Chapter 99: In the Arena
The tension thickened. Madam Benita’s eyes gleamed with malice. She couldn’t help feeling like her authority was being challenged. If Sienna established herself today, how long would it be before all the women of the fox tribe went to her for help and held her in full glory? Where would that leave her?
Just why had this human bitch changed her ways? The old her was so much more sensible because she knew her place.
What none of the women in the room knew was that Sienna had tried to squeeze into the council when she had just married Elias. She had approached Benita, only be threatened and warned to know her place. Since then, Sienna had stayed away from the affairs of the women in the fox tribe.
Benita was worried that this secret would be spilled. She didn’t even know that the Sienna before her didn’t remember that incident.
The council finally erupted in outrage, tails lashing.
Lady Saren hissed, "You are simply humiliating us because you know we don’t dare touch you."
Elder Madrine sneered. "You will be crushed."
Mistress Koka laughed. "Truly, she does not know her limits."
Madam Benita rose. "Alright, let’s go to the arena and battle it out. I will teach you your place today."
Sienna rose as well. "Bring it on."
Gasps echoed in the hall. Lady Cadelaria was soon upon Sienna, staring at her with a combination of worry and disapproval. However, there was also a hint of pride. If Sienna had cowered away in fright, she would have lost all respect for her daughter-in-law.
"This is not wise." She said.
Sienna smiled. "Thanks for the advice, but it something I have to do."
Lady Cadelaria clenched her jaw. "You don’t understand, Benita is a beast woman. She has more strength, claws, sharp teeth. Your small pan is not going to do any harm to her."
Sienna shrugged. "I won’t know until I try." She had been training her body, studying weaknesses of beast men. Even if she didn’t win, she would be sure not to bow.
***
The arena was in that very building. Members of the fox guard used it for training during work hours and other employees used it for relaxation through watching competitions or participating. It was not very big, only fitting two hundred people at most.
Today, it was packed. Fox warriors, elders, the fox lord and twenty council ladies filled the stands, tails flicking with anticipation. Elias sat above, expression unreadable, while Sienna strode into the sand pit with her frying pan gleaming like a sword.
Across from her stood Madam Benita, leader of the council, her fox ears sharp and her claws glinting. Her canines showed confidence because she was more agile and stronger. Her aura radiated authority.
The crowd was murmuring about how Sienna was going to be crushed. Some, were even looking at Elias with pity because they reckoned, he was on his way to widowhood.
Those with sharp minds were livestreaming the fight on BeastNet and surely, the King was watching.
Sienna cracked her neck, muttering, "Old thing, you think you can bully me. Let’s see how you handle a dirty fight."
A bell rang, and Benita lunged first, her claws slicing through the air. Sienna swung her pan in a wide arc, and to everyone’s shock, it grew two sizes, blocking the strike with a clang that echoed across the arena. The impact rattled her arms, but she grinned.
Laughter came from her throat as Benita stepped back, glaring at the pan. "Didn’t expect that, did you?" Sienna had asked the system for a self defense weapon shaped like a pan.
In turn, it had simply provided an interstellar toy pan whose body was hard enough to break claws. "That grease is butter." She taunted.
"You disgrace the fox lord with your crude ways." Benita snarled, circling.
Sienna feigned a slow step, deliberately letting Benita think she had the advantage. The council leader darted in, claws flashing--but Sienna whipped out a small vial from her bosom and sprayed.
Pepper spray.
Benita shrieked, eyes watering, stumbling back. The arena gasped in outrage.
Sienna twirled her pan like a baton. "What? Never seen seasoning used in battle?"
Lady Cadelaria was laughing, while Elias was groaning. The anxiety he had been feeling earlier reduced to a smaller degree.
Madam Benita recovered, fury blazing. She dashed forward again, her speed overwhelming Sienna’s slower human frame. Sienna barely dodged, rolling clumsily but deliberately, kicking up dust.
"Too slow," Benita hissed.
Sienna smirked. "Too predictable." She flicked her wrist, releasing a tiny sting from Honey Thunder she had coaxed from the bee queen. The venom struck Benita’s arm, subtle but effective. The beast woman winced, her movements faltering.
Sienna’s voice cut through the arena. "What’s wrong? Feeling weak? Or is it just the weight of all those failed marriage schemes against my father-in-law dragging you down?"
The council ladies bristled.
Lady Cadelaria’s mouth fell open.
Elias almost slipped from his seat.
Lady Saren shouted, "How dare she?"
Mistress Koka leaned forward, eyes gleaming with cruel delight at Benita;s fumble. She had long hoped to take the position of leader for the Interim Ladies council. After Sienna was done humiliating Benita, maybe, she would achieve her goal.
Elder Madrine whispered, "It’s not just taunting, she is breaking Benita mentally."
Sienna advanced, frying pan raised. "You call me weak because I am human. But you are the ones hiding behind titles and gossip. Without your little council, you are just old women clinging to dreams of me divorcing and marrying your daughters to my husband. I heard you wanted to squeeze in your youngest as his secretary but Timothy stopped you.
Old scheming woman, you have zero shame. You are not satisfied with what you have and you want to climb the ladder sexually.
Let me tell you now, it will never happen. I will never divorce him. When I die, I will be buried as a Veythar and Elias will be in the ground next to me. Even as a ghost, he will be mine. Mine. Mine."
Elias blinked, as almost every head in the room looked his way.