Read Online Swords of Rome by Christopher Lee Buckner - Free Book Online

efforts to convince his father to allow him and Gaius see the fights were ignored. He wanted to see the gladiators fight as much if not more than Gaius, so he was rather persistent in his endeavor. Gaius, however, was content with taking in his surroundings, enjoying yet another sight of Rome, he had never seen before.
    The arena was one of the largest ever built. It was only temporary, constructed for these games, and would be torn down when the Festival of Jupiter was concluded. However, the spectacle was worth remembering. It easily seated over a thousand spectators. Hundreds more could watch the day’s events standing if they could find room. Elegant marble statues of classical Greek, Etruscan and Roman figures stood in every archway, set between enormous arches that stood the height of five men. More food and drink stalls were set inside the arena. Hundreds more men, mostly slaves, toiled below the floor, tending to the beasts, other slaves and prisoners who were to be executed, and the needs of the gladiators; and while the games were nearly over, that fact did not slow the day’s work.
    People of all classes, from the poorest Roman citizen to the noble senators and aristocrats, walked shoulder to shoulder through the twisting halls, most carrying food or drink in one hand, and their coins in the other. The spectators eagerly placed coins on their favorite gladiators, or how many slaves and criminals would be devoured by the starving animals in the allowed time. The wagers were varied from a few coins, to a fist full of gold, to the deeds to entire estates. Gaius noticed that the upcoming bout seemed to receive the most attention, as he heard the name Calfax spoke frequently since he had been watching and listening to those around him.
    “Come Varro, come. The match is going to start soon,” Marcus, the fat man who had been latched to Varro like a pet all day, eagerly said. He was like a child who squirmed wanting seeing his favorite hero in person.
    “I want to come, father!” Antony demanded once again, but even as his father was quite literally being pulled away by his friends, he turned and demanded that he and Gaius stay where they were, calling back, “I shall return shortly. Remain where you are. Is that understood?”
    “This is unfair!” Antony blurted with frustration as he crossed his arms, watching as the crowd swallowed his father from view.
    “What can we do about it?” Gaius shrugged as he stood next to Antony.
    Antony’s eyes widen as he watched several slaves head down a flight of stairs.
    “Come with me. I know where we can get the best seats in the arena.” Antony grabbed Gaius by his hand and led him towards where the slaves had gone.
    “Where are we going?” Gaius demanded as he nearly tripped trying to keep up with friend
    “Do you want to see the match or not?” Antony yelled back, increasing his speed with each step.
    “Of course I do, but your father said that we were to stay where he left us.”
    “Bah! We will see the match and return before he knows we were gone.” Already the two boys could see the growing light that cast down on the arena floor, as they ran through the tunnels.
    A few minutes later, the boys found what they were looking for as they ran over to a large, closed iron gate on the arena floor. They latched onto the gaps between the bars and lifted themselves up a few steps, so they could get a better look. It was, from their point of view, quite possibly the best seat in the house as they were right on the ground-floor, which at the moment was being circled by three horse-drawn carts, while men in the rear of the wagons tossed fresh loafs of bread into the crowd while a dozen men were quickly sweeping the sand, leveling it for the next bout.
    Gaius released any reservations he had a few minutes ago. Now, he looked out at the arena with his mouth open, gazing up at the row upon row of seats, filled with people that cheered as the three carts tossed their goods