The Lion's Den

"The more I think about it, the more I realize that title, land, and a new sword was simply not enough reward."

The words strained to come out of Mathias' mouth. His arms were strung upwards and tied to the ceiling of the prison cell. Leon hung next to him in a similar fashion.

"You grow accustom to it. Especially after the first few beatings and whippings. By the time they poke you a few times with the point of a sword, you don't feel anything." Leon replied in a matter of fact tone.

Mathias turned and looked at his companion. "How reassuring."

Leon managed a laugh. He allowed his head to fall back and stare up at the ceiling above. The irony of the situation was not entirely lost upon him. Almost two years ago Leon had finished in the same exact situation. Caught spying outside a fortress or city and condemned to hang from a ceiling. This time however, the company was better. This time, Mathias would be able to share the…uniqueness of the experience.

For nearly six months Mathias and Leon had led their grand army in a siege upon the city in which they were currently held captive. The city of Lakertia was a crucial city on the road to Jerusalem, their ultimate goal. While he and Mathias commanded these forces attacking this city, Marcus Bohemond along with Casmir were laying siege to Antioch. Both were massive cities with several hundred towers. Lakertia was especially well fortified in that it was composed of several layers of high walls. Each layer was protected by its own series of towers. In the center overlooking everything was a citadel. Over the past several months their army had only been able to penetrate the first couple of layers of the wall. Mathias decided, despite the barrage of catapult fire, to ride closer to the wall to try and find a weak spot. They were captured instantly.

The prison cell door was opened and two men entered. The first was a Saracen translator who during their stay had been their intermediary with the second man who entered the cell. The other man was very tall in stature. His simple dress did not do justice his rank in the city hierarchy. The elegant scimitar hanging from his hip betrayed his identity. The hilt of the sword was the carved visage of the king of beasts. The man that stood silently before them was the ruler of Lakertia, known only as The Lion.

"The Lion wishes you to know that the time has come for your fates to be decided." The translator said addressing them both. The Lion meanwhile circled the two men like a vulture. His translator continued to speak as he did so.

"He has heard of the exploits of Mathias Cronqvist and laughs at how such a revered leader could have allowed himself to be caught." The Lion stopped before Mathias and stared at him.

"You shouldn't believe all that you hear," was Mathias' only response.

The translator continued, "Much has also been said of Baron Leon Belmont. A fierce and skilled warrior, he is Lord Cronqvist's first knight. His best man. His name is Leon. This also means Lion. Tonight we will find out which lion is stronger."

The Lion exited the cell followed closely by his translator. Immediately four other men entered and released Mathias and Leon from their bonds. Once more both men touched ground. While both Mathias' wrists ached from being strung up for such a length of time, Leon felt pain in only one. Since being struck with an arrow through his left hand, he has since worn an armored gauntlet to protect it. Reaching inside the gauntlet Leon checked that a small pouch was still inside. He smiled at the touch of it. Inside was a small lock of hair belonging to Sara. She had given it to him for luck at the start of this campaign all but six months ago. Knowing it is there always filled him with energy enough to persevere.

The streets of the city were empty as they were led through them. Most of the citizenry were required to stay in-doors while the army outside besieged the city with catapults. On several occasions their escort stopped to avoid a stray boulder from pummeling them. The whole time they were forced to walk, they marched in silence. Mathias and Leon exchanged glances as they walked. Both of them realized that they were being taken deeper into the heart of the city. The center piece of the city, the citadel, began to grow larger as they approached it. However they soon realized that the citadel was not their destination. Nestled between the citadel and another large building was an arena. Lining the entranceway into the arena were two columns of statues. The statues were all half-destroyed or knocked over. The sounds of a roaring public greeted them as they entered the arena. Their escorts walked them into the interior of the grand theatre and then departed. The seats of the arena were filled with people. Some were yelling, others just sat quietly observing the two minuscule figures that occupied the center stage. The audience was seated in bleachers that were elevated at least 15 feet above the ground floor.

"I feel like I have stepped into the past," Mathias said.

"Really? Any other observations?" Leon responded as sarcastically as he could.

"Just that everything is going exactly as planned."

Leon nodded his head. "So remind me, exactly how are two fools thrown into an arena represented on that Shatranj board of yours?"

"All right, so I did not know about the arena, but he is still acting exactly as I predicted he would. He wants a fight, and you my friend are going to give it to him."

"Have I mentioned how much I loathe your confidence in me?"

"On occasion."

Their conversation was cut short by the booming voice of the translator. This time he spoke in his own tongue and addressed the audience. He stood side by side with The Lion in a special box overlooking the arena. Finally he directed himself to the two knights.

"This arena is a small remnant of the once vast Roman empire. It is now but a broken and crumbling shadow of its former self. Just like the legacy that the empire left in its wake. It is fitting that you should meet your fates here, where some of your predecessors have fallen before."

From below the bleachers a large gateway was opened. From within the chamber beyond the gateway a howl resonated. Four men walked into the arena dragging a length of chain. At the end of the chain was a lion. Its hunger was evident from the ferocity with which it struggled with its keepers. A fifth man accompanied the chain draggers and would periodically whip the animal. When the lion wrangler ceased striking him, the lion suddenly had a ferocious outburst. Shaking his head violently from left to right, it was revealed that the chains hung from a collar around his neck. By shaking his head it caused the men who were holding the chains to soar in different directions throughout the arena. One of the men landed not far from Mathias and Leon. The two stared at the motionless body and noted how the neck had been broken on impact. With a crack from his whip, the wrangler motioned the lion towards the pair of knights. In a menacingly slow pace, the lion approached them.

"I'm not familiar with the habits of lions, but I think we should split up. Two targets are always harder than one." Mathias suggested.

"You run for it. I'll try to keep him occupied." Leon counseled.

"Good luck," Mathias said grasping his arm for a moment. Then, with all his energy he sprinted off in a direction away from the animal. Instantly the lion leapt forward as if to attack but Leon came running forwards.

"Here! Look at me!" Leon yelled while waving his arms.

The lion jerked its head to the left causing the chains to swing in an arc through the air. Leon dodged them as if he were battling the tentacles of an octopus. Enraged, the lion charged at Leon. Barely recovered from dodging the chains, he nearly missed the chance of jumping out of its way. However, not being able to control his jump, Leon hit the ground flat instead of in a roll. For a moment he lay stunned on the sandy ground of the arena. The sudden feeling of being dragged by the leg roused him. Looking at his leg he saw that one of the lion's chains had tied itself around his ankle. The length of the chain meant that he did feel himself being dragged so quickly, however the lion soon picked up its speed as it began to chase Mathias around the arena. As the animal did so, Leon felt his back crash against the surface of various sized rocks that were littered throughout the stage of the arena. Leon struggled to sit up in order to untie the chain from his ankle but the speed and the colliding rocks prevented him. Finally, he spied that the lion's course would thrust him onto an especially large rock half buried underneath the sand. Bending his arm and holding his elbow out, Leon managed make the sharp elbow end of his gauntlet protrude. Just as he felt his leg strike the surface of the large rock he jabbed his arm so as to dig the keen end of the gauntlet into the rock. He gasped momentarily as he felt his arm being pulled out of its socket. The lion suddenly stopped its motion and turned to face Leon. For the moment, Leon felt relief. However, no sooner had he caught a moment's respite, the lion came charging towards him once more. Frantically Leon sat up to untie himself from the chain. The lion's sweltering breath was upon Leon as he dashed out of the lion's rampage and it crashed head first into the rock.

The crowd stood up on its feet screaming. Leon could not say if they were cheering or admonishing him. The wrangler came running to the lion's aid. As he approached the animal, Mathias jumped him from behind. The two struggled for a time but eventually Mathias grabbed a knife that the man had sheathed in his belt and stabbed him with it. Mathias kept the knife and grabbed the whip from the wrangler's dead hands. Leon was still lying beside the lion that was slow to recover.

"Leon!" Mathias called out and tossed the whip in his direction.

Barely catching it in his hand, Leon stared at it quizzically.

"Remember the plan!" Mathias yelled as he ran off.

"The plan. I hate this plan." Leon muttered to himself.

The lion suddenly recovered its wits and snarled at Leon.

"I hate all his plans," Leon exclaimed and then turned to the lion. "Now you, if you are so hungry, let's get you fed!" Copying the wrangler's fashion, Leon began to crack the whip against the floor to get the lion's attention. The lion just continued to bellow. Leon lashed at its side. The animal continued its cry but began to move. A way to control the animal suddenly became apparent. Using the whip to command it, Leon moved the lion to the bleachers. To this the audience began to panic. Many began to flee the arena. Everywhere chaos began to have its affect, except in one spot. The Lion had been observing the conflict with great interest. When Leon had pushed the animal to the edge of the seating, he began to strike at the lion's feet. Instantly the lion began to try and stand on two feet and scramble to climb upwards. The audience immediately above the lion became horrified. As they scrambled to escape the lion's ever reaching claws some people thrown over the side of the bleachers and fell into the lion's reach. As Leon saw the lion feeding on one of the audience he ceased his lashing. He turned and looked towards the special viewing box. The Lion was grinning.

"Come on, let's see if your stronger than this lion," Leon said as he gestured for the Lion to come down into the arena.

The desert warrior unsheathed his scimitar and then leapt down from his box. Answering a call from his master, the translator tossed another blade down to him. The Lion's grin was replaced with a piercing gaze as he gradually walked towards his foe. Leon caught the scimitar that his opponent proffered him. The two stared at one other with just a few feet between them. At last, Leon dropped the whip which he had still been holding. The Lion reacted by swinging his blade down upon him. Although not accustomed to the way the blade was weighted he managed to block the attack. The blades clashed and Leon struggled to keep up with his enemy. Leon's lack of skill with this type of blade worked against him. His parries were sluggish and always too close for comfort. The Lion's speed was also incredible and kept Leon alert at all times. In a surprise move, the Lion swung his blade downwards. Leon jumped to avoid losing both his feet. With his upper torso vulnerable, Leon made a dash at it with his blade. He successfully managed to cut a gash across the Lion's chest. First blood was his. With a growl that fitted his name, the Lion intensified his attacks. By now Leon had gotten use to the blade's weight distribution. He was now able to keep up with the Lion and perhaps even give him the fight he was looking for. Suddenly, when Leon thought he was getting the upper hand the roar of the animal lion parted their blades. The beast had finished gnawing its previous victim and seemed enthusiastic for more. The Lion tried to calm the animal with phrases that Leon could not understand but it seemed to have little effect. The lion began to use his chains to attack both his targets. While dodging the chains, Leon leapt for the whip he had dropped. His human opponent went for the same and thrust his blade forward to deflect Leon's hand. The lion's intervention once again separated the two men but allowed Leon the room he needed to grab the whip. With it in hand, Leon encouraged the lion to attack its former master. The Lion used his scimitar defensively against the swirling chains that were attacking him. Ultimately the blade was caught by one of them and torn from his grasp. As the lion leapt forward for the kill, his human foe unleashed a hidden knife from his boot. The blade was of little use. The animal was already digging its teeth into his leg when the Lion managed to stab the beast in its torso. The wounded lion sank to the ground with the leg still caught in its clasp. The Lion's eyes were still opened and followed Leon with his gaze as he approached. Leon circled around him and the eyes remained still.

"Now we know," he said as he patted the furry head of the injured lion.

Although depleted of citizenry, the streets of the city were littered with guards. Mathias spent most of his time using stealth to avoid them. After much trickery and grasping to walls and shadows, he reached his destination. The mechanism to open one of the gates to the city was situated in a tower built into the innermost layer of the city wall. Using the knife he procured from the lion wrangler, Mathias slit a solitary guard's throat and used his garb as disguise. Entering unchallenged into the tower it was easy to climb up to the quarter with the apparatus to open the doors. There were two men guarding it. Quietly, Mathias came up behind them and stabbed them both using his knife and a scimitar he had obtained. Within moments he managed to operate the opening device. With the gate wide open, his army would at last be able to charge in and take the city. As Mathias heard the cries of his attacking forces, he smiled.

" Everything is going according to plan."

The siege that had taken months, quickly transformed into a day long battle. The crusader forces stormed the city and over a period of two days quelled the city resistance to an acceptable level. Without The Lion alive to surrender the city, many of the soldiers refused to give up. Taking the city intact was not of great importance. What was important was making sure that there was no large opposing force to follow them on their way to Jerusalem.

Shortly after Mathias' army entered the city, a path was cleared to the arena. It was there that they found Leon lying beside the two lions. He was taken back to the encampment that had been made outside the city. There both he and Mathias finally rested. After resting for several hours, Leon stirred himself awake and walked out of his tent. Standing alone atop a nearby desert mound was Mathias.

"What news," Leon asked as he approached him from behind.

"Lakertia is nearly ours. Things are well."

"Why then do you appear disappointed?"

"I have a feeling that we will be called to Antioch. The siege there is not going well. I fear I will be called into to help in a battle that I will have no reward for participating in."

"That is harsh." Leon allowed a moment of silence. "Would it have more to do with having to help a swine like Casmir?"

Now Mathias turned and tried to hide a subtle grin. "You know me well." He turned and began to descend from the mound. Leon followed. "Tonight I placed in you in some peril."

"No more than usual. You and your plans as usual..."

"Have you ever thought in all this time that I would place you in a situation that you could not get out of?"

"Of course not. Unlikely as it may seem, we are friends. I trust you with my life. In fact I seem to entrust you with my life quite often."

"I sometimes need that reassurance. Elisabetha says I should remind myself of my…humanity is what she calls it. Also I think Sara would have something to say if I sent you to your death."

"That she would." Leon's hand unconsciously grabbed the lock of Sara's hair that he kept in his gauntlet. He began to carry it in his hand as they walked. The pair of them entered Mathias' tent. Leon seated himself while his friend went about the business of reviewing the many piles of papers lying about his table. Maps, reconnaissance reports, and battle reports filled his vision. He quickly scanned through some and devoted attention and detail to others. Leon meanwhile sat in his seat seemingly lost in his thoughts. Mathias broke away from his work to glance at his love struck friend. He recognized these frequent lapses from reality that Leon entered. He also knew the cause. Sara had a strong hypnotic effect on Leon similar to the one Elisabetha had on Mathias. After perusing the paper in his hand, Mathias crumbled it and threw it at Leon. The paper ball struck Leon in the head. He faced Mathias.

"I seem to recall Sara teaching you to read some. Why don't you quit day dreaming and help get through some of these papers."

Leon grinned. "All right. I look through some of this correspondence. Maybe we missed something while we were captured."

"More likely looking for a love letter from your beloved."

He did not answer Mathias but merely began to search mail looking for something from Sara, just as had been predicted. As he did so, a dispatch caught his attention. He opened it and began to read it. "Oh no," he said weakly. "Mathias."

The man was too caught up in his reading to look up. Leon rose from his seat and walked over to him. Clasping his shoulder he thrust the paper he held on top of the one that Mathias has been reading. Mathias was surprised and looked up at Leon who continued to stare down at the sheet that was in his hand. Mathias' gaze eventually followed his and read the letter.

Lord Mathias Cronqvist or Baron Belmont,

Return to Sarn at once. Elisabetha has taken ill.

Both looked on horrified as they saw the letter was dated a week old.

The two men grabbed their gear and stormed out of the tent. Their minds worked in unison. Leon fetched two horses from the stables while Mathias left orders for his army. Leaving his company of knights in command, he told them to follow him back to Sarn when they had finished their work in Lakertia.

"When did this communication from Sarn arrive?" Mathias demanded of one of his officers.

"Shortly after you were captured, my lord."

He pondered on this for a moment. "Why was I not told of this letter upon returning here?"

The officer was at a loss for words. "It did not appear to be urgent."

Mathias grabbed the officer by the throat. "My wife is at Sarn, anything coming from there is urgent. Do you understand!" The man nodded subtly as he was choked.

At last Leon arrived with the horses. He found Mathias still holding the officer in his grip. He had never seen Mathias lash out at one of his own men. "Mathias!" he called out.

Leon's voice seemed to have an affect. The enraged noble released the man from his grasp. He glanced at Leon. The expression that met him shamed him. Yet despite his embarrassment he whispered to a nearby knight. "Have this man whipped, twenty lashes."

After mounting on the horse that Leon provided, Mathias did not exchange words with his companion for sometime. When he finally did, he refused to speak on the matter of his outburst. The pair journeyed day and night in order to arrive at Sarn sooner. The few times that they did rest, Leon knelt on the ground and prayed to God that they would arrive and find Mathias' beloved alive and recuperating. He prayed for his friend. If the brief outburst he had witnessed was only a glimpse of his anger manifested, heaven help the world should they arrive too late.