Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,115

His father would not have approved.

BJ calmed the nobles, suggesting that it would be a good series of moments to leave the arena. Once everyone had cleared the box, the trainer rushed to the fighting surface. BJ had been in many fights over his seasons, and he knew full well the range of emotions his pupil was feeling. He, too, had lost control in the arena and paralyzed a young boy of only 18 seasons—a deed that still haunted him to this very Peak.

BJ arrived to find Shalee sitting with Sam in her arms. She was doing her best to comfort him. BJ reached down and lifted Shalee off the sand and motioned for her to step away.

“Young lady, I admire your effort, but Sam’s pain is something you cannot fix. Until you have felt the destruction inside the arenas, you can’t understand. Go back to the inn and wait. I’ll bring him to you once we’ve spoken. He has broken no laws, and he’ll face no consequences.”

BJ cupped Shalee’s chin, forcing her eyes to find his. “The result of this fight is favorable and word will spread. This is the truth of the arenas. When next Sam fights, his opponent will know of this Peak’s outcome. A victory this brutal could instill fear in the heart of a weaker man. This is a glorious Peak.”

Shalee struggled to understand BJ’s candor. The barbarism of this world made her sick to her stomach. She whispered, “My Lord in Heaven, BJ, how can killing a man be okay? It’s not right. I should stay with him. He needs me. Killing is a crime where we’re from. You don’t understand us. You can’t understand us. It’s not possible.”

BJ walked Shalee to the arena gate, removed a torch from the wall and handed it to her. “Do as I say, and go. Men are the same ... no matter where they’re from. You must trust that a man with my seasons understands the struggles of battle. This isn’t up for debate. I said go.”

Frustrated, Shalee did as BJ commanded. She motioned to Helga that she was ready to leave, and she was grateful to have a friend to talk with. However, she turned to BJ and gave a command of her own. “You tell Sam that I’m here for him when you’re done. He’ll need me. Don’t you ever doubt that.” Having said what she needed to, Shalee turned to leave.

BJ shook his head, grabbed a torch of his own and walked over to stand above Sam. The trainer watched as the arena morticians carried the corpse away on a stretcher with three slave boys holding torches to guide their way. The sun was dropping below the horizon, and the pitch black of night was approaching fast.

BJ turned his attention to the weeping fighter and lowered his torch to the sand. As the light flickered off Sam’s face, BJ’s voice turned fatherly. “Get up, son. Be the man you need to be. I’m not about to let a student of mine feel sorry for himself. Stand up, dust yourself off, and act like a warrior.”

Sam lifted his head and let out a penetrating cry of remorse. “Aahhhhhhhhhh!” His cry served to finish quieting the demon that was still pounding against the door of its cage in the depths of his mind.

BJ was patient and watched as his student stood, brushed himself off, and began to walk toward the gates of the arena. BJ snatched up his torch and followed. Again, he used a fatherly voice while they walked. “I know how you’re feeling, Sam. I have also become enraged in battle. The arenas of this world carry with them much emotion and just as much death. You aren’t the first to kill. You’ll come to terms with this, I promise. In a short while, your name will be known throughout the kingdom. You’re going to be great. The gods have seen to that.”

As they continued to converse, BJ kept his arm around his fighter all the way to the inn. When they arrived, they stopped outside. The trainer spoke sternly, but softly. “Sam, I want you to look me in the eyes. Let me know you’ve heard everything I’ve said.”

“I’ve heard you, BJ,” Sam replied. “I just don’t know how to move on from here. I’ve never killed anyone before. How does a guy move on from something like this? This goes against everything I believe in. I’m supposed to be a doctor, not