CHAPTER 3
The next day was joyous for Meren and the Pharaoh, yet for Taita and Jian also. Meren and Pharaoh talked of what had happened after they had parted, and this led inexorably to talking about the Warlock Taita. Taita sat riveted listening to how his namesake had guided Meren after the death of his love, (and Nefer's sister), Merkyara. The Magus taught Meren to learn to cope with loss, and at the same time taught Meren some of his own magic. Then he brought Jian into Meren's life, who Meren had treated like a son more than a student, and this had made Meren whole again. Once Meren had been happy Taita had left, and had last been seen heading towards the now abandoned Gallala.
This topic of conversation led Nefer and Meren, both now brimming with nostalgia, to talk of the old times, when they had run the red road, fighting Naja at the end of the war, and escaping from the palace by night. All the while, Jian and Taita sat listening, enthralled, and they were up late into the night talking about the old times, the new times, and the times to come.
*
The next morning Nefer decided that he would take Taita down to learn some of the more advanced chariot driving manoeuvres and strategy. Meren and Jian also came to accompany them. Jian had never ridden in a chariot before, and Nefer decided to let him ride with Taita in the chariot. It was a practise chariot, made of some pliable but strong wood, which made the chariot very light. This meant that the horses could practise with ease. Taita learned how best to overtake (by going wide before a corner then darting inside them), and the best place from which to attack an opposing chariot, (as close as possible slightly ahead, with them outside you, so you could ram them off the track). Taita also trained the horses to understand these different commands and calls.
As Taita and Jian stood awaiting instructions of the next move, they watched as Meren leaned over and whispered to Pharaoh. Nefer smiled that winning grin and nodded.
"Fancy a race?"
*
While Meren and Nefer went to get a second training chariot, Taita and Jian held a quick council of war. They formed a plan, involving some ingenious moves on Taita's parts, and some equally devious attack tactics from Jian. They stood waiting in their chariot, Tove and Kran in front of them, looking supremely relaxed.
Meren and Nefer lined up on the track inside Taita and Jian. The father and son were both driving, and the student and mentor were both defending their own chariots.
A slave yelled from the side of the track. "3. 2. 1. GO!"
The two chariots lurched forwards as one, fighting doggedly for the supremacy of the first corner. Meren and Nefer already had the inside line, and Taita and Jian swung outside as they had been instructed. Nefer countered, swinging his chariot further outside, and giving Meren a chance to lash out at Jian's back standing board. Jian parried, knocking Meren's spear upwards and out of his hands. It clattered down under the back wheel of Jian's chariot, and it was left as shards behind them.
Nefer twisted the chariot at the last second, forcing Taita to slow the horses to make it around the corner behind the two veterans. Nefer looked back at them as their chariot whirled around the corner, missing his line a little bit, and this give Taita the chance to gain some ground, and pull along side his father s chariot. Feinting to the outside, Taita drew the other chariot away from the inside line, in their attempt to run them off the track. Encouraging his horses on, the chariot sped inside the opposition, and roared on, just edging ahead of them. The speed and execution of this manoeuvre caught Nefer and Meren totally by surprise, and neither was ready when Jian struck the chariot. His carefully aimed sword thrust sliced through both the horses two ropes, cutting off the chariot from its source of motion. The horses, now unburdened galloped off the track to graze, while the chariot's front hit the floor, almost knocking Pharaoh and Meren out of the front. They could only watch, (Nefer with a grin on his face), as Taita and Jian won the race.
"Those two make quite a pair." whispered Meren in a slightly awed tone.
"Yes they do make a good pair." replied Nefer. "Yes they do."
* * *
Taita and Jian were sat out on Taita's balcony. It was a moonless night, small flickers of light flaring from burning candles nearby. The musty scent of alcohol and the noise of rowdy drunkards were easily detectable on the night's breeze, as the ever-increasing humidity brought sweat out on both Taita and Jian.
Two years since they had first met, they were both now old enough, and prepared enough to enter the Taita trials chariot leagues, to be held the next day in Thebes national chariot track. It was to be a straightforward knock out, two to go through in the first round, and then one each from the quarterfinals and the semi-finals. The final was a two-chariot race, with just two competitors competing for the ultimate prize - a place in pharaoh's own chariot legion. They slept little, nerves getting to them as tomorrow, their journey began.
The next day was joyous for Meren and the Pharaoh, yet for Taita and Jian also. Meren and Pharaoh talked of what had happened after they had parted, and this led inexorably to talking about the Warlock Taita. Taita sat riveted listening to how his namesake had guided Meren after the death of his love, (and Nefer's sister), Merkyara. The Magus taught Meren to learn to cope with loss, and at the same time taught Meren some of his own magic. Then he brought Jian into Meren's life, who Meren had treated like a son more than a student, and this had made Meren whole again. Once Meren had been happy Taita had left, and had last been seen heading towards the now abandoned Gallala.
This topic of conversation led Nefer and Meren, both now brimming with nostalgia, to talk of the old times, when they had run the red road, fighting Naja at the end of the war, and escaping from the palace by night. All the while, Jian and Taita sat listening, enthralled, and they were up late into the night talking about the old times, the new times, and the times to come.
*
The next morning Nefer decided that he would take Taita down to learn some of the more advanced chariot driving manoeuvres and strategy. Meren and Jian also came to accompany them. Jian had never ridden in a chariot before, and Nefer decided to let him ride with Taita in the chariot. It was a practise chariot, made of some pliable but strong wood, which made the chariot very light. This meant that the horses could practise with ease. Taita learned how best to overtake (by going wide before a corner then darting inside them), and the best place from which to attack an opposing chariot, (as close as possible slightly ahead, with them outside you, so you could ram them off the track). Taita also trained the horses to understand these different commands and calls.
As Taita and Jian stood awaiting instructions of the next move, they watched as Meren leaned over and whispered to Pharaoh. Nefer smiled that winning grin and nodded.
"Fancy a race?"
*
While Meren and Nefer went to get a second training chariot, Taita and Jian held a quick council of war. They formed a plan, involving some ingenious moves on Taita's parts, and some equally devious attack tactics from Jian. They stood waiting in their chariot, Tove and Kran in front of them, looking supremely relaxed.
Meren and Nefer lined up on the track inside Taita and Jian. The father and son were both driving, and the student and mentor were both defending their own chariots.
A slave yelled from the side of the track. "3. 2. 1. GO!"
The two chariots lurched forwards as one, fighting doggedly for the supremacy of the first corner. Meren and Nefer already had the inside line, and Taita and Jian swung outside as they had been instructed. Nefer countered, swinging his chariot further outside, and giving Meren a chance to lash out at Jian's back standing board. Jian parried, knocking Meren's spear upwards and out of his hands. It clattered down under the back wheel of Jian's chariot, and it was left as shards behind them.
Nefer twisted the chariot at the last second, forcing Taita to slow the horses to make it around the corner behind the two veterans. Nefer looked back at them as their chariot whirled around the corner, missing his line a little bit, and this give Taita the chance to gain some ground, and pull along side his father s chariot. Feinting to the outside, Taita drew the other chariot away from the inside line, in their attempt to run them off the track. Encouraging his horses on, the chariot sped inside the opposition, and roared on, just edging ahead of them. The speed and execution of this manoeuvre caught Nefer and Meren totally by surprise, and neither was ready when Jian struck the chariot. His carefully aimed sword thrust sliced through both the horses two ropes, cutting off the chariot from its source of motion. The horses, now unburdened galloped off the track to graze, while the chariot's front hit the floor, almost knocking Pharaoh and Meren out of the front. They could only watch, (Nefer with a grin on his face), as Taita and Jian won the race.
"Those two make quite a pair." whispered Meren in a slightly awed tone.
"Yes they do make a good pair." replied Nefer. "Yes they do."
* * *
Taita and Jian were sat out on Taita's balcony. It was a moonless night, small flickers of light flaring from burning candles nearby. The musty scent of alcohol and the noise of rowdy drunkards were easily detectable on the night's breeze, as the ever-increasing humidity brought sweat out on both Taita and Jian.
Two years since they had first met, they were both now old enough, and prepared enough to enter the Taita trials chariot leagues, to be held the next day in Thebes national chariot track. It was to be a straightforward knock out, two to go through in the first round, and then one each from the quarterfinals and the semi-finals. The final was a two-chariot race, with just two competitors competing for the ultimate prize - a place in pharaoh's own chariot legion. They slept little, nerves getting to them as tomorrow, their journey began.
