The atmosphere in the central square shifted from a celebratory feast to a literal arena of blood and bone within seconds. The clearing was wide, illuminated by the roaring central bonfire that cast flickering, jagged shadows against the faces of the gathered tribesmen.
Lin Wan sat rigidly in her seat, her fingers digging so hard into the fabric of her skirt that her knuckles turned white. She watched with wide, terrified eyes as the lower-ranked warriors began the trials.
At first, it was the two and three-striped warriors who took to the dirt. These were younger males, their bodies lean and their movements full of unrefined energy. They were eager to prove their worth, to climb the social ladder of the tribe, and perhaps catch the eye of a female as unique and skilled as Lin Wan.
The air was filled with the rhythmic thumping of feet, the clashing of blunt practice weapons, and the heavy grunts of exertion that echoed off the surrounding cottages.
