There wasn’t much special about Titsboro. It was just north of Cuntsville and southeast of Wattalottawater.

If there was anything special it was its locaion just across the mountains from the Empire of the elves and just south of the Dwarf mining towns. And the fueding cities of the humans were distant enough that the never ending civil wars rarely spilled blood there.

And it bordered on the wild lands, where species without civilization as we know it lived and thrived. Which is why Titsboro was the site of the Tournament.

In all the civilizations of Greensward there was no better entertaignment than watching men (and sometimes women) beating the hell out of each other. Sometimes it was skilled fighters in an enormous arena, sometimes two huge peasants in a chalked circle. But pit fighting was a huge entertaignment industry throughout the lands.

Dwarves wrestled, giants butted their heads together like rams, elves leapt and kicked like chorus girls and orcs tried to chew each others face off. But everywhere it drew a crowd, and many made their livings, travelling from town to town, fighting local champions.

But once every two years, in the dead of winter, Titsboro opened its doors to any fighters, of any race who wished to compete for bragging rights. For the winner here was considered the best of the best, beyond dispute. Very few champions returned after winning once, fewer still won again.

But in the community of vagabond warriors, knights of the squared circle, just to compete in the contest would earn you many a night of free drinking and toasting. For few hometown heroes could boast of trading blows with a bugbear and living to tell the tale.

But of course many didn’t. But though the people of the Greensward had never heard of Achilles, they knew well the choice of death or glory.

Joanna wasn’t sleeping with either Alex or Jon, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on either of their parts. She spent almost as much time fending off their advances as she did worrying over the Tournament.

“We’re all going to die.” She said.

“That’s pessimistic” said Alex “according to my calculations there’s a good chance at least one of us will survive.”

“That’s nothing to write home about” she pointed out.

“It is if you’re the one alive.” Jon countered.

She considered her companions carefully, mentally weighing their chances, for victory or survival she wasn’t sure.

Jon was huge, well over six feet and so muscled you wondered if he could really outwrestle an ork as he claimed. Alex wasn’t as tall, several inches under six feet at least. He was solidly built, more stocky than wiry, but agile and fast as well.

The dominant fighting styles of the human cities had their roots in those of their former conquerors and allies, the elves and the dwarves respectively. From the elves came the art of rapid advance and retreat, quick deadly strikes, delivered with grace and style. The dwarves preferred holds and throws, tests of strength and balance, leverage and timing. Joanna practiced an elvish discipline, while Jon followed a more dwarven path, with an almost dwarven sense of irony and cynicism.

Alex tried to walk a middle path, and his art attempted to blend the best of dwarven and elven skills for the human frame. They’d been arguing for the last week, since they met on the road to Titsboro. He’d run into Jon first, and a day later Joanna had run into them.

A few days ago he’d sparred with Jon and gained a respect for the big man’s skill and speed. He’d sparred with Joanna as well, and found her quick and graceful as she was beautiful.

“What kind of creatures do you think will show?” Joanna asked.

“In previous tourney’s they’ve had trolls and bugbears, on the other hand one year a halfling showed up to fight.”

“Really” Joanna asked “how’d he do?”

“The troll ate him up in the first round.”

“Beat him badly. Was he all right afterwards?”

“No ate him up literally, just scooped him up and swallowed him in two bites.”

“Isn’t there a rule against biting?”

“Who’s going to argue rules with a troll?” Jon asked.

“Actually the only rule is that no magic or supernatural abilities are allowed” Alex explained “other than that, anything goes.”

“What happened to the troll, did he win the tournament?”

“Oddly enough, he didn’t. A dwarf that year tore the creatures arm off and beat him to death with it. Herodicles wrote of it in his chronicles. Interesting side note, Seutonius wrote a criticism saying that Herodicles made up all of these stories of fantastical creatures, than the elves invaded and played dice with Seutonius’s finger bones while they made him watch. Nice sense of humour elves.”

“Why have you memorized all of these horribles stories?”

“Well they are hard to forget Joanna” Jon said reasonably.

“You’re both horrible.” She urged her horse to a gallop and surged ahead and out of earshot.

“I don’t think either of us helped our chances there.” Commented Jon.

“I don’t have much chance anyway, women always go for the tall guy.”

“Would that that were true my friend, would that it was.”

“You disagree?”

“Not always true, just a good majority of the time.”

“Thanks”

“Well I know as a scholar how much you value accuracy in your statistics.”

“I’m not a scholar.”

“You are a very Herodocles of fighters. Actually was Herodocles a fighter?”

“No merely a travelling scholar. Whereas I am just a fighter.”

“No one is just anything, and my friend you’re a scholar if ever I’ve met one. And I expect when you record your experiences you’ll lie and say it was you who slept with Joanna the night before the tournament.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I don’t believe in lying for any reason.”

“That’s probably why I’ll be sleeping with Joanna and not you. As the great scholar Bertram of Wooster once remarked “If you don’t lie to the gentle sex at first where are you?” Words to live by my friend.”

“I’d never lie to a woman.” Jon said a bit self righteously.

“You’re young, you’ll learn.” Was all Jon had to say on it.

Alex tried to ignore the sounds coming from Jon’s tent as he kept watch that night. They were just outside of Titsboro and he tried instead to think about what lay ahead. He imagined winning, writing his account that would enter into the histories. Despite what he told Jon, he was keeping a journal of his travels. But he doubted himself, knowing he hadn’t gone to schools, had only learned to read by paying a scribe to teach him in a few spare moments. But he loved reading the classics, works that travelled on long after their author’s death. And imagining himself in that elite company, well a man was allowed a fantasy surely.

He was staring into the fire, lost in reverie when the clip clop of hooves clattered through the forest. He leapt to his feet drawing his sword.

“Who goes?”

“Relax human” said the rider, his face mostly hidden by his cloak “if we’d wanted you dead, at least if actively wanted you dead, you would never have heard our approach.”

“He means” put in a new voice from behind him “put down your sword.”

Alex turned around and gawked. The elf maiden was typically stunning. She wore a lacy, gauzy thing that hid little and emphasized much. She was taller than Joanna, taller than Alex himself. She had the lissom build and lithe grace typical of her kind. She blew him a kiss and he blushed like a school boy.

“Kirin, stop torturing the human.”

“But it’s so easy Mordred, why shouldn’t I?”

“No real reason I suppose.”

She turned her full attention back to Alex. “Do you know what they say about a man who’s been kissed by an elf?” she asked as she approached, a seductive sway in her step.

“N-n-no” Alex stammered.

“They say that man will pine for that elf for the rest of his days, tormented yet treasuring the infinite sweetness of that kiss, longing for a touch of grace no human woman could ever provide.” She swayed closer holding his eyes with hers. Her eyes were the deep green of a forest, sparkling like the sun on dew.

“Would you like to kiss me human?”

“His name is Alex. You see we have names, so we can tell ourselves apart. We tried just calling each other human all the time but it just led to all this confusion. If you’ll tell us yours we won’t have to call you elf scum all the time.” Jon explained helpfully.

Mordred and the elf maiden glared at him. He had donned his tunic, a long shirt that draped around his knees. He held a scabbarded sword in his hands.

An arrow from the woods flew past his ear.

“Call us that again and the next arrow puts out your eye, human.” Mordred spit the last word out as if the saying of it fouled his mouth.

“It’s never the elf you see that you have to worry about” Jon said to Alex “it’s how they got their reputation as an upstanding and trustworthy despot empire.”

“Do you want to die human?” asked the elf maiden, Karin, curiously.

“Alex, tell them, if you kill a tournament competitor before the tournament, are you allowed to compete?” “No Jon, that’s the other firm rule they have.”

“And so my fine elven friends, who I am pointedly not calling scum, are you willing to forego this tournament you’ve travelled so far to compete in just to kill a couple of humans whose names you haven’t bothered to learn?”

“I like this one Mordred” Karin began “can I keep him?” She approached Jon much as she had Alex, stalking him slowly and seductively “You’re so very human, full of strength and brutality yet almost clever. Humans are full of surprises. I would so very love to have you as a pet, begging me to think up new ways for you to please me. Would you like that human?”

“You’re right” Jon said “humans are full of surprises. Alex can read and write and I learned to walk upright just the other day.”

Karin actually hissed in anger. Most men were unable to resist her eyes and no human should have been able to.

“What’s all the ruckus about?” asked Joanna coming out of the tent in a state of not quite dishabille.

“Just some friendly elves come by to make nice” Jon said.

Karin realized the larger human must have just had sex with the human wench. Recent sexual release could explain his resistance, she thought.

“Make verrry nice” she whispered to Jon and pouted her perfect lips.

Jon swallowed loudly.

“Actually Sir Mordred, Lady Karin, according to tournament custom if you harm us in any way, such as enchanting my friend that would be grounds to bar you from competition as well.”

“Trust me human, I know the customs and rules, I’m just surprised you do. But your friend did say you were exceptional for a human. I’m sorry Karin but you’ll have to claim your pet after the tournament. If he survives. Best of luck friends.”

The elfmaiden took a few steps towards the forest and disappeared. When they turned to look for Mordred he was gone as well, with no sound of hoofbeats to be heard.

“I hate elves” Jon said to no one in particular.

“She sure seemed to like you though?”

“I seem to have that effect on women.”

Joanna flushed and returned to the tent.

“By the way” Jon continued pretending not to notice her exit “thanks for the save back there.

“Don’t mention it. She was as beautiful as I’ve heard they are. Just as cruel too.”

“Yeah, I’ve crossed a few elves in my travels. Seen enough of their cruelty that I thought I was immune to their wiles. Turns out I was wrong, not once she got serious.”

“I believe her” Alex said “one kiss and a man would long all his life for her. I’m just not sure it wouldn’t be worth it.”

“Of course not, one kiss is no reason for a man to pine his life away. One fuck though...” His voice trailed off as he headed back to the tent, stopping only to clap the younger man once on the shoulder.

“My watch is up in half an hour. If you’re not here to relieve me I’m coming in to get you.”

“Make it an hour and I might persuade Joanna to brighten your night before the tournament starts.”

“Three quarters.”

“An hour and a half. Isn’t she worth an hour?”

“Fine, an hour and a half.”

“Done and done.” Jon said over his shoulder.

“Now this is living” Jon said giving the girl on his knee a squeeze. “Drinking with friends, good fight on the morrow.”

Alex considered the fact that Joanna was sitting on his own knee and nodded sagely.

“You’re learning fast my friend. I might even learn to fear you in the tournament.”

“You’d better fear me, I’ve taken your measure in the ring and you’re mine.” Alex said. In truth he had no idea how a match between them would go but the ale had lit a fire inside.

“Brave words my friend, but have a care.”

“You have a care. I’m tired of your constant condescending. You’re not so tough or so wise.”

“No, not SO tough nor SO wise, but perhaps tougher and wiser than you.”

Alex stood up, lifting Joanna to her feet and shoved Jon, who didn’t move much.

Jon pulled sharply on Alex’s arm, spinning him so he could twist his arm behind his back. Alex rolled into the move and spun behind Jon, taking his legs out from behind. Jon threw himself backwards, rolling head over heels and then leaping back to his feet.

He then threw his head back and laughed. “Well played my friend. And I was starting to think you’d spent too much time with your scrolls to fight.”

“And I was starting to think you talked too much.” Alex said joining in the laughter.

“And maybe you should try making love to each other.” Joanna said pointedly. She didn’t like being ignored. “Besides” she added “I’m not impressed by either of you.”

“That’s not what you said last night.” Jon said affably.

“Nor earlier tonight” Alex put in.

“Women lie. It’s our lot in life. That and being constantly disappointed by men.”

“You humans talk to much” yelled a dwarf in the corner.

“Having too much lungs.”

“Too much of everything else too.” Agreed his friend. Both dwarves came over to their table.

“You lot could almost be dwarves the way you wrestle” said one “I’m Thomas of Stonehelm and he’s Graham of Maelstrom.”

“Well our dad’s learned from your dads when they fought together against the elves.”

“Our dad’s hell boyo, I taught many a man how to toss an elf over his shoulder.”

“Over his head more like: elves not weighing much and all.”

“You fought in the wars then.”

“Yeah, about four decades back or so. We saw action a little south of here, took five volleys of arrows before their damned calvery charged.”

“Yeah, that was the nice part” Graham agreed “that was when we got to hit back.”

“Human pikemen to take the sting out of their charge” Thomas said his face dark with the memory “and then heavy dwarven hammers taking down horse and riders. Don’t see many elves with human slaves anymore do you?”

“Not in decades” said Alex “thank you for your efforts. Can we buy you a drink?”

“I’ve seen many strange sights but to see a dwarf refuse a free ale would truly surprise me.”

“Well you won’t be seeing it now either, get us a round of the water of life.” “Which is?” Joanna asked.

“Why whiskey. Good strong dwarf whiskey.” Thomas answered.

Alex considered the dwarfs, mentally making notes. He’d seen dwarves when he was younger but they’d seemed bigger then. Understandably he thought. Where the elves were taller and generally slightly built dwarves were massive creatures. A foot or two smaller than the average human, they were incredibly broad and strong for their size. Their faces were grizzled and dark. Dwarves burned quickly when outside their mines. One dwarf had a long mustache making him look like the pictures of the Walrus in Eudoxus. The other dwarf had no beard or mustache but large bristly eyebrows and heavy jowls.

Graham, the one with the walrus mustache had taken off his shirt and challenged Jon to an arm wrestling contest. Jon accepted and stripped off his tunic. Alex noticed with some jealousy Joanna’s eyes roving over Jon’s body.

The dwarf’s arm and Jon’s were of almost equal size, both bulging with muscles and veins and the match started at dead equal. Though each strained and strived they couldn’t budge the other’s wrist. At twenty seconds, neither’s wrist was any closer to the table. Then the barmaid bent near Jon’s ear. A moment later Jon was distracted and his wrist slammed into the table.

“Damned woman” Jon shouted and slapped her hard on the ass. He chased her upstairs to the room he and his two companions were sharing for the night.

“Guess we’re stuck down here for awhile” Alex said to Joanna.

“Not that long” Joanna said archly.

“First round pairings are up” someone yelled into the bar.

Suddenly most of the contents of the bar surged into the street. Joanna and Alex and the dwarves just continued drinking.

“So what convinced you to give me a chance” Alex whispered to Joanna who had once again climbed into his lap.

“Well Jon mentioned in passing that you had read lost scrolls of Odiv’s Rites of Love. And how those books contained ways to pleasure a woman till she lost consciousness.”

“Just in passing.”

“Yes. And he also said you were a virgin who was saving himself for a special girl back home.”

“Which lie worked?”

“Kind of both together. You mean you haven’t read Odiv’s rites of love?” “No I have, but most of it’s advice about igniting passion are tips about trimming nosehair and bathing once a week. Tells you a lot about romance among the ancients. There was one helpful bit of advice though.”

“What was that?”

“Don’t be afraid to beg. ‘Even the god’s answer humble prayers, why not beautiful women?’”

“You didn’t beg me.” Joanna asked, slightly offended.

“That was my next plan if Jon’s didn’t work.”

The first round opened with a match between an Ogre and a minotaur. The other fighters, townspeople and spectators gathered round. The ring was a circle, 30 feet in diameter painted upon the ground. The area was dirt and grass, and there were bleachers erected for fans. A fighter was allowed to pick two coaches to move around the circle and shout advice. Ogres were known to be antisocial and there was no one to shout him encouragement or advice. The minotaur had two of his kind with him, pounding him on the back and arms to get him primed for the match.

The referee, a man in a black tunic shouted the rules to the crowd. “No magic, on pain of death! Fight!” And so saying he ran out of the circle as the two monsters entered.

The ogre was over 8 feet tall, a solid mass of muscle and fat. His biceps were the size of small kegs of ale and his thighs were like tree trunks. He had a belly that bulged but didn’t sag. He wore only a loin cloth that didn’t hide much. Jon speculated aloud that he wouldn’t be wanting for groupies if he survived the fight. The ogre had long greasy hair that flung along his shoulders when he walked.

The minotaur in contrast had no fat on him. He was just over 7 feet, not counting the horns jutting from his head. He had the body of a tremendously strong man, muscled like a titan. It was all covered with a black fur and his head had a bulls nose on a man’s neck, but with carnivorous teeth and the large brown eyes of cattle. He had his nose pierced with a hoop through the nostrils and large pointed ears. Steer horns topped his skull, pointing a foot into the sky.

“Who do you pick my lad?” asked Jon of Alex.

“I don’t know. The minotaurs are a warlike people, constantly battling among themselves to prove supremacy. If they could unite they might threaten even the elven empire. They say agents for the elves are constantly fomenting dissent among them.”

“He’s not asking about their culture, just who’s going to win.” Joanna said.

“I know but it’s really training vs brutal power. I’ll pick training.”

“You’re knowledgeable my lad but I’ll pick brute force here.”

“I’m picking training.” Said Joanna.

“I know” said Jon winking broadly. “Rites of love and all that.”

“Knowledge is power” agreed Alex.

The monsters approached each other warily. The ogre threw a lazy punch which the minotaur ducked under and slammed one fist into the ogre’s side, then the other hooked into the ogre’s jaw. The ogre’s head rocked back with the power of the blow.

The minotaur followed with a kick to the ogre’s gut that elicited no reaction at all. His follow up punch was caught in the ogre’s hand. Unbelievably the monstrous paw of the ogre dwarfed the minotaur’s own hand. The creature then squeezed and Alex heard the bones breaking in the minotaur’s hand. The ogre’s next punch knocked teeth out of it’s mouth. The ogre picked up the stunned minotaur up over his head and slammed him down over his knee, snapping the poor creatures spine.

“Holy shit splatter of Apollo” yelled Jon.

“So much for training” Alex said.

“I don’t know, there’s something to be said for training after all” said Joanna snuggling up to Alex from behind and blowing in his ear.

The next match saw Alex against Thomas. Jon and Joanna were his cornermen.

“You can do it my lad. I’m sure Herodocles put it better than I could but in my own words beat the fuck out of him and come back alive.” Jon clapped him on the shoulder and then clasped forearms with him.

“Win and I’ll fuck you so hard it will blow your mind” Joanna told him and kissed him hard on the lips. The crowd roared with delight at the show as crowds will.

Alex entered the circle and whispered a prayer to Suetonius, patron saint of historians and walked to the center. Thomas reached the center a few seconds later. He extended his hand to clench forearms. It could be a trick Alex thought to himself but took the risk and gripped the forearm of his opponent.

“Good lad, clean fight and may the best dwarf win eh?”

“May the best win period.”

“As ever the way.” Thomas said philosophically, then he turned his back to Alex and yelled at the crowd “We who are about to die salute you” and pounded his right hand against his enormous chest. Again the crowd roared with delight.

“Got to give them a show” the dwarf said, taking a wrestling stance, his hands open and his legs spread for as wide a base as a dwarf can take.

Alex took a similar stance, left hand closed, right open. He was trained to strike or grapple. It was new to him fighting a foe so much shorter yet stronger as well. He and the dwarf circled, feinting and jabbing.

He threw a jab which the dwarf caught and pulled. Alex threw a hard right as the dwarf yanked him into him. The blow didn’t faze the dwarf he just threw him over his shoulder. Alex tucked and rolled with the throw and bounced to his feet.

“Damn bouncy humans, almost as bad as fighting elves.”

“Damned sturdy dwarves, almost like hitting granite.”

This won Alex a smile from the dwarf. Thomas beckoned him to come in. Alex just smiled and returned the gesture. Let the dwarf approach, the better to take advantage of his own reach. Thomas advanced, arms at his sides inviting attack.

“Fuck it” Alex thought to himself. He extended his hands and locked up with the dwarf grip to grip. His own hand behind the dwarfs neck the other over Thomas’s bicep. Thomas took the same grip on Alex and they worked for leverage and advantage. The dwarf overpowered Alex’s grip and forced him down to the ground. Alex swung his entire body down and over as he pushed the dwarfs arms up. He spun around the side of the dwarf and took him down using a leg sweep. The dwarf’s own mass worked against him as he tried to spin his body around.

Thomas couldn’t match Alex’s quickness who was always one step ahead. He tried to counter Alex’s arm lock, but he’d already switched to a leg lock. The dwarf used his strength to break the hold but the man had already let go and was now behind the dwarf locking the dwarf’s throat in between the crock of his, cinching the hold with his hand on his own bicep.

The dwarf attempted to throw him over his shoulder but Alex’s legs were hooked into the dwarfs own thighs. When he threw him the man just took the dwarf with him, rolling over like a ball to end up in the same position.

The dwarf fought for breath and torqued his body, inch by inch and turned so that instead of Alex having his back, now his chest was over the man and Alex was on his back.

“I’ve got you now human” and drew his arm back for a punch that would end the fight. Suddenly the human twisted his hips and locked his legs over the dwarfs back so that Thomas’s own arm was choking him across the throat. The dwarf attempted to power out again but the human grabbed his arm and twisted him so he was laid upon the ground with no leverage to speak of. Blackness crept up the edges of the dwarf’s vision. He continued to struggle but a few seconds later his body spasmed, the natural reaction to absence of air. The ref shouted the fight was over and Alex released his hold.

Joanna ran to him and threw her arms around him. Alex was so tired this knocked him over and he fell to the ground with her legs straddled around him. Predictably the crowd roared again, lewd comments raining down upon them. Graham came out and threw Thomas’s body over his shoulders and carried him off to the tavern. “He’ll want a beer when he wakes up” he explained to the humans.

“I’ll buy him a beer” Jon said and followed the dwarf “besides there’s a tavern girl who deserves some possibly last loving from me before my fight. Perhaps you’ll show me that hold?”

“Perhaps after the tournament” Alex said. “Of course, whenever you want.” He added.

“Later” Joanna said firmly “we have important work to do. That hold gives me ideas.”

“But I’m tired” Alex complained weakly.

“Too tired” she asked leaning over so he could see down her halter top.

“Not too tired” he answered fervently.

“Good boy” she said and patted him on the head.

The next match was a giant vs a troll. The giant was shaped much like a man only ten feet tall. The troll was a gangly creature about a foot taller with long arms with claws on the end. It was furry and knotted with muscle. It’s face had a long nose, large eyes and sharp fangs for teeth. It was brown and green and looked like a bear was stretched out and taught to walk upright.

The troll caught the giant with a swipe of it’s claws and blood poured down the giants chest. The troll lashed out again and nearly gouged out the giant’s eyes. They circled and the troll struck again. This time the giant swatted away his hand and wrapped his arms around the troll’s chest and under it’s arms. He squeezed and the troll thrashed around. He just continued to squeeze as the troll grew weaker and weaker. He was crushing the air out of the trolls lungs and eventually the troll went limp. Before the referee could end the fight the giant abruptly twisted the head of the troll breaking its’ neck.

“Never leave an enemy alive” Alex said “part of giant culture.”

“Lovely” Joanna said.

... That was all the matches for the first day. However there was to be a special night match between a vampire and a demon. The next day Joanna would face Kirin, Jon would face an ork who had come late to the tournament and Graham would face Mordred. And that would conclude the first round.

“Has a vampire ever competed before?” Jon asked Alex.

“A few times, once or twice a century a young vampire will seek to make a name for himself, drunk on his new found powers.”

“Why not old vampires?” Jon asked.

“Old vampires are so much bigger than this it’s ridiculous. When an old vampire wants to show off they topple a kingdom. It’s a maturity thing.”

“Oh” Jon said.

“So what kind of demon is the vamp facing?”

“Oh you’ll see my lad, it’s most fearsome and powerful let me warn you though.”

The demon entered the ring first, she had bat wings and a leather tail, other than that she was a powerfully built, breathtakingly beautiful human female. She had long blond hair, a lusciously curved body and was entirely naked.

“Most powerful” Alex agreed. Joanna slapped him behind the head to lovingly remind him of her presence.

The referee reminded the vampire, who in his life was a man about average height, and the succubus that there was to be no magic, and that there were powerful mages present to enforce the ruling.

“So do vampires really have supernatural strength?”

“According to all the sources I’ve read. There’s some contradictions about their powers and weaknesses but from Aristotle to Van Hessler they all agree about the walking dead gain preternatural speed and strength.”

“Interesting. And the sex demon?”

“Speak carefully or lose your gonads Alex” Joanna said sweetly.

“Demons, even sex demons, are supposed to be incredibly strong. Neither will be allowed to use their powers of fascination.”

“Trust me she still has the power of fascination” Jon quipped.

Joanna slapped the back of his head for good measure, though she had to jump a bit to do so.

Graham and Thomas, the dwarves, wandered over. “Actually boyos, word around is that this sex demon was assigned the job of seducing some Khanate warlord. So it seems he was a monkish individual, who only meditated and practiced martial arts in his spare time. So she posed as his disciple and in the process of snatching his soul became an expert in the eastern fighting arts.”

The succubus and the vampire approached each other in the circle. The vampire lunged for her throat. The succubus grabbed his arm, snapped her hips and threw him over her shoulder. He landed flat on his back and she snapped a hard kick to his head while he was down. The vampire rolled away and got to his feet.

They circled each other. The succubus feinted a strike and the vampires hands came up to block his face so her kick hit his upper thigh hard enough to stagger him. She ducked behind him and swept his feet out from under him. As the vampire fell she pinned him with her body and bit his throat out. Blood fountained from it’s neck as she spit out the flesh. Then she reached down and tore the head from the body and threw it out of the circle.

“It’s funny” Jon said “I still want to fuck her.”

“It’s a power succubi have, they can make dismemberment sexy."“You two are going to learn all about dis-member-ment if you don’t shut up.”

“All this violence isn’t doing your sweet disposition any good at all Joanna”

“Eat me Jon” Joanna replied.

“If you want.” He said ambivalently.

Alex tried to ignore the sounds coming from inside the room they were sharing. Joanna had made it sound reasonable, it might be her last chance to have sex with Jon since he was fighting first thing in the morning. She said she wanted to have him right before her match, in case she didn’t survive.

Alex believed her, but thought it had more to do with her wanting a last chance with all those muscles and experience than it being a gift to him.

There were fight groupies who would sleep with him since he won his match, or barmaids hoping he would win the prize money. But he wasn’t that type, and he thought he was falling in love with Joanna.

Jon would just call him an idiot. Oh well, as Ovidophane said “Love is not for those who don’t enjoy being miserable.”

So he was drinking ale at the bar when Graham and Thomas came in.

“Hey boyo” Graham called “where are the other bean poles?”

“Can’t you hear the clamor?”

“Oh is that what all the pounding is? I just thought some human had the intelligence to be digging a mine somewhere?”

“I think one is.” Thomas rejoined.

“Oh, and I thought I was miserable before. Thanks for showing me the error of my ways.”

“You’re welcome boyo. I remember the first time a dwarf maiden left me for another dwarf...” Graham said philosophically.

“What did you do?” asked Alex.

“Don’t get him started” advised Thomas.

“Well I thought to myself, should I blame her for choosing someone else, or blame the sod she picked. ”

“So you decided it was nobody’s fault and just got over it?”

“No I decided they both deserved to suffer. I called her new lover out and snapped his neck when he took a swing at me. Then I spread the rumor that she preferred humans and her family cast her out, and she had to make a living as a whore.”

“I told you not to get him started” Thomas reminded Alex.

“The point is; did that make me happy? Did that assuage the raw agony in my soul, the emptiness and bitterness that were swallowing me whole?”

“So you learned revenge doesn’t help? That you have to accept the course of love brings joy and misery both.”

“No. Aren’t you listening? Of course I felt better. She was a whore and he was dead. Why wouldn’t I feel better?”

“He’s lying” Thomas said. “He bawled like a wee bairn when she broke up with him.”

“So he didn’t really do those horrible things?”

“No he did, after I pulled him out of his bed and got him drunk. You think he has the brains to plot a coup like that on his own. Pull the other one mate, it’s got bells on.”

“You two make my head hurt.”

Then Karin walked into the bar.

“Oh my” she said “Dwarves and humans together, as natural a pairing as flies and shit.”

“Or elves and suffering?” Thomas said.

“Uhh” said Alex struck anew by her beauty.

“Look, it makes noise. An extremely talented human. And it’s not even licking it’s genitals.”

“I once made love to a female elf” Graham said conversationally, “I think it would have broken her in half if she wasn’t already dead.”

“Charming. After the tournament I think I’ll wear your tongue as a bracelet.”

“After the tournament, I hope you try.” Graham replied.

“Leave us” she said haughtily “I have business with the human.”

“Bugger off” Thomas said “we’re cheering him up.”

“I’m sure he’d much rather talk to me, wouldn’t you human?” she asked him looking deep in his eyes. He was immediately drowning in the green pools of her eyes again.

“Yes” he said placidly.

“If they won’t leave us we’ll leave. Walk with me human.”

“Sure” Alex replied. The elf maiden took his hand and led him out of the bar.

The dwarves made to restrain him but an elf cut them off. Thomas lunged at him but the elf easily spun out of his grasp. “Now, now if you attack me you’ll be disqualified. Or at least your friend will since you’ve already lost haven’t you?”

“What about your elf girl, if she enchants him she’s done too.”

“There’s no rule against seducing a competitor.”

“No enchantments allowed elf scum.”

Mordred’s genial smile faded. “There was no enchantment that I saw, just the effect of elf beauty.”

“There will be an after, once the tournament is over.”

“I’m looking forward to it” Mordred said “Believe me.”

“Me too” said Graham “assuredly.”

Alex was trying hard to remember something. He’d been drinking for some reason, something important.

“Human” a voice called.

It was the sweetest sounding voice he’d ever heard. Like a robin’s song vibrating through a forest at daybreak.

“Yes” he said.

“Tell me of the human girls fighting style” said Kirin.

“She’s fast, very fast. And strong for her size. She likes to kick with her long legs, wear down an opponent. Then close inside. She has very strong legs and thighs. It makes for great sex...” “Shut up human.”

“Okay.” Something about that exchange jarred Alex’s reverie. Something about Joanna was important.

“Look at me human.” He turned his eyes toward her. She’d slipped the slight lacy shift she’d been wearing off. Her naked, glistening form amazed him. Her limbs were thin but firm, perfectly formed. Her breasts were small but supple, high and without any sag. Like ripe peaches with small brown nipples.

“You want me so much.”

“More than anything.”

“Kneel before me and kiss my feet.”

“Thank you” Alex said and knelt before her delicate feet and kissed her perfect brown flesh.

Then he felt a snaking over his eyes and a strange tickling of his ear and neck.

“Wouldn’t you rather kiss something of mine?” asked a full throaty voice that made him shudder.

The succubus stood before him, still naked her breasts impossibly full and bouncy. The nipples were pink and full, like ripe blueberries. Only not blue.

“Get out of here.” Commanded Kirin.

“I don’t think so elf girl” the demon responded “besides Alex would only follow me out, wouldn’t you Alex?”

“Yes, I’d follow you anywhere.”

“Then follow me out of here.” She turned and left her ass swaying to and fro.

Alex followed, effortlessly freeing himself when Kirin tried to restrain him.

When they emerged from Kirin’s tent the dwarfs were there to prevent any efforts by Mordred and kin to hold him against his will.

“I claim my reward” the succubus said to the dwarves.

“Go ahead.”

The succubus led Alex to his room. Jon and Joanna stopped making love when they entered.

“What goes my friend?” Jon asked.

Alex didn’t answer.

“He’s mine for the night” said Margaret the succubus “ask the dwarves. It was a bargain for saving his life.”

“I don’t understand.” Said Joanna.

“I’m shocked” said the demoness. Luckily you don’t have to, so just continue. I like the sounds of sex. Though I wager your man will be thinking of me.

She laid Alex down upon the bed and straddled atop him. Her perfect breasts swayed before him. She tossed her blond hair so it fell over his face. The scent was honey sweet and he nuzzled her neck. She ran her long nails over his chest eliciting a loud moan. Her nails ran lower and his moan grew deeper into a shout of pleasure.

He spasmed as he ejaculated into her hand. The semen soaked into her skin and horns protruded from her head, and batwings burst forth from her back. Her skin turned scarlet and her eyes glowed red. She screamed an orgasm of her own.

Alex’s eyes rolled back in his head. Unlike with the elf girl where everything was a daze, he felt an intense awareness of everything going on. His senses were sharper, his body incredibly sensitive to every touch. He was just so aware of her body and his response to it that he couldn’t possibly contradict or disobey her.

“Good boy. That was a good start.”

She began again to caress him. Despite the changes she was still incredibly beautiful. He was immediately erect again and she slid him inside her. The warmth and tightness was incredible. She plunged herself down so he was deep inside her and the sensation was overwhelming. He shouted his pleasure and thrust up with his hips.

They slammed their bodies together, wrestling and rolling together, colliding their bodies in every way to increase the sensations and pleasure. He climaxed again and her skin glowed with the energy she gained.

The aura of sexuality permated the room, overwhelming Joanna and Jon. They began to crush their bodies together with wild abandon. Their skin tingled, craving touch, the touch of lips and genitals and skin to skin. Craving pain and pleasure both. Jon and Joanna crawled towards the source of the craving, the succubus. The four of them were on the floor, rolling among the straw padding.

Margaret’s tail worked it’s way between Joanna’s thighs. Alex plunged his head between Margaret’s thighs while she sucked Jon’s erect cock. She milked Alex’s own penis with her hand while Jon sucked on Joanna’s nipples.

But in keeping with the rules of the tournament she sucked the life energy from Alex only, and not enough to kill him or ruin him for the tournament.

In the morning she was gone and Jon and Joanna were sore all over. “Seven hells, what did you do to me last night, woman?”

“Do to you? I feel like I spent the night with an owl bear.”

Slowly memories came back to them. They both blushed.

“That was a night to remember” Jon said.

“Or forget.” Joanna replied.

Alex lay on the floor unmoving.

Joanna cradled his head, “Are you okay.”

Alex only murmured incoherently.

“Poor baby. Will he be allright?”

“Well if he’s not dead, he probably won’t die. He’ll be useless for the rest of the day at least.”

“How do you know?”

“A friend of mine once said he summoned a succubus. Made love to her all night long.”

“What happened to him?”

“I beat the living hell out of him for not inviting me.” He replied.

“Guess I won’t be making love to him before my match.”

“I may never screw again, even if I survive my match.”

Jon stared across the circle at his opponent. An ork, a six foot plus mass of green muscle with tusks. The creature had more muscle than him with a head on top that tradition said held more skull than brain. It had a squat nose, 3 inch fangs that jutted from it’s mouth. It was bald with pointed ears that had several metal bars through them.

“Tribal markings” Alex said, “it says he killed three rivals for chieftan.”

Alex couldn’t move, but he could speak and the dwarf’s had rigged a litter to carry him to ringside.

“Well, I’d hade to face the runt of the litter now wouldn’t I lad?”

The succubus sauntered over. “Don’t get killed kids, I had fun last night.”

“I think I’m in more danger from you than yon chief killer over there.”

“See, and they say humans are dumb.” She pouted her lips and blew him a kiss and sauntered away, the men and dwarves following the sway of her ass.

“Win, or at least survive” Joanna said and kissed him hard.

“He’s stronger than you, be careful” Alex warned.

“Never careful, always cautious. That’s my motto lad.” Jon said. But in his head he allowed himself a moment of fear. For years he’d been lying about outwrestling an ork and now he’d have to make the legend true. Fate was a twisted fucking bugger he thought to himself.

He swaggered into the circle thinking ‘well if’n it’s my last show, let’s make it a hell of a show.’

“C’mon you stinking, rotting putrid piece of greenstink, I want to tear you to bits.”

The ork grunted and howled a war cry of loneliness and anguish. ‘That’s what my first wife said to me on our honeymoon’ he thought to himself.

“I’ll skin you alive after I’ve broken you in half” the ork growled.

The crowd erupted, loving the bravado and swagger of the contenders. The fighters approached within a few feet of each other. Jon took his openhanded fighting stance. The ork clenched it’s fists and circled. Jon stepped towards the green skinned juggernaut and with suprising speed it aimed a backfist at his head. He swatted it away with his right hand but was knocked backward by the power of the blow.

The creature was inches shorter than him but outweighed him by close to a hundred pounds. He tried to remember the last time he’d fought a stronger opponent. Back in his teens he reckoned. ‘Fuck me’ he thought to himself. And every muscle sore from the prior nights exertions as well.

The ork laughed and lunged forward with an overhand blow. Jon sidestepped it and threw a powerful right cross. It felt like hitting rock and he cut his hand on its left tusk. He threw two more blows to finish the combination and stepped back.

The orks face was covered in blood, but whether from the blows or the blood all over his hand he didn’t know.

The ork threw back his head and howled.

“You’re fast human, but weak like an elf.”

“You’re slow and dumb as a stone lad.”

The ork came forward slowly, alert and looking for an opening. Jon feinted a jab that brought the back fist in response. Jon ducked it and shot in, diving low and catching both hands around the orks thigh, pulled back and up and sent the ork crashing to the ground. He held on to the knee with both hands and threw his legs over the orks chest. Pushing up with his thighs and down with his ankles he put tremendous pressure on both sides of the creatures knee joint. The tendons popped as the muscles tore. The knee made a loud popping sound. Jon let go of the hold and rolled away as the orks fist pounded the ground heavily where he’d been. As he got to his feet a backfist caught him across the chest and knocked him to the ground.

He couldn’t breath as he lay on his back on the dirt. The blow had forced all the air out of his lungs. However the ork was howling in pain as it limped towards him. It’s knee was ruined and the green behemoth could barely support it’s own weight.

‘Keep calm’ he told himself ‘you’ve been winded before. Just a few more seconds and we can breath again.’ He traditionally referred to himself as we, figuring there was enough personality in his head for several people ‘We’re okay, he’s taking forever to get here. Just need another few seconds to remember how to breathe. Breathe. Breathe you son of a bitch, work lungs damn me. Work.’ And he managed to draw a shuddering breath and his body could move again.

The next moment the ork was upon him, picking him up by his legs and swinging him round, his whole body extended. He was moving at dizzying speeds. Suddenly he stopped spinning and crashed facefirst into the dirt.

Blood spurted across his face. ‘Ah, that popping sound was my nose breaking’ he though. He rolled sideways out of the way of the stomping foot.

The ork howled in new pain as his stomp tore the joints further in his injured knee. Meanwhile Jon wiped some of the blood from his face with the back of his left hand, the one that wasn’t bleeding.

He circled to the side of it’s injured leg. The creature turned to follow him but every move sent fire through it’s leg.

“You can surrender now, old boy, no shame in that.”

“I’ll feast on your bones.” The ork shouted and charged forward, it’s face a masque of pain and anger. Jon slipped to it’s side and swept it’s feet out from under it, his shin striking directly behind the injured knee. As the ork crashed to the ground Jon drove his fist into the throat of the ork. The blow would have killed a man but only stunned the creature. He rolled it over and locked it’s throat in the crook of his arm and forced it’s head forward with the palm of his other hand. This put tremendous pressure on it’s neck and cut off air and blood flow to it’s brain. A few seconds later it was unconscious.

The officials shouted the end of the fight as the ork’s limbs spasmed uncontrollably. Jon let go and slowly raised himself to his feet. He did his best to saunter out of the ring, but collapsed against the dwarf, Graham, who rushed forward to shake his hand.

The crowd yelled and yelled, women pressed forward to kiss and touch the man who’d outwrestled an ork chieftan. The dwarfs and Joanna barely managed to hold them off.

“It’s okay, let them come. I’ve faced scarier things in my life than a hoard of adoring women.”

The dwarfs shrugged and stepped out of the way and let the man be mobbed.

“I hope they kill you” Joanna muttered.

“It is the way I’ve prayed to go” he responded and was then swamped by the press of female bodies.

None of the humans attended the next match. They were resting up, in a way. Certainly they weren’t thinking about fighting.

Mordred the elf was matched against Graham. The dwarf and the elf unleashed all the pent up fury between them, personal and the ancient grudge between their peoples. The elf was faster, the dwarf was stronger.

The elf landed three blows for every one of the dwarf’s but the dwarfs were more telling. The elf could leap and launch kicks that looked effortless as they rocked the dwarf’s head back. But when the dwarf caught the elf’s foot he slammed the graceful creature hard into the earth.

And inch by inch he moved towards the pinned elf’s head, taking kicks to the side and head with the elf’s free leg. When the dwarf reached Mordred’s midsection he began to strike the elf’s ribs with his hammer like fist. There were popping sounds that were ribs cracking. The elf’s kicks became weaker. The dwarf inched his way further towards the elfs head.

Suddenly the elf surged forward, his hand palm down and knife edged drove into the dwarfs throat. The dwarf hissed for breath and his face purpled. Something had broken and the dwarf couldn’t breathe. Still he slammed his fist into the elf’s side. Again and again. The elf stopped moving. The dwarf’s hand closed around the elf’s throat. His strength was ebbing but he closed his fingers, crushing the elf’s windpipe in his vise like grip. Darkness colored his vision, he felt a peaceful haze envelop him but still he squeezed. The last he saw was the elf convulsing from pain and lack of air. The elf died beneath his hands as his last strength faded and he collapsed.

The hour of Joanna’s match arrived in late afternoon. Alex was able to stand at ringside now, but only barely. Thomas was with Graham at the healers. They were conducting a complicated rite but they believed Graham would speak again and breathe normally. It was an expensive rite. However they admitted they didn’t know of the procedure Alex had used and would have been powerless to save the dwarf’s life if not for him.

“Come back to me safe, win or lose” Alex said to Joanna.

“Why? You’ve got the demon slut, you don’t need me.” She said half kidding, half bitter.

“Please. I think I love you. Please come back safe. I’m begging you.”

“I knew I could get you to beg eventually.” She said, but there were tears and a smile on her face. “For what it’s worth, I think I love you too you scholarly son of a bitch.”

“What about me girl, do I mean nothing to you?” Jon asked.

“You big stupid lunk, I love you too you idiot.”

“Idiot she calls me, just because I don’t know obscure rites of lovemaking and nail clipping, nor how to save a dwarf’s life with an assassins weapon and I’m an idiot. I was the one who actually did the work that saved his life you know. Not to mention saved yon scholar from the elven bitch...”

“You’re an idiot because you have to ask.” Joanna corrected.

She threw her arms around him. “If I survive I’m going to ride you until you pass out and I’ll do the same to Alex as soon as he’s strong enough to survive the experience.”

“I’m strong enough” he protested.

“No lad, you’ll have to wait. It’s for your own good.” Said Jon.

Joanna kissed them both. Jon passionately, Alex gently and tenderly and strode into the center of the ring. Her opponent had already entered. It was Kirin.

“Human.” She made the word a foul epithet.

“Your mother” said Joanna who was not much for colourful insults.

Joanna lashed out a roundhouse kick at the elf’s thigh. The elf spun outside the kick and cut Joanna legs out from under her with a sweeping kick of her own. She spun away and laughed as the human struggled to her feet.

“Even for a human you’re slow and clumsy.” Kirin mocked.

Joanna knew that wasn’t true. Her kicks and strikes were faster than both men, and they were among the best of the human cities. But she’d never seen anyone strike as swiftly as the elf.

“Wait for the bitch to come to you” Jon yelled.

Kirin advanced towards her, she readied to block and strike. She saw a blur of motion and the elf’s palm struck her across the chin, past her defence like it wasn’t. A kick followed to the pit of her stomach, and a knee brought blood streaming from her nose. She went with the last blow and tumbled backward, somersaulting to her feet.

“Or not.” Jon yelled.

‘Dammit’ Joanna thought to herself. The bitch was too fast. She’d never fought anyone faster than herself, and never even seen anyone this fast.

‘How had the dwarf won. He’d taken hits and used his superior strength and mass. I’m stronger and heavier, I have to use that.’ These were her thoughts as she stayed away, keeping distance between herself and the elf. The ring was large enough to allow for footwork and mobility thank the deity.

The elf girl was trying to distract her with insults. Joanna had no trouble ignoring her. She allowed herself to look dazed and falter occasionally, hoping the elf would underestimate her.

The elf got careless, lowering her hands and crossing her legs. As she did so, that moment of being off balance Joanna struck with a thrust kick to the elfs ribs. It hit her hard and knocked Karin over. Joanna was instantly atop her, pinning the woman down with her body.

The elf wrapped her legs around Joanna’s back, who had a weird moment of d�j� vu only she was usually on the other side of this position, and then slammed her head against Joanna’s nose.

The human women recoiled in agony as fresh blood spurted. The elf slipped out from under her and danced to her feet. She wiped the blood from her face with her hand and then licked it clean.

“Human blood, tasty. I like to spread it on bread for breakfast. Especially a freshly killed lover’s blood. It’s nice, but I lose more slaves that way.”

“You’re dead bitch.”

“No you are human. You’re dwarven friend killed my father. You’re so dead it’s not even funny. And Alex will be my slave. And I’ll have Jon and the dwarves fight to the death, the winner I’ll keep as a slave bodyguard. Laying down their life to keep me safe, even though part of them will wish me dead with their every breath. That’s what it means to cross an elf. Now you learn.” And finishing her speech she launched a high kick that Joanna partially blocked with her forearm, though the force staggered her and she reeled several steps backward.

‘I had her’ Joanna thought to herself. I had her and let her go. Because of this stupid broken nose.’

‘This isn’t doing me any good. Have to get it together. Do what I do best.’

Joanna circled to her opponents left and then launched her attack. A combination of short punches and kicks that the elf easily dodged and blocked but kept her busy. Then Joanna grabbed the elfs arm and spun her around, trying to lock in a rear choke. The elf spun effortlessly out of Joanna’s grip, spinning her wrist in the direction of the thumb, and stuck her finger in Joanna’s eye. The human instinctively closed both eyes. The elf then launced a series of kicks to Joanna’s stomach and ribs, driving the air out of her lungs.

Joanna dropped and curled up on the ground. The elf continued to kick her, showing off her legs and eliciting cheers and howls of lust from the crowd. Blood began to pool on the ground from Joanna’s mouth and nose. The next kick brought a vomit of blood from Joanna.

“She’s done, fight’s over.” Yelled Jon. That was allowed though seldom done. Your cornerman could surrender for you.

Kirin didn’t care. She drew back her leg for a last kick to snap the human’s neck. Jon sprinted across the ring, Alex limping along behind him. Jon dived across the ring and interposed his body between Joanna and the elf. The kick caught him hard in the side, and actually knocked him a few feet over Joanna.

Alex just stood between Joanna and the elf.

The referee entered the circle shouting for everyone to leave but the combatants.

“Hell no, my friend. Hell no.”

“There’s no rule about killing a downed opponent.”

“Not once the cornerman’s surrendered. Tell him Alex.”

“Sorry Jon, he’s right. The opponent can always choose to kill the defeated party.”

“And I choose to kill her” Kirin said, reveling in the pain she was causing.

“Then you’ll die right here and now under my hand elf bitch.”

“I’m not afraid of any human, especially not a lump of stupidity like you.”

“Why is everyone attacking my intelligence today” Jon wondered aloud.

“What?”

“Nevermind elfie, the point is I won’t let you kill her now no matter what the rules say.”

The official did some rapid consideration. If he let them fight it out right now, he’d have to disqualify the elf, and both humans and that wouldn’t leave much of a tournament.

“This match is over. You may not harm any of the humans nor they you until after the tournament. On pain of disqualification. You may inflict one final blow provided it will not paralyse or kill or else be disqualified.”

Jon started to protest but Alex quieted him. It was an extremely fair ruling and better than they had any right to expect.

“I suppose that will have to do human.” Said the elf sighing loudly.

“Don’t push it Elf, this tournament is open to all but we have no great love for your kind here. You’d best remember that after the tournament as well. We’ve buried many an elf here who’d raided our town looking for slaves.” The official said in a grave monotone that spoke of fiercely restrained rage.

“Fine. No paralysis, no death.” She reached down at the fetal woman and locked the humans arm betwixt her delicate perfect limbs. Then she wrenched hard and the bone cracked while joints popped and tendons tore. “She’ll never move that arm again though.” And she sauntered off, knowing that the humans would be following the sway of her ass despite their anger and loss. She was a bit of something else that one.

“Damn her and her perfect ass” Jon swore.

“I’ve seen better” Alex said philosophically. ...

They carried her to the medics but the elf maid was right, there was nothing they could do. The bone was piercing the skin and they could staunch the bleeding, and try and set the bone but joint repair at the level Joanna needed was beyond their skills.

Joanna nodded mutely. Then she ran outside and cried. The men ran out after her.

“It’s going to be okay Joanna. We’ll find other medics, mages, someone who can help you.”

“No, it’s no good. I’ll never fight again, can’t learn a trade now. Nothing for it but whoring.” “Whoring’s a noble calling” Jon started.

“Not now Jon” Alex said. “You can do many things, marry and raise a family. Jon or I would be glad to take care of you.”

“Or if it’s the elbow that’s broke, we can cut if off there and get you a hook. Nothing’s as practical as a hook. Many sailors have blessed the day a bite in the rope took their hand or forearm.”

“Blessed” Joanna said incredulously, but there was a slight smile on her face.

“Perhaps blessed isn’t the right word, but resigned themselves certainly. And learned to see the positives. It’s an instant nickname, like liutenant hook, or bos’n hookhand. And the ladies, well the lady’s love a bit of a hook inside them.”

Despite herself Joanna was laughing now. It hurt so much, but at least she was alive. And both of them had risked being disqualified, their shot at their dreams to give her life to her.

“Lady hook does have a bit of a ring to it doesn’t it?”

“It does indeed girl, it does indeed.” Jon pulled her into a deep hug, crushing her across his broad chest. Alex joined the hug from behind her and the three friends and lovers held each other and gave of their hearts. ...

That night the ruling came out. Since Graham hadn’t been able to exit the ring of his own power, and would have died without inteference he wasn’t eligible to continue.

This left six competitors in the second round. The giant, Morgret, Jon, Alex, Kirin and the ogre.

It was the custom for two days of celebration in between the first and second rounds. The first night the humans and dwarf celebrated together while Thomas remained at the healers. That night the succubus took her feeding upon Alex, which resulted in another wild night among her and the three humans. The next day was more subdued as the healers removed Joanna’s arm at the elbow where the joint was destroyed and replaced it with a hook attachment they had commissioned form the blacksmith. Her eye had also been damaged in her fight and it no longer tracked or saw correctly. They bought her an eyepatch as well.

“Gods! The fates might as well write a letter telling me to go into piracy.”

“You see. And you were worried you were destined for whoredom.” Jon pointed out helpfully.

Joanna lashed out with her hook and he narrowly dodged.

“This is useful” she said.

Alex spent the day in bed recovering from the previous night. Jon and Joanna made love, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time.

The first match of the second round pitted Kirin against the Ogre. Kirin was much taller than a human female, as most elves were, over six feet in height. But the ogre towered above her, eight feet tall and some change.

“Which way do you bet?” Jon asked.

“Huh, what?” Alex said cleverly.

“He was watching her ass.” Joanna supplied helpfully.

“I thought you were mooning over the succubus these days.”

“And you’re not?” he rejoined.

“I refuse to answer as the answer might get me hurt.” Jon said. “She is beautiful though” Alex said.

Joanna slapped Alex hard. “She tried to kill me.”

“I told the lad honesty would get him hurt.”

She threatened Jon with her hook. “You’re going to get slapped with this if you can’t keep you’re mouth shut.”

“Sshh” Alex said “The match is starting.”

The elf and the ogre approached each other across the ring. The elf maid drew within a few feet of the ogre, who faced her placidly arms at its sides. Its loincloth tented visibly at her approach, even an ogre could feel the impact of the elf maids beauty.

Kirin was tempted to try and charm the ogre, but feared the judges would take that as an excuse to disqualify her. Inside she felt calm, she was an elf and even an ogre was beneath her notice. Ogres, much more than humans, were formidable opponents but they were still a lesser race.

The ogre had yet to raise it’s hands, perhaps not regarding her as a threat. She allowed a seductive sway into her approach, they couldn’t disqualify her for that after all.

The ogre grunted it’s appreciation. The audience howled lewd catcalls. Jon and Alex sucked in their breath audibly, transfixed despite themselves.

Suddenly Kirin lashed out an explosive snap kick to the inside knee joint of the ogre. A human kneecap would have shattered, and even an orc would have been lamed by the attack. The ogre barely moved and seemed unfazed.

Kirin danced out of the way of the Ogre’s counterattack, a backhand blow that missed by inches.

“My knee hurts just seeing that.” Alex said.

“I can’t believe that thing is still standing” Jon said.

“Ogre’s frames have thicker joints and muscle than most any creature, not to mention strong bones to support all that weight boyo. If you face one remember it takes a hell of a lot to hurt an ogre.”

“A big axe to the head sometimes helps” said Graham in a gravely voice. The healers had been able to restore his powers of speech, but now when he spoke it sounded like rocks grinding together and it hurt him as well as his listeners.

Kirin’s expression didn’t echo the humans surprise. Elves knew more than most of the workings of all living creatures, having studied them all and created some.

The ogre’s hands were now clenched into fists and it came towards her, a slight limp the only evidence of her blow’s effects.

She waited, holding her body in perfect stillness as the creature approached. She held her breath and waited for it to step right there... now she thought and launched a thrust kick so fast the humans saw only a blur that struck the orge directly on the knee cap. Her next kick followed an instant later, a roundhouse kick to the back of it’s other knee.

The ogre howled in pain and backhanded her, it’s hand nearly the size of her torso, lifting her off the ground and nearly knocking her out of the ring. The force of the fall winded her, but she closed her eyes and calmed her body, restoring normal breathing by effort of will.

That she could do, but the arm she’d raised to ward off the blow hung limp at her side, the bone broken and poking through her skin. Her nose was bleeding from the fall and she’d bitten through her lip. She raised herself to her feet and spun gracefully.

This won reluctant cheers from the crowd who appreciated a brave performance. Certainly few had taken such a blow from an ogre and lived to tell the tale.

Her blows had affected the ogre as well, it’s advance was notably slower than before. It stopped just outside her kicking range and knelt upon one knee. It had realized it’s greater height made it’s knees to easy a target for her.

‘Damn’ she thought ‘the things can learn.’

It reached out to grab her by the throat but she ducked and thrust kick the creature in the jaw. The ogre ignored the strike and caught her leg in it’s grip. With a flick of it’s wrist it flung her to the outskirts of the drawn circle. If she landed outside the line she lost automatically by the rules. She threw her body into a backward summersault to bleed off some momentum and landed on her feet, just inside the boundary.

This maneuver drew a full measure of applause from the crowd, and even more lewd catcalls.

“I’d give her something to tumble about” yelled a wag.

“I’d just like to give her a tumble.” Shouted another.

Kirin knew she couldn’t ignore her broken arm and bloodloss forever. ‘Have to end this quickly somehow’ she thought.

Suddenly she charged across the ring and launched herself into a flying kick. The ogre raised it’s arm to intercept but she tumbled in midair causing it to miss and she grabbed two handfuls of its greasy hair to swing herself over it’s back and drive her legs into it’s right knee from behind.

It spun a backhand blow at her as the creature fell to it’s knees. She leapt lightly out of the way and swept back in with a kick to the ogre’s crotch. Her foot moved in a blur but the ogre’s howl of agony told the story plainly of what happened. Her hand jabbed palm down into the creature’s eye, now that it was within reach. The ogre howled in misery and she kicked it in the crotch again, striking a backhand chop to it’s throat immediately after. She continued her attack, faster than the eye could follow, a kick to the knee joint and then a strike to the neck. A kick to the crotch again and a jab in the eye. Dancing outside and then back in again, a terrifying whirlwind of deadly speed and accuracy.

The humans in the crowd actually began to feel sorry for the ogre. Then the ogre managed to connect a pulverizing right uppercut to the elf maids torso that sent her flying through the air. Unable to move, much less tumble she landed flat on her back in the center of the ring.

The ogre stumbled towards her to finish her off but it’s legs went out from under it. It began crawling towards her, gasping for breath through it’s damaged neck. Blood seeped from both eyes and it was unable to see clearly.

The elf maid rolled to her side, her entire body afire with pain. She backed herself up to the very edge of the ring. Part of her just wanted to step over the line, disqualifying herself. No, that was a cowards way out, and that was not the elven way. There was no mercy in elven culture, not for oneself and certainly not for anyone else.

The ogre was on it’s feet and stumbling towards her now. She coughed up a large stream of blood as her bodied convulsed. With her mind she forced calm into her system, holding herself together with sheer will.

The ogre drew near and threw a wild left hook that she barely dodged, her movements a pale shadow of her normal grace. She didn’t have the energy to dodge the next punch, a wicked right cross, but luckily the ogre could barely see and missed her. Enraged the ogre threw itself at her, she threw herself forward and tumbled through it’s legs. The ogre tried to halt it’s charge but it’s knees gave out and it fell over the boundary, disqualifying itself.

The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers, even the dwarves applauded grudgingly.

Knowing how the judges had ruled against Graham, Kirin lunged over the boundary herself before collapsing to the floor. The official ruled her the winner as the other elves in her party gathered her limp form for healing.

Meanwhile the mages and a squad of soldiers with pikes were trying to explain to the ogre that it was disqualified and no it still could not eat any of the crowd to vent it’s frustration.

The next match was Alex versus the Morgret the succubus.

“Didn’t we see this last night?” Jon wondered aloud.

“Are you and Joanna going to strip naked and fuck as you watch again then?” Alex rejoined.

“You’re just upset because you have to fight your sweetling boyo” Graham said.

“She’s not my sweetling, I let her feed to save your life if you remember?” Alex said pointedly but he was blushing as he said it.

Alex approached the succubus who was attired, as always, in nothing but her perfect beauty, pointed teeth, wings and tail doing nothing to detract from her seductive allure.

“You don’t want to fight me Alex” she said in her throaty purr.

“Funny, that’s what all my friends are saying too.”

“Everybody can’t be wrong.”

“Funny, but most people actually are.” Alex replied.

Morgret took a deep breath and her perfect breasts rose even higher. Alex’s eyes were wide and he didn’t notice his sudden intake of breath.

Morgret approached, hips swaying and wetting her lips with her tongue. Alex stared thunderstruck, the infinite aura of desire radiating from the sex demon, though not the sort of magic detectable by the officiating mages, was a spell every woman in the crowd had cast on a man at some time in her life, though none as powerfully as the succubus herself.

Alex’s eyes were totally fixed on Margrets swaying breasts, her voice a lulling series of enticements. He never saw the roundhouse kick that knocked him unconscious.

The referee announced later that it was the shortest fight in tournament history, briefer than even the halfling vs troll contest. ...

The next match was Jon against the giant. Jon had yet to enter the ring and took counsel with his friends.

“Do you recommend anything my dwarven friends? I’d ask Alex but he doesn’t even have the sense to watch his opponent’s fists instead of breasts.”

Alex flushed with embarrassment. “You’d have done the same.”

“Given the beauty of the breasts in question, probably. But that’s not the issue. The fact remains that it’s your name that will live into legend, the briefest match in tournament history.”

“If the giant doesn’t kill you, I’m going to have to.”

“Well that’s something to live for. How about you Joanna, any likewise encouraging threats?”

“Just survive you misshapen lump of muscle, just survive for me.” Joanna threw her arms around Jon and squeezed him tight, trying to memorize the feel of his arms around her in case he never would again.

“Height isn’t everything” Graham said to Jon as the latter stepped into the ring.

“Sometimes it’s a hell of a lot though” supplied Thomas.

Jon considered relativity as he strode towards the giant. He’d worked hard to be one of the strongest men around, training every day to build muscle. He’d been born big and strong, but many were. His strength was as much as a product of his work as birth. Yet what did it mean to be the strongest human when orks and ogres and giants were all stronger, sometimes much so.

Of course he hadn’t only worked to develop his strength. He’d learned dozens of holds and countless combinations and transitions. He knew throws and sweeps and strikes. He’d used his strength but never made the mistake of relying on it.

And he’d just seen an elf girl defeat an ogre, who knew what was possible in such a world, maybe a man could take down a giant. Certainly he’d lived up to his claim of outwrestling an ork.

His opponent was over ten feet tall, and powerfully built though not as much so as Jon. His were more defined and he took off his tunic and flexed for the crowd. As he ever he resolved to give them a show.

The giant took one knee in front of him, learning from the ogre the danger to it’s knee joints from a smaller foe.

Jon struck out a jab at his opponent. The giant swatted it away, not particularly quickly, but it was hard to miss with a hand the size of a pig. He followed it with a powerful right hand that connected and rocked the giant’s head back an inch. A slow back hand from the giant knocked him off his feet.

He rolled easily back to his feet. The giant had made no effort to follow him up. He wasn’t as quick as the elf, but who was? Still, he was quicker than the giant and that might be of use.

He locked up with the giant, one arm around each others neck, the other arm over his opponents. He was able to with the giant on one knee. He tried to push the giants arm up so he could slip under and behind as he’d done against the ork. The giant just forced him down to his stomach and then lifted him up into the air with both hands. Jon locked his legs around the creature’s upper torso and threw a rapid series of punches, peppering the giants face. He locked his arms around one of the giants arms, turned his hips and arched his back. He was putting pressure on each side of the joint, enough to snap a mans arm in half. The giant just frowned and tried to squash him beneath it’s weight. Jon let go and dropped easily to the ground.

The giant rubbed it’s sore arm and approached the human again taking one knee. Jon circled towards the injured arm. Suddenly the giant’s foot was flying towards him. Jon jumped back throwing both arms up. Too late he realized the kick was a feint and the giant caught him an overhand blow with his good arm. He couldn’t move his right arm and his legs wouldn’t take his weight. He fell limply to the ground.

Alex and Joanna shouted their surrender for him, that the fight was over. There was no way they could get there in time though. However the giant looked over at them and waved them away.

“No no, small ones. I not kill this one. He fought well. Actually caused me pain. He can live. He tough small one.” The giant smiled and picked Jon up. After depositing the man on the ground the giant extended his hand. Jon shook it, his hand engulfed in the giant’s larger one. Then the creature walked out of the ring to buy a barrel of beer from the tavern.

The first match of the third round was the Margret the succubus vs Kirin the elf maid. Both competitors had earned the crowds respect and the people teamed into the city streets, using looking glasses to see the action.

Elvish healing skills outpaced humans and the elf maid looked fit except for motley bruises on her otherwise perfect flesh. The succubus on the other hand fought naked and her body and skin were flawless.

The elf girl launched a kick at Margret’s head. The succubus blocked with her forearm but was rocked by the blow. Kirin blocked Margret’s counterstrike but was unable to stop it completely.

The elf was faster, but couldn’t match the succubi’s demonic strength. The two competitors struck and kicked, dodged and blocked in an intricate dance, speed and grace versus strength and skill. Both competitors drew blood from their opponent. Kirin’s nose was broken, while Margret’s left eye was swollen shut.

The succubus would duck under an elfin kick only to find Kirin spinning effortless out of the way of her counterstrike following it with an elbow that caught the succubus square, breaking her nose. The succubus rapidly dodged and weaved, blocking blows she could barely see, such was the elf’s speed. But Kirin pushed her advantage too hard, a second past the time the succubus needed to recover. A snapping thrust kick caught the elf under the chin.

The elf girl had no chance to even roll with the blow and her eyes rolled back in her head. The concussed elf girl fell to the floor. The referee declared the succubus the winner.

Tomorrow she would face the giant in the Tournaments final match.

That night, as Alex stood outside the tavern enjoying the crisp winter air, the succubus approached him.

Alex glared at her as she approached.

“You made a fool of me out there.” He said coldly.

“I saw a weakness and exploited it. What’s wrong with that?”

“You sucker punched me. This is supposed to be a contest of skill.”

“And alertness and cleverness. Or are those only important when they work to your advantage.”

“You took advantage of my attraction to you, that you’ve fed off my energy.”

“Nope. No magic at all. Look, beauty is one of my weapons, just like your strength and training. I use it to the best of my ability, as Jon does his strength, as you do your quickness of wit and agility.”

Alex considered her words, his glare gradually softening. “Well it was a good shot” he conceded “my jaw was sore for a week.”

“Thanks. I was hoping to put you down for the count.”

“Well you did.”

The succubus touched her hand to his arm and gave him a gentle smile. It was the most innocent of touches but he felt his knees turn to water. She leaned in and kissed him, tenderly but thoroughly, her lips like cool water that quenched the fire lit by her touch.

“May I feed on you?” she asked him, breaking the kiss for just a moment.

“If it won’t kill me or leave me helpless for more than a day.” He bargained, and to even request that much was an effort.

“I suppose” she said and sighed with mock disappointment. Even if he hadn’t added the conditions she probably woudn’t have hurt him, she’d grown fond of him over the course of the tournament. If she was human she might have imagined she was falling in love with him. Idly she wondered if he was falling in love with her. Humans did so from time to time.

She led him to a nearby snowdrift, and they made love under the stars, her in her natural form, him kissing her back where the wings joined to her skin, caressing him with her tail, weaving it around his thighs and between his legs. She playfully butted his head with the small horns on her forehead. And they made love all through the night.

In the morning she picked up his helpless form and carried him into the tavern, laying him down upon the bed. She spared a moment to consider the bed where Joanna and Jon were sleeping. Now those two were definitely in love’ she thought. She ran her fingernails over their arms without quite intending to.

They murmured in their sleep without waking up. Her lips quirked in an impish smile. With one hand apiece she began to sexually manipulate them. With her expertiece they were both rapidly aroused. Jon’s eyes fluttered open and he observed the beautiful demon stroking him and closed his eyes with a contented smile on his lips.

Joanna was much more perturbed and was on the verge of shouting a protest when a wave of pleasure rocked her.

“You don’t really want me to stop do you?” Margret purred in her ear. “Not when it feels so good. You really want me to keep doing exactly what I’m doing if you could just admit it to yourself. Just say it, say ‘I want you to keep touching me.”

“No.” Joanna said. “No. Don’t. Stop.” Another wave of pleasure rocked her. “Don’t stop. Keep touching me.”

Simultaneously she brought both humans to climax. She fed oh so minutely on the orgasms she’d brought and revelled in the energy coursing through her body. She could hardly wait for her match against the giant.

When the succubus faced the giant she was surprised to find the humans in her corner, with Alex carried by the two dwarves. “He wanted to come but can’t quite walk yet” explained Thomas.

“I thought you two would be pissed at me” she said to Jon and Joanna.

“We were for awhile” Joanna said “well I was anyway. Then I realized it’s just what you do, and I enjoyed it. After I got over my being ashamed of myself, I actually wanted to thank you. And thank you for helping save Alex from that elf bitch.”

The succubus blushed a little. Alex made a mental note of it, figuring it could be the first time in history it occurred. At least without it being part of a seduction scheme. Unless she was much more devious than she seemed and seducing them all somehow...

Naaah. He thought.

Alex stood with the help of the dwarves and gave her a cub hug. (Like a bear hug but much weaker) He whispered something in her ear the others couldn’t make out.

The succubus blushed more and hugged him back fiercely. Then she stepped into the circle. The giant did likewise and the two fighters approached each other.

The giant took one knee as he had against Jon, reducing the vulnerability of his legs. The succubus swayed towards him, radiating sexuality. The giant yawned theatrically.

“I’m prepared for your tricks, I had sex all night last night and I’m so sore I can’t even get hard small one” the giant said to her.

“You’re tired then, while I’m bursting with energy.”

“True hell bitch, but you don’t scare me.” And so saying he swatted at her with an enormous open hand. She spun her body, dodging the blow and striking a roundhouse kick that caught the giant in the ribs. She followed it with a flurry of blows to the giant’s side and head, then leapt away gracefully as the giant tried to grasp her in a bear hug.

The fight continued that way for several minutes. The succubus dancing her way around the giant, landing her strikes and dodging the powerful blows of the giant. The behemoth was growing frustrated and increasingly wild in it’s punches and kicks. One blow would end the fight and might even kill the succubus, but for all it’s efforts it couldn’t land that one blow.

Margret knew she couldn’t hurt the giant, not unless she landed a blow in a vulnerable place. But she could frustrate and annoy the creature until it made a mistake. The giant struck a thrust kick at her chest which she dove under, rolling and leaping to her feet.

It had actually been a feint, the same that had caught Jon, but the succubus diving dodge left him no opportunity to strike. The giant howled in frustration and rage.

He struck a doublefisted blow down at her head. The succubus threw herself to one side and he missed. She leapt across the creatures back and tried to lock in a chokehold. The giants neck was too broad and she couldn’t lock her grip properly. The giant reached back his hands to grasp her. So the succubus dragged her claws across the giants throat tearing it open. Abruptly the giant let her go and clutched it’s throat.

The succubus flew over and raked his face with her claws, blood poured from his forehead and blinded him. Lost in rage it charged at her, shoulder first. She dived through his legs and kicked backwards with her hands on the ground. The extra momentum sent the giant headlong to the ground, landing outside the ring.

Blood was still flowing from the giants throat and Jon rused to the fallen creature.

“Hold still my large friend” Jon said “I can staunch the bleeding.” He tore off his tunic, to the cheers of some of the ladies in the crowd, and applied it the giants throat.

The blood wasn’t spurting so the succubus hadn’t torn an artery, so it was likely the giant would live if the wound was stitched in time.

“Joanna” he called “are you any good with a needle?”

“Of course not” she replied “and even if I was, what good would I be with this?” she said and held up her hook.

“Sorry” he said. “Can you run and get the medics?”

“Sure” she said and ran off to find them.

The dwarves came over. “Traveling like we do I’ve learned to darn” Graham said. He leaned over and began to sew the wound closed with a fine wiry thread.

“Thank you” the giant said as it’s head cleared. “Why are you saving me?”

“I guess because it’s the right thing to do. Besides you didn’t kill me when you could. That’s almost like saving my life isn’t it.”

“I guess. I still owe you one.”

“Well good. I’ve always wanted to have a favor from a giant as a hole card.”

“It would be better if I could pay it off here, as I’m likely to never see you again after we leave.”

“I’ll keep that in mind my large friend.”

Joanna returned with a medic in tow. “He didn’t want to come help a giant, seems they only feel they should heal humans and their allies.”

“So how did you get him to come?”

“I don’t know, I only offered to stroke him off.” Joanna said sweetly.

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“With this” she added raising her hook and smiling wolfishly.

“Good lass” Jon said.

The medic inspected the dwarf’s stitchwork. “He’s going to be fine, someone did a good job of sewing him up. I don’t know why you dragged me over here.”

“Better safe than sorry.” Jon said. “Thanks for coming.” “No problem. Just keep her away from me. Please.”

“Consider it done.”

There was to be a ceremony the next day to crown the victor. However when the humans entered the tavern that night they found the succubus in anything but a celebratory mood.

“What’s the matter?” Joanna asked giving her a quick hug.

“I’m doomed” the succubus said and hiccupped loudly.

“No you’re drunk” Jon said “but hangovers are rarely fatal. Except for my friend Jason of Argos. He was so hung over that the next time there was a sound he shouted he’d kill the man who made it and went for him with a knife.”

“How was that fatal?” Alex asked hating himself for it.

“I was the next man who made a sound.” He said smiling broadly.

“You just make this stuff up to be annoying.”

“Perhaps” the big man said enigmatically. Only me and Jason know for sure.”

“Except he’s dead.”

“So then only I know for sure.” He said agreeably.

Alex only moaned in response.

The succubus was smiling despite herself.

“I’m going to miss you three.” She said.

“Why not travel with us awhile then?” Alex said eagerly.

“Because I have to return to the pit, where I’ll be assigned to collect souls for my master.”

“How were you able to compete in the tournament?”

“I’m playing hooky from my assignment, I’m supposed to be corrupting some priest of the sun god in one of the southern cities.”

“Are you going to be in trouble?” Alex asked.

“Of course. He’ll probably sentence me to a decade of torment when he finds out.”

“Does he have to find out?” Jon asked.

“He’s a powerful demon, he’ll find out.”

“Can’t you tell him to stuff it?” Joanna asked “I mean you’re a hell of a fighter and just won the tournament. Who the hell is he to tell you what to do?”

“Well I hoped if I won the tournament I would have the courage to face him down, it’s demon tradition if you can defeat your master in a fight without magic he has to release his ownership of you.”

“What tradition is that?” Alex asked.

“The strong rule the weak.” The demoness replied. “It’s our major theme.”

“So why not fight him?”

“Because he terrifies me. I was going to contact him and challenge him but I couldn’t. I tried but broke down. So I came in here and started drinking.” She hiccupped again but red tears were leaking from her eyes.

Alex put his arms around her. “Are you allowed to have help?”

The succubus looked at him blankly.

“If you defeat him with help does he still have to let you go?”

“I suppose, I don’t know. What does it matter?”

“You silly girl. I’ll help you.” Alex said. “I love you.”

“We’ll help you then. Someone has to look out for the young lad.”

“I don’t need you to, you’re just lucky we didn’t meet in the tournament.”

“The ring is still there lad, tournament or no. Do you want to take a tumble?”

“Sure. Soon as we deal with Margret’s problem.”

“You’re on lad. Loser buys beer for the winner and all of our friends for one night.”

“Done.” Alex agreed and they shook hands on it.

“Men.” Joanna sighed resignedly.

“I don’t know” Margret said “I think machismo is kind of cute.”

“It’s not cute, I just want to teach the big oaf some respect.”

“And someone has to teach the lad to be careful of his temper. Better he learn from me than have his throat cut in a tavern brawl.”

“Like you taught Jason of Argo?”

“Exactly” Jon agreed.

“I thought you killed him.” Alex said.

“He wasn’t a quick study.” Jon said.

“We were discussing Margret” Joanna reminded them.

“Oh right” Jon said “so how can we find out if our help will do any good?”

“It’s a big town, and they’ve had more contact with non humans than most, I’ll ask the town sages.”

“I’ll go with you” the succubus said.

“I’ll drink” said Jon.

“We’ll help” said the dwarves.

The sage was surprising young, only in his middle thirties. He had a salt and pepper beard and managed to only occasionally leer at the succubus’s exposed breasts.

Alex had convinced her to put on a corset so she wouldn’t offend the locals as she walked through town, but this only made her more distracting.

“Demon challenges, there’s not much literature on them. But apparently help is allowed, but only if it’s not magically coerced help. It falls under the no magic clause of the challenge. And demon’s being generally unpleasant, there’s not much history of help.”

“Why no magic anyway?” Alex asked. “Why shouldn’t a demon powerful in magic be allowed to use it to control his followers?”

“For all their innate powers demons don’t use magic like human mages. Well only a few do. And their culture reveres physical strength. They feel any leader who can’t physically surpass those who belong to him, doesn’t belong to keep them. It also limits the time demons can hold each other in bondage, so the elder can’t indefinitely keep the younger in their thrawl.”

“How do you know so much of demons?” the succubus asked, stunned by the man’s knowledge of aspects of her culture she hadn’t even thought about.

“I originally wanted to be a demonologist, summon sex demons for my pleasure. But I hadn’t the magical talent. So I attended the university in Verona and eventually took a position here. Since the town has so much contact with non humans, they are willing to provide much for experts on them to live here, or at least attend the Tournament.”

“Well I think I can help you with the summoning sex demons...”

“Margret” Alex said cutting her off.

“What?” she said turning to him curiously. “You’re jealous. You’re jealous.” She continued, not quite believing it. “You share Joanna with Jon but you don’t want me, a succubus, to sleep with anyone else?”

“It’s different. I like Joanna, but it’s not the same. Since I’ve been with you, I can’t imagine being with another woman. At least not without you being a part of it. And I don’t want you to be with anyone else, not unless I’m a part of it.”

“We’ll have to talk about this, but for now I can just teach him how to summon one of my friends. Besides I think they’ll like each other, she has a thing for scholars. Remind me to keep her away from you.”

“I’m not a scholar” Alex protested.

“What was Seutonius’s finest work”

“Lives of the Khan’s” he answered distractedly.

“But you’re not a scholar” she chided him.

“Wait. You’ve read Suetonius?”

“Of course” Alex said.

“I’d like to travel with you when you leave. Maybe take you on as an apprentice sage. Would you like that?”

“I don’t know. I’ll have to talk it over with my travelling partners.”

“Anyway, before I get distracted. Margret, you’re allowed help in you’re challenge, but only in that you can select a champion to fight for you. Although given your victory I don’t know why you’d need one.”

The succubus gave the sage a tight hug and a kiss. The scholar flushed blood red. Alex pulled the succubus away as he called their farewells.

It was getting late, approaching midnight when they gathered in the human’s room. It was the dwarves, the humans and Margret, and they were making plans for the next few days and the rest of their lives.

“The sage offered to travel with me. I want to keep travelling with you guys, Jon and Joanna and I want the succubus to come with us. If it’s okay I’d like the sage to come along as well so I can learn from him. We can put on exhibitions from town to town, and earn our money that way.”

“I’m willing to use the money I’m winning to help with expenses” the succubus offered.

“I’m willing lass. Are you my girl?” he said to Joanna.

“I’m not you’re anything. I belong to myself. You’re just MY lover, for the moment anyway. However I don’t mind, I guess. I’m just a cripple anyway. You guys will get tired of me soon enough, why not have an incredibly beautiful demon along to speed up the process.”

“You’re beautiful, MY LADY. And I’m not going to tire of you anytime soon, demon or no demon. Or do I have to put you over my knee and spank you.”

Joanna actually giggled at that, and it was a beautiful sound.

“Cut the foreplay” Graham said in his rock crushing voice.

“What my friend means is let’s not get distracted.” Thomas said. “We’d like to help Alex, since he and Jon saved Graham’s life. Plus we like the lad. So we’re willing to help yon demoness here escape her master. Plus, we’re not much for slavery of any kind.”

“Thank you” said Margret. “It’s hard to believe you’re all willing to risk you’re lives for me, when there’s no gain for you.”

“Yeah it’s that kind of stupidity that separates us from elves.” Said Graham and he laughed, a terrible and wondrous sound.

“We’d also like to travel with you lot for awhile, help keep you out of trouble. Besides the elf bitch and her friends are going to try and kill you, and us. It makes sense to stay together rather than be attacked separately.”

“Just to save the elves the trouble, of course” Jon said.

“Why make them work harder at finding us. Thomas AGREED.

“Plus if you kill them all before they get to us, well we’d be disappointed is all.” Graham said.

“By the by on that, it’s probably better to stay here, even after the ceremony until the elves make their play. Fighting elves in the wood is just a creative kind of suicide.”

“Good idea” Alex agreed. “Now who should be Margret’s champion?”

“Well girl, tell us about your master. What’s he like?”

“He’s over seven feet tall, built like a tank and has talons that extend from the back of his hand. He’s incredibly strong and I once saw him fell a troll with one blow.”

“Well that sounds promising. Yon giant owes us a favor, perhaps him?”

“No. The giant’s too slow, Nimzovitch, my soon to be ex master I hope, is almost as fast as I am. He’d tear apart the giant.”

“Maybe you should fight him, we’ll be there for moral support.”

“I can’t. I think about it and I freeze up. I’d be useless. Besides most of my victories in the tournament were from my opponents underestimating me.”

“Not true” said Thomas. “I watched your fights. Well earned victories every one. Especially against our young friend here. I laughed for hours.”

“I still can’t fight him. I want to, but I can’t.”

“Easy girl, it’s okay. I’ll fight him for you.” Jon said clapping her on the shoulder.

Alex started to protest, then caught himself. It was Margret’s decision. Besides the important thing was that she be free, not who did the fighting. If she thought Jon had the better chance, that was the important thing, no matter how much it tore him up inside, no matter how much he wanted to be the one to set her free.

“No thanks.” Margret said “I choose Alex.”

“What?” Jon said bewildered. He liked Alex and respected him as a fighter, they’d sparred after all. But he was bigger and stronger, and felt that in a match with Alex he’d eventually triumph, in fact he had beer riding on that conviction. “This is no time for sentiment, don’t get the boy killed for some poetic notion that love conquers all.”

“It’s not that” she said “though it means much to me that he loves me and perhaps I love him, what do demons know of love after all. But I choose him because I think he has the best chance of victory, not because he warms my heart.”

“Jon,” and she laid a soft hand on his chest as she spoke “you’ve always been bigger and stronger. Even when you fought the giant and the ork you had to force yourself to not rely on your strength. Alex is used to using quickness and skill to compensate for power. You’re great strength is an advantage against other men, but against Nimzovitch it means nothing. Skill and agility will carry the day or nothing will. And for that I choose Alex.”

“What of us?” asked the dwarves. “We invented wrestling, and we’re stronger than either man.”

“But none have ever accused dwarves of being quick” she said.

“Especially of wit” Jon teased.

“Will you Alex? Will you be my champion, though your life could easily be the cost?”

“Of course. I told you before you fought the giant. I love you. I want you to be free, and I want you to be with me. For as long as you’re willing. If being in church wouldn’t kill you, I’d marry you.”

“That’s so sweet” she said and kissed him, it was supposed to be quick but it turned longer. He pulled her tight against him and they began to grind together. Jon cleared his throat loudly and they separated their lips but not their bodies. “NO sex” Jon said “or the lad won’t be able to walk, let alone be your champion.”

“I can have sex without feeding. I can even transfer a bit of his strength back to him that I took.”

“Well, I suppose go ahead then. We’ll meet you outside in half an hour, by the ring.”

“Okay” said Alex distractedly. He only had eyes for the succubus who was still wearing the corset. Well partially, she was in the process of removing it.

“Make it an hour and a half” said the succubus.

An hour and a half was a lot of time so the humans and the dwarves started drinking in the tavern. The giant was there and bought them a round. They talked about the upcoming challenge between Alex and the demon and the giant wanted to see it. So he came with them out to the ring when the appointed time rolled around.

Alex stretched out while the succubus began the ritual of summoning and challenge. After several minutes of chanting and following the ritual the demon began to take shape in the ring. “You challenge me Morgret? Have you grown foolish or suicidal?”

Inside the succubus wilted but she held herself together. I challenge you for my freedom in accordance with demonic tradition. I also claim my right of champion.”

“Fine. Who is your champion silly girl. The big dumb human, the giant or the half pints?”

“I’m her champion.” Alex said stepping forward.

“Stupid cow. If you were going to choose a human you should at least chosen the best one.”

“I have.”

“Now wait a minute” said John.

“Not the time for your ego Jon” Joanna said and he swallowed his protests.

The demon was terrifying, seven foot plus with blood red flesh. He had fangs and sharp claws, as well as a wicked looking talon curven behind each hand. He had small horns that jutted from his brow.

“So tell me mortal, are you in love with her? Do you know how many men she’s seduced and destroyed? Tell me, do you think she loves you? That you’re somehow special, and not just a tool to be used? Are you truly so na�ve?”

The words burned Alex, having his own doubts thrown in his face by this, this monster. “I’ll kill you!” he shouted and charged the demon.

The creature smiled it’s fanged smile and ducked his first punch. It responded with a short uppercut to Alex’s ribs which sank him to his knees.

“I’m going to so enjoy torturing you for the next decade Margret.” The demon leered at the succubus, who let out a small whimper of fear.

Alex knew that one short punch had broken ribs. His side was all stabbing pain yet he rolled over backwards and rose to his feet.

“That all you got?” Alex asked.

“No” said the demon whose name was Zeke. “I’m going to rip your heart out of your flesh and eat it eventually. But I’m in no rush.”

Alex circled the demon, who lashed out a jab. Alex slipped the punch and stepped to the side of the demon. Circling his arms around it’s chest, he threw his weight back while tripping the demon with his right leg.

The demon fell hard against the ground, it’s head slamming into the frozen earth. Alex swung his body around and gripped the creature’s arm above and below the elbow. He jerked it sharply into the monster’s side, so it would have no leverage, and then torqued it. The joint popped loudly and tendons tore. The demon actually yelled in pain and surprise.

Alex slammed his head into the demon’s jaw and rolled over and off the demon, rising quickly to his feet. Now it would just be a matter of wearing down the effectively one armed opponent.

The demon looked unconcerned and just smiled it’s fanged smile. It closed it’s eyes for a moment, and then flexed the arm which moved smoothly, no hint of the previous injury.

The red giant swung his newly healed arm in a vicious left hook that Alex barely sidestepped.

“Master demons can heal almost any injury with little effort.” Margret called out “and it’s allowed during challenges. I should have said.”

“Yeah, that would have been good.”

“I said I was sorry.”

Alex would have shouted at her but he couldn’t spare the wind. The demon was pressing him, jabbing and throwing hooks that he had to slip or deflect. He was completely on the defensive, and all it would take was one punch past his guard to end the fight.

Outside the ring Jon asked the succubus “do demon’s breath?”

“Of course. How do you think we talk?”

“No lass, do you need to breathe? What happens if you’re choked?”

“I don’t know. We don’t breathe in the pits.”

Jon grabbed her arm hard and swung her around. He locked his forearm arcross her throat and pushed her head forward. She let out a strangled cough and began to struggle frantically. She elbowed Jon hard in the pit of his stomach and he released the hold. Turning away he heaved the contents of his stomach onto the cold ground.

He fell to his knees still coughing and Joanna kneeled beside him, holding his head to her breast, glaring at the demoness.

“Sorry, don’t know my own strength sometimes” she apologized.

“Chokeholds’ work” Thomas shouted to his human friend.

“Thanks” Alex said as he ducked under the demon’s left hook. He slipped his head aside from the right cross that followed. Frantically he backpedalled and circled the demon.

He was trying to keep his distance while he racked his brains for an idea. The demon was fast for his size and terribly strong. And could heal any injury in the blink of an eye. Not a whole lot to work with’ Alex thought to himself. ‘Blink of an eye’...

Alex lashed out an overhand right as the demon was coming it. The demon caught his fist in the palm of his hand. He began to squeeze but Alex was already snapping a kick to the inside of it’s knee. There was a loud pop and the demon screamed in pain.

“Time to fight dirty” Alex said and promptly jabbed his thumb into it’s eye. The demon howled in outrage and Alex snapped a kick at it’s other knee. The demon fell to it’s knees and Margret’s champion kicked Margret’s master in the crotch. The demon actually let out a moan.

Alex circled his arm over the back of the demon’s neck and brought his forearm up and pressing into it’s throat. He grabbed his own wrist for leverage and tried to guillotine the demon with his forearm.

The demon hissed but was unable to breathe. It’s body was aflame with pain and the human was cutting off the flow of ichor to it’s brain. It tried to stand but it’s knees wouldn’t bear it’s weight and it fell back to the ground. The demon concentrated and healed one knee but it was finding it hard to think. It began to feel lightheaded and strangely peaceful. The demon knew that couldn’t be good and punched it’s talon into the human’s thigh.

Alex let out a scream of pain but continued to crank his hold. The demon clawed up his side but he could tell it was growing weaker. Suddenly the creature’s limbs were spasming wildly. It had passed out and it’s body was thrashing about from lack of breath, like a fowl with it’s head cut off.

He let go and the demon fell limply to the ground. Margret flew into the ring and dove atop her master. She raised her claws to cut it’s throat but Alex grabbed her arm.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m killing him, what does it look like?”

“You can’t kill a downed opponent.”

“You idiot, how do you think these matches end?”

“I thought if you lost he tortured you.”

“And if I win I have to kill him. Do you think he’d just say oh, you won, you can go. A demon is never free until her master is dead!”

She backed Alex up with the strength of her fury. “I’m trying to learn your mixed up morality but this is my business.”

“You made it mine when you named me your champion. Remember?”

“Damn you!” she screamed.

“I’ll take care of that.” The demon said.

It slowly got to it’s feet, shaking it’s legs out to make sure they were working again.

“Good try” said the creature “but not quite enough to put me down for the count. And now I’m going to rip that still beating heart out.”

“No, you’re not” said the succubus. She walked up to him, keeping eye contact. Suddenly he didn’t scare her anymore. She’d seen his ass whupped by her boyfriend. A mortal, who couldn’t heal horrible injuries, who had no powers but training and skill, had defeated her master. Her former master.

“If I were you, Zeke, and thank the hells I’m not, I would take the human’s mercy and just give up. Get the hell out of here and I won’t leave you as rotting crow food.” She advanced on the demon flexing her claws. “Run” she advised.

He just laughed at her. With blinding speed she kicked his kneecap and it cracked. Again the demon’s voice, a horrible booming, monstrous voice, cried in pain. Then she smashed the other kneecap with another kick. With her claws she gouged out an eye.

The demon fell to the ground. She gouged out his other eye and kicked him hard in the crotch. Then she struck his neck with her claws three times in succession, completely tearing out the demon’s throat, sending black ichor flying everywhere. The humans and dwarves were quickly covered in it.

“You don’t scare me anymore.” She said to herself and the demon, laughing incredulously. Then she dove her claws into it’s chest and pulled out it’s still beating heart. She lifted it to her lips, gave it a brief kiss and then crushed it in her hand.

The demon gave a heart rending howl and then lay still.

Alex stared wideeyed at his lover, this demoness, so beautiful and deadly.

Jon clapped him on the back. “Word of advice my lad, don’t cheat on her. Or at least don’t get caught.” He absentmindedly blocked Joanna’s hook as she tried to strike his chest.

“Alex” Margret said “what’s wrong? I was just doing what I had to do.”

“You killed him. Effortlessly.”

“After you won my freedom.”

“You won it for yourself. You killed him. You defeated him. You didn’t need me.”

“Yes I did. I couldn’t face him, he terrified me. It wasn’t till I saw you, a mortal who couldn’t heal at will, who wasn’t supernaturally strong, facing a master demon with only your training and skill. Facing death because you love me, and because it’s what you do. You taught me that he was beatable, and that I could be free of him. And when he rose again, I was more scared that he was going to hurt you, kill you because you were too good to kill a downed opponent. Suddenly, I knew I had to do it for myself, and that I could. You did more than give me my freedom, you gave me the strength to win it for myself.” And she swayed towards Alex, her eyes glowing with affection.

He didn’t retreat and she put her arms around him, pressing her body to his and her face to his neck, murmuring contendedly. He slowly, tentatively put her arms around her. Then he squeezed her tight, savoring the feel of her body against his chest.

Then he screamed as shock faded and the pain kicked in.

“I’m so sorry” she said. She lifted him in her arms and flew off to the medics.

“I really hope one doesn’t try and tell her it’s after hours” Jon said.

“That could go badly” Thomas agreed. “I reckon I’ll head over there and make sure the girl doesn’t kill anyone trying to save the boyo.”

The dwarves hurried off after the succubus.

“So that’s what love looks like” Jon said to Joanna.

“Something like risking disqualification to put your body between mine and harm?” Joanna asked.

“No, that was stupidity” Jon clarified.

“I hear they’re much alike actually.”

“Now who said that?” he asked.

“You did.”

For a brief moment Jon was speechless and Joanna took his stunned face in her hands and kissed him soundly.

“I love you too” she said.