Free The Chariots Slave by R. Lynn Page B

shame you will not
have a driver representing this trigarium in the Grande
Maximus tournament.”


    The look of concern on Barachius face was obviously
planted. He did not care that Thaddius would not have a
driver representing the blue Veneta team. In fact, it made him
happy. Blue and green had been rivals for years, and without
blue to compete, the fans’ affections would be given to the
green Prasina team, Barachius’s team.
    “Barachius, how unexpected of you to visit. Where do you
get your information?” Thaddius was trying to act civilly
before the men.
    “I only assumed, since the blues have missed the last three
games, that they would also withdraw from the tournament.”
“Assumptions can be misleading,” Thaddius said straight
faced.
“Yes, I suppose they can be. Tell me Thaddius, will you
find a driver to compete on behalf of the blue Veneta team?”
Both men stood ready to battle, but they were frozen in
politics. Barachius’s obvious taunt caused Thaddius to thrust
his jaw forward. Barachius knew Thaddius had not found a
suitable driver, but yet he still came to make sure. That must
only mean that Barachius was nervous. Nervous that the blue
team may come back and defeat the green yet again.
“Of course we have a rider,” Thaddius offered without
thinking of the consequences of his lie.
“You do? Well then, before these witnesses shall we make
a little wager?”
Barachius turned and spoke to the men as if he were
giving an address to the senate. He was working the crowd,
and Thaddius was worried as to what he had planned. But he
could not back down now. Letting Barachius best him in
front of his men would be humiliating. He could not have his
men think him weak, an unfit Dominus. No, he must prove he


     
had courage.
    “There is nothing you could wager that would bring me
fear.” Thaddius spoke the words in hopes of discouraging
Barachius. However, his words did just the opposite; they
seemed to fuel his purpose.
    “Good. I wager that a rider of the green will defeat a rider
of the blue in the Grande Maximus tournament. It is the
empire’s largest and most difficult tournament. And this year,
they have raised the arenas from three to six. It is not for the
weak at heart, so therefore it is only fitting that a green shall
win.” Barachius held his plump chins in the air as he spoke,
his eyes smiling in victory.
    Thaddius could not stand to see him so smug, and once
again without thinking, let the impulsiveness of Thaddius
overpower the sensibility of Dominus. “That is an easy wager
to accept. Why not sweeten it with a cost?”
    Instantly the forced smile on Barachius’s face turned
genuine. Thaddius couldn’t help but swallow the knot
forming in his throat. Why had the offer of sweetening the
pot with a cost pleased Barachius so? He was afraid to find
out.
    “My dear Thaddius, that is a grand idea. And I suggest the
ultimate of costs to wager. Your land, your title and your
trigarium for mine. If the blue wins, you take everything I
own. But if the green wins, you, this domus, your servants
and this trigarium will be mine. But of course, if you feel that
blue will lose, feel free to decline this wager even though it
was made before your men. I will let you back out. Only your
word will be tarnished. No one will trust it or you again. So
take the bet or lose your good name, what shall it be?”

 *
    Barachius paused as he watched the color drain from
Thaddius’s face. The boy was stubborn though, he had to
give him that. If he had not noticed the change of color, he
would have thought his words did not wound. Thaddius had
held his fear well.
***
     
Sellah sat at the edge of the salt pool, wearing nothing but
    her bathing stola. Her legs dangled in the warm salt bath,
swishing around as she held the latest poultice Orla had made
to her sore neck. Leaning back against the rock wall that
separated the woman’s pool from the men,