[Ridge]
"Ridge! Hey, wait- not you too!" Raforn attempts to yell at me as I curve my path towards the stage once I see that they're both okay, "DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!"
I grab a man by his elbow and pull him back. As my need to severely beat Kadeeth rises, the violence in the way I cut through the crowd increases as well. The cheers closest to me turn to curses and shoves, but one flash of the weapon concealed on my belt and they quickly back off.
When I reach the edge of the stage I hear someone mumble 'oh shit', which almost knocks me off of my war path. Almost. Instead I grab the edge of the shifty stage and hop up gracefully. This thing is about as much of a hazard as our balcony. It's a piece of crap, and if I feel like I'm about to fall through the floor, I can't imagine how it's holding up someone as buff as Kadeeth. Or how it's managed to support so many fighters before this, some probably bigger and stronger than Kadeeth.
Caroley is definitely stronger in this aspect of dueling, and I bet Caleigh could beat him with strength alone too. Me, on the other hand, I can not beat him. Unless I have or create some kind of advantage, he will win almost every time. It's the most annoying thing about him. Even after all my years of training I've never fully pulled ahead of him. It's like his muscle came with his personality when he was born, it was just THERE.
Once I'm on the stage the bald man starts trying to get me to back off. He puts his hand on my chest to prevent me from moving forward. I look down at his hand and then back up at him with what I'm sure is a disturbingly blank face.
He flinches and removes his hand, clearing his throat, "Sir, I'm going to ask that you leave the arena, or register to be processed for a fight like everyone else." He seems proud of himself for a second, until I ignore him and lock onto Kadeeth's turned back, "Sir?"
I barrel past him before he can grab onto me again, not that he could stop me, and make head straight for my childhood friend. Caroley looks up from wrapping her hands once the commotion amps at seeing my rampage. She realizes the situation ridiculously fast.
"Kadee-" She tries to warn him but I'm already there.
I reach up and yank his ear down as he turns around. I bring him to eye level with me, and when he finally notices the situation a look of sheer PANIC melts his crowd pleaser face into a desperate mess.
I start dragging him, "Kadeeth James Rid-"
"No, no, no just let me explain-"
"DO NOT cut me off." I yell in his ear, then I smile, and I swear he almost starts crying, "If you mess up this deal, pawn Tellur off on anybody else, or keep trying to fight our Doc's friend, I will personally make sure that you never have the opportunity to march your happy ass into any kind of arena, ever again." I hiss low, so only he can hear it.
He nods furiously, eliciting murmuring from the confused crowd. I glance at Caroley and offer a silent apology. She seems confused, nervous, and a little impressed, which is a far shot from how closed off she got earlier.
I pull Kadeeth off the stage with me, maybe this idiot is good for something after all.