Velia lifted her chin. “The next two months are going to contain the biggest games the city has seen in our lifetime. You could be famous by the end of them.”
He considered for another moment. “If I die, I want twelve mourners at my funeral.”
She pressed her lips together. That would be expensive, but she’d just have to bet on him not dying. “Agreed. So, do we have a deal?”
He nodded. “We have a deal.”
A broad smile spread across her face. “Excellent. Let’s find you a room.”
As she led him toward the barracks, she almost felt as if she could skip with happiness—though she maintained a dignified air in front of her new recruit.
She’d done it. Her first gladiator. Now, if she worked hard to make him a success, the life she wanted would finally be within her reach.
3
Veliafoundanemptyroom for Calvus—she’d pay her uncle rent for the use of the space—and then sent him off to gather his belongings from wherever he’d previously lived. He hadn’t stopped looking at her with that air of suspicious disdain, but he’d managed not to say anything outright disrespectful. They would get to know each other soon enough, she reasoned, and hopefully build the sort of professional rapport that existed between Lucullus and his gladiators.
After her novice left, her mind turned to what came next. He would need training. Velia knew many things about the world of gladiators, but the intricacies of combat and physical fitness were not among them.
She needed a trainer. Perhaps she should have thought of that before acquiring a completely inexperienced gladiator, but there was no time like the present.
Velia stood on the edge of the training ground and surveyed the gladiators. Some stretched, some lifted weights, some swung blunt swords at wooden posts. Others ran laps around the open area or sparred with each other.
Her gaze lit on Jason, seated next to Lea as he wrapped a length of cloth around his knuckles. Jason was talented, experienced, andhad a mellow, easy-going attitude. He’d make an excellent trainer for her novice.
She walked over to the two of them. Jason greeted her with a nod. Lea, occupied in tightening the leather armguards she wore, ignored her.
Velia addressed Jason. “How would you like the opportunity to make a little extra money?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Doing what?”
“Training my new gladiator.”
His brows lowered. “Sorry, Velia. The next few months are going to get hectic once the games are opened, and I don’t want to spend my free time chasing after a novice who barely knows one end of a sword from the other.”
“He knows more than that,” Velia protested. “Didn’t you see him earlier? He can throw a punch.” Her stomach was still sore, in fact.
“Punching a defenseless woman does not mean he has any talent for fighting,” Jason said.
Velia scowled. “I’m not defenseless.”
Jason rolled his eyes. Velia sensed the matter was closed, so she turned to Lea, bestowing a winning smile upon her. “What about you, Lea?”
“No,” Lea said shortly.
Velia sidled closer to where Lea sat. “Money aside, I know you’d love the chance to boss around a man.”
Lea gave her a sidelong glance. “Not that man. His hair gives me a headache.”
Velia knew better than to pester Lea once her refusal was given, so she set aside the matter for themoment and changed the subject. “I also need to think of a good name for him. I was thinking maybeAchilles.” It was the name of the greatest warrior who’d ever lived, so it would be perfect for Rome’s next gladiatorial legend. “And with his hair…Achilles the Fire-Haired. That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” She could already imagine hearing that name booming over the crowds in the announcer’s deep voice, chanted by an adoring audience as her gladiator claimed another victory…
Jason and Lea exchanged a glance.
“Well, what do you think?” Velia prodded.
“It’s a rather ambitious name for a novice,” Jason said.
“That’s why I thought of it,” Velia said. “He’s my first gladiator. We have to make an impression.” If she was going to do something, she’d jump in with both feet. Not tiptoe or test the waters.
