War Raven: Barbarian of Rome Chronicles Volume One by Nick Morris Page B
Authors: Nick Morris
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reminder of the power Rome has over its conquered subjects, and, as we shall see, over the great beasts too.”
“So, how do you know so much about these games?” asked Guntram.
Ellios seemed to look ahead at another place. “I was just a boy when my father first took me to the arena,” he began. “He told me that his Roman friends expected him to attend, and that it was good for business and only right for his son and heir to attend too. I still remember that first day...and losing my breakfast. There were more visits after, until I was old enough to be somewhere else.”
Ellios turned to look at Guntram. “My friend, Caesar knows how to keep his subjects happy, and these games take place throughout his empire.”
“Caesar is an old man who rules from far away,” Guntram replied.
Guntram had learned something about Caesar and how he governed; from Ellios and other gladiators he’d listened to during breaks in training, as well as from the Romans themselves and their slaves gossiping at the baths. He’d learned that Caesar had been honoured by his people him with a special name: Augustus, meaning ‘The Great One’, and that at seventy, he’d ruled for nearly forty years and had many victories. Victories won by the might of his twenty-eight legions of iron.
“Yes, he’s old and death whispers his name, but the empire is secure in his hands,” said Ellios. “And, as you know, Caesar looks now to the lands of Germania and to the east.”
Guntram scoffed, “A time will come when this great Empire and these games of death will fall apart, and Roman streets will run red with blood. Her enemies won’t forget, and there will be no mercy.”
“You’re dreaming. Rome is stubborn and will never surrender its hold on the empire. Its legions are invincible, and who can break Caesar’s iron grip?”
“It’s you that dreams Spaniard, but only of hot women,” Guntram challenged. “I know that Rome hasn’t been conquered, but she has been defeated.” His face brightened. “The Parthians in the east bloodied her, as well as my countrymen in the west. Rome is not unbeatable, and her arrogance will be her undoing.”
“Is it your hatred that speaks? Or do you truly believe this?” Ellios asked, his tone serious.
“Yes, I do. And, it’s my eyes and ears that tell me, not just the anger in my heart.”
“It would be the end of the world I’ve known.” Frowning, Ellios queried, “And what would take its place?”
“Your people have been too long without the taste of freedom, and like a caged bird have forgotten the joy of the open sky.” Feeling hung on Guntram’s every word. “Mark my words, Spaniard, that when this day comes-”
Before he could say any more, Ellios interrupted with a jerk of his head towards the arena, stating, “Tell me later, the hunt is about to begin!”
Barriers spanning two of the arena’s tunnels opened, spewing out and a host of animals onto the sand. These included fear-crazed deer and high springing antelopes as well as slavering hyenas, wolves, bears, wild boars and two enormous bulls. Into their midst ran a score of hunting dogs. Trained to aid the hunters, they were renowned for their bone crushing jaws and compact, muscular bodies. The hunters emerged on their heels, armed with bows and arrows and razor pointed boar spears.
A ruddy-coated hunting dog swiftly brought a young deer to ground, and immediately joined by two others, savagely ripped it apart. Nearby, a hunter drove his spear into the neck of a cornered wolf with such force, that he pinned the animal’s body to the arena floor. The crowd howled their appreciation of the hunter’s skills.
Guntram grimaced as he watched the carnage continue.
Further applause erupted as more hunters entered the arena to hasten the slaughter. Methodically, they went about their grisly work, and the arena floor was soon awash with blood, their feet kicking up goblets of moist sand as they raced to dispatch their
“So, how do you know so much about these games?” asked Guntram.
Ellios seemed to look ahead at another place. “I was just a boy when my father first took me to the arena,” he began. “He told me that his Roman friends expected him to attend, and that it was good for business and only right for his son and heir to attend too. I still remember that first day...and losing my breakfast. There were more visits after, until I was old enough to be somewhere else.”
Ellios turned to look at Guntram. “My friend, Caesar knows how to keep his subjects happy, and these games take place throughout his empire.”
“Caesar is an old man who rules from far away,” Guntram replied.
Guntram had learned something about Caesar and how he governed; from Ellios and other gladiators he’d listened to during breaks in training, as well as from the Romans themselves and their slaves gossiping at the baths. He’d learned that Caesar had been honoured by his people him with a special name: Augustus, meaning ‘The Great One’, and that at seventy, he’d ruled for nearly forty years and had many victories. Victories won by the might of his twenty-eight legions of iron.
“Yes, he’s old and death whispers his name, but the empire is secure in his hands,” said Ellios. “And, as you know, Caesar looks now to the lands of Germania and to the east.”
Guntram scoffed, “A time will come when this great Empire and these games of death will fall apart, and Roman streets will run red with blood. Her enemies won’t forget, and there will be no mercy.”
“You’re dreaming. Rome is stubborn and will never surrender its hold on the empire. Its legions are invincible, and who can break Caesar’s iron grip?”
“It’s you that dreams Spaniard, but only of hot women,” Guntram challenged. “I know that Rome hasn’t been conquered, but she has been defeated.” His face brightened. “The Parthians in the east bloodied her, as well as my countrymen in the west. Rome is not unbeatable, and her arrogance will be her undoing.”
“Is it your hatred that speaks? Or do you truly believe this?” Ellios asked, his tone serious.
“Yes, I do. And, it’s my eyes and ears that tell me, not just the anger in my heart.”
“It would be the end of the world I’ve known.” Frowning, Ellios queried, “And what would take its place?”
“Your people have been too long without the taste of freedom, and like a caged bird have forgotten the joy of the open sky.” Feeling hung on Guntram’s every word. “Mark my words, Spaniard, that when this day comes-”
Before he could say any more, Ellios interrupted with a jerk of his head towards the arena, stating, “Tell me later, the hunt is about to begin!”
Barriers spanning two of the arena’s tunnels opened, spewing out and a host of animals onto the sand. These included fear-crazed deer and high springing antelopes as well as slavering hyenas, wolves, bears, wild boars and two enormous bulls. Into their midst ran a score of hunting dogs. Trained to aid the hunters, they were renowned for their bone crushing jaws and compact, muscular bodies. The hunters emerged on their heels, armed with bows and arrows and razor pointed boar spears.
A ruddy-coated hunting dog swiftly brought a young deer to ground, and immediately joined by two others, savagely ripped it apart. Nearby, a hunter drove his spear into the neck of a cornered wolf with such force, that he pinned the animal’s body to the arena floor. The crowd howled their appreciation of the hunter’s skills.
Guntram grimaced as he watched the carnage continue.
Further applause erupted as more hunters entered the arena to hasten the slaughter. Methodically, they went about their grisly work, and the arena floor was soon awash with blood, their feet kicking up goblets of moist sand as they raced to dispatch their
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