Page 31 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
Gerda the Bridge Troll
Behind them, the announcer was calling people back to their seats. It was almost time to restart the fight. Julian crouched and pulled down the gag on the spy, who was shooting him a look of fear and determination. He asked, “I only haveonequestion: You had several targets, so why attack the troll first?”
Whatever she was expecting, that didn’t seem to be it. The assassin shrugged. “She seemed like the easiest target.”
He nodded then put the gag back into place. Standing up, he waved John to deal with transporting her away for questioning. It was time to resume his own work.
Julian lifted his arm and signaled Rish to start.
“IS EVERYBODY READY TO RESTART THE ACTION?” The announcer’s voice rang out over the arena as Candace and Cimor saluted each other. In the stands, Gerda the Bridge Troll was distractedly tapping her finger against her chin and staring off into space.
“BEGIN!”
CHAPTER 15
So I Can’t Tell You
Gerda
Candace won the bout.
Cimor had swung her staff, the giantess had caught it at the last second, and then, Candace had activated a lightning ability that had exploded up the staff in a blast of shining electrical arcs. They’d zigged and zagged, and now, both women were suffering from outrageously frizzy hair.
It had been enough to knock out the preela.
I hadn’t paid much attention to the fight until the flashy ending. Instead, I’d been ruminating over my latest prophecy.
[Passive Perk:Sense Fatehas activated. Duke Julian von Slyke will be poisoned during his next meal …]
When I selected the prompt, it gave me slightly more details but also showcased why I rarely bothered to read the full description of Fate’s prophecies.
[Passive Perk:Sense Fatehas activated. Duke Julian von Slyke will be poisoned during his next meal.]
[You have crossed paths with a fate that can be changed. Area of effect radius: Level 65 x Perception 43 x Foretelling 4 = 11,180 sq/ft. Fate herself will guide you.]
[“Truly all wonders are to the Chosen of Fate, that suffer the trappings of near death, she weeps. What hour is the turn of the blessed feast, there servings only sorrow and supposed sleep.”]
Ugh.
In all honesty, half of the time, evenIcouldn’t make out what Fate’s messages meant. And I was the riddlemaster. My best guess would be that Julian was going to get poisoned with something like Paralysis or Sleep. The “hour turning a blessed feast” was probably lunch—at noon.
Which was immediately after the next fight.
“GO CANDACE!” Brownie yelled, and I looked up in time to catch the flashy ending of the bout. Candace was pumping her fist in the air to the roar of the crowd. I stood and cheered with the rest of my companions.
“VICTORY TO STORMBRINGER CANDACE!” the voice announced,almostas loud as Brownie’s celebratory cheering.
When Candace was done basking in her victory, she turned to meet the healers, waving off their concern for her until Cimor had been fully checked and administered a [Heal]. When Cimor opened her eyes, she found a large palm extended out to her. The giantess helped the preela to her feet, and they officially shook hands. Candace slapped Cimor on the back, almost gently, and invited the woman out for a drink.
“Let’s go congratulate her!” Brownie exclaimed, grabbing Rufus by the hand. Henrietta and I stepped into the aisle to let them out.
“Not as bad as I thought it would be,” Rufus said as he passed. “The debuff worked!”
There would be a fifteen-minute break to get snacks and use the facilities before the next bout. The last round was between someone named Vance Underwood and Kenji Toriyama, a human I’d fought with once before. Kenji was an excellent sword arts user, and true to theotomenature of this world, carried around a ridiculously oversizedodachi.
I’d given the human a riddle.
“What goes around the wood,
