Gladiator of Rome (#1 in Gladiator Series)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20 

Artorius stood and watched the door.

It was a good door made from solid oak and performed it’s job as well as any other door might, but it was what lay beyond the door that troubled Artorius.

For behind that thick oak door lay the stairs to the dungeon, in which Artorius had previously been a resident.

But as of last night those iron bars now caged a new prisoner; Krista.

She had been dragged from beneath the arena by armed guards, taken inside and has not been seen of since.

Pompeia’s words repeated in his mind, threatening to drive him mad; Trust me when I say that what I can have done to her, she’ll be begging for death.

Was Krista begging behind those walls? Was she screaming?

Artorius knew it would take a lot to make Krista beg for anything but he feared for her.

He could see her face when she laid her eyes upon him with Pompeia. He saw it more than any other time he had seen her face.

Not when he first saw her with the tiger at Danghmar, when she had appeared so compassionate and calm, not when he found her in front of Minerva’s statute, and not when they had kissed for the first time.

It was the look of betrayal in her eyes that haunted his dreams.

She would not speak to him or allow him to explain, and then she threw a trident at the Empress’s head.

It was as if Krista was begging to be killed and yet Artorius thought he knew her better than that.

She had so desperately wanted to win the games, why would she risk it all for him?

“I would not risk being here when she emerges,” Lazarus walked up beside Artorius, the door laying heavily on both their minds.

Artorius looked out of the corner of his eye at Lazarus; his face was relaxed as he gazed upon the door without any hint of concern etched upon his brow.

“What if she does not emerge?” Artorius swallowed around the lump in his throat; had he sent Krista to her death when all he was trying to do was protect her?

“I would not worry,” Lazarus spoke with wisdom, “Krista has been through too much to be broken by a few Roman fists.”

“You say that as if she were invincible,” Artorius was growing restless, his fingers curling into a fist by his side, “If she has been through too much then truly she could not take much more.”

“You doubt her,” Lazarus turned towards Artorius, his face showing concern for Artorius rather than his friend, “Krista is Antianeirai.”

“She fights like a man,” Artorius translated the words, “But she is not a man.” He reminded Lazarus.

“I see a lot more at the end of my sword than simply the destination it shall take,” Lazarus spoke cryptically.

Artorius began to worry, what else had this man seen?

“And I know that you will not win Krista by trying to protect her,” Lazarus would not give away what he knew but something told Artorius that he knew much.

Artorius frowned at Lazarus; how else was he supposed to keep her safe?

“Listen to the crowds,” Lazarus instructed Artorius, “They scream and shout Krista’s name. They would love her if she only let them.”