Gladiator: Vengeance Read Free Page B

shoulder. ‘Or next time I think my friend Marcus might not feel so willing to hold back with his dagger.’
    ‘He wouldn’t dare!’ The merchant spat in contempt.
    Marcus tilted his head to the side. ‘No? Want to put it to the test?’
    The merchant retreated and then hurriedly recovered his composure. ‘Bah! A bunch of petty con men, the pair of you. I’ve a good mind to report you to the town magistrates.’
    ‘Why don’t you?’ Festus dared him. ‘I’m sure they’d be interested in a man who tried to avoid paying a bet he made witnessed by everyone in the market of Chalcis.’
    The merchant let out a hiss of bitter frustration and turned to hurry across the market square. The crowd that had gathered to watch the fight had dispersed and Marcus, Festus and Lupus packed away the remaining staffs. Andreas, sitting on the steps of the fountain to nurse his foot, chuckled as the merchant strode away.
    ‘Ah, forget him. There are plenty of men like Clysto around. They deserve what’s coming to them.’ The Greek stood up slowly to test his weight on his foot and winced.
    ‘Sorry about that,’ said Festus. ‘But I had to put you down quickly after that blow to the ribs.’
    ‘On another day I’d have knocked you down, Roman.’
    ‘If you say so.’
    ‘I do … You and your boys thirsty?’
    Festus glanced round and both Lupus and Marcus nodded.
    ‘Good!’ Andreas approached and rested his hand on Marcus’s shoulder. ‘And as for you, boy, you are just as fierce as your friend Festus. By the Gods, if I had ten of you in my gang I’d rule the streets of this town. Come with me. I know a good place to drink. And I’m paying.’



3
     
    ‘How’s the foot?’ asked Festus as he set his cup down with a sharp rap on the table.
    ‘Sore.’ Andreas replied and then grinned. ‘How’s your side?’
    ‘Sore.’
    They both laughed and Andreas reached for the jug to top up their cups, and then after a moment’s thought, poured a little more of the watered wine into the cups of Marcus and Lupus. The inn the Greek had chosen had been up a steep side street that led to a small plateau. Built on the edge of a cliff, it overlooked the town and the sparkling sea beyond. A light breeze cooled them after the hot confines of the market and there was a faint rustling from the branches of a cedar tree that provided shade for the customers.
    ‘You, boy.’ Andreas looked squarely at Marcus. ‘You fightlike a demon. I only saw snatches of it while I was dealing with your friend here, but what I saw was impressive. Your gladiator school must have been one of the best. I’ve seen a few fights in the theatre here, but it was rough stuff compared to the show you two put on. Where are you from, exactly?’
    Marcus raised his cup in thanks and took a sip of the vinegary brew before he replied. ‘I was trained at a school near Capua. And then by Festus when I was bought by a new master and taken to Rome.’
    ‘And you?’ Andreas turned to Lupus. ‘What’s your story? You don’t look the kind of lad who should be in the company of two trained killers.’
    ‘We’re not killers,’ Festus said evenly. ‘Our job was to protect our master.’
    ‘Master? I thought you said that you had been freed? Marcus at least.’
    Festus smiled thinly. ‘Force of habit. I was set free some years ago and stayed with my … employer. Marcus was given his liberty several months back. A reward for good service. Lupus too.’
    ‘Then he’s a fighter as well?’ Andreas looked doubtful as he ran his eyes over Lupus’s slight physique. ‘I can’t see it. He wouldn’t last a moment in a fight.’
    ‘I can fight!’ Lupus shot back defiantly. ‘When I have to.’
    The Greek chuckled and held up one of his big hands to pacify the smaller boy. ‘I meant no offence, my little friend. Just an observation. Unless my eyes are deceived your skills lie outside the art of fighting. Am I right?’
    Lupus flushed and raised his chin proudly.