CHAPTER 4 - GLADIATORS - Part 3

Cullen and the others were dragged through the streets while Xho natives watched. Cullen knew Abd was out there in the crowd and he wanted to be strong, for him, for the movement and for Sonia, but he couldn’t think of a way out of the situation. He thought about transforming and using the surprise to catch the Hive soldiers off guard, but there were so many.
Then he saw the Champions. Tall, hulking figures, Dark Fae warriors wielding cursed weapons and he noticed there were two new ones in addition to the ones he had once fought. And worse, it seemed that the ones he fought and killed had come back to life as cursed fighters, just like Vlad had been.
And the dagger he needed that would kill the undead, was with his Sword and Shield in the burning tavern beyond his reach.
This situation couldn’t be worse. Fox, Aki and Roarr had been captured by their ancient enemies. Gwydion and Gwaelod had already been beaten severely by the Hive soldiers.
Deep and all of his men were also captured and being dragged to wherever they were headed. And last, Tik and Sonia were also caught and being brought behind Cullen. That left Abd and Fakhri, Tris’tan and Anton still free. Not enough people to rescue them and now the Weapons were lost as well.
Cullen felt absolutely defeated. He’d never felt so sorrowful, so beaten, as he felt right now. He shook his head, trying to clear it, trying to rack his brain for some solution. He searched with the pack sense, trying to feel for his brother Tris’tan, but he got no sense of him at all.
The rather large group was brought to a massive building and brought downstairs below the main structure. In the dimly lit basement, Cullen saw cages on either side of a hallway. There were two gas lamps burning, giving off a low light but Cullen could see two of the four cages were filled with Xho and one Zingarian man.
The Host Queen directed her fighters to place Cullen, Aki, Fox, Roarr and the twins into one cell across the hall from the imprisoned Xho. She then directed Deep’s team into the second empty cell.
Cullen was watching carefully what she would do with the last two prisoners. He had continued to try and make contact with Sonia, but she was spent and only looking at the floor. He and Tik shared glances of concern.
“I’ve seen who is most important to you, Chosen One,” Jorinde said with derision. “You care about these two most of all,” she gestured toward Tik and Sonia.
“I’ve decided I shall keep them with me, as my personal servants,” Jorinde informed Cullen, gloating in her victory. “If they please me they shall live as my slaves. If not, then you will watch them die!”
Cullen looked towards Tik and said only one word to his lifelong friend. “Live!”
The Host Queen laughed aloud to hear him beg and she turned away. In the background, Cullen spotted the young girl, with her brilliant white hair and glowing lavender eyes, as she watched him in return.
Then she left and the prisoners were alone again. Cullen quickly asked everyone if they were alright. Aki and Fox were tending to the twins where they were slumped against each other in the corner. Nothing was broken but they would be bruised and sore for days.
“So they finally brought some new meat in, did they? Who are you all?” a voice called from the other cell, across the hall. Cullen looked up to see the Zingarian standing at the bars, speaking to him.
“My name is Cullen and these are my friends,” Cullen responded, unsure of the man’s intent.
“My name is Blade. Welcome to Hell. This is the Pit, where that scary woman makes us fight each other to survive, as Gladiators. It will likely be us against you at first, until she wants to make things more interesting, and then she’ll have you fight your friends. Better break those ties now boy, if you plan to survive this.”
Blade chuckled to himself and retreated back to one of the corners where he had obviously made a little nest for himself. The Xho all huddled together away from him. Cullen guessed he must be a good fighter. He was covered in scars and held himself like a warrior.
Cullen wondered at his information. Would he really be expected to kill other men in combat for entertainment? This was worse than being a prisoner; this was a brutal fate for him and his men. He needed to find a way out of here and soon!
He sat down next to his half brothers and told them to just rest. Then he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. Better to get some rest while he could. Who knew what would happen next to them? The others, all of them being trained fighters, took Cullen’s cue and lay down to sleep.

***

Grimm, waiting again as he did for the two earlier Kings, sat astride his war horse on the King’s Road, just outside the city, watching the group of armored Knights riding towards him. Cosmin was in the lead, followed by the most famous of his Knights, the Destroyer, Starlight and the Nightlands.
Grimm waited patiently for the men to ride to him. He gave a short wave to the King and Cosmin rode to a stop beside him.
“Good day and well met Grimm,” Cosmin said in his gravely voice that sounded like sandpaper.
“Well met King Cosmin,” Grimm said back, nodding to each of the Knights. “The King has rooms for you and those three, but the rest must stay in the city.”
“I understand,” said Cosmin, “And I prefer them in the city as well.”
“Always with an ear to the ground, eh?” Grimm asked.
“Always,” the King answered.
“Then follow me, the High King is waiting.” Grimm turned his mount towards the city and King Cosmin rode beside him, followed by the three Knights, their men and then the many other knights that followed the banner of the Sea King.
Cosmin didn’t speak and Grimm didn’t mind, since neither man had much use for small talk. Two old warriors, they were content to simply ride to where they needed to go, eyes always searching in case of danger. They were tense men, these two.
The Knights rode just as silently, their armor clanking as they shifted on their horses. The gleaming Knights made quite a spectacle and the city seemed to take notice. Now they could see that a tournament was happening, now that armored knights were riding into the city.
Grimm brought the four men into the stable, had all their horse taken care of and then he led them into the castle. He brought them to their rooms and informed the Knights that dinner would be served in two hours.
Cosmin followed him to the High King who waited behind his desk in his room. When the two men entered, High King Remus stood and started to come around the desk.
“Well met Uncle Cosmin!” the King called.
“Stop calling me Uncle!” Cosmin grumbled. “I’m not remotely related to you!”
“But you were my father’s best Knight and he thought of you as a brother!” Remus explained. “How can I think of you any other way?”
“I’m not your damn uncle Remus!” Cosmin fought on.
Remus crossed the room and shook Cosmin’s hand the way warriors do, from wrist to elbow. Cosmin still had a powerful grip, and Remus knew he still trained with the sword everyday. He may be advanced in years, but he was powerful still.
“We have much to talk about old friend,” the High King said as he retreated to his seat behind the desk. “Grimm please pour us some brandy, yourself included.”
Grimm moved t comply while King Cosmin moved into a high backed chair in front of the desk.
“You mean King Nicu, and the marriages?” Cosmin asked.
“You know that the others want to marry their children already? You still have spies everywhere don’t you?” The High King asked, with a grin.
“Of course,” Cosmin answered. “How else does a small Kingdom like mine get by in this world?”
“Right,” Remus agreed. “So, yes, Simon and Adrian want to marry their children. We want to have the announcement during the tourney.”
“Well and good, those two King love each other already, why not tie the knot?” Cosmin said with a subtle smile. “But have you given thought to Nicu’s plans?”
“Plans?” the High King asked. “What do you know Cosmin?”
“I know Nicu has two sons of his own, and he knows that King’s children marry other royal children,” Cosmin explained. “He may ask for a marriage for his boys. He could ask for them to marry into both families.”
“I had no idea,” Remus admitted. “We don’t know much about this new King to tell the truth. I don’t think Simon or Adrian would like that idea very much. Especially Simon since he gets raided as often as you do.”
Grimm arrived with drinks for both men, then he moved to stand near the door and sip his own glass of brandy. Cosmin took a drink and closed his eyes with pleasure.
“Good isn’t it?” Remus asked.
“Yes. But there’s more you should know Remus,” Cosmin continued. “They say that Nicu is involved with dark magic and that’s how he got his power. You need to watch out for his Shaman, a man named Hafr.”
“Grimm has told me that his right hand is Hook, the son of a dangerous man we fought many years ago when we took Rath to be part of the High Kingdom.”
“Oh yes, he’s the son of that old warrior and I’m sure he holds a grudge against you both,” Cosmin said, glancing back at Grimm. “You need to be very careful here Remus, I’m warning you, these are dangerous men.”
“Well we have the Kingsguard here in Holdfast, as well as the Godsmen, and I doubt Nicu is bringing enough men to defeat my army. We’ll talk to him and get a feel for what he wants, and we’ll make certain he understands this is a Kingdom made of smaller Kingdoms, one that I rule alone.”
Cosmin took another drink. He sat back in his chair and crossed his legs.
“I’ve chosen a successor as well,” he finally said with an air of ritual.
“That’s – That’s not what I expected! You have many years of life ahead of you Cosmin, why choose now?” Remus asked, a little worried.
“With Nicu taking power in Rath, and the attempt on Adrian’s life, which was done by Rathians have no doubt, there needs to be a clear line of succession if something happens to me.”
“I agree, but things are not that bad Cosmin!” Remus said, uncertainly.
“I’m warning you Remus, this man Nicu, the things I’ve heard from reliable sources – well, its juts best to be prepared. I’ve chosen Dagr, Starlight. He’s young, able and ready to learn how to take car of my small Kingdom. We’ll make the announcement at the tourney as well.”
“If you’re set on it, then we shall Cosmin. This puts things in a new light for me however. I wasn’t considering Nicu to be that dangerous, but if you’re concerned, than I am too.”
The High King motioned to Grimm to come closer to the desk. “Let’s discuss security for the tourney, with Cosmin here. I’d like to have two old warriors thinking about protecting the Kingdom.”
Grimm nodded and walked to the wall of maps to select a map of the city and surrounding fields and farms.

***

Cullen was surprised to be woken up by Hive soldiers. A few of the others woke as well when they heard him being called. Alarmed, they woke the rest of them in time to see four guards open the cell door and allow two hulking shadows to pick Cullen up and walk him to the door.
The Faeries moved to block the passage but Cullen shook his head, not wanting anyone else to get hurt for him, when it was clear the shadows couldn’t be beaten anyway. He let himself be dragged along and pulled down the hallway, away form the cells.
Guarded by the soldiers, the two shadows pulled Cullen down the hall and then into a small room where the seated him in a chair and then moved back to stand on either side of him. Their was a table in the room, directly in front of him and two gas lamps burning high set near the ceiling.
The soldiers had not followed him inside the room so when the door opened he looked up. To his surprise, it was the young girl from the castle and when they had been captured.
Despite her being associated with the enemy, Cullen found her breathtakingly beautiful. She had a small oval face, with thick pouting lips and large violet eyes, surrounded by hair so white it was closer to silver and ashy black skin that seemed soft and delicate.
She entered the room and sat in the chair opposite Cullen, across the desk from him. She watched him for a long time, the two of them silent and observing.
Idylls was nervous, to be alone with this man, who her mother called the Chosen One, she had only her shadows to guard her, but she thought it might be enough. He seemed different now than before. He looked defeated.
“Who are you?” she finally asked and Cullen wondered at the tremble in her voice. He smelled fear on her and thought that strange in a capture that already had him beaten.
“My name is Cullen,” he answered, still tired from being woken and wondering what kind of torture this would be. He felt disgusted that a creature so beautiful could be as evil as the Host. He steeled himself to not fall for any tricks.
“But who are you?” she asked. He sat back and stared at her. It seemed she really wanted to know more about him. Strange. Cullen chose to always tell the truth in his life, so this would be no different he decided.
“My name is Cullen; I am the son of the human High King Remus the First and the Asrai Queen Gwyddneu. I am called the Chosen One because I was born to wield the Four Creations, made by Mabon and the Dwarves of the Daoine Sidhe.”
She looked at him with her big eyes in wonder. She seemed genuinely interested in his answer, like she was soaking it in somehow.
“And where do you come from?” she asked next.
“I come from across the desert, over the Everwinter Mountains, from the Kingdom of Holdfast in the land or my birth. Where do you come from?”
She sat back herself then, alarmed that he had asked her a question. She smelled fearful, he could sense the change in her perspiration.
“Am I not allowed to ask you questions in return?” he asked.
“I just didn’t – I didn’t think you would want to know. We are enemies,” she explained.
“Then why are you asking me questions?” he asked pointedly.
“I want – I want to know more about you,” she answered honestly. She was confused now; he was being truthful and actually nice to her. She thought he would hate her.
“Why did you leave your home to come here?” she asked, forging ahead.
“I had a dream. In my dream I saw a land enslaved by a dark creature. I came to find the truth of that dream.”
“And why have you stayed here?”
“I stay because I am needed. Because your people have enslaved the humans and I believe all people should be free.” He remained seated but bored his stare into her.
“But we are stronger than you. Why do you fight us?”
“If I had my weapons, I am stronger that your Queens. I could fight then. But now – “
“But now you are captured here and you will have to fight just to survive, as my mother sees fit.”
“The Queen is your mother? How are you called?” Cullen asked, but he sank into his chair, thinking about the loss of his mighty weapons and being stuck here with no way to help Sonia or Tik or any of the others. He was stuck.
“I am Sister Idylls, daughter of Queen Jorinde of the Hive or the Host, servant to the Dark Master, Mabinogion.”
Cullen looked up sharply at the name. So the Dark Master had a name? He repeated it in his head, but then he remembered the loss of his weapons and he sank back in the chair.
“You are different now,” she said, watching him carefully.
“I lost my weapons, my friends have been captured and we are enslaved by a race that is cruel and violent. My friends will surely die and I can do nothing to save them. I was caught and now I am defeated.”
Idylls watched him while he spoke and she felt a sense of loss. When she had seen Cullen fighting, he had seemed so alive, so filled with energy and hope. That was what she was drawn to she realized, that energy he had. But now, he was shrunken, beaten, brought low by her mother.
As Cullen sat there, he suddenly felt a presence, the scent of sunlight and winter came to him. The pack sense of his brother Tris’tan came to him. He sat up suddenly and Idylls gasped in alarm.
Cullen closed his eyes and emptied his mind. He got images of his brother, pressed against a building, sending his thoughts. He must be right outside Cullen thought, close enough to send!
He clenched his eyes and waited. He got images of fire and felt heat. He felt his brother reaching for the Creations. Then he realized that Tris’tan had saved the Weapons! He had them! All was not lost! Tris’tan was working on a way to free them.
He sent images of Abd and Fakhri, images of Anton and the Mosque. He sent images of them all free and fighting. They would fight again, there had to be a way! Cullen just had to keep the others alive for as long as he could!
He opened his eyes and looked at Idylls staring at him. He had a new light in his eyes, the fire in his head and heart had returned. He wasn’t defeated! Not yet!
“Why are you here Idylls?” he asked.
She saw the change in him. She had watched him go silent as if he was listening to something, and then he changed. He looked wild with energy and thoughts. He looked alive again. What drove this man to fight? What inspired him so much?
“I wanted to know more about you,” she said hesitantly.
“Well then,” he said confidently. “What would you like to know?”
Idylls was shocked at the difference. She felt like she was in danger now, he looked prepared.
“I want to know why you fight, against odds like these that are against you?”
“I fight because I believe in certain things. I believe that everything has a right to be free. I believe in friendship and love and fighting for those things. I believe the strong should protect the weak, that those who have much should share with those who have little.”
“That isn’t what I was taught,” she said in a tiny voice. “But it sounds – it sounds nice.”
Cullen realized that this conversation wasn’t the enemy trying to learn things about him so that they could torture him or hurt him in some way. This girl, who could be a thousand years old for all he knew, but this girl was searching for answers. She wasn’t like the rest of the Host.
“It’s wonderful Idylls, to be able to go where you want, to talk to others about their experiences, to fall in love with someone, to share your life with people that you love and care about. It’s beautiful.”
“I should bring you back to your cell,” she said suddenly. He realized he had pushed a little too much too soon.
“Yes, bring me back, but if you want to talk again, I will talk to you Idylls. I will talk to you anytime, about anything. We could learn from each other.”
She frowned a bit, and he noticed she was beautiful even when upset. She moved her hands and shadows gripped him by either arm. They hauled him out of the room and back to his cell.
He didn’t see Idylls leave, but he knew that he had affected her and perhaps judged her correctly. She could be an ally in all of this, or at least a source of information.
He was excited to tell the other about the contact with Tris’tan, and he found them all awake already, worrying about him. They talked long into the night, whispering so the other in the other cells couldn’t hear them.
Cullen felt renewed. If he could just get his Weapons, they could break out of this Pit and fight their way to freedom! They just had to survive a little longer.

***

Grimm, leading two hundred Kingsguard soldiers and four Kings came out of the Danann Forest in the late afternoon as the sun colored the sky with slanted rays of sunlight and pastel colored clouds.
The Kings had decided to go riding through the forest that most of them had never seen. It had been a pleasant day, stopping to eat a meal outdoors and talk about the upcoming tourney and what kind of events they should have.
The three Knights were the first to spot a lone horseman as someone came riding through the forest towards them. Grimm and the soldiers had quickly surrounded the Kings but a lone rider wasn’t much to fear and no one threatened the rider as he approached.
Answering the Daoine Sidhe’s invite to the tourney was Glivagar, an elf from the elf King’s court. He was a deep green, with golden hair and eyes, wearing ornate silver armor and riding the strange Fae horses the Faeries bred.
The High King managed to meet him well, and the others managed to hide their excitement at meeting a real elf. He was invited to join in the meal and he introduced them all to an elven wine that they had found quite unique.
But as the group reached the King’s Road, headed back to Holdfast, Grimm spotted a large group of riders coming from the East and he guessed that King Nicu had come earlier than expected.
Grimm had his soldiers form a wall before the Kings and their elven emissary while he sat out front waiting for the riders to come closer.
Even from a distance, it became clear that it was in fact Nicu and a good two hundred other Rathian Horse Lords. Grimm scowled at the number of riders, thinking it was more than the other Kings had brought.
When Grimm had greeted Nicu and arranged for him to approach the other Kings, he rode beside Nicu, leaving Hook back with the rest of the riders as an insult.
“Well, it’s a good thing I come in peace!” Nicu called as he rode to the gathered Kings. “Finding you all in one place would be fortuitous for an enemy come calling!”
Cosmin growled a reply that no one but Remus could hear and the other Kings didn’t smile at his joke.
“Poor humor I think Nicu,” Remus said in return.
“King Nicu,” Nicu responded.
High King Remus frowned. “I am the High King of the known world Nicu. I don’t address the minor Kings by title if I so choose. It may be that you have a few things to learn now that you’re gathered here with your peers,” the High King said with a slight tension on the word peers.
“I understand, and I’ll be glad to learn the proper etiquette while I’m here. And we Horse Lords might have a few surprises for you as well!”
“Yes, well, we were just riding back to the castle. You may join us, along with the members of your court. The rest must ride behind the Kingsguard.”
Nicu nodded and rode back to his waiting force. He soon returned with Hook and Hafr behind him and he joined the group as they rode back towards Holdfast. Grimm kept a sharp eye on the Rathians the whole way, but Nicu and Hook seemed to be in good cheer and not bothered by Grimm’s reaction at all.
There was another moment of tension when Nicu learned that only his two companions could stay in the castle, while the rest of his honor guard had to sleep in the city, but he soon laughed that off as well and Grimm showed them to their rooms.
They had been placed in an easily guarded section of the castle, near to where the quarters of the castle guard were. They were smaller rooms usually held for minor nobles, but since the High Kingdom had only ever had three minor Kings, it was the best Holdfast could do for the new arrivals.
Nicu was invited to the solar to have a drink with the High King, while the other Kings rested before the dinner meal. The High King was seated behind his desk when Nicu and Hafr arrived. He remained seated when the two men came in and found their chairs. Grimm stood against the back wall, now holding his well known axe.
“This is a mighty castle High King,” Nicu began, “I had no idea Holdfast was so big.”
“It’s a busy city and seaport and the castle is big enough for all our needs, even hosting a grand tournament,” the High King responded.
“It’s a shame you never married Sire, this place is big enough for a family,” Nicu went on.
“Even without marriage, I managed to have a son, who I’m very proud of,” Remus deflected.
“Yes, we heard about the War against Faeries, was it?” Nicu questioned. “That must have been something. Where is your boy now?”
“You know how boys are Nicu, always off on some adventure!” Remus laughed.
“It’s my understanding that he has magical weapons. Wouldn’t it be prudent to keep such might at home when hosting this affair?” Nicu asked with a grin.
“Even before I knew Cullen was my son, we guarded this Kingdom against the rest of the world without fail,” Remus said a little testily. “I have no reason to think that would change now.”
“Of course, of course, just a question,” Nicu waved his hands downward as if to ward off any bad feelings. Did you know I have children?”
Remus gestured for Grimm to make some drinks and turned back to face the minor King and his Shaman. “Yes, two boys, is that right?”
Nicu seemed a bit miffed that the High King knew already, but he just smiled again and went on. “Yes, two boys. Dan and Radu, sixteen and fourteen. Mother died in childbirth with Radu, but we are a strong family.”
“It is good to have children. Makes one think of the future.”
Remus thought that Nicu was definitely leading up to something here and he could guess what that might be. He glanced at Grimm, reminded by his arm in a sling that Grimm had been wounded in Rath and strangely the wound would not heal. He still couldn’t swing his famous axe.
“Yes, of course. I am thinking of their future with every step. I wonder, High King, do you think the other Kings would give thought to marriages?”
“I can tell you this Nicu,” the High King said quickly, “They have already talked about combining their houses, so that topic may already have been decided.”
“But Adrian has a son and a daughter, while Simon has two daughters. That leaves each of them with a spare child, unwed. Wouldn’t it be sensible to marry those two girls off to another King’s sons?”
High King Remus stopped for a moment and considered. It was clear the man was ambitious, but this may be asking too much too soon.
“Ah, Nicu, its good that you’re thinking along lines of strength for the whole Realm, as I’m sure you are, but since we have just now met you, and the others have only the raiding on their minds thus far, perhaps this idea would have to wait until another day.”
Nicu also took a moment in silence before he spoke. “I see. It will take some time before I am accepted into your circle of Kings. I understand. You don’t know me yet, and guess that my sons may be poor material for your friend’s daughters.”
“Now, I didn’t say that Nicu!” the King protested. “I merely suggest you get to know your fellow Kings before jumping right to marriage offers. In Dustan and Vess both, woman can rule just as easily as men. Marrying your sons wouldn’t make them rulers of either land.”
“I see. You came and conquered all the land and now you stifle any other advancements,” Nicu sneered.
“A Kingdom is often won by conquest Nicu, but it is held through persuasion. I would let these hasty words go, seeing as you just got here and may be tired from your journey. Perhaps you should take some time to rest before dinner.”
“Yes, of course your Highness. We will rest before the meal. Thank you for your time.” With that said, Nicu and his advisor left quickly, leaving just Grimm and Remus in the room.
“I don’t like him already Sire,” Grimm said as soon as they were alone.
“He’s clearly young and new to being a King. We will give him some time to adjust. Being around the others will give him better manners I would venture.”
“I don’t know Sire. He’s ambitious, maybe to a fault.”

***

Cullen had been watching the fights happen from the cage doors that opened up to the sandy pit arena. A couple hundred spectators were seated in the stands above the pit, watching and cheering on the fights. His Kingsguard, Deep and the rest of his crew, were expected to fight a group of Xho.
Cullen had stopped them before they went out and told then that he expected them to all stay alive. He told them to try and fight easily with the Xho if they could, just wounding them and taking them out of the fight, but if they were in a life or death situation, he expected them to survive.
They had to live long enough to be rescued.
The Kingsguard fought well, keeping the terrified Xho away from their backs and successfully knocking many of them unconscious or giving them minor wounds. Cullen thought they had done as he asked and most of the Xho would survive the day.
Of course Jorinde changed things a bit for the next round of fights. Angry at the Kingsguard, she demanded that Fox, Aki and Roarr come out next and fight a pair of spiders and a scorpion that the Host had recovered from the Underdark.
The fight was the elf and Dwarf working together, protecting Fox as he tried to stab the creatures with his oversized knife. Cullen still couldn’t understand the relationship between the elf and the Spriggan, but the seemed to have it worked out between them.
It took some time but they finally killed the creatures and left them bleeding in the sand to be cleared away by Hive soldiers. After that Cullen got to see Blade fight. Blade was pitted against six Xho who all looked like they could in fact fight. They weren’t as timid as the last set had been and they worked together to fight against the Zingarian.
Blade started moving back and forth with some strange dance step that kept him constantly moving, always shifting to the right, then the left and he waited for his opponents to come closer.
Cullen watched the movement, trying to understand how this would affect his fighting. As the first two men came in, Blade leaped to one side, landing on his fist and propelled himself further away to land next to a third man. He just reached out with his knife and cut the man’s throat and he was down.
Blade went back to his movements, shifting again, left, then right, back and forth, always moving. The two men he had lunged at him had to turn to face him again, while the others circled.
Blade watched them moving and just changed his own movements little by little keeping his eyes on as man as he could. Then he leaped again, this time landing on his palm and slashing with his knife, cutting one of the two men across the leg, dropping him to one knee in pain.
Blade landed on his feet and spun quickly, lashing out with his leg, tripping another fighter than he landed next to. The man fell, catching himself by dropping his weapon and throwing his hands out, but as he landed, Blade was on top of him and cut his throat as well. Two down.
Blade was back up in seconds and dancing again, back and forth, almost hypnotizing his opponents. The one with the cut leg tried to stand but he couldn’t, and he was bleeding badly. Blade’s knife must be incredibly sharp, Cullen thought. The other man, angry, yelled and charged Blade, darting one way and then the other to try and match Blade’s movements.
Blade instead, stopped moving and just simply caught the man as he came, shoving his blade into the man’s ribs and deeper into the heart. The man slowly slid off the blade, falling to the sandy floor in front of Blade.
The last two men totally separated and one got behind Blade and the other in front. The one on the ground got up and limped forward. Blade was dancing again, shifting his body left and right.
The man ahead came on fast and the man behind ran at him as well, while the limping man lunged where he thought Blade would have to go. Blade instead ducked, caught himself on one hand, cart wheeling past the first man, cutting into the lunging man and then landing on his feet to face the one that had been behind him.
He grabbed the man’s arm, lifted it high and rammed his dagger up under his armpit, hitting the heart again, and killing him. Instead of waiting he flashed ahead, kicking the man who had rushed him, knocking him back onto his rear.
Blade dipped close to the limping man, slashed his neck with a killing blow, then he straightened, pulled his arm back and launched his knife through the air to land deep in the chest of the last man.
Cullen moved away from the bars in amazement. Blade was better then good, he was a natural killer. Cullen had never seen that dancing move before but it was clearly exceptional and made Blade a terrible opponent. Cullen wondered how long it would be before his men or himself would have to go up against Blade.
Trumpets blared and Hive soldiers came out to clear the bodies. Blade was escorted back to the barred door where the rest of the fighters were watching and he grinned perversely at Cullen as if he knew what Cullen was thinking.
Queen Jorinde stood up in her balcony seats and called for Cullen. Cullen walked out into the pit and a Hive soldier tossed him a long sword. He caught it and went to the middle of the sandy arena to wait for his opponent.
He looked around the stands, hoping to see one of the free friends that he knew were still out there, trying to find a way to free him. In the surrounding drunken mass of people, he couldn’t pick out anyone. But in the spectator’s box that Jorinde was in, he saw Tik and Sonia, heads bowed at the Queen’s side.
And behind them all, was Idylls, seated on a high chair, watching the scene below her with a rather blank look on her face. Cullen wanted to shout to Sonia and Tik but he worried that would cause trouble for them later.
The gate at the opposite end of the arena opened and something dark came rushing out of the hole. All black and extremely fast, came the largest centipede Cullen had ever seen. The head of it was the size of a wagon and its feelers that waved about above its head were at least fifteen feet long.
It whipped its body out into the space before Cullen as Cullen back pedaled towards the gate he had come from. The centipede brought its entire length out of the gate and coiled near the other side of the pit.
Cullen heard, with his enhanced hearing, gasps from the audience as well as from his friends. He could see at the edge of his vision that Tik and Sonia had both looked up at the reaction from the crowd. He noticed that Idylls had stood up also.
Cullen glanced at his sword, trying to see what kind of shape it was in. He looked down the length of it, noticing that it was straight and narrow at the tip. It could break easily against the armor of the beast before him. He tested it across his arm and was glad it was at least sharp.
The centipede’s feelers were flickering up and down as it searched the arena for prey. Dangerous hunters, centipedes moved rapidly and with precision to capture prey in their nasty pinschers that came out of their rather flat heads.
The feelers stopped when it turned towards Cullen and he knew it knew he was there. Cullen stepped away from the wall and lowered his weapon, wishing he had his own magical Sword to help. This was suicide to fight this beast.
The creature moved slowly, gathering its bulk together, stretching its head out towards Cullen. It maneuvered towards him, testing him to see if he was dangerous. Cullen decided to attack first and make the creature wary of him.
He yelled an Asrai war cry and rushed forward, sword held level in front of him. The centipedes feelers whipped out and reached for him, so he slashed at the tip of one, cutting through the less armored section and hacking it off.
The monster reacted with speed and pulled its head away from Cullen, who took a slashing swipe at the face of it, but missed as it reared up away from Cullen’s blade. Cullen immediately leaped away, running backwards towards the wall again.
The centipede, sensing him running, suddenly uncoiled and raced after Cullen. The crowd collectively gasped again and a couple women screamed. Cullen waited until the last second and the bulk of its head came flying at him and he shifted to the side and slashed again with the sword, bouncing the blade off the creature’s head, near its sensitive mouth parts.
It reacted again to the strike and hurriedly moved away to avoid Cullen attacks again. It moved across the arena and coiled again. It was a massive black mound of shiny carapace, with huge fangs sticking out of its face.
Cullen caught his breath and watched the creature very carefully. It would come again. He heard the crowd cheering and he tried to block it out, but right above him, a man was shouting encouragement.
“You can do it man!” the spectator yelled from behind him. “Just rush it! Kill it before it kills you!”
Cullen glanced behind him and up into the stand and saw an overweight black man, dressed in flowing robes of brilliant color leaning over the edge and shouting to him. He tried to block out the man’s words and focus again on the beast before him.
The centipede uncoiled again and came skittering around the arena, right up against the wall, using it to guard one side of its body. Cullen moved out towards the center of the pit, trying to just keep away form the monster, and it came right after him.
In the center, Cullen stopped and let the beast come. He again leaped aside at the last moment and hacked downward with his blade, this time cracking the shell of its head. It seemed to stutter in movement and whipped away again, this time crashing into the side of the arena with its body.
As it hit, the fat Zingarian that had been yelling to Cullen, fell out of his seat and into the pit with a scream. The centipede had been moving away until the man hit the ground. Its feelers suddenly twitched again, as it realized another animal had dropped into the sandy pit.
Cullen didn’t hesitate, as soon as he saw the man tumble over the side; he was already racing towards him. The centipede had decided this second target was easier pray and was racing at the man, who was screaming for help while trying to get to his feet.
Cullen reached the creature just before it got to the man. Cullen leaped over the first set of legs and landed astride the back of the centipede’s head. It slowed from the impact and tried to buck but Cullen slammed the sword into its joint behind the head and shoved it as deep as he could into the head from behind.
The man was still screaming for help when the centipede hit him, knocking him back off his feet into the sand. The two pinschers started to close but stopped halfway across the man. Cullen was jerking the sword about, trying to do as much damage as he could until the whole beast shuddered to a stop and he knew it was dead.
“Thank you! Thank you man! You saved me, you really saved me!” the Zingarian was practically weeping as he slipped out and away from the centipede’s pinscher. Cullen slid off the back of the creature and looked the man over.
“I am Watoombi the Merchant, and you have saved my life! I must repay you!” the man cried again, as Hive soldiers rushed out to grab Cullen and bring him away from the merchant. He was still shouting about debt and payment as he was dragged back out of the pit.
Cullen gratefully was led out as well, back towards his cell, to the sounds of cheering in the stands. He glanced back once to see Queen Jorinde, standing and scowling. He smiled, knowing that he ruined her first attempt to kill him. Hopefully, he thought, I will continue to survive.

***

Sonia was grateful, so grateful that Cullen survived his first fight in the Pit. She had managed to watch most of the battle because Jorinde was focused on that instead of making Sonia and Tik her slaves.
The two of them had to do everything for Jorinde, from setting up her baths, which she took twice a day, to her meals, cleaning, organizing her documents, or whatever else she made up that day for them to do.
The only good thing about it was that Tik was there with her through it all. It was so similar to when they were both at the Orphanage together. Tik protected her and helped her with her work, so that she wouldn’t be scolded or beaten.
Tik had resisted at first, and had been beaten more than once, but it wasn’t long before he just did whatever he was told. Jorinde had threatened to beat Sonia instead and that took the fight out of Tik quickly.
Sonia and Tik now lived in a small room that held only a mattress and a small chest. They were given simple woolen clothes and had their former clothes destroyed. They slept together on the single mattress, Tik usually holding Sonia while she wept at night.
In the late morning when Jorinde would wake, they were expected to be kneeling outside her door, ready for commands. They helped the Queen dress in beautiful gowns that she had made for herself.
Sonia had become accustomed to the musky scent the Queen gave off. She had noticed that the daughter, Idylls, usually smelled like perfume, a more human trait. Sonia had been fascinated at first with the scales covering the Queen until it was noticed that she was looking and she got smacked for it.
The first week had been rough, both of them getting hit more often then not, but near the end of the week they had a pattern and they were working well together to stay out of trouble.
Today was different however and Sonia was quite nervous. Today it was demanded that they attend Jorinde and she was leading them to the downstairs room that they knew held the path into the Host’s tunnels underneath the city. Sonia didn’t want to be trapped underground with them.
Tik held her hand and squeezed it, reminding her that he was with her. She trembled but composed herself, as a fighter should and walked carefully behind their mistress. The arrived at the room and there, in the floor, was a gaping hole that had steps leading into the dark.
Jorinde followed the Hive soldiers that went first, and she carried that dark globe all the Queens and some Sisters seemed to carry. Then came Tik and Sonia, and behind them more soldiers, prodding them if they took too long.
Sonia tried to get her eyes to adjust quickly, but it was really dark in the hole. Tik moved his other hand to her shoulder and helped guide her along the tunnel, using the wall as his own guide.
Soon there was glowing lichen and mushrooms growing along the floor and the walls and they could see that at least. The Host turned into just black shadows with glowing red eye that stared at them out of the surrounding gloom.
They were led down a series of tunnels until they finally arrived in a large chamber that had a few torches lit. Then they could see fully who they were meeting with. Inside the chamber was Jorinde, Hrim, Mabon and Idylls, all surrounding a large wooden table, covered in parchment and maps.
“Ah, good, you brought your humans with you!” Hrim commented when she saw Tik and Sonia.
“Yes, they have been learning how to obey all week. Now we’ll see how well they learned the lesson,” Jorinde said callously.
Sonia moved closer to Tik, huddling next to him nervously. Tik put an arm around her protectively and Sonia noticed Idylls was watching them very carefully.
Mabon, tall and golden skinned, turned his glowing yellow eyes towards Sonia. She flinched a bit and moved against Tik. “You, girl slave, what did Cullen plan for this city? How was he going to attack?”
“Her name is Sonia, not girl slave!” Tik snarled.
“Do I need to beat her again to keep you silent?” Jorinde asked with harsh intent. Tik squeezed Sonia again.
“Its alright Tik, I’ll tell them,” Sonia said quietly.
“No!” Tik cried out, glaring at the surrounding Faeries.
“It doesn’t matter now Tik,” Sonia sighed. “They already stopped us.”
“That’s right girl,” Jorinde said with a sickly sweet tone. “Now answer the question.”
“He was going to sneak Xho into the city, set bombs around the city and attack all at once, probably at dawn, when most of the Hive is sleeping.”
“Bombs?” Mabon asked quizzically.
“Things that blow up,” Sonia explained. “Cullen knows how to make them,” she lied, not wanting to give away the Xho secret that had kept all these years. Tik nodded when she did it.
“This Cullen has many tricks,” Mabon said. “Mabinogion will want us to question him more.”
Sonia glanced at Tik. Tik shook his head briefly.
“Yes, we will ask Cullen questions and get the answers one way or another, but first I’m going to make him fight,” Jorinde said quickly. “I’m going to make him fight my pets, and then the Xho, and then his friends, until they are all dead! Only then will I give him to the Master.”
“How many Xho does Cullen have waiting outside the city?” Hrim asked suddenly.
“I – I don’t know, a few hundred?” Sonia stuttered.
“He took Simult’s city with just a few hundred? We need to wipe them out!” Hrim shouted, growing angry.
“Then who would we have as slaves?” Idylls asked, stepped forward. Hrim shot a glare at her.
“My daughter is right,” Jorinde said, gleefully gloating over her sister Queen. “Without Cullen as their leader, they are hopeless. They can do nothing. And we can do whatever I want to Cullen in the meantime.”
“I suppose you’re right Jorinde. We cut the head off, we have our Champions and our own Weapons and Cullen’s have been burned to nothing!” Hrim joined in the gloating and smirked at the two humans.
Sonia thought about that as the Queens discussed different ways to make Cullen weaker. The beautiful Bow she used to carry for Cullen was gone, burned to ash. His Sword and Shield also gone. Even if Tris’tan could somehow free Cullen, how could he fight their Champions without magical weapons?
She turned inward and started making her heart cold. She had to live with these creatures that were cruel and callous, who thrived off the enslavement of others. She had to survive this and hope that someday she would be freed if Jorinde got tired of her.
She had to make herself uninteresting, weak, a nobody, so that Jorinde got tired of her. Hopefully she wouldn’t kill her when she was done playing but she could probably convince her that life, stuck in the Xho city would be punishment enough.
All she had left was Tik. He was here for her as he had always been. Right by her side, seeing her through the dark chapters of her life, holding her hand, embracing her through the night. He was the only good thing she had left.