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“But if your father disowned you, why did Ayr hold you hostage?” Axel asked. “Your father surely would not care what happened to you.”

Titus shrugged. “I dunna know,” he said. “But Ayr did hold me hostage, for fifteen years. I’ve not seen the man since I was released and the news that he is here is… troubling. I dunna know why he would come tae see me, not after all this time.”

“I can answer that,” Clegg said. “You ran out before I had the opportunity to tell you. He came to buy your services, Titus. He has made an incredibly generous offer to buy out your contract so that you may serve him.”

Titus’ eyes widened. “But… but he’s not even seen me fight,” he said. “The man hasna seen me in seven years. Why would he make such an offer?”

Clegg shook his head. “I do not know,” he said. “But I can tell you this, Titus. I am an excellent judge of men. My business depends on it. I could tell from the moment the duke started speaking that something with him was not as he wanted it to seem. It is my sense that his offer for your services is not because he wants you. It is because he either wants something for you or from you. I do not know which. But even before I knew anything about him, there was something in his eyes that suggested something… dark. I did not like the feel of him.”

Titus nodded faintly. “Yer instincts are correct,” he said. “He is a conniving, petty man. I dunna know why he should want tae buy my contract, but no good can come from it. If I served the man, he would make my life hell for the rest of my life. I must absolutely refuse.”

Clegg smiled faintly. “I already did,” he said. “I told him that your contract would remain with me indefinitely. He was not pleased in the least and offered me twice the money. I still refused and he left in anger. I do not know where he went, but my sentries are looking for him. He may have gone to the arena or he may have left. In any case, you should be on your guard, Titus. He may try to find you. He wants you very badly.”

“He’ll not get near ye,” Cam growled. “If ye see him, point him out tae me, Titus. I’ll not let the bastard near ye.”

“And me,” Brody said. “What’s the son’s name? Conan? I’ll beat the bully right out of the whelp. Give me the privilege, Titus. Let me hurt him.”

Titus looked at his friends, more touched by their protectiveness than he could possibly express. He wasn’t an emotional man because he’d long learned to suppress any feelings he might have, and what he had shown had never been much more than conceit or humor. At the moment, however, he was feeling so much more.

It was enough to bring a lump to his throat.

“What did ye call us once, Cam?” he said quietly. “A clan of warriors? It is true. We are family. I’d kill for ye a thousand times over, but when it comes tae ye offering tae defend me, it feels… strange. I know ye dunna mean that I canna defend myself, though. I know ye mean it because we are brothers and ye’d defend me tae the death.”

“We are brothers,” Cam insisted. “We’ll get through the night and make it known that Ayr isna welcome. We dunna want him and his bastard of a son here.”

Titus looked to Clegg; it was his establishment, after all. Only he could say who was allowed to remain and who was not. But Clegg agreed with Cam.

“When he is found, I will have him and his son removed,” he said. Then he smiled weakly. “A happy Titus is a victorious Titus, is he not? I must keep you happy and you must make me money.”

Titus couldn’t help but chuckle. “That is true,” he said, his smile fading. “But I dinna tell ye all of it, m’laird. I came back here tae make sure Esme was all right.”

“Why should she matter in all of this?” Clegg asked.

Titus sighed heavily. “Because she, too, was a hostage of Ayr,” he said. “Ambrose took her as collateral against her father, a Navarre warlord, who wanted support from Ayr. Ambrose took her but never provided her father with the support he promised, and he’s been holding her hostage ever since. She’s an heiress tae her father’s titles and lands, and it is Ambrose’s intention tae marry her tae his son. She escaped and came tae me for help. I know I should have told ye all of it, m’laird, but I truly never thought Ambrose and Conan would come tae The Cal. But if they happen to see her now…”

The implication wasn’t lost on anyone, least of all Clegg. But he didn’t seem to take it too seriously, as evidenced by his expression. He cocked his head as if thinking on the ramifications of a duke finding his son’s runaway bride at his establishment, but just as quickly pushed the concern aside.

“You ran back here to tell her to remain out of sight for tonight?” he asked.

Titus nodded. “I did.”

“Understandable and wise.”

Titus was surprised he’d gotten off so easily. He’d expected a rebuke at best, but Clegg seemed to understand his reasons. “I will tell ye now that if they discover her and try tae drag her back tae Culroy, I will kill them both before I allow that tae happen,” he said. “Just so ye’re clear on my reaction. I wouldna let her go with them. I’d kill them or die trying.”

Clegg simply nodded. “I know,” he said. “Esme is important to you, and because you are important to me, she is as well. Tell her to remain out of sight until we are sure the duke and his son have been located. They do not know she is here, but we would not want them to accidentally see her.”

“Agreed, m’laird.”

It seemed that everything that needed to be said was now out in the open. The situation was identified and there was nothing to do now but wait until Ambrose and Conan could be located and removed from the Ludus Caledonia. Everyone was willing to protect Titus, and Esme, from men evidently determined to do them harm.

Perhaps they had done harm in the past, but for the future… Titus and Esme would be free of them if Clegg and the others from the Ludus Caledonia had anything to say about it.

“The games are beginning,” Axel finally said. “We must return.”

Clegg nodded, turning for the Fields of Mars in the distance. “Let us see that tonight’s games are the best we have ever had,” he said. “Titus, your last bout is to be against Poseidon’s Wrath. You will shine, lad.”

Titus was following with Cam and Brody. “But Galan has a bout with him,” he said. “What happened?”