War God for Hire- Gladiator David Burke (bookreader TXT) 📖

him said that he shouldn’t think about that, not if he wanted to win Nyda or Hilde, but it was impossible to deny that she was an attractive woman.

Suddenly, Kyle heard a hissing sound followed by, “Careful, m’lady.”

Meeka was forcefully jerked back beyond the reach of his arms. Holding her was a gorgeous blonde woman that would have stood out in any crowd. She had a transparent white veil over her head and covering her face, although the diaphanous material didn’t actually conceal anything. Her pert lips were red and full, high cheek bones made her look regal, and even the angry look on her face couldn’t fully hide her inherent beauty.

Kyle couldn’t help himself as his eyes trailed down to take the rest of her in. Her ample breasts were pushed up into some rather significant cleavage and nestled between the cups of what was essentially a chainmail bikini top. Lower down and pushing the breasts up to even more dramatic effect was a silver metallic armor piece that extended down to just above where her belly button would have been.

It was, however, hidden beneath what looked like a black one-piece swimsuit with stretchy Lycra type material that was cut high enough to show off her hips but for the leather belt and chainmail skirt that covered her. Well, partially covered her. From what Kyle could tell, it only extended to just below the bottom curve of her ass.

None of that was what shocked him though. Rather as he looked up at her face again, he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of deja vu. The longer he looked at her face, the more it hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew this woman. He knew her in a deep and personal, if not sexual, manner. He had never seen her before in his life, but was still sure that he knew her.

He squeaked out, “Marie?”

The woman’s eyes grew wide, and she rapidly grabbed Lady Meeka and escorted her away from Kyle. Meanwhile, Soren made some signal that had Saber and four guards pulling him away just as quickly.

When they were halfway across the arena floor, Saber whispered, “What was that, boy?”

Kyle simply shook his head. He was still in shock. He was equally sure that he had never seen the woman before in his life, and that he had known her for years. Something about seeing her here cut him to the quick. He felt a sense of betrayal that he had never known, and yet a desire to speak to her. Somehow, he knew that her name was Marie.

Once they reached the tunnel, Saber signaled the guards to stop as he said more insistently, “Look, boy, I like you, but I need to know what sort of hornet’s nest you just put your foot into if I’m to help you. How do you know Lash?”

Kyle felt numb, but something about the question intrigued him. “Lash? Who’s that?”

“The woman that you just made such a spectacle in front of. Don’t play dumb with me, lad.”

Kyle searched his memory, but he hadn’t done anything but stare at her and then say her name. Was that the same Lash that Saber was talking about? Even then, that was hardly a spectacle. “I didn’t do anything but look at her,” he protested.

Saber seemed dumbfounded for a minute before he said, “Uh, I guess not. But there was something in the air. It was like sparks were gonna fly any second and I didn’t know if you were about to mount her there in the middle of the arena, or if the two of you were gonna explode into flames, tearing the coliseum down as you fought. Never felt such strong hatred or desire in my life, and I’ve been around fighters for nearly three decades.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Saber. I appreciate everything you have done for me, and you have my word that I wouldn’t lie to you about something important like that. I’ve never seen that woman before in my life, but she seemed so familiar. Who was she?” Kyle asked.

The head trainer stared at Kyle briefly then said, “She is called Lash. But you called her a different name. You spoke too softly, so I’m not sure what it was that you said.”

Kyle heard Hilde’s voice, “Please trust me. Don’t share anything about that woman. I will explain later.”

He didn’t want to lie to Saber, but the urgency in Hilde’s voice convinced him it was necessary at least for now. He thought back to her, “You had better.”

Out loud he asked, “Lash, hmm… Does that mean that she is a famous arena fighter like you?”

“To my knowledge, she has never fought a match in this arena or any other before the exhibition match tonight. Truthfully, that wasn’t even a match. She had poor Burke down before he even moved. It weren’t no real match at all.”

Kyle was even more confused now. “Then how do you know who she is?”

“Lad, she is one of the most famous warriors of this or any generation. She was or is one of the seven weapon maidens of Krig, the war god. Anyone—soldier, gladiator, or mercenary—would have heard tales about her exploits, hers and those of her sisters,” Saber said.

Now Kyle understood a little more while still being completely in the dark. “What do you mean ‘was or is’?”

“This is beyond me. I only know legends. She is supposedly more than a hundred years old. She and her sisters served the war god as his personal messengers and agents of his will. I say was or is because some of the other temples have been spreading the rumor that the war god is dead.

“Seems a mighty strange thing to me, but I figured maybe you being a war elemental, you might know something more about it. Anyway, you saw the veil on her head, right? The tales say that she and her sisters were all married to Krig, but