The Arenas of Hushtaad
Jeffrey Lord—Fire arrows! the announcer's voice proclaimed. May the best win ! An unreal atmosphere invades the arena. Sticky, heavy with suppressed excitement. All the spectators seemed to hold their breath. Blade observed his five competitors, motionless in their corridor, their heads crowned with the same headband as him, adorned on their foreheads with a strange little metallic medallion. A three-tone bell tore the silence. It was then that Blade felt his blood stop: at the other end of the floor, facing them, six men in skirts had just taken their seats. Each was armed with a bow of impressive size. So that was the test: The athletes served as targets! The bell rang again, only once. Immediately, with perfect synchronism, the six archers bent their bow and shot their arrow...