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Lian led the squad back through the maze of corridors with Monkey giving them directions whenever they got to a junction.
As they approached the arena they could hear the roar of the expectant crowd growing more and more impatient.
Lian stood in front of a large wooden door and banged three times with his fist, the door opened and as he stepped to the side Lian whispered “good luck” to his brother.
Monkey stepped forward, straightened his jacket and walked through the door which promptly shut behind him.
“Is he going to be ok?” Ewan whispered to his father.
Lian sighed, “I hope so, he’s one of the best fighters in the world, I should know, I oversaw his training myself.”
Ewan gulped, “when we get home, will you start to teach me please?”
Lian nodded, “Yes, I think it’s time.”
Ewan stood back bursting with pride, at last he’d get what he always wanted and then he’d be able to show Mackie a thing or two.
The sounds of battle could be heard over the noise of the crowd, then all of a sudden there was a loud oooh from the crowd followed by a disconcerting silence.
Ewan and his friends all looked at each other and then turned to look at Lian.
Lian nodded and said to the others, “okay, stay focused, one way or another we’re up.”
Ewan looked visibly scared and started to shake, “I don’t think I can do this dad, I’m scared.”
“I’m scared too son,” he replied, “the bravest men I ever met were always scared before the start of a mission.”
“So what made them brave?” Ewan asked.
“The fact that even though they were scared they still did what needed to be done. That’s true bravery and I’m sure when the time is right you’ll find that the Wu spirit beats strong in your heart.”
The door opened and Lian moved so that he could see across into the arena. Monkey was on one knee and looked exhausted, his opponent lay face down on the opposite side his head twisted at an unnatural angle.
Monkey stood and did a mock salute for the crowd and Lian could see the contempt in his face. The crowd jeered and booed and Monkey returned the gesture by raising a fist to assembled horde. The demons seemed to appreciate the response as they slowly began to laugh which spread infectiously around the arena, Lian couldn’t decide if this was a good sign or not but always grateful for anything that kept the attention on Monkey and off Ewan and his friends.
Waving to the assembled crowd one more time Monkey turned and headed back towards Lian but before he made it half way across the arena the door on the other side opened.
Dong Shen strode in to the arena, flanked by two guards. The crowd immediately fell silent. “Congratulations, you have once again emerged victorious. We have all heard tales of the prowess of the Wu Clan. Although”, Dong Shen added after a dramatic pause. “It would appear to truly vindicate them you should face a more formidable opponent than mere pit slaves”.
Monkey stopped and faced Dong Shen, Lian briefly thought about shutting the door on his brother and trying to escape with Ewan and the others but Monkeys earlier comments and what he himself had said to Ewan about doing the right thing swam round and round in his head and he waited to see what would happen next.
Monkey responded to Dong Shen, “Those pit slaves,” he almost spat out the words, his voice thick with contempt, “were brave loyal soldiers and they died with honour even if it was just for your own petty amusement. I am more than happy to prove my prowess, bring forth your champion and I will face whatever opponent you deem worthy. But...”
Monkey paused and Lian realised he was playing for time.
“The honourable thing would be to allow me to retire to my quarters and allow me recuperate, surely your champion wouldn’t want to call an unfair advantage.” Monkey said.
Lian could see the cracks start to appear in Dong Shen’s composure and he hoped Monkey knew what he was doing.
“HONOUR, You dare speak of honour. Honour from a family of thieves who have used underhanded tactics since the dawn of time. Honour from petty tricksters who dare and who have the arrogance to act like they are not only our equals but would insult us and call themselves our superiors and pretend to hold the key to our destiny?”
Dong Shen raised his hand to the crowd assembled in the galleries above. “Brothers, you have joined me on our quest and I promise you that the next phase of our journey is about to begin.”
He pointed to Monkey, “this intruder, this fool who dares enter our realm, this thief and descendant of thieves, has finally through his own incompetence and ineptitude has enabled us to reacquire not only a most sacred relic, an item which will ensure my rise back to power and glory, but has also delivered back in to our possession one of the original creations responsible for perverting the true nature of chaos itself.”
The crowd sat rapt, their attention focused on Dong Shen. He stepped forward and turned to address the crowd and Monkey could see the dark sword in it’s scabbard strapped across Dong Shen’s back, there was a dark energy seeping from the blade it was if the sword was breathing. The relic that Monkey had struggled to keep hidden for so long was back with its original owner and it seemed to be relishing the fact.
At Dong Shen’s signal one of his guards stepped forward holding something covered in a red cloth. Dong Shen reached out and with a flourish cast the cloth aside.
The crowd gasped as they saw Bai perched on top of his box. Dong Shen picked up the end of a golden chain that lead to a collar around Bai’s neck and gave it a vicious tug. Bai let out a high pitched scream and was pulled from his perch and landed on Dong Shen’s shoulder where he blew a small bout of flame in to the air.
“Behold, the spirit of the Dragon Lord is mine to wield.”
The crowd in the galleries rose as one and started to roar and stamp their feet.
Lian shook his head in despair if Dong Shen had been able to subjugate the Dragon Spirit, things had gone from bad to a thousand times worse.
Ewan and his friends had been specifically told to stay as far back as possible but when Dong Shen had started talking Ewan couldn’t help himself, he needed to see Dong Shen in the flesh, to compare him to the vision that had been terrorising his dreams for the last few months. Slowly creeping forward he stood just behind his father. When he saw what Dong Shen had done to Bai his heart had broken and he knew it was all his fault, when he saw Dong Shen yank him from his box and parade him around the arena like some kind of pet something inside Ewan had snapped.
Ewan charged forward and screamed his own battle cry. The suddenness of the action caught everyone unaware particularly Lian as Ewan surged past his father toward the middle of the arena.
“Ewan, no, stop!” Lian shouted and made a grab for his son but it was too late.