side of the chariot, the wheels struck it awkwardly as they rolled over it, and the driver lost control of the reins. The chariot swerved dangerously, and the remaining archer struggled for balance. He lost his aim and concentration, instead gripping the sides of the chariot to stay inside the vehicle.
The gladiator watched in a daze as his shield got picked up by the newcomer, who gained momentum with a few quick steps and let fly the circular metal shield like a discus at the stallions’ front legs. The horses stumbled upon impact and crashed hard into the dirt ground. The sudden stop jolted the chariot like a catapult, and the two remaining riders shot out with bone-breaking velocity.
It all happened so fast, the gladiator only caught a blur of movement as his aide stepped in front of him, effectively intercepting a blow from one of his remaining opponents’ club. The gladiator’s vision was steadily receding, and he blinked hard to keep his foes in sight.
“Get back!” the young warrior who defended him shouted amidst the jarring sounds of battle.
Valerius?
The gladiator could only shake his head in confusion as he realized belatedly that his rescuer was indeed his fourteen year-old son. The boy was fighting three grown men bare-handed and winning!
Valerius managed to dodge a thrust from one of their swords, turning sideways at the last moment and using the forward momentum of his attacker against him to pull him effortlessly to the ground. He leapt onto the fallen back of the first attacker and used the body as a springboard to engage the other two men while simultaneously cracking some bones underfoot and ensuring that the fallen opponent stayed down.
With a series of turns, twists, well-aimed elbow and knee jabs, body throws and nimble maneuvering, Valerius made short work of the other two opponents until all three men lay defeated on the dirt grounds.
The crowd went wild with cheers and applause at the incredible display. But Valerius didn’t notice as he rushed to his father who had sunk to the ground, lying motionlessly on his belly, bleeding profusely from his wounds.
“Sire!” Valerius gathered him close and tried to ascertain the damage.
His father pushed his searching hands away, saying gruffly, “This is your moment. You must play to the crowds. Leave me be. Rise and walk your victory rounds.”
Valerius was shaking his head before his father had finished speaking, but the gladiator clutched his arm urgently and plunged ahead, “You will do this, my son, for both our sakes. You are the new champion, and they love you. You must secure the crowd’s affection and approval so that they shower you with coin. This is a stage, and you are a player. We are all players. The crowds are the gods of your destiny. Go and appease them. Go!”
The gladiator shoved his son away and watched as Valerius briefly hesitated before turning to their audience in the stands, raising his arms and letting out a long cry of victory.
The crowd roared with approval, sending a shower of coins to rain on the arena grounds. The gladiator watched with pride as Valerius strode around the arena, getting the crowds to cheer louder, establishing himself as the undisputed champion.
He’d done it, the gladiator thought. He’d secured the crowd’s favor. Surely there would be enough coin from this win to pay off his entire family’s debt, and his own defeat only added to the drama and suspense.
The gladiator sighed a long, weary breath. It was time for him to retire, he thought as his eyelids grew too heavy to lift. And what a glorious way to do so, being able to witness his son’s induction into manhood, resplendently victorious in his youth and might.
My son.
Yes, it was time to retire. The gladiator embraced his long-awaited rest with a smile.
Chapter Four
Rain bid farewell for the day to the third qualified Pure-male and watched him slowly and painstakingly make his way beyond the threshold of the Rite Enclosure.
She closed her
The gladiator watched in a daze as his shield got picked up by the newcomer, who gained momentum with a few quick steps and let fly the circular metal shield like a discus at the stallions’ front legs. The horses stumbled upon impact and crashed hard into the dirt ground. The sudden stop jolted the chariot like a catapult, and the two remaining riders shot out with bone-breaking velocity.
It all happened so fast, the gladiator only caught a blur of movement as his aide stepped in front of him, effectively intercepting a blow from one of his remaining opponents’ club. The gladiator’s vision was steadily receding, and he blinked hard to keep his foes in sight.
“Get back!” the young warrior who defended him shouted amidst the jarring sounds of battle.
Valerius?
The gladiator could only shake his head in confusion as he realized belatedly that his rescuer was indeed his fourteen year-old son. The boy was fighting three grown men bare-handed and winning!
Valerius managed to dodge a thrust from one of their swords, turning sideways at the last moment and using the forward momentum of his attacker against him to pull him effortlessly to the ground. He leapt onto the fallen back of the first attacker and used the body as a springboard to engage the other two men while simultaneously cracking some bones underfoot and ensuring that the fallen opponent stayed down.
With a series of turns, twists, well-aimed elbow and knee jabs, body throws and nimble maneuvering, Valerius made short work of the other two opponents until all three men lay defeated on the dirt grounds.
The crowd went wild with cheers and applause at the incredible display. But Valerius didn’t notice as he rushed to his father who had sunk to the ground, lying motionlessly on his belly, bleeding profusely from his wounds.
“Sire!” Valerius gathered him close and tried to ascertain the damage.
His father pushed his searching hands away, saying gruffly, “This is your moment. You must play to the crowds. Leave me be. Rise and walk your victory rounds.”
Valerius was shaking his head before his father had finished speaking, but the gladiator clutched his arm urgently and plunged ahead, “You will do this, my son, for both our sakes. You are the new champion, and they love you. You must secure the crowd’s affection and approval so that they shower you with coin. This is a stage, and you are a player. We are all players. The crowds are the gods of your destiny. Go and appease them. Go!”
The gladiator shoved his son away and watched as Valerius briefly hesitated before turning to their audience in the stands, raising his arms and letting out a long cry of victory.
The crowd roared with approval, sending a shower of coins to rain on the arena grounds. The gladiator watched with pride as Valerius strode around the arena, getting the crowds to cheer louder, establishing himself as the undisputed champion.
He’d done it, the gladiator thought. He’d secured the crowd’s favor. Surely there would be enough coin from this win to pay off his entire family’s debt, and his own defeat only added to the drama and suspense.
The gladiator sighed a long, weary breath. It was time for him to retire, he thought as his eyelids grew too heavy to lift. And what a glorious way to do so, being able to witness his son’s induction into manhood, resplendently victorious in his youth and might.
My son.
Yes, it was time to retire. The gladiator embraced his long-awaited rest with a smile.
Chapter Four
Rain bid farewell for the day to the third qualified Pure-male and watched him slowly and painstakingly make his way beyond the threshold of the Rite Enclosure.
She closed her
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