The Chariots Slave (24 page)

The crowd cheered as the starting gate flung open and the
carts raced out. Thaddius realized he had missed his cue.
“Hijah!” he screamed as he tried to regain the ground he
had lost.
The other charioteers were mere feet in front of him. How
could he have allowed himself to get distracted at such a
crucial moment?
“Apollo’s balls!” he grumbled under his breath as he
mentally scolded himself for his foolishness.
The crowd sensed his error and screamed even louder as
the chariots passed, waving their flags and cheering their
favored teams on. With slight flicks of the reins he
encouraged his team forward.
He quickly passed some of the slower drivers and was
just four carts behind Jiao. He had to catch up before Caligula
released any more of his tricks on the track.
Two green drivers pulled their carts in front of him,
blocking his advance. If he turned to the right, they did the
same. He waited patiently for an opening, always putting
pressure on the drivers. They were bound to make a mistake,
and that would give him a chance to pass.
When the driver to the left overcompensated on a turn,
Thaddius was able to squeeze his cart between them.
“Hijah!” he screamed pressing his team forward.
He was now neck and neck with the green driver in third
position. Their carts were mere inches apart when the gates
beside him dropped open and four large tigers charged
toward the horses. The lead horse pulled to the side causing
the chariot to spin and ram into the driver beside them. The



big cats swatted at the horses as they backed up and stomped
their hooves in fear.

“Steady, steady!” Thaddius yelled as he tried to calm his
team.
The chariots behind him veered to the left, avoiding the
cats and the collision. With growing aggravation Thaddius
kicked at the green driver’s cart, trying to loosen the wheel
that had caught on his. Finally, the other driver managed to
reverse his cart and pull free from Thaddius. This allowed
Thaddius the space to move his horses away from the tiger’s
sharp claws.
He straightened his team out and started back on track.
Now he was six carts behind Jiao and was desperate to catch
up. Other parts of the track had large cats tied to chains and
lunging at the carts as they passed. But as he saw them in
advance, he was able to expertly guide his horses around
them.
The dust from the chariots made visibility almost
impossible. This was exceptionally bad considering the
tigers. Every time his team passed the beasts, he could sense
his horses hesitate and pull to the side. He struggled to keep
control of them. One pull too far could cost their lives and
give the felines an early dinner. Lap after lap passed and the
eggs were removed from their stand. When the last lap came,
Thaddius was still behind.
He needed to do something, and quickly. So in hopes of
giving the lead horse confidence, Thaddius loosened his grip
on the reins, leaving them sloppily wrapped around his
forearm. This technique worked and in no time the horses
were back to working as one and gaining speed on the other
teams.

As they came upon the next turn, Thaddius lowered his
shoulders and bent his knees, ready to pop through the turn
with his team. The momentum they gained in the turn caused
them to cut in front of a group of chariots battling for third
and to come up beside the second positioned driver.

The crowd cheered as they watched Thaddius regain lost
ground in the race. Giving himself a moment to boast, he
raised his hands and waved at them before turning to the
driver beside him and winking. He then effortlessly pulled his
cart in front of the man and behind Jiao’s chariot.

Jiao turned to see Thaddius mere feet behind him. Yet
despite his close proximity, he did not look worried. Instead,
he offered Thaddius a cunning smile and then pointed toward
the Emperor.

Something wasn’t right. Thaddius could sense the
brashness as it rolled off the man’s back and seemed to
smack into his face. He should not feel so confident after
losing the first three races. But despite the man’s disposition,
it did not matter. The red finish line had been laid across the
sand, and he would soon pull in front of the man, cross the
line, and beat him once more.

They were neck and neck as they approached the line. Jiao
whipped at his horses, and Thaddius shouted encouragements
to his, spurring them on.

Just as they were seconds from crossing the line, Jiao
pulled to the side, and the ground before Thaddius dropped
open revealing a secret compartment.

Dust curtained his view as he squinted to see what was
happening. He fought to control his horses and tried to turn
the cart. Dark forms pounced through the dust curtain as six
large tigers charged at his cart.

His horses pulled back and reared out of the way of the
cats. The momentum of their movement broke the chariot’s
hitch and caused the chariot to break loose from the horses
and tumble across the red line behind Jiao. Thaddius
managed to jump free of the cart and landed over the line. It
was not how he had imagined finishing, but at least he did.

One of the felines got close enough to capture the lead
horse’s leg in its claws. The horse reared onto its hind legs,
freeing itself from the cat’s grip. Now spooked, the horse,
turned around and began running in the opposite direction.

It was as if time suspended.
Thaddius knew what would happen now. His arm was still
bound by the reins to the horses. He struggled to maintain
balance as he yanked at the reins around his arm. If he
couldn’t untie them, then he would be pulled after the horses.
Hurriedly he tugged at the leather ties. He’d almost
managed to free his hand when the bands tightened and
yanked him off his feet. Searing pain shot down his arm as
his shoulder was pulled from its socket. Trying to take some
of the weight of his body off his arm, he used the horses’
momentum and kicked at the ground, flipping himself over so
he could grab the reins with his other hand.
Rocks and dirt cut at his skin and tore the tunic from his
body as he was dragged helplessly behind the frightened
horses. The crowd howled in anguish yet some also cheered.
All Thaddius could hear was the steady beating of the horses’
hooves on the sandy ground.

as the winning charioteers’ accepted their prizes for the race.
All but Thaddius, who had officially placed second. He had
been carried out on a stretcher toward the nearest safe place.

Orla looked over him as Sellah gently washed the blood,
rocks, and dirt from his body.
Simeon had the task of removing the larger rocks that
were embedded into Thaddius’s flesh, as both Orla and
Sellah became ill at the thought.
He had not regained his senses, and they were all very
worried for his life. All but Barachius. He rejoiced knowing
that Thaddius would not be in the position to compete the
next day. That meant, despite his placing today, and his
previous victories, Thaddius would forfeit their wager and
Barachius would own everything.
“How is he?” Sellah asked as she walked over to Orla and
rested a concerned hand on the nursemaid’s forearm.
“He looks worse than he is. His heart is beating strong.
With time and effort he will turn around.” She smiled as she
watched Sellah’s face relax.
“We do not have time,” Simeon mumbled into his hands.



“What do you mean?” Orla asked.
“He made a wager with Barachius. If he doesn’t win the

tournament, Barachius will take ownership and the privileges
of his birthright.” He diligently picked stones from Thaddius
raw flesh as he explained their predicament.

“Why would he do such a foolhardy thing?” Orla dropped
the cloth in her hand as she thought over this news.
“Why does he ever do anything?”
“We can’t let this happen!” Orla paced back and forth
before Simeon.
Sellah had since retreated to the back of the room, too
overwhelmed with the circumstance to be near either man.
But the conversation had sparked an idea.
“He will race!” she muttered. But her attempt to gain their
attention was not noticed. “But he will race,” she called out
once more.
“Don’t be foolish, Sellah. I’m a miracle worker, but even
that is beyond my skill,” Orla spun around to face the girl.
“But no one else knows that. Why can’t we find a
replacement, dress him as Thaddius, and have him compete
in his place. He needs only one more win to beat Barachius.”
“That’s brilliant!” Simeon said as he jumped up. “The
odds are against the greens. If either of the other teams or
Thaddius’s replacement wins just once, then they lose.”

As he spoke he strode across the room closing the gap
between him and Sellah. Once before her, he wrapped his
arms around her, picking her off the ground and spinning her
about.

He did not notice the scolding look on Orla’s face or the
embarrassed look on Sellah’s. And if he had, he would not
have cared. Sellah may have just saved his home, his father,
and the only friends he had ever known.

“It is a good idea,” Orla admitted as she glared at Simeon
who finally released Sellah. “But even if you find a
replacement driver in such short time, you will not be able to
guarantee his skill or loyalty. If the driver reveals he is not
Thaddius, you will lose.”

Simeon thought aloud.
“And we have Diana!” Sellah reminded.
“Yes, with that horse’s talent, anyone who can stand on a

chariot should be able to win.” Simeon paused to think over
what he had just said. “Never tell Thaddius I said that. He
would be highly offended.”

“I won’t,” Sellah smiled.
The doors to the room burst open, and Calista sauntered
through, followed by Guya who had her arms full of Calista’s

“His face!” Calista gasped. “It won’t stay like that will it?”
His appearance disgusted her and she turned from him, no
longer able to look upon his form.

“He will be fine,” Simeon interrupted, giving a cautious
nod to Orla and Sellah.
“Yes, he is just sleeping to regain strength for tomorrow’s
race,” Orla fibbed.

Simeon stood and crossed the room, making it to Calista’s
side in no time. He rested his hand on her shoulder and
looked deep into her eyes.

“But yes, I am afraid his face will stay like that,” Simeon
added as he mocked a look of worry.
“It…it will?” Calista hesitated then found strength to look
upon Thaddius once more.
Simeon shot Orla a frown, hoping she would understand
his intent.
“Yes, I am afraid he will look scarred forever,” she added.
They knew, with time Thaddius would look as good as
new. Calista, though, believed their lies, and curled up her
nose while turning from Thaddius once more.
“Tell him, tell him I must visit my parents’ villa in Athens.
I need to see if they will give their blessing on our betrothal.
So, tell him I have broken off our arrangement but will send
word if my parents give their blessing and allow me to wed
him. I am afraid I will be gone a long time.”
Guya did not understand what Calista was saying. “But
Calista, Thaddius needs….”
“Come Guya,” she clapped as if addressing a slave. “We
must leave him to rest.”
Orla and Sellah waited for the girls to leave the room
before they turned to Simeon for answers. He smiled as he
spoke, proud of what he had just accomplished.
“I hated that girl. I know Thaddius better than anyone, and
from what I saw, he wasn’t so fond of her either.” Simeon
tried to ignore the weird look that flashed over Sellah’s face.
He took a deep breath and continued outwardly processing
his friends decision. “I cannot figure out why he extended his
offer of marriage to her in the first place. What I just did for