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"...They don't know. They couldn't save him in time."

"How did the vrisha do it?" one asked.

"A bone. Somehow, he got a bone."

Ophilia slowed to a stop. Her heart suddenly punched against her chest. Her blood turned cold as a feeling of dread hit her. She turned back to them.

"What happened?"

Warren gave her an annoyed look. "Don't talk out of turn, Ophilia."

She stepped back toward them. "Did he kill him? Did he get Hendrik?"

Warren crossed his arms and sighed. "That's what we've been discussing. It happened last night. The vrisha attacked him. Cristan also claimed the vrisha came at him too, but they didn't find any injuries. Still, looks like they'll be putting him out." Warren shook his head. "Poor Cristan, he was so looking forward to having an upper hand in the fights this year."

Ophilia hardly heard him, except for the part about putting the vrisha out. "Where? Where are they killing him?"

Warren frowned. "It would have happened already if Sal hadn't wanted to be there. I'd be willing to bet it's happening right now as we—hey! Ophilia, where are you going!"

Ophilia rushed for the outer doors, shoving them aside as she ran out into the pre-dawn morning, only a sliver of red beginning to peek out past the mountains. She flew past the gardens, jumping over one of the spitting cats, then down the steps to the orchard.

From the gate ahead, she could see a cluster of people circling the training yard, mostly guards.

Ophilia flew past the gate and then broke her way through the people crowding around the edge of the training yard. At the front of the line, she froze.

The vrisha was at the center, crouched on the ground with his head bent. Chains secured by large weights were tied to his feet, arms, and neck to keep him in place. Surrounding him were Sal and a handful of his soldiers including Tallah.

"I don't think we should kill him," she heard Sal say, his arms behind his back, looking down on the vrisha with a frigid stare. "I think the glasshouse for a day would be a good idea. Then sell him off to one of the scientists. They can study him inside and out. How does that sound, vrisha, eh?"

The vrisha didn't move. He kept his head bowed. Ophilia couldn't see his face, but she thought she caught him shivering. Or maybe it was her imagination. It didn't matter anyway.

She stepped out into the yard and walked over to them. Sal saw her first. He gestured to his soldiers who pointed their guns at her.

"Hey, Ophilia, hold on now. What are you doing here?"

Ophilia stopped just a few feet away. Her mind was racing like her heart. "I heard about what happened..."

Sal nodded. "Yeah, Hendrik, poor bastard, didn't make the cut." He put his hands in his suit pockets. "Now I'm out a trainer and a fighter. Thankfully, I can probably make most of my money back on the market. A lot of people would gladly pay good credits for even pieces of him." He sighed, trailing his fingers through his slick hair. "Too bad. Really too bad." He laughed. "Don't know why I'm telling you this. Shouldn't you be picking up shit somewhere, huh?"

Ophilia clenched her jaw, her gaze shifting to the vrisha, then back at Sal. "Let me train him."

There was a long moment of silence. The vrisha stirred, the soldiers’ guns returning to target him. Then Sal began to laugh quietly. "You? You don't have any experience, Ophilia, right? Hendrik had years on you and look what happened." He shook his head. "No, no I don't think so. You still owe me, and I'm not losing more money once he kills you too."

Ophilia pursed her lips. "I train the animals. And you practically think he's one. What's the difference?"

“The difference is that we both know he ain't one, right?" He tilted his head at her. "What makes you think you can do better than Hendrik anyway?"

"I just want to try."

"Well, I can't really afford try, Ophilia."

"Why not? We both know Hendrik was a drunken fool. I'll be smarter and less inclined to let my guard down." She took another couple of steps, standing closer to the vrisha. "I can try another method."

"Hendrik always had a sound method."

"Sorry, sir, but I firmly disagree. After all, when was the last time you won, even when Tajia was here? He only ever made the semi-finals. If I can get the vrisha to fight and win the games, does it matter how it's done?"

Sal watched her carefully. "I still can't risk you getting killed."