The military area surrounding the lift melted away into what Kat had described as the middle class area of the city. Buildings were scattered everywhere in a mostly grid based layout, but natural curves of the cavern were respected, allowing for some winding alleys and roads. The construction was fairly consistent, with the strangely seamless buildings all made out of granite or whatever stone made up the ground. Everything was one to two stories tall, except for a few three story buildings. Usually, these were shops or inns that needed the extra space, but a couple seemed to be homes. Googlᴇ search NoveI~Fire.net

People moved in a constant churn. Everyone of all races and Paths mixed in the tightly packed road, moving about their days. Carts pushed through the crowd, horses, large goats, or elk pulling them steadily onward.

“Where are you taking us again?” Ann asked.

“Not tellin’ ye,” Kat said, again. It wasn’t the first time Ann had asked as they’d walked, but Kat was being tight lipped about this one.

Rosalyn, quiet with the crush of the crowds, had taken to clinging to both her girlfriends’ hands, placing herself safely in the middle. “This is crazy,” she muttered. “So many people. How does anyone breathe? So, so much.”

“Bear wit’ it fer a bit longer, little lamb,” Kat said, squeezing her hand. “We’re about ten out.”

It had taken them about an hour of walking so far, and Kat had decided she wanted to actually walk this time. No carriages.

Finally, Kat came up against a large warehouse. In the dimming lights as the winter sun began to set, the place looked foreboding. Large sliding doors were set into the stone face, and flickering illumination crystals gave it an abandoned feeling.

Kat strode up confidently, knocking at the door. It cracked, a tall woman staring through the door before opening it fully.

“Ah, the princess has returned. Ye lookin’ for a bout tonight? Let me tell ya, the crowds have been askin’ about ya.” The woman was Vulhardrin, sporting one large antler on the left of her head, and a stump where her other should be. The stump looked polished and well taken care of, possibly an old injury.

“If ye don’ mind, Jane,” Kat laughed, extending a hand that Jane took and shook firmly. “Brought me girlfriends along tonight. Figured one o’ ‘em might wanna take part too.”

Jane immediately locked eyes with Ann, then bent down. “So. The lamb has some fight in her?”

“Me?” Rosalyn gaped in shock. “Oh, nonono, definitely not me. I’m way too soft, way too not fighty. Nope! Unless magic is a thing, but I doubt it, cause this sounds like a fighting place? But maybe mages can duel some things? I don’t know.”

Jane laughed heartily, standing to clap Ann on the shoulder. “Nah, I knew she meant you. What’s your name, newbie?”

“Annita Kronforst,” Ann said, a little anxious.

“Well, Annita, welcome to the Brawler’s Guild. Your mate has visited a lot over the years, even though we all know she prefers a sword.”

“Where the hells else am I supposed tae get a good fight in this feckin’ city?” Kat laughed. “Plus, Ann here’s learnin’ tae fight bare fisted, figure this is about the best place she can really get a feel fer goin’ at it wit’ others at ‘er level.”

“Oh really? You’re not a granite wall like others here, so I’m guessin a dex fighter. Fun! Got plenty o’ your type in here. C’mon, Roxy’s on the bar, she’ll show you around.”

Jane ushered them in and closed the door behind them. A quiet antechamber made of dark woods surrounded them, with another door at the far end. “If ya do want to sign up with us,” Jane said as they made for the door, “Roxy can handle that, too. Best to meet the guildmaster as well, but I dunno if they’re in.”

Opening the second door, they were met with a wall of noise. Conversation from numerous groups flooded Ann’s sensitive ears, and she had to take a moment to adjust, stopping still. Kat chuckled, knuckling her own ears, before moving on. A cheer from deeper into the building rose, then died, followed by jeers in another direction. If Ann could say anything about the place, it was lively.

The main room was a fairly standard tavern layout, with an array of tables set out and filled to capacity. Patrons were all shapes and sizes, from Inlon to Thrundol, with a single Grrn set up in the corner, gesturing to the people around it. The bar along the left wall was a rugged thing. Well worn wood from patrons leaning on it, and several large dents. Wrought-iron chandeliers hung from the lofty ceiling, candles and light crystals providing a moody light to the area.

Kat picked up Rosalyn, eliciting a squeak from her lover, and carried her through the crowds. The pair drew eyes, but not as many as Ann expected.

“Roxy!” Kat called as they reached the bar, setting Rosalyn down on a stool. “Need a couple drinks an’ tae sign up fer the pits tonight!”

An Inlon woman hopped up onto a bench in front of them. She was a light lavender with orange hair. A sharp toothed grin split her thin lips as she grabbed glasses from behind the counter. “Been a long time since we’ve seen you around here, princess. Can set you up for a  night of fights. Your new girls there joinin’ you?”

“This a common date night for you?” Ann asked, leaning on the bar giving Kat a probing look.

“May ‘ave taken a couple ‘ere. C’mon, ye know me,” Kat exclaimed. “I’m always itchin’ tae get in a scrap. Roxy, aye. Get me intae the intermediate group. Ann, ye wanna fight?”

“I mean, sure. How’s this all work?”

“Knew I hadn’t seen you around,” Roxy chuckled, pouring ale for the three of them. “You’re definitely a unique sight. Never seen a Vulhardrin so beastly. Anyway, you sign up, pay the entrance fee for your division, and once the fights start, you’re set up in the tournament. Get a share of what people bet on ya, and go as far as you can. Kat here has taken the top of the beginner and has gotten pretty damn far in the intermediate division for someone who normally fights with a sword.”

“Never know when I’m gonna get the thing knocked outta me ‘ands,” Kat said as she sipped her mug.

“Then I’ll probably start with beginner,” Ann decided. “I’m not completely new, but new enough I can’t take Kat for shit.”

“Ah, you found a kindred soul?” Roxy jibed, giving Kat a wink. “Going up against her might put you straight into Intermediate, but we’ll start you at beginners. If you’re too dominant, we’ll move you up next time you show up.”

“What are the other divisions?” Rosalyn asked, nursing her drink slowly.

“Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert. Pretty simple structure, all based on skill and level. By the by, what’s yours at now?”

“All three at fifteen,” Kat responded proudly. “It’s been a good month or so.”

“No shit,” Roxy whistled. “Ok, then that puts you in heavy favour to win the Beginner, Ann. Give me a few to get you all signed up, and I’ll need to check with the coordinators to see if they’ll allow you into the lowest ranks.”

Roxy hopped off the bench and hustled away.

“Brawler’s Guild?” Ann asked, elbowing Kat. “I mean, I really shouldn’t be surprised, but was this where you picked up your attitude?”

“I dinnae what ye’re talkin’ about. I’m the picture of a lady,” Kat scoffed, taking another swig of ale. “It’s about the only damn place that’d treat me like a person, not a feckin’ doll. Got more bloody lips, bruises, broken noses an’ shite ‘ere than trainin’ wit the sword.”

“I am suddenly worried,” Ann chuckled into her mug. “Sure we shouldn’t have brought Bren with us tonight?”

“An’ ruin the fun o’ feelin those bruises? Nae. I’d rather not. Don’t tell me ye’re nervous o’ gettin’ roughed up now. Seemed tae like it when we fight.”

“Yeah, well, that’s you, and not some random dude,” Ann grumbled.

“Well, I’ll at least be here cheering you on,” Rosalyn said, leaning against Ann. “So you have that. Know it’s not your foreplay, but it’ll be good to learn against someone who’s not Kat or Remmi. Even I know training against one thing makes you learn how to fight that one thing, not everything in general.”

Roxy showed back up, slapping the bar to get their attention. “You’ve both got your registrations. Ann, you’ll be in the beginner bracket, pending how your first fights go, you’ll be moved up.”

“Ok, sounds fair to me. By the way, do you know a Remmi?” Ann asked, leaning on the bar with her elbows?”

“Remmi? Everyone here knows her. Why?”

“Nothing, just was wondering if she’d signed up here. She’s been teaching me the past couple days.”

“She took on a pupil?” Roxy whistled. “Been a few years since she’s done that. She doesn’t show up around here much since she got bored with the fights, but when she does, it’s always a party.”

Ann could see it, her dark skinned teacher fit right in with the crowd. Rough and tumble, and given a place to show off her strength.

The girls spent the next half hour chatting, taking up a place at the bar where they could keep Rosalyn mostly shielded from the press of the busy people. The timid woman had been getting used to the energy of the place, slowly relaxing between her girlfriends. More so when the alcohol hit her bloodstream. Suddenly a bell rang out, and the noise died out, blanketing the room in silence.

“You know the deal!” a man yelled over the crowd. “Fights are starting in the arenas. Bets are taken before each fight, distributed after. Bare handed fighting until either submission or knockout! Healers are ready if needed, and you don’t get to say no to broken bones, Jeremiah.”

A Thrundol in the corner threw up his hands in exasperation to the laughter of the room.

“Beginner’s bracket starts in arena one! Intermediate in two! We run these simultaneously until they finish. Since the advanced and experts brackets are smaller, we’ll get to the powerhouses later in the night. Fighters please, head over to the arenas and let’s get this show started!”

“Guess it’s time for us. Hope we’re staggered so we can watch each other,” Ann said, clapping Kat on the back.

“Aye, best o’ luck. Who’re ye hangin’ wit’ tonight, Rosalyn?”

“I think I’ll stick with Ann, if that’s fine. It’s our first night here, so figure the new people stick together?”

“Sounds right by me,” Kat laughed. “Ye’ll be through that door o’er there. Talk tae the guy takin’ bets. ‘E might be able tae set ye up wit’ a place ye can not be so crowded, lamb.”

“Thanks. Good luck!” Rosalyn said. In an unexpected moment, she grabbed Kat by the collar and kissed her fiercely. “Kick their butts.”

A few whistles pierced the murmur of the crowd as Kat’s ears turned bright red. “Will do, darlin’. See ya in a few.”

“Aww, none for me?” Ann joked, grabbing Rosalyn’s hand as they set off.

“Before your fight,” Rosalyn quipped, looking proud at how flustered she’d made Kat. “Won’t be there to give Kat hers before she gets in the ring, so she gets hers early.”

“Fair enough,” Ann laughed, scooping up her diminutive lover, holding her easily. “Now, let’s see what Kat’s gotten us into.”

The arena was out of an old timey movie. The place was octagonal, with rows of benches surrounding a sandpit in the middle, fenced in by chest high boards. Them being chest high for Ann meant it was over most of the competitor’s heads.

Ann quickly spotted the betting station, a desk with a chalkboard set up behind it, and names scribbled in neat lines. People crowded the woman behind it, a Bultrong with glowing gold hair, holding out sacks of coins and yelling. Ann and Rosalyn pushed through the crowds, reaching the desk.

“Hey!” Ann shouted. “I’m fighting, Annita, but my partner’s not great with crowds. Anywhere we can set her up?”

“Top left,” the woman pointed, a row of benches just to her left, elevated nearly to the ceiling. “Should be clear there. I’ll keep an eye out for crowding. Becca, I know you don’t have that much, give me a real number!”

Ann turned as the woman began berating her regulars, and helped Rosalyn up to the seat. Looking down at the board, she saw she was third in the lineup.

Just as she was going to be making a comment, a bell rang out.

“Time’s up, first round in one minute!” The bookie shouted in a clear, high pitched voice.

The unruly crowd around her backed off immediately and found their seats. The first bout was between two men, human and bultrong. The man looked barely of age, while Ann really couldn’t tell for the Bultrong. He had to be fresh, though, being in the beginner bracket. The referee, a rather buxom Thrundol, entered the ring, addressing the fighters.

“Going over the rules one more time, because both of you are new. All blows are legal. Skills are allowed. The match will be stopped if anything even approaching lethal occurs. If you attempt to kill your opponent, you will be disqualified, banned, and turned over to the guard. Grappling is allowed until either submission or incapacitation to the discretion of the referee. There will be no breaks or rounds, you go until a victor is decided. Questions? No? Good.” The woman nodded firmly. “Take your stances.”

The room grew tense as the two men squared up, fists raised. Even Ann’s limited knowledge of the profession told her the human would have an advantage with his reach, but with skills being in the mix, she wasn’t so sure.

“Ready, steady, fight!” the referee shouted, throwing down her hand.

Neither man approached the other, watching their opponent closely as they circled tensely. A shuffle of feet got a flinch out of the human, but they both seemed too nervous to really engage. After a bit of this, the crowd began to get restless, jeering at the contestants.

“I thought you two signed up to fight! Not to dance!”

“You call yourselves members of the Guild?”

“Come on, he’s right there! Swing damn you!”

The referee walked up to the side of the two. “We do have one other rule, if neither competitor engages within two minutes, both will be disqualified. Action is the nature of our trade.”

Both men flinched, and the Bultrong was the first to make his move. He got in close, aiming a punch at the human’s groin. The human danced back, avoiding the blow, and striking downward with his advantageous reach. The stocky fighter took the hit square on his forehead and grabbed the hand. He turned and pulled the human, toppling him to the ground. The fight devolved into a frantic tangle of limbs that the crowd seemed to find hilarious.

Right, Ann thought, these are the new fighters. I shouldn’t expect too much flashiness.

Rosalyn was looking down at the fight too, her expression unamused. “I don’t think you’re in the right division,” she said quietly, squeezing Ann’s hand.

“I think these two are newer than I am,” Ann said. “Though, if they’re the standard, then yeah, I should be in intermediate. Even if that means fighting people like Kat.”

The fight ended when the Bultrong got a grip around the human’s neck, and the human tapped out. Cheers and boos echoed through the room as people won and lost money.

The next pair were a man and a woman. Vulhardrin, and human respectively. The man was a large bull, with a farmer’s build and horns to further accentuate the look. The woman was lithe, similar to Ann’s build, and a good head shorter. Weight classes seemed to mean nothing for this place, and with so much variance in the populace, Ann supposed that might be intentional. You never know who you’re going to get into a fight with, so best be prepared to face whoever.

The fight wasn’t as embarrassing as the first, but wasn’t much better. Ann was starting to feel like Rosalyn was right here. The gap between Beginner and Intermediate seemed large.

“Kinda surprised there’s not a novice tier, too,” Ann muttered.

“Yeah. Anyone who’s seen battle’s better than this,” Rosalyn agreed, waving a hand at the fighters. The woman had the man in a headlock and was trying to pummel him unconscious. “You and Kat look like dancers compared to this.”

“Aw, thanks, sweetheart,” Ann grinned, kissing the top of Rosalyn’s head. “But if Kat’s in intermediate, there’s gotta be some people here at my level. Right?”

Rosalyn shrugged. Neither of them really knew how this went. As they watched the two fighters try to gain the upper hand on the other, the man had broken the woman’s grip and was now trying to land a hit, cheers could be heard through the wall.

“And the princess takes her first round after a long absence!” Ann heard, muffled through the boards.

“Kat’s kicking ass,” she informed Rosalyn, grinning.

Returning her focus to the ring, she found the woman had locked the man in another grip, and had forced a submission out of him this time. The crowd didn’t seem too excited by this outcome, but there was less jeering than the last bout.

“Well, go out there, and show ‘em that you can too,” Rosalyn smiled up at her. “Maybe they’ll let you two fight later?”

“Yeah, maybe. Fuck, know what I just realised?”

“What’s that?”

“I’m out of Desire, so no A Fistful of Love. Shit.”

“Next fighters, make your way down to the ring!” The referee’s jubilant voice rang out as she ushered the previous duo out.

“Well, that might be a problem. Maybe not? Hopefully not,” Rosalyn stammered, body language indicating a blush.

“Let you know if we need to, um…” Ann trailed off.

“Yeah, no, yeah,” Rosalyn said, fidgeting. “Just… do your best for now?”

“You know it,” Ann replied, feeling a bit more confident. “Love you.”

“Love you, too,” Rosalyn replied. “Kick some butt!”