Traitor Blade: (Books 1-3)

by Richard Crawford

  "The young man took the challenge, no one forced him to fight," said Antonius primly. He was clearly displeased by the arrival of the gladiators. "This is not the coliseum, Lex. We have different rules here."

  "True enough," said Lex. "But you trained gladiators once, Antonius, now it seems you are satisfied to train apes and gull fools into beatings." There was an edge to his voice. Despite the casual mockery, there was clearly a rivalry here. The crowd laughed.

  Edouard had no doubt now that the group of men must be gladiators. He did not fully understand the exchange with Antonius, but he did not like being called a fool. If that was what Lex meant. He heard Rudolfo mutter a curse. It seemed he liked being called an ape even less.

  Edouard had a moment's warning before the big man roared a challenge and came at him like a charging bull. The roar was meant to intimidate and in the confined space it was a terrifying sound. With the crowd packed close, there was no room to maneuver and he had no option but to stand his ground. But if he did not do something he would be crushed like a bug. At the last moment, Edouard dropped to the sand, using his legs to scythe the big man's from under him. It was a risky move, depending on precision and timing, but thanks to the gladiators baiting he had little choice.

  It was typical of the way his luck was running that someone would goad Rudolfo's temper, as if things were not going badly enough. There was a chance it might help his cause if the big man lost composure. Edouard hated to lose. He had enough left for one last throw of the dice, and he had a plan.

  His scything kick did not catch the big man perfectly, but Rudolfo went down to his knees. Edouard leaped up and mimed a kick to his ass. The crowd roared and laughed. Instead, he took a running leap and landed on Rudolfo's back. It was risky. He looped his arms round the big man's neck and hung on as the fighter spun and twisted, trying to dislodge him. There was an element of farce to it, but Edouard did not care. He bailed out when Rudolfo tried to smear him across the wall. Between the crowd's laughter and the gladiators' presence, Rudolfo had lost some of his composure.

  After that Edouard did his best to draw the man on while staying out of harm's way. He succeeded for a while, then a shot got past his guard and connected hard enough to leave him dazed. He backed off, shaking his head, taking a moment to catch his breath. Rudolfo growled at the delay. If the arrival of the gladiators had annoyed him, the last maneuver had refocused his anger. Unfortunately, it did not seem to have thrown him off his game significantly. The snakes on his skin glistened in the torchlight as he circled patiently. He raised a hand beckoning Edouard forward. "Come, sweetling, I was going to be kind, but now I want to taste your blood." He snarled, revealing jagged teeth.

  Without waiting for a response, Rudolfo advanced. He ducked, suddenly. Edouard had lost his bearings, which was not good, as his plan required precise positioning. Blinded by a flare of torchlight as the big man ducked, he took another heavy blow. It drove him back against the wall of one of the shops. The crowd groaned, no doubt recognizing a tactic Rudolfo had used before. The big man stepped forward, arm swinging down like a hammer. Trapped against the wall, Edouard had no escape. The big man's fist smashed him into the wall. He dropped, face down, and lay in Rudolfo's shadow.

  The crowd quieted. Edouard pushed a hand into the sand and tried to get to his knees.

  "Stay down, boy," a voice called. He thought it was Gil. Other voices echoed the instruction. Others yelled for him to get up and fight.

  He rolled groggily to his knees and braced a hand against the wall. Before he could get to his feet, Rudolfo's boot caught him in the gut; the kick was hard enough to lift him off the floor. The crowd hissed and cheered.

  Edouard landed on his face again and tasted sand. His breath came in wheezing gasps. It took a while, but he pushed himself back to his knees. Rudolfo stepped forward. There was nothing Edouard could do. Half the crowd were shouting for him to stay down. Others yelled at Rudolfo to give him a chance to get up.

  Edouard heard the hiss of Antonius' voice close by. "Let him up, he's giving them a good show."

  After several attempts, Edouard made it to his feet, but only with the support of the wall. It took him a moment to get his bearings. He realized he was on the wrong side of the square and wondered if he had enough left to get to his objective.

  Gil stepped out of the crowd, moving between him and Rudolfo, raising a hand to hold the big man back. He looked Edouard in the eye. "You've won the bet now, lad, I've coin for you. That's enough for tonight," he said. "No shame in quitting now."

  "I'm not done yet." Edouard grinned between bloody lips. "I want that purse."

  "Don't be a fool, he'll rip your head off," said Gil.

  Lex had come to stand with them. The gladiator was serious now. "Listen to Gil," he said and glanced back towards Rudolfo. "He's out for blood, and that's partly my fault."

  "I'm not afraid of him."

  After a moment, Lex laughed. "Perhaps you should be?"

  "Perhaps," said Edouard. He'd had the rest he needed. He grinned at the gladiator and pushed past him.

  The crowd cheered as he returned to face Rudolfo.

  He had a plan. It was probably not a good idea, and it would not be easy to achieve whilst Rudolfo was kicking his ass around the square. Edouard had always been told he was too proud. But pride had its good side; it made it impossible to give up. He had decided how this fight would end. He set himself to achieve that goal and to take the punishment required to do so.

  By chance, he achieved his goal thanks to Rudolfo. A heartbeat too slow to dodge a claw-fisted lunge, he was caught. Like a cat with a rat, the big man tossed him through the air. Edouard landed against the door of one of the shops. The crowd groaned as planks shattered and he crashed backward into the dark interior. He landed on his ass again. He blinked and tried to focus.

  Close by he saw rows of large amphora; above his head smaller vessels were stacked on shelves. He was where he wanted to be, and now he had a new idea. But he was not sure if he could get up. He did not have a choice; if Rudolfo trapped him inside the narrow store he would have no chance.

  Edouard could see the big man's shadow outside, huge in the torchlight. Taking a breath, he made it to his feet. He could hear the crowd, laughter and some shouts of concern; among them he recognized Gil's voice. It would be dangerous if Rudolfo trapped him here.

  Edouard grabbed one of the small amphora from the shelf. He weighed it in his hand for a moment and quickly chose a finer vessel. Rudolfo was just outside now. With a flick of his wrist, Edouard spun the amphora through the open door. He heard Rudolfo grunt as the pot hit him and shattered. Edouard grinned and chose another amphora, spinning it into the air. Two more followed and Rudolfo's shadow retreated. Edouard liked his new plan. He gathered more pots and moved to the door.

  Emerging into the square, he took aim and fired the vessels at the big man. Rudolfo was already dripping with olive oil. He ducked to avoid one pot, but the other hit his shoulder and shattered. The big man roared in fury. He took a step and slipped in a puddle of oil.

  Antonius had said there were no rules, so it all depended on the crowd's reaction. Edouard could hear them laughing and a few cheering at his tactics. He grinned. It seemed there were advantages to being the underdog. He ducked back to grab another couple of pots; his gaze fell on a chair in the corner. With a grin he snatched at the cushion, ripping it as he did so. He emerged from the shop to cheers.

  Rudolfo was coming towards him, seeing the amphora in his hand, the fighter hesitated. Then with a roar of fury, he charged. Edouard spun the first pot at the big man and Rudolfo came to a sliding halt. Edouard took aim with the other pot as Rudolfo retreated, snarling curses.

  Edouard threw the second pot and sent the cushion spinning after it. Busy fending off the pot, Rudolfo punched the cushion from the air, as he did so the ancient fabric burst and dusty feathers exploded out. In moments the big man was coated with oil and feathers. He roared; the snakes on his skin came al
ive, trembling with his rage. He wiped feathers and oil from his face.

  The crowd had fallen silent. Edouard took a step forward, preparing for a final flourish. Gil pushed his way through the close packed ranks and caught Edouard's arm. Lex was alongside him.

  "You've given them a show and won them over," Gil said, urgently. "They'll let you off if you quit now, and keep Rudolfo from killing you. Lex will talk them round if there's any who don't like it."

  "I'm not done," said Edouard.

  "Are you mad?" Gil grabbed him by the arm. "You've had your fun, but after that last trick he's going to kill you. Walk away while you can."

  Edouard shrugged him off. When Gil reached for him again it was Lex who held him back.

  "Let him be," the gladiator spoke softly. After a moment's hesitation, Gil obeyed.

  Edouard shared a quick glance with Lex. Then he turned back to the fight. He had had a moment's rest and the chance to get his breath back. He focused on the big man. Everything hung on what Rudolfo did next.

  Antonius had given him a towel to clean the oil off his hands, so he could grip and hold. The big man finished and threw the towel aside. The crowd were silent, holding their breath as Rudolfo took a step forward. Edouard eyed the distance, he held for a heartbeat. It was all about timing and luck.

  He had chosen the shop because it had rails for the store holder to hang out his merchandise. The rails were just above head height. Edouard ran lightly forward and leaped to catch the furthest rail. He swung, letting his impetus carry him out into the square. At the last moment, he released his grip. It was all about timing and luck.

  Rudolfo had paused to watch. Edouard flew through the air of his own volition this time. His feet caught the big man, but Rudolfo's hesitation had thrown the timing of the move out. The fighter grunted at the impact. But Edouard knew he had not hit him hard enough. They went down together in a tangle of flailing legs and arms.

  The crowd roared as he took the big man down. Edouard did not have time to celebrate; he knew he was in trouble. Rudolfo was already stirring. Edouard rolled quickly to his feet. Rudolfo was on his knees. They were both covered in oil, sand and feathers. He saw the look on the big man's face. Unless he ran or quit, he would get a beating now. Pride would not let him quit, and he had never run from a fight.

  Antonius hovered close by looking anxious. The crowd, large enough now that it nearly filled the square, watched in silence. Rudolfo wiped his hands. In the torchlight, oil glazed his skin along with clumps of feathers. He flexed his hands, preparing to charge. Edouard crouched, ready. The crowd shuffled back, giving them room. There were some shouts, but Edouard did not hear the words. His attention was focused on Rudolfo and on surviving what came next. Blood dripped into his eyes, he didn't really notice. It was no longer a game, now it was real. This was his world. This was what he did, what he loved. Nothing mattered beyond the moment.

  Rudolfo snarled, his broken teeth glittering. "Are you ready, sweetling?"

  Edouard grinned and beckoned him on just as eager. Rudolfo hesitated. He looked to Antonius.

  "What's wrong?" The little man asked.

  The snakes writhed as Rudolfo shrugged. "Does he want me to kill him?" he asked, almost plaintive.

  Silence fell over the square. Then Lex stepped forward.

  "Call it a draw," he said to the crowd. "You've had your money's worth." A few moment silence then someone yelled approval. Gradually more voices joined him.

  "Call it a draw," Lex shouted again. "Antonius will return the stakes." The big gladiator stepped forward. Perhaps the only man with presence enough to control the situation. He looked to the crowd. "You've had a good show. What do you say?"

  After a moment, a man at the front nodded agreement. Others muttered but there were more shouts of approval. Antonius was arguing. Soon the roar of noise was deafening.

  Edouard heard them, but he did not take his eyes off Rudolfo. The big man walked closer, unnoticed amid the uproar, until they faced each other. "What's the matter with you? You're too young to have a death wish?"

  Edouard blinked. He had no answer and he could not bring himself to trust Rudolfo, to let the moment go. As if he was on a battlefield. He spat blood and waited.

  Rudolfo offered his hand. The snakes were quiet as he relaxed. There was no doubt that he was sincere. But Edouard was still primed to fight and the berserker urge was close and hard to let go. A slap on the back rocked him.

  "Shake his hand," said Lex, putting an arm round his shoulders, half friendly, half restraining.

  Edouard stepped away, annoyed, and turned his back on the gladiator. He looked to Rudolfo and offered his hand. "You should have the victory," he said and nearly managed not to sound surly.

  The big man grinned. "Antonius won't pay out now." He looked to Lex. "Best to call it a draw."

  Now it was over Edouard began to feel the battering he had taken. One eye was swollen half closed. It was an effort just to stay on his feet. It would be almost impossible to make it back into the palace without being seen. As always he had messed up. But it had been worth it.

  He started to turn away. A hand to his chest stopped him. For a heartbeat, he thought it meant trouble, but it was Lex.

  "Wait, you can't go home like this," the gladiator said, wincing as he looked him over. "You'll scare someone to death. You need cleaning up, and we've a physician back at the barracks."

  Edouard did not answer. He had decided he did not like the casual way Lex interfered in things, but despite this, it was a generous offer. Gil came to stand alongside Lex. The other gladiators gathered round them. They all looked to him expectantly, as did those members of the crowd close enough to hear Lex's offer. Presumably, Lex had conferred some sort of honor on him. He suspected it would not be wise to refuse after what had just happened.

  He nodded acceptance, but could not bring himself to offer thanks. Graceless as that might be, he was still annoyed by Lex acting like he was royalty. The gladiator gave him a sharp look and beckoned.

  "Come on then," he said. The other gladiators closed round him and the crowd parted before them.

  Edouard looked back to where Antonius, with Rudolfo at his side to keep order, was returning punters money.

  "Did you need the money that much?" a voice asked. It was Gil. "I can get you work. Or perhaps Lex can find you something at the coliseum. They need men to tend the animals and sweep up."

  Edouard started to laugh. "Sweeping up horse shit!"

  "That not good enough for you?" Gil frowned. "Don't let this go to your head. You gave a good show, lad, and there's no doubt you're brave enough, but you were lucky Lex was here to break it up. None of that makes you fit to be a gladiator, if that's what you think."

  Edouard tried to stop laughing, mostly because it hurt too much. Gil was looking at him as if he was a madman. And there was no doubt the man meant well. Edouard made an effort to pull himself together and thank Gil. Before he could there was a step behind them.

  "Wait." It was Rudolfo.

  Gil stepped forward, raising a hand. "It's done, Rudi, leave it."

  Edouard could see the big man was not there to cause trouble. He moved alongside Gil. "I didn't thank you," he said. "It was a low trick. You didn't have to let me off."

  Rudolfo laughed and brushed away a handful of stray feathers. "Most of these fights are dull as ditch water. At least you gave me some entertainment." His grin was rueful. "Though there were moments when I was not feeling so kindly towards you." He held out a flask of wine and a small purse. "It's not much," he said, indicating the purse. "But the wine's good enough."

  Edouard tried to hand the purse back, aware it was the man's living. "I didn't win this." It had been a game, a diversion, but also something more. It had been a lie too. The crowd had cheered for the underdog, not knowing. He began to feel bad.

  "You earned it," said Rudolfo. He looked to Gil and then to the gladiators who had paused to wait for them. "You're worth two of those showy bastards
. Don't let him tell you otherwise."

  "Don't give him ideas," said Gil, sighing.

  Rudolfo shook his head. "Maybe not. I've fought a lot of men, from blacksmiths to knights," he said. "I remember the handful I'd want alongside me in a fight." He nodded to Edouard. "You'd be one of them," he said.

  Chapter 87

  The walk to the gladiators' barracks brought them into the shadow of the coliseum. A building so vast it obscured the sky and moon. Edouard was impressed despite his determined lack of respect for gladiators.

  The coliseum had a presence; he could not deny it and something about the place made him shiver. He made an effort to hide his reaction from Gil and Lex; for some reason it seemed important. The barracks was near the coliseum, but set in its own grounds. A gatehouse guarded the entrance. The men on duty opened a small door in the massive gates and he followed Lex and Gil inside.

  Beyond the gates lay a half dozen single story buildings and one much larger. Lex gestured. "The barracks." He led them towards the largest building. It looked more like a palace than a barracks. They climbed steps beneath a pillared portico. Edouard stared at marble columns, mosaic floors, and courtyards with ponds and fountains decorated with colorful tiles. It was no wonder Lex behaved like royalty.

  Edouard had expected grim functionality. His face must have reflected his surprise. Gil smiled broadly, as he showed him around.

  "Do all the gladiators live like this," Edouard asked.

  Gil laughed. "No, the other barracks are as you might expect. Only the best and most famous gladiators live in such style."

  Edouard noticed the phrasing. "Is there a difference, best and most famous?"

  Gil shot him a measuring look, and there was a moment's hesitation before he answered. "Yes," he said.

  There was something in his look and mild tone that discouraged further questions on the subject. It reminded Edouard of Rudolfo's comment: he had called the gladiators showy. Edouard did not press. He was there under false pretenses. Most likely Gil would not have admitted even that much if he did not think of him as a down on his luck youngster in need of help. In truth it made Edouard uncomfortable to deceive him, but the ruse had gone too far now. And he was annoyed at the way Lex and the other gladiators patronized him. It seemed fitting to keep them in the dark, but not Gil who had honestly tried to look out for him.