Read Online The Gladiator's Goddess (The Gladiators' Gifts) by Amy Hearst - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amy Hearst
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missing as Abedi simply stepped out of the way. Abedi danced around Heb ides in a circle, taunting him with a short sword and waving his shield in front of him. Abedi wanted to wear Hebides out. Nardine had seen Abedi fight once before and knew this to be one of his favorite strategies. But it didn’t always work.
The constant movement irritated and frustrated Hebides, though. He lashe d back and forth with his sword, unable to connect with Abedi, who smiled. When he managed to get behind Hebides, Abedi slashed him across his back with the short sword, drawing blood. Hebides groaned loudly and the crowd stood and cheered. They wanted to see blood. Nardine worried the end might come too soon. If Abedi died, Nardine’s hopes for a happy future would be over.
So far, only a little blood had been shed and none of it Abedi’s. He continued to dance around his opponent, jabbing at his feet and the back of his neck. Hebides tried a different approach. He dropped the sword on the grou nd and grabbed a mace he carried on his hip. It looked deadly and Hebides wielded it like a club. Nardine’s heart dropped when Hebides slammed the mace into Abedi’s right shoulder. Abedi crumpled to the ground, and Nardine made a concerted effort to remain seated. The baby chose that moment to start wailing, almost as if she knew Abedi’s dilemma. Nardine tried to quiet Firi, not wanting to miss what happened on the arena floor.
Abedi slowly crawled to his feet, facing down Hebides, who stood a few feet away, watching. Hebides drew his left hand through his own long hair, a gesture Nardine recognized as one of impatience. Perhaps if Abedi waited long enough he could bring Hebides down. But Hebides, taller and larger than Abedi, looked stronger too.
Abedi pulled his short sword out and moved in, jabbing Hebides in his leg. This time, he drew blood and the crowd oohed. Hope skittered into Nardine’s awareness. Perhaps Abedi could defeat Hebides. She squinted in the sunlight to better see what transpired on the sands of the arena. She hoped Abedi would continue to flourish in the fight.
Hebides countered with a blow to Abedi’s right leg. His sword bounced off Abedi’s shin, but Hebides got the worst of it when he stumbled and Abedi managed to stab him in the side. The crowd noise intensified, and Nardine smiled with a quiet confidence that Abedi would kill Hebides.
Hebides arose, however, and could still walk. The wound didn’t slow him down much. He parried blows with Abedi then stepped backward to observe his foe and waited, using the sword to help him stand. As Abedi moved in, Hebides took up the sword with both hands and swung at his left leg, right at the old injury.
Abedi went down with a whump ! Lying flat on his back, he pulled his shield up to cover his mid-section. Hebides tried to slam his sword into Abedi’s left leg again, but he managed to move the shield just in time.
Nardine watched as Abedi managed to climb to his feet once again , biting down on her lower lip. Small shivers of fear began to shake her insides. Now Abedi limped noticeably. He could no longer dance around Hebides and use his short sword to jab him. This time, he waited for Hebides, who walked around him, holding his sword at eye level.
Hebides swiped at him, trying once more to inflict more hurt on his old injury. Abedi surprised him by moving in and quickly shoving his short sword upward into Hebides’ chest. Abedi backed away quickly.
Hebides raised the sword and Nardine wondered whether he would manage to strike Abedi, who stood several feet away. But after taking two steps, Hebides toppled to the ground. Nardine watched as Abedi quickly walked over and knelt beside Hebides, his short sword at his neck. At first, it seemed Abedi would slit his throat; then she noticed he merely cut a cord from around Hebides’ neck. She watched as he shoved the amulet into the leather brace at his waist, and then stood to accept
The constant movement irritated and frustrated Hebides, though. He lashe d back and forth with his sword, unable to connect with Abedi, who smiled. When he managed to get behind Hebides, Abedi slashed him across his back with the short sword, drawing blood. Hebides groaned loudly and the crowd stood and cheered. They wanted to see blood. Nardine worried the end might come too soon. If Abedi died, Nardine’s hopes for a happy future would be over.
So far, only a little blood had been shed and none of it Abedi’s. He continued to dance around his opponent, jabbing at his feet and the back of his neck. Hebides tried a different approach. He dropped the sword on the grou nd and grabbed a mace he carried on his hip. It looked deadly and Hebides wielded it like a club. Nardine’s heart dropped when Hebides slammed the mace into Abedi’s right shoulder. Abedi crumpled to the ground, and Nardine made a concerted effort to remain seated. The baby chose that moment to start wailing, almost as if she knew Abedi’s dilemma. Nardine tried to quiet Firi, not wanting to miss what happened on the arena floor.
Abedi slowly crawled to his feet, facing down Hebides, who stood a few feet away, watching. Hebides drew his left hand through his own long hair, a gesture Nardine recognized as one of impatience. Perhaps if Abedi waited long enough he could bring Hebides down. But Hebides, taller and larger than Abedi, looked stronger too.
Abedi pulled his short sword out and moved in, jabbing Hebides in his leg. This time, he drew blood and the crowd oohed. Hope skittered into Nardine’s awareness. Perhaps Abedi could defeat Hebides. She squinted in the sunlight to better see what transpired on the sands of the arena. She hoped Abedi would continue to flourish in the fight.
Hebides countered with a blow to Abedi’s right leg. His sword bounced off Abedi’s shin, but Hebides got the worst of it when he stumbled and Abedi managed to stab him in the side. The crowd noise intensified, and Nardine smiled with a quiet confidence that Abedi would kill Hebides.
Hebides arose, however, and could still walk. The wound didn’t slow him down much. He parried blows with Abedi then stepped backward to observe his foe and waited, using the sword to help him stand. As Abedi moved in, Hebides took up the sword with both hands and swung at his left leg, right at the old injury.
Abedi went down with a whump ! Lying flat on his back, he pulled his shield up to cover his mid-section. Hebides tried to slam his sword into Abedi’s left leg again, but he managed to move the shield just in time.
Nardine watched as Abedi managed to climb to his feet once again , biting down on her lower lip. Small shivers of fear began to shake her insides. Now Abedi limped noticeably. He could no longer dance around Hebides and use his short sword to jab him. This time, he waited for Hebides, who walked around him, holding his sword at eye level.
Hebides swiped at him, trying once more to inflict more hurt on his old injury. Abedi surprised him by moving in and quickly shoving his short sword upward into Hebides’ chest. Abedi backed away quickly.
Hebides raised the sword and Nardine wondered whether he would manage to strike Abedi, who stood several feet away. But after taking two steps, Hebides toppled to the ground. Nardine watched as Abedi quickly walked over and knelt beside Hebides, his short sword at his neck. At first, it seemed Abedi would slit his throat; then she noticed he merely cut a cord from around Hebides’ neck. She watched as he shoved the amulet into the leather brace at his waist, and then stood to accept
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