Alister was a savvy businessman and an even better thief. In many people's eyes, he was a serious contender of the Prince of Thieves title. He looked at the green eyed young man whose face he wanted to punch. Suddenly, he had a better, more devious idea.

He lead the group of men up the stairs, past the second floor of the vast gambling house and towards the exclusive third level where only the most important clientele and highest spender burned their money.

This scheme of his had been going on for months, and it had made him a very rich man. With enough time, he was sure that he would become the richest man in the realm. Alistair gestured to the walkway elevated twenty feet above the rocky earth.

The temperature had dropped in the space, attendants walked softly by as they offered refreshments to the people sitting in the different enclosures. All the materials on the platform were made for the rich, no expenses spared.

But below, was another story. Giant boulders and ten foot tall columns of rocks were spread out across a maze field of rocks the size of a soccer field. It overtook the entire floor. Here dwarves toiled in chains, as customers picked a rock and the dwarfs used their precious magic to retrieve and break open metal like rock that would have been impermeable by any other means.

Cybelline looked around curiously at the large rock field and at the dwarves. Stocky with bushy beards, their large fists were covered in black dust. Many were in rags smeared in blood and perspiration. Human overseers cracked their whips ominously if they saw any creatures who were too slow to satisfy a customer's wishes.

Above the toil, richly dressed men and women dined on snacks as they waited eagerly for the prizes.

"Impressive, Lord Garlic." Cybelline said. The man's face seemed to turn a shade of purple most would recognize as eggplant.

"It's Garlish." He said through a smile that was more of a grimace. He took a deep breath.

"This is a simple game, my lords." Alistair said, he gestured, a man came towards him with two leashes, tugging two dwarves up to the platform. He kicked them so they knelt in front of the group.

"What you see below, is a field of stones I imported from the Crystal Caves of the Silver Tribe. These are the most valuable caves, I lost nearly forty men to get them back here." Alistair smiled, "These caves produce some of the purest crystals, filled with ancient and powerful magic." He took out a bag and took out a pale pink firestone. "Rare and fabulous magical finds like this one, designed specifically to increase a Fire Mage's power at least by ten years."

An audible murmur sounded in the arena as people looked their way. Alistair took out three more, "These are priceless, of course. All found within these rock fields."

He held up blue, grey, and yellow crystals each no bigger than his thumb. "Pure of power, and priceless. The last one sold about, I believe, twenty thousand gold pieces."

Killian crossed his arms and smirked. Cybelline saw him from the corner of her eyes. He saw her glance and leaned over, "This is nothing. Tell me what I want to know and I'll give you more than you'll ever need."

"Do you know the term, stranger danger?" Cybelline said quietly, "I don't talk to stranger, my mother taught me that. Especially ones who won't leave me alone."

"Perhaps you know me." Killian whispered back. Cybelline took a small step away, trying to get away from the strange, persistent lord.

Killian, the genius of the battlefield, who could predict the movement of troops just by movement of the wind, definitely did not get the hint.

"Perhaps you a female relative who knows me. I'm very famous." Killian said quietly as he took another small step towards her.

Lord Evans coughed and spat his mouthful of water onto Jacen's face. Jacen saw his lord look over at them. He wiped his face and looked up, "Is it raining?" He wondered out loud as he looked at the roof.

Cybelline took another step away from Killian. Alistair was glaring at them, Cybelline smiled, "Lord Garnish, please continue."

"Garlish." He said, he looked as if he swallowed a fly.

Killian seemed to forget where he was and continued to pester Cybelline, "Do you have an older woman in your family? I must find her, she is special to me."

Cybelline's first thought was Myrai. True, she was a little older, but she was still a beauty. Was this young lord attracted to Ithos's wife? Cybelline stifled the urge to kick him off the platform.

She took another, larger, step away.

He took another step towards her, "This is important, boy. I'm looking for a woman."

No one paid attention to Alistair anymore.

Cybelline smiled at Alister, "Lord Garbanzo, You were saying."

"It's Garlish." Alistair's hands were now fists, how he longed to punch the boy in the face. But he would have to wait, he needed to remain calm. He continued to drone on about the field of extremely valuable rocks.

Killian inched closer.

"I don't have any female relatives." She smiled politely as she stepped away from Killian. "I think you need to see a healer, perhaps too many horses have kicked you in the head?"

Killian's brows furrowed, "I won't take a no for an answer."

"Clearly." Cybelline replied drily.

Killian gripped Cybelline's shoulder, "I'm looking for my wife."

Phillip's water fell out of his mouth like a waterfall. Evan and Jacen looked as if they were frozen in time.

Lord Killian was famous for his lack of interest in romance. In fact, there were numerous times where women tried and failed to get him into their beds. Most ended up dead.

After an eternity, Alistair cough and looked at the two, "If I may have your attention." He gritted his teeth. How dare not pay attention to him? This was his gambling house, his games, his rules.

Cybelline waved a hand, "Lord Killian is delirious from a fever, I think. I'm pretty sure he's made up an imaginary wife."

She gestured to an attendant, "You can take the madman away now."

The attendant blushed as she looked at the handsome youth. But then took a step back, Killians eyes were cold enough to give her frostbite. The rest of the people looked at Cybelline with their mouths open.

The general was not someone you could insult. On a good day he might just cut off an arm. On a bad, he would take your head.

"Do you think the youth will die today?" Jacen asked, "If our lord kills him, we might have to fight our way out of the city."

Killian shrugged, "I'm fine, continue what you're doing." Everyone stared at the young lord. Since when did he become so benevolent?

Alistair looked at Cybelline, "You and I will both select a rock from the quarry. It will be judged by the Dwarf Chieftain, on quality, size, and power. Whoever finds a crystal of great value, wins."

He looked at the two men behind the youth, "And, as it is a wager between you and me, no man can interfere. No matter what happens, do you agree, Prince Philip, Lord Killian?"

Phillip and Killian looked annoyed but nodded.

Cybelline rolled her eyes, "Lord Onion, time is precious."

"It's Lord Garlic!" Alistair spat out, to his eternal, and dying shame. He coughed to cover up his awkwardness, "What is your wager?"

Phillip stood up, "My throne." He patted Cybelline, "I trust you."

Alistair's eyes lit up, he could barely contain his excitement. Cybelline smiled at Phillip, "In that case I can't lose."

Killian frowned.

Cybelline looked at Alistair, "With such a big wager, you'll have to put something down of equal value."

"What do you want." Alistair asked, "My gambling house?"

Cybelline grinned, "If I win, you'll have to agree to anything I want. Even if it's your life."

Alistair didn't even consider the option that he would lose. He grinned, "Done. I'll go first"

He walked to the edge of the walkway, closed his eyes and raised his hand, brownish power came out of his fingertips and soared to the rocks.

"He has power?" Philip said, surprised. Evan studied the man carefully, "Quite a bit of bit, my good prince." Phillip suddenly had a very bad feeling that he had underestimated this rival of his.

"It's a good thing that even earth mages like him can't be completely sure if a rock contains magic crystals." Jacen observed, "Or else we've lost already."

Alistair opened his eyes and shoved a dwarf into the pit, "Find the one with my magical marking. Bring it back." The dwarf fell with a sickening thud, got up, and limped into the field.

Twenty minutes later, the dwarf came back with the stone. Cybelline tilted her head, was the rock ringing? It sounded like soft wind-chimes emanated from the stone. What did that mean?

He grinned at Cybelline, "Since it's your first time, I think it'll be better if you go down there yourself. See what these rocks look like. And remember, if you don't come back with a rock, it means you lose automatically."

Cybelline looked at the shackled dwarf in front of her, "Do you mind taking me to the rock field? I'd like to pick one out myself. Only, it doesn't look like there's a ladder."

The dwarf was surprised at the sincerity of her tone. He looked down.

"Don't bother. These dirt creatures don't speak the human tongue." Alistair drawled, "They're too stupid." He pointed to the far end, "Take the dwarf down that way, there's a ladder there. We'll wait for you here."

Cybelline and the dwarf descended down the rock pit. Here dwarves stopped what they were doing to stare at the youth. No human ever came here, unless they wielded a whip.

They walked through the various tunnels and volcanic rocks, Cybelline picked up a few stones and put them down. She didn't hear the singing from those rocks, her gut told her that what she searched for wouldn't be here.

"Oqir, who is this child? You must hurry, the bell is to ring soon, you knows what happens after that." One of them grunted as he passed.

"Doesn't matter. Quiet your tongue, they don't like it when we speak our language." The one named Oqir said softly as he lead Cybelline towards the rocks.

"Is it because they're worried you'd overthrow them?" Cybelline asked quietly, "Or perhaps it shows you have true intelligence."

Oqir the dwarf slave nearly tripped as he tried to hide his shock at her knowing his language.

"How can you speak dwarvish?" He asked, his face ashen. Cybelline shrugged, "I don't really know. It kind of just...appeared."

"You're..." Oqir breathed, he looked sicked, "Oh gods. What have I done?" He buried his face in his hands.

He turned to her, not caring that the slavers were in sight. But there was no need to worry about that, as the field was clearing out fast, "Child, there's no time. Get back to the humans. I will try to hold it off." The dwarf grabbed a rock.

Clank! Clank! Clank! The entrances to the pit was being shut.

The ladders were rolled up.

"I'm guessing there's something Lord Garlic didn't tell me." Cybelline said, she drew out her dagger.

Just then, a huge gong rang.

BANG....BANG...BANG...

Phillip frowned and stood up, Cybelline had been gone for about twenty minutes.

He looked at Alistair. "What is this?"

Alistair sipped his tea, "Entertainment."

People now stood up, looking down at the pit with eager anticipation.

In the far distance, a roar sounded, it rippled across the stadium as the ground shook.

Alistair also got to his feet, "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have a special treat. Rather, today, the Monster will have a special treat. A special, human treat."

--------------

Author's note:

Thank you all for your patience! I've been reading your notes, so I know that there's been people waiting for this update. A lot's happened in my life that made the last two weeks a bit hectic, but I love writing this story and I hope you enjoy this update!