"Yes, my Emperor. Everything is in order." Torth smiled. Tahnsa saw the gleam in Torth's eyes and the slyness of the smile and wondered about it. However he had more important things to discuss.

"All right then. Have you decided to participate in the events yourself?"

Tahnsa asked.

"I do indeed," Torth responded. "I would never miss out on the chance to attend the auction of your favorite slave."

Tahnsa's eyes narrowed.

"I wouldn't exactly call it an auction..." he said, not liking how Torth's eyes would shift around the room and look everywhere but at him.

Torth smiled. "What else can you call it? The man known to be your personal favorite slave is up for grabs. Of course instead of money, everyone must bid for him with brute strength and skill, but the principle seems the same to me. The man with the most money, or in this case, fighting strength, wins the prize."

Tahnsa hadn't thought of it that way. In two week's time Rethwindon was going to have a special tournament. Similar in idea to the annual slave tournament that had been at the root of all of the mess Tahnsa was in now, this new tournament would also feature a slave fighting against trained men to achieve a goal. However, this time it was only one slave fighting. Aarik. And the men he must face were not other slaves, but willing entries to the tournament. Whoever won the tournament won Aarik. If Aarik won, he would have his freedom.

It was barbaric.

It was Tahnsa's only hope.

Fortunately, he had faith in Aarik.

He would win.

Torth watched the Emperor's face intently, trying to read the thoughts going on in that pretty-boy's head. Torth knew this slave was important to the Emperor. He did not know why the Emperor had taken an interest in Aarik, but rumors were running rampant around the capitol city about the Emperor and the slave. Torth intended to win the tournament and have Aarik under his control once again.

Everything was perfect. Not only would he have command of one great fuck in Aarik, but he would also have a means with which to manipulate the Emperor. Torth couldn't have planned things better himself. He'd been ecstatic when he received word of the Emperor's summons and the tournament. His Southern Dragon troops hadn't seen their commander in such a good mood in a long time, that was for sure. He didn't care about why the Emperor was putting his favorite slave up for grabs, but nothing was gonna stop Torth from winning.

"You're right."

Torth was startled from his thoughts by the Emperor's words. He agreed?

"Now that I think about it, this tournament is like a slave auction."

Oh. Torth smiled.

Tahnsa cleared his throat. "So, you are participating in the tournament. Will you be fighting for yourself, or will you have one of your men fight for you?" Tahnsa had created the rules such that those who wished a shot at Aarik could either fight in the combat themselves, or send in their 'champions' so to speak, to fight in their stead.

"Oh, I will be fighting myself," Torth replied, confidence oozing from his every word.

"Well then, you must have things to prepare for before the tournament, as doI. You are dismissed." Tahnsa waved Torth away with one hand and turned back to his papers.

Torth ground his teeth in frustration at the Emperor's curt dismissal.

Slowly he turned and left the hall, accompanied by his guards.

"WHAT?!?!?!" Aarik yelled. Everyone turned to stare at tall, muscular warrior who was standing over a cowering messenger. Aarik's muscles were taut and glistening from a tough workout just completed. In his hand was a slip of paper that was crushed in his angry grip.

The messenger hastily scrambled to his feet and looked up at the huge warrior, trying not to be intimidated by his size.

"E-er the announcement comes directly from Emperor Sen'rith himself. The tournament will take place soon. I-I have been a-asked to tell you to be sure to practice hard over the next several days because you w-will need all of the training you can get." The messenger's voice had risen higher and higher during his speech as Aarik's visage had turned thunderously angry.

::He's... He's going to GIVE ME AWAY?!:: Aarik could not believe this message. ::He is going to put me up as some prize in a tournament, and all he does to inform me is send me this one scrap of paper and whimpering messenger?!::: Aarik felt extremely angry and hurt.:: I wouldn't stay with him as his slave, so now he is going to give me away to the best fighter?!::

"Er, the note doesn't quite explain it all," the messenger continued, "There are rules for the tournament. You should know that if you win, your prize will be your freedom."

Aarik's angry thoughts skidded to a stop.

"Free?" he whispered.

"Yes, " the messenger replied, looking more confident now that Aarik's angry expression had eased somewhat. "It will be terribly difficult, of course. You will have to fight against all who wish to have you for their own. You'll be up against warriors who want you as their slave for themselves, and against the minions of wealthy employers who might... um.. take a fancy to you." The messenger shivered.

"Through the tournament, I can earn my freedom..." Aarik said. The full impact of what Tahnsa was doing for him was slowly beginning to sink in.

"If you are strong enough. The Emperor seems to think you are, he sounded very confident when talking about your fighting skills. I wonder where he got that idea. You're new to the Emperor's army, aren't you? How would he know? For that matter, why are you said to be his favorite? It puzzles me endlessly." The messenger was getting quite bold now, seeing that Aarik's expression actually looked pleased.

Aarik was not paying attention to the messenger, All he could think of was Tahnsa, ::He did it! That mischievous mind came up with the answer this time. He is giving me my freedom.. but I am going to have to work for it. No, this will not be easy... but if, no, WHEN I win, my freedom will be earned, and my honor will be maintained. Ahh Tahnsa! You and your clever plans!:::

Aarik looked down. The messenger was staring at him. He looked perplexed. Aarik smiled at the poor boy, who seemed to forget that he had other orders to deliver. Aarik cleared his throat, and the messenger snapped to attention.

"Er, um, that is all I have been ordered to tell you at this time. Anyway, just continue to practice hard. I wish you luck, the tournament sounds like it is going to be a big event!" The messenger smiled and dashed off, on his way to his other duties.

Aarik smiled and pulled his sword from its sheath. ::He's right. I am so out of practice, I need every minute of extra training time I can get.::

Slashing his sword through the air, Aarik felt the pull of his aching muscles. He sighed. ::I definitely need more practice.::

Turning, Aarik walked back to one of the arenas, the glow of the setting sun not keeping him from trying to get in a few more hours of work.

The next week flew by. Tahnsa was kept busy with his full-time job of ruling the nation, and Aarik was working hard on the training fields. With every passing day, Tahnsa became more and more excited about the tournament. He had complete confidence in Aarik's strength. And his love for him was not clouding his judgment. Aarik won the slave tournament. That took an incredible amount of skill. Tahnsa knew that Aarik would have to fight hard, but in the end he would be victorious. And then they would be together!

Just the thought of having Aarik be free to stay with him made Tahnsa very happy. Joy filled his heart and he danced in circles in the privacy of his chamber. Blue hair flying behind him, he hopped around his chamber, bouncing on cushions strewn about the room, dancing on his bed, and then sliding in his slippers across the smooth marble floor. Laughing out loud, he slid to a stop and landed in a pile of cushions. A huge smile was plastered across his face as he panted from his exertion and continued to daydream about his reunion with Aarik. He already had so many happy memories with him, some even created here in this bedchamber, that the thought of a future with Aarik was almost painful to think of, it was such a wonderful idea.

Over the past several days, Tahnsa had used his every minute of spare time to keep an eye on Aarik as he trained. Aarik never knew he was watching (neither did Mak or most of his servants, for that matter; Tahnsa was becoming adept at sneaking away from his horde of staff) but Tahnsa was always there, eagerly following Aarik's progress.

He was getting so strong! Tahnsa knew Aarik must be the strongest fighter in Rethwindon! Aarik's muscles were so hard, and he was getting quite a nice tan from all that work out in the sun. Tahnsa shivered at the thought of what Aarik's body must feel like now. All silky soft and hard at the same time... Tahnsa felt himself getting hard and giggled. He pressed his face into a soft cushion and laughed some more.

The tournament was shaping up to the one of the grandest spectacles in the land, even greater than the slave tournament because of all the famous people that would be at this fight. Tahnsa saw the list of fighters that were participating in the fights and was amazed by all of the famous names he saw there. There was so much interest in Aarik! That little bit of info sometimes caused Tahnsa some worry. He didn't like the thought that so many people wanted Aarik too, but then again when Aarik won, the victory would be all the greater because of all the famous fighters he would defeat!

Tahnsa lay in his pile of cushions a while longer. Indigo hair tumbled over his shoulders and across his loose gold silk shirt. Matching golden eyes stared up at the ceiling thinking delighted thoughts about Aarik. Finally his hardened condition needed relieving, so he got up and slipped and slided across the smooth floors to the bath chamber where a cold pool of water awaited.

Aarik sighed with exhaustion and collapsed on his bunk. His back and shoulders ached, but it was a pleasant sort of ache, a dull pain that told him he was finally reaching a better physical condition than he had been in for a long time. He'd only been working out for about two weeks, but the difference was noticeable. He felt more confident with his armor and weapons now. The heavy plating and hot sun no longer taxed his weak body. His fellow warriors commented on his rapid progress. Aarik felt pride in his accomplishments in such a short period of time. He looked forward to the battles ahead and the look on Tahnsa's face when they finally would be able to be together again.

Aarik grinned, but cautioned himself not to get overconfident. He was strong, yes. His fighting skills were sound. However he had no idea about the strength of the opponents he would face. Underestimating them would not be wise. Aarik knew that he would put all of his effort into the tournament. The goal of being with Tahnsa drove him towards success more than anything he'd ever fought for in his life. This was his future at stake. His happiness. He must not fail!

Finally the first day of the tournament arrived. People from across Rethwindon had been gathering around the capitol city for days now. At last it was time to open the gates of the Emperor's grand stadium to admit the spectators to the greatest series of fights the land had seen in generations.