Praise for Sword of the Gladiatrix
Justice’s sure-footed pacing and excellent ear for dialogue [is] especially effective in bringing her two main characters to life…Through Justice’s prose, we really feel what it was like to attend gladiatorial games in a Roman arena, and the author’s research also comes in handy in giving great depth to the native beliefs of both Cinnia and especially Afra. By the exciting close of the novel, readers will care very much about both these women – fans of Roman historical fiction should not miss this title.--Historical Novel Society
“Faith L Justice has a deep fascination with the world of ancient Rome and her passion for this lost era shines through in her new novel, Sword of the Gladiatrix…Right from the start, however, I was gripped by Faith’s great writing style–and hardly put it down until I reached the end…The two heroines are memorable and original, and Faith has achieved the difficult challenge of making me care even about the minor characters. The love scenes were handled sensitively and provide a counterpoint to the inevitable savagery of the gladiatorial arena. Highly recommended.”--Writing Desk
“An amazing and totally original and unique novel. Such a strong range of female characters are depicted, courageous, brave, cunning, deadly, deceitful a complete gambit of credible and totally believable women. Ms Justice has certainly done her research and this is evident in this convincing tale. Countries are travelled, religions explained, rituals rationalized all this while a relationship between two dominant females unfolds. For me this novel was a learning experience in conjunction with a sensational story line. If you are looking for a novel to pique your historic interest while keeping you transfixed with an audacious narrative then this book will not disappoint.”--Inked Rainbow Reads
"Sword of the Gladiatrix was a very enthralling read. I loved the action packed scenes in the book. I thought that the author was able to balance a good paced plot with very interesting and memorable characters. The strong female characters were an essential part of the story. Usually there is so much attention placed on the gladiators it was refreshing to read about women warriors. The story is also a romance between two women and their search for love in the midst of a very savage time. Overall, this was an enjoyable story and I would not only recommend it but also plan to keep it on my book shelf and re-read in the future."--Book Nerd
“If you like books on Ancient Rome then I highly recommend this one!”--Genre Queen
COPYRIGHT
Sword of the Gladiatrix
Copyright © 2015 Faith L. Justice
All rights reserved.
Smashwords Edition
2015
Raggedy Moon Books
raggedymoonbooks.com
Cover image licensed from iStockphoto.com
Cover design by Todd Engle
toddengle-englecreative.com
Epub ISBN-13: 978-1310749735
Print ISBN-13: 978-0692386491
Print ISBN-10: 0692386491
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead; businesses; companies; events or location is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form without the author’s and publisher’s permission.
BY FAITH L. JUSTICE
NOVELS:
Selene of Alexandria
Twilight Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome
NON-FICTION:
Hypatia: Her Life and Times
SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS:
The Reluctant Groom and Other Historical Stories
Time Again and Other Fantastic Stories
Slow Death and Other Dark Tales
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Tokoyo, the Samurai’s Daughter
To Hope and Robyn who continue to fight the good fight.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I CONSULTED A HUNDRED OR MORE BOOKS, dozens of people, a couple of top flight museums; personally tramped the streets of Rome and Pompeii; sat in Roman amphitheaters; and gazed at the ancient graffiti advertising gladiator games during the course of writing this book. Among the books I found most helpful were: The Kingdom of Kush by Derek A. Welsby, Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen by Richard Hingley and Christina Unwin, Nero: The End of a Dynasty by Miriam T. Griffin, Pompeii: A Guide to the Ancient City by Salvatore Nappo, Roman Sports and Spectacles: A Sourcebook by Anne Mahoney, Invisible Romans by Robert Knapp, Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome by Donald G. Kyle, Isis in the Ancient World by R. E. Witt, and The Gods of the Celts by Miranda Green. You can find a much more comprehensive bibliography on my website.
I am forever grateful to members of my writer’s group Circles in the Hair for reading and critiquing the first couple of drafts of this book. Their encouragement and advice was invaluable. Many thanks to my beta readers Alisha, Hope, and Laura who gave freely of their time and feedback. As always, I cannot give enough credit to my husband Gordon Rothman and daughter Hannah Rothman for their unique contributions to the book and their never-wavering support. Did I mention the cats? They didn’t do much except sit on the keyboard and sleep on my piles of notes…but they were cute doing it.
But who has never seen a woman behind her defiant shield repeatedly striking at the exercise pole with her sword...A helmeted woman like that thinks she can do anything.
—Satyricon by Juvenal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
EPIGRAPH
CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
EPILOG
AUTHOR’S NOTE
GLOSSARY
READER LETTER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
OTHER BOOKS BY FAITH L. JUSTICE
CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Afra—Roman name meaning “Woman of Africa,” Kushite name Amanirenas—huntress from Kingdom of Kush, gladiatrix, fights as myrmilla
Cinnia—young British woman of the Iceni tribe, gladiatrix, fights as Thracian
Decimus Cornial Asina—Roman general sent to Kush
Kashta—chief advisor to the Kushite King and Pye’s father
Piye—Kasta’s son, Asata’s husband, Afra’s brother-in-law
Amanitenmemide—Qore (king) of Kush
Amanikhatashan—Kandake (queen) of Kush
Suetonius Paulinus—Roman Governor of the province of Britannia
Lucius Marcius—Roman trader, Afra’s master
Asata—Afra’s step-sister married to Piye
Oriana—Dumnor’s wife, Cinnia’s sister-in-law
Melva—Oriana’s younger sister
Dumnor—Cinnia’s brother
Boudica—Iceni Queen
Prasutagus—Iceni King
Brianna—Boudica’s older daugh
ter (actual name unknown)
Maeve—Boudica’s younger daughter (actual name unknown)
Catus Decianus—Procurator of Rome, Province of Britannia
Quintus Petilius Cerialis Caesius Rufus—general in charge of the IXth Legion
Mesbat—Asata’s mother, Afra’s step-mother
Clio—snake handler/dancer, Lucius Marcius’ wife
Rufus—a friend of Lucius Marcius
Paetus—doctore, gladiator trainer
Varro—brothel owner
Caecus—brothel doorkeeper
Bassa—Roman matron, prisoner
Corva—old woman herbalist, prisoner
Celer—lame boy, prisoner
Priscus—poet, prisoner
Sextus Licinius Murena—Pompeii magistrate
Calvus—gladiator recruiter
Silo—lanista, gladiator school owner
Julia—Roman gladiatrix, fights as retiaria
Gerta—German gladiatrix, fights as secutor
Portia—Roman gladiatrix, fights as myrmilla
Barba—doctore, gladiator trainer
Fullo—ludus slave in charge of supplies
Naso—beast handler
Capeio—doctore, gladiator trainer
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus—Emperor of Rome AD 54-68
Poppaea Sabina—Augusta, Nero’s second wife
PROLOGUE
“AFRA! AFRA!” THE CROWD IN THE AMPHITHEATER CHANTS MY NAME, calling me forward to kill or be killed for their amusement.
The Romans call me Afra—“woman of Africa”—because they don’t care to wrap their tongues around my real name. Or perhaps the fact that I am named after Amanirenas the one-eyed warrior queen, who wiped out the Roman garrison at Aswan two generations ago, gives them pause. It matters little now.
A slave wraps my lower legs with felted wool and straps a gilded greave to my left shin, because I fight as myrmilla. He smells of sour sweat, as do I. I’ve already fought once today, tested fate, and won. The gold sand that Nero favors in the arena still crusts my hair and rasps the skin under my sweat-soaked breast band. I will go again before the ravenous crowds to satisfy their bloodlust. For what? An emperor’s whim? The crowd’s passing fancy? A sacrifice to their gods?
I swallow the bitter gall that surges into my mouth.
Across the room, another slave straps armor on Cinnia, my beloved. She looks at me with pride in her eyes and a brief smile on her lips. We said our goodbyes last night, clasped breast to breast, thigh to thigh, a stolen moment before being sent to our lonely cells. My heart beats an irregular rhythm.
My love. Light to my dark. Fire to my ice.
Cinnia is goddess-given to me; from a land of mists and forests, so different from my country of desert and blistering sun. Without her, I would be dead. Without me, so would she. We have suffered, struggled, lived, and loved. Now we go out upon the sands of the great arena to die. One by her lover’s hands, the other by her own.
It is not the life or death I chose for myself, but it is the one the gods gave me.
CHAPTER ONE
Kingdom of Kush, in the sixth year of Nero’s reign (60 CE)
AFRA WATCHED WITH HER FELLOW KUSHITES, as the small contingent of Roman soldiers escorted General Decimus Cornial Asina through the streets and plazas of the Kush capital of Meroe. The setting sun washed the city in bloody light—an ill omen. As their guide from the Egyptian border, she should have tried to delay the Romans till morning, a more auspicious time for new beginnings.
She shook her head. Leave the auguring to the priests. Only they can determine the will of the gods, what is auspicious, what is ill-omened. Besides, the General had been most insistent on setting the pace. Any ill-luck is his own.
The blare of curved horns—what the Romans call buccinae—announced the Roman presence at the palace. Bright limestone steps led up to a colonnade sheltering a massive wooden door, flanked by monumental stone carvings of the king on one side and the queen on the other; both smiting their enemies with flails and spears. The red sun reflected off the soldiers’ burnished breastplates and sharp spears.
Kashta, the king’s chief advisor, and his own entourage of aides and guards, met the delegation with their own fine show of trumpets and drums. Among them, Afra spotted Piye, Kashta’s son and her step-sister’s husband, dressed in shimmering striped robes. His hooked nose curved over a cruel mouth.
Her stomach roiled and her lips unconsciously curled into a snarl.
Gods curse him!
A final flourish of trumpets called her attention back to the ceremony. The chief advisor raised his hands for silence. “My Lord Amanitenmemide, Qore of the Kushites, born of the gods, and his wife Kandake Amanikhatashan, Mother of the next Qore, bids the representative of Nero, Imperator of the Romans, welcome to their lands.”
General Asina gave the briefest of bows. Afra knew he would take the King’s absence as a slight on his honor. Her people knew the absence of the queen was just as great an insult. Perhaps it was meant to be. If so, it was a dangerous game to bait these Romans.
Asina intoned in his stentorian voice, “Imperator Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Pater Patriae and four times Consul of the People of Rome sends his greetings.”
Kashta did not bend his neck. “My Qore has had accommodations prepared for you, but asks your pardon for his absence. He has duties in the temple of Amun and will greet you properly at a feast in your honor after you have rested and refreshed yourselves.” Asina gave him a stiff nod and ordered his men to camp outside the walls. An honor guard accompanied him to his more comfortable accommodations.
The Romans marched off and the crowd dispersed, muttering. One young man spat in the street as the Romans left it. Three women with kohl-rimmed eyes watched the soldiers retreat; speculative smiles on their faces. Afra shrugged as the women drifted down the street in the Roman’s wake. Everyone had to eat. If not for her hunting skills, it might be she following the Romans to their beds. The thought made her shudder.
Thank you Mother Isis, Queen of all Gods, Goddesses, and Women for saving me from that fate.
Afra walked across the plaza fronting the palace and the brightly painted Temple of Amun, wondering if she dared visit her step-sister before retiring for the night. She lived for Asata’s smiles and loving embraces, but it was dangerous meeting too often. Her rumbling stomach and a whiff of rancid odor decided for her. Dinner, then a wash.
She didn’t make it to her room.
One of the queen’s servants caught up to her, panting. “Huntress, the Kandake wishes to talk to you.”
Afra indicated her sweat-stained linen clothes, worn sandals, and dusty hair. “Now? It’s been a long journey escorting the Romans from Hierasykaminos. I don’t wish to offend the Kandake with my stink.”
The slave sniffed and raised the corner of his mouth. “She says at once.”
***
AFRA ENTERED KANDAKE AMANIKHATASHAN’S private receiving chamber through a small back entrance used for servants and others with more clandestine charges. Afra had used that entrance more than once doing the queen’s bidding. The room opened on an interior courtyard which, during the day, provided bright light and cooling breezes. Now the room glowed in the soft light of oil lamps hung from the ceiling. Coals in a brass brazier chased off the night chill and gave flickering life to the frescos of Nile plants and animals on the wall. The queen entered and Afra abased herself on the soft wool carpet.
“Rise and be seated. Take some refreshment.” In the tradition of Kushite queens, Amanikhatashan was an immense woman—shorter than Afra by a head, but three times her girth. Her dusky skin glistened with oil; her ears, hands, and arms glittered with gold ornaments. A gold pectoral decorated with blue faience rested on the substantial bosom of her white linen gown. She had not finished her preparations for the Roman banquet. The queen’s shaved head awaited the elaborate wig and headdress reminiscent of the ancient Egyptians her ancestors had o
nce ruled.
Afra perched on a chair decorated with blue-green cushions made of a smooth material that felt like water gliding over her fingers—silk it was called, from lands beyond the east sea. She reached for a blue glass goblet filled with cool wine but left the plate of sliced melon untouched.
The queen settled on a more substantial couch and clasped her hands in her lap. Afra lowered her eyes and awaited the queen’s pleasure.
Finally the queen nodded. “My daughter, you have been a good and faithful servant since you came to me two years ago. Your hunting skills are renowned and you have completed every…delicate…task set to you with diligence and discretion.”
Afra bowed her head in acknowledgment. She had seen but eighteen summers when her step-mother drove her from home, calling her abomination. These last two years, serving her queen, allowed her hope of a future with Asata.
The queen sampled the wine and looked at Afra over the rim of her goblet. “What did you learn on the trek?”
“A little, Kandake. I’m still learning their language.” She smiled. “The General’s name, Asina, means female ass. For some reason the Romans delight in having insulting names.”
“Now I will have difficulty speaking to the man without seeing a braying donkey.” The queen’s eyes sparkled then sharpened. “But I need to know more than their penchant for silly names. Why this expedition? Why now? Relations are good with Rome. Trade is profitable.”
“The soldiers are sharp-eyed; the traders anxious. Asina talks of a journey to discover the origins of the Mother Nile. All seem curious about the source of our gold and ivory.”
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