Out of the Arena II

Tallshadow had been watching the young gladiator for a few months and he too saw the pointlessness of the on going butchery. All but the king (also Tallshadow’s brother) had a deep fear of him. He was a very powerful and unpredictable wizard. Cross him and risk your eyes growing over, going into convulsions or your head simply exploding. He had done much to defend the kingdom from enemies both inside and past it’s borders. Tallshadow realized Ankius the young lad was very cleaver and could do much more in life. His brother Horace was a good king who took care of his people, the land and himself in that order. Horace had no time or patience for pomp and ceremony. His goals were simple the betterment and protection of his people. Tallshadow and King Horace saw more potential in their champion than a bloody death that would come in a matter of time in the arena. The king summoned Ankius through Tallshadow to appear before him in his long hall.

Ankius fearing no one, not even the king or his stormy brother went alone. Two guards opened the doors to the long torch lit hall. The great stonewalls told the legends of kings past in intricate carvings. Blue marble pillars rose to a red stone ceiling forty feet above. Long dark tables ran along the walls, with empty benches and chairs. The hall could accommodate more than two hundred people but now there was only three. Ankius bowed before his king six steps above him. Tallshadow sat at a table close by.      

“Ankius, my great champion you have brought many honors upon yourself and this kingdom. Please pull up a chair and sit before us.”

He did as instructed wondering what the two most powerful men he knew of wanted with a lowly arena fighter. He had seen them on many occasions watching him do battle in the arena.       

“At your pleasure my king. How may I be of service?”

“There has not been a champion like you in living memory.” The king started. “We think you have more value than just a champion gladiator. Tallshadow is my brother and a rather famous wizard. Have you met him before?”

“No sir but I am honored and pleased to do so now.”

King Horace went on. “We have no desire to see you one day fall as an old champion. Your skills are too valuable to waste in such an… unfortunate manner. We have an offer for you. I have managed to keep this kingdom out of wars for the last two decades and that is good. But as you well know that can change at any time. I’d like you to help retrain my army in the art of combat and in return for this service, Tallshadow will teach you the arts of wizardry.”

Ankius liked the idea of getting out of fighting for sport but did not want to spend the rest of his days in Silvanus as a servant, even if he was only answerable to King Horace.

“My lord thank you for the offer and before I will accept I have one question. After the work is done, may I leave a free man?”

Tallshadow said, “I will need a few years to fully teach you. Perhaps it will take longer if you are doing your duty to the king. You must agree to stay until your training is complete. A half trained wizard is very dangerous.”

“Once the army has been retrained and you have learned all you can from Tallshadow, I will grant your freedom.” King Horace said.

Ankius had no other good way of escaping and becoming a powerful magician appealed to him. There were only a small number of people who had truly mastered both arts.

“My king and Lord Tallshadow, I will accept your offer. I would also like to promise the gods here before you that I will never again shed blood for sport. I also promise to do my best for both of you.”

“Accepted… Tallshadow, make the arrangements with Bartholomus and give Ankius quarters here in the palace. Ankius, we will meet with my generals tomorrow morning. You will meet with Tallshadow tomorrow afternoon.”                    

The next day Ankius started his new life as a wizard’s apprentice and the kings combat trainer. In the morning, he schooled soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and weapons. Much to the dismay of General Winstanus, the army was soft from a long absence of war. If the situation continued, the kingdom could be at risk. Sooner or later others would mistake Horace’s peaceful reign for weakness and attack.  The general watched  Ankuis’ rise to greatness in the arena but thought fighting in the arena and on the battlefield to be very different things. He did not like the idea of an outsider assisting with training but obeyed the king’s order to appoint Ankius. Ankius taught the soldiers what he learned in gladiator school and the more hard won lessons from the arena.

The army stepped up patrols along the roads for bandits and along the kingdom’s borders watching for incursions and raiders. After six months, the roads were bandit free. Those highwaymen not killed had decided to take up less risky professions. King Horace had no interest in foreign conquest but wanted to be sure he could defend his people. Cross border raids from the wilderness also came to a stop. Ankius always spared one or two raiders from any raiding party foolish enough to make an incursion into Horace’s farmlands to go back with dire warnings for other adventurous fools who made their living from taking from others.

Ankius also instilled in the men the ideas of protecting the weak, practicing mercy to captured and wounded enemies and a commitment to self-discipline. The army won greater respect and renewed love of the people. Nearby kingdoms rethought any plans for trying to take by force King Horace’s lands. The roads became safe and cross border raids stopped.        

Tallshadow proved to be a difficult teacher demanding nothing but Ankius’ best efforts. Ankius learned both white and black magic, the magic of far off and ancient peoples and the existence of passageways to other worlds and times. This notion fascinated him. The universe is full of portals but they are not so easy to find and very difficult to make. One cool autumn night Ankius stayed with Tallshadow talking over a few ales.

“Tallshadow, is there a way to the gods for living men?” Ankius asked.

“Yes, there may be many but only one is thought to be for sure. But… anyone who has crossed through has never come back. So who knows if it a real way to cross? It resides on the alter in the temple of Batu Zassa in Mixcoatl on Mount Vertias and opens only about every three hundred forty years.”

“He is a war god, yes?”

“Yes worshipped by a race of people who sacrifice war prisoners and captured runaway slaves to him. His symbol is a giant hammer and anvil. Those who cannot answer his questions souls are crushed and cast off into eternity. Those who answer correctly are allowed to pass into the next world or life. What is your interest in gods, Ankius? We will all meet them one day.”

“I want to ask as a living man why there is so much suffering in this world and why are we here. Are we here and made to suffer for their entertainment and enjoyment? Do they listen to our pleas? No gods save any men before I ran them through, ignoring their last words. Do they really even exist Tallshadow?”

“I think they do… but men fail to understand the nature of their being. I think they are much like us only far more powerful. The gods are to us as you are to a city of ants. Can an ant understand a man, Ankius?”

Ankius smiled “Perhaps I do not exist.”

“Some say that is the real nature of things. This is all an illusion.” Tallshadow smiled, which was rare for him.            

He continued, “If I were younger I may go with you to find the answers with you and for myself. It is far far to the west across the vast ocean in the heart of the Ictinikes Mountains. It can tale several years of trouble free travel to get there. From here follow the sun through the amethyst forest, across the great waste to the port city of Akkada Mora. There one would have to find passage on a ship to the kingdom of Uruk. Few venture so far. The Ictinikes Mountains are on the western edge of the kingdom. Little is known of the people there.”  

“Tallshadow, I have done as the king and you have asked me, when may I leave?”

“I think the king wants you to stay and one day replace General Winstanus… I know this is not for you. I will go with you tomorrow and we can discuss the terms of your freedom. You have added much value for both of us. King Horace is a good and just man. Give him a chance.”

The next day Tallshadow and Ankius returned to the palace to meet with the king. The three men met on the top of the palace’s western most tower. The day was warm for the fall and a cloudless blue sky stretched to all the horizons. They knew each other well and King Horace knew this day would come.

King Horace spoke. “I know why you are here Ankius. It seems my borders cannot contain your desire to roam the world for new knowledge and adventure.  You are welcome to stay as long as you like. You can have a good long life here but I know that is not for you. I release you to go as you wish. All I ask in return is you carry the name of this kingdom with you, introducing your self as a lord of Horace, King of Silvanus.”

“Thank you my king and I will.” Replied Ankius.         

“You will always have a home here, Ankius.”  

Ankius spent the evening preparing to leave. The next morning with little fan fare, he said his good-byes to King Horace, Tallshadow and a few others. He set out early on a bright cool fall morning.