Oblivion: Balanced Breakfast

Timeline: End of Episode 7

            “Looking a little singed, Scavenger.”

            Fang looked up from the table where he was resting after his last match. He didn’t like this arena business all that much, but he seemed to be decent at it, and it paid well.

            He also wasn’t fond of Kholfe Ice-Heart, the master of the Kvatch arena.

            “I fought a scamp and a troll. There was a lot of fire involved. You should know this.”

            Kholfe laughed bitterly, grabbing Fang’s beer and taking a swig from it. Fang’s ears pinned back, but he didn’t say anything. His interactions with Kholfe were always… interesting, and not in a good way.

            “Ruins the meat, that much fire magic,” he said, wiping at his lips and going to set the beer back down. Fang motioned for him to keep it. Shrugging, Kholfe took another drink. “Burns it.”

            “It was a troll,” Fang repeated, leaning over the table and looking up Kholfe. “What would you want me to do, sit there and stab at it?”

            “Yes,” Kholfe said after swigging down the rest of the beer, tossing the bottle to the side. “Cut it, rip it apart, make it bleed. That’s what the crowd wants little Scavenger.”

            “Well, I didn’t want to die,” Fang hissed, leaning back, “so the crowd can sod off.”

            Kholfe laughed. “It makes little difference to me… you’re scrawny enough that people keep betting against you. Those who bet on you are becoming rich men.”

            “Well, good for them.”

            “And besides, I get more meat out of this deal.”

            “Ha, I imagine,” Fang said, smiling slightly. “Not fond of… troll meat, myself… but I imagine it still fills a plate. Can’t say a person would.”

            Kholfe tilted his head, studying Fang for a moment, before saying “well, a scrawny thing like you wouldn’t, no.”

            Before Fang could really digest that thought (pun not intended), Kholfe slapped him on the back and began walking off. “Bright and early if you’ll want more gold, Khajiit. Got some fun planned for the farmyard… and I want a big breakfast.”

            Fang watched the Nord leave, thinking of his options. On one hand, the Kvatch Arena was proving to net him quite a bit of money. On the other, the more he got to know Kholfe, the more he wondered if this was some scheme to end up on his plate.

            He took out another bottle of beer and opened it. Maybe… maybe the Fighter’s Guild of Skingrad would have a job for him.

            If Fang was going to be eaten, he’d prefer to be eaten by a beast, not a deranged man.