• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Authors Without Borders

Tales of Resilience and Heroism

  • Home
  • Stories
    • Ongoing
      • The Blushing Sea
      • The Dragon Tailed Star
      • Earth Redux
      • Godwinson
      • Sands Of The Arena
      • Shadow Of Doubt
      • The Unjust Men
      • Vengeance
      • Who All Die
    • Completed
      • Akbar’s Bride
      • Britannia ‐ New Dawn
      • Carpe Diem
      • Einar The Black
      • Flight Of The Raven
      • The Headache
      • Pagan Rebel
      • The Stones Of Venice
      • The Woman Who Was Loved by Death
  • Authors
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

Sands Of The Arena, Day 83

July 15, 2020 by Ben Kane 9 Comments

I prepared myself, and with an effort, rolled onto my good side. I was facing two other tables, both of which were bare, and a side wall of the room. The surgeon was behind me, I thought.

The movement had caused fresh pain to thrust at me from everywhere, but I breathed into it and thought of home. After a few moments, I was able to ease up onto my elbow. I could get to my feet, I told myself. I could climb the stairs to the ground level, and walk into Capua. Where I would go then, I had no idea, but there would be time to worry about that once I was out of the amphitheatre, the cursed place that had claimed so many lives today.

‘You should be resting.’ The surgeon came around to my side, fussing like a mother hen. ‘There is no need to move, unless…do you need to empty your bladder?’

Now that he mentioned it, I did. ‘Aye,’ I said.

‘You can do that lying on your side. Wait.’ Off he hurried, to get a receptacle, I assumed.

I twisted my head to look at the gate to the room, hoping that perhaps it lay ajar.

It was shut.

Worse, far worse than that, was the guard perched on a stool on the far side of the bars. Back to the wall, spear angling up between his knees to lean against his chest, he appeared to be asleep.

The surgeon saw me staring, and gave me an apologetic glance. ‘There by the order of your new owner,’ he said in a quiet tone. ‘He came down to look at you when the contests were over. His “new investment”, he called you. Told me to make sure you recovered.’

‘Of course he did. And the prick did not want to risk my making a run for it,’ I muttered, sinking into utter despair.

‘Ah,’ said the surgeon, his gaze sliding to the gate, and back to me. Quietly, he said, ‘You do not really need a piss, do you? Escape was more on your mind.’

I twitched my lips. ‘You see through me, but I do actually need that.’ I reached out for the wide-necked clay vessel in his hand. He hovered, but I waved him away. Doubtless I had been stripped naked when he was first treating me, but the small dignity of urinating without help seemed important. It was, I realised as the vessel began to fill slowly, almost the only power, the only freedom I possessed.

When I was done, though, I still had to ask him to take it away.

He made me drink some poppy juice after, to help the pain, he said. Really, I think he knew how seeing the guard at the gate had dragged my spirits to a new low.

I closed my eyes, weary to the bone, to the very marrow.

Tomorrow was a new day, I decided. Tomorrow I would find out whether my new master truly was more humane than Crixus. I hoped so. Unless he was sick in the head, he would want to recoup his outlay. I would still have to fight in the circle of sand, therefore, but I would mostly be pitted against men of similar quality. Death would be a risk of course, but after my success today, I had a reasonable chance of building a career, and earning significant amounts of coin. Of winning the rudis, and after the compulsory period that followed, achieving the status of libertus, freedman.

There was another thing, I realised with a tiny stab of hope.

Remaining as a gladiator, winning my freedom, meant that I had the tiniest of chances of revenging myself on Caligula for what he had done today.

I wanted to kill him far more than Crixus. Far more. And so that infinitesimal chance would have to do.

Holding that thought tight as a lover, I let the poppy juice carry me away.

To merciful sleep.

 

Here ends the first part of Midir’s story. Eighty-three episodes, sixteen and a half weeks – it’s been a rollercoaster ride, and (mostly) great fun to write. It started out in the fourth week of March 2020 as something to help you lovely people with lockdown – I know from your many comments that it seemed to do that in a small way at least. Then it developed into a tale that just ran and ran. I did not plot the thing at all, other than from one episode to the next, say; the story almost seemed to write itself.

I can see an end now, but I am afraid you will have to wait to find out what happens to our hero. You will probably find this frustrating, but it has come about partly because my publisher’s interest in Sands of the Arena (and the other stories I have self-published). There is now a distinct possibility that Sands of the Arena will make its way into print*. The other reason is that I need to concentrate on other things such as finishing Crusader, the second Lionheart book, and editing it, and spending some time with my family. Thanks for your understanding and support.

Stay tuned for more details – the best place is my Facebook page: facebook.com/benkanebooks

Best wishes

Ben

*If this possibility does not eventuate, I will self-publish the anthology of short stories myself, in print as well as digital format.

Filed Under: Sands Of The Arena

Donate To Park In The Past

This story is being written to benefit Park In The Past, and innovative heritage and conservation project in the UK.

Click To Donate

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sian says

    July 15, 2020 at 7:54 am

    Thanks so much for posting this, and for the hope of more of Midir’s adventures to come in the future. I’ve enjoyed every episode and look forward to reading the rest of the tale in print one day.

    Reply
  2. Cliff says

    July 15, 2020 at 8:52 am

    Thank you for all your effort with Sands of the Arena. Enjoy a well earned rest with the family.

    Reply
  3. Patrick says

    July 15, 2020 at 9:42 am

    Thanks for writing this great story Ben. Can’t wait for this to continue!

    Reply
  4. Stephen Clifford says

    July 15, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Thanks again Ben – yes I think he deserves another outing. Glad you now know where he’s going in the end, even if he’s still unsure. Look forward to it.

    Reply
  5. Joan Morgenstern says

    July 15, 2020 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you does not express my feelings about reading your story. I have had to self isolate for a number of reasons and it helped me escape my world into another. I hope to be able to read more about Midir in the future. Stay well and again, I wish I could truly express my appreciation for your work and the Authors Without Borders project.

    Warmly,
    Joan
    Houston, Texas

    Reply
  6. Alexandra says

    July 15, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    Thank you so much for your story! I haven’t been commenting but I’ve been looking forward to every episode! Hope to see it published!

    Reply
  7. Sherry Christie says

    July 15, 2020 at 6:50 pm

    Thank you, Ben! Excellent story with a very sympathetic hero. I look forward to hearing what happens next to Midir.

    BTW, please post on Goodreads A&M when the novel comes out!

    Reply
  8. Kerryn says

    July 16, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    Thanks for writing this story, I enjoyed reading every episode and look forward to reading what happens next!

    Reply
  9. Callum says

    July 16, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Thanks Ben! ‘Sands of the Arena’ has been yet another cracking read! Keep up the great work!

    Callum

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Patrick Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Get Your Stories By Email

Never miss a single episode - sign up to get each day's stories delivered.

Sign Up Now!

From Ben Kane

First In Series

See The Book

Stories

  • Akbar's Bride
  • Britannia ‐ New Dawn
  • Carpe Diem
  • Earth Redux
  • Einar The Black
  • Flight Of The Raven
  • Godwinson
  • Pagan Rebel
  • Sands Of The Arena
  • Shadow Of Doubt
  • The Blushing Sea
  • The Dragon Tailed Star
  • The Headache
  • The Stones Of Venice
  • The Unjust Men
  • The Woman Who Was Loved by Death
  • Vengeance
  • Who All Die

Recent Episodes

  • The Unjust Men, Week 9
  • The Unjust Men, Week 8
  • The Unjust Men, Week 7
  • Godwinson, Week 10
  • Godwinson, Week 9

Recent Comments

  • Ann Moore on The Unjust Men, Week 9
  • Stephen Clifford on The Unjust Men, Week 8
  • Ann Moore on Flight Of The Raven, Week 10
  • Andy Boda on The Unjust Men, Week 8
  • Steven Lynes Sr on Flight Of The Raven, Week 10

Archives

  • November 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020

Footer

Image Credits: Keight Maclean
Website: Rob McClellan, ModFarm Design

Get Your Stories By Email

Never miss a single episode - sign up to get each day's stories delivered.

Sign Up Now!
  • Post Your Story
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021 · Powered by ModFarm Design · Log in