Page 40

Major POV

SET BEFORE THE WASTELAND

T he screaming and cheering gets louder as the victor holds his hands up, covered in blood with his opponent's head held in his left hand, the scavs eyes now unseeing and his mouth still open in a scream.

“Sir, that Berserker slave is back again.” Comes the nasally voice of the head of my guards, Buck.

When his words register my shoulders tighten, blowing out a breath I relax back into my seat like I have no cares in the world.

Sipping on the home brewed whisky I stare into the pit below.

I had hoped she would never come back, that they would have killed her because it would stop these feelings inside of me.

Wanting to save her. I’m not a good man, I’m not a savior but one look into that girls’ eyes and I want to be.

Every time I see her, my daughter’s face flickers in my mind like a warning but I can’t let my people know that.

“I guess she royally fucked off Ivar because he is ordering she be put against the Seeker.” He carries on, oblivious to the mixed feelings racing through me.

I didn’t get to where I am now as a bleeding heart, so why can’t I give the order I know Buck is waiting for? She survived her first fight, a fluke no doubt but she is untrained and small, she won’t make it through a fight with a Seeker. If I agree to Ivar’s demands I sentence her to death.

The crowd stomps, crying out for more blood as I feel Buck hesitate at my back. He knows me better than anyone, we found each other at the very beginning of the fall but even he doesn’t know of my inner need to save the Berserker slave.

“No, put her with the scav.” I murmur, swishing the alcohol in my glass around as I sit in the box and watch the fights below.

“But sir, they want a good fight. She is meant to go with-

“I don't pay you to think.” Turning my head, I eye him hard. “They want something to root for, they want a show. Let’s give them an underdog.”

He nods, his face scrunched in confusion, but he gestures to the pit master who is awaiting his orders behind me. The man nods and scurries away to set up the next fight. Once we are alone Buck steps closer, looking out over our little kingdom below.

“I’ve been behind you through it all, the fights, the blood, the clans. We’ve been in more than a few sticky situations but if you mess with Ivar you are going to start a war you don’t know how to finish.” He says casually, I look him over with a nod.

“War is always brewing Buck, maybe it’s time for a change.

” I reply as the pit opens and the Berserker slave is thrown into the ring by another Berserker.

The pit master introduces her as a scav jumps the wall, his muscles bunching as he eats up the crowd's cheers. She stands there completely calm. Her hands by her side, her eyes searching the crowd until they meet mine. That same fire is burning there, the one I spotted the first time. The need, the fucking strength to survive. It’s easy to die, but this?

Living this life? That’s the true mark of a warrior.

“I hope she is worth it.” Buck mutters, staring from me to her.

I don’t break her gaze as I small smile curls at my lips. “I have a feeling she will make sure she is before the end. I want you to set up training and have it ready for tomorrow, also get me a meeting with Ivar. She is going to win this fight and I plan to make sure she wins the rest.”