Roar - A Wardstone Short Story, Page 2

  ***

  Overlord Perrywyne didn’t see Loudin Drake, but one of his men did. Loudin, didn’t run, but he did get himself, and the coming confrontation well away from the tinker trader’s wagon.

  “STOP!” the Underlord called. Loudin didn’t feel he had a choice. The Underlord had two ornately decorated guards with him. They were wearing cleverly braided leather armor, and holding loaded crossbows. “I’ll have you shafted in the street, man.”

  “I was hoping to run into M’Lord Perrywyne at the festival,” Loudin said, turning his horse and grinning. He gave the man a confident, knowing look. “After the Brawl,” he added.

  “Ahhh, you’re betting on Ungol then? Who do you favor?” The Underlord was as eager as any wagering man to know what another thought on the Brawl.

  “Ungol?” Loudin asked. “From O’Dakahn?” He’d seen the brute bash a few men in the pits there. He was a scrapper, but nothing like the Valleyan Stallion. Not even close.

  “In fact, no,” Loudin chuckled as if betting on the pit fighter would be absurd. “I’d bet all I owe Perrywyne, against thrice that amount, that Ungol doesn’t even get to the actual Brawl.”

  “Ungol doesn’t have to win the Brawl, just get there, to win your coin?” the Underlord asked.

  “Yup,” Loudin regretted agreeing, because this man was about to make the bet for his lord, and Ungol had a fair chance of meeting the Valleyan in the final fighting event. The words were said though, and even though he had no idea where he would come up with four hundred gold pieces if he lost, he felt it was a good wager. It wasn’t like he could come up with the hundred he owed already.

  “If you lose, and do not pay, Overlord Perrywyne will pay whatever it takes to have you captured. After that, we will work the full amount, plus the cost of your collection, and interest out of you in the pits. Is that clear?”

  “It’s clear,” Loudin growled. “Now I have business to tend so that we might avoid such an outcome. Good day.”

  “See you at the festival, Mister Drake,” the Underlord said. “Make certain we do.”