Champion in Love (bxb)

CHAPTER 33. Any Help I Can Get

The vigil, who walked me out of the palace, looked vaguely familiar. Once he'd spoken, he removed all doubts. He was the guy who tried to stop his Captain from pummeling me with his fists. Daylight revealed that he had broad, honest features, flattened nose sitting askew on his face and bushy brows. Obviously, he was a fan, and he also won handsomely when we beat Brutus.

"No one's better than you! Every time you take to the sand, it gives me chills!" He jolted me with his elbow. "No wonder the Empress kept you for questioning till sunrise, eh?"

If this was a trap, he lay it clumsily. However, one can never be too careful, so I ignored the air quotes and said nothing that could implicate me in fornicating with Messalina Augusta. Instead, I said, "Victor is Inimicus... Jupiter, I can't get used to this news!"

The vigil clicked his tongue sympathetically. "The slave traders can only line their pockets, not to do their job properly."

Actually, they did exactly what their job demanded of them. They dragged Victor to Fidelium in chains and sold him on the slave market. I doubted my new friend would agree. "Yes, it was terrible to be betrayed like that."

"The treacherous snake snuck right into Fidelium too." The vigil shook his head with the 'what the world is coming to?' expression.

I cleared my throat, fighting nausea. I didn't have to defend Victor to this man or anyone else, and at any rate, he'd never get a fair rap in Fidelium. His ancestors would judge him, just like he wanted them to. So, I knew I didn't have to say anything, but, but, but...

"The saddest thing, Victor could have eclipsed me." It must have been that special pride a master has in his star student that made me say that. If only I had more time with him, he would have been without equal. Now, this future was lost, like our night together was lost.

"Bollocks!" The vigil guffawed. "He's barbarian scum. That's no match to Fidelis. You'll beat him with one arm tied behind your back!"

Fans... nothing ever dissuaded them. Or Fidelis overall in their superiority. I stifled a sigh. "Can't wait to go against Inimicus."

"Can't wait to see it!"

His beaming countenance gave me an idea. It was a long shot, but it was better than nothing. "Say, friend, could you pass a word around that I don't want Inimicus harassed? I hate it when guys aren't at his absolute best before I go against them. It feels like cheating the fans."

The vigil bobbed his head. "Can't make it too easy on you. Eh, eh?"

The more his smile widened with anticipation of a good show, the more I felt drained. It was like this man was transforming the feverish, fractured events of the last night into reality I had to deal with. It could have been a nightmare before, now I couldn't deny that all of it had truly happened. Victor attacked Messalina Augusta, and I went to bed with her to beg for mercy. I also felt the full weight of the price I had paid for it, my upcoming deathmatch with Victor. The whole of Fidelium would gossip about us this afternoon.

Old dog Maximus would kick butt of the odious Inimicus! Can't miss it! Viva Fidelium!

They wouldn't whisper about the conspiracy against Claudius Caesar, because I couldn't trust anyone with such dangerous information. Except, maybe... maybe... There was one person who could help me. Going to him would humiliate me. I'd sworn that I'd never see him again, but I had already stooped so low in my efforts to help Victor, this extra wouldn't matter.

I stumbled as a vestige of hope glimmered in my heart.

The guard bumped my shoulder. "Don't tire yourself out so much with... you know..." he added the two-tone whistle. "You need to be in top shape, champ to take on the interloper!"