“Entertain?” asked Elijah.
Magnus rushed forward and shoved Elijah to the ground. Once again, Elijah’s back screamed out in pain over the sharp stones along the path. He felt his mind swirl amidst the cheering. He sucked hard as he tried to draw in nearly impossible air. The sharp pain suddenly stopped. Elijah glanced right, and squinted as several wooden planks were flung away. Below, in the darkness, sat a man.
Elijah tried to rise, but someone from the crowd lunged forward and kicked him in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him.
Magnus grinned. “You will stay here for tonight,” he said and then yanked Elijah to his feet. Several others ran up and helped Magnus push the unsuspecting bandit into the pit. The crashing of wooden planks quickly snuffed out any remaining rays of precious light.
Chapter 37
At first, he didn’t move. The darkness overwhelmed his senses, but not for long. Slowly, small rays of shattered light broke through. Just as gradually, he turned to see what lay around him when a huddled man came into focus in the corner.
A strange accent greeted him. “Did they capture you as well?” it said.
“No, I actually kind of led myself in here, believe it or not,” replied Elijah as he dusted himself off.
Elijah glanced back at the silent man and could tell he was from a different country. His eyes were slanted, and even though he had a different accent, he somehow looked familiar. “Hey, are you not one of the acrobats from the caravan?” asked Elijah.
“Yes, ah, are you from Habarga?” he replied.
Elijah moved beside the man. “Yes! Incredible! How did you end up here?”
“A small boy stole one of our most sacred artifacts from my country. I was chasing him through the desert to get it back,” he said, staring straight forward.
Then the man continued. “Then, these barbarians ambushed me, and now, I am stuck here.”
Elijah replied. “I am sorry to hear that.” He thought back to his recent stroke of bad luck and felt his chest again tighten.
The man turned. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
Elijah shrugged. “Running away…I suppose.”
“Oh, I see.”
“What is your name?” asked Elijah.
“My name is Xing Kun Yi. You may call me Kun.”
Elijah glanced up at the wooden planks as several voices passed by. “Nice to meet you. I’m Elijah.”
Kun gently nodded his head.
“What are they going to do to us?” asked Elijah.
Kun used a familiar word. “We are their entertainment.”
Elijah frowned. “Yeah, I got that part,’ he replied.
Kun continued. “They send out their prisoners to fight their barbarians and beasts.”
“What! What kind of entertainment is that?” said Elijah, eyes wide.
“Barbarian,” replied Kun.
Elijah could barely stand up. “We have to get out of here!” he said, pacing.
Kun’s strained voice quickly replied. “We can’t get out of here. I already tried.”
“Well, you didn’t try hard enough,” exclaimed Elijah and then reached for handholds and footholds, but slid right back down.
“I have been trained in the acrobatic way for years,” said Kun. “I can jump three times higher than an average man. Trust me; there is no way out of here.”
Elijah suddenly kicked the dirt. “I can’t believe I got myself in this mess!” he scoffed.
Kun lifted his arm over his face.
“Has anyone survived the games?” asked Elijah.
“So far, I have seen two men. Both were sent out before me. They were crusaders. They never came back.”
They both thought in silence for a moment.
Kun continued. “Antillis probably made sure they were killed to please his people.”
“Antillis?” quizzed Elijah.
Kun nodded. “Yes. I am sure you saw him. He is a very big man, with very big armor, and axe.”
Elijah rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I met him,” he said.
“That is the barbarian leader,” said Kun.
Elijah kicked the dirt again. “Figures,” he said.
Kun stared at Elijah. “You seem like you have been through many battles,” he exclaimed.
Elijah dropped his head. “I have, unfortunately. Not intentionally.”
“Good. Then we may have a chance,” said Kun.
Elijah turned to Kun. “What are you suggesting?”
“If we can fight together, we would have a much better chance than alone.”
“I agree…,” answered Elijah and then abruptly stopped. A blast of light suddenly followed the creaking of wooding planks. Both men squinted at the silhouette leaning over the opening.
Slowly, the image transformed into a beautiful, blonde female, complete with delicate paintings on her arms and chest. Elijah forgot where he was as he stared into her calming blue eyes. The sun slid off her soft, smooth skin and onto his face with a gentleness he couldn’t remember. He felt his pains disappear. As his eyes travelled down her body, he realized that she was dressed in pure gold. A gold necklace decked her tender neck, and gold leaves her breasts. Only her hips bore no gold, rather, they were bound in soft, but sparse leather. Her tiny mouth was pursed together, gently, almost willing to speak, but it said nothing. Her gaze fell upon him.
Elijah finally gasped. He couldn’t speak. When she started to move, Elijah’s eyes widened.
The delicate creature raised her arm and extended a basket filled with bread and meat. It fell perfectly into Elijah’s awaiting arms.
A familiar site suddenly appeared as his canteen tumbled toward him. The gurgling told him his mouth and throat would finally receive long awaited relief. They must have taken it when they knocked him out, he thought.
A shadow joined her as she turned away. The long hair of Magnus quickly came into view.
“Thank you!” shouted Elijah.
The girl looked back, as her eyebrows raised.
But, falling dirt forced Elijah to shield his eyes, and they were gone.
Elijah and Kun quickly dug into the basket without saying another word.
Chapter 38
Fear had never gripped her heart as it did today. Her arms ached, unbearably, stretched behind and around the wide pillar. The throne room no longer seemed as sacred as it had before. It was always the perfect refuge, completely safe with no fear of reprisal as long as her father sat on the throne. But, today, he stood, bound against another pillar. His head hung low. He didn’t move. A wince sounded from one of the bound servants. His arm hung in two sections, connected only by the remaining fragile skin. Natalia shuddered at the image of the shaking ruler.
“Father….are you okay?” she whispered loudly.
His head, covered in a crusty red, didn’t move.
“Father, why won’t you talk to me?” she pleaded, afraid to raise her voice above a whisper.
Tears pooled in her eyes. She realized that her safety was gone.
“… Father!” she repeated, glancing at the doorway.
Suddenly, the large doors burst open. Karam strutted into the room, laughing. “Ah, what a glorious day!” he boldly exclaimed. In seconds, he stood, toe to toe with the sultan. “Do ask me how my first day of being sultan was.”
The man didn’t move.
Karam chuckled as he pulled back his closed fist. Thud it went as it landed in the sultan’s gut. Immediately, his knees buckled, relying solely on the rope for support. Slowly, he slid further down, gagging.
Natalia screamed, “Father!” when the man started coughing uncontrollable.
Karam lunged sideways. “Silence!” he yelled, spitting in Natalia’s face.
Natalia’s d
isgust filled the room.
Karam repeated himself. “Ask me now, old man!” he demanded.
The servants stared straight ahead.
“How…was your day…of…” muttered the collapsed sultan.
Karam beamed. “It was glorious! Did you know I have everyone chanting my name throughout the streets?” he said as he broke out in laughter. “I have the chimera and his tamer trapped in the courtyard! Whoever disobeys me gets fed to the beast!” His laughter grew even more. “He has already had a hearty meal with some of the city’s residents, not to mention that stupid servant of yours, said Karam as he smiled over at Natalia.
Tears streamed out of her hopelessness. She couldn’t bear the thought of her father so humiliated. Never had she seen him prostrate like this. A wave of dizziness swept over her, begging her to submit.
Just as Karam turned back toward the great doors, a muttered voice shattered the stillness. “You won’t win,” said the sultan.
Karam abruptly stopped.
“You’re just a common bandit! A low-life thug who can’t accomplish anything in his life!” scowled the sultan.
Slowly, the narrow looking man turned. “Oh, really?”
Natalia cried out. “Father! Stop! Don’t talk to him!”
“Your daughter is correct. Don’t speak unless spoken to. I am sultan now, fool!” chuckled Karam. The sun broke through the key shaped window above and glinted off Karam’s eye.
“She is not my daughter! And you will never be sultan!” he shouted.
Natalia stared at her father in disbelief. “Father! How could you!?” she cried sobbing.
He raised his head. “He already told me you showed him in to my palace!” said the sultan.
“I did not!” shouted Natalia.
Karam pursed his lips. “Oh, you poor little worm!” His brisk steps brought him hovering over the sultan as he started slapping the man’s face lightly. “She didn’t intentionally show me the way into my home,” he chuckled. “She showed her bandit friend. Some of my men were just lucky enough to see her show him,” he said.
The sultan finally met Karam’s eyes. “What?” he shouted.
“Oops! Did you not know your daughter was whoring around with bandits? Oh, I thought everyone knew,” he said evasively.
The sultan’s head dropped again, this time flush red.
Natalia’s voice quivered. “No! It’s not like that!” she stuttered. “It’s not like that at all, father! I…”
“I have heard enough, Natalia! I have heard enough!” said her father.
Again, her sobs filled the room.
Karam lifted his hand to his forehead. With eyes gleaming, he said, “I’m sorry, princess.” He started to laugh. “I forgot not to tell anyone.”
Natalia felt her blood start to boil as she glared at the man. She yanked at the ropes, but to no avail.
“You’re my lap dog now,” he said as he breathed into her face.
Natalia’s tears stopped as she clenched her fists. She realized that he was completely crazy now and wanted to do anything to stop him.
Karam leaned in closer and licked her tear-stained cheek.
“Get off me!” she screamed, thrusting her head to the side.
“Feisty!” he exclaimed with another burst of laughter.
Natalia turned and spit into his face.
He lifted his hand against the bloody scar on his cheek as it eked out more blood. Thrusting himself around, his backhand landed squarely against her swollen face.
Natalia screamed out in pain.
“Don’t touch her!” shouted her father.
Karam paused as his eyes roved to the sultan’s hands behind the pillar. “Why now. That is a nice ring you have,” said Karam.
Natalia glanced to her side as the brilliant, ruby covered silver sparkles danced in the dark shadow. She remembered this ring from childhood. Her father always wore it no matter the occasion. Its 30 small rubies, mounted in shining silver, sat beneath an enormous, multi-faceted red gem. She had always loved the ring and knew that he did too.
Karam stepped closer. “What a pretty color. I want it.”
The sultan shouted, “No!”
Karam kept advancing. “I would like to take this ring from you.” He quickly stepped behind the pillar and pulled, but it didn’t budge.
The sultan yelled again. “Get away from me!” He jerked, still captive.
“My, my, temper, temper. It’s not coming off,” chided Karam when he reached and pulled out a small dagger from his boot. “Maybe we ought to cut it off instead!” His eyes narrowed.
Natalia cried out. “No! Please!”
The sultan’s heaving chest could be heard throughout the room.
Karam pushed the end of the blade on the sultan’s fingers. “Uh oh. It’s a little dull. This may take a while,” he said grinning.
The sultan cried to Karam. “No! Please no! Don’t do it! I will get it off! Please don’t!”
“Karam! No! Please don’t!” cried Natalia.
Then Karam grabbed the ring finger.
“No! No! No!” screamed the sultan again.
“Please, no!” cried out Natalia as she felt her stomach heave.
Karam whispered in the sultan’s ear. “Now brace yourself, worm, because this…is really going to hurt,” he said as he started to saw at the finger.
Natalia closed her eyes and tried to shut out the horrific screams, but it didn’t help. Dizziness again swept across her as she felt her legs start to wobble.
Karam lifted his bloody hand. “Here. Take the ring,” he yelled.
“Yes sir,” said a nearby bandit as he stepped up beside the continuous screams.
Natalia’s eyes remained closed.
Karam’s laughter filled the room. “Get him bandaged up. We can’t have him bleeding to death before his execution,” he said grimly.
“Right!” replied the bandit.
Natalia could still hear her father screams. She hated this place, these people, and these things. Every fiber in her being begged to fly away. Why did I have to send Elijah away? she thought. If only I could be back in his arms. Everything would be all right. She slowly squinted and started to turn her head, only to be greeted by Karam’s immediate presence. His face was mere inches from hers.
“Boo!” he laughed.
She screamed out in fear and slammed her eyes shut once again.
Her knees buckled, slowly at first, and the last thing she remembered was Karam’s laughter as he walked out of the room.
Chapter 39
The darkness seemed never-ending except for the single ray of hope through the hole in one plank. Elijah couldn’t get his mind off of Aiken and Edward. They had trusted him with this journey, and he knew that the odds were already stacked against him. The desert heat, lack of water, and the completely unknown possibility of the Barbarians. He started to second guess himself as he imagined Edward in pain, maybe already dead. Why did he think he could even find that herb? he thought. It really does seem impossible, now, just like Natalia was.
He felt his soul surge with fear every time he thought about his situation. He knew that Edward’s survival, if he even was still alive, hung on him like a dead weight. He had to hurry, but didn’t know how. Something had to change, but what? he wondered. He glanced over at Kun, but thought that the frail man was not going to be much help. They had talked about everything they possibly could the night before, but now sat in silence, waiting, wondering.
Elijah’s stomach growled again as he glanced up at the lone hole of light. Voices, filtering through the dust and dirt, made him think about Natalia. She now lived in a glorious palace, fitted with every fine thing the world had to offer, he thought. She must be amazingly happy by now. What was she having for lun
ch? His thoughts about her pounded away, but made him feel better in the darkness. Suddenly, a loud and most ferocious roar captured his attention. Kun quickly sprung up and started toward the sound. A growing crowd broke out in wild cheers as the roar grew louder and louder.
“What is that?” Elijah shouted.
Kun’s forehead suddenly glistened. “It’s a tiger,” he answered.
“What!?” exclaimed Elijah.
“I know that roar,” replied Kun. “We used to have many tigers in our shows. I know that roar very well. It is a hungry roar!”
Elijah shook his head. “That’s not what I wanted to hear,” he said grimly.
Magnus threw off the planks. “It’s time,” he shouted above the roaring from behind.
The two men peered into the glaring sun while Magnus dropped down a knotted rope.
Elijah grabbed on and pulled himself up, with Kun following right behind. Their first sight was Magnus and two other barbarians bearing swords.
Magnus abruptly turned. “Follow me,” he commanded and quickly took off down the path. Elijah glanced at Kun and followed. Two scowling barbarians followed them through a worn mountain pass. Elijah had enough time to think about his friends back at the hideout and wondered how they were before they emerged from an outcropping of rocks and faced a huge arena.
Elijah suddenly exclaimed, “What?” as he stared. Minutes later, they found themselves staring down the stone steps into a vast open arena, encircled with enough seating for over a thousand. Colored flags, hung from the vertical, stone walls above the seating, blowing in the hot breeze. Elijah thought it looked festive enough, but felt the pangs of fear around his head and chest. The raging cheers from the throngs did nothing to stop them.
Kun stared ahead. “They must be expecting quite a show,” he quipped.
“I don’t think I want to know how we are entertainment,” muttered Elijah, his chest fluttering out of control. He glanced around and stopped at the spiked armor on Antilles’ shoulders and chest. He stood at the top of the arena steps.
Magnus pointed down the steep, stone steps. “Go!” he shouted.
Elijah gulped, motionless. He suddenly pictured himself, dead, in the middle of the groomed sand below.
Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) Page 24
