Free Slave Pits of the Tyrannical God (Path of Transcendence Book 2) by Brian McGoldrick

bass voice shocks me. I never noticed anyone else in the room with us. Turning my head, I see a man standing in front of the closed doors to the room. There was never any sound of the doors opening or closing, so how did he get in here?
    The man is probably not a tall as the Throd'nahk, but his massive build out-masses the Throd'nahk's by a considerable amount. There is no collar on his neck, but he has the scars from long years of wearing one. His arms are covered with hundreds of burn scars, the sign of a blacksmith or a Smith, and his wrists and ankles have thick scars from manacles. With this man's presence, he is probably a Smith, but there is no sense of Power about him. His broad, hard face could be that of a man anywhere from thirty to fifty years of age, but his thick hair and beard are still dark brown, without any sign of greying. His only clothing consists of sandals, a kilt-like garment around his waist, and a wide leather belt.
    As we stare at one another, I do not get any impression of hostility, but the man's blue eyes are hard and unyielding.
    “You have no chance against me. Your Shadow Fist is incomplete, and your mastery of it is pathetic. If you cannot even crush the Throd'nahk, you are less than nothing before me.”
    He knows how to recognize Shadow Fist? He was watching me fighting the Throd'nahk?
    “Who are you?”
    “Release the Alfar slut. You would have more fun tying her up than killing her. She is twisted by the DokkAlfar ways and will become a wanton whore begging for you to use her, if you dominate her.”
    Elan'fer'sha's hands are uselessly clamped around my wrist, but her murderous glare is focused on the man. As I release the pressure on her neck, she draws in a huge lungful of air.
    “Damn you, Smith! Why didn't you stop this animal sooner?! We have a bargain! Are you thinking to escape from your end, by letting me be killed?!” The venom in Elan'fer'sha's voice is strong to kill someone with a weak heart.
    When I turn my eyes back to the door, Smith is still looking at me. As I surmised, the man is a Smith. Smith seems more like a title than a name.
    Smith stares expressionlessly at Elan'fer'sha. “I warned you not use your Umbral arts on this man. He has been chosen by the Od. It will respond to his emotions, whether he consciously wills it or not. Your spells are not strong enough to overcome the Od. You have more to gain from working with him than he does from helping you.”
    The look on Elan'fer'sha's face is venomous. “Do you really think I would make a deal with something I own?”
    Smith sneers at her. “Are you certain you own him? You're naked on your back, and he's straddling you with a hardon, ready to choke you.”
    Elan'fer'sha turns her glare on me. “Get off me, animal.”
    I grin at her, but she does not flinch or show any signs of disgust. The only thing in her eyes is pure contempt.
    “I think I'll just sit here a little longer. I haven't decided, if I'm going to kill you or not.”
    Smith chuckles grimly. “You cannot afford to kill her yet. Do you know the way out this compound? Do you know how escape from Gor'achen? If you stay, you will advance some of your goals. She also needs you. Her plans revolve around claiming the Gladiatorial Championship for the Atran'ler Empire. Without you, she has no hope of claiming the Championship. I will even train you in the full art of Shadow Fist.”
    No matter how hard I stare at Smith, I cannot see any hint as to whether he is saying what he believes or lying. At the very least, he at least knows Shadow Fist by sight. No, I told the Throd'nahk the name. He may have just overheard or been told by the Throd'nahk. Whether or not he really knows Shadow Fist, I will find out quickly enough.
    I look down at Elan'fer'sha. She is still glaring up at me, but at least, she is not haranguing me any longer. Her face is clearly not human, but it is still beautiful beyond belief. Though, the needle through her nose does nothing for