Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) (30 page)

Karam leaned in closer and licked her tear-stained cheek.

“Get off me!” she screamed, thrusting her head to the side.

“Feisty!” he exclaimed with another burst of laughter.

Natalia turned and spit into his face.

He lifted his hand against the bloody scar on his cheek as it eked out more blood. Thrusting himself around, his backhand landed squarely against her swollen face.

Natalia screamed out in pain.

“Don’t touch her!” shouted her father.

Karam paused as his eyes roved to the sultan’s hands behind the pillar. “Why now. That is a nice ring you have,” said Karam.

Natalia glanced to her side as the brilliant, ruby covered silver sparkles danced in the dark shadow. She remembered this ring from childhood. Her father always wore it no matter the occasion. Its 30 small rubies, mounted in shining silver, sat beneath an enormous, multi-faceted red gem. She had always loved the ring and knew that he did too.

Karam stepped closer. “What a pretty color. I want it.”

The sultan shouted, “No!”

Karam kept advancing. “I would like to take this ring from you.” He quickly stepped behind the pillar and pulled, but it didn’t budge.

The sultan yelled again. “Get away from me!” He jerked, still captive.

“My, my, temper, temper. It’s not coming off,” chided Karam when he reached and pulled out a small dagger from his boot. “Maybe we ought to cut it off instead!” His eyes narrowed.

Natalia cried out. “No! Please!”

The sultan’s heaving chest could be heard throughout the room.

Karam pushed the end of the blade on the sultan’s fingers. “Uh oh. It’s a little dull. This may take a while,” he said grinning.

The sultan cried to Karam. “No! Please no! Don’t do it! I will get it off! Please don’t!”

“Karam! No! Please don’t!” cried Natalia.

Then Karam grabbed the ring finger.

“No! No! No!” screamed the sultan again.

“Please, no!” cried out Natalia as she felt her stomach heave.

Karam whispered in the sultan’s ear. “Now brace yourself, worm, because this…is really going to hurt,” he said as he started to saw at the finger.

Natalia closed her eyes and tried to shut out the horrific screams, but it didn’t help. Dizziness again swept across her as she felt her legs start to wobble.

Karam lifted his bloody hand. “Here. Take the ring,” he yelled.

“Yes sir,” said a nearby bandit as he stepped up beside the continuous screams.

Natalia’s eyes remained closed.

Karam’s laughter filled the room. “Get him bandaged up. We can’t have him bleeding to death before his execution,” he said grimly.

“Right!” replied the bandit.

Natalia could still hear her father screams. She hated this place, these people, and these things. Every fiber in her being begged to fly away.
Why did I have to send Elijah away?
she thought.
If only I could be back in his arms. Everything would be all right.
She slowly squinted and started to turn her head, only to be greeted by Karam’s immediate presence. His face was mere inches from hers.

“Boo!” he laughed.

She screamed out in fear and slammed her eyes shut once again.

Her knees buckled, slowly at first, and the last thing she remembered was Karam’s laughter as he walked out of the room.

Chapter 39

T
he darkness seemed
never-ending except for the single ray of hope through the hole in one plank. Elijah couldn’t get his mind off of Aiken and Edward. They had trusted him with this journey, and he knew that the odds were already stacked against him. The desert heat, lack of water, and the completely unknown possibility of the Barbarians. He started to second guess himself as he imagined Edward in pain, maybe already dead.
Why did he think he could even find that herb
? he thought.
It really does seem impossible, now, just like Natalia was.

He felt his soul surge with fear every time he thought about his situation. He knew that Edward’s survival, if he even was still alive, hung on him like a dead weight. He had to hurry, but didn’t know how.
Something had to change, but what?
he wondered. He glanced over at Kun, but thought that the frail man was not going to be much help. They had talked about everything they possibly could the night before, but now sat in silence, waiting, wondering.

Elijah’s stomach growled again as he glanced up at the lone hole of light. Voices, filtering through the dust and dirt, made him think about Natalia.
She now lived in a glorious palace, fitted with every fine thing the world had to offer,
he thought.
She must be amazingly happy by now. What was she having for lunch?
His thoughts about her pounded away, but made him feel better in the darkness. Suddenly, a loud and most ferocious roar captured his attention. Kun quickly sprung up and started toward the sound. A growing crowd broke out in wild cheers as the roar grew louder and louder.

“What is that?” Elijah shouted.

Kun’s forehead suddenly glistened. “It’s a tiger,” he answered.

“What!?” exclaimed Elijah.

“I know that roar,” replied Kun. “We used to have many tigers in our shows. I know that roar very well. It is a hungry roar!”

Elijah shook his head. “That’s not what I wanted to hear,” he said grimly.

Magnus threw off the planks. “It’s time,” he shouted above the roaring from behind.

The two men peered into the glaring sun while Magnus dropped down a knotted rope.

Elijah grabbed on and pulled himself up, with Kun following right behind. Their first sight was Magnus and two other barbarians bearing swords.

Magnus abruptly turned. “Follow me,” he commanded and quickly took off down the path. Elijah glanced at Kun and followed. Two scowling barbarians followed them through a worn mountain pass. Elijah had enough time to think about his friends back at the hideout and wondered how they were before they emerged from an outcropping of rocks and faced a huge arena.

Elijah suddenly exclaimed, “What?” as he stared. Minutes later, they found themselves staring down the stone steps into a vast open arena, encircled with enough seating for over a thousand. Colored flags, hung from the vertical, stone walls above the seating, blowing in the hot breeze. Elijah thought it looked festive enough, but felt the pangs of fear around his head and chest. The raging cheers from the throngs did nothing to stop them.

Kun stared ahead. “They must be expecting quite a show,” he quipped.

“I don’t think I want to know how we are entertainment,” muttered Elijah, his chest fluttering out of control. He glanced around and stopped at the spiked armor on Antilles’ shoulders and chest. He stood at the top of the arena steps.

Magnus pointed down the steep, stone steps. “Go!” he shouted.

Elijah gulped, motionless. He suddenly pictured himself, dead, in the middle of the groomed sand below.

Kun placed his hand on Elijah’s shoulder. “If we stick together, we have a chance,” he said, nodding.

“I know. You’re right,” replied Elijah as they made their way through the cheering and chanting crowd.

Antilles shouted out. “Welcome to the Mosick clan games!”

Elijah turned to the crowd roaring around him.

Antilles continued. “Today, we have two warriors from around the world who are going to show us how real warriors fight! We even have one that killed the ghoul of the gorge!”

Kun’s eyes grew wide. “You killed a ghoul?” he asked.

“I had a lot of help,” replied Elijah quietly.

“But we are a fair people. If you can prove that you can survive, then you will receive your reward! Now, tell us your names, and what reward you seek…if you survive?” quizzed Antilles.

Elijah and Kun exchanged glances.

Suddenly, Kun stepped forward. “I am Xing Kun Yi. I wish that I may have my freedom,” he declared.

The crowd immediately exploded in laughter.

Antilles beamed brightly. “Of course! The common answer for all our victims,” he countered, now laughing. “And what of you, stranger?”

Elijah crossed his chest with a closed fist. “I am Elijah, and I am here to receive some Anglican root. My friend is dying, and I need to retrieve it so that he might live,” he declared.

Antilles eagerly nodded. “I am impressed, Elijah. If you survive, not only will you save your life, but the life of your friend. Now, let the fight begin!” The crowd again erupted, applauding wildly. “Bring them out!”

Magnus quickly motioned across the distance. A muscular man, decked with a cow skull on his head, emerged wielding an enormous axe. Only his right side was covered in thick armor, keeping him free to move his other massive arm in any direction. Behind him sauntered a tiger, growling and baring its fangs.

Elijah and Kun could barely speak as they stared at their opponents. “Any ideas?” blurted Elijah, hoping that Kun could even hear him.

Kun shook his head. “Not one.”

Suddenly, Magnus lifted his hand and tossed a blade and a spear toward Elijah and Kun. Sand flew everywhere as they settled nearby.

Kun eyed Elijah. “Which one are you better at?”

Elijah, heart racing, thought for a moment and finally shrugged. “I don’t know. Which one are you better at?” he asked.

“Both,” was Kun’s reply.

Elijah swooped down. “I will take the sword,” he said as he gingerly picked up the weapon.

Spear in hand, Kun assumed fighting positions with Elijah.

Antilles shouted out. “Ready?”

The man with the cow skull stood before the two and swiftly pounded his chest to the roar of the tiger.

Antilles shouted again, “Fight!”

The man thrust out his arm and the tiger sprinted toward Elijah and Kun at full speed.

Chapter 40

T
he tiger leaped
just as Elijah crouched and thrust his sword through the air. Its claws glistened in the sun, causing Elijah to gasp. He glanced down at a fresh tear in his pant leg. Kun fought bravely by Elijah’s side, ducking away from the violent slicing axe. He watched the axe rise again and drop effortlessly as Kun sidestepped, only to find the axe back in the air. This time, Kun’s blank look was followed by his spear in the air with both hands. A moment later, the mass of metal slammed through the wood, and shattered it into two pieces. Kun fell back, both pieces still in his hands. Another loud growl captured Elijah’s attention, forcing his eyes away from Kun. The tiger lunged, but Elijah stood his ground as he thrust his sword just like Aiken had taught him. The beast barely moved. Elijah took a step sideways toward Kun, but the tiger stood in his way. Kun swung both parts of his spear at the beast tamer, spinning them wildly. Over and over, they slammed into the cow skull head, causing a crack to form. The man wouldn’t stop advancing.

The tiger lunged, mouth gaping, fangs bared, aimed for Elijah’s sword-bearing arm. With no time to spare, Elijah stepped back just as the beast dove for his leg. Elijah sprang into the air, his leg just high enough to avoid the searing fangs. This was the gap that Elijah needed, allowing him to sprint toward the beast tamer and his swinging axe. With Kun in front, Elijah could sense the tiger right on his heels as he lunged for the tamer’s broad back. His blade ripped through the armor, releasing a gush of red down his side. The man screamed, but wouldn’t stop. The axe flew into the air and down toward Elijah. His quick reflexes caused him to trip on his leg, as he avoided both axe and tiger, throwing him face down.

Kun launched the wooden piece straight at the beast tamer head. The massive axe came up and blocked it, but he staggered backward under the impact. Kun quickly ran over to Elijah, and in one swift flying motion, jumped in the air, reared back his small spear, and thrust it into the neck of the beast. The crowd went wild! The tiger roared and clawed violently toward Kun’s leg. Kun yanked out the spear and jumped back, allowing Elijah to quickly slam his sword deep inside the roaring tiger’s mouth. The beast gargled blood, and collapsed in a bloody heap. The frantic cheering wildly continued while the enraged beast tamer shouted out in anger. Intensely scowling, he swung wildly at Kun and Elijah together. Elijah ducked, flipping forward, and then springing onto his feet. Elijah grinned when he stood up, blade in hand. He had never felt this much confidence in battle. The beast tamer charged again just as Kun launched his small spear. It hit its target, driving completely through his upper leg. Elijah ran forward just as he started to stumble. He slashed upward, directly through the man’s neck and chin, driving the hilt as far as it could go. Airborne, he quickly fell onto his back, motionless, in his own pool of blood. The crowd screamed out of control!

Elijah took in a deep breath and glanced at Kun. Both men’s chests heaved violently as the cheering continued. Elijah walked over to Kun and threw his arms around him.

Kun beamed!

Elijah exclaimed, “We did it!”

Antilles raised his hands. The cheering slowly subsided as he spoke. “Impressive! Well done!”

Elijah ran up the stone steps. “I have played your game. Please, I beg you, let me have the root so that I may save my friends life,” he pleaded.

“I have never met anyone like you, boy. You will receive your root, and you may leave peacefully,” exclaimed Antilles.

“Thank you!” replied Elijah. Kun continued to smile as he bowed to the ruler.

“If you don’t mind, I need to be heading back as quickly as possible,” asked Elijah.

Antilles replied, “Of course! You will receive your root.”

Chapter 41

T
he opening in
the thorn thicket was a welcomed site as Elijah walked through. Still thronged, this time he wasn’t bothered.
At least, no one wants to hit me over the head and drag me around
, he thought. Kun followed him closely, and soon, they were up and over the low mountain at the end of the valley. Elijah stood for a moment and peered off into the distance. Before long, they were trudging over dune after dune, in search of the crusaders. Elijah kept thinking about his victories, the ghoul and the cow skull man and his tiger.
If only he could have won Natalia
, he thought.
She would have been thrilled to see how well he had fought
.