Beloved Enemy by Star Noble

Author:Star Noble
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THEY were downstairs when Elena stepped out of the living area.

“Kjeld, you said we have a guest.” She saw Dafried, and a smile lit her face. “Would you introduce him?”

Dafried straightened and bowed his head with respect.

“Elena, meet Dafried, an old friend from my Cheruscan childhood. He belongs to a good family, and we haven’t seen each other for years.” Kjeld glanced at his friend.

“Welcome. I hope you feel welcome at our home and enjoy your stay.” Addressing Kjeld, she said, “Quintus has gone to the market. Am I going to see you and your friend for lunch? My sister will be awake by then, and we’ll have fresh meat and vegetables.”

“I look forward to the meal, and I’ll wager that Dafried will too. He’s always hungry. At least that’s what I remember.” Kjeld smiled at Dafried.

“He exaggerates,” Dafried murmured. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“We have to hurry to the Coliseum, Elena,” Kjeld said, giving his foster mother a quick kiss on the cheek. “We will return later.”

Heading in direction of Capra, Kjeld and Dafried moved past women on their way to the market, children who were too young to go to school playing a game of tag, and slaves working on a back street to renovate the pavement.

“I had two choices,” Dafried said, pointing to the slaves. “And I chose to be a gladiator, fighting against the Romans.” He sounded disillusioned, and Kjeld moved a bit closer, until their shoulders brushed. Dafried didn’t jerk away, and Kjeld savored the presence of his friend.

Kjeld nodded. “Two bad choices. A slave’s life means being treated worse than an animal, and I’ve seen too many slaves losing their lives in the arena. I’m glad you’re still here.”

At the next corner, Kjeld stopped. “If you want to say good-bye to your friends from Pompeii, you should turn left here. Go straight, and you’ll see the Coliseum in the distance. It’ll be easy to find the living quarters.” He clapped Dafried on the back. “Wish me luck with Gaius. I hope he understands what I have to tell him about yesterday.”

Dafried laid his hand on Kjeld’s arm. “You’ll do well. Where will we meet again?”

Kjeld thought, pinching his nose. “The best would be meeting at the Coliseum, at the main entrance. And don’t let anyone take your staff!”

“You can bet your life on it!” Dafried winked.

As Dafried turned away to follow the road to the Coliseum, Kjeld watched his friend disappear into the crowd of citizens. He missed him already.

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