Gladiator: Vengeance Read Online Free

‘I am a scribe, by training. I can read, write and do calculations. As good as any man.’
    Andreas laughed. ‘I am sure. But outside of a merchant’s house, or in the service of some aristocrat, your usefulness is, er, somewhat limited.’
    Marcus leaned forward. ‘Lupus is my friend. I trust him with my life. That is all that you need to know about him.’
    It was true. Marcus did indeed trust him with his life. Lupus knew the secret of his birth and the meaning of the scar on his shoulder where he had been branded as an infant to show that he was the son of Spartacus. Lupus had given his most sacred promise to keep it to himself. But Festus did not know. Nor could he ever know, Marcus decided. However close the bond between them, Festus had been with Caesar long before Marcus had entered his life. It would be dangerous to test his loyalty to his former master. Festus was a man of honour and unbending in the principles he believed in. He had been ordered by Caesarto accompany Marcus on his quest to find and save his mother. If he discovered that Marcus was the son of Spartacus, one of the most dangerous enemies ever to have threatened Rome, then he would feel duty-bound to inform Caesar and obey any instructions that Caesar gave to decide the fate of Marcus.
    Andreas leaned back from the table and cast a sympathetic look at Festus. ‘A touchy pair, these two. How do you put up with them? If they were in my charge, I’d give ’em a good clip round the ear if they opened their mouths like that.’
    ‘They’re not in my charge,’ Festus replied. ‘They are my companions. My comrades in arms. My friends.’
    It was the first time that Festus had used the word and both Marcus and Lupus looked at him in surprise. Marcus felt a surge of pride that this man he admired and respected should regard him as a friend. Despite all the dangers and hardships they had shared, Festus had never revealed his feelings.
    ‘Friends, eh?’ Andreas cocked an eyebrow. ‘So what are you and your friends doing here, far from Rome? I assume there’s more to it than wandering from town to town, earning a pittance from your fights.’
    ‘It pays for food and lodging,’ Festus countered. ‘What more do we need?’
    ‘What indeed?’ Andreas took a gulp of wine and ran his eyesover each of them in turn before he continued. ‘So, what’s the real story?’
    Marcus knew that if they were to succeed in their quest then they would need information. He exchanged a quick look with Festus and nodded subtly.
    ‘We’re looking for someone,’ said Festus. ‘Maybe you can help us.’
    ‘Oh? Who’s that then?’
    Festus nodded at Marcus. ‘His mother. She was kidnapped into slavery two years ago. His father was killed and Marcus escaped, only to be taken by a gladiator trainer. All quite illegal, you understand. They were Roman citizens and our former employer takes a dim view of fellow citizens being treated this way. He wants Marcus’s mother found and released. If the man responsible for it can be found and made to pay for his crime then so much the better.’
    Andreas glanced at Marcus. ‘That’s tough. I’m sorry for your loss, boy. Sounds like you’ve had a hard time of it.’
    Marcus nodded, fighting back the emotions that had been awoken by revisiting his past.
    ‘Anyway, what can I do for you?’ Andreas asked. ‘You think I know where to find every slave in Greece?’
    ‘No,’ Marcus replied, clearing his throat as he suppressed hisfeelings. ‘But you can help us find the man who destroyed my family. His name is Decimus. He was a magistrate in Stratos at the time, and he owned land in the Peloponnese. He’s bald and has a limp.’
    Andreas nodded and scratched his chin. ‘Can’t say I know the man. I’ve been to Stratos a few times and never come across him. But there is a Decimus who is a tax collector. He has the contract for most of the towns in this part of the province. He comes to Chalcis twice a year to oversee