Free More Than Chains To Bind by Stevie Woods Page A

indicating he was satisfied, and it was finally over. Kano and another guard led us back to our respective halls.
    But that night I had a nightmare in which the sword had been real and the point kept moving straight through Hollis' neck. I woke up, gasping, to hear Fortil's husky voice asking if it was a good one. I just felt nauseous.

    * * * *
    Now, while we sat relaxed side-by-side, I was desperate to speak to Hollis, if only for a minute. I just wanted to hear him say a few words to me. It didn't really matter what the words were, just so they were for me. I needed it. Perhaps I was weak, but I needed it. Though, with the others surrounding us, plying Hollis with questions, I couldn't have my wish.
    The metallic twang came to signal the end of the food break, and everyone began to scatter. We'd learned early the guards didn't like us to linger. So I got to my feet with a sigh. Hollis rose, too, and he leaned toward me as he gained his balance, "accidentally" brushing his arm against mine. I reached out to steady him and just that touch of skin on skin sent shivers tumbling down my spine. My eyes flicked to his face and I saw the words he could not say in the depths of his eyes. My heart fluttered in my chest.
    "We would both die that day," he whispered suddenly, then turned away as the guard escorted him back to his section.
    His words should have shocked or scared me, but I was relieved. He understood. I should have known he would. If my fear ever came true and we were forced to face each other in the arena, he could no more harm me than I could him. We knew from what the guards had told us that if a fighter lost in the arena, his fate was judged by his performance, but if two fighters failed to perform, they would both be killed on the spot. That was Hollis' message to me. That would be our final victory.
    It didn't mean he was giving up, not by any means. He simply wanted me to know he understood and he accepted that would be the final straw. I knew he was still trying to find a way to escape, but time was running out.
    As I turned away, I almost walked into Fortil, who was leaning against the wagon. I'd not had any trouble from him since the first night; in fact, he'd hardly spoken to me, which suited me just fine. I made to step to one side and pass him, but he moved as I did and blocked my path. Frowning, I looked at him.
    He smiled, like a wolf baring his teeth. "Now I understand." He smirked and walked away.
    He knew. I don't know how, but Fortil knew. I wasn't sure what he intended to do. I mean what could he do, really? Oh, Lords--Cor'lyn!
    I felt a tug on my arm and realized I was the only one left at the food wagon. The guard admonished me for lingering as he dragged me back to the training field.
    I was supposed to spend the afternoon practicing the use of the pilum, but my mind was not on the training and I made a few glaring errors that earned me a dressing down and the threat of punishment if I didn't pay attention. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fortil grinning at me and realized I was letting him win. I had to pull myself together and put this out of my mind until training was over.
    One of our group, Canto, had been punished two days earlier. They had stripped him, spread-eagled him against the main gate, and Kano whipped him. Cor'lyn told us he'd been lucky to get away with a "light" punishment, only receiving a dozen lashes. Those dozen lashes had cut his back badly as Kano had struck him six times from each side so the lash marks cut across each other. Canto was still in pain and could hardly function during the training. The guards taunted the poor man that only a poor stable would bother to buy him and he wouldn't last long in the main arena. I had to get a grip; I didn't want to end up on the end of Kano's whip.
    Longin called me out and made me attack him, and I had to concentrate to defend myself and make acceptable attacking moves against him.
    After a few minutes, he called a halt. "Good,