Desire of the Gladiator (Affairs of the Arena Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

Conall for the first time that Caius had sent Aeliana out for some particular reason. Probably because Caius was closer to Conall than anyone else, and also because he knew Conall hated being ganged up on, even in conversation.
    “What’s this about, Caius?”
    “Aeliana and I, we’ve been doing well with the clinic. Real nice. Lots of profit.”
    “Good. That’s good.”
    “Lucius and Gwenn too. He and I, we talked last night. We thought probably if we all pooled our money together, we could put down enough to take a small loan out and buy your freedom.”
    The thought was anathema to Conall. He stiffened, hurt body spasming slightly.
    “No.”
    “It would be a small loan. Not much. Just enough to cover the difference. If things held up business-wise, we could pay it off in—”
    “No. No, no. No. I won’t do it.” Conall tried to sit up and groaned. His ribs spiked with pain. “I won’t let you.”
    “I don’t see how you could stop us, Conall.”
    “The second you buy my freedom for me, I’ll take out a contract with the nearest ludus. Maybe this one.” He slapped the wall. “Why not. I’ve gotten used to the place.”
    “Let us help you, Conall. This life will suck the spirit right from you. I know you haven’t done it as long as I did, but—”
    “That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” Rage boiled over in Conall. “You don’t think I’m good enough to keep winning, do you?”
    “What? That’s not what I said, Conall. I just want—”
    “I know what you want. I’m not leaving. Don’t waste your money. Spend it on something for your daughter.”
    He sat back then and closed his eyes. This was as close as he could come in his injured state as leaving the room. Caius got the message—the conversation was over.

Chapter 8
    ––––––––
    O utside, the cicadas began their evening songs and a deep cool set over the earth. Summer though it may have been, the nights still sometimes carried the bite of cold. Leda wore a palla over her shoulders to keep herself warm. She was in a small room in the main estate of House Varinius, sitting over a desk and writing her latest letter to the emissary in Rome petitioning for her freedom.
    Her tenure in slavery began over dinner. A series of dinners, in fact, regularly denied with an imperial ambassador to the King's court in Armenia.
    Armenia was constantly in contest between the dueling empires of Rome and Parthia. For only a brief time in its existence had it been allowed to decide who its rulers would be. Most of the time, whichever empire was stronger would choose the kings for Armenia.
    As such, Leda's father owed his position to the Roman Empire—and had repeatedly denied this was the case to save face in front of the Armenian people. Armenians were proud, and wanted to live under the yoke of no foreign influences.
    To curry favor with the mob, her father had carried out a long campaign of embarrassments to the Roman ambassador. Part of this was repeatedly asking the man to dinner and then canceling at the last minute, or sending him to empty houses or estates with no meal or party to be had.
    Finally, the ambassador had enough. He declared that unless the King would provide him with a feast as befit the majesty of Rome, then great and terrible consequences would be delivered unto his royal house.
    Her father, then, had arranged a very special feast. The entire court was invited. The ambassador seemed to be having a grand time, drinking much wine, and all seemed forgiven. Then, his meal was brought out. Leda remembered it still. The stench of it. Inside a giant golden dish was the uncooked, rotten carcass of an eagle, blackened with oil.
    The eagle, was, of course, one of the animals associated most closely with Rome.
    Naturally, the ambassador was furious. Her father had always felt self-assured because he knew that Rome needed him in power to keep the Parthians at bay. This made him feel invincible. And indeed, the ambassador knew