Chapter 12 - Axena and Lixxini

Still in the bliss-forsaken cell, one that the women from the Rebelhood seemed to be getting used to, Axena stood at  the short length of the wall which was close to the bars of iron that stood between them and freedom. All she did was to look on as Mowe attended to a woman who had rashes on her skin.

 The fighters group that Plinx had formed stayed close to Axena and folded their arms, all glum and looking at Lixinni at irregular intervals. Axena could read the feelings laced with the stares of the women towards Lixinni and she was a party to it as well. Lixinni was a fighter who had killed a member of the fighting squad – a group with members who were promising and bent on fighting for freedom but faced with a deduction with the death of a member. A thing she did it for the want of a cloth and at last it all didn't result into anything after all.

After some moment of long lasting stares from the women, Axena walked the distance across the cell and stood close to Lixinni. Just as their last moment of argument, none said a word at first, all they did was to exchange stern glances and huffed.

"Finally, I am just like you, isn't it?" Lixinni spoke and crossed her hands on her chest. "Naked like you."

"As it seems. But a part of you is happy isn't it? You have a name in the arena. The people know you. The hailed you. I can remember how sweet your name was in their mouth. I see how they called for death to be brought upon Ix. And lastly, I saw how you were happy in delivering the sentence they wanted in a proportion that was required. You are indeed happy to have done all that, aren't you?" Axena said.

"With the way you speak about it, I cannot quit thinking that you crave for the same. Why not try it out during the festival? It may be your name in their mouth, it may be up to you to carry out a sentence. Isn't it?" Lixinni spoke back, now removing her shoulder from the wall and picking up a gallant stance before Axena.

"What would you do to get out of here?" Axena asked.

"Anything, everything," Lixinni answered.

"And do what? And go where?" Axena asked further.

"And live on. Anywhere in the world as a free woman," Lixinni replied.

"And what makes you think you would be allowed to live free as you have wished even after fighting for your freedom? Do you think this kingdom frees people? This is what they do for a living, this is what they do to be big. This is what they are known for in the time past – slave trade – and we are deep in the middle of it."

"What do you want from me?" Lixinni asked.

"Do you think it is over? Do you think we can never return to the Rebelhood? We can still fight and win or don't you see that?"

"How? I don't see it. Maybe you show me. There is only one fight we would be given the opportunity to fight and that is the fight of the people. A fight that the people wants to see. Any other than that is death; although we all would die anyway. However, before we die, we might bring death upon some. But still, it only happens in the arena," Axena concluded.

"I agree. But we have a code. If we would die, at least let us, as a warrior of the Rebelhood, not as a whore sold into slavery. I don't have a plan yet, none of these women do. However, it is best to protect one another than kill one another, thereby reducing our chances of survival and escape," Axena said in a mellow tone and took a step closer to Lixinni who looked on. "There is still a chance for survival and escape and when it finally comes, we need each other to take it," Axena concluded.

"I have heard of your doings in the RebelHood. But this is a place that has no reference for whoever you are or who your father was or what you can do. I would only join your scheme once it seems viable. If it would mean the similar risk in the arena, I would rather risk my life in there," Lixinni said and went back to her relaxed state.

Axena nodded at her and stepped back. No sooner had she turned from Lixinni than two men appeared at the mouth of the cell. Axena stared at them and when they were seen by the women in the cell, the women stood to their feet and looked on. One was strutted in an armour while the other was in a robe. They stood before the cell and looked on as the women stared.

"Where is Lixinni, daughter of Waxx?" the man in a robe asked and at the call of the name, Axena began to guess what was about to happen. All the same, a part of her was happy that she had spoken with her before the moment.

Lixinni stepped forward and looked straight into the eyes of the men.

"There she is. What do you want with her?" the one in the robe asked and Axena took some steps forward to hear the conversation.

"Not here, brother," responded the other man.

Axena watched as the men looked at each other with doubt and walked away. Couple of minutes after they were gone, Axena walked back to Lixinni and stood beside her.

"They might come for you soon. I don't know the reason behind it but  I think it's a good thing," Axena said.

"I hope so too," Lixinni answered and sighed.

Just after they spoke, two slave's guards walked in and opened the cell. The badged in and forcefully took Lixinni out of the cell as others watched.