
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Haven't read the other parts yet? Follow these handy links:
Part 34>>You are Here>>Part 36 (Friday)