The top of the ziggurat was just a large flat square, the arena, with a round hole – wider than most men were tall – at the far part of it, which he supposed would be the pit. A couple of guards followed them this time and remained a few steps away from entering the arena.
Theos squinted as he stared into the pit, a hole leading into a never ending abyss.
“Sacrifices go in here,” Lapis said, leaning in with him.
“That citar wouldn’t have known what hit it,” he whispered, “just a hard push. Poof.”
“Can you let that thing live in peace already?” she said. “This isn’t getting funnier the more you repeat it.”
“Not funny, no,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he looked back at her, “satisfying.”
She rolled her eyes before she continued the original topic, “we don’t need to sacrifice things for Dion. She doesn’t require that of us, but people keep doing it because the first Astral did.”
Theos straightened up, looking at the surroundings, and realized something. “Arena and a sacrificial pit in one place…”
“Human sacrifices,” Lapis nodded.
“So they battle here,” Theos circled around the arena, its bound shown by the circular stone paving. “The winner gets… a favor from the goddess?”
She shook her head. “Only specific types of fights are allowed to reach this arena, those covered by the shades of corruption among them.”
“Uh, what about that whole thing with the powder and the water and the knife?”
“If you came here as a regular visitor, trying to get that many shade wounds healed by offering a citar,” she watched the arena, “you would have ended up fighting another person with the wounds, or a prisoner, or someone that just wanted to live,” she lowered her voice as she continued. “The winner will be allowed to receive the healing, or the pardon… whatever they wanted.”
“Didn’t you just say that the goddess requires no sacrifices?” Theos crossed his arms, watching the rocks covered in the orange light. “This sounds like unnecessary cruelty.”
She nodded. “It is.”
“The priests do this,” he thought. “You paid for me to get healed, earlier. Cut the line, in a manner of speaking, avoid this… sacrifice.”
She nodded again.
Well, that was something he didn’t need to know. “Guess I owe you a golden charm encrusted in jewels.”
“Guess you do,” she said. “I like Lapis, in case you didn’t figure that out.”
“Such an expensive taste,” he grumbled. “I might need a few decades on this debt.”
“How about something else, equal in value?” she smiled.
“You got something on your mind?” he asked.
“In a couple of weeks, the full moon will begin, and the ceremony for the next astral will begin,” she said, looking at the darkening horizon. She moved towards the edge facing west, sat on the rocks that jutted out of the top, and dangled her feet. He followed. “It will happen here, on the top of the Star Temple.”
“You want a date for the event?” he grinned, “don’t think my company is worth that much, my lady.”
“I want you to stay around,” she said, tone serious, “until the ceremony.”
“Oh,” he joined her on the ledge, even as he felt dizzy from the height. The city looked so small, the people like insects in the orderly streets of the capital. “I suppose I wouldn’t mind spending a couple of weeks around you.”
She smiled and watched the sun vanish behind the cliffs. Theos turned and watched the pit, a threat of a horrible, yet familiar, headache throbbing in his head.
-
They sat until nightfall, just talking and watching the stars.
“It’s getting cold,” he said, more to her benefit than his, even though he left his cloak and scarf in the Blue Crescent. He would be feeling the cold pretty soon.
“Yeah,” she nodded, eyes closed while she breathed in the cooler air.
“Are those guys okay standing there all day and watching us?” he asked. The ziggurat guards remained eerily still, frozen in their spot, as the day went away, and were not looking like they were about to move anywhere.
“They are like that,” she sighed, “stuck to you like giant leeches with armor and spears,” she raised her voice while looking at the two guards.
“Do you think I can win against one of them in a fight?” he thought.
“You fight one, I fight the other, we toss them into the pit and run away,” she replied with glee.
“You fight one and toss him in the pit, I’ll keep the other occupied by bashing myself repeatedly into his fist,” he nodded.
“You can probably take the guy on the left,” she squinted, “two out of three fights will go to you,” she added with certainty.
“You have an eye for that kind of thing, too, miss noblewoman wizard?” he groaned as he stood on the ledge and hopped off.
“You could say that,” she faced him, the arena, the guards. “You have no chance against the guy on the right, though.”
“Any explanation on why I can’t take that one?” he looked at them, the first guy was at least a head shorter than him, and probably younger, therefore he could guess he didn’t have much of an experience in fighting. Kinda like him, but with weapons and armor. The other guy however showed nothing that made him think he couldn’t beat him at all.
“I just know,” she simply said.
“Can you just see how I can become better at fighting, then?” he asked with a hopeful tone.
“Fight more, gain experience,” she said, crossing her legs and joining her palms, posing like a wise master. “Only when you know more, can you do more.”
“Thank you, oh wise one,” he bowed, palms joined together as well. “I shall pick a fight every single day.”
“Why not come and train with the guards, then,” the stern voice said. “I’m sure they would appreciate you being a punching bag for them.”
Lapis went stiff as she heard the voice, as the temple guard advanced into the arena. “Do not bother my guest, Apis.”
“Another stray, brought in using the money of your father to trick your father,” the man removed his helmet and placed it on the ground, “a parasite in the holy grounds of the goddess.”
“Who’s that?” Theos frowned and watched the man remove the armor pieces one by one.
“A nobody, let's get out of here,” she said.
“I am Apis,” he said as he removed everything but the clothes, including the weapons, revealing a muscular body honed by years of rigorous training. “The head of the holy and most venerable guards of Dion. You will stand and face the challenge I throw at your feet,” he said before tossing a dagger at Theos’ feet. “I challenge you, cretin.”
“I’m guessing I got no chance against this guy either?” He leaned in to whisper to Lapis.
“Not even if he slipped and fell on your dagger,” Lapis responded.
“That kinda hurts, I was learning how to fight from one of the best,” he gave her his best offended look.
“You will die,” she said, her face serious. “This is the arena of the pit.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“He also taught me to learn when to run away from a losing fight,” Theos said before kicking away the dagger back to the man. “Challenge not accepted,” he said.
He walked away with Lapis, the man watching him with disgust that was so close to being physical. The guards at the steps moved their spears to stop them. “This was not a request,” the man said from behind them.
Theos turned to see the man then back at the guards, then the man again, before locking eyes with Lapis, “you can do it, Right?” he gestured with his eyes.
“Are you planning to make her fight for you, vermin?” the man stood tall, voice raising in anger.
He tried again, eye darting quickly between her and the man on the right. She frowned for a moment before her eyes widened in realization. “I could fight in your place,” she chuckled.
“Coward,” the man snapped and that was the moment Theos decided to rush to the left, running behind Lapis and into the younger guard. He reached out and grabbed the spear as he pushed the boy. The boy yelped in surprise as he was pushed to the edge of the stair step, trying to keep his balance. Theos kicked as hard as he could, aiming for the young man’s knee and hoping he didn’t miss and hit the edge of the bronze plate on his leg.
The knee buckled under the boy and he ended up falling down the stairs, a moment later he heard the other guard grunt before he heard a metallic crash on the ground. He turned around to see the man was tossed in Apis’ direction. He took the chance to grab Lapis's hand and dashed down the stairs.
“This is thrilling!” she cried out as they ran.
“A little bit frightening,” he laughed, “especially with the idea of me being tossed into that hole.”
“Catch him!” he heard Apis howl behind them.
“Where to now, princess?” he said, grinning.
“This way,” she took the lead, still laughing, sincere, and full of joy. “We will lose them in the priest’s quarter.”
“Alright then,” he grinned as they took different turns, commotion following the path they took.
Lapis slides around an old priestly looking man, which Theos bumped into, making him fall. Then they took another turn and another. They went through a room full of stone shelves that kept piles of scrolls in them. Into a corridor. Into another room that was filled with plants and the sound of water. Down some stairs. Out the building and finally into the stairs that led back outside.
He huffed as he took the lead again, running in front of Lapis as the guards looked at the running couple in confusion, they did not know yet, which was probably good, Theos thought as he ran out of the temple bounds and into the city.
After a while of running and taking turns between the buildings and the stalls, they decided it was safe to stop and take their breaths.
“This was,” Lapis breathed in and out a few times before she continued, “loads of fun.”
“I wasn’t so fond of the part where that man wanted to kill me in righteous combat,” he grinned, breathing quickly, “what’s his problem, anyway?”
“He thinks he’s the owner of the temple,” she said as she began to walk, “thinks he could get my hand in marriage, become the next Astral, clean the city of everyone he deems unworthy.”
“Ah, he’s sweet on you,” Theos snickered.
“Did you hear nothing of the rest?” she raised her eyebrows.
“Heard the most important part,” he suppressed the laugh. “Don’t worry, I’ll run away with you anytime you need me to.”
“I thought you were supposed to fight for me,” she crossed her arms. “Perhaps I don’t have an eye for these things, after all.”
“You were the one that said I had no chance,” he grumbled, “I don’t like to gamble, especially with my life.”
“Coward,” she smiled.
“Survivor,” he corrected, “where to, now?”
“I don’t know,” she looked around, “I don’t think I ever ran into the city this late at night, I don’t know,” she shook her head and turned towards the temple, “maybe I should just head back and-”
Theos held her hand and pulled her along, “I’ve got an idea,” he said.
She did not argue, or resist, as they moved through the starlit city.
-
“The blue crescent,” Lapis looked at the sign.
“First time staying here,” he admitted, “but with all the people that arrived in the city for this Astral stuff, there bound to be some form of entertainment to be had here.”
The muffled rowdiness of the fine patrons of said tavern was growing by the step, and by the time they stood outside the building, he could hear the singing and the blaring festivities, including a generous amount of alcoholic drinks, naturally.
“Entertainment?” she perked up as she noticed the noise.
“You’ve never seen a full tavern at night?” he blinked in surprise as he reached for the door. He held the door open for her and gestured for her to get inside. “It is a den of debauchery, sins, and everything they warn you about in that fancy temple of yours.”
She gasped as she entered the cheery hall, tables of stone filled with mugs, food, and people. Some were holding each other and singing as they swayed, buzzed, and jubilant. Others cheered and whistled and clapped under the oil lanterns’ light.
“Sir Theos,” she said as she entered, he followed closely behind her, “are you planning on getting me drunk?”
“Why would I do that?” he raised his voice as the surrounding noise threatened to drown it. “The counter has a few empty stools,” he pointed.
“Yet you take me to the counter,” she shouted.
He sat and let out a sigh of relief, “I’m showing you the world,” he said, “the tiny and limited world that is inside this establishment,” he gestured to the man behind the counter.
“What do you wan-” he started, then he looked at Lapis. “Okay, you will leave, right now.”
“What?” Theos blinked and turned to look at a confused Lapis.
“Out,” he banged on the counter, making the noise die gradually. “Right now.”
“Is my presence here a problem?” Lapis looked baffled.
“I am so sorry my lady,” the man bowed, “we cannot afford to incur the ire of the temple… I’m sure you understand,” he looked back to Theos, “And you, you shouldn’t bring the lady into such places, in the middle of the night, no less.”
“I am sorry for bothering you,” Lapis rose from her seat, “I will leave.”
Theos held her arm and stopped her from leaving.
“We are staying,” Theos smiled at the man, “both of us.”
“Someone will go to the temple guards and they will-”
“Do nothing,” Theos interrupted. “They don’t know she is here unless someone here wants to rat her out?” he turned around to look at the patrons. “The person that will snitch to the guards will be the first one to be strapped to the pole, isn’t that right?”
The people stared at him, mostly with addled expressions.
“Those people sit in that fancy temple of theirs,” he continued, “asking for tributes, offerings, gods know what else from you,” he huffed. “They sit there, uncaring to our struggles and lives,” he heard a few murmurs of agreement. “And the only person I’ve met that even gave a damn about the people in the city is right here, within us, and we are going to tell the guards on her, just so we get lashed as a thank you?”
“No!” one drunk guy shouted. “They took it. No!”
“They took a pouch of silver from me,” another said in a pained voice, “just to get my son healed, I know I shouldn’t complain about money now that my son is cured, but I had to sell most of my herd to get it.”
“My jars were destroyed by the guards,” another, an angry woman, hissed, “I did not pay the ‘protection toll’ for the stall, they said, buncha rubbish.”
“She should stay,” Theos raised his voice, “she should be shown what a normal person is like, your simple pleasures, hear your stories,” he banged on the table, “and by Amu, she should see us partying.”
Shouts of agreement sounded and the partying picked up again, he turned to see the man behind the counter shake his head.
“Sit down,” he told Lapis, “and you, good sir, bring us a couple of cinnamon-grain beverages you are well known for, let the lady see what we are all about.”
“I shouldn’t,” he said, and that got him a round of booing and jeering. “But I will,” the crowd cheered, instead, as he said the last part.
Lapis sat down on the chair, face clearly bothered, she turned and gave him a worried look. “I don’t want to cause this man trouble,” she whispered.
“Like I said, they wouldn’t find you here, precisely because you don’t visit such places,” Theos grabbed the mugs from the man and handed her one, “not an alcoholic drink, I promise,” he grinned, “but you will have a lot of more fun if you had one of those.”
“Thanks,” she said in a low voice.
The night continued, the singing resumed and the crowds cheered. Theos joined in on the singing and the other patrons surrounded him and Lapis more and more as the mood lightened up.
The people shared stories, some heavy, others funny, and some just mind baffling.
“We encountered a sphinx, once,” the man with the single eye said, “our caravan ended up in the Black Dunes by accident, and the creature decided to toy with us,” he looked around at the invested crowd. “It had the face of a woman, and even the breasts on its stoney hide, and it is not as enticing as one might think, it looked so… unnatural.
“It sat in front of us, like a feline, arms crossed and the smile promising death. It started to ask us questions, and riddles. Something about a creature with four, two, and three legs. The person who answered got stomped on the spot. Then she asked us another, and another person died. The citars panicked and were stomped, and eventually, I was the only one left.”
“How did you escape that vicious creature?” Lapis leaned in, fascinated.
“My lady,” the man leaned on his knee and pointed to his cloth covered eye, “no one escapes a sphinx by choice, it merely got bored and left, didn’t check to see if I died after it hit me, and took my eye out. Was hoping to get healed in the temple but…”
“Dion cannot heal that injury,” she lowered her head in apology, “no matter what people say, lost body parts do not regrow.”
“The priests promised me she could,” he looked at her in disbelief.
“Dion cannot heal those kinds of injuries unless you were the Astral,” she gave him a sad smile, “I can relieve your pain if you wish?” she extended her hands towards him.
“My lady,” the man rose and held his mug high. “The only pain relief I need is another round!”
Cheers followed and Lapis’ sad smile turned into a beautiful laugh. Theos rose as a round of dagger dances began on the floor, where people moved the tables around to make the space. The participants held their daggers out, still in their wooden sheathes, before grabbing them by the hilt. They moved in a circle, bodies lowering and hunching until the dagger points touched the ground and the movement picked up. They rose and spun, each man’s dagger passing in front of the two that surrounded him and eventually ended with them all raising the daggers to meet and clatter at the center of the circle.
He huffed as he returned to join Lapis, body sweating. She gave him a quick applause and he gave her a bow.
The mood turned more mellow, and a man began singing. Theos stood, offering his hand to her, and took her to the floor, where they danced the night away.