War God for Hire- Gladiator by David Burke (books under 200 pages .TXT) 📕

practically dripping in jewelry. Both were relatively attractive, even if it was obvious that they had had some work done. If that was a thing here in Verden. But with magic, why couldn’t it be? Kyle would guess that they were in their late forties or maybe early fifties.

The man standing next to Soren was similarly dressed and perhaps in his fifties. He didn’t have the fat belly that Soren did, but also was no paragon of fitness. There was a perpetual scowl affixed to his face.

Behind the four of them, Saber was standing. This time instead of the toga from the day before, he was in his leather armor, or rather a more ornate set of leather armor, complete with gold trim. Even still relatively untrained, Kyle instinctively realized that it was show armor not meant for actual combat. Saber was meant to look the part of arena master and head trainer.

Bits of the conversation that they were having reached Kyle’s ears. One of the women was complaining. From her tone, Kyle guessed it was a common activity for her.

“You told us that there was going to be a war elemental. My team is already situated for this season, but I might be able to make room for something like that.”

With equal disdain, the other woman said, “Lady Kargosta is correct. I grant you that the dragon-blooded elf is pretty to look at, but our team already has a sorcerer. I have no need for another.”

The man added, “I asked my captains about this, and none of them even believe that there is such a thing as a war elemental. This had best not be some trick to get more attention on your slaves. I am interested in acquiring the lycan girl, but require a demonstration of her fighting ability.”

Soren didn’t seem disturbed by their complaints at all. “Friend, friends, impatience is unbecoming. We still have to wait for House Avarda to arrive. And I will say that if you would care to look to the far end of the platform, our war elemental has arrived as promised.”

Kyle heard the man begin to say, “Avarda doesn’t even have a team, they can’t hope to assemble one this close to the beginning of the season, even if they tricked the senate…” His words were drowned out by the swift intake of breath that both the women made.

Kargosta said, “Oh my, that is more like it.”

The woman next to her said, “He may not be an elemental, but he is certainly a specimen of a man. Look at the size of those hands. I do hope all of him is that big.”

The last comment was followed by a shared giggle between the two women. Kyle was used to being checked out by women, but he did have to admit that the way they did it so blatantly without even being bothered if he heard them was agitating.

Soren led the other three up to him and he was soon being poked and prodded. The man asked to see his teeth, for him to stand on one leg, and then to bend a metal bar. It was rather degrading, but Kyle kept reminding himself that this was meant to keep him hidden and safe, hiding in plain sight while getting the training that he needed.

The women’s examination was a little more invasive and filled with more giggling as their hands roamed all over him. Both took a turn running their hands down his shorts and holding his member, for far longer than necessary to accomplish anything related to his ability as a fighter.

Worse, it had been a long time since he had been with a woman and, cougars or not, he couldn’t help having a bit of a reaction. He did his best to soldier on through it, but it clearly delighted the women.

The one whose name he didn’t know said, “Oh, I may not buy him, but I wouldn’t mind it if he selected my token.”

Kyle had no idea what she was talking about but didn’t have a chance to ask Hilde because a voice called out behind them, “Oh, I do hope you didn’t start without me.”

Kyle’s eyes were drawn to a striking woman in what he guessed was her early thirties. She had long platinum blonde hair and a finely cut face. She was beautiful and clearly knew it. The way she held herself said she was fit, and even the toga couldn’t hide the generous endowment on her chest. This was definitely a woman that Kyle would have been happy to meet up with after a game.

She walked over with a hand on Saber’s arm before smiling with dazzling teeth at him and saying, “Thank you ever so much for escorting me up, Master Saber. I believe I can take it from here. Lord Soren will undoubtedly want me… as his guest, I mean.”

Soren looked flustered by the tease, and Kyle instantly took a liking to this woman. “Certainly, my dear Lady Meeka. We have been waiting on House Avarda to arrive. Feel free to inspect any of the fighters that you need to, and then we will have our first round of matches.”

“Excellent, but I really don’t need to inspect them,” she said while looking at Kyle. “Well, I don’t need to, but a teeny bit of inspection couldn’t hurt.”

Then she pushed between the two older women without even looking back at them and placed her hands on Kyle’s chest. She purred as she ran her hands over him and then pressed herself up against him. This was far more intimate than the other women without being nearly as invasive.

He could smell the scent of strawberries in her hair and a perfume that drifted up to him that somehow blended perfectly with the fruit scent. “Oh, yes, he does seem like quite a… hard specimen,” she said as she ran her hands over the firm muscles of his pec. “But as I was saying, I really don’t need