Smashes through wooden poles

Larten finally found Arra on the bars, a series of connected wooden poles.
Each combatant had to try to knock off their opponent, using a staff with
rounded ends.

***

“Who’s next?” she barked with excitement, eyes alight. She caught
Larten’s gaze and cocked an eyebrow.

“Why not?” he muttered and stepped up. He took a few seconds to find
his feet, then another vampire handed him a staff. He twirled it over his
head and narrowed his eyes. Arra danced from one bar to another, but he
ignored that and advanced slowly, staff held low, forcing her back. She
wasn’t to know, but he also had a fine sense of balance and had rarely lost
on the bars at previous Councils. Arra was a natural, but Larten was
confident he would get the better of her.

Before they could test one another, a burly vampire was catapulted from
a nearby ring. He’d been swinging on a rope that had snapped near the top.
He roared as he sailed over the heads of alarmed but laughing Generals,
then smashed down on the bars, shattering several and bringing the entire
system to the ground.

Larten and Arra were thrown clear. As they picked themselves up, the
vampire plucked splinters from his cheeks, swore loudly then raced back to
the ring to grab another rope. The General and the assistant stared at one
another then burst out laughing.

***

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Palace of the Damned, Chapter 14