I stepped from cold stone to warm sand. The cacophony of cheers was overwhelming. They weren't cheering for me. They were cheering for Lord Rane. He was my patron. He was also the one person who I feared the most. Not even Sir. Elliot, stepping into the booth across from me, was as terrifying. Nor was his champion, Torrendal, a pillar of a man, dressed in loose garb, quite experianced in the type fights we were about to partake in.

I was quickly realizing why you don't try to steal from a Lord. As if it wasn't obvious when he nearly sliced my head off upon our first meeting. Now I was in his dueling arena. I had never gone to one of these events. Unfortunately, I knew they were often quick, brutal, and deadly. They weren't supposed to be, but I was a criminal in their eyes and entitled to whatever Torrendal could dish out.

The crowd cheered for Lord Rane. Not me.

The competitors bowed. What an unfair sport this was. My legs were shaky, Torrendal was steady. I slowly walked out into the center of the arena. His had was firm, shaking mine. His eyes told me everything. This was his turf. We backed away, stopping about half the length of the arena from each other. These competitions had originally been to the yield. Supposedly they still were, but the High Judge was the only one that signaled the end of the bout. Apparently, they often didn't.

The crowd cheered for Lord Rane. Not me. Not Sir. Elliot. Not Torrendal.

The High Judge signaled match start. Sir. Elliot held up a slip of paper, puckered his lips, and blew. Behind me, I knew Lord Rane was doing the same. I didn't dare take my eyes off Torrendal. The paper in Sir. Elliot's hand disintegrated, the ashes sweeping into the arena and swirling around Torrendal. Small embers danced around my body as well.

I watched as the first spell took effect. Torrendal grew, increasing in size until his head was twice as high as he had been before. Hardly as tall as a hill giant, but with such an intimidating man, I was terrified. Luckily, or perhaps, unfortunately, I was also experiencing a change. My hands felt incredibly strange as if something was growing inside of them. I balled them into fists and five inches of glimmering steel extended from my knuckles. Each hand had four sharp blades, which when I unclenched my fists, retracted back into my skin.

The ground shook. The giant stomped across the arena. I dove aside as his foot came down, nearly crushing me. I rolled in the sand, springing to my feet only to see Torrendal's hand flying towards my face. I threw myself to the ground, barely managing to avoid the swipe.

The foot came next with a quick kick that would surely connect with my midsection. Instead of trying to dodge I attacked. I didn't think. Now was not the time. I lunged for his legs, extending my claws just in time to catch his thigh with my blades. The kick connected, throwing me across the arena.

I couldn't breathe! No, he had just knocked the wind out of me. I was lucky. As I was standing up I saw the High Judge signal for another card. I watched the embers flow into the arena once more.

Torrendal grew again. When he stopped the slash to his leg was gone. Now I could probably fit in the palm of his hand. This looked bad. Then my back exploded.

I shouted as silvery wings burst from my back, flaring open. I recovered quickly, launching myself into the air.

The crowd cheered for Lord Rane.

My wings were leathery, covered in silver scales. The giant made to grab me. I twisted, easily avoiding the swipe. From then on it was child's play staying out of the giant's reach. I had hardly been in the air for any length of time before I saw Sir. Elliot raising another slip of paper to his lips.

Embers swirled. The giant's sides bulged outwards, forming two new appendages. I was mildly panicked, while he wasn't any faster if I got in range those new arms would enable the Torrendal to trap me, even in the air. I wasn't spared either. My insides were burning up. I nearly lost control and fell out of the skies as my stomach heated to unbearable temperatures.

Sensing my weakness, the giant charged, arms swinging wildly. Why had Lord Rane given me such a detrimental change? Then I remembered. I broke into his house.

The crowd roared as the giant swung two arms at me at once. I opened my mouth, preparing to shout, but instead, a different sound came out. The air cracked as Torrendal's face exploded. My vision went white.

The fog cleared to reveal a stumbling giant, clutching his face with two hands and using the other two to hold himself up. I was drained. I flapped/fell to the ground, exhausted. The fire in my stomach was gone. I stumbled to my feet.

"Sir. Elliot yields! Lord Rane is the victor!" The High Judge's voice rang across the arena.

I won. I couldn't believe it. I collapsed, exhausted.

The crowd cheered for Lord Rane.