Premonition

by Lisa M. James

“10 days? In 10 days I am to be competent enough to beat a skilled warrior? Are you forgetting the beating I received under Dante? This man trained under him.” Titus said nothing to this as I turned my eyes to Kiatra who stood silently. Her expression gave nothing. I already felt a sense of loss. It took one year for me to finally start to feel like I was finding a place here. My life had fallen into a routine that if I admitted, I was starting to enjoy. I enjoyed the company of Titus and the young men I trained with who treated me with kindness. Even Kiatra’s guards and her handmaidens greeted me warmly now. And there was Mara. Though the woman was stern and sharp with her words, I knew she had grown fond of me. And I was enjoying my work. Learning the Fortress’s accounts was giving me a sense of purpose here. I had bonded with the horses, was more competent in bartering for cattle and was feeling more confident in my skills in defense. It was all for nothing. In 10 days I would lose it all. I swallowed hard. In 10 days, I would be cast out of Kiatra’s presence.

  “We are aware of that Isaac, but we cannot delay. It will look poorly on Kiatra as if she has no confidence in you.” I didn’t miss Kiatra’s stone expression break for a moment and reflect a hint of sorrow before returning back to stone.

  “It must be done, Isaac.” She said evenly.

  In the next nine days I practiced heavily on daggers with Titus. “You will never beat the man arm to arm, but with distance you might have an advantage. He won’t give you enough time to cock a bow, so daggers are your best chance.”

  The morning of the 10th day, Mara handed me a new tunic and trousers. The tunic was a plain black with a bronze belt around the waist. I avoided her eyes as she was looking at me sadly all week. The end result of this was inevitable. I hid three daggers on my body, two at my waist and one at my calf, and carried my staff in my hand.

  “Ready?” Titus said to me now as he came to retrieve me in Kiatra’s chambers.

  I sighed. “I suppose. Where is—” I started before Sabrina entered into the room. “What are you doing here?”

  “Am I not allowed to see you?” She said raising her arms toward me. I stepped back from her reach. It was a peculiar thing the woman did. Anytime she spoke to someone, I noticed how she would try to frame their face with her palms. Something was odd about it though I had not seen anything to confirm this notion.

  “What do you want?”

  Her hands landed upon my chest. “To wish you luck.” She said almost in a whisper.

  “Or to unnerve you.” Titus said tersely as he pulled her hand off of me. “I heard Eliazer was dedicating his victory to you, Sabrina. What did you promise him to challenge Isaac? Or perhaps it’s after the battle you promised him a reward.”

  “You shouldn’t believe everything you hear, cousin.” She narrowed her eyes at Titus at the accusation before turning them back to me. “I assure you I am on your side, Isaac. For my sister’s sake. It would be such a pity if you did not come out the victor. Kiatra would be so disappointed and I would just hate to see her disappointed. Wouldn’t you?” She leaned close to me and brushed her lips against my cheek. “Be well.” She glided her hand down my chest, before departing without another word.

  “Get her out of your head. That woman does not have your interests in mind, nor Kiatra’s.”

  “She is not in my head.” I said defensively. The woman had not said anything I did not already know. My loss would shame Kiatra. It would put her judgement as ruler in question. “Where is my mistress?”

  “She will be watching from a far with her father in the arena.” I had thought the combat would be within one of the training fields with a small audience. Yet it seemed that it had been some time since a person in service was challenged and quite a crowd was drawn to this event. The arena in the Fortress on most days hosted staged battles or theatre performances for entertainment. Today, I was the entertainment.

  Titus had arranged what was referred to as a 10-strike battle. Because of my lack of skill, I only had to strike Eliazer once to be declared the victor, but if he struck me 10 times first, he would be the victor. The man had protested such a stipulation, but Titus worked off of his pride. “You fear? That the slave will beat you with only a few months training compared to your 15 years? Pitiful. Perhaps you are not a true warrior after all.”

  The man raged and said even with 100 chances I would not be able to strike him. I would have been thankful for 100 chances, but Titus settled for 10 much to my dismay.

  “Don’t show weakness.” Titus said firmly as he led me to the arena. I heard noise before I entered as nauseam filled me. I was not a warrior. I was never competent with weapons or in defense. I was intelligent. I was quick witted. I never considered myself very strong even after one year of training. I was ripe for the picking.

  Eliazer was already in the arena riling up the crowd. My heart started to beat rapidly, causing me to breathe uneasily. Was everyone in the Fortress here today? My legs became lead weights as Titus shoved me hard. “Be brave.” He said sharply. “The man’s pride will be his downfall. I am certain of it. Do not lose sight of him. Remember what I said.”

  Titus had given me a whirlwind of knowledge and advice these last 10 days, but a growing, crippling fear kept my mind from processing most of it. Aim low. Keep your distance. Don’t let him within an arm's reach of you. For the first time, I had prayed for a vision. Something that would help me determine the man’s weakness. Something that would lead me on how I would win. None came. Although, I suppose I did not need a vision to know the inevitable. I would not be the victor.

  Titus went over and said something to Eliazer. The man directed a menacing smile toward me. I took in a deep breath and looked toward the stands. I glanced toward the top where there was a balcony jetting out over the crowd. There were three seats from which I could view. One for the Chief, to his right sat Kiatra, and to his left sat Sabrina. From the distance, I was not quite certain Kiatra was looking at me. Since the challenge was given, I had hardly seen the woman. It seemed she went out of her way to avoid me. What she felt about this whole affair, I was uncertain.

  “Are you ready?” Titus said firmly. I swallowed hard and nodded. “Raise your staff to your Mistress, and we will begin. I nodded again as the crowd started to silence. The Chief raised his hand just as I was raising my staff to Kiatra. This time I knew she was staring at me. She nodded and the Chief’s voice bellowed through the arena.

  “Begin!”

  ~~~~~~~

  I kept my face neutral as Isaac was hit for the fifth time. I turned my head away as my handmaiden refilled my glass of wine. I could sense their anxiety as well. My servants had grown accustomed to Isaac. Eliazer would not adjust so well. The man was as arrogant as the man who trained him, Dante. Though as a free man and not a slave he would receive fair wages and he certainly would not sleep in my chambers, I knew the man wouldn’t last in servitude. He had too much pride to do anything other than fight. He would quarrel with my guards and surely try to seduce my handmaidens. Mara would have no taste for him. I would find a reason to have him dismissed within seven days. But I would be unable to bring Isaac back to me. The outcome of the challenge would be clear. Isaac would no longer be fit to serve me.

  “I cannot watch this any longer.” Mara said from behind me as Isaac was hit for a sixth time. The man started well. He surprisingly held his own against Eliazer when they both faced off with only their staffs. Yet when Eliazer bested him once, Isaac was unable to recover. He was charged at, punched in the mouth, his legs were knocked out from under him, he was jabbed repeatedly in the stomach until he crumbled, and now as he got up wobbling Eliazer grabbed a portion of his hair and slammed his head to the ground. He stayed close to him not giving Isaac any time to recover before he punched him in the throat then used his staff to knock him to the floor again. The eighth hit.

  “Tell me, sister. Is this what you wished? To make us think that you favored the man but to truly give him a public beating for his crimes? Well done. You will regain much favor
after this.”

  “Oh shut up, Sabrina.” I had no tolerance today for my sister’s loose tongue. Sabrina had distanced herself from me since Dante’s sentencing, but Titus suspected she was the one who persuaded Eliazer to challenge Isaac. The suspicion seemed to be confirmed as Eliazer turned to where we sat and blew a kiss toward her before bowing in a dramatic fashion. “Are you bedding Eliazer too? My, your list of paramours are growing, sister.”

  “How dare you accuse me of such a thing in front of Father!”

  “Father is not blind to the fact that you are a whor—”

  “Enough.” Father said sternly giving me a warning look, before patting Sabrina on the knee. “You know you are too good for a man like Eliazer, don’t you?” I groaned as she pecked him on the cheek and leaned back into her seat.

  “Father, are you enjoying the show? I cannot remember the last time a person in service was challenged.”

  “It was when I first came under your father’s service.” Sebastian said with little emotion, not bothering to look at her. Sabrina leaned back up and crossed her arms.

  “Truly? Who would be so foolish as to challenge you?” Sebastian glanced at her and tipped the side of his mouth up slightly.

  “The man does not show his face so much anymore.” Sabrina giggled flirtatiously as I rolled my eyes.

  “What a disgusting display.” My father said under his breath. Eliazer was taunting Isaac as he struggled to get back up. He couldn’t hit the man as he stayed down to the ground. Isaac only had two more tries to defend his position. The crowd seemed to be split. Though based on the cheers most believed Isaac was undeserving of my favor, there were still some who seemed to be rooting for the unlikely victor.

  My anger coiled at Eliazer for mocking Isaac. He danced in a circle around him until going to a far corner of the arena and greeting the crowd.

  I looked back at Isaac, who was slowly getting to his knees. Natalie and Titus’ accusations against me were correct. I had cursed Isaac by choosing him as my slave. He continued to be punished for my favor. I suppose it didn’t matter now. After this, he would no longer be my slave. As Titus’ slave he would not be under so much scrutiny. Perhaps, it was a better fate for him. Though the thought of not seeing the man every day cast a sudden bout of grief within me.

  “Look at that!” My father said suddenly, pointing toward Isaac who was still on his knees. I leaned closer. Isaac had a dagger in his hand. I looked at the distance from him to Eliazer, whose back was still to him, and remembered his practice in the training fields. He was not a good shot, but it was the first opportunity Eliazer had given to Isaac. Isaac hesitated for only a second as the dagger released with a quick flick of his wrist. Eliazer began to turn around just as the dagger connected with his left calf.

  I jumped from my seat forgetting my decorum and spilling my wine. Eliazer stood in stunned silence, not even yelping in pain as blood started to drip down his calf. The cheers in the crowd turned to murmurs of surprise.

  “What happened?” Sabrina asked in confusion.

  “He won.” Sebastian answered in disbelief. “It was a clean hit.”

  Isaac looked around the arena searching for Titus as Eliazer screamed in a rage and started to charge at him. “Isaac!” I shouted. Titus appeared then with his staff in hand and blocked Eliazer before kicking him in his midsection and striking him hard against his jaw before the man stumbled down.

  “Stay down!” I could hear Titus command him. He turned to Isaac and said something to him. Isaac turned then toward where I sat with Father and raised his staff up.

  “Does the victor please you, mistress?” He asked as boldly as he could manage as his voice strained from weariness and dehydration.

  I smiled until my father nudged me gently. “Speak, child.”

  I nodded and projected my voice. “Yes. You please me. You will not be challenged again. You have done enough to prove your worth and will remain in my service. The next man or woman who dares to question my judgement will pay for it with their life.” My father sighed at this. It was an overly dramatic decree. We both knew it. Yet, such a dramatic win deserved a bold declaration. Isaac lowered his staff but stared at me for a long moment with an expression I could not decipher from the distance. It was almost a look of regret. Titus put an arm around him and turned him away from the arena. My father gently put a hand on my arm.

  “Wait a moment.” He murmured. “Do not seem too eager to go to him.” I looked down at him in surprise, but he was smiling slightly. I sat back down next to him and glanced at Sabrina who was chatting quietly with Sebastian. She turned her eyes to me only for a moment before turning back around.

  “He has proven himself in intelligence and now strength, Father.”

  “He is a worthy slave.”

  “He is a worthy man to have in my service.”

  My father said nothing to this as I allowed my handmaiden to serve me another glass of wine. I drank it slowly before taking my leave. I went down to the market where my people congratulated me for the victory. It may have been Isaac battling but his loss would have reflected poorly on my choices. I declared that the wine would be free flowing all night at my expense which brought a shout of glee from the people and a greedy grin from the wine merchants. They would give me a sum that was twice as much as the wine given by the end of the night, but I would pay it in full. It was a time of celebration.

  The sun was starting to make a descent as I made my way back to my chamber. Isaac would have bathed, had his wounds mended and been fed by now. Before I made it to my chamber Mara cut suddenly into my path.

  “My lady—” She started before her voice broke off. Her face showed she had been weeping.

  I grabbed her arms with both hands. “Tell me what happened. Did someone harm you—"

  She shook her head rapidly. “It’s Isaac.”

  My mind went into panic. His wounds didn’t seem so severe that they needed more than a superficial dressing. Perhaps some stitching, but could I have been wrong? Was he severely injured? Could he be dying? “What? Tell me.”

  Mara moaned slightly, tears streaming down her face. “He tried to escape.”

  “He tried to escape.” I repeated numbly. My words were low and not a question. I did not need to hear how he tried to escape. I knew how. For six months there was one pathway out of the Fortress that remained unguarded by the untrained eye. One pathway that Isaac was certain to see. One that led out of the stables where my animals were kept, to the pastures where they grazed. One pathway that was not fortified with stone walls. One pathway that was left to tempt him day after day. One pathway that was meant to test his loyalty to me.

  “Who found him?”

  “Titus.” She said quietly. I nodded in relief. It was a good thing it was Titus who had a fondness for Isaac. At least I knew he would be alive. If anyone else had discovered him trying to escape they likely would have beaten him to death. I pushed a feeling of hurt away. It was ridiculous. My slave had tried to escape again. He was not the first slave who had tried, nor would he be the last. It was unseemly for me to feel anything other than indifference. A slave had tried to run away, and he would be punished. I should feel nothing other than a desire for obedience. Yet, I felt betrayal. I felt anger. But more than anything I felt grieved for what was to come.

  “Take me to him.”

  Chapter 13

  Every inch of my body throbbed in pain. Mara had dressed the wounds that were inflicted by Eliazer before I bathed, but now those wounds were reopened and accentuated with new cuts and an unrelenting, pounding ache in my head from where Titus had dragged me through the woods by my hair as I resisted to no avail.

  I tried to escape. I had noticed a path leading out from where I led the animals to graze. One that went directly into the woods. I knew for several months now that there was no guard or dogs posted at that path. I never thought too much of it. Not until Eliazer challenged me. Mara’s affection, Kiatra’s favor and Titus’ friendship g
ave me a false sense of security here and Eliazer’s challenge brought me back to the reality of my existence in the Fortress. In an instant I could lose Kiatra’s favor and all those who were obedient to her. In an instance my circumstance could change. I would never be at peace here. Worst of all, I was forgetting my own people. My family. My mother and my brother who I knew remained in mourning and soon to mourn again with my father’s death. How could I not try to escape again? How could I not try to be with them one more time? How could I forget that I would always truly be alone here? My life meant nothing to these people. I was a slave. I could easily be forgotten.

  I knew I could not run before the battle. It was a disgrace to Kiatra that I ran at all, but it would be a worse disgrace if I ran from battle. Of course, I had never imagined that I would end up the victor. Of all the things I was able to see in my visions, I did not see that. But it didn’t matter. It was too late. I had already decided to escape. I had already convinced myself it was the right thing to do. Though my plan was not well thought out. I told Mara I wished to let out the animals to graze. She had told me that she would tend to it, but I was insistent. It had likely drawn her suspicions. When I thought no one was watching me at the stables, I walked toward the path. I started walking slowly before I hit a run. I wasn’t sure the exact direction to go to get back to my village, but I knew if I was able to get to the river, I would be able to manage my way back. What I would do then, I didn’t know. Kiatra had told me the first time I had attempted to escape that there was no where I could go that she wouldn’t find me, but I put that thought out of my mind. She would be in my village with my people. Surely my people would stand for me now? Surely once I was back home we could come to another agreement?

  I noticed too late a staff stuck out suddenly disrupting my path. My knees hit the ground hard as someone yanked me back by my collar and kicked a foot into my chest to pin me to the ground. I struggled for a moment until I realized it was Titus. The man’s eyes were solemn.