Ben Kane - The Gladiator

‘Priestess!’ a voice called behind her.

A sob escaped Ariadne’s lips, and she quickened her pace. All she had to do was reach the entrance. The guards outside wouldn’t dare to stop her and the impending snowstorm would swallow her up as surely as the underworld. What she was doing was madness, but in that exact moment, Ariadne didn’t care. Death was better than experiencing again what she’d endured as a child. She glanced over her shoulder and was pleased to see that the warriors were too far away to prevent her from escaping. With few other people about, this one tiny victory would not be denied her.

Totally absorbed, Ariadne wasn’t looking where she was going. With a thump, she collided with someone. It was only the other’s strong arm that prevented her from falling flat on her back. She looked up to find a pair of amused grey eyes regarding her. It was the man who’d just arrived with the lame stallion. Ariadne blinked. This close, he was quite handsome.

‘My apologies. I don’t usually make it my business to knock over attractive women.’

‘N-no, it was my fault,’ she faltered.

Noticing the tattoos and red cloak which marked her station, he released his grip. ‘I’m sorry, priestess, I meant no disrespect. Why the hurry?’

‘I-’ Ariadne glanced back. The warriors were less than twenty paces away. ‘I have to go. Leave the village.’

‘In this weather, priestess?’ He looked alarmed. ‘You’ll catch your death. If not, the wolves will have you.’

‘That’s as maybe,’ muttered Ariadne, ‘but I’m going nonetheless.’ She made to move past.

He threw out his arm, stopping her. ‘What have you done?’ he asked, nodding his head at the approaching group.

‘Done? Nothing!’ She laughed bitterly and tried again to walk on, but his arm was immovable, like a bar of iron. Ariadne didn’t have the strength — or will — to push against it.

‘Something tells me that lot aren’t coming to discuss the weather. Who are they?’

‘Kotys’ men,’ she replied flatly.

‘Kotys?’ I haven’t thought of the prick for years, but now his name is falling from everyone’s lips.

‘The king.’

His lip curled. ‘The king. You’ve crossed him, I take it?’

‘Does refusing to go to his bed count as crossing him?’ she spat back. ‘If it does, then yes, that’s what I’ve done. Now let me go.’

He lowered his arm. ‘So they’re coming to take you to Kotys, but you won’t have it?’

‘Yes. I’ll die before I let that bastard rape me.’ Ariadne stared into his eyes, and was surprised by what she saw. As well as anger, there was admiration. And hate — but not for her.

‘Don’t move.’ Dropping the horse’s lead rope, he stepped in front of her.

‘What are you doing?’ she stammered.

‘Men might act like that in war, but not in peacetime, in my fucking village,’ he barked. ‘I thought I’d left all that behind me.’ I thought I could come home without discovering that my father had been murdered by a man he once called friend.

Ariadne watched, petrified, as the warriors arrived, four well-armed warriors with hawkish expressions and a purposeful manner. ‘Well met,’ called the first. ‘We’re in your debt for stopping that woman.’

‘I didn’t stop her,’ he replied harshly. ‘We collided and I prevented her from falling.’

‘It’s of no matter how you did it.’ Revealing rows of rotten teeth, the warrior’s leer was more snarl than smile. ‘She’d have escaped but for you. We’re grateful. Now step aside.’

‘Why? What’s she done?’

‘None of your damn business,’ growled the warrior.

‘She’s a priestess. Hardly a common criminal. Not the type of person to manhandle either, unless you want to anger a god. Don’t you agree?’ His voice was low but menacing.

The warrior blinked in surprise. ‘Look, friend, we’re just following orders. The king wants to see her. So do us a favour and piss off, eh?’

He looked back at Ariadne. ‘Do you want to go with these men?’

‘You don’t have to do this,’ she whispered, not quite believing her eyes and ears.

He didn’t acknowledge what she’d said. ‘Yes or no?’

Ariadne looked at the quartet of bodyguards and shuddered.

‘Well?’

‘No,’ she heard herself say. Instantly, guilt tore at her. Why have you involved him too?

He shrugged carelessly. ‘You heard. She’s not going.’

‘What’s your name, fool?’ hissed the lead warrior, raising his spear. ‘I like to know the name of a man before I kill him.’

He ignored the demand. Drawing his sword, he pointed it straight at the man’s face. ‘Ready to die? Because that’s what is going to happen next.’

Even in the poor light, it was possible to see the warrior turn pale. He glanced at his companions, who also looked far from happy.

‘Shall we get this over with?’ he snarled, taking a step towards them.

Ariadne couldn’t believe her eyes. The bodyguard’s confidence shrank like a bladder pricked with a knife. ‘We’ve got no quarrel with you,’ he mumbled.

‘Nor I with you, but I’m not about to see you seize a priestess without good explanation,’ he snapped, continuing to advance. ‘It was my understanding that we held such people in great veneration. That we didn’t treat them like runaway slaves.’

Lifting his spear point into the air, the warrior backed away. His companions did the same. ‘This isn’t going to end here,’ muttered the first man.

‘I’d be disappointed if it was.’ He watched as they vanished into the gloom.

‘I wish you hadn’t done that. You’ve as good as signed your own death warrant,’ Ariadne said coldly, disregarding the amazement she felt at the warriors’ about-turn.

‘A simple thank you would suffice,’ he replied in a mild voice.

‘I don’t want another’s death on my conscience!’ she said, colouring.

‘My fate is mine to decide, not yours,’ he growled. ‘What kind of a man would I be if I just let a group of thugs carry off a priestess?’ It was a rash move, all the time. Thank the Rider that none of them recognised me.

‘A wise one,’ she snapped.

‘Got quite the temper, haven’t you? Seeing as you don’t want my help, I’ll leave you to it. The gate’s still open.’ He picked up the lead rope and clicked his tongue at his horse. ‘Come on. Let’s get you stabling and some food. And better company, if we can find it.’

‘Wait,’ said Ariadne, hating her fear, which had resurged at the prospect of him leaving.

He raised an eyebrow, which made him even more attractive.

‘It was noble of you to intervene. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. Was there anything else?’ He made to move off again.

‘The king’s men won’t leave it at that, you know. They act as they please.’

‘I can tell. But they’ll have to find me first. The settlement is a big place to search for one man.’ He nodded in farewell.

‘Stay for a moment,’ asked Ariadne. Walking out into the night now seemed utterly terrifying. So too did waiting for Kotys’ warriors, alone.

‘I was going to until you decided to be rude.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she replied, her voice catching. ‘I didn’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.’

‘Your concern is endearing,’ he said in a gentler tone, ‘but let me worry about things like that.’

‘Very well.’ Ariadne felt embarrassed, but she continued regardless. ‘Please accompany me home. I have a small shed where you could stable your horse.’

‘Is it far?’ He gestured at the stallion. ‘As you’ve probably seen, he’s lame.’

‘It’s no more than a couple of hundred paces. Follow me.’ With her heart thumping in her chest, Ariadne led the way. By now, it was completely dark and the alleys had emptied of people. Only the occasional dog skittered by, giving them a wide berth. She caught him checking every shadow, and was relieved when he eventually relaxed a little.