The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

Few more days to live... Part 37

Mer-Mer and Shadow-cat slipped back into their cell just as dawn was breaking over the ludus. Despite the bone-deep weariness from the long night of training, Mer-Mer felt a new sense of purpose and determination. The stakes were higher than he ever could have imagined, but with his growing shadow powers and the revelations about his heritage, he finally felt like more than just a pawn in the games of fate.

As the other gladiators began to stir, Mer-Mer and Shadow-cat exchanged a meaningful glance. They would have to be more careful than ever to keep their nightly activities secret. The walls had ears in this place, and they couldn't risk word of Mer-Mer's abilities getting back to their enemies.

The days leading up to the Emperor's festival passed in a blur of intense training and covert planning. In the arena, Mer-Mer pushed himself to his limits, honing his combat skills alongside Spartacus and the others. He could feel himself growing stronger, faster, his muscles adapting to the rigors of gladiatorial life.

But it was during the long nights with Smugg that Mer-Mer truly came alive. Under the dragon's tutelage, he delved ever deeper into the mysteries of shadow magic. He learned to cloak himself in darkness, to become all but invisible to the untrained eye. He discovered how to shape the shadows into weapons, forming blades and whips of inky black that struck with deadly precision.

Most thrilling of all, Mer-Mer began to tap into the innate abilities granted by his mixed heritage. He found he could slip between the realms with increasing ease, his body dissolving into shadow only to re-form in the world of beasts or men. It was a heady sensation, this new power, and Mer-Mer had to constantly remind himself of Smugg's warnings about its seductive lure.

Through it all, the specter of the upcoming festival loomed large. Mer-Mer knew this would be his best chance to escape the ludus and begin his search for the scattered pieces of the Time Compass. But he also knew the risks were enormous. If their plan failed, the consequences would be dire.

On the eve of the festival, Mer-Mer and Shadow-cat met with Spartacus one final time. The Thracian rebel had proven a stalwart ally, his desire for freedom as strong as their own.

"Remember," Spartacus murmured as they huddled in the shadows. "Amid the chaos of the mass battle, slip away to the eastern gate. My sources say it will be lightly guarded. From there, make for the city wall and don't look back."

Mer-Mer clasped the warrior's arm, meeting his intense gaze. "We won't forget this, Spartacus. If we make it out, we'll find a way to repay your aid. Someday, you will have your freedom too...

It was almost dawn when there was a soft knock on the cell door. It was Latina, the gladiator from Germania Magma. "I'm sorry to disturb you so early... but I have important news. I heard that General Marcus Aurelius, the head of the Imperial Guard.."

"And what does this have to do with us?" asked Mer-Mer.

" Not with you..." Latina's face darkened and her eyes began to cast flames. "Help me finish what I couldn't as a child..."

"I don't understand, " Shadow-cat said, getting up from the wooden bed that was covered in straw.

" Marcus Aurelius was once a general who commanded the Roman army during the war in Germania Magma. He burned and slaughtered my people, my home, my family... " Latina paused for a moment and tears welled in her eyes. "My mother, my father, my sister and my brother..."

"I'm sorry," Mer-mer said.

" I was tall enough to stick a knife in his thigh," she continued her story. " He slashed me with his sword and left me for dead... But my thirst for revenge was stronger than death. I did not die... I became a fierce gladiator who even gave up her freedom just to stay in the arena... just to wait for the right time... Tomorrow will be the sweetest-day of my life... when i see his head rolling in the dust..."

"That would be an impossible task," Shadow-cat said. "Even if we survive to the final battle, the Emperor and the General will be heavily guarded and it will be difficult to get to them..."

" If we manage to win the final battle, the Emperor will reward us with a wooden sword, called Rudis. With it we will win our freedom. The Emperor is very cowardly, and the General will hand the surviving gladiators of the last battle the wooden sword instead. Then it will be my time for revenge..."

"Even if the general comes down to the arena to reward us, I think there will be many Praetorian guards from the Emperor's personal guard... It will be an impossible task..." said Mer-mer.

Latina sighed heavily and added... " If you help me, I will be indebted to you for the rest of my life..."

" They'll slaughter us like chickens, " said Mer-mer, " but I'll see what I can do... "

" To have a better chance of getting to the finals, bribe Batiatus to put Spartacus on our team. Also if he can get Ragnar it would be helpful, he is a skilled fighter," Shadow-cat said.

"That's a good idea," Latina said. " I'll see what I can do. Batiatus owes me a favor. I think he won't refuse..."

With those words, Latina disappeared, leaving Shadow-cat and Mer-Mer alone in their cell...

"Isn't it a trap?" asked Mer-Mer." Latina is very close to Batiatus and he may have something planned for us."

" I don't think so," said Shadow-cat. " She really hates the Romans. Didn't you see her eyes blazing..."

" Okay... suppose it's true... Even if we help her kill the general... it would be tantamount to certain death with all the guards around the emperor..."

" We'll think of something. I only know one thing. If we help her, she'll join us and we'll be invincible..."

" We'll see, " sighed Mer -Mer. "It's going to be a rough day ahead of us... The last before the big day..."