Chapter three: To Battle for her Worth

"I would like to know where we stand" the voice issued, as Leon waited outside, craning his ear to listen. "Athens has no desire to begin a mindless war. We already have Persia breathing down our neck and I must confess that I am curious as to your current perception on our situation."
"Chancellor" Kain began, his tone hinting at a sense of tiredness, "While I do agree, that our allegiance is questionable at best, I have no intention of starting a war" he sighed.
"Then you would agree to hold a meeting for discussion in the near future?" the chancellor continued.
"If it would set your mind at ease" Kain replied, noticing Leon standing in the doorway. "I'll send a message when I have the time" he answered, waving Leon into the room. The chancellor, seemingly satisfied, departed from the tent with a curt nod.
"Well?" Kain asked, crossing his hands on the desk.
"I think you'll need to see for yourself" Leon replied, frowning. "She proved herself well."
"Only 'well?'" he asked, sounding rather disappointed.
"Attis was the closest I could find to her age, but perhaps she could do with someone a bit more . . . challenging?"
"It does no one any good to be paired with an equal. Strength only prospers from difficulty; something only a demanding provocation can provide."
"Forgive my insolence commander, but she is both a female and a beginner at that."
"Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn" Kain replied simply. "Take me to her. I want to see what she can do."
Back in the coliseum, the boys grew anxious at the sight of their commander. It was a rare sight to see him upon the training field for he only ventured onto the sight to determine the worthiness of his subjects. Attis had managed to cease the flow of blood from his nose, watching in curiosity from the side as Kain motioned for Enyo to return to the field. She did so reluctantly, not out of fear, but lack of respect.
"Tyrus" Kain called, beckoning forward a boy around the age of seventeen, broad shouldered and packed with years of trained muscle. He joined Enyo in the center ring, cracking the joints in his neck.
"Leave them" said Kain, noticing Leon about to pull the staffs from the weapon rack. "No, no weapons whatsoever. I want to see what they're really capable of" he sneered.
Tyrus looks to Kain for approval to proceed and with a nod of his head; the battle is on once more.
Tyrus crouched lower to the ground his knees nearly parallel with the cement. They circled each other a full rotation, neither one taking their eyes off the other. Finally Tyrus broke the silence. A swift kick to her abdomen sent Enyo to the ground; catching herself upon her hands. Tyrus in his agility beat her before she ever hit the bottom, already on top of her. He took hold of her shoulder, preparing to pull her back for a recurring punishment. As he took hold, Enyo latched onto his arms, and letting herself roll onto her back, pushed him upward and over her body. He caught himself in a roll, reeling back onto his heels while Enyo jumped back to her feet. An attempt to kick Tyrus in his chest had her back on the ground in an instant, as he grabbed her foot and threw her down. In the split second, he came down with his fist; she rolled backwards, dodging his blow as the bones cracked in his hand; his flesh ripping from the impact. The pain did not faze him, only fueling his anger even more. With a yell, he leapt once more into the air, his foot coming in contact with Enyo's chest. Coming down, he's met with a blow to the jaw as Enyo spins to his left, the back of her fist knocking against the bone. As he shifts his jaw from left to right, cracking the joints back into place, he utters a deep, guttural, snarl.
All the while, Kain looked on in amusement, his eyebrow raised, arms crossed in satisfaction. Enyo remained rooted to the spot, watching, waiting while her opponent rushes toward her. From the time she arrived, Enyo had not spoken a single word. She had watched her village and her home burn before her eyes, watched the life she had loved be torn away into a pile of ashes, watched as these monsters murdered her family and sent them to a flaming death. From inside the lowest depths of her being, she let out a tremendous yell, a roar that echoed over the whole of Arcadia; one that silenced the birds, silenced the winds, silenced every warrior alive in the stadium, and halted Tyrus in his tracks, his fist held aloft, his face painted with astonishment.
From the side of the stands, Kain clapped his hands, motioning for Tyrus to leave. He dropped his fist, his mouth still ajar, as he climbed from the ring. Kain held her gaze. Enyo bared her teeth at him, spitting at his feet. Once more, he struck her with the back of his hand.
"Playing with the boys is one thing, but you will learn to respect me" he growled, holding her chin up to face him. "Your name?" he asks, letting her go.
"Enyo" she replied.
"Then Enyo you shall be called."