Descendants of Rome (#3 in Gladiator Series)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

It had been almost two weeks since Lazarus had left his family for the arena.

And as the sun sat at its highest point in the sky on the thirteenth day, Lazarus found himself stood within the walls of Ludus Magnus.

It was such an experience that Lazarus felt as if he was dreaming.

He had dreamt of coming here since he could remember, Lazarus yearned to feel what his parents felt . . . to feel the pride of fighting in the Colosseum, to feel the crowds screaming his name.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Lazarus flung them back open to find that he was not dreaming and indeed he was in Rome.

For the first time in his life, Lazarus had travelled further from home than ever.

He felt slightly upset that he had to lie to his family to come here but he knew what his parents would say if he told them the truth.

And Lazarus needed to do this.

Keeping a firm grip around the strap of his bag, Lazarus followed Damocles through the crowds, their laughter filling the air with overwhelming joy.

Years of training and preparation and the day had finally arrived.

Ludus Magnus was the largest and grandest of the Gladiator training schools and for that reason alone it took no longer than a few moments for crowds to form, eager men hurrying forth to write down their names.

Lazarus and Damocles were two of these men and soon found themselves wandering the grand corridors and hallways of the training school.

Fully fledged gladiators passed them in the corridors. Damocles and Lazarus would say nothing in their presence but as the warriors disappeared they would each burst with excitement.

Soon, they too shall the honour of fighting on the sands.

“I think are beds are through this courtyard,” Damocles hurried forth, running out of the darkened corridor and into a large courtyard.

A large patch of, what used to be grass, was centred in the middle with arcades stretching on all sides, forming a square of arched walkways.

Lazarus felt a soft chill run over his skin as his breath left his body. Stepping out of the corridor and into the blinding light, Lazarus found himself stood before the training square.

His breathing hitched with emotion as his mind took a double take.

His parents had trained here, they had lived here.

They had walked on the very stone Lazarus trembled on now, they brushed the same walls Lazarus walked by and they marvelled at the same statues that filled the alcoves.

Lazarus watched before his very eyes as the present turned into the past. The image of faded grass and worn stone turning into one of bright green grass and rocks bathed in sunlight.

He could see his mother, a young Gladiatrix training with the post, as his father fought across the grass from her; their eyes wandering over each other’s forms with fascination.

A warm smile came to Lazarus’s lips as he imagined his parent’s past.

Lazarus liked to think that they fell in love the moment they saw each other and before either of them knew what was happening.

He could only pray for a love like his parents and hoped he had the same with Andromeda.

“Lazarus! Come on!” Damocles had returned to find him staring into the distance.