A Sword Of Wrath, Book I by K. E. MacLeod (best way to read ebooks TXT) 📕

The gates opened again and the Emperor's guards were seen shoving an unwilling group of men and women into the arena. They were dressed in the gray tunics that denoted them as criminals and their hands and feet chained.

"Here, my friends, are the latest traitors to have had the audacity to break the Emperor's gods-given laws! Look at them in their shame!" he pointed at the condemned as they huddled together in the center. "Eight men and four women. All who have flaunted their arrogance to our beloved Emperor! What were their crimes, you ask? Why the worship of the Sun God, the War God and the Ancient God! Stare upon their arrogance and be wise, Lycanians! For they have rebuked the Two Brothers! But, will their gods save them now?" He laughed heartily, "If not then may the Two Brothers shower them with their omnipresent mercy and give them quick and easy deaths!"

The cage doors were opened and four male lions were let loose upon the frightened prisoners. Half of them attempted to flee by running up to the sides of the arena and jumping to see if they could reach the top edge of the walls. As they reached out their hands to those sitting above them, the wealthy citizenry of Lycania simply laughed them off, kicking away the hands of any that had actually managed to reach the edge. As the attendees in the higher seats watched this, they grew even angrier and demanded that the people pull them up but their protestations fell upon deaf ears.

Eventually, after only five of the unwilling participants had been mauled and eaten, the lions grew tired and, to everyone's amazement, simply lay down upon the ground with no more interest in the other humans huddling together in fear in the arena. Tiberius, himself weary of the monotony of watching the reclining lions, sent word to his guards to execute the remaining prisoners.

As the animal trainers led the lions out of the arena, the Orator announced, "Now we will have a small intermission. Enjoy your meals, Lycanians, for when this break is done, the gladiatorial will games begin! Starting with the debut of the arena's newest star: Kabaakia the N'bari warrior, whose family was murdered by those dastardly Bestials, the Golden Men! Today, my friends, will he get his revenge?"

Tiberius groaned and placed a hand to his head.

Spurius looked at his father, "Do you want me to get the medicus, Father?"

"No, no, my son. The gods are just speaking to me, that is all. But their voices," he grimaced, "they hurt my head at times."

Spurius went back to his gleeful enjoyment of the games as he looked up at the Decanus standing next to their seats, "I can't wait for Kabaakia! He’s supposed to be amazing!"

"I have to admit, I, too, am looking forward to his performance as well. In fact, we still have plenty of time before the fight, would you like to go and meet him?" the Decanus asked, unapologetically seeking favor with the Emperor.

Spurius looked expectantly at his father, who shook his head behind his hand, "I would rather he didn't leave my side. There are many snakes about today."

"But that's not fair!" Spurius sat back roughly, glowering as he kicked at the cement balustrade before him.

"Ah, my son," Tiberius smiled wanly, "one day you will understand - when you rule after I am gone from this world, you will see that there are always snakes beneath your feet."

Still Spurius sat there and still he glowered.

Despite the pain that roared through his head, Tiberius hated to see his son upset and so asked, "Would you like to hold my sword?"

As expected, the young prince brightened almost instantly, "Could I?"

"Yes, my son, of course. It will be yours one day as well."

He carefully removed the sword and its sheath from around his waist and handed it to the boy.

Spurious stared at it with delight as he looked upon its silver and jeweled sheath. He then pulled the sword out slightly, turning it so that the sun glinted off of the double-tempered Icanthian steel.

"The Sword of Irae," Tiberius spoke with pride. "Taken by our bloodline after the defeat of Thera."

The Decanus spoke up, "Your Highness, if you don't mind, I would wish to go down to the hypogeum myself and examine these gladiators before the fights begin. Would that be acceptable?"

"Yes, yes," he impatiently waved him away as he massaged his temples, "but watch for serpents."

"Of course," he bowed and excused himself, nodding to the guard that led him to one of the many secret entrances to at least a hundred different tunnels that existed underground. Once safely down below, he wound his way through the tunnel that would lead him to the gladiators' waiting room. As he rounded the corner, he came upon the lanista, who was busy speaking with a rather sizable group of highborn women that were begging to be granted entrance into the gladiators' room.

"I'm sorry, ladies, while I'm sure the men would appreciate your company, they must concentrate their energies for the afternoon's activities. If you would like, you are welcome to come and watch any of our practices during the week." Seeing the Decanus, Euric ushered them away quickly.

"Uh, hello, Decanus. What brings you down to these flea-infested haunts?"

"Lanista, I wish to see these new recruits of yours. I'm curious about my chances of making any of my money back in today's wagers," he laughed.

Euric masked his anxiety with a hearty laugh in reply, "Absolutely, Decanus. Why don't you follow me?" He held his hand out and he and the Decanus stepped into the large room where the waiting gladiators were either standing or sat upon benches, nervously anticipating the upcoming events.

"You know," the Decanus remarked, "I've always been fascinated by all things gladiatorial."

"I think most men are."

"I have to admit, I have often wondered how I would fare in such a contest myself."

"Oh, Decanus," Euric fawned, "you would be unmatched, I'm sure!"

He looked at him coolly, "Yes, well your ability to flatter is unmatched... I'm sure."

Juko, clad in his feathers and scales, stiffened as they entered the room seeking out T'tembo first.

Euric held out his hand, "This is our palus primus."

"Yes, I'm familiar with this one." He looked the large gladiator up and down, as if he were examining an animal that he wanted to buy at the market. "He's undefeated, which makes him not as valuable now on the betting circuit as he once was. A sure thing, really."

Euric showed him a few others of the gladiatorial specimens, including Kai.

"A spear?" The Decanus inquired, taking the weapon into his own hands.

"A Golden Man's spear. Much different in design to our own as you can see, much more equipped for close distances."

He nodded, admiring the leaf shaped arrowhead and bright red tassel that hung from its top. He returned the spear to Kai and then moved on to Juko. His face brightened, "Ah yes! Our new star! I'm very interested in seeing this one fight. How will he fare against the spear, do you think?"

Euric grew nervous, "Well, he is quite a remarkable fighter. I believe he has a good chance."

"Good. I've put quite a lot on him."

The Decanus seemed uninterested in pursing any more information about Juko and moved on. Then, after viewing the rest of the gladiators he was ready to return to his seat, saying as he shook the Euric's hand, "Good-looking group you have."

"You should come down one day to our training sessions."

"I would like that, lanista."

Euric bowed and the Decanus turned to leave but just before he did, he turned around and asked, "Oh, how would you join like to join us in the Emperor's box during this next fight? As you know, it's a fabulous view."

He started to sweat, "Oh, yes, I would be, uh, be honored, sir."

The Decanus nodded as he walked away and disappeared down into the tunnel.

***

Hours after their near miss with the Giants while procuring Hanna's rescue, Timonus and the members of the Lupa Faction arrived at the edge of the sparse forest of Odalia, positioning themselves so close to the White Palace that they could actually see its eastern walls from where they stood. But despite their apparent readiness, Timonus was making them wait - though he had yet to give them a reason.

Timonus was at a mental crossroads as he stared up at the white walls. There was something in him, a fear of some kind, preventing him from moving forward but he couldn't identify it.

Camilla walked away from the group and joined him in staring up at the wall, "Legate, I must say, I do not envy your position."

He nodded slightly, "Right now, neither do I."

"While I would never make it a point to question your judgment, I do wonder what it is that we are waiting for?"

He inhaled deeply, "I'm not sure, Camilla. I feel... uneasy but I'm not sure about what."

Her voice sounded slightly apprehensive as she asked, "The lookouts say the Gigantes are closing the gap between us. Are you not concerned for your men? Shouldn't we warn them?"

He looked upon the ground, "Yes, though I know that the minute we step foot into Odalia the life that I've known for nearly three decades will be over." He looked over at her, "I'm also asking a lot of you and the others. Almost certainly we will lose lives today but is it worth it?"

"Well, Legate, that is our choice to make - not yours." She looked at him thoughtfully, "But I think that is not the only thing that bothers you."

Timonus looked at her curiously as she continued, "I think it is the fear of what will become of your friend, the Emperor."

He nodded but said nothing.

"He must have been a great man to have you still supporting him. What was he like before?"

"Well," Timonus began, "it's hard to say. He was always arrogant... spoiled, entitled but never needlessly cruel. If anything, he seemed apathetic and unconcerned towards any affairs of state." He looked at her, "That's the thing that I do not understand. These laws and these ideas in his head are recent manifestations!"

She shrugged and said off-handedly, "Maybe he is ill?"

He looked at her, slightly alarmed, "I... I never considered that a possibility. Do you think he could be?"

"Has anything else been odd with his behavior?"

"He complains of headaches, constant headaches - and stomach issues. He never sleeps anymore, either. Says he speaks with the Two Brothers all night long-"

"He's being poisoned," Hannah spoke up at last from behind them.

"What?" They both turned to face her.

She looked uncomfortable under their scrutiny as she and the Legate had not actually spoken since her rescue, "The Emperor, from what you've just said, the headaches, stomach cramps - he's being poisoned."

He eyed her warily, "Are you sure of this?"

She grew a bit bolder as she asked, insolently, "You would ask a venefica if she's sure that someone is being poisoned?"

"But, if this is true, is there anything that can be done? Can he be cured?"

She shook her head, "It all depends on what poison it is and at what stage."

He looked back at the wall, "Then I suppose we'll need to find out."

***

The Cavalli rested just south of the Caves of the Veneficas. The three-day journey through the desert had exhausted both them and their horses and, in addition, had nearly depleted their morale - for the trek so far had only raised more questions about the Giants than actually answered them. Severus reclined against one of the large black rocks that had begun to pepper the landscape around them and pondered all that they had seen so far upon their journey.

The first day in the desert wasteland had started out rather tame