Chapter 44
They had been waiting for Spiker for some time. Tavia, twitchy and scowling, was sharpening her scimitar, running the stone intently over the blade, concentrating on this small simple task. Smitty eyed her wearily, knowing she was building herself into a vile mood.
He and Smurf had sat themselves down, cross-legged, on the arena floor. Their weapons were neatly stacked near them, the two shields propping each other up and the swords resting against them. Between them the two Clansmen had laid a circle of thin plastic material, dark against the faded yellow of the sand.
A set of dog-eared cards was produced. Smitty called across: “want a game?”
She ignored them.
Smurf carefully stacked ten small plastic disks in front of Smitty, then ten for himself. “Right.”
Smitty tossed
