Shadow War - Deborah Chester [3]
Pulling off his gloves in the doorway, the prince glanced back over his shoulder, and Caelan caught a glimpse of the blue-cloaked soldiers of Tirhin’s personal bodyguard out in the passageway before the door was closed firmly.
Although Caelan stood tall and straight, Orlo was still bowing. “As you can see, sir, he is ready.”
The priest looked Caelan over with open appraisal.
Prince Tirhin barely glanced Caelan’s way. “Leave us,” he said curtly to the trainer.
Still bowing, keeping his gaze down, Orlo scuttled out in a way unlike him.
Surprised, Caelan stared after his trainer for a moment, then returned his gaze to his master. He was full of curiosity, but questions were not permitted. It was necessary to wait until the prince chose to speak to him.
“He looks fit, even after a grueling season,” the priest murmured. He was still studying Caelan in an unpleasant manner.
Caelan kept a wary eye on the man. He had been raised to revile the Vindicants. He would never trust them.
Prince Tirhin turned his gaze full upon Caelan at last and nodded. “Of course. I told you he finished the season without a scratch. He’s had two weeks of rest.”
“Those two weeks are what worry me,” the priest murmured. He circled Caelan. “I know what fighters do between seasons. Drinking, slackness, frolicking with the Haggai.”
Caelan frowned in affront while Tirhin raised his hand with a laugh. “None of that,” the prince said. “He doesn’t care for the witches of ecstasy, do you, Giant?”
Taut with resentment, Caelan found a very thin smile in response and said nothing.
“Our entrant is an ascetic, very strict with his native Traulander ways,” Tirhin continued. “He is fit. I depend on his trainer for that.”
The priest said nothing.
“You must not worry, Sien,” the prince assured him. “I tell you this man will prevail.”
The priest shook his head and fixed his gaze intently on Caelan, who stared back with new interest. Lord Sien was the high priest of the Vindicants, a man said to have more power in the empire than anyone save the emperor himself. He outranked even the prince, who had not yet been officially named heir to the empire. What was such a man doing down here below the arena, involving himself in the pitiable life of a gladiator?
“You will fight a Madrun savage,” Sien now said directly to Caelan. “The creature understands nothing of the arena, nothing of the rules of combat.”
“There are no rules of combat in the arena,” Caelan said.
“Silence!” Prince Tirhin said in annoyance. “Listen to Lord Sien.”
The rebuke was like a whip crack. Caelan glanced at his master and saw strain in the prince’s face. Beneath the handsome looks and the expensive tailoring, his highness was drawn as taut as a bowstring. The corner of his mouth twitched, and there was a certain dark wildness in his gaze, an impatience, an anger that seethed all too near the surface.
Caelan bowed his head in apology and turned his gaze back to Sien.
“The emperor is clever in choosing his entrant,” the priest continued. “This prisoner is at his physical prime, very strong and courageous. He fears nothing. He will fight you to the death without a second thought. However, enemies of the empire die well before the people. You will defeat the Madrun. You will prevail until you are victorious.”
Puzzlement filled Caelan. Of course he intended to win. He always fought to win.
“There is more,” Tirhin said impatiently. “You must fight as you have never fought before. This must be a tremendous spectacle.”
Caelan’s impatience grew. Any veteran gladiator knew how to play to the crowd. It was a matter of testing the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, then drawing the contest out as long as possible. Why did the rich and powerful think they were authorities in every matter? He didn’t need this useless lecture. “I always give the people their money’s worth, sir.”
“It is more than that!” Tirhin said with a scowl. “You fight my father’s choice. The Madrun is an extension of my father, just as you are an extension of me. When you defeat your opponent, in a way you are defeating my