The Gladiator Read Free

opportunity.
    â€œI assure you I don’t exaggerate. I’ve heard your name praised as far as Alexandria. Some even hint you’re a son of Jupiter. They whisper your name in hallowed tones and—”
    â€œEnough. If you seek to gain my favor with compliments, be warned, you will not. I’m in need of four able-bodied men, no more. The taller, stronger and healthier the better.”
    â€œNo more than four?” Some of the gleam left the slave trader’s eyes. “I have thirty such men.”
    Caros looked toward the row of ragged beggars on offer. Sitting in the dirt, most appeared too weak to stand. Others sat beside them, skinny, dejected, already defeated. A few slightly stronger ones leaned against the wall. None of them would do. “Are you trying to swindle me? I need men for gladiators, not lion fodder.”
    In the torchlight, Aulus’s face grew red, as though he sensed a hefty profit slipping through his fingers. “This is not my best merchandise. Follow me and I’ll show you a host of potential champions.”
    Unconvinced, Caros nodded and followed anyway. Aulus carried a torch as they walked past the wheeled cages filled with reeking animals and all manner of degraded humanity. The sight of dirty, hollow-eyed children clenched his stomach. A youth sitting beside them reminded him of his own capture and sale into slavery. His loving mother and sisters had been tortured that day, then crucified while he was forced to watch.
    Caros pushed the nightmare away. Resigned to the ways of the world, he hardened his heart and continued after Aulus.
    â€œHere we are.” The trader halted beside a wagon. He held up the torch, giving Caros a better view into the small prison where a score of men stood packed like fish in a net.
    With a practiced eye, Caros considered them. Swathed in loincloths, all were healthier than the wretches in the first lot, but only two or three had the makings of a fighter.
    â€œI told you, no?” Aulus flashed a confident grin. “Any one of these men could be your next champion.”
    Caros snorted. “How many champions have you trained?”
    Aulus’s smile faded. “None, but—”
    â€œThen let me be the judge.” He pointed to the three best men. “I’ll take them if you offer a decent price. Otherwise be on your way.”
    â€œSeven hundred denarii each,” the trader said without a blink.
    Caros laughed. “You are a swindler, Aulus. These slaves aren’t worth two hundred. You’ll have to do better.”
    â€œFive hundred, then.”
    â€œTwo-fifty.”
    â€œFour-fifty.”
    â€œTwo-sixty,” he said, enjoying the barter and the slave trader’s increasing dismay.
    Aulus glanced at his wares, obviously weighing his costs. “Four hundred.”
    Caros walked away. Several wagons ahead, he saw Gaius inspecting a pair of giraffes.
    â€œWait!” Aulus sounded pained. “You didn’t let me finish.”
    With a glance over his shoulder, Caros raised a brow and waited for the price.
    â€œThree-fifty.”
    He sensed the other man’s defeat. “Two-seventy.”
    â€œThree hundred,” Aulus said in disgust. “My final offer.”
    â€œDone.” Caros returned to the beaten man and opened thepouch he held. Coins clinked into the trader’s outstretched palm as he counted out the correct sum.
    While they waited for the new slaves to be released from the cage and led around to the barracks at the back of the house, Aulus counted the coins for a second time. Satisfied, he dumped them into his own drawstring pouch as they started back to the house’s side door.
    â€œThat’s only three men, Bone Grinder. You said you need four. If you won’t purchase the men or children I have on offer, would you consider a wench?”
    â€œWe have enough women to meet our needs.”
    â€œI have one you could train for the