The moment Gann hit the ground the bull changed its attention from the funambulists to him. Gann knew bulls and he knew them to be aggressive. This was not good for him, especially since he had not undergone the training to somersault over a bull.
The bull charged and the first thing that came to Gann's mind was to get out of the way. Jumping to the right, Gann hoped that the bull would go slamming right into the wall.
One could dream.
Gann had jumped too soon giving the bull enough time to turn and begin charging once more. This time Gann waited and timed his jump just right. The bull ran past him and slammed into the wall of the arena.
To say the horns had been broken would be untrue. Although the bull had slammed into the wall, it had halted itself just enough and turned its head to avoid the breaking of its horns.
The guard Gann had encountered earlier could only stare with a smile on his face. Had he been a bit more like this lad maybe he wouldn't have lost his left eye. Europa on the other hand was completely terrified while Deucalion had a smug look on his face, sure the bull would get the Gael eventually.
Certain that the bull would not tire anytime soon, Gann began to think. If he had any chance of stopping this thing he'd have to time a jump for just the last moment. If he were lucky then maybe one of the bull's horns would break off and he could use it as a knife.
Again the bull charged and this time Gann waited for the last moment before jumping. Alas, although the bull did slam into the wall of the arena, neither of its horns broke.
"Oh, come on!" exclaimed Gann. This just wasn't fair.
The guard now understood. The lad needed something to defend himself with. He himself had a knife, a spear would be better, but it was all he had since he was now off duty. Throwing his spear down to the lad, the guard soon heard Deucalion's voice.
"Miletus, I will see you sent into the Labyrinth for this!" exclaimed Deucalion.
The guard, Miletus, merely smiled and said: "So let it be written."
Gann was quick to pick up the knife. Holding it up he watched as the bull eyed the knife until it snorted.
Once more the bull charged. Gann sidestepped it and plunged the knife into the bull's neck. The bull collapsed, a great shudder overcame the beast and one final breath emerged from its mouth.
Gann and Europa both let out sighs of relief, Miletus smiled but all the rest were enraged. They were calling for Gann's death. Finally Minos stood up and everyone went silent.
At one and sixty twelvemonths of age, Minos had ruled for eight and thirty twelvemonths. He was indeed fat, he was indeed bald and he certainly had not aged well. He had both beard and mustache upon his face, his hair having long since gone white. His attire was cyan in color and he wore a cloak.
"That is enough! I will speak with this fellow alone! Guards, bring him to my chambers!" To be in Minos' chambers would have been grand if it was not for killing one of the sacred bulls. Gann however had little reason to care about killing a sacred bull. Looking at the various bull-shaped decorations, Gann paid no attention to Minos as he spoke. "That bull was a gift from Ramses the Great! It was one Memphis' sacred herd! You slew the bull but who was it who gave you the knife?" Upon seeing Gann wasn't even listening to him, Minos let out an angry scream.
"Huh, what?" Gann turned to look at Minos. "Sorry, did you say something?"
"Who gave you the knife?" asked Minos. "I saw the knife thrown from the crowd and you picked it up! Who threw it to you?"
"I wasn't paying attention to the crowd, Minos."
And then came dastardly Deucalion's voice. "I can answer who gave this barbarian the knife, father." Leading in Miletus, Deucalion smiled sinisterly as his eyes fell upon Gann. "Captain Miletus was the one who threw the knife, father. He is as guilty as the death of the bull as this Gael!"
"You, Miletus?" asked Minos in disbelief. "Why?"
"I would not see this lad lose an eye to a bull just as I had." Replied Miletus. "Besides the bull was merely one of the sacred herd, it was not Apis himself."
"Then what am I to do?" asked Minos. "Send Ramses a letter asking for another? The bull was a gift! For the part you have played Miletus you and this Scythian—"
"Gael, father." Corrected Deucalion. "This barbarian is a Gael."
"Well then that changes things." Said Minos, his eyes upon Gann.
"How so, my father?" asked Deucalion.
"Ramses' grandfather Ramses I, whom the Gaels call Pharaoh Tuir, expelled them from Egypt upon Horemheb's death without male heir." Explained Minos.
"Pharaoh Cincris, as well call him, had a male heir!" countered Gann. "Goidel Glas, father of my race, was son of his daughter Scota!"
"That is not how succession works, Gael." Sneered Minos. "The eldest living son succeeds the father and as Horemheb had no son he made his grand vizier Ramses his successor. When I send you into the Labyrinth, the Minotaur will kill you and then Ramses the Great will send me a new bull as thanks for killing one of the race his grandfather had expelled."
Gann failed to see the logic in that. Why would Ramses care if Minos had directly or indirectly killed a member of a race his grandfather had expelled from Egypt?
Miletus however only stared at Minos with eyes that were half-closed. "Wonderful logic, your Majesty." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He was grateful that of all the things the gods had blessed Minos with, the ability to recognize sarcasm was not one of them.
Deucalion however was able to recognize sarcasm. He saw the problem with his father's plan to get a new bull from the sacred herd of Memphis. He just ignored his father's plan and walked before Gann, his cruel eyes locking with Gann's mismatched eyes. "This time it really does end, Gael."
"You are being premature, Deucalion." Returned Gann. "Once again. What is to say I won't kill the Minotaur?"
Deucalion laughed. "If no one has in the past seven and twenty twelvemonths then neither shall you!"