Read Online The Gladiator's Goddess (The Gladiators' Gifts) by Amy Hearst - Free Book Online
Authors: Amy Hearst
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manuscript. “Close the door behind you,” he said, looking up.
“Why am I here?” asked Abedi. The doctore seldom summoned gladiators on the day of a match.
“There is a man here to see you. He says his name is Joseph, and that he once rowed with you on the galleys. What is he doing here?”
Abedi hoped his look of surprise would help convince the doctore of the truth of his statement. “I have no idea. I have not seen him in years.”
“Well, I agreed to let him see you, but only for a moment or two. He was most insistent. He said he had news to impart. And I want to hear it.”
Abedi swallowed. He had no doubt the news concerned Nardine. “I have no objection, doctore . I have no secrets, from you or anyone else at the ludus .”
The doctore led him the down the hallway to an anteroom where Joseph sat on a bench. Joseph stood up and embraced Abedi before the doctore broke them apart.
“There will be no whispers or exchange of gifts here. Be about your business.”
“Greetings,” said Joseph.
“Greetings,” replied Abedi with a smile. “It has been years since we have seen each other and exchanged words. The doctore said you had news for me. Does it have to do with that dog I sent you?”
“Ah, yes, the dog.” Joseph stalled for a moment. “The dog bore pups and then ran away. I treasured it , but my wife did not like the dog, so there was nothing I could do.”
“I understand,” said Abedi. “I knew you would take as good care of it as you could while I was serving as a gladiator. I will get it back, some way. Thank you for your help.”
The doctore jostled Abedi out of the room and back towards his cell. “Why would he come here to tell you the fate of a dog?” he asked Abedi. “It makes no sense.”
“I treasured that dog,” said Abedi. “It meant a great deal to me.” Then he remained silent as the doctore pushed him in the direction of his cell.
*****
Nardine, covering herself with a veil, scurried through the amphitheater with thousands of other patrons who looked to find a seat before the gladiatorial matches began. She carried her infant with her, drawing a few curious stares from women who accompanied their men. Few children attended these events, and even fewer babies. But Nardine desperately wanted to see Abedi. Joseph gave her a small amount of coin every week, and she used it to purchase her admission to today’s matches after she ran away. She knew Joseph’s wife Myriah wouldn’t put up with her much longer, so she decided to find Abedi herself. She didn’t know how she would do it, but she would find a way. She didn’t know if Abedi had healed enough to be able to fight today, but she hoped he would be. And that he would win his match.
She found a seat as close to the bottom of the amphitheater as she could. For once, the baby behaved well. Despite all the noise, baby Firi either slept or looked around, seeming to search Nardine’s face for answers. “Don’t worry, little one,” Nardine cooed. “We will soon find you a father, if he survives his match today.”
Nardine surveyed the first few matches with little interest. When a lion entered the arena, she watched as it devoured a gladiator trying to best the animal. But the next match caught her full attention: Hebides and Abedi entered from opposite sides of the arena and she listened as an announcer relayed the news that they would fight to the death. Abedi had always faced death in the arena, but somehow today’s display drove it home. Hebides strode around the arena, holding his sword up and waving with pomposity, while Abedi merely walked to the center of the arena, raising one arm briefly as the crowd cheered and waved.
Nardine noticed Abedi still limped, although she could tell he tried to disguise it. He looked handsome and strong, and ready to fight. But so did Hebides. The match began with Hebides making the first move. He lunged at Abedi, plunging his sword toward him and
“Why am I here?” asked Abedi. The doctore seldom summoned gladiators on the day of a match.
“There is a man here to see you. He says his name is Joseph, and that he once rowed with you on the galleys. What is he doing here?”
Abedi hoped his look of surprise would help convince the doctore of the truth of his statement. “I have no idea. I have not seen him in years.”
“Well, I agreed to let him see you, but only for a moment or two. He was most insistent. He said he had news to impart. And I want to hear it.”
Abedi swallowed. He had no doubt the news concerned Nardine. “I have no objection, doctore . I have no secrets, from you or anyone else at the ludus .”
The doctore led him the down the hallway to an anteroom where Joseph sat on a bench. Joseph stood up and embraced Abedi before the doctore broke them apart.
“There will be no whispers or exchange of gifts here. Be about your business.”
“Greetings,” said Joseph.
“Greetings,” replied Abedi with a smile. “It has been years since we have seen each other and exchanged words. The doctore said you had news for me. Does it have to do with that dog I sent you?”
“Ah, yes, the dog.” Joseph stalled for a moment. “The dog bore pups and then ran away. I treasured it , but my wife did not like the dog, so there was nothing I could do.”
“I understand,” said Abedi. “I knew you would take as good care of it as you could while I was serving as a gladiator. I will get it back, some way. Thank you for your help.”
The doctore jostled Abedi out of the room and back towards his cell. “Why would he come here to tell you the fate of a dog?” he asked Abedi. “It makes no sense.”
“I treasured that dog,” said Abedi. “It meant a great deal to me.” Then he remained silent as the doctore pushed him in the direction of his cell.
*****
Nardine, covering herself with a veil, scurried through the amphitheater with thousands of other patrons who looked to find a seat before the gladiatorial matches began. She carried her infant with her, drawing a few curious stares from women who accompanied their men. Few children attended these events, and even fewer babies. But Nardine desperately wanted to see Abedi. Joseph gave her a small amount of coin every week, and she used it to purchase her admission to today’s matches after she ran away. She knew Joseph’s wife Myriah wouldn’t put up with her much longer, so she decided to find Abedi herself. She didn’t know how she would do it, but she would find a way. She didn’t know if Abedi had healed enough to be able to fight today, but she hoped he would be. And that he would win his match.
She found a seat as close to the bottom of the amphitheater as she could. For once, the baby behaved well. Despite all the noise, baby Firi either slept or looked around, seeming to search Nardine’s face for answers. “Don’t worry, little one,” Nardine cooed. “We will soon find you a father, if he survives his match today.”
Nardine surveyed the first few matches with little interest. When a lion entered the arena, she watched as it devoured a gladiator trying to best the animal. But the next match caught her full attention: Hebides and Abedi entered from opposite sides of the arena and she listened as an announcer relayed the news that they would fight to the death. Abedi had always faced death in the arena, but somehow today’s display drove it home. Hebides strode around the arena, holding his sword up and waving with pomposity, while Abedi merely walked to the center of the arena, raising one arm briefly as the crowd cheered and waved.
Nardine noticed Abedi still limped, although she could tell he tried to disguise it. He looked handsome and strong, and ready to fight. But so did Hebides. The match began with Hebides making the first move. He lunged at Abedi, plunging his sword toward him and
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