Chapter 5: The Ruthlessness of Goblins (Part 2)

  So much for not giving up, Strgy thought in scorn.

  Srixa turned towards a frowning Crovor, “Did you really think this boy could defea-”

  With a swift motion Ostroz kicked Srixa’s legs from underneath her. She hit the ground hard. Before she had a chance to recover, Ostroz was on top of her. His punches were a whirl of attacks, all focused at her head. 

  “Hey, that’s not fair!” Second Mother yelled. Other goblins shouted in agreement. Cries of ‘coward,’ ‘cheater’ and other insults were thrown at Ostroz. But he wasn’t listening. 

  Stryg’s eyes widened, “He doesn’t care.”

  Stryg slowly looked around, everyone was focused on how Ostroz had played dirty. For all their insults none of the goblins moved against him. They thought they were shaming him with their words, but none of them understood. Ostroz only cared about one thing, defeating Srixa. Was this what he meant with his advice? 

  After a minute, Ostroz stopped his punches. 

  He pulled Srixa’s head up by her hair, “Crovor had yet to call the match. You shouldn’t have turned your back on this ‘boy.’ Give up.” 

  Blood trickled down Srixa’s face. She spat blood on his face.

  Ostroz flinched and released her hair, her head dropped on the ground with a solid thump. She winced, but said nothing.

  Ostroz glared at her. He flipped her around, placed his right foot on top of her, and pulled both her arms back, “You used to always beat me for the smallest of mistakes or for no reason at all, just cause you felt like it. Not even First Mother was so cruel. But I noticed something from all those beatings. I’ve watched you for a long time and I learned. You’re great at fighting with your hands, but you can’t kick to save your life. So let me just take this arm of yours!” 

  “Remember when you broke my arm, Srixa? You just laughed at me with the other hunters! Let me return the favor!” Ostroz pulled back, stretching her arms behind her as far as possible. 

  Srixa groaned in pain. 

  “Give up!” Ostroz shouted.

  “In your dreams!” Srixa said through clenched teeth.

  “Oh, now you wanna talk huh!?”

  With a loud crack he dislocated her shoulder. Srixa shook her head vehemently and yelled in pain. For the first time that night the crowd of goblins cheered, they loved such violence. In their eyes, such ruthlessness was a virtue. 

  Stryg watched in silence, he didn’t enjoy this, Ostroz should have just finished her off.

  “Ready to give up now?” Ostroz asked.

  “Fuck you,” Srixa cursed.

  “One more to go then,” Ostroz and pulled her other arm.

  Srixa gritted her teeth, “I’ll kill y-”

  Ostroz yanked hard, dislocating the shoulder’s joint in an instant. She groaned in agony, tears in her dim eyes.

  Ostroz smiled, he released her dislocated arms and grabbed her face,“Oh, are you crying? The great merciless Srixa, crying in front of everyone?”

  “F-fuck you,” she muttered through ragged breaths.

  Ostroz looked over at the shaman.

  Crovor nodded, “Ostroz is the victor.”

  Ostroz stood up in triumph, his hands raised in victory. No one cheered, but neither did they dispute his win.

  Srixa lunged and sank her teeth into his ankle. Ostroz squealed and fell over. Srixa pinned him down with her legs and bashed his face in with her forehead, over and over. The night challenge was over, Ostroz had won. Srixa shouldn’t have attacked, yet no one made a move to stop her.

  Srixa grinned maliciously at the half-conscious goblin, “You damn cheater. Did you really think I’d let you get away with that?”

  Ostroz mumbled a few words, but no one could make it out through his broken nose and cracked teeth.

  Srixa bent down and licked his bloodied cheek, “But I kinda liked the initiative. Most men in the tribe are terrified to step into a night challenge with me. How about I show you a real challenge?”

  Ostroz blinked blearily, “...Y-you mean?”

  “Let’s find out if you actually are a man under all that swagger,” Srixa licked her lips.

  “Hah… you’re on.”

  “You think you can win? I’ll have you whimpering in seconds,” Srixa laughed.

  “That’s my line,” Ostroz grinned, blood still dripping from his mouth.

  “But first you better pop my shoulders back in or I swear I will tear out your throat,” Srixa bared her fangs.

  “Right,” Ostroz swallowed.

  After a few painful moments, Srixa’s shoulders were back in place, and Ostroz had two new welts on his shoulder.

  The other goblins cheered at Srixa and Ostroz as they disappeared among trees in the dark.

  “Srixa’s gonna eat him alive,” a hunter mumbled.

  Another hunter nodded, “Yeah, Ostroz isn’t coming out of this without several more bruises and cuts. Srixa likes to play rough with her prey, why do you think she chose to sleep with him? I bet he won’t last half the night before she gets bored of him.”

  Stryg ignored their remarks and looked around the group. Two people were missing. Where had Crovor and Bril gone?