Descendants of Rome (#3 in Gladiator Series)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The air was humming with intrigue.

Whispers filled the courtyard as everyone shuffled closer, trying to get the best view.

Artorius’s stomach was rocking gently with unease.

“Take it easy on him,” Artorius suggested, not entirely certain that Krista only saw this as a bit of fun and not a real training session.

Artorius remembered her training sessions with Leonidas . . . A shiver ran down his spine as he thought about it.

Pulling the strap of her armband tighter around her wrist, Krista looked up at her husband from under her eyelashes, not saying a word.

Artorius shifted uncomfortably, “At least try not to embarrass him too much.”

Krista gave Artorius a small smile as she turned and looked across the courtyard at her son.

People had gathered from everywhere, pressing themselves against the walls until the courtyard, and the streets that ran off of it, were filled to capacity.

It felt like the arena again, people watching and taking joy at their pain.

Withdrawing her sword, Krista threw the sheath at Artorius, who caught it with one hand.

Feeling the soft mud shift beneath her boots as she stepped into the small area which had been left clear for them to fight in, Krista twirled the blade in her wrist and waited for Lazarus.

*

Marcia and Lazarus watched Krista, both of their bodies tensing.

They both knew about her past and the skills she had acquired. When Marcia had first heard about her, she couldn’t believe it.

Marcia had been convinced that Krista was just someone her parents had invented, but she was real. And that knowledge made her stomach twist with apprehension and fear for Lazarus.

Marcia tried to sound supportive even as her eyes were glued to Krista, “Y- You’ll be fine.”

Lazarus swallowed, his fingers gripping his sword tightly until his knuckles grew white, “Yeah?”

Marcia heard the question in his voice and they looked at each other. Marcia saw the panic in his eyes.

Lazarus steeled his jaw, brushing off his insecurities, “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll be fine, after all, I- I mean I am her son.”

“Yeah,” Marcia nodded, trying to hide her doubts, “And it’s been a while since she held a sword, you’ll be fine.”

Marcia raised a cup to her lips, about to take a swig, when Lazarus snatched it from her grasp and drank its nectar instead.

She said nothing as he placed the cup down on the barrel he had been sitting on and stood, swinging his arms out wide.

“Whoa!” Marcia quickly leapt back when Lazarus swung the sword dangerously close to her abdomen, nearly slicing her in half.

Lazarus froze and looked at her with wide eyes.

Marcia began to say something unsavoury but she bit her tongue.

“One little tip, from me to you,” Marcia leaned forward until Lazarus was focused on her alone, “Point the sword that way!” She suddenly shouted, pointing towards Krista.

Lazarus nodded his head, muttering an apology before he walked forward, the crowd growing loud with excitement.

Marcia blew a strand of hair from her face as she walked around the edge and met up with her parents on the other side.