Nick and Mark were both awestruck and silent. What they were looking at -
no, what they had just seen, was too incredible to believe. How could
anyone move that fast? It was impossible. But it did happen, and they
were saved because of it.
From his ornate balcony, Herodius was both shocked and horrified. His gladiators had been massacred, and the crowd was now cheering for the spies. This was unacceptable.
"General," said Herodius as he turned his head in frustration toward the soldier next to him.
General Marcus knew his emperor well, and knew exactly what he wanted him to do. With a salute, the soldier pointed to a small door on the side of the arena. It quickly burst open to allow a dozen armed soldiers to charge through. Their armor shined brightly in the sunlight, sparkling as they filed out and circled the lone warrior in the center of the arena. They completely ignored the archeologists standing against the far wall.
Lance was thankful of that fact, but terrified for Kenshin. Gladiators were one thing, but these were armed soldiers, wearing armor and trained to be killers. Sweat beat down his face again. The situation had taken bad turn.
The crowd cheered louder, expecting more action. Kenshin heard their jeers and shouts, registered the glimmering armor of the twelve soldiers surrounding him, and glanced up at the balcony where the emperor stood. The man was frowning deeply, and staring back at Kenshin with an evil glare. The emperor made a quick motion to the guards, thrusting his fist out in front of him and pointing his thumb down.
Again the crowd cheered. But this time, Kenshin wasn't paying attention to them. The soldiers had begun their charge, running toward the center of their circle to attack him. They were nearly upon him when Kenshin disappeared. The soldiers halted abruptly, confused about the vanishing man. It was this confusion that bought Kenshin enough time to prepare his attack.
From thirty yards away from the confused huddle of Roman soldiers, the battousai stepped back into a fighting stance, once again placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword. His energy summoned and flowing through him, Kenshin used his left hand to push the neck of the sheath downward, pointing the hilt to the ground.
"Do Ryu Sen!" Kenshin shouted, drawing his blade with god-like speed to slash the ground in front of him. The dirt erupted in a line of destruction, blasting across the ground until it reached the soldiers. Each man was sent flying through the air, his sword and helmet falling in every direction. The explosion of dirt and sand shook the arena floor, quieting the crowd's cheers back to murmurs of awe.
Again the emperor was shocked and horrified. Every one of his soldiers was lying in the sand unconscious. What sort of man was this? His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the young warrior start heading toward the gladiator tunnel. The boy waved for the three spies to follow him.
Herodius could hear General Marcus walk back to his side. He already knew what the general was going to ask.
"Go down there," said the emperor. "Make sure they don't leave, but don't do anything against them. Just make sure they don't leave."
General Marcus nodded and saluted, and then marched off into the corridor behind the balcony. Herodius watched him go, and then turned back to the arena. Disgusted with the mutilated corpses and the beaten soldiers he saw before him, the emperor shifted his stare onto the two women standing to his left. They were watching the spies leave the arena through the tunnel. Herodius saw their expressions and again had to shift his view. They were hopeful.
The crowd continued cheering in the background as the four men began their trek down the dark tunnel. A loud thud echoed in the darkness when the huge doors shut behind them. They walked at their own pace, the guards too afraid of Kenshin to be forceful. The darkness of the tunnel was pitch black to them, even with the aid of the torches flickering along the walls. They round the circular bend and headed down the ramp to the gladiator room.
Every man was silent and motionless, staring at the one with the sword. Large grunts were sizing up the boy, while the weaker gladiators were breathing heavily and trying to calm their beating hearts. Armed soldiers lined the exits in rows of ten, ready to stop any attempt to escape.
That was fine. The four men had no intention of escaping. They were here to win this tournament, and rescue the women being held captive. Lance personally was dying to get to Lisa. He wanted her in his arms, where he could protect her. But for now he had to rely on the battousai…and after what he just witnessed in the arena, his hopes were very high.
Standing along the huge wall that circled the arena floor, Greg Conway smiled. The boy certainly was all that Thatcher had made him out to be. Conway had put on the uniform of the soldier he killed minutes before the fight, and had found a great spot to both view the fight and keep an eye on the two women on the balcony. He was only about fifty feet away from them, and could probably make a quiet approach if he had the right opportunity. Until then, he'd have to wait.
From his ornate balcony, Herodius was both shocked and horrified. His gladiators had been massacred, and the crowd was now cheering for the spies. This was unacceptable.
"General," said Herodius as he turned his head in frustration toward the soldier next to him.
General Marcus knew his emperor well, and knew exactly what he wanted him to do. With a salute, the soldier pointed to a small door on the side of the arena. It quickly burst open to allow a dozen armed soldiers to charge through. Their armor shined brightly in the sunlight, sparkling as they filed out and circled the lone warrior in the center of the arena. They completely ignored the archeologists standing against the far wall.
Lance was thankful of that fact, but terrified for Kenshin. Gladiators were one thing, but these were armed soldiers, wearing armor and trained to be killers. Sweat beat down his face again. The situation had taken bad turn.
The crowd cheered louder, expecting more action. Kenshin heard their jeers and shouts, registered the glimmering armor of the twelve soldiers surrounding him, and glanced up at the balcony where the emperor stood. The man was frowning deeply, and staring back at Kenshin with an evil glare. The emperor made a quick motion to the guards, thrusting his fist out in front of him and pointing his thumb down.
Again the crowd cheered. But this time, Kenshin wasn't paying attention to them. The soldiers had begun their charge, running toward the center of their circle to attack him. They were nearly upon him when Kenshin disappeared. The soldiers halted abruptly, confused about the vanishing man. It was this confusion that bought Kenshin enough time to prepare his attack.
From thirty yards away from the confused huddle of Roman soldiers, the battousai stepped back into a fighting stance, once again placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword. His energy summoned and flowing through him, Kenshin used his left hand to push the neck of the sheath downward, pointing the hilt to the ground.
"Do Ryu Sen!" Kenshin shouted, drawing his blade with god-like speed to slash the ground in front of him. The dirt erupted in a line of destruction, blasting across the ground until it reached the soldiers. Each man was sent flying through the air, his sword and helmet falling in every direction. The explosion of dirt and sand shook the arena floor, quieting the crowd's cheers back to murmurs of awe.
Again the emperor was shocked and horrified. Every one of his soldiers was lying in the sand unconscious. What sort of man was this? His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the young warrior start heading toward the gladiator tunnel. The boy waved for the three spies to follow him.
Herodius could hear General Marcus walk back to his side. He already knew what the general was going to ask.
"Go down there," said the emperor. "Make sure they don't leave, but don't do anything against them. Just make sure they don't leave."
General Marcus nodded and saluted, and then marched off into the corridor behind the balcony. Herodius watched him go, and then turned back to the arena. Disgusted with the mutilated corpses and the beaten soldiers he saw before him, the emperor shifted his stare onto the two women standing to his left. They were watching the spies leave the arena through the tunnel. Herodius saw their expressions and again had to shift his view. They were hopeful.
The crowd continued cheering in the background as the four men began their trek down the dark tunnel. A loud thud echoed in the darkness when the huge doors shut behind them. They walked at their own pace, the guards too afraid of Kenshin to be forceful. The darkness of the tunnel was pitch black to them, even with the aid of the torches flickering along the walls. They round the circular bend and headed down the ramp to the gladiator room.
Every man was silent and motionless, staring at the one with the sword. Large grunts were sizing up the boy, while the weaker gladiators were breathing heavily and trying to calm their beating hearts. Armed soldiers lined the exits in rows of ten, ready to stop any attempt to escape.
That was fine. The four men had no intention of escaping. They were here to win this tournament, and rescue the women being held captive. Lance personally was dying to get to Lisa. He wanted her in his arms, where he could protect her. But for now he had to rely on the battousai…and after what he just witnessed in the arena, his hopes were very high.
Standing along the huge wall that circled the arena floor, Greg Conway smiled. The boy certainly was all that Thatcher had made him out to be. Conway had put on the uniform of the soldier he killed minutes before the fight, and had found a great spot to both view the fight and keep an eye on the two women on the balcony. He was only about fifty feet away from them, and could probably make a quiet approach if he had the right opportunity. Until then, he'd have to wait.