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The tusked man walked over and whispered into TheKrown's ear. The Krown's green eyes went wide, and his evil smilegrew, showing teeth filed to sharp points, something Hadder hadmissed upon first glance. "I believe you remember Wagner here. Hewas the one who captured you and your Caesars."
"Easily captured, my king," added Wagner, his tusksbouncing with the words.
Hadder ignored the tusked man and addressed TheKrown. "I don't see how he would know how easy it was. Pig-facehere stayed so far from the battle, I thought him another Settertourist."
Wagner stepped forward, a murderous scowl on hisface, but was restrained by The Krown.
"Enough! Wagner here has come up with the most grandcompromise - a chance at vengeance for you, some entertainment forme and my men. It's been too long since our last fight, and we missthe sight of blood." To no one in particular, "Someone, bring meSkeelis! And quickly!"
Hadder simply hung uncomfortably for the next fewminutes, the pain in his wrists not being helped by the looks stillbeing shot at him by Wagner, who had returned to his place on TheKrown's right. Cal and Otho spoke quietly amongst themselves. Ifthey were concerned about Hadder's safety, they positively refusedto show it. Before long, Hadder heard the tent's large front flapopen, and Skeelis lumbered past on warped legs to stand between himand The Krown, facing both. Thick leather encased his forearms,scabbards for his bladed arms.
"Skeelis, my pet, do you know this Setter who hascome to us?"
The fiend known as Skeelis looked over to Hadder,recognition flashing in its dark eyes and on its scarred gray face.That wicked smile again, the same he'd seen when immobilized on theSkirt and in The Soiree Noire moments before Reena Song'sbrutal murder. A forked tongue poked out between pointed teeth asif tasting the air around Hadder, testing for fear. "I know notthis Setter, my king," hissed the fiend in a high-pitched gravellyvoice. "Most those I meet become one of my lovely masks, but I havenot this face."
Hadder's eyes fell to Skeelis's belt, where therehung several masks of human flesh, reminding Hadder of their firstmeeting.
"Well now, Skeelis," The Krown continued, as ifspeaking to a child, "This man says you crossed the Skirt and hurtone of his lady friends."
"Skeelis doesn't hurt. Skeelis butchers." The fiendgiggled.
"Butchered one of his lady friends, then. Why wouldyou do such a thing, sweet Skeelis?"
Skeelis looked to The Krown, a questioning look onhis abused face, as if he didn't know where The Krown wanted him totake this. "Poor Skeelis would never do such a thing, myking. But if poor Skeelis were to do such a thing, maybe hewould do it because she poisoned the air with her sweetness. Maybeshe made poor Skeelis's eyes water. Maybe poor Skeelis had to tastethe source of this poisoned air. Maybe poor Skeelis wanted to seewhat she looked like holding her own head. But I would neverdo such a thing, my king. So I cannot say for sure."
The Krown chuckled to himself, obviously tickled bySkeelis's ridiculous half-confession. "All of us here are convincedof your innocence, dear Skeelis. Are we not!?" The crowd behindHadder broke into a cheer. "But this man, this Setter, and theseCaesars, they think you guilty. They want retribution from sweetSkeelis." Skeelis hissed at Hadder as the crowd began to boo.Another piece of half-eaten food struck Haddeer from behind. ‘'ButI think I've come to a solution, one that will satisfy allaggrieved parties, myself included." The Krown stood up, beganfeeding into the crowd's growing excitement. "Sweet Skeelis, wouldyou meet this man, this Setter, this accuser, in one-on-onecombat!? To clear your good name and that of your cherishedking?!"
Skeelis's wicked grin was back. He began toanxiously scratch at the leather hiding the razor-sharp blades thatran down his forearms. "I accept the challenge, my king."
The Krown spread his arms, speaking more to thethrong than to the combatants. "Then, in one hour, let it be knownthat sweet Skeelis will face the Setter Marlin Hadder. The two willsettle their differences once and for all - in the Meat Show!"
Cheers exploded across the meeting tent, a palpablebuzz falling over the entire encampment. Hadder could hear Risersquickly exiting the tent, most likely to fill their heads withchemicals before securing good seats to the show.
The Krown spoke to Skeelis, showmanship all gone."Skeelis, go prepare yourself. I want to see you wearing this man'sface at dinner tomorrow. You'll be my guest of honor." Skeelisbowed and marched away, sliding the tube of leather down andshowing the inside of his forearm to Hadder before passing out ofsight. The Krown motioned to Hadder. "Cut the Setter down, let himprepare for his fate."
Two Risers approached and cut the leather bonds fromHadder's wrists. He dropped to his knees from the assault of weightand rubbed his raw flesh, working to get feeling back in his hands.After a needed moment of recovery, Hadder worked his way back tofeet to face The Krown, who had returned to his throne, a toplesswoman now on his lap.
"I have another condition to discuss regardingSkeelis."
The Krown, who was playfully choking the woman atophim, refused to look in Hadder's direction as he responded. "I'm abusy man, Marlin Hadder. A king has much to do, many moving piecesto control. I don't have time to waste. And negotiating with deadmen is something I consider a major waste of time. You have yourone-on-one fight, as promised. And you'll have your martyr's death,this I promise. Now get out of my sight. I'll see you soon. In theMeat Show."
CHAPTER 20
Hadder and the trailing Caesars were marched due easttowards the Station Wall, a small battalion of Risers encirclingthem with weapons at the ready. Cal and Otho were without theirimpressive blades, those having been confiscated when they werefirst captured. As Hadder walked, he tensed and released variousmuscles of his body, ensuring that each was primed for an explosionof movement. There would be no warmup period, Hadder knew, nofeeling out rounds. He needed to be ready out of the gate. While hereadied