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Crispin sat in the royal box overlooking the arena He had no enthusiasm for the place but had no choice Like all members of the royal faanity to the carnage taking place in the arena below

As usual, his ames She read a speech, written in the chancellor's office It began with praise for the martial spirit and ended with a set piece

"May the best teauardians bred monsters and ar them kill one another And it didn't stop there They took part in the battles Frouardians sliced off heads, ied out eyes and chopped up limbs

Crispin peered down at the cubicle where the professor and Balduur were atteuardians couardians against the newcomers and the outcome was inevitable

There was no way the professor could win His side wouldand slashing no one was entirely safe Top warriors could receive ot the upper hand

He noticed that the main casualties, on the blue side, were caused by elves hurling firebombs indiscriminately The vampire bats were colour blind and the palace trolls aiardless of which side they were on

The pink teaainst the wall of the arena and butchered A gong sounded The blue teae of the carnage Crispin glanced across to the royal throne

His mother sat there She had endured the performance with her eyes shut and earsreed her into life She rose and reached for a ratulate the winners and thank the losers for putting up such a splendid fight It is this sort of spirit that will see our gallant nation through the many adversities that currently face us "

She embarked on her standard speech and Crispin returned his attention to the arena where palace trolls, in bloodstained tunics, were fighting the va their best to clean up the mess The chancellor described their task as a necessary and salutary undertaking that would warn the those who developed attitudes that were incompatible with their lowly station in life