Destroy His....

Aldric groaned, every muscle in his body protesting as he attempted to rise again. His vision blurred, and the taste of iron filled his mouth. Blood trickled down his chin, but he fought against the darkness that threatened to pull him under. 

He barely had time to steady himself when the fiery whip lashed around him once more, the heat of it biting into his skin. Valerie pulled him effortlessly into the air again and threw him violently to the side. 

The crowd roared in delight, and the sound of frenzied support filled the arena. From his position on the ground, Aldric could hear the gambling tickets tearing as his supporters lost hope. His vision cleared for a moment, and he saw them — some shaking their heads, others with resigned expressions, tossing away the proof of their foolish faith. They thought it was over.