Free Sentinels: Forsaken Knight by B.H. Savage Page A

reflected sunlight from outside. She leaned over the counter and hugged him like she would her father when she was younger. “Thank you, Byron. I promise I’ll come back.”
    “Ha, I know you will, Amy,” he chuckled as he patted her on the back. He slowly pushed her off of him and looked at her seriously though, sharply contrasting the moment the two were having. “But be careful. Those men are ruthless killers. They won’t hesitate because you’re a woman, no matter how pretty you are.”
    “Trust me, Byron,” she told him as she patted her long-time sword. “I know how to handle myself around ruthless killers .”
     
    ______
     
    The next few days had totally transformed Bridge Port. Banners hung for varying competitors from windows, traffic into and around the town increased dramatically, and people were out drinking and making bets about who they thought would win. Of course Anye didn’t hear a single person make a bet in her favor, but she figured that would play to her benefit.
    The day of the tournament arrived with a bang, and Anye waited patiently in the preparation area beneath the stands in the arena where the tournament would take place. Byron waited with her as she had designated him her coach, which also got him the best seats to see the action. Otherwise he would have had to purchase a ticket like everyone else and sit in the recently constructed stands.
    Lord Taggart apparently spared no expense on the tournament every year. The nobleman who served as the regional lord owned a large expanse of land for his estate just outside of town which he used as the grounds to build the arena. Seating was set up around the small uncovered grassy area in the middle with a special booth at the top facing directly down the middle reserved for Taggart himself and his invited guests. Underneath the seats in the middle section was where the contestants waited for their turn in the brackets. The fighters were restricted from watching other competitors under the claim that it gave those yet to fight an unfair advantage. Only the registered coaches were allowed to go out and watch the fights from the sidelines if they wished, but they weren’t allowed to reenter the prep area for the same reason.
    Outside of the arena proper, shop owners from far and wide gathered to set up stands trying to peddle their wares to the other travelers who had come for the show, hoping they would want a souvenir to remember the event by. To any newcomer like Anye it looked like a giant, disorganized outdoor market that never stayed in the same place for more than a day.
    Both Anye and Byron were alone in the prep room for the majority of the day. The other fighters hadn’t entered the room yet, but they both knew they would soon. Lord Taggart had already been sighted making his way from his home to the arena, evidenced by the cheers of the people from outside and the music being played.
    “You seem unnaturally calm, Amy,” Byron said to her as he leaned on his cane. “Trying to hide any fear from your opponents?”
    “It’s hard to hide fear when you don’t have any,” Anye replied. “Even still you underestimate me.”
    “Overconfidence can be just as dangerous as inexperience, Amy,” the elderly man warned. He stared her down a moment before chuckling softly. “You bet everything you own on yourself winning, didn’t you?”
    “Not that I had a lot left to begin with, but what of it?”
    “Ha! Now I see how you’re staying so calm. You’re imagining the looks on everyone’s face when you walk away with all of their hard earned money. The anger, shock, disappointment, confusion…how clever,” he said.
    Anye laughed in response. “I admit that thought has kept my spirits up, but that’s not why I don’t fear these men.”
    “Then why, pray tell?”
    “Byron, I would wager that I have more training and experience with a sword than almost every other person in this tournament, and just as much as the rest.” Her