Tanys Gladiatrix (The Chronicles of Tanys Book 2) by Andrew Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

at one of her teeth with her tongue. It felt a little loose.
    "Your only priority is getting ready for the match before the Prince." Haru said, "I was going to let you do a few easy matches before then, but now I think I'm going to stable you until the Prince's match. I need you to look your healthiest."
    "You're going to stable me?" Tanys asked.
    Haru gave her a wincing smile, "Perhaps not the best choice of words... but to the point nonetheless. You are too valuable an asset to risk, and, now that the Malchesse know you can fight, you are in very real danger."
    "You mean that little scene in the bathhouse was just to test me?"
    "The Malchesse don't do anything without at least three reasons," Haru said, "Varkaa was probing your weaknesses as well as trying to rattle you with stories about Brecia's skill."
    "Is Brecia that good?"
    "It's hard to say," Haru admitted, "Brecia is chosen for her cruelty more so than her skill as a fighter. Her opponents are always beautiful girls or pretty boys... love slaves who have displeased their masters, or a lovely, exotic captive offered in sacrifice for the Prince's unusual appetites."
    "What is her technique?" Tanys asked.
    "She talks a lot... and then she takes you apart piece by piece."
    "She talks?" Tanys scoffed.
    "She's horrible," Danella spoke up, "She whispers terrible things, gettin' inside your head, 'til you believe there's no way you can win. Once she's killed your hope, she starts on your body."
    "You've seen her fight?"
    "Once," Danella said, her voice low, "I used to work in the palace."
    "Anyway," Haru said, "it's not her tongue you should be worried about but her knives. Brecia always uses two long razors. She's as deadly with either hand, so you'll have to neutralize those as quickly as possible. You'll have the advantage in strength. She's not very big as far as humans go."
    "That's comforting," Tanys said, "You want me to beat up a little girl."
    "Hah!" Haru snorted, "Don't waste any sympathy on that monster. She's far older than she looks. I saw her fight when my father brought me to the city as a boy. Ugh, I guess he was trying to help usher me into adulthood or something. I did appreciate my first brothel visit though. I suppose, not all of Father's ideas were bad ones."
    A clattering noise sounded at the end of the hall as Jorva entered the room, looking ridiculous in an over-large suit of spiked armor.
    "What the hell are you wearing?" Tanys asked.
    "Haru say Jorva get to play badger," the dwarf answered, hitching up his baggy leggings.
    "You look... wonderful, Jorva" Haru said, "Danella, do you think you could help him with the fit?"
    Danella sighed and moved to attend the little man.
    "Badger?" Tanys asked.
    "One of the most popular sporting matches in the arena," Haru said, "Seven hunters chase the badger around with spears until they catch him. It's why fighting dwarves are in such high demand."
    "You're putting Jorva alone against seven men?"
    "Don't worry," Haru said, "The slaves chosen to be hunters are usually lame. It adds to the amusement when they stumble around trying to catch the badger."
    "You people are sick."
    Haru shrugged his shoulders. "At least we admit it."
Chapter 5
    Tanys was beginning to enjoy the warmth of Cashuun. Her skin had browned to a tight suppleness beneath the southern sun. The cool shadow of an awning passed over her shoulder as she walked beside Danella through the narrow streets of the Holy City. Like Tanys, she walked bare-breasted in the fashion of a slave yet she bore herself as regally as any princess. A year ago, Tanys would have been ashamed of their nudity. Now, in a city where only the animals wore clothes, it seemed only natural.
    They laughed as they walked, enjoying the freedom of their unique situation. Haru had forbidden them to attend the games, so convinced was he of a Malchesse plot against Tanys, or, more importantly, against his chance to impress the Prince. Both girls had waited obediently until the satyr had