Fighting, Honour and Valhalla Chapter 61 - The Viking and The Witcher: Year 3 Part 3 (Patreon)

The full moon was out tonight, causing the beautiful city of Constantinople to continue shining like the beacon it was; the reflective glass and metals that composed the buildings were so well made that even in darkness the city was illuminated. Thorfinn loved to watch it, every full moon he would sit at his window and watch the city. He was enamoured with it the same way he was enamoured with the other works of art that he had discovered in Constantinople. Paintings, music, ancient writings that depict the sheer beauty of the world beyond their own.

When he was young he was told by Ragnar that Asgard was a golden city with buildings that reached above the clouds. A city made of gold, with buildings that reached that high up; even now Thorfinn could not picture such a place, but if Asgard was more beautiful than Constantinople then he would never want to leave. So enthralled he was by this beauty that he forgot about the book he held in his hands. Looking back down at it he ran his fingers over the pages; they were a marvel unto themselves.

This was the book Thorfinn had found in the second city, the one with pages made of gold. Yet unlike gold it retained the flexibility of parchment, but to his surprise couldn't be ripped. The book also contained a language that Thorfinn did not know. For months he had been trying to translate the golden book, yet he was no closer now than he was before. Languages came to Thorfinn as naturally as breathing and yet he could not read this one. No matter how many days he'd stared at the text it did not make sense to him.

"Thorfinn?" A voice called out from further inside the room.

Thorfinn turned and was greeted to the naked form of Sophia. His eyes locked onto Sophia's naked body as she stood in the lamplight. Her skin glowed under the flickering oil lamps. She had soft breasts that were teardrop shaped and while not overly big they were more than a handful, the nipples that topped them were dark and the Areola surrounding them large, but they hardened in the cool air. Looking further down he looked to her stomach which was flat, her muscles visible beneath the skin. Her long dark hair was unbraided and so fell down her back, cascading in long curls that reached her backside. They also fell in front of her shoulders almost touching her groin which was covered in its own forest of dark curls. The best part however was her legs, thick with muscle yet unbearably soft when Thorfinn touched them.

"You're reading that book again," Sophia said with a raised brow as she walked over to him. She effortlessly perched onto the window he was on and placed herself between his legs, leaning against his chest.

"It's fascinating..." Thorfinn said as he wrapped his arms around her, his fingers brushing against her stomach, making her shiver slightly in his grasp. "Never have I seen something that confounds my mind so much..." he spoke reverently as he held the book up in front of them both.

"Atlantis... The Second City, a place so ancient that it predates the great empire of Rome by millennia, whatever language these words are in must've not been spoken in just as long."

"Perhaps such knowledge is better left forgotten," Sophia commented. She ran her hands down Thorfinns arms and overlaid them on top of his. She pushed back closer into him; despite the hot days in Constantinople the nights were fiercely cold.

"Knowledge should never be lost..." Thorfinn said a little wistfully as he looked out to the city once more. "Thousand of people, thousands of minds, legendary genius's of all kinds formed the Roman Empire, yet this city is all that remains of it... such a thing is a tragedy."

"It does sound sad when you speak of it in such a way," Sophia said, leaning her head back into his chest and getting a little more comfortable.

"If all I achieved in my life was forgotten... I cannot think of a worse fate," Thorfinn said while shaking his head.

"What will you do then?" Sophia asked.

"I'm not sure... while I cannot read the language as is perhaps there is a way for me to translate it," he said as he looked back towards the book. "Look here." He guided her hand to the book and traced her finger across some of the smooth lines on them. "This looks similar to the Sumerian Script, the lines are very similar, but the characters are different..."

"What do you think it means?" She asked.

Thorfinn thought for a moment. "Perhaps this is the first language of man, and it resembles Sumerian as it is a bastardised version of it?" He would need to study more languages to be certain, from what he could see there was no similarities to Arabic or Greek. He'd need to study the languages of Africa and the Mediterranean. Perhaps then it would give him more of a clue into what this language of and just what knowledge was hidden inside these pages.

Sophia started to kiss his arm, placing small soft pecks on each part while she turned around. Soon she was on her knees between his legs, looking at him with a mischievous smile on her face. "Are you done with your reading now Scholar Thorfinn? Or does this naked woman no longer interest you?"

Thorfinn snapped the book shut with a smile as he looked at her; she was thrusting her chest out making her breasts look slightly bigger. "Put me out of my misery should I ever prefer books over the company of a woman," he replied as he grabbed her making her giggle.

Thorfinn gathered Sophia into his arms, feeling the warmth of her naked body pressed firmly against his chest. Her skin felt smooth and heated under his calloused hands as he carried her across the cold stone floor toward the bed. Her arms encircled his neck, her fingers brushing through the ends of his hair with a gentle tug. He lowered her carefully onto the coarse wool blankets, watching as her long dark hair fanned out across the pillow in a tangled cascade. She gazed up at him, her amber eyes catching the dim glow of the oil lamps, a faint smile playing on her lips.

He leaned over her, pressing his lips against hers in a deep kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth, exploring its warmth as it met hers. She responded eagerly, her hands sliding up to grip his shoulders, fingers pressing into his muscle. His hands moved to her breasts, cupping their full weight, his thumbs brushing across her nipples until they stiffened under his touch. She let out a soft moan, the sound vibrating against his lips as her chest rose with quickening breaths. His fingers squeezed her breasts gently, kneading the soft flesh while he continued kissing her.

Thorfinn broke the kiss, trailing his lips down the side of her neck. He sucked gently at the sensitive skin just below her ear, tasting the faint salt of her sweat. Her hands grabbed at his tunic, pulling the rough fabric upward, wanting to see his body desperately. He straightened, yanking the tunic over his head and tossing it to the floor, revealing his broad chest crisscrossed with faded scars from past battles. Her fingers roamed over his skin, tracing the hard lines of his muscles, her nails scraping lightly as she pulled him back down. Their lips met again, her tongue pushing into his mouth with a fierceness that matched his own.

His hand slid down her body, gliding over the smooth plane of her stomach until it reached the curve of her hip. He moved lower, his fingers moving through her pubic hair and brushing against her sex, finding it slick and warm. He rubbed her slowly, his fingers circling her clit before slipping inside her, feeling the tight heat of her walls around them. She gasped, her hips lifting off the bed to press herself closer to his hand, her breaths coming in short bursts. He pushed his fingers deeper, moving them in and out, her moans growing louder as her legs spread wider to accommodate him.

Thorfinn lowered his mouth to her collarbone, kissing the delicate ridge before moving to her breast. His lips closed around one nipple, sucking gently as his tongue flicked over the hardened peak. Her back arched, pressing her breast further into his mouth, her hands tangling in his hair to hold him there. He moved to her other breast, his teeth grazing the nipple lightly as his free hand kneaded the soft flesh of her other breast, fingers pinching her nipple until she squirmed beneath him. Her hips rocked against his hand, her sex clenching around his fingers with every movement.

He withdrew his fingers, spreading her thighs further apart with a gentle push. He settled between her legs, his hard cock brushing against the soft skin of her inner thigh. He looked into her eyes, seeing the hunger there as she stared back, her lips slightly parted, her breathing slightly unsteady. He guided his cock to her entrance, pushing inside her slowly, feeling the tight, wet heat of her walls envelop him. The sensation was intense, her sex gripping his cock tightly, pulling him deeper as he filled her completely. He groaned, savoring the way her warmth surrounded him.

Sophia's hands clutched his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as she moaned. Her hips lifted to meet his, urging him to move. He began to thrust, feeling every inch of her as his cock slid in and out. Her walls tightened around him with each movement, the friction sending waves of pleasure through his body. He leaned down, kissing her again, his tongue exploring her mouth as their lips moved together. Her breaths came in short gasps, mingling with his as their kiss deepened.

His hands gripped her hips, fingers pressing into the soft flesh as he increased his pace, thrusting harder. Her breasts bounced with each thrust, brushing against his chest, her nipples grazing his skin. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her heels pressing into his lower back to pull him deeper. He felt her walls clench around his cock, the heat and tightness driving him wild. He moved faster, his hips slamming against hers, the sound of their bodies meeting filling the room. Her moans grew louder, turning into sharp cries as her hands slid down his back, nails raking his skin.

Thorfinn shifted, pulling back to look at her face. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, her lips swollen from their kisses. He reached down, his fingers finding her clit again, rubbing it in firm circles. She gasped, her hips bucking hard against him, her sex tightening even more around his cock. The pressure was overwhelming, her walls pulsing as she moved with him. He thrust deeper, feeling her tremble beneath him, her legs shaking against his hips. Her cries grew sharper, her body tensing as she came, her sex gripping his cock in rhythmic waves that sent shudders through him.

He kept thrusting, feeling her orgasm ripple around his cock, her slickness coating him. His hands moved to her thighs, spreading them wider as he pushed deeper. Her breasts shook with each thrust, her hands clutching the blankets beneath her. He felt the heat building in his groin, his cock throbbing inside her tight heat. He leaned down, kissing her neck, sucking the skin as he pounded into her. Her moans mixed with his groans, the bed creaking under their movements. His hands slid under her, grabbing her ass, lifting her hips to meet his thrusts with even more force.

Thorfinn felt the pressure building, his cock swelling inside her. Her legs tightened around him, urging him deeper as her walls continued to pulse. He thrust harder, faster, the sensation of her tight, wet sex pushing him closer to the edge. His hands squeezed her breasts again, fingers pinching her nipples as she gasped. He kissed her hard, his tongue thrusting into her mouth, mirroring the rhythm of his cock inside her. Her hands gripped his hair, pulling him closer as their bodies moved together, slick with sweat.

His thrusts became erratic, his hips slamming against hers with incredible force. He felt the release coming, his cock pulsing as the pleasure overwhelmed him. He groaned loudly, spilling inside her, his cock throbbing as he filled her with his seed. Her walls clenched around him, milking every drop as her body shuddered beneath him. He collapsed onto her, their chests heaving, their skin slick with sweat. Her arms wrapped around him, fingers stroking his back gently as their breathing slowed.

Thorfinn kissed her jaw, his lips brushing her skin softly. She let out a quiet laugh, her breath warm against his ear. "Better than your book, Scholar?" she teased.

Thorfinn smiled and laughed into her shoulder. "Much better," he replied.

...

To shadowy figures dropped from a building rolling across the tiled roof of another. They pushed up and kept on sprinting. The first one jumped forward pushing with his hands off a chimney and rolling forward transitioning off the building before catching a line with a hook and sliding across it to the next building almost as easily as breathing; the second guy paused when he saw this.

Thorfinn shook his head as he watched Sophia show off again. She had forced him into this competition when they raced each other he knew he shouldn't have taken it, but he honestly thought he might've stood a chance this time. He followed her, jumping off the building and catching the same line sliding up to the next building and scaling it before rolling over the top. When he pulled himself up he caught Sophia flashing him a grin from under her hood, she was already on the building ahead of him. "By the gods..." he muttered under his breath before he rushed forward trying to catch up. While his divine heritage did afford him more speed, that speed could be a detriment if he used it incorrectly while jumping across these buildings. Meanwhile Sophia's divine heritage allowed her to manoeuvre in any direction as well as boost her speed.

He expertly moved across the buildings jumping across the large gaps and even using a grapple hook to swing across. Yet even pushing himself as hard as he could if he didn't manage to catch Sophia and she ended up winning. When Thorfinn arrived outside of The Colosseum, it was to Sophia who leaned against a wall with an apple in her hand. "You finally decided to come, I almost fell asleep waiting for you," she said with a grin on her face, as she took a bite out of the apple.

Thorfinn rolled his eyes at her before snatching the apple out of her grasp and taking a massive bite out of it.

"Hey!" She said with an annoyed expression on her face.

Thorfinn flashed her an apologetic look. "oh I'm sorry. I thought you would be fast enough to defend against that," he said with mock sincerity before it devolved into a laugh.

Sophia hit his shoulder before snatching the apple back out of his hand and eating the rest of it. "Stop messing around now we've got work to do," she said as she looked to the Colosseum.

The grandmaster had tossed them with scouting out the Colosseum. It would be reopening in just a matter of days they needed to know this place inside and out if they were going to succeed in killing the vampire. Geralt and the other Witchers were already scouting the ground it was up to him and Sophia to scout the upper levels and make sure there was no hidden surprises. Considering it was daytime it wouldn't be too easy to get in there unnoticed something both him and Sophia realised the moment they looked at the Colosseum.

Down on the ground there were dozens of guards covering every entrance and there were likely to be more inside, they need to find an official or a worker there so that they could disguise themselves. Both assassins came up with this plan before they even spoke to each other. Thorfinn turned to Sophia "scout out the southern entrance with the competition just a few days away; they must have supplies coming into the Colosseum," he said.

Sophia nodded. "Once I find them. I'll take the place of one of the servants and get myself into the Colosseum."

Well, this was all well and okay for Sophia for Thorfinn it presented a different problem. He was simply way too big and his looks were unnatural. There was no way he could disguise himself at least not without covering his head but even then his unnatural size would make people naturally suspicious of him and considering he was trying to sneak into the Colosseum, they would ask questions however that didn't mean that there wasn't any way in for him. He just had to go lower.

Thorfinn looked down, he had been into the sewers once before and encountered Fleders a sub species of vampire that were more monster than person. But that had been a long time ago and he was a different man now... he was stronger. Sophia looked at him with concern on her face. "Be careful okay?" She said as she touched his arm.

Thorfinn smiled at her and touched her hand with his own. "I'll be fine don't worry about me, just focus on your task," he replied back. Sophia nodded before doing a flip of the building and landing in a bale of hay. Thorfinn shook his head again as he New no she was just doing that to look cool. Thorfinn made sure his hood was on properly and scale down the building coming into an alley. He kept the shadows and moved from alley to alley until he came to an entrance to the sewers. He paused the moment he arrived at the steps, he sniffed the air.

Blood.

It had become common as of late, especially around the entrances to the sewer, with the large population of  Fleders living down there it meant more and more people were being taken during the night. The Brotherhood had yet to do anything about it yet as they'd been stretched too thin by the Templars. A new Templar leader had shown themselves recently; this one was different however, she was said to be fast and strong like a ghoul, but her agility seemed to be on another level to them. They had recently lost five assassins when trying to take her out.

Thorfinn would do it himself, but he was needed at the colosseum, once they took down the Vampire that's when they could wrestle control of the city back from the Templar's and put Constantine back on the throne and depose his damn bitch of a mother.

Walking down the steps carefully he traces the edges of the door that led inside, there was blood on the edges. Equally spread apart, like someone tried to hold on as they were dragged inside. Thorfinn unsheathed his sword before approaching the gate and slapping the lock on the gate which shattered when he channeled a bit of his quake magic into it. He opened the gate and walked inside, it was dark naturally so Thorfinn raised his sword while channeling his divine power into it.

The sword started to light up with a beautiful light, soft like the sun and yet intense like a blazing bonfire. It lit up the tunnel quite well revealing more blood and a trail that led to the darkness. Thorfinn didn't have time to investigate it, nor would he have even if he did. He started to walk down the tunnel, coincidentally in the direction of the blood trail. He hated this place, the smell was bad, but it wasn't the only reason; the air was suffocating down here, the longer he was down here the more it felt as if the walls were closing in.

Thorfinn's ears twitch as he heard a slight rumble from further ahead of the tunnel. He held his sword forward channelling more divine energy into it and illuminating the tunnel even further. As he did so that rumble he heard turned into a hiss and a shadow at the edge of the light moved backwards. Thorfinn frowned and spat on the ground in front of him. 'Such disgusting creatures...' he thought to himself as he continued forward. He came to a junction in the tunnels, based on where he entered, he had to go left in order to get to the Colosseum. He turned and continued on down the path eventually coming to a huge dome like room.

Sounds of hisses and other strange noises emanated through the room. He could tell that this room was full of Fleder; they were staying just out of the radius of his light as it seemed to have a burning effect on them. "Do you think it will be that easy?" Thorfinn said, with a small grin forming on his face. Despite the fact he had other things to do he could not help himself the creatures down here was simply entertaining to kill.

Thorfinn paused, the muscles in his leg then tensed before he shot off the ground and into the darkness coming to around a dozen of the creatures. They all screeched as they were exposed to the light of the sword and so tried to flee. Thorfinn did not let them however he drew his sword back and in one swing decapitated one of the monsters, in the same breath he reversed the grip and impaled another one in its eye socket. By this point, the creatures had caught onto what was happening and split between attacking him and running away. The ones that attacked him did not farewell as Thorfinn used the Igni sign and caught the ones charging at him in a blast of fire. Following up after that, he delivered several extremely fast slashes that ended with the monsters dead on the grounf.

Thorfinn smiled as he did so. Killing these creatures was simply entertainment there was no challenge in it; they had numbers on their side and while a regular warrior or assassin might struggle, Thorfinn was different. His divine heritage made him their natural enemy. His light was poison to them, and his sword which was blessed by Baldr himself worked much more effectively against these creatures of darkness where a normal sword would not.

Thorfinn stepped back and dodged and weaved between the Fleders claws. Hopping to the left, he drew his sword up and cut off one of the creatures arms before he drew his fist back and channelled some of his quake energy. He slammed his fist into the air just in front of the monster, he was careful to make sure there wasn't too much power in it. The air cracked and everything in front of his fist was thrown back; the very first monster in front of him was obliterated.

"Ehhh what are you doing?" Thorfinn said as he started walking forward. Intensifying the light once more, Thorfinn was able to see dozens of creatures making a run for the tunnel on the far end of the chamber. He intensified the light in his sword even more to the point where you could barely see the metal, this was a little draining, but it wouldn't take too long. He threw his sword through the group of creatures—slicing through the centre of one of them. It then stuck in the ground and blocked off the exit from the Fleder.

"I didn't say you could run..." he said while cracking his knuckles. Followed was an absolute slaughter as Thorfinn forward using his divine energy to enhance his body—giving him power equivalent to ghoul. He then started tearing them all limb from limb, while their durability may be a problem to conventional weaponry and normal humans.

Thorfinn was anything but normal.

He punched one of the creatures so hard that their neck snapped backwards, he then ducked, one of the creatures arms sailing over him. He grabbed their arm and pull down roughly, snapping the arm over his shoulder before pivoting on his feet and slamming his palm into its chest also channelling some quake energy into the creatures body which made it convulse at fall to the floor. Thorfinn smiled wildly as he tore them apart, never had he expected to gain so much power that dealing with such nightmarish creatures was child's play.

He grabbed one by the throat and twisted its neck 180 degrees before throwing it into a group of them. He sensed one of them ambushing him from behind; he used Quen and raised his arm to block their claws, the creature screeched in displeasure, but that shriek was quickly ended when Thorfinn jumped up from one foot and delivered a powerful punch to their throat while activating his hidden blade which pierced the creatures throat. The blade itself was coated in a poison that was incredibly toxic to creatures like Fleder; needless to say the creature fell to the ground shrieking as it clawed at its throat.

It didn't take long for him to mop up the rest of the creatures, though some managed to get behind him and flee to the tunnel he entered from. Thorfinn brushed himself as he stood up; he was lucky that vampire blood was so thick and stagnant, it made the blood he was covered in minimal. Thorfinn let a smile form on his face as he began to walk towards his sword.

He wouldn't lie that felt good.

While he had taken to and listened to the training the assassins had provided. A true battle always got his blood boiling in a way that sneaking around never would. He may have the skills of an assassin and a Witcher, but at heart he was still a Viking. Thorfinn picked his sword out of the ground, it had finally started to dim as the power he poured through it began to fade. Not wasting anymore time he sheathed his sword and began to jog down the exit tunnel. There was still lots to do and he couldn't allow himself to get distracted again.

After a while longer he finally came to the location that should theoretically be under the colosseum. He looked up at the large circular iron disk that was his entrance; it was nearly fifteen feet up. Kneeling down he tensed the legs in his muscle before he jumped up, he pulled his fist back and smacked it into the grate which lifted it off and allowed him to pass through the hole; he used his other hand to help and in one smooth motion he exited the sewer system while managing to catch the iron grate before it hit the ground. Such finesse would've been foreign to him 8 months ago, but now it was like he had an entirely different body. While he was much larger than he had been when he stilett Kattegat, his divine gifts enhance his speed and agility making him a deadly combination of both.

Thorfinn inspected the room he was in, there were various casks and barrels placed in various stacks and shelves. A wine cellar then. That was good. With the competition not happening for a few days and the room looking relatively full, no one will have a reason to be down here. Thorfinn moved through the wine cellar like a shadow, his feet barely making a sound. He kept his body coiled, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. With effortless smoothness, he glided from shadow to shadow. His mind was working overtime, analyzing his surroundings. He had to gather information on the colosseum and the upcoming gladiator competition. There was much to learn, and little time to do it.

He moved past the barrels and crossed the room. There was a stairway at the far wall. It led up. He checked the steps and made sure none were loose before climbing. The walls were made of stone. The air changed as he moved higher. The smell of dust and old wine faded. Now it smelled like iron, hay, and sweat. At the top of the stairs there was a thick wooden door. He pressed his ear to it. He didn't hear anything. He opened it slowly and stepped through. The floor was flat stone. There were more barrels here, but smaller ones, and cages stacked along the far wall. Some were empty. Others weren't. He walked between the cages and looked at what was inside. One of them held a large cat with dark fur. It was awake but didn't move. Its eyes followed him. Another cage had a lizard with thick scales and yellow eyes. Its mouth was closed but he could see the muscle in its jaw. It had been fed recently. There were bones in the corner of the cage.

He kept moving.

There were more cages ahead. One had a black bear with its face scarred. It was chained at the neck and stood when he got near. It pulled at the chain and made a sound low in its throat. He stopped and watched it.

'So they're not just using men anymore. They're putting beasts in the arena now.'

He walked past the bear.

Further ahead was a metal gate. He looked through the bars. The room beyond was larger. There were men in that room. Some were sleeping on the floor. Others were sitting against the wall. One of them was doing push-ups. They were all large. Most had bruises and broken skin. One of them was missing an eye. Another had tattoos that covered his chest.

Thorfinn watched them for a while. It was easy to tell just from the way they looked and the scars on their bodies that these men were trained killers. While he wasn't worried about them, he did wonder why they had been gathered in such a large quantities. He slipped through the room without any of them noticing him and continued onwards. What followed was a rigourous task of detailing every exit and entrance, every window and even the opening on the roof. He needed to study the Colosseum inside out. He searched the lower floors for hours for any hidden rooms or exits, but he couldn't find any so he decided to move onto the higher floors.

'Sophia should be up here,' he thought to himself. He hoped that she had more luck than he did, for as of right now he hasn't discovered anything that they didn't already know. Though he was surprised that they were using animals in the gladiatorial match.

Thorfinn pressed himself against the wall, as two guards came down the corridor. he considered taking him out but decided that was not the best idea, and most likely the Viking part of him talking. Though he will admit that his fingers did itch when they came in reach.

Once he made it to the higher floors, he started searching them. Apart from being a lot more luxurious and opulent than the lower floors they had just as little to offer. That was a lease until he reached what look like a private suite or perhaps a library of some kind due to the large amount of books in the room. Thorfinn felt awed as he looked around surrounded by so many books. He tried to stop himself, but in the end he couldn't and he took one of them off the shelf.

*Julius Caesar*

Thorfinn looked at the old tome in his hands, he had heard reference of Julius Caesar before, but never had he found a whole works dedicated to him. He found himself smiling. This made the entire trip worth the effort.

*Creak*

Thorfinn acted quickly and use the footing he got from the shelf in front of him to push himself up and grab the top of the bookshelf which he rolled on top of. He looked down hoping that whoever had entered the room did not see him and luckily for him it was even better than that.

"Sophia!" Thorfinn whispered quietly before jumping down from the bookshelf.

Sophia, who was dressed in an outfit that hid her sex and identity—yet could not disguise from Thorfinn—looked up. "Thorfin!?" She said back as she walked carefully over to him.

"What are you doing here? You was supposed to look at the lower floors," she said, before pulling the scarf down from her face.

"I finished the lower floors a while ago there was nothing down there," he replied.

"Why didn't you wait outside the Colosseum like agreed?" She asked as she crossed her arms.

Thorfinn shrugged. "I was more interested in exploring this place more, especially since I'm going to be one of the competitors."

Sophia didn't say anything else after that, she didn't charge him that he could've been caught because she trusted his abilities. Nor she argue that he hadn't followed orders because he never usually does so there was no point. In the end all she did was inhale a deep breath. "Fine," she said. "Since you're here, you might as well help me look around the room. This is the last room I haven't searched, hopefully we'll find something."

Thorfinn nodded and then they both got to work searching the room for any hidden secrets or information. This room was clearly the domicile of someone very important just one look at the opulent decoration would tell you that. But were they important enough to have crucial information on them.

Time to find out.

While Sophia searched Thorfinn was a little distracted as he looked at the book titles that lined the shelves. After the debacle with the vampire was done, he would be looting this place dry. Such knowledge shouldn't go to waste with whoever placed the books here. Just one look and you could tell that many of these books have not been read for awhile, they were covered in dust. In a way it was offensive to him, such incredible knowledge and it was not being utilised.

Thorfinn shook those thoughts out of his head and kept on looking for anything. But since he was here, he might as well help himself. Thorfinn began taking books of shelves and stuffing them into the small satchel on his belt, as many as he could fit. Sophia had this and looked to what Thorfinn was doing. "Thorfinn no you can't do that no one can know we were in this room?" She said as she moved up from the desk she was currently searching.

Thorfinn turned to her as he put a small tome in bis satchel. "It's just a few books no one will miss it," he said with a grin on his face.

Sophia, however, was not pleased and no charming smile would change that. "Put the books back for all you know the person in this room could be a scholar, we can't risk it."

"It'll be fine, these books will better serve me than it will them," he replied as he continued to do so. However, Sophia grabbed his hand before he could put the book into his satchel. "No!" She said.

This led to them getting in a bit of a scrap both shoving each other and trying to get the book out of each other's hands. In hindsight it was quite childish but neither one would admit defeat and they ended up slamming it into a table and making a loud noise. Both of them paused after that and looked at each other. "Shit!" They both said aloud.

*thud*

*thud*

*thud*

There were footsteps coming towards the room now, multiple pairs of them. Sophia and Thorfinn both quickly acted and tried to get hidden though both of them managed to trip over each other which made Thorfinn hit into a shelf and Sophia hit into the floor.

*click*

Thorfinn heard the sounds of mechanisms similar to a water wheel clicking and for a moment he was unsure of what was happening. That was at least until the bookshelf had landed on clicked open; he wasn't sure how that happened, but he wasn't going to complain. "Come on quickly," he said to Sophia who got herself up off the floor.

*thud*

*thud*

Sophia quickly put the table back to how it was before as well as lining the books are properly. "Come on!" Thorfinn said again.

*thud*

*thud*

Sophia rushed through the entrance with Thorfinn and he closed the door, just in time for them to hear the sound of the door in the office opening. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief, after they caught their breath back Sophia hit Thorfinn and called him an idiot in her native language.

Thorfinn just chuckled as he followed Sophia down the long corridor. They walked for a few minutes before  Thorfinn spoke. "Where do you think this leads to?" He asked.

Sophia shrugged. "There have been no twists or turns, we have only gone down, I can only imagine these leads to a safe house," she replied.

Thorfinn nodded that made sense if the Empress herself was coming there was no doubt that they'd need a way to escape. They continued on down the corridor for what seems like an hour both of them getting increasingly confused as to where this tunnel led. Soon that confusion turned to unease, but eventually they managed to reach the end of the tunnel and reached a ladder. Both of them looked at each other before Thorfinn went first up the ladder only using one hand as he kept the other on his sword.

Sophia swallowed as she watched Thorfinn. She followed up on the ladder just behind him and watched as he pushed open a hatch.

Sophia didn't hear him say anything, she wondered what he saw. Eventually Thorfinn started to chuckle and then laugh all while keeping it quiet.

"What is it?" Sophia asked. "What do you see?"

Thorfinn look down at her a grin stretch across his face. "You'll never guess..."

Getting annoyed at his secretiveness Sophia climbed on top of Thorfinn and looked through the hatch herself. As soon as she saw what was outside she paused.

A moment later she started to laugh as well.

_____________________________________

Arwyn stood in front of her vanity having just been ready by her maidservant. She was still upset about the revelation of Kastor's death, he was a friend to her and a teacher. She hated the assassins people so greedy and so fixed in their ways that they'd stop anyone trying to make the world a better place. Well, It didn't matter what they did Arwyn would make sure that the Templars would succeed. She looked at herself again turning her head to the side and inspecting the makeup that had been placed on her. She didn't look different in her opinion, she didn't see the point in wearing it, but Niketas insisted that it was a symbol of status in the city and she would get more respect if she were to wear this.

In private Thea told her that it was a load of bullshit that he just made up and that men just liked women who wore it as they looked more attractive. 'Men...' Arwyn thought to herself as she rolled her eyes. She turned away from her vanity and went to the wardrobe that served as her weapons draw. She opened it to reveal a number of high-quality swords and daggers. She couldn't wield a sword in public without drawing attention, but she wouldn't need one. Instead, she equipped herself with a number of daggers under her dress.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

"Come in," she said as she closed the cupboard.

The door opened and Thea stepped in, calm as always. She smiled the moment her eyes met Arwyn's and crossed the room without saying a word. She didn't need to. As soon as she was close enough, she leaned in and kissed her. Arwyn let it happen and kissed her back, her hands lingering at Thea's waist for a moment before they fell away. She was still smiling when she pulled back.

"What are you doing here?" Arwyn asked quietly.

Thea reached up and adjusted a loose strand of hair near Arwyn's cheek. "Niketas says most of the arrangements are done. A few days from now and the competition will begin."

Arwyn nodded, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. She felt lighter hearing that. It had been her idea from the start — gladiatorial matches open to any fighter in the city, a show for the people and a test for the strong. The winners would be offered a place among the Templar ranks. It was a way to draw in fresh blood without relying on noble families or their politics. A way to reach people who actually had skill, not just a name. She'd brought it up to Thea one night, just talking in bed about how they needed more than cloaked recruits who thought themselves above real combat. Thea had liked the idea right away. She'd told her to bring it to Niketas. He had, and he'd claimed the Queen approved of it too. Arwyn didn't know if that part was true, but it didn't matter. It was happening.

"We should go see it," Thea said. "The Colosseum. Before it starts. Could be fun."

Arwyn hesitated. "You sure? The sun's out today." She glanced toward the balcony where the light was spilling through the curtains. "I don't want you burning again."

"I'll be fine," Thea said without pause. "I've been careful lately."

Arwyn narrowed her eyes for a moment but didn't press. Thea always said it was a skin condition. Something rare and foreign from her homeland, worsened by heat and sunlight. Arwyn had believed her at first — still did, mostly.

"Alright," Arwyn said. "Let's go."

They left the room together, passing through the stone halls of the estate before heading down into the streets of Constantinople; Thea putting up a large hood that covered most of her face. The city was already awake; merchants calling from their stalls, carts rolling over uneven stones, beggars sitting in corners with their heads down. There were banners hanging from balconies and temple bells chiming in the distance. Arwyn walked with her head high. People moved aside as they passed. Even in plain clothes, they could tell she wasn't someone to stop. A few people stopped to stare, mostly men, but neither of them paid it much attention. Arwyn kept thinking about what Thea said — that everything was nearly ready. It didn't feel real yet. But it was happening. The Templars were growing. The rot that infested the city, the backstabbing politics and shadow games, all of it would be cut out. Piece by piece. Niketas promised reform. Arwyn believed in it.

"It's working," Thea said quietly beside her. "All of it. What we've been building. This city's going to change. No more corruption, no more gangs selling children to brothels. No more chaos masquerading as freedom."

Arwyn glanced at her and smiled. "We'll be part of that."

"We will."

The Colosseum came into view soon after, a massive structure of curved stone and tiered archways that towered over the neighboring districts. The outer plaza was already being cleared, new banners strung up, and scaffolding laid along the upper galleries. Workers moved about in small teams carrying timber and iron rods, while a few merchants lingered at the edge, no doubt trying to figure out how they could turn the upcoming event into coin. Two Templar guards stood at the gate. They spotted Arwyn instantly and stepped aside without needing to be told. Neither of them spoke, just bowed their heads slightly and pulled the iron doors open for her and Thea to pass.

Inside, the first thing Arwyn noticed was the scale of the place. The arena itself stretched out wide and oval-shaped, with the sand floor already partly cleared and fresh paint being applied to the inner barriers. A man approached them before they had made it far. He was short and broad in the shoulders, wearing a tailored tunic with a Templar insignia that looked like it had been washed too many times. He was smiling before he even got close.

"Lady Arwyn," he said, his voice far too smooth and eager, "it is a tremendous honour to receive you here. Truly. The Colosseum stands ready, and preparations have been running ahead of schedule thanks to your brilliant foresight. And Lady Thea... radiant, as always." He gave a small bow. "Would you care for refreshments? We've set aside citrus water, wine, olives, dried figs, whatever suits your taste."

"We're fine," Arwyn said while barely slowing. "Walk me through the competition."

"Of course, of course," he said, spinning to fall in step beside her. "My name is Dorian, by the way. I'm overseeing the games, the rosters, the safety, the beasts, and so forth. All under Niketas's authority, of course."

They continued on through the upper corridor, the stone echoing under their steps. Below, the sun lit the arena floor in stripes between the columns. Workers continued arranging wooden racks and dragging long crates toward the lower cells. Dorian kept talking, gesturing toward various spots.

"Due to overwhelming participation, the first event will be a free-for-all," he said. "We'll have every fighter in the ring at once, unarmed to start with. Weapons will be scattered across the field. The last twenty standing will advance to the next round."

"Then?" Arwyn asked without looking at him.

"Then we divide them into teams of two," Dorian said quickly. "They'll each face a series of challenges, some beasts, some man. We've secured a wide range of opponents."

"What kinds of animals?" Arwyn asked.

He smiled like a man who'd been waiting for that question all day. "Bears. Lions. Panthers. We have a pair of northern rhinos we purchased from a trader's caravan, still alive, still furious. And," he paused, his voice lowering slightly, "we even have a creature from legend. Taken from a cursed isle. Caged, bound, and fed raw meat daily. We don't know what it's called exactly, but it has broken its cage twice, we had to forge iron bars three times as thick to contain it."

That made Arwyn glance at him. Thea too. Dorian's grin widened at their interest.

"After those trials," he continued, "the remaining fighters will enter single combat until we are left with one. That one will be your winners. The strongest. The most determined. The ones most worthy of standing at our side!"

Arwyn nodded slowly. "Good," she said. "You've done well."

Dorian beamed and gave another small bow, clasping his hands behind his back like a merchant, likely expecting them to praise him more. Unaware of the fact that he annoyed both women.

"Can we see the animals?" Thea asked casually, not looking at him.

"Of course," he said. "Follow me. This way, down through the lower chambers."

They turned and descended a narrow stone stairwell, the smell of blood and straw already starting to rise as the light dimmed. Arwyn followed without a word, her mind turning slowly over what she had just heard. She had no doubt the event would draw eyes from every corner of the city... and every enemy as well. Good. Let them come. Let them see what strength looked like. Let them look at the new warriors that would be joining them.  They moved deeper into the Colosseum's underbelly, down another winding staircase and into a stone hallway that reeked of blood, piss, and damp straw. The torches along the walls burned low, casting flickering light across rusted bars and thick wooden doors. Chains rattled somewhere nearby. Dorian kept ahead of them, motioning toward the cells on either side.

"This is where we keep the animals," he said, gesturing to the first enclosure. Inside, a panther paced back and forth, its ribs showing beneath its fur, eyes like burning coals tracking every step they took. "This one came from the eastern steppes. Had to tire it just to move it safely. It killed two handlers before we even got it in the cage."

They passed another iron gate. A pair of lions lay within, one missing an ear, the other with blood on its muzzle. Both looked up as they walked by. The lions didn't growl. They just stared. Arwyn didn't look away. Across the corridor, another enclosure held two massive bears. One stood up as they approached, slamming its paws against the bars hard enough to make them shake.

"Captured from the highlands," Dorian said proudly. "We haven't fed them in two, should make for a good spectacle."

Thea didn't say anything, but she looked at each animal as they passed. Arwyn kept walking, but her eyes shifted as they turned down another corridor, this one filled with cages of a different kind. Men. Dozens of them. Unwashed, gaunt, clothed in rags. Some sat against the walls. Some clung to the bars. Most stared at her as she passed. Not with fear. With hunger.

Arwyn slowed. Her brow furrowed. "Why are there slaves here? I thought this competition was voluntary."

Dorian turned back and chuckled. "Not slaves, Lady Arwyn. Criminals. All of them. The worst kind." He pointed to a large man in the nearest cell, his arms covered in scars and burn marks. "That one there? Used to cut off ears and collect them, he used to pleasure himself while covering himself with them. Twenty-three before we caught him. That one—" he pointed again, this time to a pale, narrow-eyed man with black teeth, "—ate three children. In one night. Swore he thought they were pigs. The one in the corner there, hiding his face? He ran a brothel that sold boys. Except these boys were sold to be tortured and killed."

Arwyn's stomach turned. She looked at them again and this time her disgust wasn't subtle. "And what were they offered to fight?"

Dorian smiled and gave a small laugh. "Their lives, of course. And if they win... freedom." He winked at her.

Good, Arwyn thought. If no one had planned to kill them, she would've insisted on it herself. Thea touched her arm gently, a subtle pressure that reminded her to stay composed. Arwyn glanced at her, then nodded slightly. The moment passed.

One of the men in a cage leaned forward, fingers gripping the bars. "I'd break you in half," he muttered, eyeing Arwyn's waist. "Pretty little thing like you..."

Another one whistled at Thea. "Both of you. Together. I'd make a night of it."

Dorian snapped his fingers and three guards rushed down the corridor. The cages shook with the impact of boots and clubs as the men were silenced. Bones cracked. Cries echoed. Arwyn didn't flinch. She kept walking.

Eventually, they reached a larger chamber sealed by a reinforced iron door. Two guards stood on either side, holding long spears. The door itself was locked with three separate bars and covered in deep gouges. The floor beneath it was scuffed, as if something had thrown itself at it repeatedly.

Dorian stopped at the final door and turned to face them. "What's behind here hasn't been seen by anyone outside this building. Not in this city. Not anywhere on the mainland. It came from an island west of the Pillars of Herakles, a place that doesn't appear on any map. The locals don't speak a language anyone can translate. It took a hundred men and a hundreds of chains blessed by three separate priests to get it on the ship. By the time it docked, half the crew were either missing or dead."

He gave a nod to the guards. They said nothing as they unbarred the heavy iron doors. The bolts creaked. One of them had to slam his shoulder into the right side to get it open.

The chamber was cut deep into the rock, with two layers of thick bars forming a cage within a cage. The floor was scored with claw marks and black stains. In the center, bound by four chains thicker than a man's torso, was the creature. It sat hunched low, resting on the flat of its knuckles, head bowed slightly as if asleep. Its entire body was covered in coarse black hair, matted along the spine and shoulders. It was massive. Three times the size of a full-grown man at least. Its arms were longer than its body, coiled with muscle so dense it looked unnatural. Scars ran along its back, old and deep. Its chest rose and fell with slow breaths. The iron shackles around its wrists and ankles were the same ones used to bind siege weapons. They were bolted into the floor with double reinforcements.

Then it moved.

The creature lifted its head. Its eyes were small and dark, set deep beneath a heavy brow. They didn't flicker or twitch. They just watched. There was no confusion in its stare. No fear. Just awareness. Understanding.

Dorian didn't speak for a moment. Then he said, quieter than before, "The locals called him Kong."

Thea took a step forward without realizing it. Her expression didn't change, but she stared like someone seeing something they didn't believe could exist. Arwyn stayed still. Her hands were loose at her sides, but her eyes didn't leave the thing. The silence in the chamber felt heavier than the air.

Then Kong shifted. His arms tightened. His spine straightened. The chains clinked slightly, then groaned. He let out a sound... not a roar, not a breath, something in between. It started low and climbed higher as he leaned forward, teeth bared, muscles straining. In one motion, he slammed both fists into the floor and lunged forward. The chains snapped taut. One of the bolts cracked. The bars of the inner cage bent with the impact. Dust rained from the ceiling. The whole room shook.

Arwyn stepped back. Her hand dropped to her hip, ready to draw. Her jaw was tight, her eyes locked on the creature.

Dorian moved fast, stepping in front of them. "We should go," he said quickly. "He reacts poorly to company."

The guards slammed the door shut behind them with both hands. The bolts were thrown back into place. The growl behind the wall faded, but the sound of the chains still echoed faintly.

Outside, Dorian adjusted his collar and cleared his throat. "Forgive me, Lady Arwyn," he said. "I thought you might want to see our most valuable attraction. I didn't expect him to react so strongly."

Arwyn kept her eyes on the door for a second longer, then nodded. "Next time, warn me before it tries to tear itself free."

"Yes, my lady," Dorian said, managing a strained smile. "Absolutely."

...

The rest of the tour passed without incident. Dorian led them through the upper halls and viewing chambers, pointing out the layout of the arena, the various entrances the fighters would use, and the holding pens beneath the floor that allowed beasts and warriors to be released at will. Eventually, they arrived at the viewing box reserved for them—a high platform built into the stone wall overlooking the entire arena floor. It was spacious, covered in fresh tapestries and thick cushions, with shaded canopies drawn to block the worst of the sun. The view from there stretched across the Colosseum in full, every tier, every gate, every corner of sand.

"And you'll be sharing it with the Empress herself," Dorian said with a smile too wide. "She insisted."

Arwyn didn't answer immediately. Her stomach tightened. She'd never met the Empress before. She'd only ever seen King Alle from a distance at court, and he had the presence of a tired old man with nothing left to offer. But the Empress... that was different. People whispered about her. About the way she ruled. About the things she had done. Arwyn didn't know what was true and what was fear dressed up as fact, but either way, it made her nervous.

She dismissed Dorian soon after. Polite words, a nod, and nothing more. He bowed and left, leaving them alone at last. They didn't go back the way they came. Instead, Arwyn and Thea wandered deeper into the upper levels, through empty corridors lined with old shields and faded banners.

"What if none of them survive?" Arwyn asked. "The criminals will die. The beasts will kill the rest. What if there's no one left to recruit?"

Thea glanced at her and kept walking. "There'll be someone. There always is. You'd be surprised what desperation does to a person. Or pride."

Arwyn still wasn't sure, the whole point of this was to bolster their forces; she understood getting the best of the best, but all seemed pointless if all of them were going to die. This competition was a lot more ruthless than she imagined between the rhinos the criminals and the big fucking Kong she wasn't sure anyone could survive.

Thea turned and looked at Arwyn and gave her a side smile, "Srop worrying so much, everything will proceed as planned and we will get our warriors."

*Bang*

Both of them stopped. It hadn't been loud, but it had come from close. Not the arena below, but somewhere on this level. Arwyn frowned. As far as she knew, only nobility and senior Templars were allowed up here—and none of them had cause to be alone. She exchanged a look with Thea and stepped toward the nearest door. It led into a private office. The space was well-furnished; lined with dark wooden shelves filled with scrolls and books, a long desk with ivory inlays, cabinets of sealed letters and maps, a half-empty decanter of wine on a side table. Sunlight poured in through stained glass high on the wall. The room looked undisturbed. Peaceful.

But something was wrong.

Arwyn stepped further in, glancing around. Her eyes scanned the desk, the windows, the corners. Then she sniffed the air.

There was a scent. Faint. Not of blood or rot or animal. Not Thea, either.

Something familiar.

She froze.

No. It couldn't be.

She sniffed again. It was there, faint and faded, but still strong enough for her to notice it. The scent carried something unmistakable. Leather, sweat, iron, ash. Him.

Thorfinn.

Her heart tightened. That was impossible. Niketas had told her he'd left months ago, that he'd sailed north again, back to Kattegat. He was gone. She had accepted that. Told herself she didn't care.

But now...

A deep sadness crept up through her chest. No matter how angry she'd been, no matter how much she'd hated him for what he had done, it still hurt. He had left her.

'He would never join you.'

'He doesn't want the world you're building.'

She clenched her jaw, then exhaled. 'I still miss him,' she thought.

"Arwyn?" Thea's voice broke through gently. "Is everything okay?"

Arwyn didn't answer at first. She stared at the bookshelf, then slowly nodded. "Yeah," she said after a moment. "It's fine."

She stepped away from the desk, heading back toward the corridor. "Let's go. We should get back to the manse."

_____________________________________

Things started to move fast as the days passed, with the gladiatorial match barely a day away. The assassins brotherhood had to work hard to account for the new information that Thorfinn and Sophia had brought to light. Nearly everyone was working overtime and all of it was nearly ready the masters and the grandmaster all stood in the hall around the round table along with the Witchers and Thorfinn.

Idris stood leaned against the table, the Grandmaster has a serious expression on his face, all of the masters did. Cassain, Malik, Sophia, even Leo; all of them knew how important this was, if this plan didn't work then it was unlikely they will get another and that meant certain death for their brotherhood.

"I will not mince any words as there is very little time left, you all know why you're here," Idris said as he looked to everyone in the room.

"The day has come, soon we will enact our plan, that means Thorfinn and Lambert, they will be entering the gladiatorial matches." he looked at those people specifically.

" I can't emphasise enough how important it is for you to win," Idris said, his expression getting even more severe. "It is up to you too to get close to the queen and puppet master, if we can't do that, then we lose."

Thorfinn nodded. "I won't fail. I'll win the matches and stick my sword between vampire myself," he spat.

Sophia slapped his shoulder. "You'll do no such thing," she replied. "Stick to the plan and get inside the palace you're our only shot at this."

Geralt nodded. "She is right Thorfinn no theatrics, and also no magic, that will bring suspicion on you, win all of this with your skill."

"Agreed while those gifted in the esoteric arts are not uncommon it will bring attention," Idris said in agreement.

Thorfinn was a little put out by that, but it didn't matter that much. He was still the best swordsman in this room. He had long since taking that title from Malik, much to the masters dismay.

"After you have won and you've been taken to the palace make sure you're there to enact the second part of the plan, this is by far the most important." Idris commented. He then looked to everyone in the room once more. "This will be the final battle for Constantinople, it is here that will be decided whether the people of the city will be free or whether they will suffer under Templar rule."

"Never has there been such an important day, not only will we strike at the heart of the Templar order, but we will eradicate a vampire of the face of the Earth."

"Never forget what we fight for brothers... never forget what we will one day die for!"

"Freedom!"

...

The meeting broke not long after Idris gave his final words. No one asked questions. No one needed to. Every man and woman in that chamber understood what was at stake and what would be asked of them come morning. Their roles were already set, their tasks burned into memory. Plans this precise didn't survive uncertainty. One by one they filed out, Malik first, then Leo and Cassain, then the rest, each lost in their own thoughts. The sound of boots on old stone echoed through the hall as the group scattered, leaving behind only the faint smell of steel, ink, and the heavy tension that still clung to the air. Thorfinn remained where he stood, near the doorway, his arms crossed. His eyes were locked on the center of the round table as if he were already picturing blood spilled across it. He didn't move until her voice called out to him.

"Thorfinn," Sophia said softly.

He turned and saw her waiting by the corridor. She didn't need to explain. He fell in step beside her without a word. Together they walked through the passage that led back toward the eastern wing of the tower. The torches along the walls flickered with the slight breeze passing through the high slits in the stone. Banners fluttered faintly overhead, bearing the insignia of the Brotherhood. It wasn't until they reached the balcony corridor that overlooked the garden courtyard that Sophia finally broke the silence.

"I've got a bad feeling about tomorrow," she said, while her arms folded tight across her chest, her eyes staring straight ahead. "Something isn't right. I can't explain it, but I feel it in my bones."

Thorfinn slowed his pace until they came to a stop beside one of the tall archways. He turned to face her, his expression unreadable for a moment before he reached out and set his hand gently on her shoulder. "You worry too much," he said, a small smile on his face. "I'm not afraid of them. Not the beasts they'll throw at us. Not the nobles up in their glass towers. Not the damn Empress, either. I've fought monsters. I've fought worse things than anything they could dream up. This... this is just another battlefield."

Sophia didn't say anything at first. She looked at him, studying his face, the hard lines of it, the faint scar across his cheek, the tiredness in his eyes that never really left. "That's not what I'm worried about," she said after a while. "It's not about whether you can fight. I've seen what you can do. I know what you are. But this city isn't like the north. It doesn't play fair. Nothing here does and a lot of the time strength isn't enough to win here."

He gave a breath of a laugh, the corner of his mouth lifting for the first time that night. "Then it's a good thing I don't play fair either." He stepped a little closer, letting the silence settle again before speaking. "Look, whatever happens tomorrow, I'm going to get through it. I'll win the matches. I'll do what needs to be done. And when this is over, I'll take you back to Kattegat. You'll be part of my family... and you can meet the others too."

Her smile was faint, tired. "I've heard it's cold up there," she said.

"It is," Thorfinn replied. He leaned down, just enough to bring his forehead to hers. "I suppose I'll have to keep you warm."

Then he kissed her. Their lips met and pushed together, Sophia's mouth opened and allowed his tongue inside where it moved against her own. When he pulled away, she looked at him again with a different kind of sadness behind her eyes—one that hoped tomorrow would end well, even if every instinct said otherwise.

She smiled again. "That doesn't sound so bad..."

_____________________________________

It was a new day in Constantinople, but not just any day. From the earliest hour, the city had stirred like a beast coming to life. Word of the tournament had spread through every district, from the poorest alleys in the Harbour Quarter to the marble avenues near the palace gates. Every street was filled. Market stalls overflowed. Rooftops were crowded with spectators clutching wine and bread, shouting to one another and pointing toward the grand structure that loomed above them all. The Colosseum stood like a monument to the gods, its towering archways draped in crimson banners, the Templar sigil gleaming above the main gate. A line stretched for miles in either direction—men, women, even children packed shoulder to shoulder, all desperate for a place in the stands. Some scaled the outer walls with ropes or ladders, clinging to ledges and broken tiles just to steal a glimpse of what was to come. The guards had stopped trying to contain the crowd hours ago.

Inside, far below the cheers and music, the air was different. In the stone chambers beneath the arena floor, the fighters had already been gathered. The holding hall was large snd pretty open, lit by braziers spaced along the walls. The scent of sweat and blood was thick. Sand coated the floor. Iron racks lined the sides with weapons waiting for the rounds to begin. Some men paced, others knelt in prayer, and a few shouted threats at one another like animals testing the cage. No one looked relaxed.

Thorfinn sat with his back against one of the support pillars, his arms resting over his knees, his eyes moving from face to face. His hair had been dyed black earlier that morning, slicked back to hide the pale strands he'd worn for most of his life. His eyes, still that same piercing blue, stayed low beneath his brow. Beside him, Lambert stood with his arms folded, leaning against the wall with the same black hair, the same bored expression. Both of them wore plain leather tunics, simple enough to pass for mercenaries. No medallions. No signs of the Brotherhood. Nothing that might give them away.

They watched in silence as a pair of fighters argued over a helmet in the corner. One had already drawn blood with a punch, and a nearby guard had to step in with the butt of his spear.

Lambert tilted his head. "See anyone to worry about?"

Thorfinn smirked. "None of them'll even touch me."

Lambert laughed. "Cocky bastard." He pushed off from the wall and cracked his knuckles. "Be right back."

Thorfinn glanced up at him. "Where are you going?"

Lambert shrugged. "Gotta drain the dragon."

Thorfinn grunted. "You better not get lost. We start soon."

Lambert waved him off as he disappeared down the corridor, muttering something under his breath. Thorfinn leaned his head back against the pillar again and went back to watching. The other fighters didn't know it, but they were already dead. Most just hadn't figured it out yet.

Thorfinn leaned his head back against the stone and closed his eyes for a moment. The cheers from the crowds above barely reached this deep into the ground, but he could feel them all the same. The whole city was waiting for blood. After today, when the vampire was dead and the plan complete, he would finally leave this place. He would return to what mattered. Dahlia. The trail had gone cold years ago, but now that the mission was almost over, he would have time. Time to track her down. Time to bring his family back together. When that day came, he would finally be at peace. He had dreamed of it since the day they were taken from him.

But his thoughts shifted, and they took a different shape. Arwyn. Just her name in his mind made his chest feel heavier. He hadn't seen her in months, hadn't spoken to her since before the Brotherhood. He hated what happened between them. Hated how it ended. She was still in the city, of course, with Niketas, being held hostage. When he thought of her, all he felt was that same hollow ache that never fully left. He missed her. He wished it had ended differently.

Before the thought could go any further, someone slid down beside him smoothly as if they belonged there.

"You look deep in thought there, my friend," the man said with a wide grin, flashing a full mouth of perfect white teeth.

Thorfinn opened his eyes and looked over. The man was huge, all muscle. His skin was dark as pitch, his tunic sleeveless, his arms like sculpted stone. Gold earrings hung from both ears and a thin cord necklace bounced slightly with every breath he took. He looked like a man who smiled often.

"Fuck off," Thorfinn said flatly.

The man threw his head back and laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd heard in weeks. His voice carried easily through the chamber.

"I can't do that," he said with another grin. "Fate has brought me to your side."

Thorfinn raised an eyebrow at him. "Speak plainly and tell me what you want."

The man made a small show of chuckling again, then leaned back against the same pillar with his hands behind his head. "From you? Nothing, Northman. But fate," he said, lifting one hand and twirling his fingers, "has decreed that I would be much safer being on your side than against you."

"What are you talking about," Thorfinn muttered, his voice starting to tighten with irritation.

The man didn't answer at first. Instead, he reached into his pocket and flicked his wrist. A coin appeared from nowhere. He held it up with both reverence and flair.

"This, my friend, is my lucky coin. If I flip it and it lands on the face of my king, then only good things may follow. And I just flipped it. It told me to come here. To sit by you."

He smiled again, as if that explained everything.

"So you see, Northman. Fate has decreed us friends."

Thorfinn stared at him for a long moment. The man was definitely crazy. His grin was too wide, he spoke of talking coins that somehow knew where he would be safest. Thorfinn did not have the patience for this today. "I see," Thorfinn said at last. He pushed off the pillar and stood. "Very well. I won't target you during the free-for-all. But if we're matched in single combat, I won't hesitate."

The man's grin widened. "Fate would never be such a cruel mistress," he said, flipping the coin again. It danced across his knuckles before vanishing in a flick of his fingers.

Thorfinn said nothing else. He turned and walked away, not interested in spending another second near the madman. He moved through the corridor, passing other fighters who sharpened blades or muttered prayers to themselves. Eventually, he found Lambert near the outer gate, speaking with one of the arena guards. Thorfinn found that strange, but concluded he mustve been trying to find confirmation. He waited a minute for them to finish their conversation before he approached. The guard handed him something small before walking off, leaving Lambert with a smug look on his face. Thorfinn approached once the man was gone.

"What was that about?" he asked.

Lambert glanced at him and shrugged casually. "Just bribing him for a bit of information. Wanted to know who was sitting in the upper boxes."

Thorfinn narrowed his eyes. "Who?"

Lambert grinned. "The Queen. Niketas. Two of her aides. A few nobles. And..." he paused, letting it hang there for just a second longer, "Lady Arwyn. And her maid servant. Thea."

Thorfinn didn't respond right away. His mind seemed to stop. Arwyn? Here? The blood drained from his face before the heat returned all at once. If she was here, in the box with the queen, then what did that mean? Was she no longer a prisoner? Was she being forced to watch? Was she complicit in this madness? None of it made sense. She shouldn't have been here. She couldn't have been. She had been—

Lambert reached out and grabbed his shoulder, snapping him back. "Hey," he said. "Stay focused. Whatever she's doing here, we deal with it later. Right now, we stick to the plan."

Thorfinn clenched his jaw and gave a nod. "You're right. Let's get it done."

Moments later, the gates began to rise.

Above them, the crowd roared like a storm. From every level of the colosseum, people shouted, whistled, banged their fists on stone.. The arena floor was wide and full of dried sand, scattered with debris, broken columns, half-buried statues and makeshift barriers. The fighters emerged in waves, some running, some walking, others already shouting war cries. Hundreds had been gathered for this day. All shapes, sizes, origins. Some had armor. Most didn't. All of them carried nothing. Not yet.

A man stepped into the central platform raised above the stands. His robes were gold and crimson. His voice rang out across the colosseum. “Warriors of blood and steel!" he boomed. "You stand now in the heart of the empire. You fight not for gold, not for glory, but for your lives! There is no surrender. Not unless you reach the marked gates. There is no mercy. The only path to victory is through blood!"

A pause, long and theatrical. The crowd hung on every word.

"Weapons will be thrown into the arena throughout the match. Until then, you are unarmed. You may use anything you find. Anything you take. Only the strong will endure!"

He looked to the central balcony. The one carved from marble and veiled in silk. All eyes followed his gaze.

"And now," he said, bowing his head low, "we await the command of Her Radiant Majesty, Empress Irene."

The box was silent for a moment, and then a single figure stepped forward. She was tall, her face and body concealed entirely by an ornate veil of silver threads and shimmering cloth. No flesh was visible. Even her hands were gloved. She raised one arm. And then, her voice cut through the colosseum.

"Begin."

(AN: Busy the rest of today so gonna finish it tomorrow enjoy the 15k or so words.)