Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) (29 page)

Nearly though the entrance, he noticed the markings on their arms and legs. It seemed that everyone had painted themselves in some manner, with tattoos of animals, faces, and intricate designs.

He shouted out, “Excuse me!” Suddenly, all the barbarians, men, women and children stopped. “May I have some water? Please?” he cried.

A second later, the people started to run toward him, screaming at the top of their lungs. Elijah froze, heart racing more violently with each passing breath.

The pounding of feet rushed behind him and forced him to turn. Suddenly, a muscular barbarian, hair swinging wildly, came into view. He was a lean man, with arms bulging underneath his scarred skin and shoulders. His scarred chest swelled up and down as he hoisted a rounded, wooden stake above his head. Elijah tried to duck, but was able to only catch a glimpse of the man’s flying hair before the weapon smashed into his head. He flew backward and saw no more.

Screaming and a splitting headache greeted him momentarily as sharp rocks cut into his back. The hoard followed the two as Elijah was pulled through the camp. Blackness descended again. The sun glared at him as he was drug further and further up a hill, and then the light disappeared again. The motion stopped. People crowded in as he rolled off his back and slowly wobbled to his knees. A huge man, covered in massive armor, hovered above and met his eyes. Elijah stared at the bone spikes rising from his shoulder and chest pads.

The rest of the color in Elijah’s sunburned face quickly disappeared as the man’s enormous axe came into focus.

“Who are you?” boomed the unfamiliar voice.

No one moved except Elijah as he staggered to his feet.

“Who are you?” echoed the voice again, this time even louder.

Trying to loosen his throat, Elijah swallowed hard. “Elijah! My name is Elijah,” he eked out.

“What brings you to my home?” the massive shape before him demanded.

Elijah reached up to his throat and rubbed it. “I come here seeking Anglican root and some water if you can spare any,” he whispered hoarsely.

The barbarian glared. “You dare come in and make demands to my people?” he asked.

Elijah managed a slight frown, but then quickly hid it. “What? No, of course not, I have a friend in dire need of help, and I need that root to heal him. He was attacked by a ghoul, and he was poisoned after the creature wounded him,” he pleaded.

The man’s eyes widened. “Ghoul? And what happened to this Ghoul?”

“Uh… We killed it,” claimed Elijah.

Those close by suddenly broke out in laughter. “Are you saying you killed the immortal ghoul from the gorge? Impossible!” shouted the man.

Elijah glanced around. “No, really. It lost its head in the fight,” he eagerly nodded.

The man lifted his axe high in the air. “Well, looks like we have a warrior in our camp!” he exclaimed to a resounding chorus of cheers.

Feeling more confident, Elijah tried to continue. “Well, I had some help,” he said.

The man’s eyes narrowed as he broke into a grin. “I’m sure you did,” he chided. “Magnus! Take him to meet our other warrior.”

The long haired man with the stake stepped forward, beaming.

Elijah reached to his side, but his sword was gone. Somebody
must have grabbed it from me when I was drug through the camp
, he reasoned. His chest tightened suddenly.

The huge man continued. “How much do you desire to get this root?” he asked.

“With everything I have in me. I need it,” answered Elijah.

“Then, let us barter. You entertain us, and I will give you your root. Deal?” said the man in armor.

“Entertain?” asked Elijah.

Magnus rushed forward and shoved Elijah to the ground. Once again, Elijah’s back screamed out in pain over the sharp stones along the path. He felt his mind swirl amidst the cheering. He sucked hard as he tried to draw in nearly impossible air. The sharp pain suddenly stopped. Elijah glanced right, and squinted as several wooden planks were flung away. Below, in the darkness, sat a man.

Elijah tried to rise, but someone from the crowd lunged forward and kicked him in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him.

Magnus grinned. “You will stay here for tonight,” he said and then yanked Elijah to his feet. Several others ran up and helped Magnus push the unsuspecting bandit into the pit. The crashing of wooden planks quickly snuffed out any remaining rays of precious light.

Chapter 37

A
t first, he
didn’t move. The darkness overwhelmed his senses, but not for long. Slowly, small rays of shattered light broke through. Just as gradually, he turned to see what lay around him when a huddled man came into focus in the corner.

A strange accent greeted him. “Did they capture you as well?” it said.

“No, I actually kind of led myself in here, believe it or not,” replied Elijah as he dusted himself off.

Elijah glanced back at the silent man and could tell he was from a different country. His eyes were slanted, and even though he had a different accent, he somehow looked familiar. “Hey, are you not one of the acrobats from the caravan?” asked Elijah.

“Yes, ah, are you from Habarga?” he replied.

Elijah moved beside the man. “Yes! Incredible! How did you end up here?”

“A small boy stole one of our most sacred artifacts from my country. I was chasing him through the desert to get it back,” he said, staring straight forward.

Then the man continued. “Then, these barbarians ambushed me, and now, I am stuck here.”

Elijah replied. “I am sorry to hear that.” He thought back to his recent stroke of bad luck and felt his chest again tighten.

The man turned. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

Elijah shrugged. “Running away…I suppose.”

“Oh, I see.”

“What is your name?” asked Elijah.

“My name is Xing Kun Yi. You may call me Kun.”

Elijah glanced up at the wooden planks as several voices passed by. “Nice to meet you. I’m Elijah.”

Kun gently nodded his head.

“What are they going to do to us?” asked Elijah.

Kun used a familiar word. “We are their entertainment.”

Elijah frowned. “Yeah, I got that part,’ he replied.

Kun continued. “They send out their prisoners to fight their barbarians and beasts.”

“What! What kind of entertainment is that?” said Elijah, eyes wide.

“Barbarian,” replied Kun.

Elijah could barely stand up. “We have to get out of here!” he said, pacing.

Kun’s strained voice quickly replied. “We can’t get out of here. I already tried.”

“Well, you didn’t try hard enough,” exclaimed Elijah and then reached for handholds and footholds, but slid right back down.

“I have been trained in the acrobatic way for years,” said Kun. “I can jump three times higher than an average man. Trust me; there is no way out of here.”

Elijah suddenly kicked the dirt. “I can’t believe I got myself in this mess!” he scoffed.

Kun lifted his arm over his face.

“Has anyone survived the games?” asked Elijah.

“So far, I have seen two men. Both were sent out before me. They were crusaders. They never came back.”

They both thought in silence for a moment.

Kun continued. “Antillis probably made sure they were killed to please his people.”

“Antillis?” quizzed Elijah.

Kun nodded. “Yes. I am sure you saw him. He is a very big man, with very big armor, and axe.”

Elijah rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I met him,” he said.

“That is the barbarian leader,” said Kun.

Elijah kicked the dirt again. “Figures,” he said.

Kun stared at Elijah. “You seem like you have been through many battles,” he exclaimed.

Elijah dropped his head. “I have, unfortunately. Not intentionally.”

“Good. Then we may have a chance,” said Kun.

Elijah turned to Kun. “What are you suggesting?”

“If we can fight together, we would have a much better chance than alone.”

“I agree…,” answered Elijah and then abruptly stopped. A blast of light suddenly followed the creaking of wooding planks. Both men squinted at the silhouette leaning over the opening.

Slowly, the image transformed into a beautiful, blonde female, complete with delicate paintings on her arms and chest. Elijah forgot where he was as he stared into her calming blue eyes. The sun slid off her soft, smooth skin and onto his face with a gentleness he couldn’t remember. He felt his pains disappear. As his eyes travelled down her body, he realized that she was dressed in pure gold. A gold necklace decked her tender neck, and gold leaves her breasts. Only her hips bore no gold, rather, they were bound in soft, but sparse leather. Her tiny mouth was pursed together, gently, almost willing to speak, but it said nothing. Her gaze fell upon him.

Elijah finally gasped. He couldn’t speak. When she started to move, Elijah’s eyes widened.

The delicate creature raised her arm and extended a basket filled with bread and meat. It fell perfectly into Elijah’s awaiting arms.

A familiar site suddenly appeared as his canteen tumbled toward him. The gurgling told him his mouth and throat would finally receive long awaited relief.
They must have taken it when they knocked him out
, he thought.

A shadow joined her as she turned away. The long hair of Magnus quickly came into view.

“Thank you!” shouted Elijah.

The girl looked back, as her eyebrows raised.

But, falling dirt forced Elijah to shield his eyes, and they were gone.

Elijah and Kun quickly dug into the basket without saying another word.

Chapter 38

F
ear had never
gripped her heart as it did today. Her arms ached, unbearably, stretched behind and around the wide pillar. The throne room no longer seemed as sacred as it had before. It was always the perfect refuge, completely safe with no fear of reprisal as long as her father sat on the throne. But, today, he stood, bound against another pillar. His head hung low. He didn’t move. A wince sounded from one of the bound servants. His arm hung in two sections, connected only by the remaining fragile skin. Natalia shuddered at the image of the shaking ruler.

“Father….are you okay?” she whispered loudly.

His head, covered in a crusty red, didn’t move.

“Father, why won’t you talk to me?” she pleaded, afraid to raise her voice above a whisper.

Tears pooled in her eyes. She realized that her safety was gone.

“… Father!” she repeated, glancing at the doorway.

Suddenly, the large doors burst open. Karam strutted into the room, laughing. “Ah, what a glorious day!” he boldly exclaimed. In seconds, he stood, toe to toe with the sultan. “Do ask me how my first day of being sultan was.”

The man didn’t move.

Karam chuckled as he pulled back his closed fist.
Thud
it went as it landed in the sultan’s gut. Immediately, his knees buckled, relying solely on the rope for support. Slowly, he slid further down, gagging.

Natalia screamed, “Father!” when the man started coughing uncontrollable.

Karam lunged sideways. “Silence!” he yelled, spitting in Natalia’s face.

Natalia’s disgust filled the room.

Karam repeated himself. “Ask me now, old man!” he demanded.

The servants stared straight ahead.

“How…was your day…of…” muttered the collapsed sultan.

Karam beamed. “It was glorious! Did you know I have everyone chanting my name throughout the streets?” he said as he broke out in laughter. “I have the chimera and his tamer trapped in the courtyard! Whoever disobeys me gets fed to the beast!” His laughter grew even more. “He has already had a hearty meal with some of the city’s residents, not to mention that stupid servant of yours, said Karam as he smiled over at Natalia.

Tears streamed out of her hopelessness. She couldn’t bear the thought of her father so humiliated. Never had she seen him prostrate like this. A wave of dizziness swept over her, begging her to submit.

Just as Karam turned back toward the great doors, a muttered voice shattered the stillness. “You won’t win,” said the sultan.

Karam abruptly stopped.

“You’re just a common bandit! A low-life thug who can’t accomplish anything in his life!” scowled the sultan.

Slowly, the narrow looking man turned. “Oh, really?”

Natalia cried out. “Father! Stop! Don’t talk to him!”

“Your daughter is correct. Don’t speak unless spoken to. I am sultan now, fool!” chuckled Karam. The sun broke through the key shaped window above and glinted off Karam’s eye.

“She is not my daughter! And you will never be sultan!” he shouted.

Natalia stared at her father in disbelief. “Father! How could you!?” she cried sobbing.

He raised his head. “He already told me you showed him in to my palace!” said the sultan.

“I did not!” shouted Natalia.

Karam pursed his lips. “Oh, you poor little worm!” His brisk steps brought him hovering over the sultan as he started slapping the man’s face lightly. “She didn’t intentionally show me the way into
my
home,” he chuckled. “She showed her bandit friend. Some of my men were just lucky enough to see her show him,” he said.

The sultan finally met Karam’s eyes. “What?” he shouted.

“Oops! Did you not know your daughter was whoring around with bandits? Oh, I thought everyone knew,” he said evasively.

The sultan’s head dropped again, this time flush red.

Natalia’s voice quivered. “No! It’s not like that!” she stuttered. “It’s not like that at all, father! I…”

“I have heard enough, Natalia! I have heard enough!” said her father.

Again, her sobs filled the room.

Karam lifted his hand to his forehead. With eyes gleaming, he said, “I’m sorry, princess.” He started to laugh. “I forgot not to tell anyone.”

Natalia felt her blood start to boil as she glared at the man. She yanked at the ropes, but to no avail.

“You’re my lap dog now,” he said as he breathed into her face.

Natalia’s tears stopped as she clenched her fists. She realized that he was completely crazy now and wanted to do anything to stop him.