The Warrior Race Trilogy BoxSet

by T. C. Edge

  "Sleep well, my friend," Dom whispered. "You should never have..."

  He shook his head and the words cut short, but the thought went to completion in his mind.

  Why, he called out. Why didn't you tell me? Why did you do this all alone?! You should never have tried!

  Up above, Lucius was watching.

  "Gather up the body," he said to the soldiers. "The Empress will wish to have it..."

  Dom's gaze worked up at Lucius in anger. But he saw the expression upon his rival's face. He was saying what he needed, not what he wanted. Because his father was right there by his side.

  "It will be put on display!" roared Lord Pontius. "The traitor's body will be mutilated! It will be sent to all corners of Neorome as a warning! His soul will go to the depths of hell!"

  As Pontius blared out to the crowd who remained, Lucius' face gave Dom a silent order. Don't react, it said through an intense stare. Go back home, right now!

  Dom, heart thudding in hatred, turned reluctantly and spared a final look upon Rufus, just as the jackals closed in. He wished to stay, to take the body himself, to give him the cremation and rituals he deserved. But he knew he couldn't, and he had no choice. His only option now was to disown what Rufus had done, distance himself from the act. Many lives would now depend on that.

  So with a final glance upon his departed friend and ally, and his heart filling with loss, he led Kira quickly from the sand, and out beyond the arena where his carriage awaited.

  They climbed in quickly, the people flooding the streets, a great murmuring beginning to flow far and wide. Word would spread now of this moment, when the Empress nearly died, when her rotten flesh was cut. The blood would seep into the water, and the sharks would sniff it out. They would circle and close in, and what they'd find would be a wounded beast, cornered and more manic and dangerous than ever.

  Dom had lost his bodyguard, his advisor, and his closest friend. The man he put most of his trust in, who knew things no one else did, was gone. And Dom might now be more vulnerable than ever, alone without his great protector by his side.

  He cast the thought away, and glanced up at Kira, sitting opposite him as the carriage paced through the busy streets. He hadn't even realised she'd been looking right at him, her eyes infused with pity and pain.

  "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I know how important he was to you."

  Dom nodded through a pained smile.

  "He did it for you," he said. "And for me. He tried to kill her for all our sakes." He turned to look out of the curtain, flapping at the side of the carriage. "Tonight," he whispered. "I'll make sure you and your friends escape. I'll get you free of this place, Kira..."

  He felt a tug at his arm. His gaze shifted back to her. There was a resolution upon her face now, the doubt and worry dismissed. And when she spoke, her words came out thick and low, filled with purpose.

  She shook her head.

  "I'm not going anywhere without you," she said. "I promised Rufus I'd protect you. And that's just what I'll do."

  Now Dom's head began turning, left and right.

  "No, Kira. You don't need to be part of this anymore."

  Her grip on his arm tightened, and her eyes intensified further.

  "I do, Dom," she said. "I made Merk honour his duty to me for saving his life. Now Rufus has done the same with me. I must honour his wishes. I must stay and protect you, however I can."

  Dom saw she was not for turning. Her honour would force her hand, and whatever promise she'd made to Rufus, she'd have to keep. But looking at her, Dom made a promise of his own.

  He wasn't going to let her die in this city. One way or another, he'd see her safe and free, and all of her friends too. That was his promise, silently made deep inside his head.

  Now, he just had to work out how to keep it.

  And so the carriage rolled on, and Kira and Dom sat together, looking into each other's eyes with promises inside their heads. The Prince and the warrior, aligned in their fight.

  And together, they'd get their vengeance.

  Together, they'd save the city.

  THE END

  The Warrior Race will conclude in Book Three – Angel of War!

  BOOK THREE - ANGEL OF WAR

  80

  The ludus was fitted with soldiers. Many of them, personal guards of the Prince, stood at watch around the perimeter. The training yard, and the gallery above it, was inundated with them. All entrances to the cells, the servant's quarters, and the main villa itself were heavily defended.

  Within the walls of the central residence, Dom sat with a heavy heart in the main living space. The lush furnishings around him were at odds with his mental state, dark and bitter as his thoughts were. The table before him was arranged with fine foods, though none had been touched. Even the wine had been mostly left alone, Dom's appetite for all of it banished by the day's events.

  The arena had been set to witness several contests that afternoon, though none had been seen. The execution of Kira hadn't gone as intended, and it had been Dom's great friend and ally, Rufus, who took her place. His attempted assassination of the Empress had called a halt to proceedings. And now, that very day, Dom sat in a state of terrible nervousness at what might happen next.

  It was mid-afternoon, and the household was in a state of shock, as was the entire city. It seemed that all servants and soldiers who operated under Dom's patronage were intimately aware of the perils they may face. An attack by Rufus upon Vesper might be seen as an attack by Dom himself. And if the Empress so wished it, her reprisal could see the entire ludus burned to the ground, with every man and woman loyal to Dom inside.

  Dom was fully aware of this, and could sense the tension in the air. He'd quickly ordered for an additional contingent of guards to gather within his grounds, and was all set, if required, to make use of the secret passage beneath the villa in order to escape to safety.

  It would be a necessary act, not a cowardly one. His mind was set now on saving this city and ridding it of the Empress. The death of his closest friend was the final screw that needed turning. His deliberations on the issue were at an end. If he had to, he'd strangle his mother himself, and die in the attempt. Such were his feelings that afternoon.

  Yet he remained acutely aware of the dangers, and were a force of Imperial Guards to descend upon him, he'd be forced to utilise the secret passage to secure his escape. He'd gather his finest soldiers and servants, and would pre-empt his own exile. Yet it would be a temporary one. One to ensure he had the opportunity to return, at the right time, and complete the job his mind was now centred on.

  There would be no end for Dom that didn't involve either his, or his mother's, death. If he was forced to leave this city, he'd return in good time. Like a moth to a flame, the fire surrounding his mother would always draw him back.

  He wasn't alone as he sat in contemplation. Opposite him, equally taken by her thoughts, Kira sat in her red armour and fighting robes, flecks of Rufus' blood spattered on her face like freckles. Her expression was shadowed and dark, her eyes intense and staring. Dom took it to be a look of singular focus. That of a promise that needed to be kept, a promise to Rufus to keep Dom safe.

  The Prince had made the same promise to her, though only to himself and unspoken. It was a vow to get her from this place unharmed, to return her to the life he stole her from. Yet, their two promises weren't aligned. As Dom sat there, inspecting her, he wished only to free her of her shackles, to send her away. And in doing so, deny her the opportunity to fulfil the dying wish of the very man within both of their thoughts.

  They had spoken little since returning from the arena, the death of Rufus weighing heavy on them both. To Dom, it was the simple grief of losing someone he held dear. For Kira, it was the knowledge that, in giving away his life, Rufus ended up saving hers. That was a hefty burden to carry, and one that would only lighten by seeing out Rufus' final wishes.

  Breaking the quiet came footsteps. A precise and measured step. Dom's
eyes worked up and found Claudius entering into the sitting area down a passage.

  "Master Domitian," he said. "I have some news from Southside."

  "Yes, Claud, tell me..." hurried Dom's voice.

  "It appears the revolt there is gathering steam." The old man stopped and looked upon Kira in a questioning manner. "Am I OK to speak candidly in front of the girl?" he asked.

  Dom nodded.

  "Absolutely, Claud. Go right ahead."

  "Well, sir, we're getting reports from our operatives that various groups are attacking and killing soldiers down there. It appears to be some reaction to the attack on the Empress. Perhaps they're getting the scent of weakness, sir, and are seeing now as a time to strike."

  "Seems likely," said Dom, enthused by the thought. "They're killing soldiers you say? Imperial Guards?"

  "I'm not sure on the specifics yet, sir. But it's possible that some Imperial Guards are being drawn into the fight."

  "And these groups. They're not related to ours?"

  "Not as far as I know, sir. My wires are a little crossed, seeing as it was Rufus who was dealing primarily with the mercenaries and arms dealers. However, it appears these are other local groups, unrelated to our own."

  "Right," nodded Dom. "Well continue to look into it, Claud. And, obviously I don't need to tell you to keep it on the hush."

  "Of course not, sir. Should I advise our people to contribute to the attacks?"

  Dom considered it for a moment. His ability to make swift decisions was compromised right now, and Rufus would usually be the man to turn to in such situations. He looked up at Claudius instead.

  "What do you think, Claud?"

  "I'd say support them, sir, to a limited degree. There's no use adding our full weight to these skirmishes until we know how they're likely to play out."

  Unlike Dom, Claudius' answer came swiftly and without any modicum of indecision.

  "Good idea, Claud," said Dom. "See to it immediately."

  Claudius didn't step away immediately, but drew up another query.

  "What do you think of the idea of visiting with your mother, sir?" he queried. "I'd suggest it may be a sensible option, to allay any suspicion that you were involved in the plot against her."

  "Yes, I had considered it, Claud..."

  "You think that's smart," came Kira's voice suddenly, speaking for the first time.

  "It could be smart, or incredibly dumb," said Dom, turning to her. "However, I'm hoping that Ares will see reason."

  "Ares? What's he got to do with it?" asked Kira.

  "Well, he was there right after...what happened," breathed Dom. "He asked me, unequivocally, if I had anything to do with it. I told him 'no', and he'll hopefully take that to my mother. Ares isn't a telepath, but has a manner of reading people and sniffing out the truth that is quite unnatural."

  "So, he believed you then?" asked Kira.

  "He did. Because it was the truth. Yes, Rufus and I have discussed my mother's assassination before, but never with any firm plan in mind. He worked alone, and he did it to protect me. As he always did..." he trailed off.

  "That might still put you in an incriminating position, however, sir," said Claudius. "If you've had these discussions, your mother may probe into your mind and see them. Whether you were involved in Rufus' attempt or not may be irrelevant."

  "Yeah..." hurried Kira's voice. "She'll just see that you want her dead, and she'll kill you first. You can't go to the palace, Dom. You can't go visit her."

  Dom was nodding. It was a risk, certainly, but so long as he had his wits about him, he might well be able to conceal any specific discussions he'd had with Rufus about murdering Vesper. She may sense a general desire to see her dead, but frankly she must be aware of that by now.

  "It was a foolish attempt by Rufus," said Claudius, now shaking his head and frowning in a rare show of disapproval. The man wasn't prone to ever displaying emotion through his facial expressions. This was clear proof that he was feeling rather strained. "What exactly was he thinking, Master Domitian? He knew that, should he fail, it would shine a spotlight on you, and all of us here in the ludus."

  "You know...knew Rufus," sighed Dom. "He would only have taken this measure if he thought he could truly see it through. Were Ares not nearby, the knife would have taken my mother's life, rather than just meeting her shoulder."

  "But Rufus would have been killed anyway," said Claudius. "The Imperial Guard would have cut him straight down..."

  "Yes, they would. And he very well knew it. He was willing to sacrifice himself in the attempt, and got so very close to freeing this city all by himself. When my mother changed the rules of the bout, and put a sword into Kira's hand, Rufus saw the opportunity. I don't know whether he'd have taken it otherwise, not at that time. The stars lined up for him, Claud. He saw that he could spar with Kira, move around the arena, and wait for the right time to strike. And, well...he could save her life too by giving his. He was a hero, and should be honoured."

  Dom looked over to Kira and smiled. She dipped her eyes a touch in thought.

  "I see the logic," continued Claudius. "However, the failed attempt now puts us all here, and the entire city, in greater peril than ever. A beast is never so dangerous as when it's wounded, Master Domitian. And your mother hasn't only been wounded in body, but in mind. She will now be impossible to get to, even should the games continue, and she visit the royal balcony. I fear Rufus has done more harm than good."

  "Perhaps," whispered Dom, struggling to deny it. His dear friend wasn't prone to acts of such wanton recklessness. It would, he knew, have been in the back of his mind, and only activated when the chance to save Kira arose. He never wanted to see to her execution. Another few inches. Another split second. And Vesper would be dead. "But," he went on, firming his voice, "we have no choice now but to operate within the space we find ourselves in. We will see Rufus' attempt fulfilled, Claud. I have no fear in saying that here. Southside is our ally, and will draw my mother's eye. The growing revolt will help us tremendously."

  "Yes, of course, sir," said Claudius, nodding. "I will see to it that our groups there support it more actively, as you wish."

  "Thank you, Claud. And I don't have to tell you that all whispers here in this room don't go beyond it."

  Claudius stood up to his full height, his old spine straightening out.

  "Master Domitian, I am loyal to you to the end. I will not speak a word of anything you don't wish me to tell."

  Dom dipped his head in acknowledgement of his chief aid, who proceeded to move back off through the villa. As soon as he did, Kira's voice rose up.

  "What's he talking about, all these groups of yours in Southside? I thought you sent Merk down there to try to quell this revolt?"

  "I did, under my mother's orders. It was never my desire."

  "But you're supporting it instead? Isn't that dangerous?"

  "Everything's dangerous, Kira," said Dom. "I'm keeping the circle tight. Only a few people, Claud among them, knows of my involvement in this."

  "And now I do too," murmured Kira. "I guess the idea's to distract Vesper, weaken her, right? If you do that, you may have a chance to strike when she's not so well defended."

  "That's the thinking," nodded Dom. "You...you have plenty of experience of rebellions. Do you think it's a good strategy?"

  Kira's eyes hovered off towards the middle distance. But only for a moment. They returned to Dom soon after, and came with a nod.

  "Yes, it's smart. The more Imperial Guards Vesper sends to the south, the fewer she'll have in the centre of the city. So your plans to assassinate her...presumably they involved Rufus sneaking into the palace unseen? Perhaps alongside you for cover?"

  "The thought crossed our minds, along with others. But Ares is always with my mother, and will be keeping her under closer watch than ever. He's the key. Turn him, and it opens lots of doors."

  "And can he be turned?" asked Kira intently.

  Dom sighed, a long breath s
queezed from his lungs and up his tight throat. His head was dancing, caught between nodding and shaking.

  "I'd have said 'no' up until the last couple of days. And even now, I'd say it's highly unlikely. But there's something there, some doubt in him now. I can see it. He may be losing his faith, or else slowly escaping my mother's grip on him. It's...possible. But highly dangerous to even attempt it."

  "Sounds like everything around here," grinned Kira ironically, shedding some light on the room with her smile. "Would you have it any other way?"

  A small laugh escaped Dom's lips.

  "I guess not," he said.

  "Well, I'll help," said Kira, dismissing the brief levity. "I'll be the assassin if you want. It's what I do, Dom. I do this sort of thing all the time back home..."

  "I...I appreciate that, Kira," cut in Dom quickly. "But you're still a gladiator here. Unless you let me set you free...and I truly want to..."

  "No," said Kira fiercely. "I'm seeing Rufus' wishes fulfilled."

  "Well, then I don't know what else to do. If the games continue, you'll be reinstated into them now. And I don't know how you'll see to Rufus' wishes then."

  "And will they continue after this? The games, I mean."

  Dom nodded firmly.

  "I'm sure of it," he said. "My mother won't let this stop her. It will be a delay and nothing more. I wouldn't be surprised if they were back on tomorrow."

  "So, I could be back on the sand immediately? And Finn and Gwyn too?"

  "Exactly," said Dom. "Unless I free you all."

  "But that would put even more of a spotlight on you," said Kira. "I can't have that."

  "I think the light's firmly on me anyway. And...if you wish to stay, then I'll release the others. I made a promise to you, Kira. I'll set them free right now. I'll get all of them to safety."

  Kira nodded immediately.

  "Yes," she breathed. "Finn and Gwyn. Let them loose. You can say they slipped away, maybe, during the commotion? Or tried to escape and were killed?"

  "That could work. As I see it, my mother has no interest whatsoever in Gwyn. I doubt she even knows her name, and I'll be able to simply tell the schedulers that she's no longer in the contest. Finn is clearly well liked by the people, but with everything that's going on, not many will raise an eyebrow. Escape attempts do happen occasionally, and seeing as Finn and Gwyn fought together recently, it wouldn't surprise people to know that they worked together to get away."