Michelle Styles - The Gladiator's Honor

'Please spare me.' Sabina cast her eyes heavenwards, before turning towards Valens. She made a shooing motion with her hands. 'It's all right now. My maid and I can see Julia Antonia safely home. We do have a litter. Thank you for helping.'

There was a pause as Valens lifted his eyebrow and Julia watched her stepmother's cheek colour.

'Would you like something for your trouble?' Sabina asked through firmly pursed lips. 'Galla—'

'Keep your money,' Valens said stiffly. 'A simple act of kindness, such as I would do for any.'

Julia wished the ground would open and swallow her. How could her stepmother be that rude?

'Thank you. You were very kind. I appreciate it.'

He caught her hand and held it, encasing it in his warmth. Their eyes locked and Julia felt her heart begin to race again.

'Julia, we have to go. Are you aware of how many things I have to do today?'

Julia started and withdrew her hand, scorched from the heat.

'It was my pleasure. What else are gladiators good for?' Valens gave a lopsided smile. 'If I come across your flask, I'll try to return it to you.'

Julia returned his smile, before she limped off with Sabina and her maid flanking her on either side. One bright spot in her otherwise gloomy day. As if on cue, the rain started drizzling down, sending the market stall owners scurrying to close up and cover their goods.

She ignored Sabina's litany of complaint and concentrated on thinking about Valens's smile, indulging in a daydream of how he'd find her perfume flask and use it as an excuse to see her again.

Chapter Two

Valens watched the trio hobble off until they were submerged in the growing throng—Julia's head the highest of the three and her shawl easy to follow in the crowd. She was quite unexpected. The odour of her perfume lingered in the air—a light floral scent of lavender mingled with roses and somehow suitable for the woman.

He ran his hand through his hair. He had a thousand things to do, to prepare, and wasting time speculating about a woman was not going to help. This one last fight on the biggest stage in the world, and then he'd retire…with honour. But he'd seen far too often what happened to those who failed to concentrate.

Valens pulled his cloak more firmly around his shoulders and hunched his head against the rain. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a small stone flask wedged between two paving stones. He picked it up—JA. was faintly scratched on the top. Julia Antonia? He glanced towards the direction he had last seen her, weighing the flask in his hand.

'Excuse me, excuse me but is that a gladiator's badge?' a young boy lisped, pulling on his cloak. 'I saw some gladiators fight last year in Capua with my father. And the spectacle was fantastic. Which sort of gladiator are you? I collect the figures. I have a Samnite, a rentarius and my mother just bought me a Valens the Thracian figurine whose arms can move.'

Valens glanced down at the boy's upturned face, glowing with admiration, and then back to where Julia had disappeared. He shoved the flask into his belt. There would be time later to find her if the Fates were willing. Back to being a god.

Julia chewed the end of her stylus, trying to think of a way to describe her encounter with Valens the gladiator to Claudia. Without a doubt, Claudia would have a hundred questions that as a dutiful best friend she should answer before she was asked. The problem was she had little idea of how to answer. She only knew he was a Thracian gladiator, but not if a Thracian was a great or little shield. Claudia was an avid supporter of the great shields, the ones who were nearly covered in body armour and carried the oblong shields, if she remembered correctly. Thracian would have to do. She sighed and pushed the tablet away.

'I know, Bato,' she said to the elderly greyhound who whined at her from his place by the brazier. 'But what is the point of writing when I am ignorant of so many things Claudia will demand to know?'

The dog gave a sharp bark and covered his nose with his paws. Julia laughed.

'Exactly what I'll do when Claudia demands further and better details.' She picked up her stylus again and started to write. Before she had written three words, a loud banging and shouts sounded outside. 'What is that unearthly racket, Bato? Have a whole host of Furies descended on the courtyard?'

She limped to the door, only to have it pulled out of her hand by Sabina, her stepmother's face contorted in fury.

'Now you've done it, Julia. You have done it. Listen to that racket! Just you wait until your father gets home.'

'What is it, Sabina?' Julia crossed her arms and stared at her stepmother. Julia's mind raced, trying to think what she had done to cause this red-faced anger. Nothing. But that small fact seemed to have escaped the older woman. 'Ever since we arrived back from the baths, I've been in that room, resting my ankle and writing letters. I'm totally innocent of whatever is happening out there.'

Sabina's mouth opened and closed like a codfish several times before she emitted a piercing shriek.

'That gladiator you talked to this morning, outside the baths. He's at the gates.' Sabina shook at finger at Julia. 'I will not have your brutish friends intimidating the porter. I won't have it, I tell you. You may speak to them in the marketplace, but I refuse to have an infamis in the house. Gladiators are the lowest of the low. They are even worse than actors. And, by Juno's necklace, you know how many times I have refused to allow them in my house, even for entertainment!'

'Is he?' Julia's fingers went to her throat. Valens here! A warm glow filled her as she remembered the way his hands had engulfed her ankle. She tried for a casual shrug of her shoulders. 'He's probably found my missing flask of perfume and is returning it, that's all. There is no need for you to put the house in an uproar.'

'He thinks you invited him to stay.' Sabina had a triumphant gleam in her eye. 'Julia, your father will be furious with you. I dread to think what Senator Mettalius will say when he finds out. You take his proposal of marriage too lightly,Julia. Many women would be delighted to ally their families with Mettalius. He's a rising star in the Senate.'

'Where is my father?' Julia asked, thinking fast as her stomach hit the tops of her sandals. Had she said something, anything Valens could take for invitation? She went back over the conversation. Nothing.

'He retired to the gym two hours ago. Perhaps, your luck will hold, but I'd make a shrewd guess and say you have less than a half-hour to get rid of your lovelorn gladiator friend before your father returns and Mettalius comes for dinner.'

'Mettalius is dining with us. Nobody told me.' Julia wrinkled her nose and her mind raced to think of a suitable excuse. This day was getting worse with each passing word from Sabina's lips. Perhaps her ankle would be too painful and she'd retire to bed.

'He sent word at five hours, just before we left for the baths. I want you to look your best. I will not accept any excuse. Your last one about your dog being ill was utterly transparent. Your father knows what is best for you and the family. Think of Mettalius's power, his influence.'

His bad breath? His high-pitched voice? Julia resisted the temptation to add these attributes to the list.

'Furthermore, if you cross me on this, I will…I will have that dog of yours put down.' Sabina's eyes narrowed.

Bato bared his teeth and gave a low growl.

'You wouldn't dare.' Julia curled her fingers around Bato's collar. She gave a wild look at Sabina, standing there, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Bato. 'Hush, Bato, be good. She's only having her little joke.'

'Try me.' Sabina made a shooing motion. 'Now, go and get rid of the gladiator. Then we'll talk, and remember what happened the last time you tried to get the better of me.'