removing it from his neck while still caught in the net and putting it in his mouth. He had almost swallowed it when they beat him that first time, but still he managed to conceal it.
The amulet brought him luck. It displayed the face of a goddess native to Africa, a goddess of fertility. Abedi’s young wife had been with child, so he knew the charm worked. He rubbed it thoughtfully. The goddess had protected him through many crises, and neither the lanista nor the doctore knew he wore it during his matches in the arena. Abedi always kept it hidden on his person, and he trusted in the goddess to save his life.
His only possession became his most precious possession. It gave him the hope to go on —to know that a better life existed beyond the arena, beyond slavery.
S omehow, he would find it.
*****
Nardine crept out of her chamber that night several hours after she had entered it. The silence echoed down the hallway, before the hoot of an owl sounded somewhere. A few torches lit the ceilings from sconces along the wall. She carried her shoes as she padded down the stone halls barefoot and pushed out the oaken door to the courtyard. No guards patrolled the garden at night, and she could try to cross it to reach the left entrance of the ludus . With luck, she would escape the guard’s detection there and be able to run to the street.
As she slipped her shoes on, she looked around the courtyard. No one in sight. The owl hooted more loudly now. She scampered across the grass and had just reached the stone walk when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Nardine, what on earth are you doing in the courtyard at this late hour?”
Cornelia stared down at her. Nardine might have asked her the same question.
“I was going to relieve myself, mistress.”
“But the lavatory is on the other side .
“That one is out of order. I wanted to go to the one near the guard s’ quarters.” Nardine scrambled for an excuse.
Cornelia gripped her arm firmly. “Come, come, Nardine. Don’t lie to me. I know that lavatory is in perfect order. I just had it checked this morning. No, I believe you were running away. I know the courtyard is unguarded at this hour just as well as you do.”
“Truly, mistress, I was just…”
“As I said,” Cornelia interrupted, “I don’t want to hear any more lies. I know you’ve been mooning about over that big brute Gaius for the last two days. I know how many times he requested you, Nardine. But by this time, you know the rules of the game when it comes to gladiators. They don’t always survive. After all, that first gladiator you bedded died too. I believe his name was Matthias. You do seem to be unlucky when it comes to the gladiators you sleep with!”
Nardine decided to play humble, a tactic that usually worked with Cornelia. “I am sorry to have disappointed you, mistress. I will vow to do better in the future.”
“I will do you a favor, Nardine, although I probably should not. I will overlook this, because of your faithful service over so many years and because of your grief over Gaius. But you must never do it again! If you attempt to escape you will be beaten and sold! I promise it. Now return to your chamber before I change my mind. We won’t speak of this again.”
Nardine quickly walked back the way she had come. Her escape attempt had come to naught, sooner than she expected. Now Cornelia would suspect her. Perhaps her luck had run out, but Nardine didn’t give up easily. She could be stubborn, too. Cornelia knew that about her. So Nardine would have to be careful from now on. And where else could she find help but among the gladiators? They would be strong enough to help defend her if anyone, like Cornelia, got in her way. All she wanted was a home and family—a life like that of any citizen or Rome. Except she wasn’t a citizen. Nardine was a slave. And the only way to change her situation was to escape.
*****
Nardine worked with the physician the following
The amulet brought him luck. It displayed the face of a goddess native to Africa, a goddess of fertility. Abedi’s young wife had been with child, so he knew the charm worked. He rubbed it thoughtfully. The goddess had protected him through many crises, and neither the lanista nor the doctore knew he wore it during his matches in the arena. Abedi always kept it hidden on his person, and he trusted in the goddess to save his life.
His only possession became his most precious possession. It gave him the hope to go on —to know that a better life existed beyond the arena, beyond slavery.
S omehow, he would find it.
*****
Nardine crept out of her chamber that night several hours after she had entered it. The silence echoed down the hallway, before the hoot of an owl sounded somewhere. A few torches lit the ceilings from sconces along the wall. She carried her shoes as she padded down the stone halls barefoot and pushed out the oaken door to the courtyard. No guards patrolled the garden at night, and she could try to cross it to reach the left entrance of the ludus . With luck, she would escape the guard’s detection there and be able to run to the street.
As she slipped her shoes on, she looked around the courtyard. No one in sight. The owl hooted more loudly now. She scampered across the grass and had just reached the stone walk when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Nardine, what on earth are you doing in the courtyard at this late hour?”
Cornelia stared down at her. Nardine might have asked her the same question.
“I was going to relieve myself, mistress.”
“But the lavatory is on the other side .
“That one is out of order. I wanted to go to the one near the guard s’ quarters.” Nardine scrambled for an excuse.
Cornelia gripped her arm firmly. “Come, come, Nardine. Don’t lie to me. I know that lavatory is in perfect order. I just had it checked this morning. No, I believe you were running away. I know the courtyard is unguarded at this hour just as well as you do.”
“Truly, mistress, I was just…”
“As I said,” Cornelia interrupted, “I don’t want to hear any more lies. I know you’ve been mooning about over that big brute Gaius for the last two days. I know how many times he requested you, Nardine. But by this time, you know the rules of the game when it comes to gladiators. They don’t always survive. After all, that first gladiator you bedded died too. I believe his name was Matthias. You do seem to be unlucky when it comes to the gladiators you sleep with!”
Nardine decided to play humble, a tactic that usually worked with Cornelia. “I am sorry to have disappointed you, mistress. I will vow to do better in the future.”
“I will do you a favor, Nardine, although I probably should not. I will overlook this, because of your faithful service over so many years and because of your grief over Gaius. But you must never do it again! If you attempt to escape you will be beaten and sold! I promise it. Now return to your chamber before I change my mind. We won’t speak of this again.”
Nardine quickly walked back the way she had come. Her escape attempt had come to naught, sooner than she expected. Now Cornelia would suspect her. Perhaps her luck had run out, but Nardine didn’t give up easily. She could be stubborn, too. Cornelia knew that about her. So Nardine would have to be careful from now on. And where else could she find help but among the gladiators? They would be strong enough to help defend her if anyone, like Cornelia, got in her way. All she wanted was a home and family—a life like that of any citizen or Rome. Except she wasn’t a citizen. Nardine was a slave. And the only way to change her situation was to escape.
*****
Nardine worked with the physician the following
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