Gladiator: Vengeance by Simon Scarrow

you a hiding you’ll never forget.’
    ‘I see.’ Festus looked him up and down. ‘I take it you are the local crime lord.’
    ‘That’s a nice way of putting it. But I see myself as more of an extra-legal businessman.’
    Festus forced a quick laugh. ‘You have a ready wit. That is good. But do you have a ready eye for a fight, sir? As I am not prepared to give up our belongings, let me make you an offer. You and three of your men take on me and my lad, Marcus, here. If you win, you take our stake: ten, say twenty, denarii. If we win, you pay us the same.’
    Procrustes thrust out a muscular arm and poked Festus in the chest. ‘I will not be insulted by such an easy challenge. I shall take on you alone. And to make it interesting I’ll take your wager. But let’s fight for a man’s stake. If you lose, you lose everything you have, including those two.’ He nodded towards Lupus and Marcus. ‘They’ll fetch a decent price at the slave market in Athens. If you beat me, and you won’t, then I’ll pay you a hundred denarii. Leaving aside the boys, that’s worth more than twice the value of your kit. What do you say?’
    ‘And if I refuse?’
    ‘Don’t refuse,’ Procrustes said in a low menacing voice. ‘Not if you want to live to see another day.’
    ‘Then what choice do I have?’
    ‘None. And there’s one other thing. It’s just you and me. The boys stay out of it. I want them in good condition once I’ve seen to you.’
    Festus considered this for a moment and then nodded. He handed the Greek a wooden sword. ‘Better get your friends to clear some space.’
    While Procrustes bellowed the order to his gang, Festus approached Marcus and Lupus and spoke in an urgent undertone as he thrust his purse into Marcus’s hand. ‘If I lose, getout of here as fast as you can. Run and don’t stop for anything. Then make for Athens. The governor there should help you.’
    Marcus shook his head. ‘We stay with you. Let’s leave the town. All three of us.’
    ‘I can’t, Marcus. We make a run for it now, we’ll not get far in the crowd. This way, there’s a chance.’
    Marcus looked at Procrustes as the latter swung his sword to test its weight and balance. ‘He knows what he’s doing. This won’t be like the usual fights.’
    Festus chose a training sword and followed the direction of Marcus’s gaze. It was clear from the way that he carried himself and the ease with which he wielded the double-weight weapon that the gang leader was a seasoned fighter.
    ‘He’s been in the arena,’ Marcus decided. ‘That, or he’s been a soldier at some time.’
    ‘Then at least he’ll put up a decent fight for the crowd and present me with a genuine test of my skills,’ Festus said calmly. ‘Something that’s been sorely lacking in the towns we’ve passed through, so far.’
    He turned back to Marcus and Lupus. ‘Remember what I said, boys. If I lose, make yourselves scarce. Immediately. Understand?’
    Lupus nodded but Marcus did not respond. Festus gripped his arm tightly.
    ‘Think of your mother. If you don’t do as I say, then you’ll never see her again.’
    The thought filled Marcus with pain, but there was no real choice between his comrade and his mother. He nodded.
    ‘Good. Then wish me luck and pray to Fortuna!’
    Festus turned and stepped into the open space cleared by Procrustes’ men, keeping his face to his opponent and easing himself into a balanced crouch. Procrustes took up his position and rolled his head round to loosen his neck. The Greek gave an evil grin, exposing his teeth and revealing gaps that Marcus guessed were caused by fights. His neck, such as it was, seemed to merge head and shoulders seamlessly and his chest was like a barrel. Beneath the hem of his tunic his massive thighs balanced on calves as sturdy as the legs of a vast table. His forearms were like hams and he swung the sword in an easy ellipse in front of him as he called out to the crowd.
    ‘People of Leuctra,