Excerpt of On The Horns of Death by Eleanor Kuhns

Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my sweaty hands on my loincloth. ‘Go, go, go,’ chanted the crowd. I could smell the bull’s pungent musk and somebody’s heavy Egyptian perfume. The bull pawed the ground and grunted twice before breaking into a run. I had no time to think. He was right in front of me. I sprinted forward, automatically reaching out for those ivory spikes, my body instinctively moving into the proper position. The bull tossed his head, and I went flying, landing perfectly on his broad back. Arphaia reached out for me. I took her hand and jumped down, my legs suddenly trembling as my body realized how careless I’d been. As I reeled to the side of the ring, I scolded myself for allowing Duzi’s death to distract me. I would have plenty of time to think about it after the end of the ceremony. If I survived.

‘What happened to you?’ Elemon asked, his hazel eyes focused on me. ‘You looked Goddess-touched.’

‘I was thinking,’ I replied stiffly.

‘Well, don’t think anymore. You’ll get yourself killed.’

I turned away and watched Tryphone run toward the bull’s horns. He executed a perfect flip over the back.

‘I want to try,’ said Costi. I eyed him disdainfully. He was only thirteen, a mere child. An orphan, Costi had arrived unexpectedly during the summer and volunteered.

‘All right,’ Geos said now. ‘But later. After the bull tires.’

Elemon and I exchanged a glance, both of us wondering if this was a wise decision by Geos. Costi could do the jump – but he was so fearless he could get hurt.

‘Why don’t you spell Arphaia and catch?’ Geos added. ‘For a little while. I need her here, leaping.’ Without Duzi. The unsaid words hovered in the air.

Ah, I thought. That made more sense. Tryphone and Elemon performed second and third jumps, their last performances sloppy. They were already tiring, and after another few jumps they would be exhausted. Arphaia would make a good substitute, gawky though she might be.

The bull looked as though he would never tire. Younger than the white bull, and not as seasoned, he ran at us with aggressive energy. I shivered a little but told myself I was merely chilly because the breeze was drying the perspiration on my body.

Grumbling, Costi trotted into the ring. Arphaia, her face split with a wide smile, joined us in the line.

‘Martis. Go.’

I moved into position for my second jump and stared at the bull. One would think that after bull leaping so many times I wouldn’t be afraid. But I was. The massive beast tossed his head, and I began my sprint. He ran for me, those fearsome horns pointed right at me. A few seconds mistimed, a few steps too far to the right or left, and a bull dancer could be speared by those horns. Although cropped and blunted, they could still cause a lot of damage. I focused, reaching out until I grasped the horns, and the bull threw me high into the air. Although I feared the bull and his horns, I loved this part and always wished my flight through the air would last longer.

It seemed to me that I did not soar as high this time. Maybe the beast was finally tiring.

Geos must have seen that as well. He moved Arphaia to the front of the line.

She was the last to jump. Instead of soaring like an eagle, she lumbered through the air as ungainly as a pelican. Laughter rippled through the audience.

Arphaia landed badly as well, sliding off the bull’s back. Despite Costi’s best efforts to hold her, she crashed to the ground. As the handlers rushed into the ring and she limped to her feet, I saw she was weeping with frustration.

Tinos leaned over and spoke to the High Priestess. She did not look at him, nodding slightly in response. As the bull was drawn from the arena, the Lady and her consort stood up, signaling the end of the performance. I distinctly heard some of the audience grumbling that the performance was too short. Usually, we danced with the bull until we were stumbling with fatigue, a situation destined for injury. Today, the only one hurt was Arphaia, and she’d only bruised her ankle. Some flowers were thrown into the ring, and Elemon and Tryphon were called to the stands for tokens – mostly jewelry of varying value. I’d won a copper ring once from a generous fan. I doubted Arphaia would ever win much more than that.

We queued up and walked quickly out of the ring and across the ground to the tunnel. It felt even colder inside the caves, especially since we were all sweaty and panting, and I began to shiver. I hurried across the floor to my tiny bundle of belongings and quickly pulled on my old jacket.

Then I joined Geos and Tinos by the body.