Free Web NovelChapter 133: Chapter 129: The Parade of Beasts
THREE DAYS LATER
The energy in the vast arena crackles around us. So palpable that it could curl my fur. Of course, I am still pumped from the elixir of the blue-dye flower, and so is everyone else.
Before leaving the Eldritch Woods, everyone partook of the golden fountain of nectar from the flower. Respectfully, of course. They took only a vial full each. Niall wanted to scoop up a little more, but Lamant, Minette, and Elandior vetoed that. So did Maartenwitz.
Announcements echo throughout the arena, especially deafening in the tunnel where we queue up before making our entrance. If I thought that the Beast Ball at the Lammermoor Mansion was overwhelming and full of pomp and circumstance, the Beast Taming Elimination Tournament takes it to the next level. We are crammed in the tunnel, with our competition Ophion and Zuba ahead of us. The combined Houses of Lammermoor and Riddlehoeven somehow take a back seat to Ophion’s and Zuba’s house.
It doesn’t matter. Let them enjoy their little victory, their bump in status. I’ve got lives to save. Mine. My brother’s. My fiancee’s. My family’s. And that’s just for starters.
I wish Lightning were walking beside me, but System made her the damsel in distress. Just before we entered this interminable metal and stone tunnel with its arctic floor, I nuzzled Lightning and kissed her goodbye. Then, I kissed the cubs goodbye. Finn and Leonie wailed because they didn’t understand. They haven’t been apart from me since they arrived in the world. I had to soothe them.
[Watch me.] I licked them. [Watch me walk with Uncle Lobo and Uncle Demos and Aunt Gussie and Auntie Peridot and Uncle Einswine. Stay with Mama.]
It took several minutes to calm the cubs, and the tournament staff showed no understanding or patience. We had to hurry into the tunnel, with the cubs’ pitiful wails in my ears. Lighting assured me through the mind-link. [We will be fine. Go. Win this. We’re counting on you.]
The announcements break into my thoughts. Endless lists of names of beasts and tamers. Commentary about the beasts. Their skills. Their stats. Their powers. Detailing the tamers’ lineages and any previous tournament wins.
This is my competition, and I do my best to catalog all the information. If I miss anything, Lobo will fill in the gaps.
Inching forward, I walk beside Lobo, my claws scraping on the cold stone and steel. The smells of beasts fill my senses. So strong. And I can smell their drive. Their bloodlust. Also nerves. I can definitely smell nerves. All of Tanglewood is watching this tournament. The stadium is packed. As well, people are watching at home through tablets and crystals and other viewing devices. Not to mention the audience on Earth watching on YouTube, Twitch, streaming services, and other platforms. The players know this, even if the beasts do not. Or do they? Where is the line between the beast’s consciousness and the players’ consciousness?
[Move!]
Lobo nudges me along. Silly me. I was holding up the proceedings. Get your head in the game, Blaze. Time enough for metaphysical musings later. IF we succeed.
No.
It’s do or die. We have to win. Lobo and I are committed.
Ophion snakes forward and Zuba almost swings forward, using hands and opposable thumbs to push off from the frigid floor. Not wanting them to jeer at us, I march onward beside Lobo.
The ribbon of Ophion’s tongue slips out as the python’s head swivels around to glare at us. [Keep it moving, would you?]
I offer a little "mrrp". [Just watch me.]
Ophion slithers forward, not giving me any more attention than necessary. Fine by me.
The announcements continue, staccato, bombarding us with So-and-So Beast and So-and-So Tamer and all the honors and awards they have won. The tunnel seems shorter now, the large archway closer. And the bright lights grow even brighter.
[Almost there.] Lobo nudges me to encourage me, to bolster my resolve. [Let’s get this whole dog-and-pony show over with.]
I can’t resist a little black humor. [More like a cattle call.]
Lobo woofs with laughter. [If there are cattle in this entire arena, I will be shocked.]
Gussie flaps behind us. [I hope there are not too many birds. We tend to be very competitive amongst ourselves.]
Lobo has the stats. [There are approximately one hundred birds competing, but before they even face you, they’ll be eliminated. No one is a fiercer competitor than you, Gussie.]
[Thank you.] Gussie sounds touched. [Dag told me to win this for him, for all the birds who are caged. He did not say it that eloquently, but you get the idea.]
Lovely thought, Gussie and Dag. But Gussie won’t be the victor.
As if picking up on my thought, Gussie corrects herself. [Of course, the pair of you will win. But Dag wants me to go as far as luck and talent allow.]
I growl in approval. [Then we’re cheering you on.]
Even with the back and forth banter, the march up to the archway is interminable. However, at length we are standing in the archway with Minette and Lamant ahead of us. Gussie and Lobo move up so that they can make an entrance alongside Minette and Lamant.
The announcer booms, "HOUSE OF RIDDLEHOEVEN! Lamant Riddlehoeven escorting Gussie and Minette Riddlehoeven escorting Lobo!"
Wild applause.
This is it. Lamant and Minette step into the bright lights, Gussie’s feathers and Lobo’s fur backlit, before they parade into the arena.
The announcer calls out, "The House of Riddlehoeven has a long and stories history in beast taming. A few colorful incidents, but a most respectable house, now linked to the House of Lammermoor. Lamant and Minette Riddlehoeven previously participated in this tournament with beasts Judo and Memo, who were stolen and have never been recovered. Lobo the wolf is quite a contender as Minette’s new beast, and was formerly linked to the disgraced ex-Lady Rosabel of the House of Lammermoor, but really the House of Rossa. (Cough) Lamant Riddlehoeven’s parrot Gussie is a small but fierce competitor."
Vedette and Kaline march behind their parents, with Demos and I stepping into the light.
Blinding light. So much light. A vast arena full of light. Almost infinite. A smooth field of grass beneath my feet. Floating platforms above us.
The announcer continues. "Vedette Riddlehoeven escorting Demos and Kaline Riddlehoeven escorting Blaze!"
Wild applause again. Kaline and Vedette walk with grace and poise for their age. This has got to be nerve-wracking. I can feel the buzz of Kaline’s enthusiasm and fears.
The announcer provides a commentary. "This is Vedette Riddlehoeven’s second tournament and Kaline Riddlehoeven’s first as competitors. Vedette and Demos have distinguished themselves in competitions before, although they only had a modest showing in their debut. Kaline Riddlehoeven’s Blaze has grown rapidly under her care, and has even taken a mate, Lightning of House Lammermoor. Lightning has recently given birth to their cubs and, as per tournament regulations, is not competing in this year’s tournament because of the demands of caring for her young. She and her tamer, Lord Hans Lammermoor, are watching from the stands. No doubt they will be back to compete next year."
A subtle message from System? I ignore it. The cheers for Lightning and our cubs warm my heart. Somewhere in the stands, in our family’s box, Lightning and the cubs are watching along with Maartenwitz, Hans, Dag, Kasz, and Tomas.
I roar and Demos growls, giving the crowd a show. I lift my head and tail, and Demos throws back his head, growling.
Next, the announcer booms, "Niall Widdershins escorting Peridot!"
I don’t turn back, but I know that Niall is in fine form, his wild hair glistening in the light.
Of course, the announcer says, "Absent from the beast taming scene for years, Niall has made a comeback and found the clever jungle python Peridot. He has also parlayed his beast taming experience into coaching the Houses of Lammermoor and Riddlehoeven in the runup to the tournament. Welcome back, Niall!"
I hear an answering whoop from Niall. The crowd goes wild.
The announcer bellows, "HOUSE OF LAMMERMOOR! Presenting Lord Elandior Lammermoor escorting Einswine!"
Deafening cheers. Elandior is clearly a favorite.
The announcer feeds into the audience’s adulation. "Away for many moons discovering new beasts, Lord Elandior returned home to discover that his wife had gone rogue and had married him illegally. Ex-Lady Rosabel and her legal husband, disgraced Viscount Rossa, used her noble status to operate a beast smuggling ring. Now imprisoned, they will no longer threaten the beast taming community. It was Lord Elandior and his beast Einswine, an expert beast, as well as his son Lord Hans and the aforementioned Lightning, who stopped this crime wave, with the assistance of the House of Riddlehoeven. The partnership was so effective that the two houses are now linked through the union of Blaze and Lightning. Welcome back, Lord Elandior."
I can’t see Elandior because he is behind us, but I am sure he is waving and smiling while Einswine moves at a stately pace for all his bulk and muscle.
The Parade of Beasts continues, but I tune out the announcements as we take our turn across the field. The only voice I care about is Lightning’s. She encourages me. [I’m so proud of you. You’ve got this. I wish i could be there. Next, we’ll see your stats.]
[I wish you were here too. I’m winning this for us.]
Time to see how I measure up to the competition!
