"Why hasn't anyone ever mentioned it to me?" Ellie asked Matthew.
"Because it's unprecedented that the Accords be invoked at a pack meet. I've certainly never heard of it happening, and since your involvement with Avalon is limited, it wasn't something that came up. It's usually only used when war is about to be declared. I certainly didn't expect it tonight."
"I'm still foggy on, A — why I was picked and, B — how I'm meant to fight a werewolf without my magic."
"Sorry, Nate," Tommy said. "I was sort of put in a corner. I couldn't pick another pack member, and we can't really wait for someone outside of the pack to turn up. If Randal beats you, his stock won’t rise by much as you’re not a werewolf, by extension that means that Elijah doesn’t gain much either. But when you win the same is true of you and me."
“If Elijah gains so little from my defeat, why bother?”
“He expected me to fight. He certainly didn’t expect that I’d chose you, Nate. Elijah probably thought he could be rid of either me or Matthew depending on how the fight ended.”
"Fighting werewolves without magic isn't exactly my idea of a good time, though."
"You're a sorcerer?" Ellie asked, shocked. "Why can't I smell any magic on you?"
"I haven't used any for a while so you can't smell it. I'm hoping I can use that to an advantage, somehow."
"So, you get to pick the rules?" Ellie asked me.
I nodded. "No weapons, powers or abilities of any kind are the only constant rule among all fights. That includes Randal's wolf or beast forms. But it doesn't really matter as he can still use his natural strength and speed. And I'm not in the same league as a werewolf on those terms."
"Randal is especially brutal, too," Gordon said offering me no help whatsoever.
"There is another problem," Matthew said. "You will have to lose the fight."
"I'm sorry, what?" I asked.
"If you win it will increase Tommy's standing. A loss will not hurt Tommy, and while it will give Elijah a small elevation in stature, it will not harm the pack long term."
"Losing shouldn't be too hard," I said. "He only has to hit me once with his full strength and I'm not going to want to get back up."
Matthew shook his head. "You will have to make it look good or there will be cries of a fix."
"You are trying to fix it," I pointed out, but no one wanted to listen to logic.
"So what are your stipulations?" Gordon asked me.
I hadn't even thought about it. Fighting a werewolf without magic was not something I wished to do, even if he was only allowed to stay in human form. "First one who quits or is unable to answer a five count."
"That will require a referee," Matthew said.
"Good, I choose Gordon. He has no love of Elijah, and when he raises Randal's hand no one will think it was rigged. Besides, I want someone in there to make sure Randal doesn't accidentally kill me."
"I'll take care of that," Matthew said. "But your request is accepted. Gordon will referee the contest."
As more details of where the fight would be, and what time, were hashed out, I decided to use the time to leave the room and find my way to the kitchen. Gordon had given me directions and told me to have a drink, so it didn't take too long to locate the spacious and bright kitchen at the rear of the property.
I found a bottle of juice in the fridge, grabbed a glass from a stack nearby and sat down to have a drink.
"You worried?" Ellie asked from the doorway.
"Concerned. Part of me just wants to use magic and get it done, but the storm of shit Tommy and Matthew would have to go through afterward would tear your pack apart."
"Randal's a mean son-of-a-bitch; he's going to go out there to hurt you any way he can."
"I know," I and finished my apple juice. "I'll be fine. It's not exactly my first fight in the Accords. First against a werewolf, though."
"Yeah, well, Elijah wants to use you as an example. I don't know you, but Tommy and Matthew both seem to like you, so be careful."
"I will, I promise."
"And if you get the chance to hurt Randal, please feel free to take it. Just because you have to throw the fight, doesn't mean you have to make it easy for him."
I chuckled. I was beginning to like this woman.
Within the hour, I was taken from the comfort of the bungalow, back into the woods surrounding the property and into the clearing we'd passed through when first entering the camp. A few more minutes' walk and we reached a third clearing, this one with a pit dug deep into the ground.
Most of the pack stood around talking as Randal, still wearing his jeans and a t-shirt, kicked and shadow punched at the wooden posts which lined one side of the massive pit. Occasionally, he looked back at his supporters and raised his hand in mock victory. He didn't appear to be taking me seriously.
"Remember," Tommy said, as I removed my coat and hooded top and passed them to him, "make it look real."
"I don't think that's going to be a fucking problem," I said, and dropped down into the arena.
From above, the pit was imposing. From inside, staring up at the dozens of wolf-beast forms all baying for action as they stood fifteen feet above me, was nerve-wracking.
I took a moment to scan my surroundings. The pit was about the same size as two boxing rings put next to one another, with a rope ladder at one end so that people could climb out. The sides were all concreted to stop the pit from collapsing under the weight of the people atop it, and the floor was covered in wooden planks.
"I'm going to fucking crush you," Randal said, and punched the concrete wall to emphasise his point.
"Wolves," Matthew bellowed. "Tonight Elijah has invoked the Accords to challenge Tommy, naming Randal as his champion. Tommy has chosen his friend, Nate, to fight for him."
There were a few sniggers at that. The idea of a human fighting a werewolf was laughable, but Matthew continued as if they were silent. "This fight will be until either competitor taps out or cannot answer a five count. My own aide, Gordon, will officiate."
"Fix," someone shouted from the back.
"The next person who questions my aide's integrity will answer my challenge."
Silence dropped like a rock.
"There will be no deaths in this fight," he stared at Randal as he spoke. "Anyone breaking that rule will find his own life forfeit. However, if either combatant cheats, his opponent may deal whatever retribution he sees fit."
I saw Randal's face pale; he wasn't happy about that.
"And now the spoils," Elijah shouted. "If you win, I will give you Neil, alive and well, within the hour."
"And what do you want?" Matthew asked.
Elijah pointed at Ellie. "Her."
"Fuck that," Ellie snapped, and Elijah laughed.
"That's the plan, little one," he sneered. "Repeatedly."
A lot of the murmurs above me, from both the men and women, and they did not sound happy with Elijah's demands.
I glanced behind me and saw Ellie and Tommy drop down into the pit. Ellie waved me over. "We can't say no," she whispered. "He'll tell us there's no chance of him helping anytime soon. He's only asked for me as his price to humiliate Matthew further. I'm is a member of his council, and after what Neil did, Matthew is sworn to protect me."
"Can you beat that piece of shit over there?" Tommy asked.
"He's a big bag of rage, if I can get him angry, he'll fuck up. Then he's mine."
"I agree," Ellie shouted, to the surprise of everyone, especially Matthew who seethed with anger from the moment Elijah had demanded Ellie as his prize.
"Nate, slight change of plan," Tommy said quietly. "Kick the shit out of him."
I looked over at Randal who was arguing with Gordon about something, and then turned back to Tommy. "Good, because after what Elijah just said, that was pretty much the plan anyway."