Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “Because your father chose me.” He says understanding the idea that Commodus was overthrown with the lord Oda’s decision.

  “No, because my father loved you. And because I loved you.” She says her voice trembling now.

  “A long time ago.’ Nagamasa says and gently takes her hand, kissing the back of it.

  “Was I very different then?” She asks wondering if there might still be hope, still be time for them.

  “You laughed more.” he says and gently strokes her face

  “I have felt alone all my life, except with you. I must go.” Maeraer says and quickly turns, beginning to walk away.

  “Yes.” Nagamasa says but before he lets her leave, he quickly puts his hand on her shoulder, turns her to him and then gives her a long passionate kiss.

  Seeing her like this, scared, soft, human, it reminds him of who she once was and whom she really is deep down. He knows that he still loves her. The real her.

  As all this is going at the Palace, Lucius playing swords with the tall African servants, though he is young his skills can still be seen. His style is rough but given time to polish it off he could become a great swordsman.

  “There, there, there, there and there, and I’ve got you,” proclaims Lucius with all the excitement of the child he is.

  Commodus is awakened from his sleep, goes to Lucius and takes one of the wooden swords from the servant. He begins to play swords with Lucius.

  “Isn’t it late to be playing legionnaire?” Commodus says smiling at his Nephew.

  “I am not a legionnaire.” Lucius says batting at Commodus’ sword.

  “Not a legionnaire?” Commodus says backing away from him in play.

  “I am a gladiator.” Lucius says forcing him even further back.

  “A gladiator? Gladiators only fight in the games. Wouldn’t you prefer to be a brave Oda warrior like Nobunata Oda, the first lord Oda?” he says smiling at his nephew, he has seen many games recently and sure that this is just his way of wanting to be a fighter, but he must put things in perspective for him. Soldiers are brave and there names live forever, gladiators are just slaves who fight for the mob.

  “I am Nagamasa, the savior of Highover.” Lucius says raising his wooden sword high over his head as he proclaims this.

  Commodus is struck by these words and drops the wooden sword to the marble floor. Slowly and gently he kneels in front of Lucius and pulls him close by the shoulders.

  “The savior of Rome. And who said that?” he asks and smiles calmly; he can’t let the child know how much those words struck him, made him afraid.

  Lucius leans in and whispers in his ear. Commodus holds him tighter and tighter as he hears.

  Maeraer returns from her meeting with Nagamasa to the palace she walks peacefully to he chambers and finds her servant making up her bed. Smiling she asks her servant where Lucius is only to get the reply “he’s with the lord Oda m’lady.” Fear clutches at her and quickly she leaves in search of Lucius. She walks to Commodus’ room and as she approaches, she can hear Commodus talking with Lucius. Maeraer slows down to listen and then quickly walks to join them as she hears them talk.

  “She couldn’t have.” Lucius says laying on his side in front of his uncle who is also on his side.

  “Yes, she did. She took it from a basket, pressed it to her breast, right here above the heart.” he says and pinches Lucius’ chest with a hissing sound causing him to giggle.

  “And it bit her in the breast?” Lucius says confused why anyone would do such a thing.

  “Yes. Sometimes royal ladies behave very strangely and do very odd things in the name of love.” Commodus says smiling at him.

  “I think it’s silly.” Lucius says too young to understand how love can drive some people to do these things.

  “So do I, so do I.” Commodus says scruffing his hair a bit

  It is then that Commodus sees Maeraer enter the room and he smiles at her. But in his eyes there is something menacing there, something like a serpent.

  “Sister… join us. I’ve been reading to dear Lucius.” Commodus says with a smile.

  “I’ve been reading, too.” Lucius says proudly.

  “Yes, he’s a very clever little boy. He’ll make a grand lord Oda one day.” Commodus says and smiles at him scruffing his hair a bit.

  “We’ve been reading about the great Alistar Warden and his adventures in Ostigar.” Commodus continues seeing the look of shock on Maeraer’s face.

  “And the Queen killed herself with a snake!” Commodus says looking up with exited and bright eyes.

  “And just wait until you hear what happened to our other ancestors! If you’re very good, tomorrow night I’ll tell you the story of Lord Claudius Oda He was betrayed, by those closest to him… by his own blood… they whispered in dark corners and went out late at night and conspired and conspired… .” He says and pauses seeing that Maeraer is showing her fear and is now nearly in tears, good this has had the effect he wished it to.

  “But the Emperor knew they were up to something. He knew they were busy little bees. And one night he sat down with one of them and he looked at her and he said, “Tell me what you have been doing, busy little bee, or I shall strike down those dearest to you. You shall watch as I bathe in their blood.” And the emperor was heartbroken. The little bee had wounded him more deeply than anyone had ever done. And what do you think happened then, Lucius?” Commodus says his eyes never leaving Maeraer.

  “I don’t know Uncle.” Lucius says completely oblivious to the hidden under tones of everything being said.

  “The little bee told him everything.” Commodus says laying it all right in front of her.

  Tears stream down Maeraer’s face; she knows what she must do. She must tell him the whole of the plan of he will do as he hinted at; he will kill her son and bathe in his blood. With this thought she nods to a servant in the corner who smiles and gently takes Lucius hand leading him to his room for the night. At first he protests that he doesn’t want to go but Commodus soon comforts him by telling him they will have more time together tomorrow. Sitting down Maeraer reveals everything to him, her heart broken. She has betrayed them all, but she had no choice, for her son she had to.

  Back at the gladiator school Nagamasa begins to collect his things, placing the coin around his neck and then slipping his ring on his finger. Outside, Praetorian guards are seen as they approach. Meanwhile, assassins are releasing a red coral snake into the bed of Senator Gaius as he and his wife sleep. The Praetorian have reached Proximo’s quarters; stand outside the gate and call out, “Open in the name of the lord. Open the gates, Proximo. Open the gates. Do you want to die, old man?”

  Proximo ignores them and slowly walks over to Nagamasa’s cell,

  “Here. Everything is prepared. It seems you have won your freedom.” Proximo says handing him the ring of keys for his get away.

  “Proximo, are you in danger of becoming a good man.” Nagamasa says and smiles at his master.

  “Hahh!” is his only reply as he makes his way to his office.

  “Juba.” he shouts getting his closest friend and hands him the keys.

  Outside the guards continue calling out, “All enemies of the Emperor die!” The men gather around Nagamasa to listen to his orders.

  “I only need moments so you need not be careless with your lives. If you don’t want to be any part of this go back to your cells.” Nagamasa says looking around at the gladiators, all of them have become like brothers to him in this short time.

  “We will wait here for you, Nagamasa. Strength and Honor” Hagen says smiling at him.

  Nagamasa walks over to Juba and says “Strength and Honor” as the two friends touch foreheads. Nagamasa begins to make his get away as the gladiator’s battle with the Oda guards. The gladiators fight bravel
y. Hagen is killed. In Proximo’s quarters, he is

  Killed by the Praetorian as he holds his Rudius and says, “Shadows and dust”. Nagamasa makes his way through the tunnel to the outside. Along the way, he finds his amour and sword and puts them on. Once outside, he sees a rider standing still. He whistles and the rider, Cicero, recognizes the whistle and calls out Nagamasa’s name. At that moment, his horse bolts and Cicero is hanged by the rope around his neck. Nagamasa runs to him and lifts him. Cicero gets out only a soft “I’m sorry” before the Praetorian shoot arrows and kill Cicero as Nagamasa cries out an anguished roar spinning to face his enemy but it is too late, he is surrounded by the Praetorian.

  Back at the palace. Senator Falco approaches Commodus as he stands looking over the city and says, it is so quite you would never know that a revolt had been taken care of. The thrown is saved and the people are none the wiser.

  “It is done.” Falco says stepping next to the lord

  “And what of my nephew and what of his mother? Shall they share her lover’s fate or should I be merciful? Commodus the merciful. Lucius will stay with me now and if his mother so much as looks at me in a manner that displeases me, he will die. And if she decides to be noble and take her own life, he will die. And, as for you, you will love me as I have loved you. You will provide me with an heir of pure blood so that Commodus and his progeny will rule for 1,000 years. Am I not merciful?” he says growling at her now. She was a fool to think that she could betray him and think that he would not know the way around it.

  As he moves closer to her he can see the tears of sorrow and fear and it makes him smile, but she only turns her head disgusted to even look at him. Quickly he reaches out and grabs her jaw forcing her to look at him.

  “AM I NOT MERCIFUL?” he shouts at her his face now showing all of his rage.

  But she doesn’t answer, shock, fear and sorrow now paralyzing her.

  It is mid-day after the foiled revolution at the Colosseum. The crowd chants “Nagamasa, Nagamasa, Nagamasa” The petals of red flowers float in the air onto the sands of the arena floor… . Below, Nagamasa is chained. Commodus goes to Nagamasa. The other prisoners, Gracchus, Juba are watching as he enters. Commodus, dressed in his white leather armor, walks up to the chained Nagamasa who is bruised and weary.

  “Nagamasa, Nagamasa, Nagamasa. They call for you. The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied the lord Oda. A striking story. Now the people want to know how the story ends. Only a famous death will do. What could be more glorious than to challenge the Lord Oda himself in the great arena.” Commodus says in a whisper.

  “You would fight me?” Nagamasa says in shock.

  “Why not? Do you think I am afraid?” Commodus says infuriated that he would be thought of as afraid of this general, this slave

  “I think you have been afraid all your life.” Nagamasa says with a chuckle.

  “Unlike Nagamasa the invincible, who knows no fear?” Commodus says mockingly.

  “I knew a man who once said, death smiles at us all. All that man can do is smile back.” Nagamasa says with a full laugh now.

  “I wonder. Did your friend smile at his own death?” Commodus says smiling back at him.

  “You must know. He was your father.” Nagamasa says and coughs as Commodus hits him in the gut for mocking him.

  “You loved my father, I know. But so did I. That makes us brothers, doesn’t it? Smile for me now brother.” Commodus says and embraces Nagamasa and with one cowardice, fierce thrust, stabs him with his dagger that has been hidden in his sleeve, and then kisses him on the neck.

  “Strap on his armor. Conceal the wound.” Commodus says Quintus as he steps away.

  Once his armor is on the trap door to the arena opens as the lift rises, encircled with the Praetorian as they stand behind their black shields. In the middle, the white clad Commodus, gazing upwardly, basking in the sun stands next to the wounded, dying Nagamasa. All the while, Quintus staring at Nagamasa. As they reach the floor of the arena, the Praetorian take their ring formation. Nagamasa stumbles to the center, slowly stooping to pick up a handful of sand, with a watchful eye on Quintus. Nagamasa rubs the sand between his hands and reaches for his sword but Quintus tosses it away from himself, and out of Nagamasa’s reach. Nagamasa painfully moves to where the sword has been tossed and picks it up, immediately swinging at Commodus. The two do battle. Nagamasa roars as he attacks Commodus. Commodus manages to cut Nagamasa’s leg. Although wounded, Nagamasa cuts Commodus’ arm causing Commodus to drop his sword. Nagamasa, gravely suffering from the wound inflicted by Commodus while earlier chained, begins to drift into the after life and as he sees the gate to his home, he reaches out in an effort to push the gate open, his sword dropping from his hand. Meanwhile, Commodus is calling Quintus for his sword, “Sword, give me your sword,” but Quintus does not comply. Commodus then turns to the Praetorian, calling out, “Sword”. The guards begin to pull their swords when Quintus quickly orders them to “sheath your swords” and they comply. As Commodus again reaches for his hidden dagger,

  Nagamasa quickly returns to this life and, unarmed but for his strength and determination, continues battle with Commodus, punching him with great force. Nagamasa turns Commodus’ dagger against him as he tries relentlessly to fight Nagamasa off but Nagamasa slowly plunges the knife into Commodus’ throat, deeper and deeper until it can go no further. Commodus, his breath leaving his body, falls to the ground. The fight over,

  “Quintus, free my men. Senator Gracchus is to be reinstated. There was a dream that was Highover, it shall be realized. These are the wishes of the true Lord Oda” Nagamasa says with great effort to stay standing.

  Quintus calls out to the guards, “Free the prisoners, . . . go!”

  Nagamasa stands looking at the crowd, unsteady, as the vision of the wheat field once again comes to him, his wife and son waiting for him. Suddenly he falls hard like a tree, to the ground. Maeraer runs into the arena, dropping to her knees at his side and calling to him

  “Nagamasa!” she calls to him softly her tears falling on his face now.

  “Lucius is safe.” He says, his voice weak and distant.

  Maeraer looks at him adoringly and responds, “Go to them”. Now he is free. With her hand, she closes his eyes, his face calm and at peace as he begins to leaves this world. Maeraer adds, “You are home.” Grieving, with one hand to her brow, she regains her presence, stands and turns to Senator Gracchus and the crowd.

  “Is Highover worth one good man’s life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Oda. Honor him.”

  “There is still time. Who will help me carry him?” Graccuhus says checking a pulse.

  Many gather to lift Nagamasa and carry him from the arena. Commodus is left alone, in the sand.

  It almost evening as Juba walks into the colosseum to the center where Nagamasa fell. Slowly he kneels down and begins to dig in the sand for burial. He unfolds the small leather pouch and removes the coin that was worn by Nagamasa and gently places them in its resting place,

  “Now we are free. I will see you again. But not yet, not yet… .” Juba says tears in his eyes as he looks to the sky.

  As he stares at the sky he doesn’t see a cloaked figure approaching him. The figure is fully hidden in the shadows of the hood of the long black cloak. Slowly the figure approaches him and gently places a hand on Juba’s shoulder. Juba is taken off his guard and rolls away from the figure drawing his sword and snarls at him.

  “You bury me too soon old fiend, I need a commander, there is much to do” Nagamasa says lowering his hood showing them that he was lucky and survived his wounds.

  “Strength and honor” Juba says standing and putting a fist to his chest as a salute.

  Chapter 15

  Byrdi

  A bright white ti
ger surrounded by a pack of dogs, ten of them snarling and gnashing their teeth. The tigers eyes burn with fury as he wheels in a circle, lunging at one dog clawing at another, keeping them all at bay. Suddenly, the tiger leaps over the dogs and transforms into a white bird, soaring majestically into the sky. A man Sits up into frame, sweating, waking from a dream. He is Bai Shi-zi, General and lord of the Vulkoori tribes. This is not the first time he has had this dream, but they have become more frequent lately, he wonders what it means, but only time will tell.

  A young elf sits in a room at a desk. He has a fair completion and short unkempt brown hair. His eyes are bright and blue, but looking deeper there is sadness there. He flips open a leather bound journal to a blank page and takes out a black feather quill. Lowering his head he begins to write.

  ‘The dead are with me tonight. They return each time I am obliged to tell their story. I can almost see them in the shadows, their bodies whole and beautiful once more. Sometimes its as if they call to me in sweet invitation, I wonder how long it will be now, how many times can I ignore their calling’

  He writes and then shuts the journal. He then takes a bottle next to him and pours a glass of some kind of milky green liquid. He rolls it around in the glass and takes a sip. Slowly he sets it down and stares at the flame at the tip of the candle in front of him. He lets the memories come, as much as he hates them, he lets them come.

  His mind drifts to his last battle, a battle he was not ready for. Soldiers scream in agony. The horses still alive, buck and froth at their tether. Byrdi, a lieutenant then, moves among the panicked, bloody men. He stops beside a private, his brother, Bear, 19, blonde, not much more than a boy.

  “They’re coming, Byrdi.” Bear says looking over the wall.

  Soldiers of a Kainith elf kingdom march to them, in there hands are held the newest weapons. It is like a large rod with a handle in the middle and a small hammer in the back. They have seen them in action. The man will put the end of the rod against his shoulder, pull the small hammer back tell it clicks, slide a coin under it, then pull the trigger mechanism and the hammer will strike the coin. Then either a bolt of energy will come out, or a fireball, perhaps lightening. Depends on the coin they slid in. a mix of magic and science, and they have no defense against it.