Land of the minotaurs

'Then what about that kender? I still can't believe you'd tell that little thief where he is but not let us follow! What aid can one of those creatures give a minotaur?'

The twins began acting up. Helati hushed them. 'You don't really know Delbin or you wouldn't ask that. He's a kender, true, but he's come to Kaz's rescue more than once.'

Brogan snorted. 'I find that hard to believe.'

The conversation died abruptly as the sound of hoof-beats made both look up. Helati's heart pounded, but her wild hope that it was Kaz and her brother faded as she saw that the riders were unfamiliar. There were two, yes, but one was a male and the other a female. New additions to their community, they had a look to them she had come to recognize.

'May your ancestors watch over you,' Helati said, approaching.

'And yours, you,' replied the male. He glanced briefly at Brogan, then returned his gaze to Helati. 'I am Zurgas, and this is my mate, Keeli. Is this the clan Kaziganthi? We were told we could find others like us here. Others… who have tired of the old ways.'

Clan Kaziganthi. Helati glanced at Brogan, who, despite their conversation, could not repress a smile. Kaz's fame had grown more than either of them had realized if the settlement was already being called by such a title among the people.

'This is the place, friends,' Brogan replied, 'and you're welcome here.'

The two riders looked relieved, but Helati, despite her forced smile, was not. If these minotaurs had come to call the settlement the clan of Kaziganthi, then so did others.

Soon, if not already, the emperor's people would hear of this new clan, one that did not acknowledge the power of the emperor, the circle, or the high priest.

What would happen if they heard of this while Kaz was still in Nethosak?

It was not until the next day that Kaz was reunited with Hecar.

An older minotaur with half his teeth missing chuckled as they were led into the prison section of the circus. He eyed Kaz with great joy.

'I heard they had you in their clutches! By Sargas! It'll be good to see you in the circus again, even if it's for a short time!'

'What's that, Molus?' asked one of the guards, curious at the jailer's remark. 'Who's this supposed to be?'

'You're young. You would've been a child. This is Kaziganthi, of the clan Orilg!'

'I know who he is.'

Molus shook his head. 'You know a name. This is Kaz the Undefeatable! He fought his way to the rank of Supreme Champion! He was the greatest gladiator in all the empire! There's been none like him since!'

Kaz pretended indifference but, beside him, Ganth smiled.

The guards were all impressed, but the same one who had asked Molus the question persisted. 'If he was supreme champion, why isn't he emperor or dead?' Those were the only two routes generally left to the supreme champion. He had to challenge the emperor and defeat him or die in the attempt. 'What happened?'

Molus eyed Kaz with curiosity. 'I don't know why, but he quit. He abandoned the circus, abandoned everything he'd fought for. He turned down commissions, rank benefits, and every sort of glory that should've been heaped on him. He went into the war just a simple warrior!'

The others, save for Ganth, looked at Kaz as if he had suddenly turned into something distasteful. The guards muttered among themselves, trying to understand so uncharacteristic an action. Any warrior who had made it to the most exalted rank of Supreme Champion was expected to seek the throne. It was insane to work so hard and rise so high otherwise.

'Just why did you quit?' Molus asked Kaz.

'I saw no good reason to continue.'

'Maybe he turned coward,' suggested a guard.

'Him?' The jailer laughed. 'Not likely. But it doesn't matter. He'll be fighting in a day anyway. You boys should watch. It'll be a good battle, even if it's a little onesided.' He turned away. 'Bring them this way. They can share the cell with their friend.'

Kaz and Ganth were dragged to the door of a dingy cell that contrasted greatly with the clean environment of Nethosak. Molus unlocked it, signaling the guards to put the prisoners inside.

The cell was dark, which was why they did not see Hecar at first. When the flames of one of the guards' torches finally revealed the other minotaur, Kaz and Ganth dropped their jaws at the pitiful sight.

'He was… more skilled… than he looked,' Hecar muttered, forcing a smile onto his battered face. 'I heard them… talking about you coming here. I'd like to say it's good to see you, Kaz, but-' Hecar glanced at the other minotaur and frowned. 'Ganth?'

Hecar had lost a great deal of weight, and scars covered his chest, arms, and legs. Bandages were wrapped around both his left arm and his right leg. He was covered with the grit and grime of the arena, not to mention a layer of dried blood.

'This is no way to treat a minotaur,' Kaz snarled at his captors, losing his temper for the first time since being led from the sanctum of the high priest. 'By right of victory, even as a criminal, his wounds should be cared for and his body cleaned.'

'By right of victory, he should be a.free warrior now,' Ganth pointed out, eyeing Molus. To his credit, Molus lost some of his good humor and briefly looked even a little guilty. 'He should once more be an honored member of the race.'

'The orders come from the emperor and the high priest,' the jailer mumbled. To the guards he commanded, 'Chain these two up next to Hecar. He can entertain them with stories of what to expect.'

'Where's your honor, Old One?' snarled Kaz, struggling against his captors. 'What has happened to the honor of the circus?'

As they forced the two new prisoners to the wall and chained them, Molus whispered, 'You idealistic fools wouldn't understand.'

Moments later, Molus and his guards departed, leaving the trio to themselves. Kaz's eyes grew accustomed to the cell's dimness. He looked at Ganth, then at Hecar. 'What happened to you, Hecar? How did you end up here?'

'I don't really know.' Hecar sounded better now that their captors had departed. There was a glint in his eye. He was obviously worn out, but evidently hardier than he wanted the jailer to know. 'I've broken no laws that I can recall. I looked around, asked a few questions, and suddenly found others asking me questions. I stopped to see an old friend, but I couldn't find him. That's when they came for me.' He took a breath. 'Kaz, you remember Scum?'

'We met him,' interjected Ganth. 'He brought us in.'

Hecar looked at the older minotaur for some time. 'You! You're supposed to be dead.'

'You should be, too. Give me time.'

'But Gladiator-'

'He'll explain later, Hecar. Go on with your story.' Kaz needed to hear everything.

'They seemed interested that I knew Jopfer, but-'

'I told you he did, Kaz, remember?' Ganth said, interrupting again. To Hecar he asked, 'And did you ever get to see Jopfer?'

'No, I didn't.'

'You would've, if you'd been brought before the high priest himself.'

Hecar snorted. 'What does that mean?'

'What he's saying in a roundabout way is that your old friend Jopfer is the high priest now.'

'Jopfer?' The other minotaur sounded incredulous. 'Jopfer as high priest? This is a jest, isn't it? A sorry jest.'

'It was him all right, even if he pretended not to know me. Imagine that. Me!'

'Jopfer?' Hecar still sounded incredulous. 'Jopfer never cared much for the calling. He followed Kiri-Jolith if he followed anything.'

'Well, he's the high priest now, and a mighty strange one,' Ganth concluded.

'Jopfer…' Hecar shook his head. 'If he is high priest, then what's he up to? And why would he throw me into