Protector Chapter Two

“Seems like we only have two left.” Arthur stood and looked at the two. One of them being the man with the shaved head from earlier and the other was the masked boy. The man looked at the boy with extreme distain, but the boy didn’t seem bothered at all. Arthur clapped his hands together and pointed to the center of the room and stepped between the two before the fight. “Now to review the rules, no weapons and the fight stays clean, right?” He looked at the kid obviously but he didn’t turn his head up towards him.

“Yeah.” The other opponent sneered.

“Great have at it chaps.” He moved away and waited for the rapid fire attack from the masked kid but it didn’t come. The boy posed his hands in front of his face and waited; only moving side to side. Bouncing around the floor. This was different for the other fights. The kid had only been in three fights total and only in the last match did he get hit. He was too fast for the others. By the look of it he wasn’t particularly strong but his speed, agility, and cleverness gave him the edge. This edge gave him every win so why not use it now.

The kid bounced in the man’s shadow making him spin around and swing at air. His large hands grasped the boy by the arm and bring him to his front. Before the masked fighter could wiggle his way free a fist connected with his mouth, or where it would be. He fell to his knees and rolled away avoiding the would be head shot. Right then the atmosphere went from serious to deadly. Each fighter had their strengths and weakness. The larger man was over six feet and a long beard drew from his chin. His plain looking clothes stained with other men’s blood. While the boy was again quite smaller but much faster and seemed to be smarter.

“This is getting interesting, no?” The knight turned towards his guard and pointed at the two with raised eyebrows. The guard grunted in response, but didn’t turn from the fight. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s all brilliant.” His legs folded to act as a rest for his elbows and forearms.

He jumped a little at the first sound that came from the boy; which happened to be a grunt. The noise was higher than expected and more angry than hurt, even though it would be assumed when getting kneed in the stomach you would cry out in pain, but you couldn’t assume anything from this kid. The boy blocked a couple blows but couldn’t keep them all from hitting him. The man stopped and stepped away from the falling child expecting to have won but to his surprise the boy fell then slide through his legs and stood quickly behind him. The man feel to the ground and a fist came barreling down at his throat. As he was recovering from the attack the next came then the next with no breaks. That is where his speed came to play, punching him in the face as many times as he could get in. Arthur decided now was the time to stop.

“Okay, okay I think that’s it.” When the words hit the boy’s ears he dropped his opponent. The goon slumped to the ground and moaned loudly. “So kicking in the knees and punching the throat, not exactly fair what do you guys say?” He looked to his guards and they shrugged. “Right, right. So not a fair fight.” He sighed and looked at both people. The man picked himself up and spit on the ground leaving a bloody wet spot on the carpet.

“So I won?”

Arthur ticked his tongue and shook his head. “No I didn’t say that. Although the fight wasn’t fair I pick this lad.” Everyone looked at the knight and even the boy moved his head towards him. The beaten opponent started to shudder but Arthur stopped him and pulled an envelope out of his pocket and put it his palm. “Thank you for participating and here is a little for your trouble. My friends here will show you out thank you once again.” The man opened the envelope with anger but it subsided as he saw the contents; he then left with a little pep in his step. The guards followed leaving Arthur and the champion alone.

“Contrasts my boy.” He shook his hand and patted his back. “Let’s get a name and a face, yes?” the boy let his hand go and began speaking.

“I won that means I go with you and do the job no matter what.” The voice was medium pitch but also not quite right.

“Of course of course why would I...” The mask was removed reviling rich umber colored skin with girlish features painted into a cold expression. “That’s why.”