I stopped talking the moment I heard the bolt slide on the door and saw it swing open. It was just Kran who entered the training area followed by two other slaves, but I still didn’t know if I could trust him. So, when I saw the slaves were carrying food and water, I changed the subject away from Dacrah’s injury.

  “What’s all this?” I asked Kran.

  “Some refreshments while training,” he said with a slight flourish as the slaves set everything up in a corner.

  I poured a cup full of water and picked up a couple of pieces of fruit and handed them to Dacrah, where he sat against the wall. Kran had a questioning look on his face.

  “He’s worn out,” I explained. “Turns out he can’t keep up with me after all.”

  He bowed his head slightly, and I took he believed my explanation.

  “But, you three can help,” I said.

  “Us, Champion?” Kran asked. “How could we help? We are not fighters.”

  “You don’t have to be for this. Come out here.” I stood in the middle of the open training area. “And call me Stephen from now on.”

  The two slaves looked at each other and then at Kran, as if hoping he could come up with some excuse that would get them out of training with me. Kran also seemed hesitant. But in the end, his sense of duty outweighed his reluctance, and he led them to stand in a line in front of me.

  “That’s it,” I said. “Now pick something up. I don’t care what, a rock, a weapon, anything, and throw it at me.”

  The other slaves looked to Kran, but he ignored them as he picked up a rock and tossed it underhand to me. The rock didn’t travel fast enough to even trigger my reflexes. After years of catching baseballs, it wasn’t a challenge to snatch it out of the air.

  “Not like that. I mean really throw it, like you’re trying to kill me.”

  “Why, Champ—uh…Stephen?” Kran asked, his voice trembling slightly.

  “It’s not a trick or anything. I just need to test my reflexes.”

  Kran nodded slightly, but I think it was more of a reassurance to himself than an agreement with me. He bent to pick up the rock and stood up straight. He threw it again, this time with more force, but he threw like a girl. No offense to all the amazing female softball players out there, but it was obvious he had never thrown a ball in his life.

  Despite his weak throw, there was enough force behind it that my reflexes were triggered. From my perspective, everything slowed down, which gave me enough time to examine his posture as the rock slowly tumbled in the air toward my chest. He stood too stiff, and his feet were right under his hips. He threw with just his arms and shoulders instead of putting his whole body into it.

  When the rock was inches from my chest, I wrapped my fingers around it to catch it, and time immediately resumed normal. Kran and the other slaves were all shocked at my display as I’m sure it appeared to them that I moved super fast. And I suppose I did.

  I smiled at them. “Pretty cool, huh?” I tossed the rock to one of the slaves. “You try. Really throw it at me.”

  He glanced at the others for reassurance, but he was losing his fear. He threw it at me, harder than Kran, but he was way off with his aim. The rock rolled out of his fingers and flew so far over my head that it didn’t even trigger my reflexes. I guess I have to be in actual danger for them to work. He looked sheepishly at me.

  “That’s OK,” I said. “Just try again.”

  He picked up another rock and threw it. He had the same force, but his aim was better. His stance was much better, and the rock tumbled faster toward my gut. But I easily plucked it out of the air before it hit me. They laughed in amazement, and I laughed with them as they started to relax. I tossed the rock to the other slave.

  “Your turn.”

  He glanced at the rock and then at me. “Are you sure? It is permitted?”

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  “Yeah, yeah. I want you to throw it at me as hard as you can.”

  He shrugged a little and hurled the ball at me. If he hadn’t been stuck in the Hollow Earth, I swear he was ready to go pro. Maybe not the major leagues, but certainly the minors.

  The rock went straight for my face, and it moved much faster that the first two throws. By the time I realized I didn’t have the time to gawk at his posture, the rock was already inches from my face. I had to duck my head out of the way as I snatched the ball out of the air.

  We all froze as I held the ball in the air. We were impressed not only with my reflexes but also with the slave’s throwing skills. Everyone stared at me, afraid of my reaction. But I laughed. I mean, I really laughed for the first time since I came through the portal in my grandfather’s basement.

  “That was awesome!” I declared.

  They all relaxed and nodded in agreement.

  The slave smiled, and I could see the pride on his face.

  “Where did you learn to throw like that?”

  “I am of the Small Brothers clan.”

  I didn’t know what that meant, but by the reaction of Dacrah and Kran, I took it that his clan was well known for their throwing skills.

  “What’s your names?” I asked the two slaves.

  “I am Bhok,” replied the slave with a great arm.

  “I am Rir,” said the other one.

  “Great!” I said. “Call me Stephen. Kran, Bhok, Rir, grab some stones. I want you to throw them at me as fast as you can. Don’t worry about force too much. Just keep them coming. Don’t let me stand still.”

  Dacrah got to his feet. “I can help with this if you need me.” He gave me a short nod to let me know he was OK.

  “Sure! The more the merrier.”

  We worked like that for a little while. Each man picked up anything they could grab and threw it at me. I dodged, caught, and swatted away rocks, wooden weapons, and even half-eaten pieces of fruit. It was fun, just like training should be. They had fun throwing stuff at me, and I had fun dodging everything in slow motion.

  And then one of them hit me.

  As I caught a broken wooden sword that Rir threw at me, I felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder as a rock struck me. Time immediately sped up for me again, and I dropped the sword. I looked behind me and saw Kran there with a look of terror on his face. I didn’t see him back there, and I never saw the rock coming at me.

  Kran dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the sand. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you! Please spare me!”

  I looked around at the other guys. Rir and Bhok were just as concerned about my reaction as Kran. And Dacrah looked just as confused as I was. I squatted down in front of Kran and patted his shoulders.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it,” I said, trying to reassure him. “I told you to try and hit me. I knew what I was getting into. It’s just a part of training.” He lifted his head to look at me. He was actually crying. “I might get a bruise, but that’s all. And trust me, I’ve had a lot worse.”

  His face softened a little once he saw I wasn’t mad.

  “Besides,” I continued, “I’m lucky Bhok didn’t hit me. He would’ve broken my shoulder.”

  They chuckled, and Kran smiled. I patted him on the back.

  “Come on,” I said. “I think that’s good enough for today, don’t you?”

  He sat up straight and wiped his eyes. “If you say so, Stephen.”

  I helped him to his feet, and the slaves gathered the scattered items in the exercise yard. Kran led me to the square door, and I stopped for a moment to speak to all the guys.

  “I’m going to need y’all’s help with something.” They looked at me expectantly. “I’m going to need your help with training again later, OK?”

  They smiled and nodded in agreement before we parted ways so Kran could lead me back to my cell. Along the way, we passed the windows that looked outside the arena again.

  I stopped and asked, “What are those towers out there?”

  Kran’s happy face fell immediately. He didn’t approach the window. He knew I was referring to the cylindrical towers made of rough stone. The same towers that seemed empty of life.

  “It is best not to concern yourself with such things, Champion,” he replied, using my title again instead of my name.

  “Why? What’s wrong with them?”

  He stepped closer, but averted his eyes from the towers. In a low voice, he said, “There are some things not meant for the likes of us. Not even the Champion of Sarisa.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I looked at him, then out at the empty stone towers, and back at him.

  He continued. “Please let me take you back to your chambers. I have something waiting for you.”

  I nodded, still confused, but followed him back to the Champion’s Chambers. He opened the door for me with a smile that he didn’t have before.

  Once I entered, I discovered the surprise he had for me.