Clarence, who had been assisting Pavel, retreated with the man toward the growing circle of Helgstad gladiators. Two more fellow gladiators fell back into the circle as well, but three others were overwhelmed and died. The gladiators were in poor condition after the prolonged fight, with limps, many bleeding wounds and even a lost limb in one case. They could not afford for the fight to drag out much longer - but neither could the enemy.
The circle of slaves complete, Boris shouted, “Stand firm, men! Lock shields and let none pass!” The men closed in, their shields touching side-by-side, swords held above the shields. “Do not leave this circle! If one of your brethren fall, pull back to fill the gap!”
The enemy gladiators, for their part, did not wait to strike as a concentrated group, despite shouts from one of the men - the man who had stabbed Andrey in the ankle. They surrounded the group and began attacking wildly, bloodlust taking hold. There was no pattern of coordination evident in their strikes - they wanted to be the one to single-handedly destroy the enemy formation. The enemy gladiators washed against the locked shields, and were repulsed. Several of the attackers took wounds in the process, though the defenders took their share of wounds as well.
Again the attackers advanced, and again they were beaten back, resulting in three dead gladiators on the assailants side and one from Boris’ group. Several more times the attacks came, and the numbers of both groups began to dwindle.
At last, with only six defenders and three attackers - the coordinated men from earlier - Boris told his fellows to expand and encircle the enemy on his order. “Now!” He and Clarence formed the center of the encircling pattern, with two from behind Boris and Clarence coming up on the flank and curving in toward the enemy gladiators. They formed a semi-circle, with two Helgstad gladiators for every one enemy gladiator.
The first enemy fell, then the second, while two men, Rolan and Stepan fell. At last, only the third enemy gladiator remained. It was the large man, who had beheaded Andrey in such a brutal fashion. Boris motioned the other three back. “This is my fight,” he declared.
Boris sheathed his sword and bent to pick up a javelin. While in the process, he drew his dagger from his boot and placed it in his shield hand. Running his javelin through the strap on his back, he drew his sword and advanced toward the beast of a man.
The large man gave a feral grin as Boris approached, and roared in fury like before. He clanged his sword on his shield and assumed a battle stance.
Boris began with a stab to test out the other man’s defenses. To his surprise, the larger man rushed forward like an angry bull, absorbing the stab with his shield and causing Boris to leap out of the way. His leap became a controlled roll, and he spun to face his opponent.
The brute discarded his shield and picked up a nearby sword. Wielding two blades, the man began to run full speed at Boris.
Boris discarded his sword and withdrew his javelin from the sheath on his back. He readied the weapon to throw, but was halted when the dual-wielding man leapt into the air and sailed toward him. Thinking fast, Boris slammed his javelin butt-first into the ground, pointing it toward the falling man.
The man, seeing the javelin, opened his eyes wide, but could not stop. He impaled himself on the javelin, the point sticking through the soft flesh of his belly. He fell to the ground on his side and let out a cry of agony. Dropping his shield to the ground, Boris approached the man. He looked down at him, seeing the contortions of pain on the man’s face. Boris bent down. “Die you bastard.” Taking his dagger, Boris thrust it up beneath the man’s rib cage, shoving it toward his heart and removing it once, twice, three times. The man kicked his legs in the throes of death, before his legs straightened and his eyes glazed over.
Boris straightened and looked around. Only Helgstad gladiators still stood. For the first time, Boris noticed the roar of the crowd. Men and women cheered around the arena, the sound deafening, echoing through the arena. The smell of dying men - urine, feces, sweat and blood - threatened to gag Boris. He turned to the crowd and hoisted his bloody arms into the air. The crowd roared louder.
Chapter 27 - An Embrace
Dawyn entered the Dancing Mare, followed by Anwyn. It felt good to return to such a familiar place. Dawyn considered the Dancing Mare as a home more than any other place in the world. Greeting the innkeeper’s wife, the two walked back toward the usual private dining chamber. It was mid-day, and Dawyn expected the students from Earth would be at the Tower training. He was not wrong. Dawyn and Anwyn settled in to wait for their fellows, ordering food and drink and making idle conversation or reading to pass the time.
As the day wore on into evening, the door opened and John, Ashley and Jason entered. “Dawyn, Anwyn!” John exclaimed when he saw them. “You’re back! How did the trip go?”
Dawyn smiled and nodded back at John and the others. “We were successful. The slaver Ferdinand is no more, my friends.”
“What a relief it is, too!” Anwyn remarked.
“Have you three been up to anything interesting or exciting?” Dawyn asked.
“Ummmm, well,” Jason began as he took a seat near the corner opposite to that which Dawyn sat at.
“Spit it out, Jason,” Dawyn said, bemused.
“It’s about your sister.”
Dawyn’s brows furrowed. “What about my sister? Have you seen her?”
“Yes, we all have,” Ashley blurted out. “But, there’s something you should know.” When Dawyn did not speak, only glared, Ashley held out her hand to invite Jason to speak. “Tell him.”
“Bridgette and I sort of ran into one another at the palace. But we were caught by the king and his guards. The king gave me a choice - take an action to save Bridgette’s life, or watch as she was imprisoned for life or executed.”
“Which did you choose?” Dawyn asked, his body tense.
“Oh, I chose to have the king spare her, of course, Dawyn!” Jason appeared horrified that Dawyn thought he would be heartless enough to let his sister die.
“What was the price?”
“Well, we are linked to one another now.”
“Linked how?”
“Linked in that if I focus on a specific part of my brain and start thinking, the device will transmit those thoughts to Bridgette. It supposedly works regardless of the distance involved.”
Dawyn’s eyes widened. “The king used the Rod of Binding on the two of you?”
“Yeah, that’s what he called it. You’ve heard of it?”
“I served as a Shadow Watch Guard for many years, of course I haveheard of it. It was always reserved for royalty, until now. Where is she?”
“Ummm, she left town. Said she had unfinished business with some Lord Garik fellow.”
“Can you locate where she is right now?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never tried.”
Dawyn leaned forward in his chair. “Try. Concentrate on her and try to determine her location.” Dawyn was frantic to find Bridgette. Wherever she was, he would race after her and try to bring her back to Tar Ebon safely. He would not lose her for a third time.
Jason closed his eyes. After a minute or two, his eyes popped open. “She is in the city. I’m asking her when she returned. She said she just got back to town. I’m asking her to come here. I told her that you are here as well. She’s on her way.”
Dawyn leaned back, relieved. “Oh good.” Nervousness set in, however, and he began to wonder if she would still love him, or if she still remembered him. She had recalled him during their fight several months earlier, but Lord Garik could have somehow suppressed her memories again. It was a risk he had to take.
“While we wait, let me get you guys some food,” Anwyn said and exited the room.
“How has your training at the Tower been going?” Dawyn asked as the door closed behind Anwyn.
“It’s been very fast,” John answered. “Alivia has us in class from sun up to almost sun down. But we’ve learned so much. Watch.” He closed his eyes and held h
is hand out, palm up. Dawyn felt a chill run down his arm. After several moments, a small flame appeared, floating above his hand. He opened his eyes and the flame extinguished. “It takes energy to create a flame without a direct source of heat. I pulled from the air in the room.”
“Yes, I felt the chill on my arm. Impressive! How much more training do you have to go?”
“I’m not sure,” John said. “Alivia suggests we are coming along very well, but has not said how much longer we have. She said she wants us to master using the magic before we try using it while doing other things, like seeing or walking.”
Anwyn returned with food for the students, and the three proceeded to eat. The conversation continued, with Dawyn and Anwyn briefing the others on their journey and the Earthlings regaling tales from their time in Tar Ebon.
Ashley was in the midst of telling them about the blacksmith she had met when the door handle turned and Dawyn focused on the figure that entered, all thoughts forgotten. Bridgette.
She wore black clothing, like she had worn the last time he saw her, with her hood down and veil removed. She scanned the room, taking in each person before focusing on Dawyn. “Brother,” she said. Even though Jason had told her that Dawyn was here, it appeared that she was still struck by his presence.
Dawyn stood and went to embrace her. They embraced awkwardly, as if they were strangers on the street. Bridgette’s limbs were stiff, her body rigid. The embrace was short. Dawyn placed a hand on each shoulder and looked her over. “My God, you haven’t changed. Still the woman I remember.”
Bridgette snorted. “Yes, the woman you abandoned to her fate. Did you even look for me?”
Dawyn stepped back as if physically struck. “Abandoned? No! Bridgette, I searched everywhere for you. I traveled around the world searching for you, keeping my eyes and ears open. I can’t count the number of times I approached a woman, thinking she was you, or followed a rumor of a woman who looked like you. I would have given anything to have been the one taken that night, and I have been searching for you ever since.” He swallowed, avoiding the urge to look away. “Garik told me what…what he did to you. I can hardly imagine, and I’m sorry you were subjected to that level of abuse.”
Bridgette averted her eyes. “I try not to think about that time. That part of my life died with Garik. I’m sorry, I just thought…” she trailed off.
“That I didn’t care about you?” Dawyn asked. “Bridgette, I would do anything for you. Yes, we had - have - our differences and have fought in the past, but I still love you, little sister.”
Bridgette smiled. “I love you too, brother.” She tipped her chin up, indicating Jason. “Did he fill you in on how I’m here today?”
“Yes, the Rod of Binding and all that, he told me. How does it feel?”
“Very odd, as if there’s another person in my head. It takes concentration to keep my thoughts to myself and not share them with him. But given time, I will master the link.”
“That’s good. Please, come sit. I’m sure you’re hungry from traveling.” As Bridgette entered further into the room and took a seat, Dawyn gestured to Anwyn. “Bridgette, this is my good friend, Anwyn.”
Bridgette appraised Anwyn for a moment, before compressing her lips in a semblance of a smile. “Hello.”
“Greetings, Bridgette,” Anwyn said. She kept a smile on her face, despite the cool introduction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
John excused himself to fetch food for Bridgette, while Dawyn resumed his seat. For several moments, he sat thinking of things to say to Bridgette. Should he ask her about what she remembered? Should he ask her where she had been for the last several months? There were many touchy subjects in her past, and Dawyn did not want another outburst from her. “Where are you staying?” There, that should be a safe enough question, Dawyn thought.
“I haven’t acquired lodging yet,” Bridgette said. “When I arrived to carry out my mission, I went straight to the palace once night fell. After that night, I left town and headed straight for Garik.”
“Well, I will ask the innkeeper’s wife to prepare a room for you, if you don’t mind staying here at the Dancing Mare.”
“I don’t mind.”
John returned with a plate of food for Bridgette, which she ate in short order.
Dawyn cleared his throat as Bridgette finished eating. “I would like to take all of you, minus Bridgette and Jason, to visit the king this evening. I think he would be quite interested in meeting two of the individuals responsible for me relinquishing my position as commander of the Shadow Watch Guard. What do you say?”
“The king?” John asked. “I’ve never met a real king, but everyone I’ve spoken to speaks well of him.”
Anwyn and Ashley gave their agreement and Dawyn smiled. “Alright, it’s settled then. We’ll visit the king right away.”
Chapter 28 - Questions
The door closed behind the others as they left to visit the king at the palace. Jason turned his eyes from the door to Bridgette. He smiled. “So, did you want to talk?”
“What’s there to talk about?” Bridgette asked.
Jason winced. He had hoped things would go easier with her. He was silent for a moment.
“Why are you so quiet?” Bridgette asked, eyebrow arched. She was studying him.
“I was thinking,” Jason explained. “I think it would be a good idea to get to know one another better. I mean, we’re going to be linked like this for the rest of our lives.”
Bridgette just nodded, which Jason took as permission to continue.
“Perhaps we can take turns talking about our lives on Earth. What do you think?”
Bridgette averted her eyes. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Awe, come on. Here, I’ll go first. I was born in the United States, in the state of Michigan. My twin sister is Ashley, whom you’ve met. I lived with my mother, father and two younger sisters until Ashley and I went away to college. My best friend is John, who lived right down the road from our farmhouse. I’ve always been a little,” he hesitated, not wanting to disparage himself in front of her, “awkward in social situations. I’ve never had a girlfriend, a fact my father and John remind me of often. My father asks ‘do you have a girlfriend yet?’ almost every time he sees me, while John teases me about it.”
Bridgette snorted and brought her eyes up. “Some friend he is, teasing you about something like that.”
“He’s always been there for me, and that’s just the way he is. He takes very few things seriously in life, and likes to fancy himself as a joker.”
“How do you feel about him dating your sister?”
“I think he’s got his hands full,” Jason said and chuckled. “She’s a spitfire, and sometimes too smart for her own good. But they get along very well and I think they’re a perfect match.”
“And how do you feel about me?”
Jason gulped and averted his eyes, though the action did nothing to ease the feel of Bridgette’s gaze upon his face. The heat rose in his cheeks as he blushed. “Well, I don’t know. I mean, you’re a very attractive young woman,” he purposely avoided looking at her body as he spoke, “and you seem nice enough.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Jason sighed and met her eyes. “I like you, alright? From the moment you, uh, shoved me down on the couch and spoke to me, I’ve been intrigued with you. How do I feel about you? I feel like you’re a woman I could be with long-term, and I sort of have to be with you long-term, but beyond saying that I’m physically and mentally attracted to you, I can’t describe my feelings for you any more accurately than that.”
Bridgette was silent for a few moments, before nodding. “Good enough, thank you. I suppose it’s my turn now, since that’s only fair.” She cleared her throat. “Before coming to this world, I lived in the UK, northwest of London. I lived there with my mother, father, a younger brother, sister and Dawyn. I may look young but I am nearing fifty years of life, havi
ng seen as many summers. When I was taken, I was in my bedroom at home, reading. I dreamed of being a princess, but that dream never came true.”
“Do you think we’ll ever get home?” Jason asked.
“No. I don’t think we will ever get home. When we first came here, I prayed to God every day. I prayed we would be returned home, that we would see our parents and siblings again, that I could kiss my gran on the cheek one last time. But God did not answer my prayer. Instead, He subjected me to my own personal Hell. I suspect He has no power in this place, if He exists at all.”
“Oh,” Jason said. He believed strongly in God, attending church every Sunday, but the lack of faith she displayed made him speechless for a moment. “Have you considered that everything that has happened was meant to happen? That God had a reason for what he did to you and Dawyn, and my friends and I?”
“I considered it, and rejected it.” Jason opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “Just let it go, Jason. I don’t want to talk about it any longer. You clearly have your faith in God, and I have my lack of faith.”
Jason sighed, but nodded in acceptance of her words. “I understand.” He decided to change the subject. “Dawyn mentioned you have some sort of ability. How does it work?”
“I can shift my physical body into another dimension,” Bridgette explained. “’Shift’ is the best word I know to describe the phenomenon. One moment I’m there, the next I’m in a world that is like a shadow of our own world. I can see people and objects, and everything occurs in real time, except I can move from place to place with a mere thought. So for instance, if I want to go from here to the front of the inn, I simply shift into the shadow realm and envision myself being at the front of the inn, which causes me to appear there. I then shift back to the real world. This only works if I know the place where I am going, however. If I don’t know where I’m going, I would have to open the door of the room, walk out, move to the end of the hall, which is in my line of sight, then move to the front of the inn, which would then be within my line of sight.”
Time of Shadows (The Saga of the Seven Stars Book 2) Page 15
