Arlo hid under a tree trunk and watched the small town of Shallowtown?
İt had quite a number of houses designed in a colorful way. The materials used in them changed from basic concrete mush to stone bricks. The biggest building was a chapel with a large garden that had some dead and alive trees in it. People were carrying wood planks, stone brick and other stuff towards it.
Arlo managed to understand that they were building an arena for the event.
A horse neighed and stopped at the town's entrance. İt had some sort of armor on it. The driver was even more armored. His helmet had horns and was shaped after a wolf. He talked to the guards and they escorted him inwards.
Another warrior arrived with a stag as her pet. The gilded silver bow of hers shined to Arlos ' empty eye socket.
Arlo stared at the poster and tried to read some more.
Same things were understandable. A reward, an arena and a fight.
He remembered the way the hunters were after they saw him as a pile of bones.
Maybe he needed to cover his body with something else?
Arlo fell to thoughts while trying to find a way to solve the current problem.
An armor would be able to cover his body. But how to get it?
His eyes fell to a guard swaying away from his post. Was he following someone? The regular scenario… The prey follows something and Arlo follows to ambush it.
He crawled away from the tree trump and followed the guard to an alleyway.
No other guards were visible, maybe this was a mutual agreement made between them?
He looked into the alley to see a guard cornering an old man. Their voices were barely hearable.
"---- for the coins old man." The guard seemed to be threatening the old man while he acted to reach for his weapon.
"You said that last time but did nothing against the rascals…" He cried.
"They have eyes for my daughter, i am paying you to protect my family from the troublemakers!" he stuttered.
The guard laughed as he pushed the old man towards the wall.
"Consider this your peace tax!" he said with visible greed.
"İ already pay my taxes you brat!" he screamed with tension "İf you're not going to protect us just stop!"
The guard seems to be fed up with the old man's screaming. "That's it…" he took his sword out. "Pay or you shall be banished."
"And maybe your daughter will be interested in me?" His smile resembled one of a snake.
The old man froze in fear as the guard came closer, "What's that? not so thoug-" a large rock smashed into his helmet knocking him out.
Arlo looked at the old man fainting with utter shock. He then considered sparing the guard but decided not to.
THUCK the rock smashed onto the head that was unprotected when Arlo removed the helmet.
—----------------------------------------------------
A guard approached the arena manager.
"You are lucky one of the participants and his brother are late…" the bearded fellow gloated.
"You can join…"
Arlo, now in a guard armor, entered the cabin to prepare. His face that wasn't covered with the helmet was covered with a piece of fabric.
He sat down on a bench.
"HALF AN HOUR TO THE EVENT!" a cheermaster shouted.
Arlo started to the other warriors minding their own businesses. Either way he will gain something even if he did not win.