Fight Club

Egfor slipped out of bed. Dem could feel the need in him to prove himself. It lingered since he was beaten at the estate. But that was by trickery. No, he wouldn’t stop him, for it would do no good. So instead, he gave Egfor plenty of time to head to Bree. Dem knew where these illegal fights took place because he knew the owner well. One of his birdies. Like all his birds, this one gathered information and hoped Dem needed it. Occasionally though, he required specific information and set his birds to listening for it.
Egfor didn’t take his horse, so he gave him plenty of time to get along the road to Bree. Dem mounted Calysto and headed to town, letting the war horse have his head. He hadn’t given his horse a good run lately, and Calysto responded with a ground-eating gallop. Dem smirked when he felt Egfor hide from him. He was hoping for no proof, no one to say they saw him heading into Bree. If he weren’t focused on what he was planning on doing, Egfor would know the rider was Dem, maybe even turn back, but the need was still pouring through Dem’s Ring if he did notice it.
Dem put Calysto into the Dwarven Quarters stable. Then, staying in the shadows, he made his way to the building, making sure no watchers noticed him. He nodded at the owner as he entered and moved to the back, where the thickest shadows were. He gave Egfor some time before he let himself worry. He was on foot, after all. Finally, the owner came over and spoke to Dem, overhearing tidbits and asking if he needed anything specific. Dem casually mentioned what he thought might occur soon. The man nodded, he knew of Egfor, of course, but he knew that Rohirrim and Dundlings were frequent fighters here. And he knew they all came to prove themselves. It varied, but in terms of his finances, he really didn’t care why a man chose to fight, only that he did fight.
The man left Dem to wait in silence. Which suited Dem just fine. He watched the fights and looked over the men and women waiting to fight. Everyone here waited to fight, but they also enjoyed betting on the other fighters. At the same time, they worked up their nerve or waited for their chosen partner to take the ring. Egfor would have little difficulty with those present; most weighed several stones less than him and did not seem to have the need Egfor had. He leaned against the wall relaxing. Egfor may have lost his faith in himself, but Dem had not. He would watch and maybe even bet on his first few fights before he left.
Okay, maybe he was wrong, perhaps he shouldn’t take pride in Egfor’s abilities, but he did and always would. Egfor thought him biased, but he wasn’t. He had seen many people of varying abilities, and Egfor’s fighting skills were definitely above par. The question was not whether he could win but whether his self-doubt would make him lose. He knew his lover, just as he knew his children. They each needed special treatment, but he didn’t mind doing it. So lost in his thoughts, he almost missed Egfor’s entrance. He was so afraid of being discovered even here he snuck in. Dem bit back his laughter; he would certainly recognize that.
Egfor went and got an ale, wrinkling his nose as he sipped it. Earlier, one of the patrons compared it to bear piss. Dem had wanted to ask him how he knew what it tasted like but kept his mouth shut. The last thing he needed was to be called to the ring just as Egfor walked in. Egfor had a better taste for ale, beer, and mead than the average, as did all the Rohirrim he knew. Maybe he would drink less and not be in a murderous mood, which would be suitable for those who chose to fight him. He spotted his first opponent, the man who had berated Egfor many times in the inn on his choice of lover, as he had done to Dem. But the man came in after Dem and didn’t know he was here. Besides, Egfor looked less fit. Dem knew otherwise.
Sure enough, when the man won his turn in the ring, he picked Egfor. From the look on Egfor’s face, he didn’t realize someone could and would choose him as an opponent. This must have been his first time here in a very long time, if at all. The man went down fast, so fast even Egfor looked shocked.  Dem’s pride rose as Egfor did not pick his challengers, but they chose to come into the ring with him. He watched five of the fights, but the urge to cheer was too strong, and he didn’t wish Egfor to know he was here. During the sixth fight, he slipped out of the building and collected Calysto riding him home more leisurely. His coin purse bulged from his winnings. He bet on the first five fights of Egfor’s and won handsomely.
When Egfor came home, he wouldn’t punish him for disobeying Rae’s orders, but he wouldn’t be gentle with his newest wounds.