The Artifact Competition (Approaching Infinity Book 1) by Eisenlauer Chris

Author:Eisenlauer, Chris [Eisenlauer, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Chris Eisenlauer
Published: 2011-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

• • •

Karza was proclaimed the winner and Heffler was taken to the hospital. When she stepped down from the ring she looked at Jav and said, “Well?”

“You weren’t kidding.”

“Nope. But I’ll tell you, that Heaven and Hell United had me worried.”

Jav nodded. “Maybe, but you dominated from the beginning and from here it looked like that technique of his was too much of a gamble—fine if this was the end, but this competition is just the beginning, right? If we start the first round by using our last resort techniques, we shouldn’t be here.” Jav suddenly realized that his tone had become a bit too serious and judgmental and he blushed. “You did a great job.”

“Thanks,” she said, her voice soft and almost girlish.

At the ring kitty-corner from them, Jav heard a familiar name declared the winner. It was Ren Fauer, the student of Kimbal Furst, one of Laedra Hol’s teammates from the Triangle Squad. Jav excused himself and made his way over to Ring Seven.

Approaching the young man, Jav said tentatively, “Are you Ren Fauer?”

“I am. What can I do for you?”

“I’m Jav Holson. I train with Laedra Hol,” he said, his voice rising almost in a question, hoping for recognition. “I just wanted to introduce myself. All the girls speak very highly of you.”

“Oh, yes!” He took Jav’s hand and shook it. “It’s great to finally meet you. And the girls were just being polite.”

“It’s great to meet you, too, but are you sure we’re talking about the same girls? Any praise, especially from the twins, is pretty hard to come by.”

They laughed and Ren scratched his head self-consciously. “Froster and I just missed you when we visited last. Are you here with Mei?”

“Yeah, she’s competing in Block One.”

“With Froster. . .”

“Gast Froster?”

“Yeah, Cov Merasec’s student. Out of our three schools, he’s been training the longest. Kind of a shame if they have to fight each other.”

Jav nodded. “I, uh, didn’t see your fight, but congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Ren checked the information screen. “Looks like congratulations are in order for you, too.”

“Thanks, but that fight was just embarrassing.”

“Jaim. . . Yeah, there was a rumor going around about him and I guess you proved it true. No one knew for sure, though. His teacher, Salavar Grummel, is supposed to be one of the best.”

“He probably is. Jaim, however, needs more practice.”

While watching the match at Ring Seven without really seeing it, each found conversation with the other an easy and natural thing, and so they chatted until after the match ended and into the longer break that separated the first and second rounds.

As Mei, Hol, Kalkin, and a fourth person, a man Jav did not recognize, joined them, introductions were made and greetings exchanged. The fourth person was Kimbal Furst, formerly of the Triangle Squad, and he cut an impressive figure. He wasn’t much bigger than Jav, but he was wiry and his skin was like bronze. In a way he reminded Jav of Cranden, but Furst had a sharp, wild look with penetrating eyes.

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