The Chariots Slave (25 page)



him was a monumental favor. When Thaddius recovers, tell
him he owes me a big one in return.”



“L eave Thaddius with me and go find a replacement,” Orla
instructed as she lifted Thaddius’s head and poured medicinal
herb-blended wine into his mouth.

Sellah thought over Orla’s instructions. “But if someone
sees him, they will know we have been deceitful. We need to
move him to a secure place. Away from cunning eyes.”

“Sellah is right. Do we risk further injury if we relocate
him?” Simeon walked over to Thaddius’s side and gazed at
his friend.

“In truth, we may,” Orla said. “But it seems we have no
other choice.”
“I will send in men to move him. Oh and Sellah, can you
fetch Lucius? He is our best choice,” Simeon added. “If his
cart had not been flipped by the loose horses, then he would
have qualified for the next arena. We will begin his training
with Diana at once. I will meet you two at the trigarium.”
Simeon left in a flurry and Sellah turned to Orla.
“Will he truly be all right?” Her eyes were pleading for
the truth.
“He is strong, Sellah. Do not worry.” Orla smiled as she
noticed Sellah hesitate to go to Thaddius. “I must go make



arrangements. Can you stay and tend to Thaddius?”
“What about finding Lucius?” Sellah responded.
“If I see him, I will tell him Simeon’s instructions. But for
now, Thaddius needs you.”
Sellah quietly walked over to Thaddius’s cot. Orla
watched her look at him for a moment before leaving and
giving them privacy.
When Sellah was certain she was alone, she began to
speak.
“Oh stupid Thaddius, look at the mess you have made,”
she smiled as tears streamed down her face. With a shaky
hand she wiped them away. “How are we supposed to know
what to do without you? You are foolish and reckless, but I
know you have a good heart. You desire to do what is right,
even though your pride often gets in the way.”
She sniffed back the tears as she hesitantly raised her hand
and brushed the hair off his face. “Simeon has asked me to
become his wife,” she whispered as she thoroughly looked
over his face, hoping for some form of a reaction. When she
did not see what she was looking for, she pulled her hand
back from his hair.
“He is a good man,” she continued, feeling as though she
needed to explain everything to Thaddius. “He would love
me and take care of me.”
A single tear rolled down her check and landed on
Thaddius’s swollen face. His eyes fluttered open and he
looked up at her. Their gazes met and remained fixed for a
heart stilling moment. Then Thaddius opened his mouth to
form a response.
“He will love you,” he gasped, each word causing great
effort and even greater pain. “But you will never love him.”




Sellah pushed herself back from the bed, alarmed and
humiliated that Thaddius had heard her confession. Her hands
shook and her heart beat rapidly as she beheld him, afraid of
what he would say next.

“Did I win Sellah? Did I save you?”

She bit her lip as she thought over his question. “Yes,” she
said through her tears as she nodded her head and looked
down at him. “You saved me.”

Satisfied with her response, Thaddius closed his eyes and
fell back into much needed sleep.

 



“W hoa!” Lucius screamed as he raised his hands and
tried to calm the bucking horse. “How am I supposed to race
tomorrow if she won’t let me on the chariot?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Simeon said as he paced back and forth
trying to think of something. “What if we use the other lead?
He is not as skilled as Diana but at least he will let Lucius
drive.” He offered his suggestion to his father who had been
helping at the trigarium.

“That could have worked, except the horse wounded its
leg, remember?” Vettius replied.
The men gathered in a circle talking as Diana bucked
wildly behind them. They had been trying for a good portion
of an hour to get one of the men, anyone at this point, on her
cart. But she would not have it.
“Rope her down and stabilize her while Lucius climbs
up,” one of the guards suggested.
“Thaddius would be furious if he finds out you restrained
Diana,” Vettius warned.




But the men did not listen to the warning and set to task
anyway. Four men surrounded the rearing mare, each armed
with pegs and rope.

“On my count!” Simeon yelled. “One, two, three!”

As a team, the men threw the ropes over Diana, and at the
same time caught the ropes being thrown at them. When they
had confidently secured the ropes with their hands, they
pegged them to the ground.

This allowed Simeon to grab Diana’s reins and hold her
steady. She rocked her head and shook her mane while
blowing warm air out of her nostrils.

Sellah watched from the hill, and even from the distance
she could tell Diana was distressed. She worried about what
the mare would do.

“Quickly Lucius!” Simeon ordered.

As instructed, Lucius climbed up onto the cart. This time
Diana did not buck, but remained steady under the restraints.
He grabbed the reins, braced his feet, and held fast to the side
of the chariot.

“All right, I am ready!” Lucius announced.

Once more the men threw the ropes releasing Diana and
Simeon dropped the reins. As soon as she was free, she
reared onto her hind legs, tossing the chariot to its side.
Lucius struggled to hold on but was unsuccessful. His body
flung out of the cart and landed on a rocky outcrop.

“Damn it, Diana!” Simeon yelled as he ran to Lucius’s
side to see if he was injured.
“Find another driver. I’m done!” Lucius rolled over
clutching his arm to keep his new injury secure. “That horse
has a demon within!”
Sellah sat nervously by as she watched the men yell at



each other and Diana stomp her foot and shake her mane. The
horse was stubborn, maybe even more stubborn than
Thaddius. But stubborn or not, she was their only chance.
They had to find someone to drive her.

Wishing there was something she could do but knowing
she had nothing to offer frustrated her. It seemed as if no one
would drive and that Barachius would win by default. And
that meant they would soon suffer the same fate Nadria had.

She decided she would go talk to Accalia. Accalia would
know what to do. She was always there to comfort Sellah
when she needed it most. Just as Sellah was about to push
herself up off the ground, she noticed Diana charging toward
her, chariot in tow.

Knowing that the horse was spooked and in a dangerous
frame of mind, Sellah remained still, hoping Diana would
pass her by. Yet despite her efforts the horse seemed to be
headed straight for her.

The men noticed Diana’s sudden movement. Simeon
screamed for the horse as he ran after, worried about what
Diana would do to Sellah. But all Sellah could do was focus
on the charging horse. Slowly she stood and held out her
hands.

“Whoa Diana, whoa,” she gently spoke as she brought her
arms up to show she meant no harm. Diana slowed her gallop
into a trot and eventually came to a full stop before Sellah.
Once she realized she was not about to be trampled by horse
and cart, Sellah allowed herself to breathe.

“You had me frightened for a moment,” she said as she
rubbed the horse’s snout.
Diana blew air into her face and nudged her head into
Sellah’s neck. Sellah giggled as she pushed the horse back.




Simeon had given up running and was regaining his breath
a few yards away.
“Sellah, just back away slowly,” he instructed.
“She’s harmless,” Sellah argued.
“Harmless? She could have killed Lucius!”
Sellah turned to argue with Simeon, but as she did, she felt
something fall across her shoulder. Hesitantly she raised her
hand and found Diana’s reins. She grabbed the leather straps
and turned back to Diana. The horse stomped her foot and
shook her mane once more.
She smiled and took a moment to pat Diana’s snout before
dropping the reins so she could continue her argument with
Simeon.
“Simeon, just come get her…” She was cut off midsentence by Diana once more pushing the reins over her
shoulder.
“What are you doing?” she asked as she turned to address
the horse. But before she could fully turn around, Diana
nudged her toward the chariot.
Sellah took a step in the direction before pausing. Could
the horse really be communicating that she wanted her to be
the driver? As if to confirm her thought, Diana once more
nudged her toward the chariot.
It couldn’t be, could it?
She had to try. If Diana would let her drive, then that
could be the answer to their dilemma. Maybe she could save
them, save Thaddius and Simeon.
“Yes Diana,” Sellah hesitantly agreed as she walked
toward the chariot.
“What are you doing?” Simeon yelled. And when she did
not reply, he began to run to her. “Sellah, don’t be foolish,




 

walk away. Sellah! Don’t get in that cart! Listen to me.”

But Sellah did not listen, she used the wheel as a step and
pulled herself into the chariot. As soon as she was balanced,
Diana took off in a sprint around the circus track.

“Stop!” Simeon yelled as he ran after them. “Sellah grab
the reins—pull back!”