The Gladiator Prince (25 page)

“My dear fellow,” Hasani replied as soon as he had his humor under control. “I have no need of more slaves. The ones I have ruin my life as it is. No. I only want to understand what could possibly have driven you from Britannia. Abella has no idea you are gone, only Phaedra and her brother. What astounds me is that you have escaped and taken a youngster and a spoiled selfish woman halfway across the world with you. Are you insane? I must know why.”

Thane could not help the smile that curled the sides of his lips. “It was not my idea.”

“That I gathered. Then why…”

He searched the Egyptian’s face, and for some reason found a measure of comfort there. “To save my children,” Thane replied bluntly.

That closed Hasani’s mouth, and he blinked back at him. “You have children?”

“Yes, two girls. They are nine and eleven and know nothing of their own world, let alone Rome. They were taken in a slaver’s raid and shipped there.” He turned his back on Hasani and leaned against the railing. “Do you have children?”

“Yes, a boy and a girl, seven and nine. They live with their mother in Saqqara. I have not seen them in three years.”

Thane nodded. “What would you do if you knew what awaited them as slaves in Roman hands?”

Hasani joined him at the railing. “I would do what I had to.”

“Then you have your answer. That Phaedra and Bahar are with me was providential.”

“Providence? Why would the gods so anoint you?”

He lowered his head. “Because I was not there to protect my own girls when they needed me.”

In the silence that followed, the lapping of water against the hull was the only sound. Thane studied the backs of his hands, his heart heavy.

“I will take you to Rome. From there we will let your providence guide you.” Without another word, Hasani turned on his heel, signaled to his two guards and disappeared in the darkness on the deck.

Thane hung his head, forcing the tears to stay behind his eyes.

Chapter XXIX

The dock overwhelmed Phaedra, as it always did. The noise and bustle of Rome blew over her like an old dream, soaking her in nostalgia. How she had missed the sensation of a living, breathing city. Beyond the harbor in wide rolling streets, the city was laid out like a massive wheel, the spokes trailing around Rome’s seven magnificent hills. Even in the years she had lived there, Phaedra had explored less than a fourth of all there was to see. The giant concrete buildings painted with bright colors looked brilliant against the warm blue sky. The dock itself crawled with activity, like a beehive stuffed with honey.

Thane came up behind her and kissed her neck. She shivered and laced a hand behind her to touch his face. When she turned around, she was again impressed by the ornate robes that made him look so kingly. Hasani had trunks and trunks full of clothes he had gathered through his travels, including tunics for Phaedra and Bahar.

On the previous night, Bahar had come into the cabin, and Phaedra held her so long her younger sister broke out laughing. “I am well, sister,” she protested.

Phaedra let her go, but touched her face just to make certain she was still alive. “I thought…”

“I am bone tired, but well. I could use some of that food.”

“What a dolt I am!” Phaedra exclaimed and pulled Bahar to the table to make her sit. “Please, eat, talk… dance, run, anything you want!” She broke out laughing and yet crying at the same time.

“Just food at the moment,” Bahar said around a mouthful of salted beef.

Phaedra was not hungry and wanted only to touch her sister and stare at her. Bahar finally put an end to it by slamming down her knife. “Enough. Let me eat in peace.”

The door banged open, and the sailor who had escorted Bahar to the cabin came in laden with bundles of clothes that he plopped down on the Egyptian bed. “Captain said you would like these.” He gave a staggered bow, apparently not knowing how you treated people who were your captives only minutes before and now honored guests.

When he disappeared out the door, the girls burst out laughing, sending up cackling hysterics Phaedra was sure resonated throughout the ship. They ended up in tears rolling on the floor.

That is how Thane found them. He filled the frame, scowling down at them. Putting his hands on his hips, the girls arranged themselves with proper decorum, on their knees in front of him, struggling to suppress the mirth leaking out of their barely contained faces.

“What the devil do you think you are doing?” he spat at them.

Exercising her lips to hold back the laughter, Phaedra tried to talk. “We were just commenting on the change of our…” It was too much. Bahar’s mouth erupted with a flatulent sputter and Phaedra could not contain herself. The girls howled on the floor, holding on to each other for support. When the gladiator sat and stared at them in disbelief, it only made things worse. It was several minutes before the girls could control themselves.

“I am sorry, Thane,” Bahar said, sniffling and wiping her eyes.

“You are exhausted. You should sleep. And you…” He turned to Phaedra, and her heart sank. For a moment, she thought Thane was going to scold her.

Instead, he caught her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him until she had to come up for air. New tears triggered when his lips met hers. They were very welcome, and she let them flow.

“I thought I would never see you again,” she whispered into his ear. His only reply was to pull her closer.

“I…” Bahar started then rubbed the back of her neck. “I need to find out when we will arrive in Rome. I will be back in…”

Thane stood up, looking embarrassed. “Nonsense,” he said pulling his hands away from Phaedra. “You need sleep. I will stay out on the dock. You two take the bed.”

Bahar came up to him and patted his arm, her years too young for the look she gave him. “As if I could do that to either of you. Stay. Goodnight, sister,” she said, heading out the door.

“Goodnight,
brother
.”

When the door closed, Thane took Phaedra back into his arms and rested his cheek on top of her head. Without another word, they swayed inside the embrace, staying there for a very long time. Phaedra closed her eyes and luxuriated in his warmth.

Thane finally broke the embrace and led her to the bed, sat her down and kneeled before her. The look on his face frightened her; it was sad, but determined. She would not let him say the words.

“Phaedra, I need to know. Did he…”

“No,” she replied distinctly. “A kiss only… and I bit him.”

Thane chuckled at the mischievous twist of her lips she used to emphasize her point. “Good. He…” Looking down at his hand, he shook his head. The next words tumbled out of his mouth quickly, as if he would lose them before he was done. “I need to tell you… That is… You must know that I cannot promise you anything. There is no future with me.” He lifted his eyes to her and took her hands. “You have to understand…”

Laying three fingers on his lips, they felt hot against her skin. “I do not care about the future… only the present. Althea used to tell me she believed
now
was all the life we had; people who forget that, barely survive somewhere between hope for the future and regret for the past. That is not life, not really.” She searched the handsome face before her and could not stop the smile that split her face. “What little time we may have together is of no consequence. We have now. Let us not waste it.” His few days of stubble scratched her fingertips when she pulled his face to her. “For what it is worth, right now I love you. It is all I know… all I want to know.”

Pushing the clothes onto the floor with one strong sweep of his arm, Thane took her gently and laid her on the bed. In the silent chamber, lighted only by a single candle, he taught her about love, and she gave herself to him fully.

Hours later, before Phaedra finally succumbed to sleep, Thane brushed hair out of her eyes and whispered into her ear.

“I see no way out of our future, but I will give you now. I have never raised my voice to the gods, except to curse them for their cruelty. I swear as I love you; I will freely surrender to their whims, if only they grant me a millennium of nows with you. I will love you for as long as I have breath, the gods willing.” He kissed her tenderly then slept.

* * * *

Now they both stared at the magnificent city sprawling before them, Thane’s hand warm against hers. He pulled her against his chest, and she could hear the slow beating of his heart.

Hasani called to them, and they made their way to the plank, dodging scurrying men and swinging ropes. Bahar came bouncing up to them obviously excited.

“What are your plans once we land?” Hasani asked Thane as they approached.

Thane looked at Phaedra. Until that moment, Phaedra doubted he had given it any thought. She smiled back at him. “We should go to Senator Thrasea’s house. He will help us, I am certain.”

Hasani nodded, exchanging a glance with Thane. He tilted his head to the right and laced his fingers together. “I will go with you.”

All three of them opened their eyes wide at him. “You have done enough,” Thane said, actually sounding a little angry. Phaedra touched his arm, but he shook it off. “I think we can handle it from here.”

“As you wish,” Hasani said turning away from him and picking up Phaedra’s hand. “However, I believe it is the lady’s decision to make since she has her and her brother’s safety to consider.” He kissed her hand, and Phaedra pulled it back, scowling at him. “I am very handy in a fight, know this city better than any man alive and have keys to places that the good Senator could not imagine even in his most perverted nightmares. I guarantee it would take me a fraction of the time it will take you to find the girls.” He examined his nails, twiddled his fingers and cocked an eye at Thane. “Of course, if your pride is worth more than your children’s lives, then I understand and withdraw my offer.”

Phaedra widened her eyes at Thane, but he only pursed his lips and folded his arms, glaring at her.

“Perhaps he is right,” Bahar offered slowly. “After all, none of us know where they could possibly have taken the girls. Another set of eyes and ears could prove helpful.”

Thane shifted his glare to Bahar, but his faced folded into capitulation with a huff. “Fine,” he said to Hasani stiffly. Grabbing the front of his neat, well-tended tunic, Thane pulled his face in close. “You do anything… and I mean
anything
to harm any one of us, I will pull your head off. Am I clear?”

A threatening fire ignited in Hasani’s eyes, and he worked his jaw. “As new blown glass, my gladiator friend.”

Thane let him go, but the Egyptian’s eyes still smoldered as he bowed and directed them to the plank sailors were lifting over the side of the boat.

Once on the dock, Hasani greeted a bent seamy looking fellow who laughed, eyed the group carefully then left them at a sprint. Several men hauled barrels and sacks from the ship, most going to the right to be sold and a few stacked up at Hasani’s back. Phaedra was amazed at how much Hasani carried with him.

He winked at her, and she scowled then searched the dock for some public transportation, as Thrasea’s home was miles from the shipyards. Out of the throng of people, wagons, mules, horses and military carts, an empty wagon pulled up to the group and the little man Hasani had talked to jump out of the back to load Hasani’s possessions. There were two rows of seats behind the driver, and Hasani helped Phaedra and Bahar to the back one. Without waiting for Thane to board, he pulled himself onto the wagon to sit next to Phaedra, taking her hand to pat it and grinning back at the gladiator. With a growl, Thane pulled himself up onto the front bench where he was soon joined by Hasani’s strange little friend. The man gave the gladiator a wide grin to which Thane wrinkled his brow and folded his arms, turning his head to scowl at the throng that surrounded them. They made their way slowly to the ancient cobbled road.

Phaedra’s heart thumped in her chest, thrilled at the prospect of being in Rome again. The tall concrete buildings rose up like sentinels on either side of them as they passed, pressing in, ominous in their bright colors and engineering perfection. People crowded around them from everywhere; Romans, Brits, Greeks,
Afrikans
, Asians. Their skins melded together making a tapestry of rainbows, moving in a great wave of civilization. The smells filled her senses, bringing back memories of long rides she and Lucius had taken together.

She glanced over at Thane whose eyes darted around suspiciously. It came to Phaedra in a flash, and she sucked in a breath; Thane would have only seen part of Rome stuffed into a cage with other gladiators, hauled through the crowds where the good citizens of Rome cheered then scorned them for their heroism and their status. Phaedra remembered wading through the crowd and begging Lucius to lift her to his shoulders so she too could scream at the unfortunates as they crawled by. Shame dissolved her pleasure in a second as she watched Thane sitting on the wooden bench, scowling at the crowds. The princely clothes did nothing to hide the tortured soul under them. In the stiking perfection of Rome, Thane stood out like a dark gem among a sea of diamonds.