Until today, Xain had never considered the idea that Bow had been healing him after their fights or when he got particularly hurt on their excursions, but he well knew that hit should have taken him out. The thought had come to him as the woman had reached out her hand, and the wash of relief which he had expected, did not arrive.

  Bow had been adamant that the body was a far more resilient thing when it had the opportunity to rebuild itself, and had often pushed Xain far past his self imposed limits. Knowing what he did now, it seemed far more likely that his dad had been creating opportunities so he could use subtle healing to mend broken bones and other such injuries in a way that altered and strengthened his frame.

  Because, even a few years ago, a hit like that would have broken several ribs, not merely knocked the wind out, and give him what he could already tell would be a nasty bruise.

  Still, the punch had felt like a tree falling on his chest, and as he was thrown across the room, Xain had flash of Bow reciting his philosophy that limitations only existed in his mind. There was some truth to that of course, but how much had Bow tipped the scale?

  How many secrets did you have?

  That didn't matter right now. He needed to focus on the fight.

  Clearly the Jotun had expected the one hit to be enough to end things, but as they began to circle each other, with Brim finally moving his feet, Xain saw the man was ready to take the fight more seriously.

  He knew his own punch had done some damage to Brim as well, since despite how the man tried to hide it, Xain observed how he slightly favored his right side, subtly protecting where Xain’s fist had struck. This was a minor victory, but it was also apparent that he would need to land several punches to the same spot before it would cause the man more than a slight discomfort.

  Luckily, Xain was used to fighting with a size disadvantage.

  While Bow was nowhere near the size of the Jotun before him, his dad hit with more force than his current opponent, a factor which had demanded that Xain learn numerous ways to approach each situation.

  As his mind worked, he came to another realization. This was fun. Now that he knew what Brim could do, Xain could really lean in.

  …

  Vector watched with rapt attention as Xain and Brim continued to circle the ring, exchanging jabs which Xain quickly dodged away from, and Brim blocked with relative ease. No one spoke, as everyone waited for the clash, but gone was the mood which had said this would be a simple fight.

  Just as Brim jabbed again, Xain moved under the man's arm, and punched up, his left fist connecting directly into the man's right bicep, before dancing away again.

  The slight growl from Fen spoke to the wolf’s approval of the move, but the win was short lived, as Brim surged forward, arms spread out in an attempt to grab Xain.

  If successful, Vector could already hear the sound of Xain’s ribs cracking as the Jotun need do nothing but squeeze and his victory would be assured.

  Instead of dodging away though, Xain ran toward the man, ducking at the last minute, so Brim’s hands just barely missed grabbing onto him as he quickly veered to the right, reaching his right hand out, not in a punch, but to grab Brims massive leg and use it as leverage as he swung himself behind the Jotun in a move Vector had not seen before.

  As Xain’s feet softly landed on the mat, he continued to use the momentum, pushing off before his feet could fully plant, and launched himself up Brim’s back in a maneuver that looked more like a squirrel climbing a tree than a man attacking an opponent. He continued his quick climb until he was able to wrap his right arm around the Jotun’s neck, and began a series of quick sharp hammer-like blows on the left side of his face.

  As delicate as the whole thing looked, Vector could clearly see Xain’s muscles bulge as he wrapped his right arm tighter around Brim’s neck, choking the Jotun while raining down his left fist so quickly it was a blur to Vector’s eyes.

  The Jotun seemed too stunned to know what to do, and it took several long seconds before he finally lifted his right arm up and back in an attempt to get a hold on Xain. It was smart, Vector thought, but as Brim's arm rose, Xain’s right foot shot out, and sharply kicked Brim’s bicep in the same spot he had hit before.

  Did he… did he mark the spot for later?

  Xain didn't fight like anyone he had ever seen in the ring. He fought like a wild animal attacking prey far larger and more dangerous than it was, relying on its willingness to do anything and everything to win.

  Fen’s growl was so deep with satisfaction, Vector didn't need anyone to tell him the wolf had been waiting for just this.

  Still, Brim wasn't done. Realizing the situation, Vector saw the shift, as he lurched forward, and then quickly began to fall back. He clearly wanted to crush Xain under his weight, no longer caring about anything aside from getting this wild beast off of him!

  “Fuck,” Vector cursed under his breath, thinking for a moment Xain actually had a chance.

  But, as if only to prove Vector wrong, Xain quickly adjusted, releasing the Jotun's neck, and scurrying up so his legs wrapped around the man's neck. Had Brim not committed so fully, he may have been able to adapt. As it was though, before the Jotun could pull out of the fall, Xain wrenched his whole body backward, and threw all his weight into the move Brim had planned to use to crush him.

  Vector gaped as the Jotun’s feet lifted off the ground, and they both hung in the air for what felt like an eternity, connected so tightly they were nearly a single being. Then, as one, they fell, their combined weight slamming into the mat with such force the ground under Vector shook, and created a whip crack of skin hitting canvas which echoed through the hall several times before everything finally fell completely silent.

  It took Vector a second to understand what he was looking at, but when his mind finally caught up, he still struggled to comprehend Xain’s complete commitment to the fight.

  Both men lay unmoving in the ring, and aside from the slight rise and fall of their chests, gave no indication of being alive.

  He… he knocked them both out?

  As if to confirm this, the woman who had been equally silent, finally snapped into action, as she leapt gracefully into the ring, and quickly pulled Xain’s legs from around Brim's neck. After that she laid one hand on Jotun's chest, and the other on Xain’s stomach, her array flaring with power as she began to heal them both at once.

  A second later, Vector let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when Xain, followed closely by Brim, thankfully began to cough, and they both gasped awake.

  The other Jotun had been silent throughout the whole scene, but at this sign of life, all three of them erupted into cheers, pumping their fists as they hopped up and down in their excitement.

  Fen let out a series of yips, and his front paws danced, but Vector could do little more than silently observe the revelry, as he was still too stunned to move.

  “So,” he heard Xain start, but was quickly cut off by a fit of coughing. When it subsided and he was able to speak once more, Vector watched as he sat up wearing that same insane smile on his face, as he looked toward the woman who continued to heal him, and asked, “who won?”

  …

  “Who won?” Xain asked, his vision still swimming.

  For a second he didn't think the woman would answer, her blurry face turned toward him in what he could only imagine was some level of scorn, but just as his vision began to clear, he could see the wide smile on her face as she said “Draw.”

  “N…no…n…no,” Brim coughed, as his blank eyes stared up at nothing.

  “You,” he started, cutting off as another fit of coughing over took him, and blood misted from his mouth.

  A few seconds later, when the Jotun could take a full breath, he continued, still not yet trying to sit up, “You won.”

  “You were both knocked out,” The woman said, her smile dropping slightly at this correction.

  “He had me,” Brim said.

  “He could have let go. He went down with me.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Xain was surprised Brim had felt that. He had calculated the risk, and decided that it would better serve a potential friendship if he took the hit with the Jotun. Winning was one thing, but if he could forge a bond through mutual pain, it would count for far more.

  The woman looked between Xain and Brim, her smiling returning as understanding dawned.

  “Good fight,” She said, giving Xain a slight nod of approval.

  Xain was still too exhausted to do more than smile in thanks as he lifted his gaze to the other side of the ring where Vector stood like a statue, and watched with wide eyes beside the Jotun who still let out little whoops of excitement, while Fen wagged his tail so fast it was a blur.

  “Good fight,” Xain said after another few moments of healing, and stood.

  Brim was up only a second later, the woman moving to the side as Brim extended his hand to Xain to shake.

  “Good fight,” Brim agreed, his bloody smile showing he truly meant it.

  “But I want another chance,” he added, his grip on Xain’s hand tightening with the words.

  “I'm in,” Xain said, matching his smile.

  “Both of you are done for today,” the woman said, her tone firm, despite still holding a small grin

  Xain was about to protest when the twinge of pain from his ribs as they continued to reknit shot up his side.

  “Tomorrow?” Xain asked instead.

  “We’ll see,” The woman said.

  “Nah,” Brim said. “Let's do it when you get to Jotun.”

  …

  “That was…” Vector trailed off, and for the first time since Xain met the man, he seemed to be at a loss for words.

  They sat on a pair of chairs that Zill, their healer and ref, brought over after Xain had nearly collapsed upon stepping out of the ring.

  While they waited for the chairs, the group of Jotun had not been sparing with their praise for both for Xain and Brim, who despite falling to Xain, had obviously earned some further respect by both conceding the fight, and his affable attitude after the loss.

  “A fight is a conversation, as well as a chance to learn,” Lyssa had whispered to Xain.

  “Brim has struggled with his few losses before, rare as they were. On Jotun, we do not see a loss in the ring as a failure, but as an opportunity to grow. It is a lesson we had hoped he would take to heart before our arrival.”

  “But none of us could have guessed you would be the one to teach it,” she had laughed as she ran her hand playfully down Xain’s back.

  Xain, suddenly flushed and confused, had quickly stuttered his thanks before leaning on Vector for support and extricating himself from the group.

  He had promised to have a drink with them later, but for now it was all he could do to pet Fen, and watch Lyssa and Slate spar while Vector continued to attempt to wrap his head around what he had seen.

  “What?” Xain asked, not hiding his smile. “You thought that would be my first time in the ring?”

  “Honestly?” Vector asked, turning to him. “I am unsure what to think of you.”

  “But it appears, I am not alone in such an assessment,” Vector continued, glancing behind where they sat.

  Xain had felt the eyes of the other Seeds on them, but at the moment he was too tired to care. This, unlike the night before, was for fun. Fen, adding further proof that he was always right, had known Xain had needed to let off some steam, despite Xain not knowing it himself.

  The outcome of the fight didn't matter. Had Brim landed another one or two of those punches, it was likely the conclusion would have been far different, but Xain would have had just as much fun.

  He was just about to make an excuse to walk around, the attention from the others beginning to weigh on him, as a new voice called his name from somewhere past the ring.

  “Xain! Fen!” the voice called again, the excited tone stirring recognition in Xain’s mind.

  Before he could place it though, the woman who had brought their breakfast that morning bounded over, nearly skipping as she honed in on Fen.

  Right. She said she had a surprise.

  “Who’s that?” Vector asked.

  “I'm not exactly sure” Xain said, but smiled as Fen stood up and ran to meet the woman.

  …

  Doris, a name he only learned after Vector introduced himself to her as she buried her head in Fen’s fur, had saved Xain from needing to find an excuse to get away from the other Seeds on the deck as she eagerly informed them Fen’s surprise was waiting, before she turned without waiting for a reply, and scurried off toward the aft section of the room.

  Xain and Vector had followed, all be it slower than Fen, as Vector still had to support Xain as he walked. Despite tapping both his rune for Hale Frame, and the healing provided by the jacket he had quickly slipped on after the bout, Xain could feel the damage of the fight, and found himself wondering what Bow would have said.

  It had only been just over a day since they said goodbye, but Xain couldn't help feeling the necklace under his shirt with his free hand, and wishing Bow had been there to watch him and Brim.

  Bow loved that stuff. Wrestling had been one of their favorite pastimes, and Xain had long ago understood it was one of the ways his dad had shown affection. He would often wake up to Bow crouched at the end of his bed, ready to spring on him the moment his eyes flickered open, smiling so wide his beard split in half.

  He was a big advocate of playing, and often said that life was a gift and if we didn't take our time to enjoy it, it was too easily wasted.

  Knowing now how old he was, Xain thought it was probably advice that was hard won through experience, and wondered if their time together had helped Bow understand the importance of merely living one's life.

  And it had been a good life, too.

  No matter what had brought them together, Xain knew how much Bow loved him. It may have started off as payment, but there was never a moment he didn't feel Bow’s affection toward him.

  What would my life be, had it not been for that love? Has Vector ever felt like anyone cared for him, and not just his array?

  Probably not. Husks rarely had such luxury, being born into a world where their worth was decided before they were even aware they were alive.

  Xain decided then, that no matter what happened, he would do his best to ensure his friend knew it wasn't his power that brought them together. Actually, it was in spite of it. If Vector wanted too, there would be little he could do to stop him taking his rune. But the more time they spent together, the more he trusted Vector had no intention of doing such a thing.

  It was evident that friendship was something neither of them had much experience in, though if they were going to survive the Path, Xain could think of little else that could be of more help.

  “Just through here,” Doris said, leading Fen to a huge door set into a room sectioned off from the main hall.

  Fen looked back at Xain and Vector, his tongue lolling, tail wagging with excitement, as he waited for Xain’s nod of approval.

  “Go on,” Xain said with a smile, “we will be right there.”

  …

  “This is… incredible,” Xain said as he looked around the room turned forest, a feat accomplished through special sigils which Doris and some of the other crew had prepared beforehand.

  “I’m sure you have heard how the ship is covered in basically one huge illusion. Well, we took that idea, and ran with it,” Doris explained, standing by Xain and Vector as Fen darted through the trees, the soil kicking up as he ran.

  “Is it real?” Vector asked, clearly awed by the sight.

  “In a way,” Doris said, but didn’t explain further.

  The room looked far larger than the 50’x60’ square he had seen from the outside, which seeing as how the rest of the ship was, this felt in line with what he had observed so far. But the smell, the feel of the wind, the clouds which slowly drifted in a full sky overhead, it was as if they had actually been transported to a whole different realm.

  Hanging from the trees were various bones, toys, ropes, and swings all unmistakably built for Fen’s enjoyment, as if Doris and the crew had designed a playground just for them.

  “My wife is the one who typically interacts with the wolf packs back home, but whenever we are both on Jotun at the same time, we spend days building things just like this. The wolves were hesitant at first, but over the generations they have come to love the parks as much as we love watching them use them.”

  “Oh,” she said, turning back to what Xain assumed was the wall, but seeing as it looked no different from the rest of the room really had no idea, and tapped a tree.

  “I almost forgot!” She exclaimed, her hand moving quickly in a pattern under which several runic sigils sparked to life.

  When she finished, Xain caught sight of a section off to his left where trees blurred and disappeared, only to be replaced by the appearance of a large rock waterfall with a pool big enough to swim in at its base.

  “It’s heated, but the temperature can be adjusted by a series of sigils at the base of the falls,” Doris said with obvious pride.

  “The water also contains some herbs, and is infused with the lightest bit of a sap from Vanaheim which is good for relaxing Fen’s muscles.”

  “Probably for you two as well,” She added, as if the thought had just occurred to her.

  “Why?” Xain asked, unable to think of anything else. This felt so above and beyond, even for this crew, that he couldn't understand how Fen’s mere presence was enough to expend so much effort. Especially since, according to what he had heard, they would reach Niflheim’s realm tomorrow, and dock the morning after.

  “Well,” Doris said, turning her eyes away as she spoke, “I have to admit, it's not entirely selfless. I have been wanting to test this out for some time, but the runic creatures we typically ferry out are not allowed out of the hold. It's not our rule, mind you. But for some reason I have never been able to understand, the Seeds with runic beasts rarely have the relationship the two of you do.”

  “I have only ever seen it a handful of times, and never before with a wolf. Though, in my whole time on the ship, I have never seen a Seed bring a wolf. And I was not the only one who was excited when the captain told us the only way Fen would be placed in the hold was over your dead body.”

  “So we finally had a reason to try it! Also, I don't know if you know this, but wolves are quite social creatures. If Fen approves, I'm sure the wolves on Jotun will know of it, and maybe it will help my chances of bonding with one.”

  Doris spoke so quickly, and with such genuine enthusiasm as she watched Fen leap to grab ahold of one of the ropes, Xain wondered how the fuck a wolf had not chosen her yet.

  Is it really so rare?

  “Well,” Xain started, smiling as Fen took another flying leap, landed on a swing, and jumped off again, “I think he approves.”