One of the women stepped to her comrade, her beadlike earrings gently bobbing as she moved. “What do you propose?”

“If what she says is true, we must drive them out. Our festival will be compromised, which will anger those who rest here,” the man said.

Amali’s hands rested on her hips. “Isn’t this more important? Those guys have guns out there!”

“Ah, unlike yourself,” the man said, grinning as he pointed to her weapon.

“Okay, you got me; I was tryin’ to get the treasure! But can’t you pitch in? You’re supposed to be warriors, right?” Amali said, shrugging.

“That, we are. If fate summons us, we will answer.”

“Um, yeah, okay…so you’ll help us?” Amali asked.

“Take us to Ekzera. We will confront those who trespass on our land!”

“Great, they’re out in front, but we need to take ‘em by surprise.”

The man turned his head, his brows rising. “Have you a plan, scarlet rogue?”

Amali smirked, and opened a pouch on her utility belt. “Of course. Follow my lead.”

In the middle of the arena, Shigoh inched closer to Kaffron, his hands still tucked in his pockets.

“What the hell’re you waiting for?” Kaffron said, thrashing his arm. “Make a move!”

Shigoh’s slanted eyes squinted, his fingers clasping the fabric of his pants as he moved. “So be it; I grow tired of this!” He tugged a pair of small, slender metal blades from his pockets, tucking them between his fingers. Shigoh lunged forward, gnashing Kaffron’s arm with his blades. Kaffron growled, clenching his bleeding arm while Shigoh darted around him.

“So that’s how we’re playin’ it?” he grunted.

Kaffron heaved his leg out from behind, hitting Shigoh away while turned back around. He jerked his gun from his holster and fired at Shigoh’s feet, tripping him. Kaffron rushed over and shoved his fist into Shigoh’s face, dropping him to the ground. Shigoh rolled beneath Kaffron’s legs, swiping him with the blades again. Kaffron jumped up, his pants lightly ripped, and threw his leg against Shigoh’s arm. Shigoh snarled, his arms flailing while Kaffron dodged the blades as they bound around the arena.

Kaffron’s heel hit a rock, his body rocking while Shigoh dove in and pummeled his belly with quick jabs. Kaffron stomped forward and squeezed Shigoh’s neck, the veins in his bloody arm pulsing. “Go to hell, you rat-bastard!”

Shigoh flayed Kaffron’s arm again, the blades lodging in his flesh while he struggled to get free. His chubby, sweaty face bulged, his teeth showing as he leered at Kaffron. “I’ll c-cut you—to pieces!”

Kaffron pulled his bleeding arm back, his fist hammering Shigoh’s face and driving him across the ring. He gritted his teeth as the blade ripped from his arm, his hand dripping blood as he squeezed the wound. Light dirt clouds swept in the wind while Kaffron dragged further to Shigoh, lying on the ground. He grimaced at the sight of Shigoh’s dented, bruised and bloody face, his tooth loosely hanging over his lip. Kaffron kicked Shigoh’s limp, dirt-stained arm.

“He’s out. Fuckin’ serves him right.”

A shadow gradually spilled over Kaffron, flinching when he turned to see Jirani approaching.

“What have you done?” Jirani said, his arms shaking.

“You got real nerve sayin’ that. What, you scared now that you know what you’re up against?” Kaffron said.

Jirani scoffed as he reached down for his gun. “That will be my last mistake…and this yours.”

Just then, a loud popping noise emanated from the temple. All across the facade, smoke billowed from a broken glass vial.

“Whoa! What’s goin’ on?” Niko exclaimed, jumping away. He and Alia hurried from the smog and crouched behind another pillar.

Atop the temple roof, Amali hunched down, her gun aimed across the colosseum at the Black Assassin and the others. A bullet sped from the chamber and careened into the cavern wall, forcing them to cower from the shrapnel. “What in the hell?” the assassin shouted. He bolted down the walkway and entered the arena, teeming with ashy smoke.

“Guys, now! Go help the others!” Amali called.

From the corners of the temple, the dozen Oumiat warriors darted down towards the ring, wailing and thrusting their spears.

“What in the hell?” Jirani yelled.

As he danced among the stampede of people, Kaffron hurried back to the temple stairwell and regrouped with Niko and Alia.

“Look, they’re coming for us!” one of the other tourists said.

The Oumiat gathered around them and helped them up. “Do not fear us,” the man said. “We are here to help! Quickly, let’s get back to town!”

While the groups scurried through the tunnel, Jirani and the Black Assassin marched back to the temple with Shigoh in their arms. “Who is responsible for this?” Jirani said as he reached the top.

“Sir, up there,” the assassin said, pointing his finger.

Amali climbed down the rear of the temple, her boots crunching on the gravel. “Looks like we’re a step ahead of you, Jirani! Why don’t you call it quits!”

Jirani set Shigoh against the temple doorway and faced her, his bloodshot eyes twitching. “You? All of you keep coming, one after the other!” He wildly shot the ceiling, collapsing a huge hunk of marble right beside Amali. “I should kill you all!”

Amali stood back up, dusting off her skirt. “You’re insane.”

“Shut up! Get in the ring now!”

Amali cracked her knuckles. “Only if you join me.”

Jirani tucked his gun away and slowly stepped forward, stopped by the Black Assassin’s arm.

“If I may, sir; I request this bout.”

Jirani lightly popped his neck. “Very well. Niko is the only one worth facing.”

Amali balled her fists as the masked assassin walked along the upper level, his arm gesturing to the stairwell. “We will commence now,” he said with a deep, muffled voice. He stepped down, the metal clips and chains on his outfit clinking calmly.

Amali glared at Jirani as she backed away toward the others. Niko and Alia knelt beside Kaffron, tying his wound with scraps of his torn pants.

“Baby, you alright?” she asked, rubbing his chest.

“Yeah. Don’t how much more help I’ll be.” Kaffron shook his head. “Be careful, ‘Mali, these guys fight like we do.”

Amali kissed him, and stepped down to the ring. Momentarily, Ekzera quietly stepped beside them. “How are you two doing?”

Niko sighed. “I don’t even know; this shit’s happening too fast. Least the others got out.”

“Mmm, that redheaded woman seems to have found more than the treasure.”

“What do you mean?” Alia asked, helping Kaffron sit up.

“The Oumiat warriors have come from hiding.” Ekzera grinned. “She chose to help us over the treasure.”

“What? You mean the treasure’s in there?” Kaffron said, leaning up.

Alia sighed. “Is that all you think about?”

“Shit, after all this? That’s the least I can hope for!”

“I’m sorry y’all got stuck in the middle of this,” Niko said, “but there’s nothin’ we can do now. We’re stuck here.”

Kaffron slapped the ground, kicking up dirt and sand. “Yeah, well, we’re not licked yet, kid!”

Niko looked over to Alia, then down to the arena. The money don’t even seem that important anymore.