Seijon’s personality changed almost immediately. The cheerful boy Ashinji had met on his first day at the yard had re-emerged. By removing the terrible burden of his abuse, Ashinji had freed his soul.
Two weeks after the incident in the bath house, Gran came to Ashinji with exciting news.
“He’s coming back! Tilo’s coming back to the yard, maybe as soon as tomorrow!”
Ashinji, who had been diligently applying needle and thread to a rip in his tunic, paused to look up at Gran’s flushed face.
“The Eskleipan brothers just left awhile ago. They said Tilo’s been overseeing their temple clinic. Anyhow, he’s back on rotation for the yards. When he comes, he’ll want to see me. We’ll both meet with him then.”
“How risky is this going to be, Gran?” Ashinji asked. He held up the shirt to inspect his repair.
“Everyone in the yard knows Tilo and I are friends. It won’t be risky at all, least not at first. Later on, when we need to discuss an actual plan, well…”
Ashinji sighed. “We have no choice, really. Don’t forget the dream I had about my wife and Sonoe.”
Gran nodded. “Time is wasting,” she said.
“Not to mention, as soon as the rains let up, the Imperial Army will march north and Alasiri will be under attack,” Ashinji added. He stared out across the yard at several of the female slaves engaged in a group sparring match. The clang of steel ringing against steel floated on the damp air.
I wonder if Jelena has given birth to our child yet… I might have a son now… or a daughter.
“What’s your schedule tomorrow?” Gran asked.
“I’m fighting two points matches during the afternoon session.”
“Good. Tilo should arrive after midday. When he finishes his rounds, we’ll have plenty of time to talk.”
“I hope you’re right about this Tilo, Gran.”
“I know I’m right.”
Ashinji trudged from the Arena, the cheers of the crowd roaring in his ears. He unbuckled his helmet and pulled it off, teeth gritted in pain. Gingerly, he examined a long cut on his left forearm. It oozed blood, messy but not too deep.
His injury would make a good excuse to meet with Gran’s human friend Tilo.
After his return to the yard, he washed the sweat, dirt, and blood from his body and sought out Gran. He found her in the infirmary. She stood next to a cot occupied by a slave who’d taken an injury during practice, talking to a tall, dark-haired human dressed in the brown robe of the Eskleipan Brothers. The man stood with his back to the door, so Ashinji could not see his face as he entered, but something about him seemed familiar.
Gran spotted him and beckoned with her hand. “Come in, come in. Tilo, here is the young man I want you to meet,” she said in Soldaran.
So, this is Tilo.
Ashinji approached, raising his injured arm. “Perhaps you can give me something for my cut,” he said.
The healer turned, mouth open as if to speak, but instead, he simply stared.
Ashinji stopped in his tracks, astonishment striking him mute as well.
“What’s wrong?” Gran asked quizzically.
Ashinji had never expected to see this man again, especially not here, in this place.
He found his voice at last.
“Ai, Goddess…Magnes Preseren…it’s you!”
Chapter 33
"Gods! Ashinji! I…I can’t believe it!”
Magnes stepped forward and grabbed Ashinji by the shoulders, then pulled him into a warm embrace.
“You two know each other?” Gran exclaimed.
“Ashinji and I are family,” Magnes answered.
“Magnes is my wife Jelena’s cousin,” Ashinji explained.
“Did I hear you right? Ashinji…you and Jelena are married?”
“Yes, you heard right, Magnes my friend. We are kinsmen in more ways than one now.”
Magnes whooped and swept Ashinji into another bear hug. “When I left Kerala, I figured you two were heading in that direction.” He paused, holding Ashinji at arm’s length, then added, “Did my cousin ever find her father?”
“She did, my friend, and neither of us ever could have imagined who he turned out to be. Jelena is the daughter of Keizo Onjara.”
“The…the elf king?” Magnes’ eyes grew wide with astonishment. “My little cousin… a princess! Gods!”
Ashinji nodded, smiling.
The two young men embraced again, then turned to face Gran, their arms draped over each other’s shoulder.
“So…Tilo is not your real name, then…Magnes?” Gran, who had been silently watching their reunion, now frowned in confusion.
Magnes nodded. “Yes, that’s right, Gran. I left my old name behind for reasons…well, let’s just say I need to remain Tilo for now.” His face grew serious. “What in the world are you doing here, Ashinji?”
“I could ask the same of you. My story is a long, painful one, and I’m guessing yours is, too.”
Magnes nodded. “How long have you been in the de Guera yard? Surely you’re not a…” He let the word die on his lips.
“Yes, I’m afraid it’s true. I am a slave. I was captured in a skirmish on the Kerala-Amsara border last fall, and I’ve been here ever since.”
The man on the cot moaned softly and Gran cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should speak outside,” she suggested.
Magnes checked the injured man one more time, then the three of them left the infirmary and made their way to the women’s barracks, deserted at this time of day. Gran fetched three stools for them to sit on.
“Your sister Thessalina commanded the Soldaran force,” Ashinji continued after they’d settled themselves in the shade of the barracks porch. “I learned from her that you had gone missing.”
“Gods, Ashinji… I can’t believe my sister had a hand in sending you here!” Magnes shook his head in dismay.
“There’s much more to the story, my friend. To be fair to your sister, she could have ordered me killed, but she didn’t. Instead, she had my wounds treated and made sure her troops didn’t abuse me…physically, at least.” The memory of Magnes’ dark-eyed sister, and her strange reaction to him flashed across his mind’s eye. “I think she believed she was doing the only thing she could to help me survive.”
Magnes snorted. “By selling you into slavery?”
“I’ve been a gladiator for half a year now, and I am still alive.”
“That’s because you’re a damn good fighter, and you have your Talent, even though you refuse to use most of what you have,” Gran interjected. “I wish you’d show more interest in your magical abilities!”
“You said there was more to the story, Ashinji. How much more?” Magnes inquired.
Ashinji pondered a moment, then decided he had no good reason not to tell Magnes the entire truth.
When he had finished, Magnes reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“I am so very sorry, my friend. To be betrayed like that by your own brother… My sister and I have never been especially close, but I would trust her with my life.”
“You are the first person I’ve told about my brother’s part in this, Magnes,” Ashinji said. “In truth, it’s just been too painful to talk about… even to you, Gran.”
Gran sighed and patted Ashinji’s hand. “I’ve known all along, my son. I saw the memory when I first scanned you,” she admitted. “I kept the knowledge to myself, knowing how much it hurt you to think of it. I knew when you were ready, you’d tell me.”
Ashinji rubbed his smarting eyes. “The hardest part for me is knowing what the news of my death must have done to Jelena.”
A stray wisp of cloud drifted over the sun’s face, plunging the yard into cool shadow, perfectly mirroring Ashinji’s darkened mood.
“I can only imagine what kind of story my brother concocted,” he continued. “No doubt a tale full of his own brave attempts to rescue me.” Ashinji’s throat tightened in the old, familiar rage. “Though, how he can hide the truth from my mother…”