by Hicks, Aaron
Did I unconsciously add spirit to that attack? Was it really a titanic attack, or a true attack with spirit. If it was titanic, how did I do it? Ceftin slithered next to him and practically shouted in his excitement,
“Titanic you’ve finally achieved!
Far quicker than I would have believed!
Sssoon your enemiesss will you cleave!
On the sssand their livesss you will thieve!”
Uktesh smiled and said, “I did it! Really? That was titanic?”
Ceftin hissed out a laugh,
“If not titanic you tell me,
what it is that you sssee.”
Uktesh looked at the gladiators who had fallen and were picking themselves off the ground. Uktesh smiled and said, “I have no reason to doubt you.
Before Ceftin could reply the courtyard filled with soldiers. Like the rest of the gladiators he quickly lined up on the basis of his “kills” rank. Only Cielex, Omero, and Emexida were out of order. As they were fighting in the Rumble they were considered dead until they either became so or returned from the Rumble. The Storm lord stood on the balcony. With him was Astiau who grinned at Uktesh while glaring at him with murder in his eye. The Storm lord said from above, “You are my ludis. You are given the honor of providing tribute for the greatest Avian house in all of the Empire!” Uktesh knew that the Storm lord was important, but hadn’t realized he was ranked in the social class that was second only to the emperor himself.
Uktesh and the rest of the gladiators shouted, “We live to serve! We die to become tribute!”
The Storm lord continued, “Tomorrow is the Ultimate Rumble!” He gestured behind him for someone to step forward and Cavavos stepped next to him. “Cavavos was the champion six years ago, and earned his freedom!” There was no response needed for that statement, but Uktesh could feel the desperation rising from the assembled gladiators. “Cielex, Omero, and Emexida step forward.” The three gladiators faced the Storm lord from a few steps ahead of the rest of the gladiators. “Each ludis is honored to provide four seasoned gladiators and this year, like six years ago, we plan on winning the Rumble!”
The gladiators shouted, “Hoo!”
The Storm lord continued, “This year we will be sending two champions!” Uktesh suddenly had a sinking suspicion concerning Astiau’s grin. “Uktesh, step forward!” Uktesh didn’t hesitate, but stepped forward to stand at the front with the other three gladiators. The Storm lord looked satisfied with the selection and Astiau looked delighted.
The four chosen raised their swords or fists and shouted, “We salute you, Dominus!”
With the spectacle over the nobilis on the balcony headed back inside. Ceftin slithered over to the four as the rest of the gladiators headed back to what they had been doing.
“You mussst have been born under a bad ssstar to be so poorly blessed.
Fear not young Uktesh, with more training your fate won’t be messed.
You three continue to practicsse your ssskills.
Remember to kill isss the goal, abssstain from frillsss.
Uktesh tonight you mussst massster the form called titanic.
To do ssso you will practicsse like a manic!
Come there are only three hoursss of sssunlight left,
before the sssun risssesss again you mussst become deft.”
Uktesh nodded, and began to train again, this time under the guiding eye of the naga grand master. Well into the night they trained until the grand master called a halt and released Uktesh to go to bed. He wearily walked to his cell and silently slipped under the covers with Talia, who woke up just long enough to wrap and arm and a leg around him to help warm him up.
He woke up the next morning as Talia rolled over him and headed out of his cell. He yawned, sat up, headed over to his bucket and relieved himself. After he was done he headed to the kitchen where a special meal had been provided for the four who would fight in the Rumble.
He ate quickly and hurried back to his room where Talia was waiting for him. She flung herself into his arms and said, “I know you don’t want me, husband, but before you die, just once I want to feel a love like you feel for Laurilli, even if it’s not me you’re thinking of.”
Uktesh gently pushed her away and said, “You’ve gotten to know me pretty well in the three months I’ve been here. In that time have I done anything to indicate that I would agree to do that with you?”
Talia shook her head, tears in her eyes, and said, “You’re the first genuinely good guy I’ve ever met. You truly don’t want to use me in some way, but I want you to. All kidding aside--I call you husband, you call me wife--let’s make it official in the eyes of the gods.”
Uktesh said, “I’m not dying today anyway, so don’t worry about that.”
Talia said, “You can’t be sure of that! Hundreds will die today!”
Uktesh looked her in the eyes and said, “I have a plan. It’s not brave but it should get me past the first two rounds without too much trouble.” Uktesh planned to get a one on one fight right off the bat and pretend to die killing that person, and just lay down and watch the rest of the first and second rounds.
Talia said, “You like to gamble. If you lose but survive, then will you be with me as a man and woman should be? If you win, I’ll never ask you again.”
Uktesh thought the odds of his losing but surviving far lower than winning, so he said, “Sure.”
Talia smiled and said, “I knew you wanted me. If you didn’t want me at all you would’ve said ‘no’ like you normally do.”
Uktesh thought about what she had said as she put his armor on him. Okay, so I know that I find her attractive, but could she be right that I want to sleep, except not actually sleep, with her?
Uktesh’s darker side thought, of course you do, you little pervert.
Uktesh feel like he was betraying Laurilli with his thoughts and replied, you may want to Duktesh, he named his darker side; but I don’t have to do what you want.
Duktesh laughed heartily at him, of course you do! I’m you! Whether or not you admit it, you want her as much as I do! That’s literally a fact, because again, I’m you.
You’re just some primal part of me that sees a pretty woman and wants to jump her bones, but if I wanted her as much as you say I do, why haven’t I had her in over three months!
Uktesh knew that he’d won the argument he was having with himself, and with a deep breath he smiled, and said, “Talia you may be right that I like you and fine you attractive, but let me be clear, we will never do what you want.”
Talia grunted as she pulled his fasciae tight around his calves, “Unless you lose, but survive. You’ve already made that bet; no backing out of it now.”
Uktesh shrugged and said, “Just so we’re clear.”
She efficiently finished wrapping his calves and wrists. He sat on his bed while she put his ocrea on his calves. “You know--” she said and slid her hand up his leg.
He slapped her hand away before it went higher than mid-thigh, “Stop,” he commanded. “I like you, but if you do that again, I will replace you.”
She massaged her hand for a moment before she continued equipping his armor. When she was done with his legs, she started to put the manica on his right arm, and said, “Sorry.”
Uktesh nodded and let it go. She put his left manica and he stood for her to wrap his stomach with fasciae for the balteus. She let her fingers linger on his skin as she wound the cloth around his middle. He let her because to call attention to it seemed petty, plus he’d have to keep his promise and replace her, which he didn’t want to do. She grunted as she tightened the balteus over the fasciae and he stood ready to meet Ceftin and the other three gladiators.
Uktesh walked onto the sand and found gladiators already training. Sitting in the shade were Cielex, Omero, and Emexida. Uktesh walked over to them and stood between Omero and Emexida and asked, “Mind if I sit with you?”
Emexida said, “You’re in our boat now. Even though you put us h
ere we can’t blame you, sit down.”
Uktesh nodded and said, “You’ve more ‘kills’ than I do. I’ll sit between you and Omero, if you don’t mind.”
Emexida smiled and scooted away from Omero. Uktesh sat and said, “I am sorry that I was the instrument of your demotions.”
Cielex said, “I don’t really mind. After three months I probably would’ve been killed by now. You defeating me probably extended my life.”
Uktesh said, “I understand that one-to-one hundred odds are bad, but with the four of us fighting together, I’m sure we’ll be able to make those odds one to twenty-five and all make it to the last round.”
Ceftin slithered to them and said, “It’s time.”
Those training stopped to watch the four leave and Uktesh knew that they were thinking that, at best, only one would be returning. The guards seemed to be extra cautious of the gladiators on this walk to the coliseum. Uktesh wondered if condemned fighters and decided to try their luck against the guards. Uktesh saw that the gladiators ahead of them were also being led by nervous guards. When they arrived at the coliseum they were ushered straight onto the sand. As the passed under the gateway they were handed weapons. First Cielex got a sword and a shield, the Omero received metal gauntlets, the guard was about to hand Uktesh his swords when Astiau stopped him, “Wait, that’s ‘Uktesh the Unarmed’ he doesn’t need those.”
Uktesh said, “But he wants them.”
Astiau just looked at the guard and repeated, “He doesn’t need those.”
The guard clearly didn’t like it, but also clearly didn’t want to get on the bad side of one of the nobilis. He shrugged and told Uktesh to, “Move along.” While Emexida was getting his swords Astiau called Omero over to him and spoke quietly to him for several minutes before Omero rejoined them.
Cielex asked, “What was that about?”
Omero glanced at Uktesh and said, “Nothing.”
Great. He’s going to try to kill me. The usually empty sand was nearly filled from edge to edge with gladiators. Spaced around the walls of the arena were thick metal spikes. Uktesh saw that his group had been one of the last to enter as he only was able to look around for a minute or two before the two gates crashed down locking the gladiators in. The three announcers, which Uktesh had learned were called “Fates” started to speak, “The gods demand much of us, and on this day five hundred and fifty-nine years ago they ordered the slaying of four hundred warriors to bring us back the rain. We continue that tradition to this day and to this day there hasn’t been a drought! This special game is tribute to the gods!”
The gladiators raised their weapons and shouted, “To the gods!” Uktesh did too, but he knew his gods and theirs were vastly different.
The Fate shouted, “Begin!” Before they had finished the word Uktesh sprinted away from his gladiators, and felt the wind of something missing him.
He retreated from them and shouted, “This way you don’t have to betray me and earn the Storm lord’s wrath, and you don’t have to not betray me and earn the wrath of Lord Astiau!”
He saw a sword come his way from one of the groups nearby and dodged it. He was looking for a spear or lance wielder--there! Uktesh Stepped in from of the spear and attacked with a true Palm Strike, grabbed the gladiators spear as its owner’s head exploded, put it under his armpit, screamed and Walked to an empty section of the wall. He slid slowly to the ground and pretended to die as around him gladiators fought violently and vainly to the death. He had his eyes open, but because he was pretending to be dead, couldn’t move them. With his peripheral vision he saw a horse run passed.
It took a surprisingly short time before a horn sounded and all the gladiators were instructed to head back to their side of the coliseum. Uktesh stood, saw that of the hundreds of corpses several had been impaled by the metal spikes on the walls. He walked to his gate. When he made it inside he saw that all three of the Storm lord’s other gladiators had survived. Uktesh walked over to them and said, “Hey.” He saw that three pretty girls were tending to their wounds or feeding them. Uktesh sat next to Cielex as Talia came his way.
She knelt in from of him and asked, “Are you alright?”
Uktesh nodded and said, “Not a scratch.” She handed him a water skin and started to rub his shoulders as he drank. Most of the other gladiators had companions of their own who were being used in a less wholesome way than Uktesh was treating Talia. He glanced at the other three Storm ludis gladiators and saw that they too had decided to sow their wild oats. “I guess this is one of those exceptions to the fornication rule?”
Talia said, “Yes it is.” After an uncomfortable nine minutes the gladiators were instructed to reenter the coliseum by way of a loud horn. As the dead bodies had been dragged away. Thank the gods! Uktesh had never thought he’d be relieved that it was finally time for a hundred people to die, but he was. As they reentered the arena Uktesh scanned for a spear or lance wielder and found that the horse he’d thought he’d seen earlier was a centaur!
Uktesh banged on Omero’s arm and said, “Look over there! It’s a centaur!”
Omero looked at Uktesh as if he were insane and said, “Yes, that’s Oidar. He used the god form like Ceftin. If you look over there you’ll see Lluf, he’s the minotaur.” A minotaur too! Omero continued, “Lastly over there you see that lizard looking centaur guy, he’s Arreis. He turned draconic when he used the god form.”
Uktesh asked, “Draconic?”
Emexida said, “We think his ancestors were dragons. Or a centaur-dragon hybrid race.”
Uktesh said, “They all know the god form?”
The three gladiators nodded and Cielex said, “They killed most of the first rounders by themselves.”
Uktesh changed his plans and looked for an archer. When he found one he said, “Can you guys fight that group over there? The group with the archer? I’ll take out the archer, but I need his buddies distracted. It’s our best chance to survive this round.” The other three nodded, and Uktesh said, “Good, now Cielex I need you in the front with your shield, then Omero, then Emexida. When you hit their gladiators, I’ll hit them from behind.”
The fates spoke again and said, “The offering was good, but the gods demand more! Begin!” Uktesh Walked to the left where there were no gladiators as the three charged the group of with the archer. Uktesh then Walked behind them and Palm Struck the archer. He quickly stole the arrows and bow and almost before his gladiatorial distractors started fighting he put an arrow in the backs of the other three gladiators.
Uktesh knew that it wasn’t really an option to stick around as he couldn’t trust his companions so he said, “Great job! Stay alive, I’ll meet up with you after this round.” He knocked an arrow, pulled the bow string taut, Walked in front of the centaur, and fired point-blank at the human part’s chest. It flinched as the arrow pierced its heart and Stepped away. Uktesh dove forward, twisted as he rolled, and fired a second arrow behind him into the centaur’s horse chest. Oidar the centaur convulsed once and fell over.
Uktesh found the minotaur charging at him from his left, and guessed that he too would Step closer. Uktesh Walked backwards and slightly to the side so that a spike was hidden by his body. The minotaur disappeared about ten feet away as Uktesh had guessed it might. He Stepped a split instant after the minotaur had. Uktesh was rewarded with a scream that sounded disturbingly like a cows, “moo.” When he turned back he saw that the minotaur had impaled its head into the spike.
Uktesh saw the draconic gladiator Arreis who nodded to Uktesh and took a deliberate step backwards. Uktesh was so stunned he almost missed the axe that spun his way. He saw the sun shine off it for a second and ducked just in time. He quickly fired all of his arrows into gladiators who had their backs turned to him. He knew it wasn’t very sportsmanlike of him, but he also knew that this wasn’t a sport and he wasn’t a gentleman.
The horn sounded as Uktesh was trying to dislodge the axe from the wall, so he gave up and walked to his gate. H
e quickly found Talia and gulped down the water she offered him. She immediately started rubbing his shoulders. Cielex and Omero hadn’t made it through that round and Cielex’s girl came over and rubbed Uktesh’s legs. Omero’s girl joined Emexida and this time Uktesh didn’t make the mistake of looking that way. When the return horn sounded Uktesh was once again grateful that the break was over. He stood and jumped a few times to wake up his muscles.
Talia hugged him from behind and said, “Come back to me. I don’t care about our bet anymore, just come back to me.”
Uktesh looked at her over his shoulder with a grin and said, “You watch. I’m going dragon hunting this round.”
One of the other gladiators heard him and said, “You surprised Oidar, and got lucky that Lluf was an idiot. Arreis will be on guard and is by no means stupid. If you attack that one alone you will die.”
Uktesh shrugged and said, “Sure you say that now, but had you heard me say, ‘I’m going horse or cow hunting,’ last round wouldn’t you have thought me stupid then too?”
The gladiator shrugged and nodded. Uktesh followed Emexida out onto the sand and asked, “I know if you attack me this round the Storm lord won’t kill you, but would you like to call a truce until it’s just the two of us?”
Emexida said, “Sure.”
Uktesh knew that he was lying, but figured it wouldn’t be until there were twenty or less that the other gladiator would turn on him. The Fates stood again and said, “The gods smile upon our tribute this year, with this final round we will secure their favor for the year to come! Begin!”
Uktesh decided he needed to take an extra precaution with a potential enemy at his back and hardened his skin with earth and was immediately glad for his forethought as Emexida betrayed him from the beginning of the fight!
He felt Emexida’s sword stab into his shoulder and he quickly spun away from the blow to lessen the injury. He kicked out to put distance between himself and the gladiator and felt his ocrea block a sword slash. He knew his shoulder would be a problem if he didn’t get away from Emexida or slow the bleeding. He rolled his shoulder wound into the sand and Stepped away from Emexida. He felt rather than saw someone Step to his right and left so he dropped to the ground, and was rewarded by his two attackers stabbing each other. Uktesh stood and took their swords from their hands and then pulled both from the bodies of the other gladiators.