by Lynn, R.
One of the green drivers began to spout taunts, insulting Thaddius and the blues’ ability. But he ignored the man and instead focused on his team’s breathing pattern as he tried to match his own to the four horses’ rhythm. Time was his instrument as he became one with his team, waiting, listening; his knees were bent and ready to spring at any moment.
The jeering of the crowd ceased for one brief moment as all held their breaths. Thaddius knew his time had come. And just as the cloth was about to touch the ground, the familiar groan of the loosed gate latch met his ears.
“Hijah!”
“I am sick and tired of watching you lose to the blues!”
Barachius yelled as he threw a glass vessel at the wall. He had gathered the green drivers together to discuss the tournament, but the discussion had turned into further abuse.
“What do you have to say for yourselves?”
“The boy is good, maybe even the best,” Jiao Xen, the driver from the Republic of Seres interjected from his perch against the back wall.
“I paid for you because I was told you were the best. Are you telling me it was a bad investment?” His face reddened as he yelled at the man. “If you do not stop competing against each other and start working together as a team, I will have you all crucified! I do not care who wins as long as a green driver crosses that line first. This is not every man for himself. This is green versus blue. Do I make myself clear?”
The men nodded their heads in agreement, afraid of saying
or doing anything to further anger Barachius.
***
It was a beautiful day, the sun was high in the sky, and a light breeze rolled over the land. Despite not having Diana for the second race, Thaddius had won it, and also the third race with ease. Barachius’s hired drivers could not match his skill and natural talents. Even the driver from the Republic of Seres was always just behind him as he crossed the red sand.
This new discovery, that even without Diana he could win a race, only aided to fuel his already robust ego. Simeon and the others were thankful that the time between each stage of the tournament was limited. Or they would have had to listen to far too many of Thaddius’s pride filled boasts.
He looked out at the crowd as his team waited at the starting blocks for the fourth race, waiting for the magistrate to drop the mappa. Once again Thaddius was without his trusted lead, Diana. She had successfully won him his third heat and now she rested.
The servants had strict instructions to rub down her legs, brush her thoroughly, and feed her only the best grains and cleanest water they could find. It upset him that she would not be beside him for his final race. He had won the first three races and if he won today he would close the tournament two heats early. Though excited for it to all be over it pained him that Diana would not be able to wear the sash of flowers for their final victory lap. Diana was after all a large part of why he won two of the three races so far.
He looked over to the sidelines and saw a flash of red hair.
From a distance he couldn’t make out whether it was Sellah
or Calista. But no doubt they were both there, as well as
Calista’s tag-along Guya, and Simeon, Vettius, and Lucius,
who had not completed the last race.
They were the reason he fought so hard to win. They could
never survive the law of the beast Barachius. How long
would a young and beautiful girl last under such rule? He
couldn’t allow himself to think that way. He would win, and
he would do it now.
No one would be able to deny him the title of world’s
greatest charioteer. He would be the youngest and first ever
to win the tournament in the first four arenas. If only his
father could see him now he would have no reason to doubt
Thaddius’s ability.
Tightening the reins around his arm, he turned to give one
final look over his team. The horses were overworked from
having raced two days prior, but he had no other choice but to
race them again. In all his stables there were only eight
horses he trusted. So he made two teams of quadrigas and
rotated them from one race to the next.
Ideally he would have given the horses a few days break in
between, but as each race was consecutive, he did not have
that luxury.
Trumpets sounded informing Thaddius and all his
followers that his time was near. It had been easier than he
had thought it would be to win the Grande. Despite the
archers in the second arena and the loose horses running
amuck in the third, he and his team effortlessly navigated
their way to victory.
All that stood between him and owning Barachius’s land,
trigarium and life was one final win. The crowd cheered as the starting gate flung open and the carts raced out. Thaddius realized he had missed his cue.
“Hijah!” he screamed as he tried to regain the ground he had lost.
The other charioteers were mere feet in front of him. How could he have allowed himself to get distracted at such a crucial moment?
“Apollo’s balls!” he grumbled under his breath as he mentally scolded himself for his foolishness.
The crowd sensed his error and screamed even louder as the chariots passed, waving their flags and cheering their favored teams on. With slight flicks of the reins he encouraged his team forward.
He quickly passed some of the slower drivers and was just four carts behind Jiao. He had to catch up before Caligula released any more of his tricks on the track.
Two green drivers pulled their carts in front of him, blocking his advance. If he turned to the right, they did the same. He waited patiently for an opening, always putting pressure on the drivers. They were bound to make a mistake, and that would give him a chance to pass.
When the driver to the left overcompensated on a turn, Thaddius was able to squeeze his cart between them.
“Hijah!” he screamed pressing his team forward.
He was now neck and neck with the green driver in third position. Their carts were mere inches apart when the gates beside him dropped open and four large tigers charged toward the horses. The lead horse pulled to the side causing the chariot to spin and ram into the driver beside them. The
big cats swatted at the horses as they backed up and stomped their hooves in fear.
“Steady, steady!” Thaddius yelled as he tried to calm his team.
The chariots behind him veered to the left, avoiding the cats and the collision. With growing aggravation Thaddius kicked at the green driver’s cart, trying to loosen the wheel that had caught on his. Finally, the other driver managed to reverse his cart and pull free from Thaddius. This allowed Thaddius the space to move his horses away from the tiger’s sharp claws.
He straightened his team out and started back on track. Now he was six carts behind Jiao and was desperate to catch up. Other parts of the track had large cats tied to chains and lunging at the carts as they passed. But as he saw them in advance, he was able to expertly guide his horses around them.
The dust from the chariots made visibility almost impossible. This was exceptionally bad considering the tigers. Every time his team passed the beasts, he could sense his horses hesitate and pull to the side. He struggled to keep control of them. One pull too far could cost their lives and give the felines an early dinner. Lap after lap passed and the eggs were removed from their stand. When the last lap came, Thaddius was still behind.
He needed to do something, and quickly. So in hopes of giving the lead horse confidence, Thaddius loosened his grip on the reins, leaving them sloppily wrapped around his forearm. This technique worked and in no time the horses were back to working as one and gaining speed on the other teams.
As they came upon the next turn, Thaddius lowered his shoulders and
bent his knees, ready to pop through the turn with his team. The momentum they gained in the turn caused them to cut in front of a group of chariots battling for third and to come up beside the second positioned driver.
The crowd cheered as they watched Thaddius regain lost ground in the race. Giving himself a moment to boast, he raised his hands and waved at them before turning to the driver beside him and winking. He then effortlessly pulled his cart in front of the man and behind Jiao’s chariot.
Jiao turned to see Thaddius mere feet behind him. Yet despite his close proximity, he did not look worried. Instead, he offered Thaddius a cunning smile and then pointed toward the Emperor.
Something wasn’t right. Thaddius could sense the brashness as it rolled off the man’s back and seemed to smack into his face. He should not feel so confident after losing the first three races. But despite the man’s disposition, it did not matter. The red finish line had been laid across the sand, and he would soon pull in front of the man, cross the line, and beat him once more.
They were neck and neck as they approached the line. Jiao whipped at his horses, and Thaddius shouted encouragements to his, spurring them on.
Just as they were seconds from crossing the line, Jiao pulled to the side, and the ground before Thaddius dropped open revealing a secret compartment.
Dust curtained his view as he squinted to see what was happening. He fought to control his horses and tried to turn the cart. Dark forms pounced through the dust curtain as six large tigers charged at his cart.
His horses pulled back and reared out of the way of the cats. The momentum of their movement broke the chariot’s hitch and caused the chariot to break loose from the horses and tumble across the red line behind Jiao. Thaddius managed to jump free of the cart and landed over the line. It was not how he had imagined finishing, but at least he did.
One of the felines got close enough to capture the lead horse’s leg in its claws. The horse reared onto its hind legs, freeing itself from the cat’s grip. Now spooked, the horse, turned around and began running in the opposite direction.
It was as if time suspended.
Thaddius knew what would happen now. His arm was still bound by the reins to the horses. He struggled to maintain balance as he yanked at the reins around his arm. If he couldn’t untie them, then he would be pulled after the horses.
Hurriedly he tugged at the leather ties. He’d almost managed to free his hand when the bands tightened and yanked him off his feet. Searing pain shot down his arm as his shoulder was pulled from its socket. Trying to take some of the weight of his body off his arm, he used the horses’ momentum and kicked at the ground, flipping himself over so he could grab the reins with his other hand.
Rocks and dirt cut at his skin and tore the tunic from his body as he was dragged helplessly behind the frightened horses. The crowd howled in anguish yet some also cheered. All Thaddius could hear was the steady beating of the horses’ hooves on the sandy ground.
G uards worked to pull the large cats back into their cages as the winning charioteers’ accepted their prizes for the race. All but Thaddius, who had officially placed second. He had been carried out on a stretcher toward the nearest safe place.
Orla looked over him as Sellah gently washed the blood, rocks, and dirt from his body.
Simeon had the task of removing the larger rocks that were embedded into Thaddius’s flesh, as both Orla and Sellah became ill at the thought.
He had not regained his senses, and they were all very worried for his life. All but Barachius. He rejoiced knowing that Thaddius would not be in the position to compete the next day. That meant, despite his placing today, and his previous victories, Thaddius would forfeit their wager and Barachius would own everything.
“How is he?” Sellah asked as she walked over to Orla and rested a concerned hand on the nursemaid’s forearm.
“He looks worse than he is. His heart is beating strong. With time and effort he will turn around.” She smiled as she watched Sellah’s face relax.
“We do not have time,” Simeon mumbled into his hands.
“What do you mean?” Orla asked.
“He made a wager with Barachius. If he doesn’t win the
tournament, Barachius will take ownership and the privileges of his birthright.” He diligently picked stones from Thaddius raw flesh as he explained their predicament.
“Why would he do such a foolhardy thing?” Orla dropped the cloth in her hand as she thought over this news.
“Why does he ever do anything?”
“We can’t let this happen!” Orla paced back and forth before Simeon.
Sellah had since retreated to the back of the room, too overwhelmed with the circumstance to be near either man. But the conversation had sparked an idea.
“He will race!” she muttered. But her attempt to gain their attention was not noticed. “But he will race,” she called out once more.
“Don’t be foolish, Sellah. I’m a miracle worker, but even that is beyond my skill,” Orla spun around to face the girl.
“But no one else knows that. Why can’t we find a replacement, dress him as Thaddius, and have him compete in his place. He needs only one more win to beat Barachius.”
“That’s brilliant!” Simeon said as he jumped up. “The odds are against the greens. If either of the other teams or Thaddius’s replacement wins just once, then they lose.”
* As he spoke he strode across the room closing the gap between him and Sellah. Once before her, he wrapped his arms around her, picking her off the ground and spinning her about.
He did not notice the scolding look on Orla’s face or the embarrassed look on Sellah’s. And if he had, he would not have cared. Sellah may have just saved his home, his father, and the only friends he had ever known.
“It is a good idea,” Orla admitted as she glared at Simeon who finally released Sellah. “But even if you find a replacement driver in such short time, you will not be able to guarantee his skill or loyalty. If the driver reveals he is not Thaddius, you will lose.”
“Then we must choose someone from inside the domus,” Simeon thought aloud.
“And we have Diana!” Sellah reminded.
“Yes, with that horse’s talent, anyone who can stand on a
chariot should be able to win.” Simeon paused to think over what he had just said. “Never tell Thaddius I said that. He would be highly offended.”
“I won’t,” Sellah smiled.
The doors to the room burst open, and Calista sauntered through, followed by Guya who had her arms full of Calista’s
belongings. The girls walked to Thaddius’s side, brushing past Sellah and knocking her out of the way. “His face!” Calista gasped. “It won’t stay like that will it?” His appearance disgusted her and she turned from him, no longer able to look upon his form.
“Will he recover?” Guya asked over her teetering armload. “He will be fine,” Simeon interrupted, giving a cautious nod to Orla and Sellah.
“Yes, he is just sleeping to regain strength for tomorrow’s race,” Orla fibbed.
Simeon stood and crossed the room, making it to Calista’s side in no time. He rested his hand on her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes.
“But yes, I am afraid his face will stay like that,” Simeon added as he mocked a look of worry.
“It…it will?” Calista hesitated then found strength to look upon Thaddius once more.
Simeon shot Orla a frown, hoping she would understand his intent.
“Yes, I am afraid he will look scarred forever,” she added.
They knew, with time Thaddius would look as good as new. Calista, though, believed their lies, and curled up her nose while turning from Thaddius once more.
“Tell him, tell him I must visit my parents’ villa in Athens. I need to see if they will give their blessing on our betrothal. So, tell him I have broken off our arrangement but will send word if my parents give their blessing and allow me to wed him. I am afraid I will be gone
a long time.”
Guya did not understand what Calista was saying. “But Calista, Thaddius needs….”
“Come Guya,” she clapped as if addressing a slave. “We must leave him to rest.”
Orla and Sellah waited for the girls to leave the room before they turned to Simeon for answers. He smiled as he spoke, proud of what he had just accomplished.
“I hated that girl. I know Thaddius better than anyone, and from what I saw, he wasn’t so fond of her either.” Simeon tried to ignore the weird look that flashed over Sellah’s face. He took a deep breath and continued outwardly processing his friends decision. “I cannot figure out why he extended his offer of marriage to her in the first place. What I just did for
him was a monumental favor. When Thaddius recovers, tell him he owes me a big one in return.”
“L eave Thaddius with me and go find a replacement,” Orla
instructed as she lifted Thaddius’s head and poured medicinal herb-blended wine into his mouth. Sellah thought over Orla’s instructions. “But if someone sees him, they will know we have been deceitful. We need to move him to a secure place. Away from cunning eyes.”
“Sellah is right. Do we risk further injury if we relocate him?” Simeon walked over to Thaddius’s side and gazed at his friend.
“In truth, we may,” Orla said. “But it seems we have no other choice.”
“I will send in men to move him. Oh and Sellah, can you fetch Lucius? He is our best choice,” Simeon added. “If his cart had not been flipped by the loose horses, then he would have qualified for the next arena. We will begin his training with Diana at once. I will meet you two at the trigarium.” Simeon left in a flurry and Sellah turned to Orla.