Chapter 14 - The arena calls
Back in the lonely cell, Axena awaited the return of her comrade that was taken and hoped that she would be returned. It was the second time that she coveted the happenings around Lixinni and wished she were the one in her shoe as according to Somba, Lixinni would be meeting high officials for either sales or being taken in as a maid – whichever way, it was a means of stepping out of the caging cell and seeing what was happening on the outside.
She paced to and fro. At a time, she was about to return, her eyes caught Plinx staring and Axena paused.
"It seems you are worried about her," Plinx said.
After a moment of silence which went on as the women stared at each other and caught a scene with the other women in the cell, Axena straightened her posture and huffed. "She is one of us, remember. And if we would survive, we should look out for one another," Axena answered.
"She is one of us?" Plinx said and walked towards Axena. "She is one of us and yet she kills one of us? Is that what you meant? I was there, you heard her say it. We all do. She said she would kill every one of us if she needs to do that and be free. Is that whom you tag as one of us!"
"She is from the Rebelhood, remember? And once from the Rebelhood, we share the same spirit. She is one of us," Axena affirmed sternly.
"Maybe you would do the same. Maybe you wanted to be in her place. I can see it in your eyes," Plinx said as she now took her position before Axena, looking into her eyes and taking in her breadth while Axena was taking in hers as well.
A familiar clang called their attention and there was Somba with his bat. He sashayed to the left and returned to his initial position. Axena knew he was looking for her and she walked out of the shade that her cellmates had given her and picked a spot where Somba would be able to see her.
"I am to get you ready for the festival. I assume you know it is tomorrow. After Lixinni, daughter of Waxx, five more would be allowed to step into the arena and carve their names in the heart of the Tipotans. It would be ugly and bloody. However, survivors won't be back here. In these walls, there is strata. Strata in everything. With slaves, with the nobles, even with the dead. Step forward if you would like to make Tipotans cheer with your skills in the arena."
Just after the speech, Plinx stepped forward and stood before Somba. In the respite that followed, two more from the fighting squad that Plinx had found also joined the call out and stood beside Plinx.
'Here is a chance to step out there and buy freedom at its price' Axena said to herself and closed her eyes to the tempting idea in her mind. When she opened her eyes, she saw Somba looking at her and she could decode the cryptic message in the look that Somba was giving her. She once had told him about her wish to step into the arena and pave herself a way toward freedom and right before her is the chance to make it happen.
Another woman stepped forward and then Axena joined the line too.
"Good," Somba said and again walked to the right side of the cell. Axena's eyes followed him since he never took his eyes of her and she didn't too. "You shall be taken as Lixinni soon. You shall be washed, you shall be clothed, and you shall be spending your night with some members of the guards. It might be your last day on heart so the kingdom is nice enough to make it a memorable day for you so that you may never be forgotten regardless of the outcome of the festival."
As Somba talked, Axena knew she would be for him as he never took off his eyes from upon her. Just as she wanted it, it was turning out and she had a lot to think through. She couldn't get her mind off Culix as a part of her knew he would be somewhere thinking about her too – maybe thinking on how to find and save her just the same way she was hoping that he would come for her, find her and save her.
Against her thought and wishes, she decided to sort out the night together with the happenings that would accompany it.
'If its Somba, so be it. If I die, I die." She said to herself.