Invader: Dark Blade by Simon Scarrow & T. J. Andrews

Author:Simon Scarrow & T. J. Andrews [Simon Scarrow and T. J. Andrews]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2014-11-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

At the king’s command the servants cleared away the remains of the feast and moved the trestle tables to the side of the hall. The guests stood to the sides while the king took up his place on the throne atop the dais, flanked by his daughter and Sediacus and the imperial envoy, his eyes glowing with excitement. The household slaves continued to top up the guests’ cups with beer and several of the Britons were already roaring drunk, punching each other in the stomach in tests of strength or vomiting in the area behind the kitchen.

At the king’s command the hall door swung open and the rowdy guests hushed as a line of eight bedraggled men shuffled inside, accompanied by several auxiliaries. Figulus recognised one of the Britons. These men were native prisoners who had been captured during the struggle to remove the previous king. They cut a pathetic sight. They were naked except for loincloths and their necks were tethered together and their ankles manacled. The auxiliaries shoved the defeated Britons roughly towards the cleared space in the middle of the hall, to loud cheers from the inebriated audience. There was some aggressive jostling as the Britons fought to get the best view of proceedings while the auxiliaries formed a loose circle round the hall, creating a makeshift ring. The soldiers looked disgruntled at having to act as attendants for the occasion while their comrades remained at the fort enjoying a well-earned rest.

Blaesus rubbed his hands together expectantly as he stood next to Figulus. He and Helva had joined their two comrades in front of the dais, with the other eight legionaries spread out around the hall.

‘At last! Been ages since I last saw a gladiator fight. Let’s hope it’s a good one.’

‘Waste of good prisoners if you ask me,’ Rullus rasped. ‘This lot would’ve made us a tidy profit. I hear that the slaves are fetching a good price in the markets in Gaul these days.’

The practice of selling prisoners into slavery was well established among the legions, and one of the few ways in which the soldiers could supplement their modest pay. Each legionary received a share of the profit from the sale, with officers receiving considerably more than the rankers. These prisoners had been part of the soldiers’ booty and many of the rankers had expected them to be sold on to the slave dealers in Calleva. Instead they would be slaughtered for the amusement of the king and his guests, to the evident displeasure of Rullus.

‘Who cares about a few sestertii?’ Blaesus responded. ‘This is much more fun!’

‘Easy for you to say, lad. I’ve got my retirement to think about. I need every sestertius I can get.’ Rullus tipped his head at the prisoners. ‘Selling this lot would’ve made a nice supplement to my retirement fund.’

The first two prisoners were released from their shackles and ushered towards the middle of the circle by a pair of auxiliaries wielding heated iron rods which they prodded at the downcast fighters, spurring them on.

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