Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

other, fellow outcasts rejected by their society, and two young men who had never known friendship before grew closer than brothers, sworn to each other to death and beyond. They stood together in the crowd of courtiers, ignored by their neighbors, and studied Dram dubiously.
    "I could take him," said David. "And either of us would make a better Warrior Prime."
    "True," said Kit. "But you only get the job through popular acclaim, so I think we can forget about that. Maybe if we were to perform some outstanding act of bravery or note, things would be different. But we're never allowed a chance at anything like that. Still, maybe there'll be a war soon, against the rebels or the aliens. Always good chances for improvement in a war."
    "There's also an equally good chance of being sent home in a box with some important pieces missing, just for standing in the wrong place at the wrong
    time. Wars are a little too arbitrary for my taste. I'd prefer something a little less dramatic."
    "Hello," said Kit suddenly. "I spy a familiar face. Thomas le Bihan, Member of Parliament for Thornton North, as I live and breathe. Our sometime patron. I do believe he's trying to pretend he hasn't seen us. Let's wander over and embarrass him, for the good of his soul."
    Kit and David moved easily through the packed crowd as people drew back to give them plenty of room. Le Bihan ignored them as long as he could, and then sighed heavily, turned, and bowed to them both. He was a great bear of a man, with a barrel chest and a spade beard and a good reputation with the sword, but even he deferred to the terrible two. Kit and David bowed in return and smiled easily at him. His own smile wasn't quite as successful. They'd needed a patron to get them established in the Arena and had chosen him to do the necessary on their behalf. He hadn't been given a choice in the matter, but he knew better than to argue.
    "Hello boys," he said cautiously. "To what do I owe the honor of this confrontation? I already told you it's too soon for another match. It isn't easy finding people to fight you these days. You have one of the longest winning streaks in the Arena's history."
    "We want to know why we're not popular," said David. "We win again and again, but we still haven't won the adulation of the crowds. They clap and cheer all right, but they don't worship us like they do the Masked Gladiator. Maybe you should get us a match against him. We want to be loved, Thomas. What's the problem?"
    Le Bihan sighed. "You want the truth? Very well. Your trouble is you don't give a damn for anyone but yourselves. You kill in the Arena for your own pleasure,
    not the crowd's. You're concerned with winning, not with giving the audience a good show. On top of that, the Kid's a psycho, and you're a Deathstalker. No one wants to get too close to either of you in case it rubs off. You could fight the Masked Gladiator with both legs strapped behind your back and your head in a bucket, and you still wouldn't win their hearts. You are officially bad news.
    There are people who won't even talk to me, just because I agreed to become your patron. No one trusts you, no one likes you, no one even wants you around.
    People cross their fingers when you cross their path, because that's bad luck.
    Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't want to be seen talking to you anymore. I have my own future to consider."
    "Don't hold back, Thomas," said David. "Tell us what you really think."
    "I've killed men for less," said Kit coldly.
    "I know," said Le Bihan. "That's your problem. Now, can I go, or are you going to kill me with your bare hands right in front of the Empress?"
    "It's a thought," said Kit.
    "Let him go," said David.
    Kit shrugged, and Le Bihan took the opportunity to make his escape. Kit looked after him coldly. "He insulted us."
    "By telling us the truth? That was what we asked for. Now, calm down and get that look out of your eyes. The Empress is watching. Let's not give her any more excuses to be annoyed with us. I don't think she's in a very good mood today."
    Kit sniffed. "It's times like this I wish we were still part of the underground.
    I quite liked being a subversive."
    "We both agreed it had got too risky," said David. "After Hood turned out to be Dram, it would have been suicide to stay on. By getting out when he did, it
    became just his word against ours, and Lionstone didn't want the scandal. We can always rejoin. If only Dram really had died…"
    "But he