Chapter 10: Fiery Fools

  One step into the dock town and a cacophony of chaos took over all of Beetle’s senses. Unlucky homes and businesses were on fire, people were jostling, striking and screaming. A vibration of anger thronged up and down the streets, bodies pressed building to building. Blood was smeared on walls and loud tears and cries challenged the shouts. People were getting trampled, and yet the darkness of unintelligible rage kept the mob from noticing.

  A shiver ran down Beetle’s spine and she held Marrower in front of her. A man came rushing from the mess of people, recognition in his eyes and the steel of Marrower reflecting the glow of the fire onto his face. He was roaring about something, but instinct kept Beetle light on her feet. WIthout thinking she sidestepped the man and popped his nose with a quick slap of Marrower’s broadside. The man went down right in front of Diamond.

  “Alleys?” The gladiator suggested. This wasn’t the time to ask why she was even here, Beetle knew that. Her eyes followed the smoke in the sky, she had to get to Gareg and his family.

  The pair slipped from the violent scene and into one of the alleys. Heat from the fires didn’t disappear in the dark pathways and instead provided a constant reminder of danger as they sprinted across uneven cobble. Beetle hopped over a man on the ground and then took a hard right. The screams of the mob were dampened here and after a few more minutes, Beetle was huffing and puffing outside of Gareg’s home, the building intact and without a lick of flame near it.

  Beetle slammed on the door and when no response came, she shouted. “It’s Beetle!”

  At that, footsteps hushed behind the threshold and the door opened. Brenna stood in the way with Charles hiding behind her leg. Her face was pale with worry.

  “Is everyone okay?” Beetle spoke first. Brenna didn’t waste any time.

  “Gareg is still at the warehouse.”

  “I’ll get him,” Beetle turned away, “keep the door closed!” With little else, she sprinted away with Diamond in tow, the jaded gladiator studying her former enemy with a curious expression.

  ***

  Every stride further from Brenna’s house was another leap closer to the pit of fire that was the town. Flames had jumped to fresh buildings and now half the mob was taking it more seriously. Buckets and people shouting for water were now as common as the blind fury from before. Despite that, the brawls and thrashing violence hadn’t ended.

  Beetle ran ahead with Diamond close behind. They stuck to the alleys and backways up until the salt of the ocean mixed with the scent of fire and blood. Between them and the harborside warehouse was nothing but open road and docks. The area wasn’t spared from the riots, and small shacks were lit up like bonfires and fistfights were as numerous as more deadly clashes. Whatever caused the madness, Beetle didn’t know.

  A single step out of the shadow of the alley and into the flicker of hate was all it took before several rioters sprinted over to Beetle. Not a word was said as a large man swung a piece of wood at the warrior. Rewe’s instinct overtook Beetle and after a quick dash to the side, her elbow slammed into the man’s windpipe. Another rioter was on her, but Marrower swung sideways, knocking the rioter out with a clean blow.

  Diamond walked behind Beetle as she shoved and pushed her way through the mob, clean while sweat and blood splattered on the warrior in front. Frustration and worry filled Beetle. She could see the warehouse across the web of docks and water, it was clear of fire, but the mob was ever present on the planks.

  A woman bumped into Beetle just as she and Diamond started to skirt the sides of the docks. Without thinking, Beetle shoved her off and into the ocean. Rewe smiled behind Beetle’s eyes but when the sound of a desperate gulp rang in Beetle’s ears, she snapped to. The woman was thrashing in the water, breathing more ocean than air.

  “Fuck,” Beetle swore and knelt by a post of the dock, reaching into the murky water with Marrower. The stranger’s fingers grabbed hold. A random man reeling from a punch sent by another bounced off Beetle. The warrior felt her stomach lurch and her knees lose balance, between the tug of the woman and the slam of the man. Air whipped by her ears for a split second and with a cold strike, Beetle fell into the ocean.

  Water lapped at her ears and gargled her senses. Bubbles and blackness foamed across Beetle’s vision, and the woman beside her thrashed helplessly. A stray kick caught Beetle in the arm, knocking Marrower from her grip. The weapon sank slowly, but Beetle kept her eyes up and with a kick of her own, swam to the surface.

  The dampened song the sea immediately broke to the sharp roar of the riots. The orange glow of fire bounced off Beetle’s face and there she was treading water by the docks. Reaching under, she pulled the woman beside her free of the water and guided her to the planks. Together they rolled onto the wood.

  Diamond knelt by them, staring quietly. Beetle looked up at her rival. “Thanks for helping.”

  Diamond shrugged. “Eat shit.”

  “Right, almost forgot, you’re a bitch,” Beetle scrambled to her feet, barely avoiding a stray rock someone had thrown.

  “Your axe?” Diamond looked at Beetle.

  “No time.”

  Arms forward to part the crowds, Beetle resumed her march to Gareg’s warehouse until at long last, the peeling wood of the side door was under her calloused palms. She pushed. Nothing. Beetle pounded on the door. “It’s me, Beetle!”

  Nothing.

  “Mar Gareg?” Beetle shouted, pounding harder. Finally the door whipped open and the two gladiators were pulled inside before it slammed shut once again.

  With a bang, Gareg dropped some heavy crates back in front of the door, sealing the trio inside the warehouse. It was dark, with the only light coming from windows cut out near the roof. Beetle’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, finding Gareg’s tired gaze.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Mar Gareg, are you okay?”

  Diamond rolled her eyes in Beetle’s periphery. “Mar.”

  “Fine,” Gareg answered, “but what are you doing here?”

  The words stung a little, especially coming from the usually jovial Gareg. Beetle knitted her brow. “I told Brenna I’d come get you.”

  Gareg closed his eyes at that and collapsed onto one of the crates, head in hand. “Did anyone see you go to my house?”

  Beetle shared a look with Diamond, who shook her head. “I don’t think so,” Beetle answered. “Why?”

  “The rioters,” Gareg explained slowly, “Want you dead.”

  The blood drained from Beetle’s face. “Rewe?”

  Gareg gave her a glance and sighed. “Yeah, Rewe. When she survived her fight due to interference— I guess some people didn’t take kindly to it.”

  “So they’d do this!?” Beetle waved her arms. “They are only hurting themselves!”

  Diamond spat a laugh. “It’s a riot, dumbass. Probably started quite targeted, but the more people join in, well, the crazier things get.” She shrugged. “I’m pretty sure a rival of the Duchess started it, as well. The mess will be blamed on her.”

  “Because of an arena match?” Beetle still couldn’t wrap her head around it, that such a sport had that much pull on the people of Perdi.

  “Yenellii is a sickness,” Gareg said. “It rots rationality and incites bloodlust. The people want red, and when they don’t get it.” He waved his hand at the door, where the shouts still panged through.

  Beetle chewed her cheek and sat next to Gareg. “You know, I got you some boats.”

  “What?” Gareg looked at Beetle like she was crazy. Diamond stared too, the curious look from before back on her face.

  “I got you some new boats… you know… for…” Beetle scrunched her face in thoughts. She knew what she was apologizing for, but it was strange, apologizing for something she didn’t remember doing.

  Gareg smiled, slightly, and painfully. “You’re trying, Rewe.”

  Beetle looked at the man intently. Her usual indomitable spirit was a wilted leaf at the sound of her true name. “Beetle, please,” she requested.

  “Mar Beetle,” Gareg offered another small smile, this one more genuine.

  A loud thump sounded against the side of the warehouse and then in the distance horns and whistle started to blast. The shouts of anger turned into screams and barking orders. A curling grin found Diamond’s face. “Ah, it seems our Duchess’ troops have arrived to see peace anew.”

  Gareg slapped his knees and stood up. “Give it a while longer, then we can make our way home.”

  Home. Beetle nodded, whatever that was these days. The thought didn’t linger long before Diamond answered it as if she heard it.

  “Which means,” Diamond stared intently at Beetle, “we will be going back to the estate.”

  “Not sick of me yet?” Beetle forced a wicked grin.

  Diamond stood unphased, shrugging. “We will see who is sick of who after a few training sessions.”

  “Training sessions?” Beetle lost her sarcastic grin. “You mean?”

  Another shrug from the gladiator. “I’ll train you, for now.”

  Gareg watched the exchange silently, only to perk up. “Shoutings over.” The other two stood completely still, and sure enough, the ringing of the riots was gone, and only the gentle lapping of the waves remained. The riot had ended.

  ***

  The duchess’ favorite tearoom had the perfect view of the gardens below and soaked in the greenery through crystal glass windows that trained from ceiling to floor. The natural colors blended nicely with the earth tone furniture and painted walls. The centerpiece of course was the low tea table which dominated the room and was hewn from seemingly an impossibly big single piece of wood, though any carpenter could tell you the trick behind it. Around the table were the gentle green and yellow lounge chairs, plumped and fit for napping or chatting, but despite all this luxury, neither Beetle nor Maelys were sitting.

  “I knew that fucking rat would try this,” Maelys was spitting venom as she paced by the window. Beetle stood silent, watching her so-called partner curse and sputter like a dockworker. The duchess was in a shimmering dress that was akin to a sleek waterfall of molten silver more than fabric, adding to the contrast of her brutal words against her refined visage.

  “Fucking rat?” Beetle tipped her head into the conversation for the first time, already having heard at least fifteen minutes of swearing since she was called upstairs.

  “Some rival lord nutjob,” Maelys turned to Beetle now. Her midnight skin was flushed deep purple with anger, and the constellation of silvery freckles underlined some serious furious eyes. “The bastard, half-wit, no-balls, jackass took advantage of the assassins and riled up the people by saying you were spared on purpose. The brainless people of Perdi ate it the fuck up and made a damn mess of the docktown.” Maelys was fuming.

  “Or maybe,” Beetle couldn’t help but poke, “they were sick of being ruled by…” Maelys raised her eyebrows, daring Beetle. Beetle obliged. “A nightkin who walked in one day and started calling the shots.”

  All the anger seemed to drain from Maelys and a sickeningly mirthful look sparkled in her eyes. Without warning, a deep, taunting laugh trilled from the noble. “This place was a dump, a pirate haven.” She nodded her head, “though I suppose the irony is now they are mad about a pirate.”

  “I don’t remember being a pirate,” Beetle threw in.

  “Semantics, dear,” Maelys was finding her usual self. The duchess let out a long breath. “And you’ll have to excuse my earlier outburst.”

  “No need,” Beetle’s sarcasm sharpened a smile. “Tantrums are expected when it comes to nobles.”

  “Careful now, darling,” Maelys shot a look. “I fear your smile will run away when I tell you the real reason I called you up here.”

  “Oh yeah?” Beetle raised her brow.

  Maelys settled into one of the lounge chairs. “Yes. You see, that riot put me in a funny little place.”

  “Very funny, it seems,” Beetle agreed in such a way to summon a small glare from the duchess. Maelys reclined in her seat, taking on the posture of an empress.

  “Indeed. Well, now it seems I must placate the people and get them back on my side, and thankfully, being the wonder that I am, I already know how to do such a thing.”

  Beetle motioned for Maelys to continue, but the duchess waited for Beetle to sigh and say, “how so?”

  Maelys smiled wide, eyes crinkling. “I’m going to give that shithead rival of mine a fair chance at killing you.”

  First, thanks so much for reading my story. If you would like to support me and my ability to keep coming out with new chapters and eventually new adventures, consider checking out my published novel . Or by leaving me a comment telling me what you think of Beetle's story so far!

  JB