Roma Victrix by Russell Whitfield

Author:Russell Whitfield
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Roman Gladiator Gladiatrix Ancient World
ISBN: 9781905802647
Publisher: Myrmidon Books

‘Why are you standing around talking to this worker when I should have you flogged for loitering? You are leaving here very soon.’

Her eyes flicked over to Valerian as if to emphasise this point. ‘You have no time to exchange pleasantries with the workers or anyone else for that matter.’

‘I’m tired.’ Pyrrha sounded petulant, even to Valerian’s ears.

‘I don’t care. To the pallus with you,’ she gestured to the wooden posts used for sword training. ‘You’ll hit it till I tell you to stop, is that clear?’

‘I’m tired.’

‘Good – then you’ll learn a valuable lesson about pushing your limitations. Go. Now.’

Pyrrha looked for a moment as though she was going to protest before marching off huffily to the palaestra.

Illeana shook her head and laughed softly. ‘A firebrand, isn’t she?’

‘She’s young,’ Valerian replied.

‘She’s not that young.’ Illeana arched an eyebrow, the act of which made Valerian feel week at the knees. ‘You like her, don’t you?’

He swallowed. ‘Of course. She’s a nice girl. Who wouldn’t like her?’ he tried to inject a challenge into his voice, but it failed miserably against the onslaught of Illeana’s beauty and came across as whining as Pyrrha’s protest.

‘She likes you a little too much.’ Illeana switched her attention to the young gladiatrix who, to her credit, was striking the pallus with some gusto. ‘A girlish crush, I’m sure, but you shouldn’t encourage it, Valerian. She is contracted here and you…’ She turned back to him. ‘You are just a hired hand, promotion or no promotion. Don’t interfere with my fighter’s training.’

Valerian was surprised at the earnestness in her tone. ‘Why are you talking to me like this?’ he asked. ‘You are worried that I am going to pursue Pyrrha, is that it?’ The silence of her response spoke volumes. ‘I will not deny that I am… attracted to her. But – as you say, I am just domestic help round here.’ He knew that Pyrrha would be in serious trouble if their liaisons, chaste as they had been, were uncovered.

‘You are an educated man,’ she offered. ‘You will not be domestic help for long, I think. I don’t know what happened to make you end up here, Valerian, but I do know that your star will rise fast.

Pyrrha needs no distractions now. I am taking her away from here to fight in the second-tier arenas outside the capital. When she returns, she will be much changed and her status will allow her certain… leeway. But at this time, despite her skill, she is still only a tiro. I’ve told her and I will tell you the same thing: be patient.’

Valerian was taken aback. ‘Thanks for your… concern,’ he replied.

She smiled then and it seemed to him that for a brief moment she was the only thing in his world. ‘I like you, despite your pomposity. And I like her. I don’t want to see either of you flogged or worse. I’m sure that she’ll entertain your advances when she returns. Unless…’ Illeana stepped closer to him, her green eyes glittering… ‘you prefer women to girls.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.