Chapter 12 – Bull-Leaping by Broomstick
The Bull Leaping Games began that afternoon, the opening ceremonies dedicating the games to the Moon Goddess, whose crescent moon shared the same shape as the horns of the bulls.
The bulls of Crete had changed little in the few thousand years the Minoan culture had been occupying the island - they were large, broad, heavy, fast, and fierce, known to the ancient world as aurochs. Essentially, they were slightly smaller than elephants, but with the shape of bulls. And large attitudes suitable for something that could probably take down a Titan in a one-on-one match.
The sandy arena had one aurochs and at least a dozen leapers of various ages and both sexes. Among them was Martis' nephew Damon, showing off for the crowd.
The bull was spurred on, charging toward a leaper; the leaper gracefully grabbed the horns, flipped up, somersaulted over the body as it charged under her, then landed delicately on her feet, her arms raised in victory.
Damon himself was next - flipping over the horns, then twisting his body in mid-air and landing on the head of the bull, balancing delicately as it tried to shake him off. He kicked off the back of the beast, landing behind it.
Another man took a horn by one hand and swung around, his other hand pushing off the bull's back, somersaulted, then landed in a handstand in the sand.
A woman gracefully sailed over the aurochs' long body, pirouetting as she landed.
Students and chaperones from Hogwarts had claimed a stand in the large arena, the sun beating down on their heads and shoulders. Britomartis and Severus sat a few rows behind the students, holding hands quietly and receiving strange stares for his dark, layered clothes.
"Sure you're comfortable in that?"
"The cooling salve is working, Spirals," he reminded her.
"Sorry, force of habit. I'm used to seeing skin this time of year around here." She chuckled. "Although we still wear more clothes than we did in the past - I remember when the games were done in nothing but belts and loinclothes."
"What did the women wear?"
"Same thing," she answered tongue-in-cheek. "If you were over a B-cup, it hurt like Avernus."
He was about to object to her teasing, then realized she was not kidding at all. Looking carefully into the crowd, it was obvious there was more skin on display than what they were used to in Great Britain. "If word gets back to the Weasley parents, we may be up for a reprimand."
"I did warn all of them, Snips. Not my fault if they chose to ignore the warning."
"Six-point font in invisible ink?"
"Don't quibble, darling. And it was four-point. On the backside of the permission slip."
Two rows down, Ron's shirt was saying the words 'You're cute!' (arrow pointing to Ms. Humphries) as he and Elizabeth hollered and encouraged anybody related to their teacher. Next to them, Hermione and Harry had their heads bent close and discussing something secret. Ginny was bouncing around and applauding whenever someone managed not to get impaled or stomped on.
Down from them, Fred and George were sitting on each side of Ophelia (who was in her Priestess costume and displaying massive amounts of cleavage, causing the Weasley twins to go braindead every now and again) and all three were cheering on the leapers. Near them, Draco was holding an umbrella over his head to keep the sun off his fair skin.
A row down, Glynis and Oliver were having a nice, quiet, mature conversation.
"And don't ever touch me again! I still feel soiled!"
"No problem, Ryper, you're too skinny to grab, anyway."
"You're a brainless jock."
"You're a control freak."
She leaned close to his face. "You're nothing but a Quidditch-obsessed jock who is a miserable prat in all other fields - "
He leaned into her face as well. "Is that a challenge, Glynis Ryper?"
She pulled back, pursing her burgundy-red lips. "Challenge on what, Wood?"
"That I can't do anything else but Quidditch. I can prove to you I can." He got up, his broom gripped firmly in his hand. "I'll go play with the bulls."
"WHAT?!"
Oliver sat astride his broom and took off into the arena.
"Mr. Wood!" Britomartis' voice called. "What are you doing??"
"You idiot!" Glynis added, leaning over the stand's wall. "Just like a wizard - grab your broomstick and go off to do something stupid!"
"What's he doing??" Ron asked.
"Committing suicide!"
Oliver plowed down to the arena's field, looking for an opening.
Damon Vox - who had just finished a stunt of doing a handstand on the back of the aurochs - flipped over the bull's back and landed on his feet. He spun around, seeing the teenager shooting off headfirst on a broom toward the charging bull.
"Hey, you don't know what you're doing!"
Oliver swung the broomstick up, performing three somersaults over the twelve foot span between the bull's horns and tail, then straightened his flight path and twirled in mid-air.
The crowd cheered in a frenzy.
"Severus, we have to stop him! He could be killed out there!"
"I know, Martis!"
"SHOW 'EM WHO'S BOSS, WOOD!" Elizabeth shouted.
Glynis was perched on the wall. "Will you cut that out, Oliver?! You've proved you're full of testosterone, now get back here!"
"Not yet!" he answered. "It's kinda fun!"
Sweeping around in a great arc, he again charged for the aurochs; the bull swung a horn out, attempting to catch the flying teenager in the gut.
Oliver ascended over its head, slapping a hand down and yelling "HONK!" as his fingers touched the nose.
The mob was now whistling and yelling with approval. Oliver had an idiotic grin on his face.
Glynis struggled with her wand (in the leg of her capris), losing her balance in the process and falling down to the sandy arena on her shoulder. She cried out in pain, clutching it.
The bull spun around, saw the obvious non-leaper, and let out a snort as it dashed to her.
"That's it!" Britomartis stated, climbing over seats. Severus was not far behind, his wand already drawn.
Glynis was scooped up by Oliver just as the bull reached her, leaving its hot breath on her legs.
The bull was promptly frozen in place by a quick wave from Snape's wand as Oliver's broom climbed over the wall with both passengers deposited safely in the stands.
Glynis, her arms around Oliver's neck, pulled back and stared into his grinning face. She began walloping him. "YOU SMEGHEAD! Don't ever do that again! You scared the hell out of me!"
"Well, I love you, too, Glynnie," he replied as she beat him about the head.
"OWWWWWW!" she finally cried, holding her shoulder again.
"Mr. Wood!" Britomartis stated. "Release Miss Ryper this instant! She landed on that shoulder - it's very likely sprang if she was still able to hit you." She gently touched the girl's shoulder and neck. "How's this feel, dear?"
"Feel like I dropped from a roof onto sand, Professor," the girl gasped. "I don't think the collarbone's broken, but where my shoulder landed feels like it's been beaten with clubs." Her eyes widened. "Uh, my hip is also sore - I landed there, too."
"Mr. Wood, help me take her back to the house. Great Mother, where's Poppy when we need her? Professor Snape, please look after the children."
"Is Glynis going to be all right?" Elizabeth asked.
"Don't know, yet. Behave yourselves. Hopefully it's only some bruising."
Oliver picked up Glynis in his arms, carefully carrying her down the steps outside the arena while Britomartis led the way back to the Vox villa.
"I'm really sorry, Glynnie," Oliver said as he dashed down the street. "I guess I was being too stupid for my own good."
"Well, I didn't have to lean over the wall like that."
"You both are in trouble," their teacher stated, not turning to look back at them. "I'll have to owl your parents about this. This is definitely part of the silliness list."
"He didn't try to hurt me!" Glynis protested.
"No, but he did endanger his own life and consequently yours. There is a reason tourists aren't allowed in the arena, Mr. Wood!"
"I was just having some fun, Professor."
"As a result - "
"I challenged him," Glynis piped up.
She opened the gates of the estate and flourished her hand inward. Oliver carried Glynis in, then she slammed them shut. "I thought you both were mature individuals, not irresponsible children who think they're immortal! I've had enough of your bickering and alpha-dominant displays - Mr. Wood, while Miss Ryper is recovering, you're to look after her."
"Huh?" he asked.
"You're fortunate I know some temple Priestesses who are healers that can take care of such injuries within hours." She opened the main doors and ushered them in. "Come on, to her room, Mr. Wood."
Both teenagers avoided her face - her lips were scary enough with their angry pressed lines, they did not want to see her pull her sunglasses off to show her eyes. They probably glowed red or something.
Britomartis opened the door and Oliver carried Glynis in, depositing her gently on her bed.
Saphira rushed in after them. "I heard what happened - where is she?"
"In the bed. What are you doing?"
Saphira sat on the edge of the bed and softly touched Glynis' shoulder. "I'm a healer."
"Never knew," Britomartis remarked off-handedly. "Mr. Wood, you go to your room until I get you."
"Yes, ma'am," the boy replied and left.
Saphira's hands began to glow a crystal blue, the light swirling off her skin and seeping into Glynis' shoulder and neck.
Britomartis recognized the healing technique and explaining for the girl's benefit, "She's realigning the tissue back to normal and healing the broken veins, Miss Ryper. If I'm correct, this method also dissipates the blood pooling so your bruises won't be as bad."
"Wow," Glynis commented. "Feels like cool water pouring over my shoulder." She paused. "What about my hip?"
A few more minutes, and Glynis was given a sleeping tea to calm her down and allow her to rest.
Britomartis closed the door after her mother exited the room. "Thank you, Saphira."
"Most welcomed. I got scared when I heard about the accident."
Britomartis exhaled loudly. "I was scared to death to be perfectly honest." Her mouth became neutral again. "Would you - "
"Yes! I would have noticed if you were injured during bull leaping!" She sighed. "Thank the Great Mother you never took that up."
Britomartis snorted. "I was the Champion two years running."
Saphira paused. "Champion? I ... never knew."
"It was the same years my sister Adonia came in second. Remember?"
Saphira nodded dumbly. "Yes - we were going to throw a party to honor her, then for some reason she said she didn't want it. Something made her mad and she refused to speak to me for almost a month - " She gasped in realization. "Oh Great Mother! How could I have - "
Britomartis softened her mouth. "The great and mighty Saphira Vox - thick as the mountains."
"Britomartis, I'm sorry - "
"Will you quit saying that? It's like listening to the same warped music spell over and over."
The old woman leaned close, her face within inches of her daughter's. "You got your stubbornness from me, but that doesn't mean it'll work right back at me. You're just as proud as I am, Britomartis, that is why this will never be resolved." She pulled back, her hard blue eyes locked into the dead centers of the tinted lenses. "Given the chance, I would alter the past, less than a heartbeat and I'd be there in labor with you."
"Bull - "
"You know how to look into hearts - if you dare call my words a lie, then do so!"
Britomartis said nothing.
Saphira's shoulders slumped. "I can't erase your hate for me."
"You haven't tried."
"And you won't allow me."
Both mother and daughter continued the stalemated silence.
They were rescued with Oliver sticking his head outside his door and asking in a meek voice, "Is Glynnie all right?"
Britomartis turned to her student to answer and Saphira left the hallway.
The Bull Leaping Games began that afternoon, the opening ceremonies dedicating the games to the Moon Goddess, whose crescent moon shared the same shape as the horns of the bulls.
The bulls of Crete had changed little in the few thousand years the Minoan culture had been occupying the island - they were large, broad, heavy, fast, and fierce, known to the ancient world as aurochs. Essentially, they were slightly smaller than elephants, but with the shape of bulls. And large attitudes suitable for something that could probably take down a Titan in a one-on-one match.
The sandy arena had one aurochs and at least a dozen leapers of various ages and both sexes. Among them was Martis' nephew Damon, showing off for the crowd.
The bull was spurred on, charging toward a leaper; the leaper gracefully grabbed the horns, flipped up, somersaulted over the body as it charged under her, then landed delicately on her feet, her arms raised in victory.
Damon himself was next - flipping over the horns, then twisting his body in mid-air and landing on the head of the bull, balancing delicately as it tried to shake him off. He kicked off the back of the beast, landing behind it.
Another man took a horn by one hand and swung around, his other hand pushing off the bull's back, somersaulted, then landed in a handstand in the sand.
A woman gracefully sailed over the aurochs' long body, pirouetting as she landed.
Students and chaperones from Hogwarts had claimed a stand in the large arena, the sun beating down on their heads and shoulders. Britomartis and Severus sat a few rows behind the students, holding hands quietly and receiving strange stares for his dark, layered clothes.
"Sure you're comfortable in that?"
"The cooling salve is working, Spirals," he reminded her.
"Sorry, force of habit. I'm used to seeing skin this time of year around here." She chuckled. "Although we still wear more clothes than we did in the past - I remember when the games were done in nothing but belts and loinclothes."
"What did the women wear?"
"Same thing," she answered tongue-in-cheek. "If you were over a B-cup, it hurt like Avernus."
He was about to object to her teasing, then realized she was not kidding at all. Looking carefully into the crowd, it was obvious there was more skin on display than what they were used to in Great Britain. "If word gets back to the Weasley parents, we may be up for a reprimand."
"I did warn all of them, Snips. Not my fault if they chose to ignore the warning."
"Six-point font in invisible ink?"
"Don't quibble, darling. And it was four-point. On the backside of the permission slip."
Two rows down, Ron's shirt was saying the words 'You're cute!' (arrow pointing to Ms. Humphries) as he and Elizabeth hollered and encouraged anybody related to their teacher. Next to them, Hermione and Harry had their heads bent close and discussing something secret. Ginny was bouncing around and applauding whenever someone managed not to get impaled or stomped on.
Down from them, Fred and George were sitting on each side of Ophelia (who was in her Priestess costume and displaying massive amounts of cleavage, causing the Weasley twins to go braindead every now and again) and all three were cheering on the leapers. Near them, Draco was holding an umbrella over his head to keep the sun off his fair skin.
A row down, Glynis and Oliver were having a nice, quiet, mature conversation.
"And don't ever touch me again! I still feel soiled!"
"No problem, Ryper, you're too skinny to grab, anyway."
"You're a brainless jock."
"You're a control freak."
She leaned close to his face. "You're nothing but a Quidditch-obsessed jock who is a miserable prat in all other fields - "
He leaned into her face as well. "Is that a challenge, Glynis Ryper?"
She pulled back, pursing her burgundy-red lips. "Challenge on what, Wood?"
"That I can't do anything else but Quidditch. I can prove to you I can." He got up, his broom gripped firmly in his hand. "I'll go play with the bulls."
"WHAT?!"
Oliver sat astride his broom and took off into the arena.
"Mr. Wood!" Britomartis' voice called. "What are you doing??"
"You idiot!" Glynis added, leaning over the stand's wall. "Just like a wizard - grab your broomstick and go off to do something stupid!"
"What's he doing??" Ron asked.
"Committing suicide!"
Oliver plowed down to the arena's field, looking for an opening.
Damon Vox - who had just finished a stunt of doing a handstand on the back of the aurochs - flipped over the bull's back and landed on his feet. He spun around, seeing the teenager shooting off headfirst on a broom toward the charging bull.
"Hey, you don't know what you're doing!"
Oliver swung the broomstick up, performing three somersaults over the twelve foot span between the bull's horns and tail, then straightened his flight path and twirled in mid-air.
The crowd cheered in a frenzy.
"Severus, we have to stop him! He could be killed out there!"
"I know, Martis!"
"SHOW 'EM WHO'S BOSS, WOOD!" Elizabeth shouted.
Glynis was perched on the wall. "Will you cut that out, Oliver?! You've proved you're full of testosterone, now get back here!"
"Not yet!" he answered. "It's kinda fun!"
Sweeping around in a great arc, he again charged for the aurochs; the bull swung a horn out, attempting to catch the flying teenager in the gut.
Oliver ascended over its head, slapping a hand down and yelling "HONK!" as his fingers touched the nose.
The mob was now whistling and yelling with approval. Oliver had an idiotic grin on his face.
Glynis struggled with her wand (in the leg of her capris), losing her balance in the process and falling down to the sandy arena on her shoulder. She cried out in pain, clutching it.
The bull spun around, saw the obvious non-leaper, and let out a snort as it dashed to her.
"That's it!" Britomartis stated, climbing over seats. Severus was not far behind, his wand already drawn.
Glynis was scooped up by Oliver just as the bull reached her, leaving its hot breath on her legs.
The bull was promptly frozen in place by a quick wave from Snape's wand as Oliver's broom climbed over the wall with both passengers deposited safely in the stands.
Glynis, her arms around Oliver's neck, pulled back and stared into his grinning face. She began walloping him. "YOU SMEGHEAD! Don't ever do that again! You scared the hell out of me!"
"Well, I love you, too, Glynnie," he replied as she beat him about the head.
"OWWWWWW!" she finally cried, holding her shoulder again.
"Mr. Wood!" Britomartis stated. "Release Miss Ryper this instant! She landed on that shoulder - it's very likely sprang if she was still able to hit you." She gently touched the girl's shoulder and neck. "How's this feel, dear?"
"Feel like I dropped from a roof onto sand, Professor," the girl gasped. "I don't think the collarbone's broken, but where my shoulder landed feels like it's been beaten with clubs." Her eyes widened. "Uh, my hip is also sore - I landed there, too."
"Mr. Wood, help me take her back to the house. Great Mother, where's Poppy when we need her? Professor Snape, please look after the children."
"Is Glynis going to be all right?" Elizabeth asked.
"Don't know, yet. Behave yourselves. Hopefully it's only some bruising."
Oliver picked up Glynis in his arms, carefully carrying her down the steps outside the arena while Britomartis led the way back to the Vox villa.
"I'm really sorry, Glynnie," Oliver said as he dashed down the street. "I guess I was being too stupid for my own good."
"Well, I didn't have to lean over the wall like that."
"You both are in trouble," their teacher stated, not turning to look back at them. "I'll have to owl your parents about this. This is definitely part of the silliness list."
"He didn't try to hurt me!" Glynis protested.
"No, but he did endanger his own life and consequently yours. There is a reason tourists aren't allowed in the arena, Mr. Wood!"
"I was just having some fun, Professor."
"As a result - "
"I challenged him," Glynis piped up.
She opened the gates of the estate and flourished her hand inward. Oliver carried Glynis in, then she slammed them shut. "I thought you both were mature individuals, not irresponsible children who think they're immortal! I've had enough of your bickering and alpha-dominant displays - Mr. Wood, while Miss Ryper is recovering, you're to look after her."
"Huh?" he asked.
"You're fortunate I know some temple Priestesses who are healers that can take care of such injuries within hours." She opened the main doors and ushered them in. "Come on, to her room, Mr. Wood."
Both teenagers avoided her face - her lips were scary enough with their angry pressed lines, they did not want to see her pull her sunglasses off to show her eyes. They probably glowed red or something.
Britomartis opened the door and Oliver carried Glynis in, depositing her gently on her bed.
Saphira rushed in after them. "I heard what happened - where is she?"
"In the bed. What are you doing?"
Saphira sat on the edge of the bed and softly touched Glynis' shoulder. "I'm a healer."
"Never knew," Britomartis remarked off-handedly. "Mr. Wood, you go to your room until I get you."
"Yes, ma'am," the boy replied and left.
Saphira's hands began to glow a crystal blue, the light swirling off her skin and seeping into Glynis' shoulder and neck.
Britomartis recognized the healing technique and explaining for the girl's benefit, "She's realigning the tissue back to normal and healing the broken veins, Miss Ryper. If I'm correct, this method also dissipates the blood pooling so your bruises won't be as bad."
"Wow," Glynis commented. "Feels like cool water pouring over my shoulder." She paused. "What about my hip?"
A few more minutes, and Glynis was given a sleeping tea to calm her down and allow her to rest.
Britomartis closed the door after her mother exited the room. "Thank you, Saphira."
"Most welcomed. I got scared when I heard about the accident."
Britomartis exhaled loudly. "I was scared to death to be perfectly honest." Her mouth became neutral again. "Would you - "
"Yes! I would have noticed if you were injured during bull leaping!" She sighed. "Thank the Great Mother you never took that up."
Britomartis snorted. "I was the Champion two years running."
Saphira paused. "Champion? I ... never knew."
"It was the same years my sister Adonia came in second. Remember?"
Saphira nodded dumbly. "Yes - we were going to throw a party to honor her, then for some reason she said she didn't want it. Something made her mad and she refused to speak to me for almost a month - " She gasped in realization. "Oh Great Mother! How could I have - "
Britomartis softened her mouth. "The great and mighty Saphira Vox - thick as the mountains."
"Britomartis, I'm sorry - "
"Will you quit saying that? It's like listening to the same warped music spell over and over."
The old woman leaned close, her face within inches of her daughter's. "You got your stubbornness from me, but that doesn't mean it'll work right back at me. You're just as proud as I am, Britomartis, that is why this will never be resolved." She pulled back, her hard blue eyes locked into the dead centers of the tinted lenses. "Given the chance, I would alter the past, less than a heartbeat and I'd be there in labor with you."
"Bull - "
"You know how to look into hearts - if you dare call my words a lie, then do so!"
Britomartis said nothing.
Saphira's shoulders slumped. "I can't erase your hate for me."
"You haven't tried."
"And you won't allow me."
Both mother and daughter continued the stalemated silence.
They were rescued with Oliver sticking his head outside his door and asking in a meek voice, "Is Glynnie all right?"
Britomartis turned to her student to answer and Saphira left the hallway.