Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Marcus sat down next to Nala on the bed and stroked the cub’s soft fur. “A trainer will be easy to find, a cub this small isn’t dangerous.” ‘

Nala hugged him tightly, “thank you so much Marcus, I would hate it if he got sent to the arena.”

Marcus pushed her away, “all right I can’t find a trainer if I can’t breath!” He laughed and walked out of the room. As soon as he left the tiger cub woke up. His big blue eyes scanned the room, taking in all the new wonders. He twitched his ears, listening to Nala.

“Hey cutie, did you have a good nap?” The tiger tried to stand up but fell as his paws sank into the mattress.

Sarabi laughed, “Heay muphasah.”

Nala stared at her, “what language is that?”

Sarabi picked up the cub and set him on the floor. “It’s Arabic for klutz”

Nala smiled and picked up the cub again. “Muphasah. That’s your new name, my little klutz.

Nala was sitting in the southern garden watching Muphasah explore when Marcus found her. Behind him a tall, muscular, blond, Spanish slave followed nervously. “Nala meet Julius. He trained the Kings horses and hunting dogs in Leon before we took over.”

Nala called Muphasah and he slowly made his way towards her. Julius watched the cub as Nala stooped to pick him up. Marcus hit Julius on the back of the head, “Bow to her, she’s your new master.” Julius reluctantly bowed then drew his attention back to the cub.

Nala followed his gaze, “his name’s Muphasah. It means…”

“Klutz.” Julius finished for her.

Nala smiled, “you speak Arabic.”

“A little. I mostly speak Spanish and Greek.”

Marcus went to the entrance of the garden and began speaking to the guards. Nala set Muphasah down and he sat on Julius’ foot. “You’re very intelligent for a trainer are you sure that’s all you did in Spain?”

Julius looked down at his feet, “I was just a trainer. My mother spent the little money we had on schooling for me. She wanted me to do more with my life than train animals.” Muphasah started to whine. “He’s probably just hungry.” Julius reassured Nala’s worried look. He picked the cub up and Nala showed him the way to the kitchen. Marcus followed slowly behind them.

Julius gently set Muphasah on the floor and put a bowl of milk in front of him. The cub looked up wonderingly and Nala started to kneel so she could help him but Julius stopped her. “Let him learn.” When the cub realized that no one was going to help his bluntly stuck his muzzle into the bowl. Muphasah quickly snapped his head back, sputtering out milk.

He stood up and circled the bowl. He slowly stuck his tongue into the milk and started lapping sloppily and cautiously. Once he figured out what to do the milk vanished in seconds, although quite a bit was on the floor.

“They usually start eating meat at about two months. He looks to be about one and a half months so milk will be fine for now.”

Nala started to ask a question but Marcus cut in, “That’s enough for one day, time to get you back.” He pushed Julius towards the door but Nala stopped him.

“The slave’s quarters are that way Marcus.” She pointed to the kitchen door that led inside the house.

Marcus shook his head. “Not for this runaway. He lives with the gladiators and trains their horses.”

“Runaway?” Nala looked at Julius he doesn’t seem like the kind of slave that would try to run. But apparently I’m wrong. Nala said to herself.

“Oh ya he’s been caught three times. He’s quite the escape artist.”

“I thought it was impossible to escape from a ludus.”

“So did we but this one’s given us reason to rethink the whole system. But we’re pretty sure he wont get out again.” With that Marcus turned and led Julius away, leaving Nala with the now sleeping cub.

She meandered through the vast halls of the palace with Muphasah in her arms. As she stared at the murals of battles and horses on the marble walls she couldn’t help but think about Julius. There’s no way he was just a trainer. Even if he went to school, even I don’t know tree languages. Marcus knows at least five, maybe more, but that’s because of his job. He needs to know several languages if he’s going to be emperor some day.

“That’s it!” Nala exclaimed. Muphasah turned over in her arms and a passing slave looked at her strangely.

“Do you need something my lady?” he asked

“No, no carry on.” Nala hurried outside to the stables, “I’m going to take a trip to the ludus Muphasah. A prince! How come I didn’t think of it before?”

When Nala walked through the doors to the stable no one greeted her or started getting her horse for her. All the slaves seemed to be searching for something. Marcus, finally noticing her, walked up and explained. “Julius tried to run, we know is that he’s somewhere in here. If he gets a horse we’ll never be able to catch him.”

Nala glanced around the room and saw Julius almost immediately. He was hiding in a hay stack in a corner. He clamped his hands together and silently begged her not to give him away. For a reason she couldn’t understand she didn’t.

Muphasah started squirming so she put him down. Right away he started to go to Julius’ hiding place. “Muphasah come here, come back.” She clapped her hands and the cub pounced on a piece of straw Nala had disturbed.

Nala giggled then scooped up Muphasah and quickly stood up. But her attempt to keep Julius a secret failed and she winced as a slave called out “I’ve found him!”