The Gladiator Prince (38 page)

“Just follow me, Prince. We are much closer than I thought.” He yelled at his horse and got it running down the cobbled roadway with Thane close behind.

The streets were now almost deserted. They passed several dark groups of people heading to the port. Thane knew it would be crowded as hundreds of people tried to escape the fire. He watched carefully as they moved along; on almost every street now, hulking shapes broke into buildings, homes; the crash of broken possessions followed them down the street.

When they turned one corner, Hasani shouted, “It is just ahead; less than a block and we…” An angry clutch of men and women seemed to materialize around them when they rounded a corner.

The people clawed at their legs trying to pull them from the mounts. Shouts of
get the horse
echoed around them. Hasani kicked his mare hard and got her going, trampling people if they got in the way. Thane’s horse went to its back legs twice before he could get her under control, and Phaedra nearly fell off. He caught her belt with one hand to steady her then hit the horse hard to get it going. With an irritated whicker, the stallion snorted at the crowd and plunged through them headfirst. In less than a few feet, they were free.

Now the men drove the horses forward, shouting ahead of them to the crowds to move aside or be trampled. Thane had to grant that Hasani was just as good with a horse as he was with the blade; they moved through the crowded street without another hitch. In less than fifteen minutes, they found themselves on the docks.

Hasani did not stop. He pushed the horse forward through the crowded port, but people moved aside for them without incident.

When they reached the slip where Hasani had left his ship, Thane’s heart sank; the slip was deserted.

Hasani did not falter or stop. He jumped from his horse, carefully pulled Bahar off who was holding her side tightly, and gave his mount a good smack to send it on its way. Thane followed his lead and did the same, perhaps a little more slowly since he did not know what the pirate had in mind. If the ship was gone, what did he hope to accomplish.

“What now?” he shouted to Hasani. “Your ship is gone.”

“No,” Hasani shouted back. “Just come with me.” He lowered himself down to the floating dock and helped Bahar.

Thane followed suit then saw the small boat floating in the water. Hasani got inside and pulled out the oars quickly. “Hurry, gladiator, before the mob sees us. I hope that brawn of yours can navigate a pair of oars. We have a long way to go.”

Once he had Phaedra seated, he grabbed the oars and adjusted his grip. “A day in your galley taught me enough, Egypt.”

Hasani burst out laughing and pulled hard on the oars to get the boat moving.

The harbor was a mess; haphazard ships of every size were all vying to get down the river. One large merchant vessel had gone broadside blocking almost a quarter of the river. The current was strong this time of night, which added to the confusion; many of the smaller boats were floundering. Thane assumed inexperienced people manned them, but that made crossing to the center of the river very difficult. In addition, clouds of smoke had moved over the water, making vision murky at best. They could barely see anything until they were right on it.

Hasani led them confidently around the hazards until they were finally in the center of the river and the current pushed them forward. Thane threw down his oars and scowled at the pirate.

“Are we going to row all the way to
Ostia?”

“Not if I can help it. Look.”

Ahead of them, a great black ship materialized out of the gloom, its masts tall and narrow, riding low in the water.

“I saw her from the dock. He must have just left. Row hard, gladiator! We have to catch her.”

Pulling as hard as they could on the oars, they finally came within shouting distance.

“Ahoy, the ship!” Hasani cried up. “Tell
Captain
Gyasi to get his thieving hands off my ship!”

A head appeared over the railing with a scraggly beard and unkempt hair. “Who dares to challenge my authority here?” he shouted down giving them a dark eye.

“Your mother!” Hasani shouted back in good humor. “Now lower the damn ladder.”

Just then, two little heads appeared on either side of him. “Father!” they both cried at once.

Thane smiled up and waved. The sight of them constricted his chest until he could hardly breathe.

“And who are your two new mates, Captain,” Hasani shouted up at them. “Have you been recruiting without me?”

The giant dark man ruffed up Mabyn’s hair, and she scrunched her face up in anger. “Aye, and better mates you will never find. Lower that ladder,” he shouted behind him.

When the ladder came down, for the first time since Thane stepped foot off the shores of his home, he felt a great wave of relief. It left him shaking, and Phaedra put her arms around his neck.

“We are going home,” she whispered in his ear. He touched her arm and allowed two large tears to escape his eyes, but no more.

When they were finally on board, Hasani ordered the sails unfurled and an eastern wind filled them. They moved past Rome at a good clip.

Standing at the railing, Thane searched the city now lighted by a fire that had swept through her as far as the eye could see.
A certain satisfaction sparked inside his heart as he watched Rome burn, remembering his curse at the feet of Nero four years before. It was scarce compensation for the emperor’s sack of Britannia. He could now close the eyes of his cousins and uncle with honor.

“What have I done?” Phaedra asked again, standing at his side.

“An improvement, if you ask me,” quipped Hasani.

Thane took her in his arms and held her a long time as he watched the city burn.

When two small voices sounded simultaneously at his back, Phaedra stepped aside and smiled down at Thane’s daughters. They were mussed and dirty, but otherwise whole, and Thane was grateful. When he hunched down they rushed to his arms, and he held them for a very long time without words. They needed none.

When he finally broke away, he searched both of their beautiful faces and smiled.

“Father,” Anwen said softly. “Will you take us back home? Will you…” Her voice broke off, and she stared at her feet.

Thane threw a glance up to Hasani and he smiled. “Of course I will take you home, all of you. This venture has been very profitable; I am not about to lose another opportunity.”

“Thank you,” Thane said to him then turned to the girls. “You see, we are going home. You will see your friends and your family very soon.”

Mabyn’s lips turned down, and little tears filled her eyes. “We thought we could stay with you, father. Forever.”

Thane opened his mouth to speak, but the words were not there. He had to return to the
ludus
. He could not make them that promise as a slave.

“I… I am sorry, Mabyn, I do not think….”

“Before you make that decision, gladiator, I think your master may be inclined to free you this time,” said Hasani.

Thane frowned up at him. “Do not give them false hope, Egypt. My master is dead.”

Hasani glanced at Phaedra
. “Exactly,” he said nodding at Bahar. “Your
new
master just came into
his
property tonight. I suspect the entire
ludus
now belongs to my good friend Bahar. If you'd like, I can make sure that is the case.”

“What?” Thane got to his feet to confront Hasani. “What are saying?”

The pirate laughed, and Bahar smirked at Thane. “You are thick sometimes… Bahar is legally the only
son
of Abella. Abella’s property now belongs to him… uh, her. In any event, I am certain the senator and I can make certain. It should not be difficult.”

Bahar moved to stand in front of Thane and grabbed his arms. “From this day forward, you are a free man.” She kissed him on each cheek and whispered in his ear. “I hope you will help me at the
ludus
. I do not have an inkling of how to run it.”

Thane grabbed her around the waist and swung her around laughing. When he finally set her down, he saluted her and bowed low. “It would be an honor,
Lanista
.”

Anwen and Mabyn cheered as Thane took Phaedra into his arms and kissed her soundly. He would never leave his family again.

The End

About the Author

Somewhere between thirty and dust…red hair, blue eyes…six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time… wanttabe hippy… wanttheirmoney yuppie… pro musician and actress for 20 years… native Oregonian… lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

Additional titles available from Minnette Meador:
Starsight Vols. I & II
(Stonegarden Publishing)
The Centurion & The Queen
(Resplendence Publishing)
The Edge of Honor
(Resplendence Publishing)
A Boy & His Wizard
(writing as M. A. Smith)
(All titles available from Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and other fine book locations)

COMING SOON:
The Bell Stalker
(Resplendence Publishing) — October 2011

www.minnettemeador.com
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Minnette Meador’s
Centurion
Series
Now Available at www.resplendencepublishing.com

The Centurion & the Queen
by Minnette Meador

Marius is disciplined, precise, as cold as his armor. A twenty-five year veteran, the Centurion is dedicated to the principles of Rome. No one had ever dared to challenge his command… until now. Queen Delia struggles to save her dying Celtic people, fight to lead in a world dominated by savage men. The last thing she expects is to feel her body craving the touch of an enemy. The revolution that sparks their desire rips her from his arms. They find themselves on opposing sides, in love, and unable to stop the future.

The Edge of Honor
by Minnette Meador

The Boudicca revolt has been squelched; the tribes of the Iceni and the
Trinovantes
have been exterminated by the Roman Governor of Britannia, Suetonius. He has sworn his revenge on the remaining tribes for the Celtic insolence. Marius gave up his allegiance to Rome for the woman he loves, but now must fight to save her dying people. In the end, it may be more than their love or their lives they lose.

Also Available from
Resplendence Publishing

Taming the Princess
by Temple Hogan

From the Sea
Series, Book Two

Exasperated by his spoiled, arrogant daughter, Gillian, and her refusal to pick a husband from all the noblemen who plead for her hand, King Darragh decrees she must marry the very next man who comes to the castle. Princess Gillian finds herself married to Padruig Tierran, a lowly fisherman from a distant land. After a hasty marriage, she is whisked away to his fisherman’s croft, where she must learn to cook and clean, none of which she’s successful at. But Padruig has many lessons to teach his new wife and Gillian proves to be an avid pupil.

The Virgin Pirate
by Temple Hogan