In Pursuit Of Wisdom (Book 1) by Steve M. Shoemake Page B

was nearly flawless.  Weight evenly distributed, he brought his sword across his body to deflect the claw coming his way.  The steel bit into the foreleg of the Chimera, and it roared.  Blood spurted out, and the wounded animal retreated.
    “Come.  Don’t back-up now, we’re just getting started!”  Tar-Tan taunted, but he did not for one second raise his hands outside the fighting position.  His two weapons were at the ready, and he took a step forward.
    The snakehead hissed as the long tail flashed, wisely striking low, outside the easily defendable areas around the half-ogre’s torso.  The snake darted in and sunk its fangs into Tar-Tan’s calf. The half-ogre laughed and swiped the entire tail off with one clean stroke of his sword, making the Chimera bellow with pain again as he left its head dangling from his leg.
    “You miserable creature!  Do you think your tiny fangs can even penetrate my hide?”  Tar-Tan did not bend down to remove the twitching tail.  Without taking his eyes off the Chimera, he carefully ran his sword across his calf, prying it off and flinging the tail back at the beast in the same, fluid motion.
    Xaro leaned over to Lord Kensington. “I do hope you have a special branding iron for half-ogres.”
    Lord Kensington flashed Xaro a haughty half-smile, his eyes never leaving the arena.  “I’ve found you just hold the hot iron in place a little longer.  I doubt highly the pain will bother him.”
    The rest of the fight ended quickly.  Tar-Tan began pressing forward, always to the left of the Chimera—the side with the hurt foreleg.  Stabbing with his halberd, the beast couldn’t move quickly away from the attack.  And moving to the right just put it within range of the sword.  Eventually he pierced the shoulder, then the goat head, then the other foreleg.  Carefully, with precision and patience, the half-ogre dissected the Chimera.  Finally, exhausted and enraged beyond reason, with blood spilling out of several terrible wounds, the beast launched itself at Tar-Tan.  Perhaps it had had enough and just wished to be impaled, for that’s exactly what happened.  The Chimera charged right into the spike of the heavy halberd.  Eight inches of metal drove into the exposed chest of the beast, with the full weight of the animal resting on the ax head at the end.  Dying, the Chimera bleated and roared and frantically pawed the air with its front legs, trying to reach the half-ogre’s face to scratch out his eyes.
    “Har!” yelled Tar-Tan. Dropping his sword, he grasped his halberd with both hands and lifted the beast into the air, muscles taut with the effort.  “Arrrrrgh!  You unintelligent animal!  Die, and I shall have my Mark!”  With a final strain he extended his arms, hoisting the Chimera well above his head, impaled on his weapon, blood slickening everything around him.
    The Chimera slid further down, the top of the axe blade beginning to cut into its belly.  The beast finally died, and Tar-Tan flung his carcass onto the hard, wet ground.
    “Tar-Tan!  Tar-Tan!  Tar-Tan!”    The shouts rang out from his fellow fighters in the pits of Kekero.
    Xaro watched Lord Kensington get up to congratulate the impressive half-ogre.  He turned his attention to Strongiron, where he saw one of the Steele brothers whispering something to him.
     
     
    ~Magi~
     
    Magi and Kyle ducked into A Port In the Storm , a different alehouse several blocks away. “Apt name.” Magi nodded to Kyle as they went straight to the barkeep.  A little silver was exchanged, and they were soon in their room away from ears and eyes, where they could talk freely.
    Magi shut the door and sat on the straw bed in the corner.  “We need to get out of the city.  I think we should buy some horses and get back to Brigg as soon as we can.  It cannot be a coincidence that someone has killed both Lionel and Sindar.”  He picked his head up and looked directly at Kyle.  He is holding up well.