by D.E. Dunlop
Kathryn put her hand on the back of his neck and looked into his eyes. “I didn’t say you had to forgive her my dear. I just don’t want you to kill her.” She said with her saddest little pout. She pulled him close and pulled his bottom lip quickly with her teeth. She looked at him seductively from beneath her dark lashes and walked away. “Keep up the good work”. She called uninterestedly over her shoulder as she left the box.
The captain sat there dazed with his mouth hanging open for quite some time afterwards.
She really wants me. He thought to himself. No, she’s teasing me. She can’t really…He watched her disappear.
Without explanation Angela’s squad was moved to a larger cage. The new cage had three beds for the six of them to share instead of two. They looked around at the new area and extra bed and at each other with confusion and concern. They were suspicious of the change and wondered what it could mean.
“The extra bed is for yellow five.” A guard called in from the corridor.
“My name is Angela!” She shouted into the dark as she shook the cage angrily. “What trickery is this?” she screamed.
“Yellow five step away from the cage.” The guard ordered.
“My name is…” She protested again but was interrupted by a whip snapping her leg. She fell to the dirt floor holding her bleeding wound and cursing under her breath.
“Consider that a warning Yellow five.” The guard said casually as he left the area.
“Angela.” She muttered defiantly between her teeth and curses.
The gladiators had been renamed according to the colour of the door to their cells and numbered according to the order they first entered the cell. Eventually the armour they were given to wear in the ring would be painted the same colour as the door. Obviously, the armour was taken from them after each match to prevent any possibility of revolt. The armour was cleaned before the next event so that the fighters were well distinguished at the start and so the fans could see the blood better.
Shortly after their initial imprisonment they had each been given a tunic to cover themselves with. Its body length came down just above the knee and the arm length stopped just below the elbow. It was the only piece of clothing they had and it was washed with a bucket of water only as often as one was thrown at them through the bars of their cage. The cells had two bunks, each with one blanket and there were typically five or six gladiators per cell.
In addition to the poor living conditions, each prisoner underwent what Maynard referred to as “treatment”. They were given two hours minimum of torture per day. They were addressed only by colour and number and received extra treatment if they were found calling each other by their birth names or even giving their birth name to another person. By the time the permanent gladiator ring was established, Angela was the only one who still remembered her birth name. Or, at least, she was the only one who dared to speak it.
The yellow squad consisted of four women and two men. One of the two men had once been a member of Bayfield’s army and the rest of the team had been captured in the fall of Tecumseth. All forgot this information, by this time. Despite the daily torture and the brutality of Maynard’s ring the yellow squad had grown quite close. They managed to bond and fought as a team in the ring. This was not the case for the red squad. The red squad had many difficulties with banding together. The squad consisted of six members, three women and three men. Roger was a tall handsome blonde man with rugged looks. His blue eyes were piercing. Stuart was a man of rich black skin. He kept his hair very short. His features were slightly rounded and gave him the appearance of being slightly overweight. Harry was slightly taller than Roger with brown hair and blue eyes. He was large and bulky. Tiffany was of average height. Her skin was a deep milky brown and her hair was long and done in corn rolls. She was muscular and strong. Sarah was the same height as Tiffany with fair skin and brown hair and brown eyes. Brittany was slightly shorter than the other two with shoulder length black hair and clear eyes. Stuart and Tiffany were brother and sister and close friends of Angela. The other four were from the south around Banting and were complete strangers to Stuart and Tiffany. Their first trip to the ring was absolutely disastrous.
The daylight was excruciatingly bright when the doors opened. The team was absolutely stunned as they walked out. They had barely survived several hours of torture. They had been locked in complete darkness with water dripping insistently upon them. They were thrust in to armour with masks and shoved into the ring. Their eyes grew accustomed to their new environment and slowly recognized a group of about twenty Sittyan soldiers. While their minds processed the information Captain Maynard began to speak loudly at them.
“If any of you survives you may go free.” He shouted.
Stuart realized his sister was next to him and pulled her closer. Immediately they turned back to back in defensive position. The rest of the team spread out, bewildered. The soldiers bore down on them with great haste and immediately laid waste to their prey. Roger and Harry went first in a haze of black armour. Their bodies dropped to the ground and were trampled under the advancing enemy. Stuart and Tiffany managed to defend themselves quite well for a while. They took down four or five before Stuart felt the emptiness at his back. The surrounding storm went still and quiet in his eyes as they caught his sister falling slowly to the ground. She hit lifelessly at his feet and reality snapped back into its place. After that he couldn’t remember what took place, but when he came to there were several enemy soldiers lying at his feet and the rest were standing in a circle around him and Sarah. The fight was over. Their hearts pounded with the expectation of freedom that never came. They were pushed back into the hold and escorted back to their cell.
The fate of the blue team was even worse than the red team’s. This team was made up entirely of women from Angela’s platoon including her most loved cousins Jennifer and Liana. Their first event had them fighting the yellow team. Not one of the blue survived. Even more tragically, Jennifer and Liana were slain by Angela, herself.
Many times amongst the other squads the members would actually turn on each other or use each other for shields or to bait the dogs. Because of their skill, spirit and teamwork, the yellow squad quickly became a favourite in the eyes of the spectators and Angela, unofficially, held a position as their captain. Her skills were unmatched by any in the ring and the crowd, much like Kathryn, loved her.
**********
The dilapidated portcullis creaked slowly upward as six black horses charged across the bridge with a dark carriage in tow. A small regiment of armed horsemen followed them closely. The driver refused to change speed as they raced through the narrow streets. People ran in every direction to avoid being struck or rundown. Those that remained too close were splattered with slush and mud. The queen was not interested in the sights of the land or even the condition of it or its people. She had not conquered Bayfield to make it a summer retreat. Her only focus was finding the Gorchan. Whatever she had to do to get it was what she would without hesitation. She decided it would be best to personally occupy the city to oversee the advancement.
“We can’t afford any more mistakes on this, my dear.” She said to her great granddaughter while the younger gazed out the window. “I’ve already lost your grandfather and your father.”
Kathryn looked at the queen coldly. “You think I don’t already know that?” She asked.
“You have so much of Sidney in you. I wish you had even half of the respect Milton had. You just don’t get it. I’ve been working on this for centuries and I’m almost out of time. When the Gorchan is in my possession your future and empire will be established forever.” Katharine explained shortly.
“Aren’t you just going to live forever once you get them? I mean, isn’t that the reason for these fancy stones, to live forever ruling the world?” Kathryn mumbled to the window while the stone buildings raced past. The
younger had not fully understood the importance of her great grandmother’s quest and was ‘distracted’, as the queen would say.
“It doesn’t work like that, my dear. Death comes to us all regardless of the power of the Gorchan. If I thought I could live for another two hundred years I certainly wouldn’t be wasting my time with training an ungrateful child such as you.”
“Oh, come on, Nan. You know I just like to make your blood boil.” Kathryn placated.
They stopped abruptly before the palace where Maynard awaited with an entourage to escort them to their destinations. Queen Katharine would want to know how the interrogations were proceeding and Princess Kathryn would, hopefully, want to see
Maynard as soon as she could. Maynard had been anticipating this arrival for months with butterflies in his stomach. The military escort engulfed them even before the queen and her heiress could step out of the carriage.
In less than a week’s time Katharine increased the interrogations. More and more people disappeared or were thrown into prison. Many of them were even hanged, some just for the sheer fulfillment of displaying power. Bayfield realized, quite early, the strife she was going to endure under the reign of her new queen. Maynard’s tactics were actually merciful compared to Katharine’s. Perhaps because it was his home and somewhere deep inside his bitter heart was a broken shard of love.
It was the middle of February. Six weeks had passed since Katharine moved in and Captain Maynard pushed his way through the crowded, snow packed street toward the arena; his breath billowed about his head and shoulders in the bitter cold. He had just been updating the warrant boards around the city. The posters accused Jessie and the Royal Guard of High Treason and desertion. The notices also offered great sums of money for information leading to the arrest of any deserters and reminded citizens that association with such criminals would bring the same punishment as the traitors themselves; which, of course, meant you would probably end up in the gladiator ring if an officer decided you had any association. Close behind, as was routine, his lieutenant and two guards also shouldered their way through the crowd. As the captain rounded a corner he crashed into a beautiful young woman of slight build. Maynard looked indignantly to see who had not yielded.
“Lisa.” He said with a very fake smile. “I thought you would have fled with that cowardly cousin of yours. What a pleasant surprise. I assume, then, that this means you are smarter than he and have chosen a much better alternative than exile.”
Lisa threw her head to one side as she brushed a stray strand of blond curl from the corner of her mouth. She peered through squinted, brilliant blue eyes at her obstruction. “You know what happens when you assume.” She answered and Maynard’s smile faded without a trace. “My cousin is more man than you could ever possibly dream of being.”
“We shall see about that my dear.” He said as she turned coldly to walk away. Maynard moved with unexpected speed, considering the layers of clothing he wore to shield him from the cold. He took her jaw between his thumb and fingers and pulled her close to him. He had to look down, as she was much smaller. He squeezed her face enough that her ruby lips puckered and opened slightly. “To think such filth could ooze from such a beautiful woman.” He sneered. Some of her long curls had fallen into her face when he grabbed her, which he gingerly swept from her eyes. “Don’t forget who runs the show.” He added as she shoved his hand away and marched angrily into the cold.
“Perhaps I should send one of my officers by this evening to check up on you.” He jeered after her.
The snow was packed solid in the arena and the final five gladiators of the original thirty-six stood side by side. All five were of the yellow squad and they stood dumb founded when they heard their instructions.
“As of this date you have defeated all of your opponents. Before we set you free there is one last task to be done.” Captain Maynard announced while they patted each other on the back ecstatically.
“The last one of you standing may go free.”
Each warrior looked back and forth from Maynard to each other for a few minutes in disbelief. They then spent a few more minutes squaring off before they turned back to Maynard and refused to fight. The crowd booed and hissed. Maynard rolled his eyes. “Release the dogs.” He muttered and fifteen hungry wild dogs tore into the ring barking and snarling. “Shoot the one in the middle.” The Captain said to a nearby soldier. The designated gladiator collapsed in the midst of the dogs and they were on him in seconds. The rest of the team went into frenzy, stabbing, kicking and throwing dogs. Their efforts seemed to be failing and they wept as they fought. Their tears mixed with blood of each other ran down terror stricken faces. Screams and cries of angst, anger and horror rose out of the ring to be joined by the cheers and applause of the audience. Eventually, after a long and arduous battle the dogs lay strewn and mangled. The gladiators stood again before the angry captain. The shot gladiator slumped between the others. Maynard gave a look to one of his soldiers and the slumping warrior was shot dead in the arms of his comrades.
The yellow squad charged Maynard’s box but his guards circled them and took them off to their treatment.
Maynard turned to Kathryn and took her hand tenderly in his. “What do you think? Was it a fulfilling Valentine’s present?” He asked, smiling.
“Spectacular, my love!” She exclaimed as he bent and kissed her hand. She stood and turned to leave. “You know what would make it even more fantastic?” She asked.
“Anything, my dear.” He replied.
“Hang one of the villagers in the square below my balcony.” She purred softly. She had assumed the chambers that had, ironically, belonged to Angela. “No matter who. Any will be fine.” She blew him a kiss and walked away.
Maynard then turned to his lieutenant. “Make it someone important, someone meaningful, someone close to Jessie. Let me know who you come up with.” He said with a cold gaze.
The lieutenant returned within an hour.
“Almost all of Jessie’s family and friends have left or passed on. We brought the closest one we could find.” He said to Maynard.
“I’ll meet you in the courtyard.” He said and dismissed him.
A knock at the door to her chambers stirred Kathryn from admiring the variety of coloured stones she had placed in the window. She quickly threw a fur shawl over her shoulders and opened the door. Maynard stood there with a smile on his face.
“My lady, I have a surprise for you.” He said, taking her by the arm and leading her to the balcony. “I think you’re going to like it he whispered softly in her ear. Kathryn looked down from the balcony on the poorly lit, makeshift gallows. It was roughly constructed, but was obviously sufficient. The cold breeze ruffled her nightdress and she pulled the fur shawl closer around her shoulders. She smiled at the soldiers busying themselves with the preparation of her final valentine gift.
Maynard stepped up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders lovingly.
“A young woman, my love? Your cruelty continues to amaze me. Is she beautiful?” She asked.
“Oh, very.” He answered.
“Let’s have a look see.” She said sweetly.
Maynard called down to the men at the gallows as they put the noose around the lady’s neck.
“Take the hood off her.”
The man nearest her pulled the hood from the young woman’s head and Lisa stared angrily up at the couple on the balcony.
“You’ll pay for this you coward!” She yelled.
“Oh, to the contrary, my dear, I believe you will be paying. Maybe next time you won’t be so cheeky.” He replied and gave the signal. The gaoler kicked the stool Lisa was standing on and she fell with a jolt. Kathryn watched with a smile on her face as Lisa’s feet jerked a few times and then swung flaccidly.
“So beautiful.” She said as she pushed her back into Maynard’s chest. “I’ve never had such a
lovely valentine present as this. Thank you.”
“Leave her a little longer, boys.” The captain called as the men went to take down the corpse. Kathryn looked up at him and he looked down at her. They kissed briefly and continued to watch Lisa’s body swing softly in the evening breeze.
Maynard could not remember such a happy time as this in his whole life. He wanted to tell Kathryn he loved her, but as warm and tender as she was right now, she was typically cold and distant. He wasn’t sure if he was reading her correctly and decided not to risk the humiliation of her possible rejection.
**********
“Is this how you repay the adoration of your fans?” Kathryn asked indignantly while Angela fought against the guards and the chains they held her with. They had great difficulty getting her through the door to the princess’ chambers. After giving one more guard a bloody nose she entered the room. She looked about with distaste at what the new occupant had done to her own chambers. What had once been decorated with ornate and sophisticated beauty was now strange and intimidating. The large lamps were replaced with candelabra and the tapestries were turned to face the walls. The shelves and tables found themselves littered with various colourful, gleaming stones. The centre table had been draped with a heavy black cloth and held a large mouthed black bowl. It appeared to be filled with liquid. It could have been water, but it was hard to tell in the darkness of the container.
“What do you want from me?” Angela snapped at Kathryn.
“Only to show you my fondness. Did you enjoy the gift?”
“I don’t need your gifts.”
Kathryn pouted at her guest.