The two Gladiatrices were given a royal welcome by the Chosen Giselle herself. Sadira found the woman who would soon be her patron much more personable this time. They spent the afternoon in private conversation about the arena and Brightsand Halls. It was a dream come true for Sadira, who had idolized the graceful Chosen in her youth, but made bittersweet by Gavin's absence. Later Giselle offered, personally, to advance her training in the master levels of war-dance. The offer was made over dinner in front of several important personages, a public overture that brought Sadira tremendous honour. She could see envy in the eyes of many seated there, including her friend Karmal and her sometime teacher Tiber. Part of her wanted to refuse; she wanted to enjoy what time she had left with Gavin before they parted, but she did not, and much of her time in those last days at Scorpion's Oasis were spent training with the Chosen.
Sadira sensed that her beloved Gavin was on the verge of breaking, a deep malaise taking hold of him. He was far too good a man for such a harsh world. His powerlessness to overcome what he could not change filled him with self-doubt, something that she had once thought behind him, and she cursed herself for not seeing the truth sooner. Had she been too busy with her own affairs to help him when he needed her? She felt now as if she was being pulled in a thousand different directions. She was being separated from Gavin and her friends, and yet achieving the goals she had set for herself. Obligations, demands, and responsibilities were piling up, becoming a barrier between her and everything for which she truly cared. And what galled her most was that these problems were not the kind that she could cut down, knock over, or outmanoeuvre.
-----o
The sumptuously decadent town of Scorpion's Oasis, home to indolent hedonists and also a place of pilgrimage for those few whose fortunes are based on constant hard work and the monumental stress of a difficult enterprise is necessarily a relaxed place. Decadents and the lords and ladies of great enterprise are alike in that they cannot let go of their lives and truly enjoy the pleasures of absolute self-indulgence unless severed from the world at large; although, as one might expect, the reasons behind this need differ greatly. Any great change introduced into such a system will always be felt by those within, as the ripples from a stone thrown into a pool can be felt by those who do not see the stone splash into the water.
And so it was that the normally care-free guests of the marbled resorts and gilded hotels of Scorpion's Oasis were all drawn in by the upheavals in the arena. The Blues were on the verge of losing a season in the Oasis for the first time in recent memory. The seemingly invincible Chief Promoter of the Blues, Regina diCouture, engineer of an impressive string of winning seasons had been ousted from her position, in spite of her excellent record. Some rumours said she had resigned in disgust, but few lent credence to this. A Blue Gladiator had even been found cheating in the arena, a shocking crime, as well as fodder for endless speculation at all the magnificent dinner feasts around the town and even meriting mention in the Capital News.
The Red Faction roster had pulled together, rallying around a hungry squad of newcomers. Sulius ul-Cyrus, long considered a useless lump of a man by most, was now toasted as the genius who had dared to risk his career on recruiting the promising young Sadira Lacivia and her steadfast squad. The Chief Promoter for the Reds was suddenly respected for his success, which caused many to see him in a new light.
Sadira, the star Gladiatrix of the Reds, had proved herself over and over by fighting in every challenge for which she qualified, winning in every single one. She even risked herself in matches that were not optimal for her particular talents. It was as if she wasn't afraid to lose. That combination of ambition, daring, and skill was rare. She had shown herself to be one of the most skilled Gladiators of her peer group, perhaps second only to Valaran diVolcanus; many claimed she was actually better than him, for the Faction Games require a broader range of skills. Her bold example had inspired her team, and, in turn, kindled the Reds of the Oasis back to life. People still talked about that sword blossom move and that time she fought Azure Dream; and wasn't she beautiful too?
Most of the patrons of the Scorpion's Oasis arena went there either out of love for the Great Games in general, as a backdrop for some other business they were engaged in, or simply as something to do after a relaxing day of massage and bathing in the healing crystal waters of the Oasis. It was not the sort of town that had large and enthusiastic groups of fans who loyally made their way to the stands every time they could. Seats were expensive and the town had few permanent residents, after all. This too had changed; demand for tickets had driven the high prices ever upwards as wealthy and interested groups from nearby sought to get in on the action and watch what was being called "the upset of the season" by serious commentators from around the Domains. People could sense that a star was rising and they wanted to be a part of it.
-----o
"My friends, I will miss you all," said Ravius, finally giving voice to the looming issue that none of them had wanted to broach. "This has been the most frantic ten months I can imagine. When the reality of it all, of what we have gone through together this season and what we have accomplished here, finally catches up to me, I know I will look back on this time with pride and joy. Let us not spoil our last match together as a team with these long faces..."
He spoke the truth, and it washed over them, but sad as this was, it still brought them relief. The five Gladiators had been putting on a brave face for each other and for the other Reds, but they had all come to realize that soon they would be pulled apart by forces beyond their control. They had been together, friends and team-mates, since leaving the Campus Martius more than five years ago. In many ways they were like brothers and sisters, their bonds forged in endless training, and honed through shared pain and triumph.
Sadira shook her head. "When I came here, I expected that we would all be able to go on together; the only thing that matters more to me than winning is the people I love. I had hoped we would all be able to go to Brightsand Halls together in a season or two..." Her sharp, elegant jaw clenched and her brow furrowed as she struggled with the next part. "... I tried to keep us together."
"It’s okay Sadira," Vintia said, putting her hand on the taller woman’s shoulder. "None of us will ever accuse you of doing less than your best for us."
"Truth, little sister," added Ravius. "You led us to a great Victory Sadira. I may even miss your banshee screaming at morning drills, in time."
"I'll miss the support you've given me Ravius," said Sadira. "All of you. I would not have risen so far and so fast without my friends. I won't forget that."
"It is a shame we must part ways," said Gavin. "But we can remember what we shared here, and look forward to future time together."
"Actually, not all of us will be separating," said Karmal. Gavin looked at her sharply; did he detect a note of triumph in her voice? A vision of Karmal and Sadira together clouded his mind. He wondered if it was jealousy, or something else. "Chosen Giselle has requested that I join her personal retinue of Gladiators, as well."
"Congratulations!" said Vintia, smiling as best she could. "You deserve it, Karmal."
"Cheers to you both!" added Ravius with a broad smile, putting his arm around Vintia.
Gavin nodded. He wondered if he was a bad friend for being jealous of Karmal. Try as he might, he could not rid himself of a sense of dread at the thought of the two of them serving Giselle together. He shook his head, feeling foolish. Sadira looked uncharacteristically worn; he put his arm around her, invoking a little smile.
"What about you, little sister?" asked Ravius, looking at Vintia. He kept the conversation moving purposefully, like a master helmsman in dangerous waters, knowing that many things needed to be said here.
"I think I'm going to stay here," she said slowly. "I did not get any better offers. The Oasis is going to be Red territory now. Someone needs to stay behind to defend it. This way I can visit Sadira and Karmal in Brightsand Halls as often as I'm allowed.
" She paused. "I have to say I do feel a little left out," she whispered softly, her voice on the verge of breaking.
"I understand," said Sadira, putting her arms around her childhood friend. "Karmal and I have grabbed all the glory it seems. It seems foolish to me, It would have been so much harder for us without the rest of you. Your shields kept me safe. You were always there when I needed you. I still remember you, Vintia, throwing your body in front of Shield-Splitter in our second match here, stopping him from getting the big kill. I will visit you as much as I am allowed, dear friend."
"Maybe it will be easier for me to stand out with you two gone. The Oasis isn't Brightsand Halls, but it will have a lot of eyes on it next year," said Vintia, smiling sadly up at Sadira from under Ravius' arm. "I'll still miss you though; we've been together so long. I remember the secret pacts we made as girls; it seemed so much easier then. It is unfair that we should have to part ways now, after all we've accomplished together..."
"It is what it is," said Gavin, "we can't all be Chosen." His words chilled them, the simple truth of his statement like ice in their hearts. Like all young Gladiators, every one of them had dreamt of joining the ranks of the Chosen when they first started down the path. Now they were wise enough to know that for most of their kind, this was just a fantasy. The others looked at Gavin and Sadira; their love had brought all of them together, cemented the team, and helped propel them all to a great victory. Now they too were to be parted.
"I cannot follow the woman I love," said Gavin, looking into his lover's eyes. "It makes me angry. I didn't ask to be born with the Gift, and I would not have chosen to be a Gladiator if I had known that it would cost me what I love most in the world."
Silence descended. Sadira sighed. A tear rolled down Vintia's cheek. Karmal looked away. Ravius cut through it, merciless and purposeful; he would not let unspoken sorrow fester in any the hearts of his friends. "And so what will you do little brother?"
"I'm tired of the Faction games. We've worked hard, maybe too hard, to win here," Gavin said, struggling with the words, wrestling with his conflicting desires. "I am going to work my way north, fight in the Free Leagues, maybe with a Faction, maybe on my own. I want to see more of the Domains. I need to figure some things out... to find my place in the world." He left the rest unsaid. He did not want to trouble them with his aching desire for freedom, his growing discomfort with many aspects of life in the arena, his inner storm.
"I can understand that sentiment," said Ravius, unusually somber. "We have all trained hard and sacrificed much to win here. I have heard of very few Gladiators who have taken the kind of risks or answered so many challenges in a single season. I'm amazed that we did not fall apart. I feel exhausted. I'm in need of a bit of a vacation myself. I'll follow you, I think, old friend."
Sadira smiled. Gavin could do worse than having joyful, cunning Ravius at his side. It is more precious than any treasure to have good friends, she thought. She raised her glass. "Ravius is right. We should not let an uncertain future spoil our present glory. I am proud of you all. I pushed you hard each and every day. None of you complained. None of you gave up. We fought in more matches this season than most Gladiators do in five. None of you broke. We joined a broken down, demoralized roster and inspired them to victory. I have said it before: no one can take that accomplishment from us. It has been a great honour to take to the field with all of you. You have been the best team anyone could ask for. We did this together, fighting for each other. Whatever comes, let us carry this shining moment in our hearts: Here's to the team!"
"To us!" they echoed, the bright clinking of their glasses momentarily banishing dark thoughts and sadness.
-----o
It was the Red Faction's turn to issue challenges this month. Sadira and her team were given the privilege of determining the final match of the season.
After the forfeit of the Blue team in the mass melee Challenge, caused by Blue Calamity's use of forbidden magic on Sadira, the Red Faction had a comfortable lead in the standings. The Reds held on to that lead throughout the month, despite a great showing from a handful of Blues, particularly Azure Dream and Shield-Splitter. Although they still needed points to ensure victory, even a narrow loss would do. So they designed their challenge to fulfil other desires; above all they wanted to fight together as a team one last time, and they wanted to avoid any chance of interference from the Blues. They also wanted to put on a grand spectacle.
"You know, the match I enjoyed the most was the one at the end of last season," said Gavin. It was hard to believe a year had passed; they had been through so much. "Our second fight here; the first challenge that Sulius let us design."
"Good one," said Karmal. Out of all of them she was the only one who seemed joyous, but at least she had the sense to avoid gloating about her rise. "It was a kick-ass fight!"
"A single-team trial survival match with standard additions from Marius and Southshire then." Sadira was surprised at how easily the words came to her now; she had far more confidence in her grasp of the rules. "Chosen's Oath, I remember when that sort of rules babble bothered me; now I have it memorized."
The reminiscence drew smiles from them all. They drew up the match. The Blues haggled a little, mostly out of habit; this season was a loss for them and the backstabbing among the fighters of their own camp was of far more interest to most of them at this point.
-----o
The crowd's enthusiasm was a marked difference from when they had first taken to the field in Scorpion's Oasis thirteen matches ago. Instead of a torpid, bored audience clapping half-heartedly they were greeted with an outpouring of shouted praise and adoration. And when Sadira, Red Scorpion to the crowd, entered behind them there was an eruption of sound not unlike the rowdy audience of Camp Valorous, or the cheers for Chosen Giselle when she rode into the town...
In spite of all the weight of sorrow bearing down on her, parting from the man she loved and the people she cared most for, that sound filled Sadira with a feeling of pure, golden triumph. It washed over her, warming her like the sun's rays on the training grounds after a cold desert night. She smiled, radiant and glorious, revelling in the feeling of accomplishment. She looked around to her friends, hoping that they understood that she could not have done this without them. She leapt up onto Gavin's steady shoulder, a light and graceful movement. Several banners with red Scorpions unfurled in the audience as she stood on her perch. She smiled. The spectators chanted her name.
"I told you I would make you scream for me," she murmured as she surveyed, the audience, drinking in their praise. She could even feel her magic, her Gift, responding to them, she thought. The moment seemed to last an eternity, and yet was over too soon for her liking. She felt a small, sharp pang in her heart as she stepped down and turned to Gavin. He has never complained about holding me up like this, she thought; I will never find another like him.
Karmal watched Sadira with envy and admiration. Did she not deserve their praise as much as Sadira?
Ravius looked out at the arena with a sense of relief; the season had been gruelling, far too hard for his liking. He was looking forward to living at a more relaxed pace, even though he would miss their early morning pre-training meals, bleary-eyed and all. His ambitions leaned more toward a warm bed and good company than power and glory these days.
Vintia felt sorrow and satisfaction. She was sad that they would not fight together any more, but she had found a new home and a purpose. Next year, she thought, I will stand here again, with a team of my own, defending this great achievement: I will write my own destiny.
Gavin did not hear the crowds, and did not care about their impending triumph; all his senses feasted on Sadira. He wanted to capture this moment and hold it forever, and for a while he forgot his troubles...
The trumpets did not sound. A ripple ran through the crowd as an armoured woman, unmistakable and irresistible, appeared in the stands. Chosen Giselle, dressed in her arena garb of old, weapons in hand, walked slowly
down through the awed spectators, radiant and glorious. All eyes turned to her and a hush fell; the very air seemed pregnant with expectation. A Chosen would usually sit in a private box, but Giselle moved among the people, crowned with authority and cloaked in majesty. She took a seat next to the Arena Master, speaking a few words to him and then to the wide-eyed announcer, who nodded after a moment and spoke, his amplified voice thundering across the arena:
"GOOD PEOPLE, YOUR CHOSEN WISHES TO CELEBRATE THE END OF THE ARENA SEASON IN GRAND FASHION. AT GREAT PERSONAL EXPENSE SHE HAS FURNISHED US WITH A FIGHT FOR THE AGES: THE BRAVE GLADIATORS IN THIS MATCH WILL FACE ONE HUNDRED OF THE FINEST CLOCKWORK SOLDIERS! THE MATCH WILL HAVE NO TIME LIMIT AND WILL END ONLY WHEN THE LAST BRASS MAN FALLS OR THE GLADIATORS ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE." The announcer looked at the Arena Master, Hork Bloodsmith, who nodded, sanctioning this small change in rules. No doubt Giselle had brought it up with him beforehand, as even the Chosen must show some respect for the Deliberative. The audience roared, thirsting for the fight.
The Gladiators looked at each other. While the change was a very small addendum to their match in terms of rules, the fact that they would be facing a hundred special Clockworks with no time limit to save them was daunting.
The trumpets sounded. The spectators howled. The Gladiators formed up in the middle of the fighting grounds, backs together, facing outwards. Doors opened all around the arena. A tide of hissing, clanking brass men, each embossed with gold leaf and lifelike face-masks, moved out onto the white sands of the fighting grounds. Aside from being more attractive, these were also larger and better armed than the regular clockwork soldiers that they had faced throughout the season.
Gavin felt a little relief that none of their foes appeared to be armed with ranged weaponry. Vintia channelled her magic into the pattern of a stoneskin spell, gifting lightly armoured Sadira and Ravius with additional protection.
Bloodlust: A Gladiator's Tale (Domains of the Chosen Book One) Page 50
