Chapter 9

Brothers in Arms

On Namoria Leena sat in her bedroom. The visit to the family crypt had not brought her much comfort. While she'd grown up without her father, there was always something that kept her close to him. She remembered only that he'd gone after Zarkon and never returned. She was never told the reason why he left. She was too young to remember the massacre that wiped out much of the royal family. She heard a knock upon her door.

"Come in." She said.

As she spoke, a young man walked opened her door. Like Leena and most of her people, he was half drule. His blue skin and gold eyes were offset by his long deep garnet colored hair. He wore dark pants and a dark colored tunic.

"What is it Genar?" Leena asked.

"My lady, Kezrin is finally awake." He answered.

"Is he all right? Does he remember anything at all?" Leena asked hurriedly.

"He's only just awakened. I'll take you to him. I don't know how he's going to react. The fight with Haggar almost killed him. I'm suprised he was able to defeat her.

"He's been in hybernation for so long now. I hope he's all right." Leena said as she followed Genar out of her room.

The two headed for the infirmary. There in a bed lay a young drule male about twenty three years old. Leena rushed to his side, but Genar gently pulled her back.

"He's been asleep for a very long time my lady. It's best to let him finish coming around before you speak with him." He said kindly.

Leena sat down beside Kezrin while Genar stood beside her. They both watched intently as his eyes fluttered open and his fingers twitched. His long deep purple hair was half sprawled over the pillow. Slowly his fingers began to move more rapidly as did the fluttering of his eyes. Then he took in a deep breath and tried to move.

"Take it easy Kezrin. You've been unconcious for a great while." Genar said.

"Where...where am I?" Kezrin asked in a half sleepy haze.

"You're home. Your injuries were so severe that we had to put you into a form or hybernation to save your life. The toll the battle with Haggar took on your body nearly killed you. Another duel like that could kill you the next time." Genar answered.

"Haggar..." Kezrin said with a growl. "That shrivled up prune of a witch tried to kill me. She tried to drain my powers, and leave me for dead. I want that dried up old bitch's head."

"Kezrin, you have to calm down. It's going to be a while longer before you're fully recovered. And letting your anger get the better of you will only hinder that recovery. And princess Leena will need all of us to protect her. We're all she has left." Genar said firmly.

"Kezrin, are you all right? How are you feeling?" Leena asked.

"Like I've been asleep too damn long. If I get my hands on her,"

"Kezrin, enough. You need to build up your strength. Leena will be with you for the time being. Avian has gotten himself into trouble again, and I will have to go get him out of it.." Genar said.

"When is Avian not in trouble. His temper is always getting him into one mess or another." Kezrin said with a shrug.

"He's got to learn to control his temper. There will always be those who will put him down because of his bloodline, but that's no cause for him to get into so many fights." Leena said with a sigh.

"His father could be hot tempered as well. I guess that's where he gets it from." Genar replied.

"It's not just his temper getting him in trouble. I can imagine there are at least a hundred or so fathers, brothers, uncles and probably several mothers after his hide because he can't seem to keep his libido in check. Where is he anyway?" Kezrin said.

"He went to planet Antheris after getting into another fight. The last I heard he got caught with the daughter of a prominent member of a wealthy trader baron. From the last communication I had with him he's in big trouble. He was either going to marry the baron's daughter or lose his head. Hopefully I can get him out of this in one piece. Leena, watch over Kezrin and make sure he doesn't over strain himself." Genar said as he left the infirmery.

Lotor and Kaladan faced each other. They glared at each other in a challenging manner. While Lotor might have been thouroughly unnerved by the fact he was standing face to face with the man who had just torn one of his father's guards apart, he showed no fear on the outside. To show fear was weakness, and he was not about to be seen as weak in the presence of a rival.

"So, this is the infamous son of King Zarkon. You're either very brave or very stupid to be showing your face here." Kaladan growled.

"I didn't come here looking for trouble. I was dumped here after I escaped Carnos." Lotor replied trying to keep his own temper at bay.

"I've no concern what you came looking for or where you came from. I've made it my mission in life to destroy anyone who stands with Zarkon. And you will be the prize of my collection." Kaladan said coldly.

"Just so we understand each other, Zarkon can rot in hell for all I care. I don't give a damn about him anymore. The only person in the entire universe I care about is in great danger. And if you get in my way I'll make you regret you ever saw me." Lotor warned.

"Really? I'd say that sounds like a challenge. Perhaps you'd like to make good on your threat... in the pit." Kaladan said unafraid.

"I am no one to be trifled with." Lotor growled.

"We'll see exactly how good you really are, if you've got the guts. Personally, I don't think you do." Kaladan challenged.

"You want me in the pit, then you've got me. If I defeat you in combat then you help me escape Taebos."

"Even if you do survive a battle against me, you still won't make it off Taebos. The condition of my release from the pit is whomever beats me must take my place. If you lose, you die. If you win, then you must take my place. That is if you can fight back the urge to kill me first."

"I win, you help me leave Taebos. That's my offer. Take it or leave it." Lotor stated and turned away from Kaladan to leave.

Kaladan grabbed Lotor by the arm in order to prevent him from leaving. However; what he got was the point of a silver blade aimed right between his eyes. Lotor's expression was deadly serious as he kept the blade on his rival.

"I told you, I'm no one to be trifled with. I'd rather have you as an alli against my father, but if not I'll find a way off this hellhole by myself. You can think that over while you watch me leave." He replied as he again turned to leave.

"Wait!" He shouted.

Lotor stopped and turned around. "What?" He said sternly.

"If you can beat me, then I will help you escape Taebos. But there is something you must do for me in return."

"And what might that be? If you're condition is something as petty and stupid as revenge I'm walking out this door."

"Help me restore my honor. If I help get you to your beloved princess in time, then you must also help me restore my honor. Of all Zarkon took from me, that is the only thing I have any chance of reclaiming." Kaladan replied.

"Agreed."

"Meet me in the pit tomrrow night, and we will see where the cards fall." Kaladan said as he left the tavern.

King Zarkon sat in his thrown awaiting word from several allies of the empire for their decision to join forces with him. A guard entered the throne room.

"Your majesty, we have received word from planet Darvos. They have agreed to stand with you in your campaign against Voltron." He reported.

"Excellent! Many of our allies have agreed to come to our aid. With the monster Haggar plans on creating, and the many alliances being formed, there will be no stopping my plans for the complete destruction of Voltron and the conquest of planet Arus. Everything is going exactly according to my plans. I will let planet Arus enjoy what little peace they have left. Let them be lulled into a sense of security and when they least expect it, I will unleash my wrath upon them. And this time, there will be no mercy. My heir will be born into an empire of complete and utter domination, and he shall continue my legacy as it should be." Zarkon beamed proudly.

Allura stood at the window leading to the outside balcony of her room. She was still trying to make sense of the recent events taking place in her life. No longer allowed to fly the blue lion was beyond frustrating. She was a spirited and strong willed young woman who believed in doing everything possible to defend her people. Now she felt completely helpless. While she thought many times of putting up a fight to get her place on the team back, she knew in the end it would be futile. Coran and Nanny certainly would not support her in her quest, and Keith and the others were determined to keep her on the ground as well. She could understand their reasoning, but she also saw the fate of her people in her hands.

"How can I protect my people now? I'm stuck here on the ground and in this castle. How am I to be the ruler I'm meant to be if there won't be any people left to rule? I'm not a child. I don't need to be so protected all the time." She said to herself with a frustrated sigh. She opened the large door like windows and stepped out onto the balcony. The sun was just getting ready to set as she looked off into the horizon.

As she looked down at the land her thoughts turned from her friends to someone else, someone she presumed to be dead. As she felt the wind gently blow her long golden hair away from her face, she uttered a name. "Lotor."

She looked down wondering how in the world she could be thinking of him. "Even in death you haunt my thoughts. Why is it I find myself thinking of you? Was it the look in your eyes when you realized you hurt me? Was it your pleading voice before you fled into the night? Or was it the last words you told me before you vanished?" She asked herself.

She closed her eyes wondering what to make of the last encounter as she found herself constantly thinking about it. The more she thought of him, the more she felt an inner saddness welling within her. Her friends could never have concieved of the notion she would mourn the man who terrorized not only her and her people, but countless civilizations. No doubt many would have considered his untimely death a cause for celebration, or at the very least a reason for a huge sigh of relief. But not Allura, for she never considered the death of anyone a cause for joy. Death was a sad and solom thing. And even the death of a villian such as Lotor was cause for bitter reflection. She lowered her head feeling a single tear fall from her eye. She quickly wiped it away not wanting anyone to see her weep.

"I would never have felt this way if Zarkon were dead. Yet, I feel saddness for the passing of his son. He made me hate and fear him. He threatened the lives of my friends and my people. And still I feel sorrow now that he's gone. Perhaps deep down he wasn't as much a monster as his father. He was only what his father made him. He could have killed me many times and yet in the end he could never bring himself to do it. Maybe in the end he did love me, and he just didn't know any other way to show me other than how he'd been raised."

As she continued her thought she heard a knock at the door. "Come in." She said.

"Hey princess, we're going to the market place to get some food. You wanna come with us?" Pidge asked.

"No, thank you Pidge. I'm not really up to being out right now." Allura answered.

"Aw come on princess. Look, we know you're bummed out bout not flying the blue lion anymore, but don't you think you should be out amidst your people?" Lance replied.

"I'm sorry, but I just don't feel like myself right now. I just need to be alone." Allura said quietly.

"Guys, if she doesn't want to come she doesn't want to come. She's going through a hard time right now." Keith said ushering the others from Allura's room.

He looked inside Allura's room to find her still outside on her balcony. "Princess, are you sure you're ok?" He asked.

"I'm...I'm fine. I just want to be alone."

Knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere with her, he left her room and hurried the others away. He caught up to his friends as they headed out of the castle. He knew the princess wasn't herself, and he suspected it was more than just not being able to fly the blue lion anymore. He suspected it was something else, but he shuddered to think of the possibility of what was bothering her.

"She wouldn't mourn him. He was a monster, as bad or worse than his father. That couldn't be it." He thought.

"I'm worried about the princess. She won't leave her room that much and she's always depressed now. Do you think we really did the right thing by taking her off the force?" Pidge asked.

"Look, we haven't taken Allura out of the team. But right now it's just not safe for her to pilot the blue lion. If Zarkon were to get her in his sights he'd blast her right out of the sky. He won't be bothered by her death. She's the hope of her people and we have to keep that hope alive. Though I have to admit she has been less than herself lately." Keith said.

"Yah, ever since she found out...um...he bit the dust." Lance replied.

"Please, Allura actually sad that Lotor is dead? I don't think so. She's just trying to find a proper way to deal with it that's all. She ain't crying over him. How could she cry over a guy who made her life a living hell for so long?" Hunk asked.

"Can we not talk about him? He's a bad memory that all of us would rather forget." Sven said with a shudder.

"I second that Sven. Let's just let the princess deal with this whatever way she needs to. She has a lot on her shoulders right now, and we don't need to add to it." Keith replied.

Back on planet Taebos night approached. The dark clouds of smoke and smog that hovered in the atmosphere made it hard to tell when day changed to night. The only indication were the few rays of light that managed to penetrate the dense pollution and then fade away as day gave way to night. It was almost like living on Planet Doom. Lotor stayed at the tavern that day. Alma gave him permission to stay there so that he could rest and prepare for the battle with Kaladan.

"They will come for you tonight. You are a willing opponent so they should not give you too much trouble." Alma commented.

"They'll not give me any trouble at all lest they end up having their heads removed from their shoulders." Lotor growled.

"Kaladan will be with them. It's best not to put up a fuss." Alma advised.

Lotor shrugged his shoulders breathing a heavy sigh. He looked away for a second and then spoke. "How do you know I'm the man who can free Kaladan from the pit? I have great skill yes, but I've seen what he can do. We'll be expected to try to kill each other."

"The man who can defeat Kaladan is his equal, his kindred spirit. You are no mere guard. You are a master swordsman from what I've been told. And in battle you can be as ruthless as Kaladan." Alma answered.

"What do you mean kindred spirit?"

"You and Kaladan share much in common. You were both in high favor of King Zarkon, and both of you have now turned against him. Your rebellion is fuled by the women you both fell in love with. And both of you suffered dearly for that love. Both of you have nothing but rage and hatred for Zarkon. Both of you have set down different paths, but both seek the same destination. You both seek redemption."

"You seem to forget there is one difference between Kaladan and I. The woman he loved also loved him. The woman I cherish will not have me. She despises and fears me. And I've given her every reason to despite what I wanted was her love. I can only save her. There is no hope for having her love."

"Do not be so sure young druel. Destiny is a strange thing."

After Alma finished speaking Kaladan entered the tavern. He was followed by the pit masters. "It's time." Said the Blood Lord.

Lotor rose from the table nodding in agreement. The pit masters looked over Kaladan's opponent with interest. They did not speak, but their expression's conveyed the anticipation they felt. Tonight was going to be a spectacle indeed. Perhaps it would be the greatest in the history of the pit. The whited haired druel however did not feel anticipation. To him this was no fight for sport. This was a fight for his very life, and the life of the woman he loved.

Kaladan approached Lotor and stood face to face with him. Their faces were mere inches apart. "If you are the one, then know that I do not intend to make your victory an easy one." He said.

"I don't expect you to." Lotor replied.

Genar continued on his heading toward planet Antheris. After several attempts to contact Avian had failed, he felt for sure his friend was indeed in a great deal of trouble. "I'm beginning to think we should just put a leash on him to keep him out of trouble." He muttered to himself.

Avian was indeed in a great deal of trouble. He found himself chained to a wall with a group of very angry males and one distressed female all looking at him.

"We're giving you two options you bastard. You can either marry her or we can decorate the halls with your bones. Which is it gonna be?"

"Honestly, I'm not the marrying type. And I think my bones look better in my body than in your halls. So why don't we all just calm down, have a drink and forget this little episode ever happened?" Avian asked with half crooked smile. The responce was the angry father's fist making contact with Avian's left cheek.

"You insulent son of a bitch! You violate my daughter then you dare to disrespect me in such a manner!"

"Now just a damn minute! I did not violate your daughter! I don't rape women! She was just as willing as I was!" Avian barked as he struggled to free himself from his restraints.

"You dare to impune my daughter's honor!"

"Father stop it! He didn't force himself on me!"

"Be silent Neenya! You disgrace your family and myself with such behavior." Her father ordered.

"Leave her alone you prick!" Avian shouted.

Again, he got another fist to the face. Blood trickled out from his nose and the corner of his mouth.

"Forget it! I'll not have this piece of trash marrying my daughter. You had better pray you are not carrying his seed daughter. I'll cut the vermon from your womb myself if you are!"

"Father! How dare you speak of me in such a manner?" Neenya cried.

This time her father focused his rage upon her forcefully backhanding her. That really got under Avian's skin. He was a womanizer, but he hated aggression against women. Whether she was in the wrong or not, no woman deserved to be struck in such a violent manner.

"Let me out of these chains you bastard!" Avian barked.

"You think you can take a noble man like me? You're neither terran or drule. You're just a pathetic mut of a male who should have been killed before you took your first breath. You're not a man. You're not even a boy. You're just a sad mistake that should never have been made." Said Neenya's father.

Avian's eyes narrowed to slits. "You're a piece of shit, you know that? You think you're so high and mighty. You stand here and beat your own daughter. Then you got the balls to question my manhood? You let me out of these chains, and I'll show you just what kind of man I am." Avian snarled.

"Lord Kurgan! There's an intruder on the grounds!" Shouted a scout.

"What!" Kurgan yelled as he turned away from Avian.

As he spoke, two guards stumbled backwards into the interrogation chamber having been knocked off their feet. A third guard was sent skidding hard against the stone floor by a wicked side kick. Genar burst through a bevy of guards making his way into the room where Avian was being held.

"Damnit Avian! Why do you keep getting yourself into these situations!" Genar shouted.

"Why do you keep saving my ass?" Avian asked with a smirk.

"I'll think of an answer to that after I get you out of here!" Genar yelled as he put another guard down with a side chop to the head.

Lotor stood in a small cell like room waiting for the fight to begin. He could hear the roar of the crowds even from where he stood. He rubbed his upper arms feeling his muscles tense. He removed his coat but left on his sleeveless black tunic, pants and boots. He looked around at the dark, dank walls covered in grime and filth. He turned hearing the creaky door slowly open. Two guards stood waiting for the white haired drule to follow them. He went quietly, but flashed them both a vicious stare indicating what he could and would do if they tangled with him. They stayed at a distance. Any man willing to fight the blood lord was not a man to be taken lightly. The two stood several feet back from Lotor as he exited the room.

Kaladan stood at the entrance. His muscles were tense and his stance stiff and tense. It was the stance of a warrior ready for battle. Lotor exibited that same stance when he stopped. Kaladan looked to his left to see his opponent standing beside him.

"Your swords have been placed against the wall of the pit. I assume they are the weapons you will chose to do battle with."

"Yes."

"Then it is time for us to fight."

"Kaladan,"

"Yes?"

"Do not let anyone know my true identity. My father thinks I'm dead. I want it to stay that way." Lotor said in a hushed whisper.

"So be it."

The doors slowly creaked open as the roars of the crowd echoed throughout the area. Kaladan looked at Lotor for a second before facing the arena floor. "The challenger always goes before the champion." He said.

"And there is one more thing." Kaladan added as he gestured to one of the pit masters. Two of them approached the two combatants. Each held an ornate mask in their hands.

"Very few opponents are worthy of wearing the battle masks. If your reputation is what I've heard it to be in combat, then you prove yourself worthy to wear this." He said as he ordered both to place the masks on the respective opponents. As they stepped away Kalada walked toward Lotor until they were mere inches apart.

"The mask will also conceal your identity." Kaladan whispered. He looked toward the open doors looking into the pit. "The challenger goes out first." He said.

With a nervous swallow Lotor walked out into the pit. He looked up seeing the hoards of screaming onlookers waiting to see a spectacle of violence and blood. Then the ring master stepped out calling out Kaladan's name signaling his entrance into the pit as well. The two drules squared off in the center of the pit. They engaged in a brief staredown before backing off from each other. The two stood with agressive stances preparing to fight.

"Let's do this." The two said silently in unison.

Lotor made the first move rushing at Kaladan who in turn prepared to take his opponent out with a sidekick. But the white haired drule saw the move coming and blocked it with a side kick of his own. They barely missed each other as one leg narrowly avoided the other. Both lost their footing for only a second before continuing to clash. The crowds looked on roaring and cheering as the two exchanged a fast and furious round of kicks and punches. They hit only air until Lotor got a little too cocky and one of Kaldan's side kicks hit him in the chest. He stumbled back trying to catch his breath. Kaladan only sneered at him trying to goad him further into more action. Growling to himself the former prince of Doom rushed foward drawing back his arm. He continued charging and shot his fist foward trying to get a punch toward Kaldan's chest. Kaladan caught the blow with his open hand and grabbed Lotor's other hand as it also lurched toward his throat. The two were locked in a struggle to gain the upper hand.

The two pushed against each other with all their might trying to break the lock. While Lotor struggled with all his might, he still wasn't quite as strong as Kaladan who knocked him to the ground by knocking his own head against that of his opponent. Feeling both Kaladan's head and his own mask hit hard against his skull Lotor toppled backwards to the ground. He struggled for a moment to gain his wits shaking his head. But before he could act he felt a vicious side kick to his ribs. He looked up to see Kaladan looking down on him.

"Get up boy!" The Blood Lord barked.

The kick hurt bad enough, but the blow to his pride hurt ten times worse. After all the hell he'd been through, and this man had the nerve to call him boy. Lotor snarled like a wild animal and sprang to his feet. As he lept upward he turned sideward swinging his right leg across knocking Kaladan off his own feet. The crowd looked on astonished that a newcomer actually had the upper hand over their champion for the first time. The pit masters looked on with great interest.

"This one has fire to him. He knows this match will most likely cost him his life yet he does not cower like the others do. Perhaps he has it in him to defeat Kaladan after all. He could make us a fortune, perhaps even more than Kaladan himself." The ring master noted.

"Yes. He could be a greater champion than Kaladan. We must watch this battle closely." Another pit master commented. They watched as the fight went back and fourth as Kaladan and Lotor exchanged punches, kicks and headbutts in an attempt to incapacitate each other. The crowds roared as they pumped their fists in the air. Most cheered on their champion, but some dared to encourage his challenger as he had gained the upper hand a number of times throughout the battle.

After the two spent a fair amount of time exchanging blows and knocking the wind out of each other, Lotor and Kaladan went for their weapons. Lotor lunged foward grabbing his twin swords while Kaladan grabbed a mace with a spiked ball at the end. The two glared at each other with pure blood lust in their eyes. Kaladan swung the long chain toward Lotor's head. Lotor ducked the blow by mere inches. He briefly glanced where the ball hit the ground knowing he'd been standing there only seconds before. Kaladan jerked the chain backwards forcing the ball back toward him. He aimed for another strike, but before he could get the ball airborn Lotor lept foward swinging his left blade across Kaladan's shoulder. The firey haired drule recoiled feeling the sting of the sword lacerate him there. He looked to see a stream of blood now flowing from the wound. He immediately dropped the mace and headed back toward the wall where he grabbed a broad sword.

He rushed foward snarling and ready to bring the sword down upon his opponent's head. A second before impact Lotor crossed his swords blocking the strike. The two found themselves in a deadlock for the upper hand. Both pushed against each other, their swords grinding against each other creating an occassional spark from the friction. Both men gritted their teeth pushing with all their strength to knock the other down. But it was Kaladan who got the upper hand and forced Lotor to stumble backwards falling on his back. The Blood Lord stood over his opponent and raised the sword high over his head. With a roar he brought the blade down. Lotor quickly rolled out of the way getting to one knee. Kaladan raised the sword and swung it down again. This time Lotor raised his blades criss crossing them against each other successfully blocking the blow. He gritted his teeth and raised himself uppward actually forcing Kaladan to step backwards. He growled and continued pushing foward compelling his rival to step backwards again. He uncrossed his swords and rolled out of the way before Kaladan brought his sword down almost slicing his arm off.

However, the move cost him one of his swords as the heavy blade of Kaladan knocked one of the more slender blades out of Lotor's right hand. But while Kaladan was carrying the more formidable weapon, it was also heavier than the one blade of the former prince. This gave him the chance to catch Kaladan off guard and give him a swift kick to the gut. Kaladan doubled over as the force of the kick literally knocked the breath from his body. When he was most vunerable, Lotor took advantage and knocked Kaladan to the ground with a vicious kick to the head. Kaladan fell to the ground dropping his sword. The blow also forced his mask from his head. It fell to the ground stained with blood. Springing like a cat, Lotor lunged foward grabbing the broad sword while Kaladan lay on the ground trying to regain his wits. Before he could move he found the point of his own blade aimed at his throat.

"He's going to do it! He's going to defeat Kaladan!" The ring master exclaimed.

"Do it! Kill him!" One of the pit masters shouted.

Lotor stood over Kaladan prepared to make the death strike. Kaladan was helpless as he was still reeling from the side kick to his head.

"Take his head! We will proclaim you our new champion!"

"We'll make you the most feared man on this planet! You will have fame and fortune beyond your wildest dreams! You will become the most ruthless fighter the galaxy has ever known!"

For a moment Lotor heard the cries of the crowd calling for the blood of the man they'd once cheered for. The sword was at Kaladan's throat. All Lotor had to do was bring down the blade. He removed his own mask and raised the sword. The lust for blood was hard to fight.

"DO IT!" The onlookers roared.

As he stared into the eyes of his opponent, something strange happened. Upon Kaladan's face Lotor saw an image of himself. Kaladan also experienced the same phenomena seeing an image of himself imposed over Lotor's face. Then he remembered Alma's words before leaving the tavern.

"You are kindred spirits."

Kaladan kept his eyes opened. If this was to be his end, he would not look away like a coward. The sword came down with a crushing blow. The crowds and the pit masters all looked in utter shock. Kaladan's eyes beheld the sword that should have spelled his death stuck in the ground next to his left ear. Then he looked up at Lotor who was gasping for breath. The white haired drule extended his hand.

"What in the hell are you doing! This fight must go to the death!" The ring master exclaimed angrily.

"If you want blood spilled, then you can find someone else to spill it." Lotor replied coldly.

"Kaladan! Pick up a weapon and finish him! You're the Blood Lord! No one, not especially a drule leaves this pit alive! That was the bargain!"

Kaladan took Lotor's hand as he helped him up. He looked at the pit masters with an expression of pure disdain and disgust. "The Blood Lord's reign ends now. Go find someone else to satiate your blood lust. I'm not doing it anymore."

"Then both of you will die! Guards!"

As a troop of guards flooded into the arena, Kaladan and Lotor looked at each other. "Lotor, give me my broad sword!" Kaladan shouted.

As he tossed Kaladan's sword to him, he in turn tossed one of the twin blades back to his comrade. Grabbing the other sword, Lotor also prepared for battle once again. The two drules stood back to back. Whereas they had battled each other, now they prepared to fight side by side for their lives.

"Remember, if we make it out of here, you have a promise to keep. You must help me restore my honor."

"I'll keep my word, but you have to help me get to Allura before its too late."

"If we make it out alive, then you will get to your princess. You have my word. But I'm afraid getting out of here is going to be easier said than done." Kaladan said.

"Kaladan, these animals want blood. Why don't we give them a blood bath they'll not soon forget?"

A sadistic smile danced upon Kaladan's lips. "With pleasure." He said with a growl.

As the guards advanced, the two warriors started swinging their blades with deadly precision. Limbs started flying and blood spattered and gushed as the advancing guards began to fall. As the blades cut the air, so too did they cut heads from shoulders, hands from wrists and arms from torsos.

"I can't believe this! That backstabbing bastard has turned on us!"

"He's killing all our guards!"

As suddenly as it started, the troop of guards were cut down mercilessly and violently. Bodies littered the pit as well as blood, severed limbs and entrails of the victims. Kaladan and Lotor looked at each other smiling victoriously. That is until Kaladan saw the ring master rushing foward with a dagger in his hand.

"Lotor behind you!" He shouted.

Lotor turned just in time to impale the charging ring master right through the neck. The small, rotund man dropped the dagger and fell to the ground as his killer yanked the blade from his victim's throat. He gasped, sputtered and coughed as blood poured from his mouth. The pit masters looked on in shock as they watched their comrade fall to his knees with blood gushing from his throat.

"Come on! We have to get out of here while they're distracted!" Kaladan shouted.

"How are we getting out of here? The entrance is blocked!"

"There's a secret way behind the pit wall!"

The two ran toward the north wall of the pit. Kaladan pulled down on a heavy ax and the wall gave way opening up a secret door. With the people roaring and the pit masters screaming curses at the two, Lotor and Kaladan escaped into the secret exit. The wall closed once again before the pit masters could make it.

"We've gotten away from them, but they'll be sending their goons after us soon. We have to make it back to Alma's tavern. She's got an old ship she's been saving for this occassion. I just pray it still works." Kaladan said between heaving breaths of air.

"I hope it does. If my father gets to Allura before I do I'll never forgive myself."

"You love her that much?" Kaladan asked.

"More than my own life."

Next