Chapter 4c

“Toller wouldn't know his arse from his elbow, let alone who the arena champion is. I could pass Shawn off as the champion Kore, he looks more credible than you do anyway.” Blacklock realised he wasn't going to be able to keep both twins happy here, he also realised he maybe should have kept his mouth shut in front of Leo. The man worried all day and every day about his sister and always had.

“Oh he does eh?” Kore snarled at Shawn who was busy playing cards. “Drop it Blacklock, you too Leo. If this oaf is as good as his master says he is then I want him. OK?”

“Kore get off your cloud will you? No one wants your throne.” Leo said in annoyance.

“Good. They aren't going to get it. Having said that there are a few that really do try, and try very hard. I'm the best Leo. Shawn's good, very good, but I'm better. If this champion of theirs injures or kills Shawn then I'll have to handle that, knowing that I wouldn't have been hurt at all if he hadn't taken my place. Had it been someone who's worth and skills we know, he could have gladly taken the purse, and the glory.” Kore stood up and marched over to sit with Shawn. Leo cringed and swore under his breath.

“How unknown is he Blacklock? I know, I can't run the show, I don't want to. She's my bloody sister.” Leo exhaled loudly.

“Totally. He's staying up at the guest house, probably in the shed or somewhere, with the Ambassadors. No one's seen him, or her. Shows how much we know when we don't even know the gender of it.” Blacklock frowned. “Leo, she's trained to handle unknown opponents. It isn't all set strategies and she knows it.”

“And the crowd will be huge.” Leo heaved. “Lady Toller's birthday isn't it? I'm not completely uninformed Blacklock.”

“Advantage. Kore thrives on crowds, always has.” Blacklock shrugged.

“Yes she's a show-off. Kore! How about getting your ale soaked face out of that pot and staggering off home? Unless you want to add a raging hangover to your list of handicaps tomorrow.” Leo smiled at his sister. She'd be fine, she always was. Like she said, she was the best. “Is Shawn not fighting tomorrow then?” He asked Kore when she came to the bar to return her empty pot, shaking her head at Dresk in refusal of a refill.

“No he's standing second for me. He always does if he's free.” Kore told her brother. That meant he'd be checking her sword, shield and armour and securing anything that needed secured in order to increase protection. Leo had often baulked at the fact that Kore always wore brown leather armour only, while her bigger opponents wore chain or even scale-mail. She always went visor-less too and on the occasions that she did wear head protection, it was little more than a padded leather mesh rather than a helmet. At least her equipment would be in the best order possible under the charge of Shawn.

“He's a good man Kore.” Leo observed as they left the ale house. Kore nodded. “He thinks a lot of you, you know that.”

“As I do him. Don't go there Leo.” Kore laughed. “Come on, think about it! Do gladiators make good spouses? I tend to think not. Shawn's OK where he is, in my heart as a friend.” Kore stood with her brother by the open iron gates. It was starting to get dark and lights were beginning to blink on around Azoria, apart from in the Pit. “I'll contact you after the match tomorrow Leo. Stop fussing about.” She smiled at her brother.

“I'll fuss all I like. I'm five minutes older than you are, I'm entitled to.” Leo hugged Kore. “Be careful.” Kore nodded and watched her brother walk off down the shadowed lane that lead from the Pit to the blinking lights of the rest of the Third Quarter.

“I have my own lights.” Kore swung herself up on to one of the massive stone gateposts and sat on it's flat top. It didn't take her long to find the two stars she was looking for, they never moved far. One was a shimmering pink and the other one was a twinkling blue and they looked so close together from down there. After their mother had died Leo had told her that the two stars were their parents and he told her that they'd look after them both forever. Kore had never forgotten Leo's words and she'd never forgotten how much comfort that explanation had brought to her young mind. “We'll be OK mum, you taught us well. See how Leo fusses? I blame you for that.” She smiled. “I dare say Leo blames you for my stubborn streak, dad, as well as my sword arm. I think your seeds got a bit confused somewhere there.” She looked out over the silhouetted buildings. All those people out there and just about every one of them had been to the arena. They'd seen Kore fight dozens of times and applauded and cheered for her as much as her fellow gladiators did. “All those people yet even with Leo's love and attention I feel so lonely at times. Why? Even sitting in a bar full of my colleagues I still sometimes feel so isolated and alone and I don't know why.” The stars glittered in the dark night. “Ah hark at me whining. How can loneliness be a part of my life when I have Leo? We'll be just fine. We have each other, we don't need anyone else.” Kore jumped down off the gatepost and landed noiselessly on her feet. “'Night mum, 'night dad. I love you.” She turned and walked down the dark, mud-filled street towards her home.

Leo rounded the corner that lead to Blue Lane where he lived in two rooms above the baker's shop. He ducked back round the corner when he recognised a familiar figure at the far end of the street. Honour Felsus was certainly not living up to her given name and was standing in a very obvious and close embrace with another man, Leo thought he recognised the uniform as an Azorian Military uniform but couldn't be certain. Honour had also been embracing Leo for the past three months and had, only yesterday, declared her undying love for him. Hogwash, obviously. Leo sighed and edged along against the wall until he was able to let himself into his home. Another one bites the dust Leo, he thought to himself as he lit his lamps in his tiny room. Actually Honour's inane and shallow nature was irritating in the extreme and Leo had realised almost straight away that maybe he shouldn't have invited her to that dinner three months ago. Even so, she wasn't a bad girl and Leo was quite fond of her. He didn't think he deserved that sort of treatment from her even though Kore had hinted several times, rather heavily, that she was 'up to no good'. He pushed open his small skylight window and looked up at the stars, or rather at two stars in particular.

“Stuffed up again eh?” He smiled at the twinkling pink and blue mass in the sky. “Bloody useless aren't I?” Leo's track record with the fairer sex had never been anything startling, what track record there was. Having said that, he realised that he was only twenty years old and one couldn't really expect him to be considering settling down and raising a family, in fact the thought of that made him cringe. “Impudent sow carrying herself on right on my doorstep.” He sniffed. “Ah who cares eh? I'm OK. I have Kore to panic about anyway. We have each other, we don't need anyone else.” Leo closed the window. “'Night mum, 'night dad. I love you.” He undressed and climbed into his narrow, wooden bed and wished Honour Felsus all the luck that was coming to her.