by Ben Kane
‘What do you want?’
Carbo focused on the guard, a swarthy man carrying a spear and shield. A battered helmet concealed much of his face, making the demand even more intimidating. ‘I’ve come to offer my services as an auctoratus.’
‘You? An auctoratus?’ The three words conveyed endless contempt.
Carbo held his stare. ‘Yes.’
‘Can you use a sword or spear?’
‘A sword, yes.’
‘Is that right?’ sneered the guard.
‘Yes, it damn well is, you cheeky bastard,’ snapped Carbo. For all his failures, he was far above this creature on the social ladder. ‘I demand to see the lanista.’
The guard blinked at his determination. ‘What do I care if you want to get yourself killed?’ He rapped on the timbers with his knuckles. ‘Open up!’
With a loud creaking noise, one of the gates began to open.
Carbo’s stomach twisted, but he stood his ground. Stay with me, Jupiter, Greatest and Best.
Chapter VI
With a loud creaking sound, the ludus’ main gate opened. This was enough to attract most gladiators’ attention. The trainers, Amarantus among them, were not immune either. A guard came stumping in, followed by a tall figure in a once fine tunic. The moment that they were both inside, the gate swung shut with a heavy clang.
‘Someone looking for fighters?’ wondered Getas.
‘No,’ answered Spartacus. ‘He’s only a boy. He can’t be more than eighteen.’
‘Look at the way he carries himself. He must be from a good family.’
‘His clothes are soaking wet,’ noted Spartacus. ‘That’s odd.’
The young man was led upstairs to Batiatus’ quarters. Rival theories about his reason for visiting the ludus rippled through the assembled gladiators.
‘Back to work,’ cried Amarantus. ‘Get a move on, you lazy scumbags. We haven’t got all day.’
‘Attention!’ Phortis’ voice cracked through the air like a whiplash.
Spartacus looked up to see the Capuan on the balcony beside the man who’d been escorted upstairs. The youth was sallow-skinned, with a thin, pockmarked face.
‘This young gentleman goes by the name of Carbo,’ announced Phortis. ‘He has asked Batiatus if he can enter the ludus as an auctoratus.’
‘He looks as if he’s still on his mother’s tit!’ bellowed a fighter.
‘The prick’s far too scrawny,’ cried another. ‘He’d snap in two if you hit him hard enough.’
A rumble of amusement rose from the yard, and Carbo flushed with anger.
‘Why is he here? Has he screwed his father’s mistress?’ asked Crixus.
A murmur of interest replaced the gladiator’s laughter. It was rare, but not unheard of, for a citizen to join their number as a paid contractee. Some joined for the thrill of it, the taste of danger that they might never experience otherwise. Most, however, entered the ludus under a cloud. Sometimes it was because they had broken the law in some way, but often it was the likes of gambling debts that drove them through the gate.
Above them, Phortis smirked. ‘It wasn’t that. Or so he says. I didn’t like to ask further.’
‘What was it then?’ cried Crixus. ‘Lost all your money on chariot racing?’
Carbo’s temper flared. ‘It’s none of your damn business.’
‘A sensitive issue, is it?’ retorted Crixus, glowering back.
‘Piss off,’ Carbo replied.
‘Come down here and say that again,’ yelled Crixus. Given Carbo’s request to enter the ludus, the huge difference in their status meant little, and he knew it.
Carbo cursed silently. Why couldn’t I have kept my mouth shut? I’ve just angered someone as big as Hercules. Even if by some miracle I win, he’ll want to kill me.
‘Before Batiatus agrees, he wishes to have Carbo’s ability with weapons judged,’ said Phortis loudly. ‘I need a volunteer to spar a round or two with him.’ He smiled at the animal sound of interest which met his words. ‘With wooden swords. I know what you lot are like. Otherwise, Carbo would spend his first month here in the infirmary. Who’s interested?’
At least half the men in the yard stepped forward with raised hands. Spartacus regarded them with faint amusement. Thrashing a nobleman, especially a damp, beaten-down one, was the last thing on his mind. To most, however, the prospect was clearly appealing, even if it was only with a blunt-edged practice weapon.
Phortis looked down in silence, studying the fighters.
Crixus was busy hissing at every Gaul within earshot. ‘Stand back! Lower your hands! This is my fight.’ With sullen glances, some of his countrymen obeyed. Wary of antagonising him, a number of other gladiators did the same. Plenty ignored Crixus, however.
‘It seems that some want to fight you more than others,’ said Phortis, casting a sardonic glance at Carbo.
‘Fine,’ snapped Carbo. ‘I don’t care.’ And he genuinely didn’t. He had run out of ideas, bar one: to pass the entrance test here.
‘In that case,’ said Phortis, his tone silky smooth, ‘you won’t mind if…’ His gaze fell on Crixus, before moving on. He pointed to Spartacus. ‘… a fellow newcomer, as yet untested in the arena, has the honour of welcoming you to the ludus?’
Carbo eyed the Thracian. Despite Phortis’ deprecating comments, he was compactly built, and looked expert at handling himself. His guts churned. ‘Let’s get it over with,’ he said, trying to sound confident.
Spartacus could sense Crixus’ rage from twenty paces away. Anger surged through his own veins. Phortis had done this deliberately, not to see Carbo beaten, but to set the Gaul against him — as if he wasn’t already, after what had happened the previous night. He set his jaw. There was nothing to be done about it for now. ‘Where do I go?’
‘Follow me,’ directed Amarantus. He headed for the roped-off square in the centre of the courtyard. Already fighters were standing three and four deep around it. Spartacus and his comrades followed. So did the Scythian. They shoved their way through the throng, right up to the waist-high ropes which formed the area’s perimeter.
‘In you go,’ said Amarantus, lifting the rope.
As Spartacus entered the square, he felt a tickling thrill of anticipation. A fight was still a fight.
‘Who’ll back Carbo?’ shouted a voice. ‘The boy looks unremarkable, but he wouldn’t have walked in here if he couldn’t handle himself.’
Glancing around, Spartacus recognised Restio, who had seen him kill the Gaul. So he’s a betmaker too.
‘What odds?’ asked a German.
‘Twenty to one against.’
‘That’s well worth a gamble.’ The German’s grin was feral. ‘Put me down for five denarii.’
A clamour of voices rained down, placing even larger wagers on the newcomer. Restio’s business was only interrupted by the arrival of Phortis and Carbo in the square. The Capuan had two practice swords under one arm. Ordering Carbo to shed his tunic and sandals, he made the pair stand ten paces apart.
Spartacus stared hard at Carbo, who surprisingly held his gaze.
The onlookers were eyeing the Roman’s well-muscled chest and upper arms. ‘Sure you should have given me such long odds?’ asked the German.
‘Compared to Spartacus, he looks like a plucked chicken,’ retorted Restio with aplomb. ‘Just wait and see.’
Next, Phortis tossed each man a weapon: to Spartacus, a gladius, and to Carbo, a sica. Spartacus gripped his blade like a lover, and wishing that he’d been given the other sword. Unused to the wooden sica’s weight, Carbo hefted his to and fro. A damn shame that I didn’t have more lessons from Paccius.
‘Helmets and shields!’ Phortis bellowed.
There was a short delay before two slaves appeared. One carried a scutum, while the other bore a small, square shield and a distinctive Phrygian helmet. The first headed for Spartacus, and the other to Carbo. They handed over the items and scurried to safety.
Phortis looked up
at the balcony, where Batiatus was now waiting. An expectant hush fell over the courtyard.
‘The bout will last until one man is either disarmed or acknowledges defeat,’ said the lanista. ‘Begin!’
Phortis scrambled out of the way, and Spartacus moved forward at a trot.
By now, Ariadne had heard what was going on. Using a bench to stand on, she peered out of the cell window. Let it be over quickly, she prayed. Keep Spartacus from harm.
Carbo had the sense not to meet Spartacus’ overwhelming attack head on. With nimble footwork, he dodged to one side. Instantly, the air filled with jeers. Spartacus spun around and went after him with deadly speed. He caught up within six strides. Clattering his shield off the other’s, he thrust his gladius straight at Carbo’s face. The Roman’s head jerked frantically to one side, and the wooden sword’s tip skittered off the side of his helmet.
Carbo’s lightning-fast response caught everyone off guard, Spartacus most of all. Even as Carbo reeled backwards, he thrust around the side of his shield, driving the point of his weapon into Spartacus’ bare midriff. The Thracian doubled over with pain. He had the wits to pull close his shield and shuffle backwards but even so, Carbo was on him like a dog on a rat. He rained down a flurry of blows, aiming for Spartacus’ head. Maybe I can win this!
‘No!’ whispered Ariadne in horror. It was easy to imagine that the bout was real.
A few men began cheering for Carbo. ‘What odds will you give me on the Roman now?’ demanded a Samnite.
Restio recovered his betmaker’s poise fast. ‘The rookie’s wasting his time. Everyone knows that Thracians’ skulls are incredibly thick. Spartacus probably doesn’t even know that Carbo’s hitting him.’ He smiled as the men around him roared with laughter.
Spartacus heard none of the exchange. He was concentrating on recovering the breath that had been driven from his lungs by Carbo’s first blow. The moment that the young Roman’s attack slowed, he’d strike like a snake. Fast and lethal. End this charade for once and for all.
Realising that his assault was having little effect, Carbo swung his right arm down. Trying to repeat his earlier success, he made a desperate thrust at Spartacus’ abdomen. This time, however, the Thracian was ready for him. With a powerful sideswipe of his shield, he smashed Carbo’s blade up and out of the way. In the same instant, Spartacus launched a massive swing at the other’s head. His gladius connected with a loud, metallic clang, and Carbo staggered away, his vision blurred, and with a huge dent in his bronze helmet.
Take that, you bastard, thought Spartacus.
Many of the gladiators cheered loudly. Ariadne joined in.
Carbo adjusted his helmet and shook his shoulders. What in Hades should I do now? There was no possible way that he could beat Spartacus. But I can still impress Batiatus.
‘Game over,’ announced Restio with satisfaction. ‘Why bother with swordsmanship when brute force will do?’
Spartacus sauntered towards his opponent. ‘Ready to surrender?’
Carbo raised his sword and shield determinedly. ‘No,’ he said, his voice muffled by his helmet. Jupiter, help me.
‘Don’t be stupid,’ growled Spartacus in a low voice.
‘Piss off.’ Carbo didn’t back away either, nor did he drop his weapon. Instead, he slid his bare feet across the sand, moving towards Spartacus with just as much intent as he’d shown earlier. He wasn’t aware quite how dangerous the Thracian was, however.
Powering forward, Spartacus swept away Carbo’s thrust as easily as he’d have swatted a fly. Dropping his right shoulder, he smashed his shield into the other’s, sending Carbo sprawling to the ground. Spartacus stooped and shoved the point of his sword right under the lower edge of Carbo’s helmet. ‘Yield!’
Carbo shook his head. Batiatus has to see that I’m no coward.
‘What’s he doing?’ hissed Restio. ‘Does the fool want to die?’
Spartacus suspected his reason for not giving in. His pride won’t let him. Sometimes, death is preferable to dishonour. ‘Yield!’ he repeated.
Again Carbo shook his head in refusal.
‘Finish the stupid bastard!’ roared Crixus.
‘ Iugula! Iugula! ’ shouted many of the gladiators. ‘Kill him!’
Spartacus glanced up at the balcony. There was no longer any sign of Batiatus. Phortis merely shrugged. He didn’t care whether Carbo lived or died.
The roar of ‘ Iugula ’ swelled until the very walls of the ludus rang with it.
Spartacus glanced around the square, and saw the fighters’ bloodlust. He felt it himself. The decision was down to him. His strength and the proximity of the strike meant that even with a wooden sword, Carbo ran a real risk of dying. He hardened his heart. Is that my fault? The fool had had two chances, and refused both. If he didn’t follow through now, the other gladiators would see him as weak. He’s only a fucking Roman after all. With a snarl, Spartacus pulled back his right arm.
Suddenly, Carbo realised that he might have pushed things too far. He clenched his teeth in bitter acceptance.
‘No,’ whispered Ariadne. ‘You can’t kill an unarmed man.’
‘ Iugula! Iugula! ’
Closing his left eye, Spartacus took aim at the small hollow at the base of Carbo’s throat. If he drove the wooden sword in hard enough there, it would kill the Roman. So be it.
‘Hold!’ bellowed Batiatus through the shouting.
Spartacus barely heard. He just managed to check himself. Confused, he squinted up at the lanista.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘He won’t give in,’ replied Spartacus. ‘And Phortis didn’t say not to.’
Batiatus rounded on the Capuan. ‘Idiot! I step away from the balcony for a moment, and this is what happens? Why didn’t you end the fight? Carbo fought well enough for a tiro. He might be inexperienced, but he’s no good to me as a damn corpse. Eh?’
‘No, sir,’ muttered Phortis. He shot a vengeful look at Spartacus.
‘Step away from him,’ ordered Batiatus.
Spartacus did as he was told.
Ariadne felt a wave of relief. The Roman would live. She glanced at Spartacus again, feeling awe, and a little fear. Gods, but he is a tough bastard.
Slowly, the Roman sat up. Thank you, Jupiter.
‘I didn’t expect you to fight so well, Carbo. But your inexperience was also obvious. You have a lot to learn,’ said the lanista. ‘The first thing should be that if you go into a fight looking to die, you’ll probably succeed.’ He smiled at the guffaws this produced.
Carbo nodded wearily. With an effort, he took off his helmet.
‘Return tomorrow. You’ll be paid your joining fee, and you can start training at once. My lawyer will have drawn up the contract by then.’ Batiatus turned and was gone.
‘The entertainment is over. Back to your training!’ Phortis shouted. He threw another venomous stare at Spartacus, but the Thracian ignored him.
Carbo’s voice broke into his reverie. ‘You were going to kill me.’
‘Of course I was, idiot. What do you expect me to do when you wouldn’t give in — try to talk you out of it?’
Carbo flushed. ‘No.’ There’s no mercy in this world.
‘You were foolish not to yield when I knocked you over,’ said Spartacus harshly, feeling a trace of remorse. He’s only a boy.
‘I see that now. I was trying to…’ Carbo hesitated.
‘You want to die? There’s no need to come here. Why not fling yourself in front of a chariot at the races? Or off a bridge into a damn river?’
‘It’s not that. I wanted to prove to Batiatus that I was brave enough,’ muttered Carbo.
‘Eh?’ Spartacus barked. ‘Well, you did that. You showed real ability too.’
Carbo blinked in surprise. ‘Ability?’ he repeated.
‘That’s what I said. Why not put it to some use?’
Carbo met Spartacus’ unwavering gaze, and saw that he was not joking. His chin lifted. �
�All right. I will.’
‘Good.’ The Roman had humility as well as courage, thought Spartacus. Despite the fact that Crixus’ and Phortis’ animosity towards him had deepened, he was glad now that he hadn’t killed Carbo. ‘Keep your mouth shut. Listen to your trainer. Watch men like Crixus, the big Gaul. Learn how they fight. If you can do that, you might still be alive in six months’ time. That’s all any of us in here can expect.’
‘Thank you.’
Spartacus stalked back to where Getas and Seuthes were standing with Amarantus. From the corner of his eye, he was aware of other gladiators giving him approving nods. Excellent. In being prepared to kill Carbo, he’d done the right thing.
Unaware of the politics, Carbo looked around for Phortis. He needed to ask if he could stay immediately. There was little point returning to his garret, where his rent would run out again in a week. He could use some of his joining fee to pay it, but it would be a waste. His bed and board here came with his contract. It would be tough here, however. Already there were lascivious glances coming his way from a few fighters. Carbo squared his shoulders. Screw them. I’ll make a go of it.
Ariadne also noticed the favourable looks being thrown at Spartacus. She was surprised by the sudden pride that filled her. Her husband was making a name for himself. No doubt that had been his primary motive in being prepared to kill Carbo, she reflected. She knew enough of Spartacus now to know that he was not a cold-blooded killer. His new status would make life in the ludus safer for her too. Then Ariadne saw Phortis leering at her, and her fears resurged.
Safer from the gladiators, at least.
Over the following few days, two other gladiators picked quarrels with Spartacus. He’d gone for the kill in both fights, battering one of the men, a Nubian, until he was unconscious, and the other, a blocky German, until he’d begged for mercy. After that, it was if Spartacus had passed some kind of test. The fighters began to give him a wide berth. Soon after, he was approached by a number of Thracians. They came offering their allegiance. Their approach was most welcome. Spartacus had realised that survival and status in the ludus was all about being a member of a group. The oddments of the ludus, a disparate group of nationalities, were the only ones who were leaderless. Under Oenomaus, the Germans were well organised into one bloc. The Samnites were loyal to the charismatic but dangerous Gavius. Even the quarrelsome Gauls had Crixus, Castus and Gannicus. Three factions rather than one, but both were a damn sight stronger than the ten or more bunches of Thracians that had gradually evolved.
