Ascension (Blight Book 1) by Terry Schott

Author:Terry Schott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Terry Schott
Published: 2015-06-27T22:00:00+00:00

34

The tradition of the fighting pits, or the Pits as they had come to be called, was centuries old. One could not travel through a town or village without finding at least one circular pit dug into the ground where local folk could gather and watch violent combat.

Doctor Johnston and Leo approached the gates. A long line had formed but the doctor led them to a side door where they were given immediate access.

"You get special treatment, I see."

The doctor nodded. "The Pits and I go way back. It is an excellent place for a physician to work his or her trade. Healing fighters so that they may retain their strength and fight again is a skill that the Pit Masters pay well for, and I have always been skilled at my trade."

Originally, Pit fighters had been free men and women who used the venue to display their skills or challenge each other to resolve arguments, but growing demand for entertainment had resulted in the Pits becoming its own industry. Now, less than ten percent of the Pit fighters were free citizens. The majority of fighters were slaves owned by investors called Pit Masters, wealthy men who spent incredible sums of money to purchase and train fighters in hopes of earning large profits.

The doctor’s pace was brisk but Leo was slower. The doctor paused and waited for Leo to catch up. "Have you not been in the fighter’s area before?"

"I’ve never been to the Pits before."

"What? Are you joking with me?"

"No."

"I don’t understand how that is even possible. Everyone comes to the Pits."

Leo shrugged. "I’ve been busy. When I had the time, I was too poor to bother and, now that I can afford it, I have other matters to fill my day."

"Would you like a proper tour?"

"Not particularly."

"Okay." The doctor shrugged and began walking once more.

"Ricin is a free man, right?"

"Yes. The free fighters have their own preparation area. That is where we are going now."

They walked for another ten minutes, passing through guarded gates and entering hallways that looked the same as the ones behind them. Finally, the doctor turned right and approached a dark wooden door. He opened it and walked into a large room containing a circular dirt ring in the centre surrounded by benches set ten feet back from its outer edges. The ceilings were twenty feet high and sunlight streamed through grate-covered squares cut out of the roof above. Men sat on the benches, some donning armour, others stretching their muscles or wrapping cloth strips around their knees or ankles. Some sharpened blades while many practiced moves with daggers, swords, quarterstaffs, and other weapons.

The doctor scanned the room, then walked towards a dark-skinned man sitting at one of the benches. The man saw them approaching, smiled, and stood. He was taller than Leo by a head, which made him six foot five inches at least. Large muscles glistened beneath his dark skin which was bared except for black leather pants and strips of the same black leather tied around the tops of his biceps.

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