When We Were Dancing (The Wolf of Oberhame Book 2)

by Auryn Hadley

She smacked him and grabbed the door, hurrying out before Gregori got on a roll.

  Chapter 44

  The priests approved of the imagery and were thrilled to know that the gods would be a part of the celebration. When the day finally came, the Oberhame arena was decorated with the proper statues and symbols. Leyli's gown was chosen to resemble that of the goddess of War. Tristan was decked out in his finest armor, which wasn't that far from what the god of Victory was known to wear. It was Connall who looked the most impressive. He wore a golden cape that draped off his shoulders and the circlet on his head was wrapped with a white ribbon, just like the crown of ideas worn by the god of Knowledge.

  Leyli paid the team owners a flat fee, which they accepted because none of their fighters should die. That allowed the arena to open the gates to anyone who wanted to attend. Citizens traveled from nearby provinces to see the spectacle. By the time the nobility arrived, the seats were already packed, a line streaming down the street while more waited for a chance to get in.

  The mood was festive. For the first time, Leyli got to experience the games as a spectator. Children ran around the perimeter of the building, pretending to be their favorite fighters. Men placed bets on the expected outcomes, debating loudly with anyone who thought their gladiator couldn't beat another. Women wore their finest, laughing at the antics of those around them, enjoying the excuse to get away from the tedium of everyday.

  Inside the carriage with Connall, it all felt different. The days were getting colder, so the heat didn't make the building shimmer. The fear of death didn't try to choke her as she stepped down to head inside. The guards at the gate didn't leer at her as if she would be their next victim. Instead, she was greeted with smiles and bows, everyone trying hard to impress her.

  Connall followed behind her obediently but, as soon as they were in the darkness beneath the stands, Tristan moved to her side. He took a deep breath and paused, looking around. He didn't have to say a thing. Leyli understood. Not many people could, unless they'd waited down here, wondering if they'd live through the day. Then he looked at her. In his eyes she saw memories. This was how they met. This changed their lives, but it was a hell that no man should ever know.

  "Not that same, is it?" The voice broke the mood, but of all people, Theodian would know what they were feeling. He ducked his head to Leyli, then turned and bowed to Tristan. "The second man to win free. Congratulations, Lion. You fought well."

  He jerked his chin to Leyli. "So did she, and I wouldn't be here without her."

  "You would have. And if she didn't have a well placed father, I think she might have become the third, but let's talk of happier things." He gestured to the hall, then paused. "I'm sorry, my Lord."

  "His Highness," Leyli corrected. "Theodian, I'd like you to meet my husband, Lord Connall Delaney, Prince of Norihame."

  Connall offered his hand in the common style before Theodian could kneel. "Connall, please. Any man who fought as well as you should never kneel to one that earned respect because he was simply born. If my wife and friend respect you, then I'd be a fool not to."

  Theodian clasped his wrist and chuckled. "Well said, your Highness. Any man that is brave enough to wed a Wolf and a Lion? You've got balls of steel, Connall. The bitch scares me, sometimes, and they're a matched set."

  "Perfectly matched," Connall agreed. "I hear it's a hazard of the sport." For a moment Theodian's face fell. Connall saw and grabbed his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd fought tandem."

  "Years ago. Doesn't make it hurt less." Theodian took a deep breath. "But let's talk of happier things. Leyli, my gladiators asked me to relay a messaged."

  She grinned. "And that is?"

  He stepped into her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "May the gods bless you for this. Long live the Gladiator Queen. They were adamant that I include the hug."

  Tristan groaned. "And I'm sure they will ask for a very vivid description. How many men did you bring?"

  "All of them! I have sixteen veterans with over a hundred wins. Thanks to Leyli's advice, I also have twenty-three with over fifty. To make a round number, I brought eleven novices. Tore brought a matching fifty, so we can keep the fights going all week, if you'd like."

  Connall chuckled and glanced at Leyli. "We don't want to bring Oberhame to a halt, my dear."

  "No, but we do want to make sure they support the change." She touched his arm gently. "I'm going to see the fighters. You're welcome to come with us, or Temotio can escort you up to the box."

  Connall shook his head. "Not how that works, Leyli. You want me to stay and see the reality, or would you prefer to face your memories with the people who understand?"

  She caught his hand and squeezed. "Find me a chair. I have ghosts to visit."

  He smiled at her sadly, then reached over to rest his hand on Tristan's arm. "Take as long as you both need. Everything else will wait. I'll make sure Ilario knows."

  Tristan nodded at him and the Prince left, Temotio trailing in his wake like a shadow. Most nobles would think the cells were too dangerous for the heir to the throne, but they both knew better. This had once been their home. The men behind the bars were dangerous and deadly, but all they wanted was a chance to live, and Leyli was the person who could make that happen. She was probably safer with them than she was in court.

  "So," she asked Theodian, "anyone I'd remember?"

  The team owner smiled broadly. "I think so. First... Hey Plague!" He yelled down the hall without shame. "Plague! The Wolf is here to see you."

  Like an explosion, the man burst out of a cell, a smile on his face. "Been too long, Wolf. I hope marriage hasn't made you soft."

  She grabbed his wrist and pulled him in for a hug. "Not yet, it hasn't. Freedom looks good on you."

  "Thanks. Been doing pretty good as Theodian's assistant, if I say so myself."

  She laughed at that. "And what does he say?"

  "That I'm teaching his men to fight dirty. Stole your move of swiping under the shield. Probably the reason so many of our new one are still here, since the veterans never expect it."

  "Let's hope you'll be training them to look impressive and not just stay alive, soon."

  "Thanks to you, Wolf. Things are changing. Long live the Gladiator Queen."

  "Long live the gladiators," she replied, patting his hand before letting Theodian guide her to the fighters.

  Half the men were thrilled to see the Lion, the other half didn't recognize him, since they were still new when he'd won his freedom. They all knew Leyli, though. Cell after cell, they greeted her as one of their own, but they always gave her the respect of her position. Unlike the nobles with their empty words and pompous phrases, when the gladiators praised her, they meant it. Their words were often crass and vulgar. Few of them knew the proper titles. Leyli cared about none of it.

  "There's something honest about this," she said as they moved past one of the gates. "Down here it comes down to life and death, but the hate is gone."

  "Hard to hate someone when you know he's as scared as you are," Tristan said.

  Theodian murmured in agreement. "It was always us against them. Them being your kind, Leyli. The rich and titled fools who thought we should die for their amusement. It was never us against us."

  She flicked her hands to the stands above them. "But most nobles don't even attend the games."

  Theodian shrugged. "Doesn't matter. They own the businesses that sold our debt. Or they own the city that has the business. They have the money we didn't, so we assume that's the line. Oh, I know it's more complicated than that, but I didn't when I was down here. Back then, it was all about the rich men treating us like livestock, and nobility are the richest of the lot."

  "So why don't they hate me?"

  Tristan shifted closer, like he used to stand when they were chained together. "Because you're a gladiator."

  A soft laugh came from the next cell in the row. Standing at the bars, his metal covered arms folded outside them, was a mas
sive man in black leather. He watched her approach, a lazy confidence proving that he'd done this many times before.

  "We don't hate you because you see us, Princess. Lion, you look well."

  "Have we met?" Tristan asked.

  Leyli was grinning, though, as she hurried to grab his bracers. "Crush! What number?"

  "One sixty-eight. Got a few more scars, but I had a pretty lady tell me I could be a guard. Gives me a reason to be a bit more careful." He caught her hand. "Couple weeks after the Lion's last fight, I got sold. You know anything about that?"

  She did. The crown could only award a rudis to a fighter who had done something exemplary or won his two hundred and fiftieth fight. Crush's match had been simple, and while he'd loaned her the weapons to save Tristan, it wasn't enough. Instead, she'd asked Theodian to buy him, and had sent a gift that should have covered his cost.

  "Gladiators are sold all the time. What makes you think I had anything to do with it?" she asked.

  He looked at her and slowly lifted a brow. "Because Theodian told me you sent him the money. That's why we don't hate you. You see us, Wolf. You see us, and you treat us like real people." He chuckled. "I didn't think you'd recognize me, not after so many fights, but you did."

  "If I hadn't met Tristan first, you would have scared me to death, standing there in that hall. That, and you're the reason he's still alive."

  "No, ma'am. You're the reason he is. Not a lot of people would run into a fight like that, but you never thought twice. Shit, Wolf, I wouldn't have. You got some balls, girl. Big ones."

  "Crush!" Theodian hissed. "That's the Princess of Norihame."

  "Nah." He rubbed her arm gently, his bracers clanging against the bars. "She's the Wolf. Pretty sure she can cuss with the rest of us, and I'm guessing she's seen a pair of balls in her life." He looked at Tristan. "How long until we're celebrating a little Lion?"

  "The Princess is married to Prince Connall Delaney," Tristan replied automatically.

  Crush chuckled. "Yeah. So who has that ever stopped?"

  Leyli spoke up before Tristan could say anything else. "Where are you from, Crush?"

  He lifted his chin. "They call me the Crush of Lanmont. Know how I got here?" He flicked his eyes to Tristan. "Went through as a criminal. Got arrested for assaulting a noble. Figured you should know that, Wolf, before you speak up for me with the guard."

  Tristan leaned his shoulder against the gate so he was beside Leyli. "Which noble?"

  Crush looked at him, his expression calm, as if he'd long ago stopped caring. "Biagio Sarisona, younger brother of the Domn. Your cousin, Wolf."

  "What did you do?" she asked.

  "Spit on the prick. Little shit grabbed my wife's tit. When I told him to find a whore if he was desperate, he said he'd take what he wanted, so I spit on him." He shrugged. "Least he didn't get his fuckin' hands on Mara again."

  "You still see her?"

  "Do now. Theodian does good by us. If I'm lucky, I might have a little one on the way. My second." He dropped his eyes and smiled. "Last time I saw her, she said she wasn't sure. How about you?"

  Leyli pressed his hand between both of hers. "Still trying. Tell Theodian how I can find her. I'll send someone to make sure she's being taken care of, ok?"

  Crush lifted her hands to his lips and gently kissed her fingers. "You see us, Wolf. The Aravatti are the only nobles who seem to understand that we're still people. I already owe you my life. I'm not sure what else I can give if you take care of my family."

  "Your life is enough," Leyli assured him. "I want it to be a very long and comfortable one."

  "Me too." He pulled his arms back to his side of the bars. "Just promise us a little wolf to come after you. We could use some more gladiators on the throne."

  Tristan looked down at Leyli proudly. "She's changing the laws so the next heir won't be a gladiator, but still as good as her mother."

  "Or his," Leyli reminded him.

  "Or his dad." Crush laughed. "Not a gladiator in the world who'd think you'd let your partner carry another man's child, and I dare the Prince to bitch about it."

  Her hand went to her mouth instinctually. "The Prince is a good husband."

  "I'm sure he is, and I'll spit on the first person who tries to say your heir isn't noble. Born from a princess but sired by a king. On this side of the bars, we know what it means to play the part. Long live the Gladiator Queen, Wolf."

  Tristan turned her toward the stairs. "Aren't you glad you told Theodian to buy him, now?" His tone was filled with sarcasm.

  "Yeah." She leaned her head into his shoulder. "Tristan, I didn't ask him for weapons. I was screaming at them to stop the games, they said they couldn't, and I said I needed a sword. Crush offered me his. Didn't have a clue who I was, but he understood. I needed a sword, and he was willing to give up his advantage."

  "You can give out a rudis for the celebration, you know."

  She nodded. "I know. So can Dad and Connall."

  Tristan bent to her ear. "Yeah, but I think that man would prefer to get one from you."

  Chapter 45

  They emerged from the darkness of the gladiator holding area to a glaringly blue sky. Puffy clouds floated overhead, casting temporary shadows over the seats and sands. As Leyli climbed toward the royal box, Tristan pressed his hand to her back for support. Her outfit wasn't elaborate enough to be unstable, but neither he nor Connall cared. Surrounded by so many bodies, it only made sense to keep her under close guard.

  She barely stepped into the seating box before Connall was at her side. In a perfectly scripted move, he brushed his lips against her, then patted the Lion's shoulder. To everyone watching, he'd just thanked her guard. Behind him, Ilario smiled proudly.

  "How are you feeling, Leyli?" His eyes flicked to her waist.

  Connall guided her to a seat beside the King. Leyli lowered herself and sighed. "Completely hale and healthy. Unfortunately."

  "Mm." Ilario looked over her shoulder. "And here I was hoping for some extra good news to spice up the celebration. You haven't been married that long, though."

  Connall chuckled. "Means we don't need to worry about the child being too early, at least."

  Ilario lifted a brow and looked at his daughter. "Leyli?"

  "It's fine, Dad. What a girl does before her wedding is something only her husband and guard need to worry about."

  The king smiled, but a muffled giggle made both Leyli and her father look back. In the row behind the Prince, Astrid pressed her hand to her mouth. When she saw the King looking at her, she sucked in a breath. "Sorry, Majesty."

  Ilario nodded, but paused when he saw who sat with her. His tone changed slightly, to his political voice. "Alain's wife said something similar."

  Dario met his gaze calmly. "She certainly did. Then again, the stories say that my father pampered her, letting her do anything she wanted. Besides, now that they are wed, does it even matter? The Prince and Princess seem happy enough with their arrangement."

  Ilario chuckled softly, easing the tension. "Maybe so. Come sit with us, Dario, and bring your lady."

  "Majesty?" That was not what Dario seemed to expect.

  Tristan and Temotio moved a few chairs, making a place beside Leyli. Ilario gestured. "Please. For today, let's not worry about titles and propriety? I know Leyli would enjoy her maid's company. Let us just be one happy family."

  Dario and Astrid stood, moving to the places indicated. When he sat, in a hushed voice, Dario said, "Thank you, Majesty. I think I'd like that."

  "Me, too." Ilario's smile was almost wistful.

  Sitting so close, Leyli could see the resemblance. Dario looked more like her father than Kale ever had. The differences were enough, and close enough to Alain to raise no suspicions, but she wondered how she'd missed it all these years. From what Gregori said, her sister looked just like her.

  "Where's your little brother?" she asked, gesturing to the sands below. "I'd think he'd want to see this."

  "Ales
sia brought him," Dario assured her. "They came early, to get a seat along the side. Close enough to see blood, evidently."

  Leyli groaned. "Well, I'm sure he'll get that. I'm hoping no death."

  "He doesn't care about the death. I'm not even sure he realizes that's how most fights end." Dario shrugged. "Although, there's a chance that I may ask for a favor, Leyli. He wants to meet a gladiator, and I promised I'd ask."

  "Then I'll take him to the cells tonight. The fighters will give him a good show, I'm sure."

  Dario lifted a brow. "The Horseman's kid?"

  "A fan. It's the only respect they get. His worship makes them feel like kings, and it's the only reward a gladiator earns in the games."

  That's when a horn sounded and men began to pour onto the sands below. The arena staff had set up props to mimic Rhia, and half the men wore Rhian style armor. The other half were dressed to mimic the Royal Guard. As they took their places, one lone man walked to the center of the arena, a gold cloak tacked to his shoulders. It took Leyli a moment, then she laughed.

  "That's Crush!" She pointed.

  Her father flicked a finger at him. "Yes. I also think he's me. That looks like the battle of Rochdale plains. I think Theodian may have outdone himself."

  Crush reached the center of the arena just as the horns stopped. Lifting his hands to the side, he made everyone look at him. When the crowd roared, he turned, giving them the chance to burn out their enthusiasm before patting the air for silence. It took a bit, but eventually the cheering began to subside.

  "Lords and Ladies," He yelled to the people above. "Men and women, husbands and wives... And the little ones, too. We are here to celebrate peace in Norihame. It didn't come easy, and it didn't come cheap. It took a great man. The first Wolf of Oberhame - even if he never claimed the title. King Ilario Aravatti, ruler of Norihame, bringer of peace, and the greatest man to sit... There." His hand thrust toward the royal box. "When Rhia tried to force us to bow before them, King Aravatti said no. Today, we will give you a glimpse of what happened."