Men who were stripped to loincloths, their skin ruddy from the wind even as they sweated, battered at the posts.When I barreled inside, they ceased, straightening up and wiping brows to watch this new drama.
Aemil, who’d been scrutinizing a clumsy recruit, jerked upright and started for me.I outpaced him as I made for the sleeping quarters and strode unerringly to my old cell.I yanked open the cell door even as Aemil caught up to me.
Lucia rose from the bunk inside, her bright red hair tumbling down her back, her eyes wide with fear.Regulus was nowhere in sight.
“Leonidas—”
The word was cut off by a roar behind me, and then Regulus had me by the neck.He dragged me backward out of the cell and into the practice area, and I let him, wanting to face him out of close quarters.Winter wind struck us as we emerged, Regulus’s hands hot on my skin.
I was glad I’d rushed out without grabbing a cloak.Regulus would have strangled me with it by now.I slammed an elbow at his windpipe, and spun from him when he jumped from the blow.
“She’s mine now.”Regulus glared at me, breathing hard.“Get out, Leonidas.”
“Lucia is a freedwoman.She can go wherever she wants.”
Regulus’s answer was to come at me again.I caught him by the arms, mine straining to hold him off.
Aemil sprang into us and jerked us apart.
Aemil was smaller than either of us, but he’d been training gladiators for many years, and knew exactly how to control them.Not that Regulus calmed.He snarled, baring his teeth like an animal.
“Praxus!”Aemil shouted at one of the gladiators who had gathered to watch the spectacle.“Bring two swords.”He had us in his grip, which was as strong as I remembered from my green youth.“You two are settling this, now.”
Regulus transferred his glare to Aemil.“I want to kill him, not dance with him.”
“Your obsession is dulling your edge,” Aemil snapped.“End it.Leonidas wins, you concede he’s better than you and did you a favor letting you live.You win, he never comes back here.He’ll be dead to you.”
“Can I break his limbs?”Regulus asked eagerly.
“Whatever you want.ButIdecide the victor.”
Aemil released us.We broke apart, my heart hammering.Though I’d sworn off death, the impending fight ramped up my excitement, letting blood burn through me as it hadn’t since I’d left the Circus of Gaius a free man.
Praxus, so new to theludusthat I’d never met him, rushed forward with two wooden practice swords.He shook with nervousness as he handed them to Aemil, who inspected them and tested their balance.
“Evenly matched.”He gave a nod of approval to Praxus, who looked as though he’d melt under it.
Aemil handed a sword to Regulus who nearly ripped it from his grasp.I took the other more quietly, my mind already focused on the coming fight.
Lucia, the murder, Priscus, my new life … faded.Nothing mattered at the moment but battling a fully trained gladiator.
This time, I was ready to win.
The sword might not be metal, but it was heavy, the tip whittled to a point.Aemil believed we’d learn to avoid being stabbed if the swords truly cut.Regulus could kill me with the wooden blade if he tried hard enough.
I shucked my boots and tunic, facing Regulus in my loincloth.He did the same.I flipped the sword, its leather-wrapped hilt familiar against my palm.
Regulus tossed his sword from hand to hand.The look in his eyes told me he’d do his best to kill me this day.
Aemil instructed us to stand ten paces apart, and then he stepped back to referee.He’d done this so many times in my life that I had the sensation I’d never left this place.Regulus and I were sparring, demonstrating to the newer fighters what to expect in the arena.
“Fight!”Aemil yelled.He balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to watch and follow us.We might fight to the death, but only within the rules.
We circled silently, eyeing each other, two predators waiting to strike.
Regulus kicked dust with his bare right foot, as he liked to, a ploy to distract his opponent.In the arena the action swept sand upward to sting though the eyeholes of the helmet.We had no helmets today, but the dust headed for my face before I turned sharply to avoid it.
Regulus had expected this move to slow me down and give him a few seconds to find his opening.So I attacked him.
