opponent but that didn’t stop her gaze from locking on the alien male who she’d given herself to so freely as the two contestants stepped into the arena.
The challengers squared off. They were evenly matched in height and musculature. Each man held long rods like the one she saw them using on the field earlier, only Dallas could have sworn the one Remar used was the same one from her ship. The round commenced, with some expected posturing before the first blow was dealt by Keito.
Unable to shift her gaze from the arena, Dallas asked no one in particular, “How long will they fight?”
“Until there is a clear victor.” Rabika answered. “Usually...” She paused as Remar took a blow to the shoulder that made him stumble.
“And how is that determined?” Dallas wanted to know her pulse quickening at the hit.
“The first one to get knocked unconscious or pinned to the ground is disqualified.”
She was relieved the match wouldn’t end in fatality, and even found herself relaxing.
Remar took one more blow to the upper body before a burst of energy seemed to surge through him. With carefully measured strikes he managed to make short work of disarming his opponent. Three more key hits with the rod had Keito on the ground, trying to scramble to his feet as Remar tossed his rod away in preparation for the pin. The crowd roared at the move and Remar’s name rang even louder. Seeing a brief window of opportunity Keito caught Remar off guard by scissoring his legs and forcing him off his feet.
The neanderthal went down.
Hard.
For several moments the two rolled in the dust vying for dominance. Landing blow after punishing blow.
Dallas found herself literally sitting on the edge of her seat. She’d never been one to go in for the popular ultimate damage matches at home, but there was something fascinating about watching the two behemoths go all in to win the honor of marrying a woman. She stamped down the twinge of envy blooming. Just because it looked as if she was going to be trapped on the planet didn’t mean she had to embrace all the native customs.
Finally, Remar locked his opponent to the ground. Beneath him Keito bucked and managed to deliver a hard punch to Remar’s jaw. The force of the blow jerked his head backward. In return Keito got an elbow to the temple.
He went still.
The official rushed back onto the field.
“It is done,” he announced.
Remar responded quickly bounding to his feet with the energy of a man who hadn’t been involved in an all-day brawl fest. He looked completely exuberant and virile under the artificial light.
“Let it be forever known on this day that Remar of the clan Falak is victor in this claiming challenge.”
The crowd cheered.
Keito hadn’t gone out easily. If his intent was to throw the match then he’d put up a convincing fight.
Scanning all the faces she couldn’t help but feel the people were genuinely happy with the victor. She didn’t ever remember seeing that type of support for a figure head back home. Being High Commander was obviously more than just a title.
“ Dal’las .” Remar’s booming voice rang through the stadium and as he did the enclosure surrounding the balcony retracted.
She wasn’t sure if it was the sound of his voice or the calling of her name ringing through the stadium that startled her most. Maybe it was a combination of both. Either way, the last thing she expected was for him to acknowledge her in so public a forum and on the tail end of his success.
“Stand up.” Rabika nudged her.
Heat bloomed in her face like a wild fire before spreading through her whole body. She really didn’t like being the center of attention and having the eyes of several thousand alien’s on her was even more disconcerting.
Regardless of how uncomfortable she felt Dallas rose from her seat. A hush fell over the stadium
“This day did you witness the victor of the claim challenge?” Even from their distance she could feel his
The challengers squared off. They were evenly matched in height and musculature. Each man held long rods like the one she saw them using on the field earlier, only Dallas could have sworn the one Remar used was the same one from her ship. The round commenced, with some expected posturing before the first blow was dealt by Keito.
Unable to shift her gaze from the arena, Dallas asked no one in particular, “How long will they fight?”
“Until there is a clear victor.” Rabika answered. “Usually...” She paused as Remar took a blow to the shoulder that made him stumble.
“And how is that determined?” Dallas wanted to know her pulse quickening at the hit.
“The first one to get knocked unconscious or pinned to the ground is disqualified.”
She was relieved the match wouldn’t end in fatality, and even found herself relaxing.
Remar took one more blow to the upper body before a burst of energy seemed to surge through him. With carefully measured strikes he managed to make short work of disarming his opponent. Three more key hits with the rod had Keito on the ground, trying to scramble to his feet as Remar tossed his rod away in preparation for the pin. The crowd roared at the move and Remar’s name rang even louder. Seeing a brief window of opportunity Keito caught Remar off guard by scissoring his legs and forcing him off his feet.
The neanderthal went down.
Hard.
For several moments the two rolled in the dust vying for dominance. Landing blow after punishing blow.
Dallas found herself literally sitting on the edge of her seat. She’d never been one to go in for the popular ultimate damage matches at home, but there was something fascinating about watching the two behemoths go all in to win the honor of marrying a woman. She stamped down the twinge of envy blooming. Just because it looked as if she was going to be trapped on the planet didn’t mean she had to embrace all the native customs.
Finally, Remar locked his opponent to the ground. Beneath him Keito bucked and managed to deliver a hard punch to Remar’s jaw. The force of the blow jerked his head backward. In return Keito got an elbow to the temple.
He went still.
The official rushed back onto the field.
“It is done,” he announced.
Remar responded quickly bounding to his feet with the energy of a man who hadn’t been involved in an all-day brawl fest. He looked completely exuberant and virile under the artificial light.
“Let it be forever known on this day that Remar of the clan Falak is victor in this claiming challenge.”
The crowd cheered.
Keito hadn’t gone out easily. If his intent was to throw the match then he’d put up a convincing fight.
Scanning all the faces she couldn’t help but feel the people were genuinely happy with the victor. She didn’t ever remember seeing that type of support for a figure head back home. Being High Commander was obviously more than just a title.
“ Dal’las .” Remar’s booming voice rang through the stadium and as he did the enclosure surrounding the balcony retracted.
She wasn’t sure if it was the sound of his voice or the calling of her name ringing through the stadium that startled her most. Maybe it was a combination of both. Either way, the last thing she expected was for him to acknowledge her in so public a forum and on the tail end of his success.
“Stand up.” Rabika nudged her.
Heat bloomed in her face like a wild fire before spreading through her whole body. She really didn’t like being the center of attention and having the eyes of several thousand alien’s on her was even more disconcerting.
Regardless of how uncomfortable she felt Dallas rose from her seat. A hush fell over the stadium
“This day did you witness the victor of the claim challenge?” Even from their distance she could feel his
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