Free Web NovelChapter 51: Chapter 51
Whatever joy the games were supposed to bring Hera, it ended when Niko had been dragged away from the arena floor. Her heart ached when she saw the cuts and bruises, he’d had.
"You need to leave here, princess," one of the attendants said, "it does not befit your station to be seen on this part of the colosseum." ƒrēewebnovel.com
"I need to know how he is," Hera begged. "Will he be alright?"
"We’ll do the best we can," the attendant said hastily. "Now, please," he said and motioned towards the door.
She lingered for a while, her eyes travelling the length of his boy, hating every cut which had manifested on his body. She looked at his bruised face, the bulge on his left chin, and the patch that covered his right eye. He looked like a disaster, and she hated it. "Take care of him, please," she said, then left.
She thought about going back to the palace, but she would be the only one there. She knew she wouldn’t be able to find Iris. Even if she did, what would she say to her? That she was sorry she couldn’t be with her today because she had been so focused on Niko?
She shook her head at the thought and headed back to the arena. She watched the rest of the performance in a blur, the cheers, the jeers, the bloodshed; nothing appealed to her. Then they called his name, Theodore Diomedes. She perked up from her seat and looked at the floor. He stood imposing, dangerous, and manly, his body carved to perfection.
"My good men, the floor is yours," the King announced. "Let the games begin."
Theo wasted no time charging towards his opponent. He thrust his sword forward, but Commodus dodged it, then he rammed his sword against him, aiming for his shoulder, but he blocked it with his sword.
Hera sat at the edge of her seat as the fight grew more aggressive. For every hit that Commodus landed, Theo would repay him in kind with a more vicious one.
The two stood, bloodied and almost tired, but refused to give up. They were equally matched in speed and strength. The cheers of the crowd had grown deafening as time passed, but she could sense that they were getting bored with the fight. It became predictable, it became boring.
It seemed the king had read their minds, because she could see someone go near the king and... "Iris," she whispered. She sat beside Penelope. They were laughing and talking like they had known each other for ages. She furrowed her brows and gritted. She had caused this.
She made Iris seek comfort and friendship in the hands of an enemy, but her heart hurt at the sight. If only she hadn’t been so taken up with Niko, none of this would have happened. But things had already come to this, so she had to fix it anyway she possibly could.
The doors that surrounded the arena floor opened, and multiple menacing men emerged. They carried spears, axes, knives, and metallic nets. They charged at both men immediately, and the crowd burst into loud, animalistic shouts.
Theo and Commodus fought with all their might, killing each man one by one until only three were left standing. They were all panting and wheezing, and just as Commodus was about to catch his breath, one of the men charged at him with an axe, and another charged at Theo, who was about to run towards Commodus.
Theo blocked the Sword coming down on him, but Commodus was not so fortunate. The fight hit his mark, and he hacked Commodus’s leg. He cried out in pain and fell to the floor.
He drove his knife into the man in front of him, pushed the other, and slashed his neck and ran towards Commodus, but he was too late. The axe came down hard on his neck, and blood spluttered out.
Theo stopped in his tracks, watching Commodus lie dead on the floor. He felt his vision blur. The earth felt unsteady under his feet. Slowly, he turned his gaze to the man who stood gloating over his body.
He watched the man turn and smirk. Theo pulsed with anger, and his eyes darkened. The fighter charged towards him with his axe. Theo dodged his hits with ease.
He would end this quickly for Commodus. He would make the animal regret what he had done. The man tried again and again to land a hit on Theo, unfortunately, as he raised his axe, Theo immediately thrust his sword into his neck and dragged it out.
The crowd erupted in a frenzy. Men tore their garments from excitement and kissed women beside them aggressively. It was a fight like never before. The trumpets blew, and chariots rode out and encircled Theo.
Hera leapt in excitement from where she sat. He was alive. She was glad that he was alive, that he’d won.
"People of Erindros, " the king announced, "Your champion. And... the next prime minister." The Arena shook from the force of the crowd, their excitement palpable.
Hera turned her gaze towards Iris. They were on their feet, clapping and hooting and laughing like everyone else. Her chest felt heavy. She saw as Penelope whispered into her ear, and Iris laughed.
"There will be more to look forward to," the King continued. "Because the prince did not participate in this tournament, he will battle the best of the best, the champion of the match, so you may see how well your future king will protect you against your adversaries. Most importantly, we shall have a feast to celebrate today’s victory."
Hera smiled. This would give her a chance to talk with Iris without all the awkwardness. The arena began to empty soon after the king left. She watched Penelope link her arm with Iris and drag her along with her, and she saw it just as they turned away. She saw Iris smile.
She followed tbe passages below to check on Niko again before she left, and catch a glimpse of Theo if she could. "How’s he doing now?" She asked attendant as she came up on the room where he lay.
"He’s doing better princess, but he’s fast asleep. It wouldn’t be wise to wake him at the moment."
"I wasn’t going to wake him," she said. "Please, tell him i was here when he wakes up."
"I will, your majesty."
She nodded at the attendant and walked away. As she passed the changing room and the other passages along the length of the Arena and was near the prisons. she saw no sign of Theo.
"I saw you today," a voice said behind her.
She immediately turned around to see Theo leaning against one of the prisons bars. He pushed away from the cell and walked toward her.
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"I... I... I wanted...I wanted to check on Niko. He’s badly wounded from the fight," Here stuttered.
Theo nodded his head. "And what did you think of my fight princess."
"I thought you were amazing. You fight extra ordinarily well. And, congratulations on your appointment."
Theo smiled slightly, looked down and crossed his arms..
"Was he your friend? The man you fought?"
"He was."
"I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been difficult to fight against him."
"It wasn’t."
"Ohh." Hera was flustered by his curt replies, studied his face forna while. "Alright then, I’ll leave yoh to vet back to whatever it was that tou were doing," she said.
He stood perfectly still, watching her as she spoke.
She turned to leave but hesitated ans turned back to look at him. "Is there a problem? Did i do something wrong?"
"Why do you asked?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"You’ve barely spoken to me?"
"Must i speak to you?"
"No. But i just thought..." Her voice trailed off. "You know what, forget it." He didn’t stop her when she walked away, and some how... It stung.
She walked back to the palace, a hole formed in heart. Today wasn’t the best of days for her. She didn’t know when Niko would be well enough again or if she would be able to patch things up propely with Iris.
The streets were filled with people dancing and singing, children runninf around, mimicking the fights they had watched.
It was the same way when she finally got to the palace. The servants were laughing and chattering. She could here the girls in the dinner hall talking loudly and lauging as well.
As soon as she entered, the whole place went silent. Then one of the girls burst out laughing and a few others joined. She turned and left. She would not stand and be insulted.
The tears blurred her vision as shebclimed up the stairs, passing wordlessly by Iris and penelope who were descending the stairs, banged her door loudly immediately she got to her room and slid to the floor.
"Hera," Iris called from outside the door, "what’s wrong?"
