The Darkness Before the Dawn - By Ryan Hughes Page 0,112
the crabby couple,” he told them when they assembled for morning practice. “They were much amused by the way you bickered out there. That’ll be a real draw if you keep it up, so of course I want you to.”
Kayan laughed for the first time since they’d been captured. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I thought not. So, I will leave that aspect of your performance to you, and we will concentrate on your use of weapons. Today you will learn how to use swords.”
He and Shani proceeded to show them how to wield a blade, how to hold it en garde, how to attack, parry, feint, and execute dozens of other techniques that every good gladiator could perform in his sleep. By the end of the day their heads were buzzing with the unfamiliar terms and their muscles ached in brand new places. All the same, Jedra was surprised to realize that he had a natural aptitude for the sword. Some instinct seemed to guide his hand when he most needed it, until by the end of the day he could spar with Sahalik for up to a minute before the elf wore down his guard.
When they finished their last session of the day, both of them panting and slick with sweat, Sahalik pointed at the knife scars all over Jedra’s body and said, “I wouldn’t have believed it, seeing how many blades you’ve let through your guard since I last saw you, but I think we’ve found your weapon.” He took a long drink from the waterskin they kept beside the practice field, then handed it to Shani. “How did you survive all those, anyway? Some of them look serious.”
“I didn’t,” Jedra said, then he realized how strange that sounded. “I almost didn’t, anyway. Kayan found me where I lay dying, and she healed me.” He smiled at Kayan, who turned away and took the waterskin from Shani.
Sahalik grunted appreciatively. “You must’ve had a hard time of it after I… left.”
“We did.” Jedra waited for the waterskin, took a long swallow of warm water, then said, “We, uh, we got kicked out of the tribe the next day. We spent quite a while in the desert before we found Kitarak, and then…” He shrugged. “And then more stuff happened, and here we are.”
Sahalik laughed. “‘And then more stuff happened.’ Yes, a fitting end to any tale.” His laughter died, though, and he asked, “What you told me earlier about the Jura-Dai. That was true? They were in trouble when you left them? They wanted me back?”
Jedra nodded. “They would welcome you with open arms.”
“Hmm,” the elf said. “Well, they will have to do without me for a while longer, at least. I have my own battles to fight here.” He laughed wickedly and walked off toward his own quarters.
“What did he mean by that?” Jedra asked Shani. “Does he fight in the games too?”
“Of course he does,” she said. “He’s Rokur’s champion.”
Even if Sahalik had come straight to Tyr after leaving the Jura-Dai, he couldn’t have been there over a fortnight. Champions must come and go awfully fast, Jedra thought. But of course they did, since someone had to die in nearly every battle.
“I hope he’s as good as he thinks he is,” Jedra said, surprised that he should care.
* * *
Sahalik and Shani worked their new team mercilessly day after day, but after their first taste of what awaited them in the arena, Jedra and Kayan soaked up every bit of knowledge as eagerly as they could. Jedra did, at any rate; Kayan fought her battles with precision and skill, but she showed no enthusiasm when she succeeded in penetrating Shani or Kitarak’s guard, and she retired to their quarters immediately after each battle.
When Jedra tried to talk with her, she responded like a zombie until he gave up and left her alone. He was afraid for her mind, afraid that the cruelties they’d endured since their first enslavement had finally broken her spirit, but he could think of nothing to bring her out of it. Escape seemed extremely unlikely, yet so did their chances of surviving long as gladiators.
However, if survival as gladiators was their only option, then Jedra intended to do just that. He still didn’t like the idea of killing other people for sport, but his experience with Lothar had changed his attitude a little. Lothar had wanted to be there, and he had willingly fought a couple of slaves who didn’t. Jedra and Kayan