Slave Trade - Playing the Game
Slave Trade Playing the Game copyright 2013 comidacomida
Sidney awoke in much less pain than he would have imagined. Although his head was throbbing from two impacts what hurt the most was the angle at which his arms were tied together-- that, and the bite of the rope against his wrists. He shifted in place, letting out a shaky breath as he fought against the urge to groan; he'd learned during his years as a personal slave that showing any indication discomfort was not a desirable act. The moment he took in the scene around him, however, his discomfort was hard to disguise.
The fox was seated on the floor, his back resting against a wooden book case, surrounded by dead bodies. To him, it appeared as if an enormous battle had taken place in the room with him and yet, somehow, he was seated in the middle of the only portion of ground not covered in gore. As he surveyed the scene of mutilated corpses Sidney was growing increasingly certain that he was going to be sick; right before he vomited, however a sudden movement from the doorway preempted it.
"King's hairy knees..." murmured a surprised-looking, mail-wearing squirrel. He had a bow in his paws, but there was no arrow knocked. The other soldier beside him, a pale, sickened-looking pig just shook his head, balancing himself by using his sword as a walking-stick, tip down and hand on its pommel. Both of them looked to the third figure for direction.
Lord Talvin stood several feet away from the two, a short blade returning to its sheath at his side, "Good of you to finally arrive, gentlemen." With a simple flick of his arm, the wolf's half-cloak settled back down over his shoulder, hiding the weapon from view; Sidney did not miss the fact that there wasn't as much as a drop of blood on it. "Inform the king that I have found his prize."
"Did..." the squirrel squeaked, "Did you... kill all these men yourself, m'lord?"
The wolf glanced over his shoulder at the two sell swords, "Do you see anyone else here?" he inquired, "other than the fox, of course..." he gestured casually toward Sidney, who kept his gaze down, not particularly interested in drawing the attention of the soldiers, "Though considering his situation, I would dare say that such a feat would be well beyond him... wouldn't you say?"
"That's Bane... 'e's Bane, 'e is... oi 'eard 'em talkin' bout 'im..." noted the pig, quickly sliding his way out of the open door, grabbing the squirrel as he went, "Oi 'eard that 'e do things to yer mind just by lookin'at'cha..." Sidney didn't know for certain where such strange rumors had surfaced but, based on Lord Talvin's clandestine smirk, he had a few ideas. The wolf had mentioned that words at court spread quickly-- it was not an understatement.
Once the men had left, Lord Talvin picked his way nimbly through the charnel scene and knelt down to begin loosening the rope from Sidney's wrists, "I understand that this must all be very confusing for you, my dear fox..."
Sidney spoke the first thing on his mind as he shied away from the wolf, "Did you really kill all these men?"
"Am I responsible for their deaths?" the wolf's ears went up as he handed the untied rope to the slave master, "I am not so certain that you would wish to hear the answer." at which point he hoisted the fox up to a standing position, holding him steady as he regained his sense of balance, "Did I kill them?" Lord Talvin's expression was unreadable as he glanced out of the corner of his eye at Sidney, "No, I did not."
"But... you told those soldiers--"
The wolf chuckled, leaning forward before hoisting Sidney up and over his shoulder, carrying him like a sack of potatoes, "I did not, in fact, say that I killed all of these men..." he stepped over one of the mutilated bodies, "In truth, I let them come to their own conclusion."
"But..." Sidney closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to look down at the bodies from where he was perched, "...why not say you didn't?"
Lord Talvin exited the room and proceeded down the hall with a faint spring to his step, "I learned a long time ago, my sweet fox, that when one perceives you to be a much greater threat than you are, you are much less likely to require violence to dissuade them from giving you trouble."
"Lord Hector says that dangerous men become MORE dangerous when they perceive you to be a threat." Sidney added as sagely as possible considering his mode of travel.
"And your master is ever the wise stag, Sidney... though you must remember that there is a point at which even foolish dangerous men realize that it's not worth the trouble because they would rather keep their insides... well..." he chuckled, "...inside."
"Who were they?" the fox asked, glancing back toward the open door; a small stream of blood was winding its way out of the room and into the cracks of the stone floor.
"The men who wanted you so badly?" Lord Talvin inquired, continuing down the hall without so much as slowing his quick gait, "Detractors of the king."
"A what?" Sidney questioned.
"They were men who saw the king in less than flattering light." the wolf responded, "They wished him ill."
"Your gladiator--" the fox started, but Lord Talvin interrupted him.
"There are many ears in this castle... people listening in where you least expect them." Lord Talvin noted cryptically, "All you need to know is that men who wished bad things for Lord Levid attempted to take possession of you so that you could be used as a weapon against him."
"A... a weapon?" the fox squeaked, "I'm not a weapon... I-- I don't understand."
"It is hard to explain, my innocent little Bane... there is far more history here than I have time to reveal but," the wolf slowed, "rest assured, I am certain that it will all become clearer in time." and, with that, Lord Talvin turned the knob on a door and entered.
Sidney immediately recognized the space beyond; he was being led out onto what he'd heard Olnyr call the Lord's Rise. The first thing he noticed, however, was that it was not the same balcony he had remembered standing on during his first visit; Lord Levid's curtained obsercation box was not present and, he quickly realized, his view of the arena was from a different, lower angle. His attention quickly turned however when he realized that the floor of the coliseum was alive with activity.
"Come, dear fox." Lord Talvin offered, standing near the edge of the balcony and beckoning him closer, "The king desires you to see this."
Sidney pressed his paws together in an attempt to center himself, only to realize that he still wore the black leather palm-guards that the wolf had given him earlier that afternoon. He peered down at them, curious as to their purpose, then looked up a moment later, realizing then that the wolf was gazing his way.
"We will discuss my gift later-- but, at the moment, Lord Levid is staring at us." Lord Talvin gestured for Sidney to join him, "Let us not hold his attention."
The fox moved to join the wolf at the balcony's edge, as hesitant as any slave dared to be under the watch of a lord. The moment he peered down at the arena floor, however, he wished he hadn't. Choel, bloody and bruised, was backpedaling away from an elephant. Although the tiger was well-armed with a short sword in either paw, Choel's opponent's weapons outnumbered his: the pachyderm had two hand-axes, and was actually wielding a dagger in his trunk.
Under other circumstances Sidney might have found the sight humorous but, as Choel blocked the elephant's axes with either of his swords it left his chest wide-open for the knife. Sidney winced, taking a step away from the balcony's rail as the weapon was thrust at the tiger's chest. Despite the fact that the elephant's truck wasn't as strong as an arm, the weapon still managed to draw blood, and the fox watched, aghast, as it was left stuck into Choel's body when the rhythm of battle forced the gladiators apart. Sidney covered his muzzle to avoid crying out when he saw the new stream of blood leaking down the tiger's abdomen.
"Come, Bane." Lord Talvin took him by the shoulder and pulled him back onto a position for a better view of the fight, "Lord Levid will permit no disobedience, and it is his will that Lord Hector's Gladiator Master watch these fights."
Sidney swallowed the bile that was threatening to rise in his throat, gazing forward, but trying with all his might to peer through the battle and ignore it. Unable to cope with the sight of Choel being picked apart piece by piece, the fox, desperate, did the only thing he could think of and attempted to distract himself, "I thought you didn't like Lord Levid." it was an observation rather than a question, and Sidney hoped that Lord Talvin would play along. He did.
"Whether I like him or not, he is the king, and that means we must obey him..." the wolf glanced down at him out of the corner of his eye, "...when we are under his scrutiny."
Sidney winced as Choel was backhanded by the large elephant, and the tiger was sent spinning to the floor, one of his swords spiraling off to one side. The fox had no idea how the smaller gladiator was able to keep hold of even one weapon, but, based on the fact that Choel wasn't moving from his position face-down in the sand, Sidney wasn't sure it would make a difference, "He wants me to embarrass Lord Hector by fainting again, doesn't he?"
"No, Sidney." Lord Talvin responded simply, leaning down on the stone railing of the balcony as he watched the elephant close in on the still unmoving Choel, "Embarrassment won't matter for Lord Hector anymore... Lord Levid is having him tried for sedition and treason."
"Sedition?" the fox asked, turning to look at the wolf, "Treason?"
"Do not watch me, Bane." the lord stated with authority, "Watch the fight." He didn't speak again until Sidney's eyes were on the arena floor. "The king plans to have Lord Hector executed because he believes that your master seeks his death."
The slave master yelped, as much from the realization that Lord Levid planned to have his master die as much as from the fight below. Just as the elephant arrived at the prone tiger, Choel rolled to the side, swinging from his position on the ground with all his might, and buried his short sword into the thigh of his opponent. The elephant's cry was a combination of a scream and a bleat, and he dropped one of his axes in order to grab at the blade that was stuck several inches into his leg.
From Sidney's short amount of experience with the arena, he would have excepted a huge reaction from the crowd... but only then did he realize that there wasn't one; the entirety of the coliseum?s bench seating was empty-- only the Lord's Rise had any spectators. Other than Lord Talvin and himself, the fox saw only Lord Levid's shadowy outline through his curtained observation box with Lord Hector standing beside it. Behind the stag were two guards: a short haired shepherd, and Lord Talvin's ocelot, "Lord Hector doesn't want to kill anyone... he's a good man and--"
The wolf gave Sidney a nudge and pointed toward the arena without saying a word. The fox's eyes went back to the fight: Choel was still bleeding profusely, but had managed to recover both his dropped sword the elephant's discarded hand axe. The slave master huffed helplessly, "If you are allies, I thought you'd be helping Lord Hector."
"I AM helping him, Bane." Lord Talvin responded, "You simply do not see the big picture like I do." the wolf reached over and patted him on the head, "It is something both you and he share, I'm afraid."
"I don't understand." Sidney noted, his teeth gritting as the two fighters below drew closer to one another once again.
"That is a very good thing, my dear fox..." Lord Talvin smirked, eyes still on the fight, "...for all of us." he patted Sidney on the head, "The less you know, the more plausible your deniability."
The slave master went up to his tiptoes in mixed frustration and helplessness, his heart beating quickly in his chest and his every instinct telling him to turn tail and run... but he knew his place as a slave and obediently watched as the massive elephant charged forward, his hand axe chopping violently down at the tiger. Choel sidestepped and brought his sword and axe to bear, but the elephant rotated his head at the last minute, tusks leading the way.
The tiger twisted his body and for a split second, Sidney could already imagine a repeat of Uraou's demise at Olnyr's hands... but the battle played our far differently. Changing gears from Uraou versus Olnyr to Maern versus Olnyr, the fight below shifted favor quickly. Choel took a quick double-step back, his weight transferring to his hind leg, and he sprang upward with the reflexes of his breed, and jumped over the charging elephant.
Landing on his feet, the tiger spun around even as his opponent stumbled forward, off balance due to the lack of collision and the injury to his leg. Leaping at the elephant, Choel delivered a powerful slashing kick to the larger gladiator's kidneys and followed it up with a double-pommel strike to the elephant's back. The tiger was upon his fallen foe in a split second, axe blade against his thick neck and sword positioned at the small of his spine. The elephant dropped his weapon, letting out a thick, raspy sigh in defeat.
Despite the distance between Lord Levid and Sidney, the fox was able to clearly make out the bemused chuckle of the king, "Well, Hector... it appears that your warrior has successfully bested one of my newly recruited pit fighters... I would say bravo, but this is hardly worthy of praise." Sidney felt his heart swell when his master did not respond to the comment and, instead, raised his hand, palm up.
Choel roared, "Yes, Master!" nodding as he shouted the words. He rolled off of the elephant, and held out a paw. The confused, defeated gladiator slowly reached up and accepted the paw and was pulled to his feet. "Let me get that for ya." the tiger noted in his casual way, reaching down to yank his sword out of the elephant's thigh. "This's yours, I think." and he held out his foe's hand axe to him... but Lord Levid's slave was never given a chance to accept it.
Lord Levid's paw emerged from the curtains displaying a thumb and Sidney jumped in surprise as two score archers sprang up into view and loosed their arrows. "Unh!" the elephant's bubbling exclamation reached Sidney's ears as he coughed up blood, no less than a dozen shafts sprouting from his chest. Choel quickly stepped aside to avoid being crushed beneath the slain gladiator, a snarl frozen on his muzzle, but he obviously knew better than to make a sound.
"If he does not win then he is not worth saving." the king's dire comment caused Sidney's tail fur to stand on end, but Lord Talvin's paw on the fox's shoulder shoulder led him back into the open doorway and away from the bloody scene.
Sidney swallowed the apprehension that threatened to constrict his throat and managed to wheeze out a meek "Choel did well."
"Indeed." Lord Talvin acknowledged, not slowing down in the least, "He's bought himself another day."
The fox nodded, following obediently until he considered the injuries Choel had taken, "Who is going to care for his wounds?"
"That would be YOUR responsibility, Bane." the wolf stated, leading him down a set of stairs, "And you had best be quick at it... when I said 'a day' I meant it."
Sidney paused for a moment, but Lord Talvin motioned him onward. "I do not understand." he noted to the lord.
"Lord Levid has four fights prepare for tonight... and there will be four more tomorrow... and four the day after that... and after that..." The wolf paused, glancing back at Sidney, who had stopped in his tracks, "Oh, calm yourself, dear fox... if all goes well, then you will not have to worry past tomorrow."
"If..." Sidney looked to Lord Talvin, who had a very confident smile, "If all goes well?" he questioned.
"Precisely." the wolf acknowledged, that smile remaining in place as he came to a stop at a stout-looking, reinforced wooden door. "Now... let me see your paws." The fox obediently held them out. Lord Talvin turned them over so he could look at them palms-up. The wolf adjusted the cords on the leather straps, "I suppose since you have behaved so well the least I could do before I leave you is explain my little presents..."
Sidney's ears went up as he looked down and he watched as Lord Talvin scratched a little 'x' into the center of each strap with a thumb claw. The fox felt a faint tingle and watched a bright yellow glow suffuse the scored leather and then fade into nothing. "These are magical..." the slave master gasped, staring at his paws.
"They are 'imbued', Bane... there is a difference." the wolf let go of Sidney's wrists, "There are many trying times coming, and these will protect you."
The fox was selfless in his assertion, "Lord Hector needs--" but his objection was cut short by Lord Talvin.
"No, my dear fox... they are for YOU." despite the dire insistence in the wolf's voice, his tender head pat seemed almost surreal, "Just you." and, with that, the lord about-faced and walked off down the hall, adding a simple, "He is ready."
"How's your head?" Sidney had no idea where the ocelot had been, but the cat was immediately at his side, unlocking the heavy-looking door.
Sidney had first met the ocelot when he was introduced as a gladiator-- perhaps that was the reason why he was willing to ask the question, "Do you know what's going on?"
"I'm happier not knowing." the man responded, motioning into the room, "You should keep that in mind yourself and trust in him." The cat closed the door with an audible slam and relocked it once Sidney had entered.
"Sid-ney!" Maern's loud exclamation of his name suddenly pulled the fox's attention into the room, where he saw the large stallion standing. Dorias was off to one side, securing his harness while Tharis knelt next to Choel, who was seated on a pile of hay, leaning back against the wall and breathing heavily; Sidney was hardly surprised that that the tiger looked worse up close than he had from afar. "Si huus dun?"
Dorias looked up from his halter, "Sir, 'e wants t'know--"
"Iya." Sidney responded to Maern in Vensian, moving to where Tharis was bandaging the injured tiger, "I'm fine." the fox knelt down to inspect Choel's wounds. Dorias turned to regard Maern and had just opened his mouth to speak when the fox added, "Dun, Maern-- ov harr si Choel?" Sidney rested a hand gently on Tharis' arm and repeated himself in Prossian, "I'm fine... but how is Choel?"
"He'll live." the tiger responded with a grin. The fox noticed right away that the smirk was tempered with obvious pain.
"He'll live." Tharis repeated flatly, pulling a bandage tight, eliciting a wince from his patient.
"Dorias." Sidney turned to regard the yak, "Can you do anything to help?"
"Aye, Sir..." Dorias acknowledged, but continued securing his harness, "but th' caller said I'm up next an' I'm not given much time t'get ready..." he offered an apologetic look, "But Maern an' Tharis seem t'have everythin' in hand..."
"Yea..." Choel grunted when Tharis tied off another bandage, "Including my nuts... and this guy's squeezing em HARD."
"Stop whining." the old bull snorted, continuing to treat the tiger's wounds, much to his patient's obvious chagrin. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Sidney couldn't help but recall that there WERE times when the bull DID like a little vocalization, but he quickly pushed the thought from his mind when the holding room door opened again, revealing a small, spindly lemur wearing Lord Levid's colors accompanied by six gorillas clearly as huge as the messenger lemur was tiny.
The apes were well equipped with weapons and armor, each sporting a long sword, a short sword, and some kind of staff-length axe. It was readily obvious to Sidney that it was supposed to be a show of force; as far as he was concerned, it was quite effective.
"Slave Master and stable, you are all expected to attend the arena." the messenger announced loudly. Although he was scarcely more than four feet tall, had quite a full-bodied voice and there was no doubt that every slave in the holding cell (and probably several cells down the hall) heard what he had to say. Sidney glanced back at Maern, who was receiving a translation from Dorias. Tharis helped Choel to his feet and Sidney moved to the other side, letting the tiger walk as well as he was able between the two of them.
The walk to the coliseum was not back the way from which Sidney had come; they proceeded down another set of steps and, only once they arrive at a large portcullis did the fox realize that they were heading out INTO the arena, not into the stands. The slave master's heart began to beat faster as his feet sank into the sand of the pit floor; he knew blood had been spilled in the sand, and he knew that gladiators had lost their lives-- he really didn't want to be there.
"Lord Levid!" the lemur projected his voice masterfully as he called upward into the gigantic room, "By your command, the stable of Lord Hector." and he stepped aside, motioning to the gorillas, who wasted no time herding the slaves forward into the arena. Sidney gazed around at the ground floor of the combat pit, seeing it at level height for the first time, and liking it no more than when he gazed at it from above.
At the other side of the arena stood a collection of large, imposing gladiators; based on the colors they wore it was readily obvious that they were from Lord Levid's own stable. Sidney recognized the first two gladiators as he had seen them fight during the festival day. The fox was not familiar with the next two in line, but his eyes came to a halt when he looked at the last warrior in line. Sidney gasped, "Olnyr....? The bison grinned sadistically, but did not bother to comment as motion from the Lord's Rise caught everyone's attention.
Lord Levid stood within his curtained spectator's box, "Let us not waste any time, shall we?" his white-furred hand appeared and he motioned to a section of the pit separated from the main portion by a collection of wooden bars creating an open fence, "Slave Master, take your stable to the sidelines."
"That's you." grunted one of the gorillas behind Sidney, pushing him in the back with the wooden shaft of his pole arm.
The fox saw Maern tense up at the action, but Sidney murmured quickly, "No, Maern. Koss Covutas... no fighting."
"Iya, Sid-ney." the stallion growled, and helped the fox move Choel behind the line of wooden poles as Dorias was, alone led to the center of the ring. No sooner than they had taken a seat on the simple wooden bench than the slave master heard the lemur's announcement.
"This match, for your viewing pleasure, my liege: Lord Hector's yak fighter against your first year ratel." All eyes went to Lord Levid's slaves, all of which moving back to the holding area on the other side of the arena other than a large, black, broad-shouldered, thick-furred warrior dressed in a mix of chain mesh and metal plates.
"What's a ratel?" Sidney asked, watching as the gladiator turned toward the Lord's Rise and bowed. Although the fighter was adorned all in black fur save for a small clump of white atop his head, the fox was surprised to see that his entire back looked gray, almost as if he were a dog who put his pelt on backwards with his belly-fur resting along his spine.
"Honey Badger." Tharis snorted, somehow managing to manipulate a needle for fine work in sewing Choel's chest wound closed.
"Yea..." the tiger winced as the bull continued working, "The 'fancies' call em 'ratels'..."
Sidney raised his ears, curious, "Why call them something else when they're--"
"OW!" Choel roared as Tharis pulled the string tight, then glanced back to the fox with a sigh, "Probably because honey badger--" but the tiger didn't have a chance to respond.
"FIGHT!" announced the lemur, and Sidney's attention was immediately drawn from the injured tiger to the events in the arena.
The honey badger charged with incredible ferocity, a large spear gripped in both paws, tip threateningly pushed forward as he rushed headlong at Dorias. The yak stood patiently, legs spread in what he'd seen Maern present as a ready stance on numerous occasions. Sidney's heartbeat picked up speed as he watched Dorias for any sign of reaction... but none came-- until he'd already reacted.
At the last moment, even as the charging fighter thrust his weapon forward, Dorias brought his cudgel around to bear, knocking the spear point off to the side. It was an almost perfect execution of the 'kuusik' maneuver Maern had taught them, but it wasn't perfect enough. The spear caught Dorias on the side, and Sidney's teeth grated when he heard the sound of the metal spear head glance across the yak's ribs.
To Dorias' credit, however, he didn't even pause in his motion, twisting his body around to bring one of his large hooves up to strike the honey badger right in the face. The gladiator, who had been chaging full speed, collided head first and collapsed like an unattended bag of wool. Covering the wound in his side with an empty hand, the yak looked up at the Lord's Rise, his face keenly neutral at the spectacle of a white-furred monkey on the balcony's railing leaping up and down in fury, shouting out a long fury of words incoherently. Beside him on the Lord's Rise, a serene Lord Hector calmly held up a hand displaying his palm.
"No!" Lord Levid proclaimed, the sound coming out as much a monkey screech as a word, "He is useless! Not even worth the cost to have him buried... your slave will kill him so my archers don't waste the arrows."
"That is not the way the game is played, your majesty." the stag offered calmly, "My slave was victorious, and so it is my choice, and I will not have my slave killing a helpless man." Lord Hector spoke the words loudly, clearly, and with certainty.
"Slave!" Lord Levid spoke, "You! Yak!" he waved a finger a Dorias.
"Aye, Sire?" he looked to the monkey, who withdrew once again into his curtained box.
"Kill him." the king ordered.
"I beg fergivness, yer 'ighness... but Lord 'ector be my master, an' it's 'is word that goes." the yak lowered his weapon and took his hoof off of the unconscious honey badger.
"Lord Hector has shown far too many flaws of character to warrant having slaves, yak. He will be put to death once he watches his stable slain before him. Now, if you value your life, KILL THE THREE-TIMES-DAMNED RATEL!"
Dorias stood where he was, gazing up defiantly at the king. Saying not a word, the yak dropped his cudgel. Sidney felt his fur stand on end, his tongue laying paralyzed in his muzzle as he watched the numerous archers rise up from their positions within the stands. "I be Lord 'ector's... an' ye cannae change that no matter 'ow many arrows ye 'ave." He spread his arms wide, closing his eyes.
"Hold." stated the king, his hand emerging from behind the curtains, "I do not want this one shot." The archers obediently lowered their bows and loosened their draw. The monkey emerged again from his box and gazed down at Dorias with murder in his eyes, "I will see him hanged for his insubordination... tomorrow... at lunch."
"Lord Levid!" Lord Hector turned to regard the monkey, taking a step closer, "you can't--" but he was interrupted by Lord Levid's backhand.
"I am KING... and you, Hector Desanti, will live only so long as your fighters." the monkey gnashed at him, motioning for the guards on the Lord's Rise. They quickly restrained the stag, and Lord Levid poked him in the chest several times with his finger to accentuate his next words, "When the last one falls, I will have you join your precious slaves in the hereafter!" he turned back to the arena floor, "Get the yak out of here!"
Two armored men emerged from a side passage and approached Dorias. He gave himself over to their custody without a fight and walked off with them. Despite his compliance, the men still seemed to take delight in poking and prodding him, causing him to almost trip more than once, and then immediately striking him on the back or the shoulder with the flat of a blade. Sidney watched him go with a deep aching in his chest, marveling for the first time just how unfair things could be for a slave.
He wasn't able to consider it for long, however, as Lord Levid spoke up again, "BENSON!" he roared, disappearing back into his curtained box, "There are two more fighters, but we'll end the night with one more match and save the next for the morning. Bring me the fox!"
"Lord Levid!" Lord Hector objected, standing up, "Sidney is--" but his words were cut short as the large bruiser to his left turned and smashed his fist into the stag's gut.
"Your precious fox is a slave, and he is in your gladiator stable." the king announced, "I said I would have four fights and, since it appears you only brought me three gladiators and a breeder, I will be forced to use your slave master... unless..." his gaze oozed from Lord Hector to settle on Sidney; the fox felt uneasy as the two pink eyes settled on him, but that unease became immediate dread when then continued onward to Maern. Sidney did not miss Olnyr's widening grin, and that only made things worse.
"You... horse!" Lord Levid spoke up, pointing right at the stallion. Off to the side, Sidney could hear the king's words repeated by the lemur; it seemed far too convenient for the caller to somehow know Vensian. "Your slave master will fight tonight on behalf of your stable... unless you would care to take his place?" The monkey leaned forward on the guard rail expectantly, "It is ENTIRELY up to you." Lord Levid's grin was as wide as his face.
"No, Maern!" Sidney ran up to the stallion, who was already standing, "Maern... NO!" He positioned himself in front of the horse, "No Covutas. No Covutas, Maern."
Maern stopped and looked down at Sidney. The large stallion smiled, and laid a hand down on the fox's shoulder, "I fite."
"No, Maern... you CAN'T fight... you're not allowed!" the fox remained where he was, standing in the horse's path.
The stallion smiled serenely, "I fite good, Sid-ney... I fite for you."
"But you'll LOSE!" the words almost came out as a yip, "Your Sorra--"
Maern's smile didn't diminish, and his large hand moved to hold the side of the fox's face, "Sid-ney... A fite-er fites... some fite good... some not good... I..." he sighed, his smile disappearing in a wave of frustration, obviously unable to convey what he wanted to in Prossian. Taking a deep breath, the stallion began reciting what Sidney heard Dorias name 'The Road of the Warrior'. Maern gently picked him up and set him aside, walking past. Sidney reached out and grabbed hold of the slave's wrist just as the chant was coming to an end. Thehe horse stopped and glanceed back at him.
"Min Sarul." Sidney spoke softly, finishing the last two words for him.
Maern nodded calmly, "With on-er." Sidney loosened his grasp on the stallion, and Maern took another step forward... but Tharis was faster.
"What?!?" Lord Levid demanded, screeching from his spot on the Lord's Rise; Sidney couldn't help but equate the king's actions to a lord's baby child throwing a tantrum, "Get the breeding slave back into the staging area! You aren't wanted on the field, you broken old fool!"
It was the first time Sidney had recalled ever hearing Lord Levid actually refer directly to a slave with anything other than disdain-- he spoke to Tharis with outright, blatant insult.
"You wanted a figher from the Master's stable." Tharis stated simply; his voice was strong enough that he didn't even have to raise it.
"Your time fighting in this arena ended years ago." the king sneered, "I had no use for you then, and I'm surprised that Hector keeps you around now."
"I'm in LORD Hector's stable, so that means I can fight." the bull countered, standing tall despite being stared down by Lord Levid.
"Your time as Baron was a decade ago, SLAVE! You should be gracing the dung heap in a Grinder den somewhere!"
Tharis glanced back at Sidney, who realized his gasp was that audible, but he turned again to regard the king, "I never lost in this arena or any other. You said you wanted a fighter from Lord Hector's stable... here I am, monkey." the words came out as pure, unadulterated loathing, "Send in one of your gladiators... you're NOT getting the fox."
The cracking of the monkey's knuckles' death grip on the bannister was audible even from the great distance across the arena, "I won't have one of my TRUE warriors fight against a stable-boy-loving breeder slave."
"Then I'll remove my lead." the bull growled, reaching up to undo the clasp of the golden links from his nose ring.
"On penalty of death, a breeding slave may not separate his lead from his ring." the lemur spoke up from off to the side. Lord Levid grinned at the reminder.
Tharis, defiance in his eyes, stared down the king. With a tug, and a spray of blood, the ring was torn from his flesh, "Leash and ring." he held the bloody loop of metal up for Lord Levid to see, "If you're putting us to death, I'm going to take your whole gladiator stock with us... monkey... and you're never... NEVER getting to touch Sidney."
If Lord Levid had looked angry before, Sidney had no adjectives to describe him at that point. Then, in one sudden flash, Lord Levid's features turned to complete and abject neutrality. A strange sense of serenity flowed through the king as if nothing that was said or done could possibly have bothered him. He raised a hand as he returned to his curtained box, "I own up to my mistakes..." Lord Levid turned to Lord Hector, "And now I'll have YOUR mistake correct mine." he turned to toward the arena, "Baron!" he barked, "Kill the old bull so we can get on with things."