Griffin's Shadow (44 page)

Leal closed in, stinking of sweat and violence.

Ashinji stood his ground, unflinching. Even naked, he had no fear of this man, for he knew all his weaknesses. He felt confident he could beat him in hand to hand combat, if it came down to that.

“I’ve no wish to fight you, Leal. Don’t we fight and risk our lives enough in the arena?” Ashinji kept his eyes locked onto the human’s, which glittered in the half-light like a feral dog’s.

Leal snarled, revealing a mouth full of crooked teeth. “You think you’re better’n us mere humans, don’t cha? Well, I c’n kill you any time I want, tink.”

Ashinji did a quick surface scan of Leal’s thoughts. The big human’s primitive rage roiled through his mind like molten rock, but a single image leapt out without warning.

At the same instant, Seijon cried in fear, “Ashi, he’s got a knife!”

Reflex, honed by years of combat training, saved his life. Ashinji threw himself down and to the left, narrowly avoiding the arc of Leal’s vicious thrust.

Quick as a cat, Ashinji sprang back, pushing Seijon roughly aside. The boy screamed something, but Ashinji ignored him, all of his attention focused on his opponent.

Leal rushed forward, bellowing like an enraged bull, knife raised. Ashinji met his charge and grabbed the arm holding the knife. As the human’s momentum carried him past, Ashinji ducked beneath Leal’s shoulder and threw his weight toward the ground.

Leal went down, an inarticulate cry bubbling from his lips as Ashinji, still holding the other man’s arm, twisted it hard up and back.

“Drop it!” Ashinji growled, planting his foot on Leal’s neck. When the human did not immediately comply, Ashinji forced his arm upward until the man shrieked in pain and the knife dropped from his twitching fingers.

“Let me up!” Leal gasped. “You’ll dislocate my shoulder!”

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t do precisely that, you pathetic, cowardly ape!” Ashinji’s heart pounded his ribs like a sledgehammer.

Leal fell silent, lying passively on the muddy concrete.

“Ashi, if you hurt him, the mistress’ll punish you!” Seijon gasped through chattering teeth.

“I’m aware of that,” Ashinji shot back. He continued to maintain the pressure on Leal’s arm and shoulder. “When I let you up, you’d better leave, Leal.” The man nodded mutely. Ashinji released the pressure and sprang back, kicking the knife against the wall. Seijon scuttled over and scooped the blade into his hand.

Slowly, like a bear rousing itself from sleep, Leal climbed to his feet. He turned to face Ashinji and Seijon, who stood back, tensely watching him. For a few moments, time froze as the three of them regarded each other.

As Leal stared hard at him, Ashinji saw the promise of his death in the other man’s eyes.

A flash lit the sky and the rumble of thunder broke the spell.

Without another word, Leal turned and stalked out of the bath house into the rain. Ashinji relaxed and let out his breath in a whoosh. He turned to face Seijon, who stared after Leal with a look so full of hatred, it took Ashinji aback.

“I wish you could have killed him, Ashi. I’d kill him, if I was strong enough!” The bitterness in the boy’s voice caused suspicion to grow within Ashinji’s mind.

He has been strangely subdued these last few weeks…not like himself at all.

“Seijon, has Leal hurt you in the past?” Ashinji kept his voice soft and gentle.

Seijon reached for his clothes and began to dress. He refused to meet Ashinji’s gaze as he answered, “Yeah, when I first came to the yard.”

Ashinji donned his own clothing before turning to Seijon once again. “You can tell me about it. It might help. You should know I’m your friend and would never judge you.”

The boy swallowed hard. His face flushed and his eyes filled with tears.

“I’ve never told anyone. Not even Gran,” he whispered. Ashinji reached out and slipped his arm around Seijon’s shoulder.

“No one ever did anything like that to me before, even when I lived on the street. I was lucky, I guess.” The soft patter of spring rain filled the spaces between Seijon’s words. “My first night here, Leal caught me as I walked back to the barracks in the dark. He dragged me behind the weapons shed…and he…he…” The boy hiccupped and his shoulders began to shake.

“It’s all right, you don’t have to say any more, Seijon. I understand,” Ashinji murmured.

“No, you don’t!” Seijon cried as he broke away to face Ashinji. “It happened more than once! It’s still happening!”

“Goddess’ tits,” Ashinji whispered, horrified. It all made sense now.

Seijon nodded. “Leal makes me…He says if I don’t, he’ll kill you and Gran! I couldn’t let him do that, Ashi!”

Ashinji took the boy in his arms and cradled him until the torrent of tears had subsided. He then held Seijon out at arm’s length and stared directly into the boy’s golden eyes.

“Seijon, you must never, ever believe that by your suffering, you are protecting me, or Gran. We can protect ourselves, far better than you know. This outrage stops now!”

“What are you going to do, Ashi?” Seijon asked, his voice trembling.

Ashinji considered finding Leal and killing him on the spot, but he rejected that idea.

No, I’ll do this the right way.

“The two of us are going to Aruk-cho and you’re going to tell him exactly what you told me. He will deal with Leal, of that you can be sure.”

Seijon bit his lower lip, looking so child-like, it reminded Ashinji of just how young the boy really was.

“Come on, then. Let’s go and find Aruk-cho.”

With his arm still around Seijon’s shoulder, Ashinji guided the boy out into the rain.

~~~

A day after Seijon had related his story of abuse to Aruk-cho, the yardmaster had Leal thrown into the small, windowless cell located beneath the storerooms known as “the hole.” There he stayed for an entire week, fed only on thin gruel and water. When he emerged, sullen and withdrawn, he made a conspicuous effort to avoid all contact with both Seijon and Ashinji. The rumor flying around the yard had him stripped of all his points accumulated so far that year.

Seijon’s personality changed almost immediately. The cheerful boy Ashinji had met on his first day at the yard had re-emerged. By removing the terrible burden of his abuse, Ashinji had freed his soul.

Two weeks after the incident in the bath house, Gran came to Ashinji with exciting news.

“He’s coming back! Tilo’s coming back to the yard, maybe as soon as tomorrow!”

Ashinji, who had been diligently applying needle and thread to a rip in his tunic, paused to look up at Gran’s flushed face.

“The Eskleipan brothers just left awhile ago. They said Tilo’s been overseeing their temple clinic. Anyhow, he’s back on rotation for the yards. When he comes, he’ll want to see me. We’ll both meet with him then.”

“How risky is this going to be, Gran?” Ashinji asked. He held up the shirt to inspect his repair.

“Everyone in the yard knows Tilo and I are friends. It won’t be risky at all, least not at first. Later on, when we need to discuss an actual plan, well…”

Ashinji sighed. “We have no choice, really. Don’t forget the dream I had about my wife and Sonoe.”

Gran nodded. “Time is wasting,” she said.

“Not to mention, as soon as the rains let up, the Imperial Army will march north and Alasiri will be under attack,” Ashinji added. He stared out across the yard at several of the female slaves engaged in a group sparring match. The clang of steel ringing against steel floated on the damp air.

I wonder if Jelena has given birth to our child yet... I might have a son now… or a daughter.

“What’s your schedule tomorrow?” Gran asked.

“I’m fighting two points matches during the afternoon session.”

“Good. Tilo should arrive after midday. When he finishes his rounds, we’ll have plenty of time to talk.”

“I hope you’re right about this Tilo, Gran.”

“I know I’m right.”

~~~

Ashinji trudged from the Arena, the cheers of the crowd roaring in his ears. He unbuckled his helmet and pulled it off, teeth gritted in pain. Gingerly, he examined a long cut on his left forearm. It oozed blood, messy but not too deep.

His injury would make a good excuse to meet with Gran’s human friend Tilo.

After his return to the yard, he washed the sweat, dirt, and blood from his body and sought out Gran. He found her in the infirmary. She stood next to a cot occupied by a slave who’d taken an injury during practice, talking to a tall, dark-haired human dressed in the brown robe of the Eskleipan Brothers. The man stood with his back to the door, so Ashinji could not see his face as he entered, but something about him seemed familiar.

Gran spotted him and beckoned with her hand. “Come in, come in. Tilo, here is the young man I want you to meet,” she said in Soldaran.

So, this is Tilo.

Ashinji approached, raising his injured arm. “Perhaps you can give me something for my cut,” he said.

The healer turned, mouth open as if to speak, but instead, he simply stared.

Ashinji stopped in his tracks, astonishment striking him mute as well.

“What’s wrong?” Gran asked quizzically.

Ashinji had never expected to see this man again, especially not here, in this place.

He found his voice at last.

“Ai, Goddess…Magnes Preseren…it’s you!”

Blood Feud

"Gods! Ashinji! I…I can’t believe it!”

Magnes stepped forward and grabbed Ashinji by the shoulders, then pulled him into a warm embrace.

“You two know each other?” Gran exclaimed.

“Ashinji and I are family,” Magnes answered.

“Magnes is my wife Jelena’s cousin,” Ashinji explained.

“Did I hear you right? Ashinji…you and Jelena are married?”

“Yes, you heard right, Magnes my friend. We are kinsmen in more ways than one now.”

Magnes whooped and swept Ashinji into another bear hug. “When I left Kerala, I figured you two were heading in that direction.” He paused, holding Ashinji at arm’s length, then added, “Did my cousin ever find her father?”

“She did, my friend, and neither of us ever could have imagined who he turned out to be. Jelena is the daughter of Keizo Onjara.”

“The...the elf king?” Magnes’ eyes grew wide with astonishment. “My little cousin…
a princess!
Gods!”

Ashinji nodded, smiling.

The two young men embraced again, then turned to face Gran, their arms draped over each other’s shoulder.

“So…Tilo is not your real name, then…Magnes?” Gran, who had been silently watching their reunion, now frowned in confusion.

Magnes nodded. “Yes, that’s right, Gran. I left my old name behind for reasons…well, let’s just say I need to remain Tilo for now.” His face grew serious. “What in the world are you doing here, Ashinji?”

“I could ask the same of you. My story is a long, painful one, and I’m guessing yours is, too.”

Magnes nodded. “How long have you been in the de Guera yard? Surely you’re not a…” He let the word die on his lips.

“Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. I am a slave. I was captured in a skirmish on the Kerala-Amsara border last fall, and I’ve been here ever since.”

The man on the cot moaned softly and Gran cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should speak outside,” she suggested.

Magnes checked the injured man one more time, then the three of them left the infirmary and made their way to the women’s barracks, deserted at this time of day. Gran fetched three stools for them to sit on.

“Your sister Thessalina commanded the Soldaran force,” Ashinji continued after they’d settled themselves in the shade of the barracks porch. “I learned from her that you had gone missing.”

“Gods, Ashinji… I can’t believe my sister had a hand in sending you here!” Magnes shook his head in dismay.

“There’s much more to the story, my friend. To be fair to your sister, she could have ordered me killed, but she didn’t. Instead, she had my wounds treated and made sure her troops didn’t abuse me...physically, at least.” The memory of Magnes’ dark-eyed sister, and her strange reaction to him flashed across his mind’s eye. “I think she believed she was doing the only thing she could to help me survive.”

Magnes snorted. “By selling you into slavery?”

“I’ve been a gladiator for half a year now, and I am still alive.”

“That’s because you’re a damn good fighter, and you have your Talent, even though you refuse to use most of what you have,” Gran interjected. “I wish you’d show more interest in your magical abilities!”

“You said there was more to the story, Ashinji. How much more?” Magnes inquired.

Ashinji pondered a moment, then decided he had no good reason not to tell Magnes the entire truth.

When he had finished, Magnes reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“I am so very sorry, my friend. To be betrayed like that by your own brother…. My sister and I have never been especially close, but I would trust her with my life.”