The lion jerked back and then charged forward. Sextus had warned him that might happen and Greg was ready for the lion. He jammed the trident into the neck and shoulder of the lion and shoved the tines deep. He had to hold the trident with both hands when the lion pawed at the weapon. It was nearly pulled from his grasp. The strength of these animals was staggering. If they could bring down a wildebeest, Greg was easy pickings. Greg yanked back quickly and then plunged the weapon deep again. He did so over and over until the lion stopped fighting back. He turned and realized another lion was heading toward him. This one not quite as big.
He turned and met the lion halfway, jamming the tines into the hip of the lion and it roared with rage. The crowd was chanting Validus over and over. Sweat was pouring down his face and his heart was beating the hell out of his chest. He stabbed again and again at the lion. When he thought it was injured enough to turn his back, he moved toward another lion. He could tell that there were less lions and he was thankful. A female lion was running for him at top speed and fear shot through him.
If he missed, she’d be on him in a second. Greg didn’t see the large male lion that was coming at him from behind. The large male hit Greg in the back like a Mack truck, shoving Greg deep into the sand. Before Greg’s mind could register the event, the lion’s mouth bit into the back of Greg’s neck and killed him instantly.
Dean and his friends paced back and forth. They were not allowed over to the Colosseum, only those fighting for the day. They could all hear the roar of the crowd and time ticked away slowly. They were in the small arena, practicing. They were also watching the new recruits. Felix, informative as ever explained that General Agircola had brought back slaves from a war waged in Caledonia.
“Where is Caledonia?” Thad asked and Felix gave him a look but answered the question.
“Just north of Britannia, it is said there are hordes of barbarians among the crags and hills of the country,” Felix said.
So, the gladiators watched the wretchedly emaciated men begin their training on the grounds outside the small arena. They were a ghastly white and some almost blue. It looked as though they had been starved to keep them compliant. Dean remembered what Septimus had told him, that he’d been kept starved, beaten and dehydrated on the long trip to Rome. Watching the new men only ate up a small amount of time and Dean felt as though he were going to jump out of his skin with anxiety. It was one thing to fight an opponent with months of training, but to go against lions, with no training. Dean knew it didn’t bode well.
Thad hit him on the arm and he turned, seeing Sextus coming their way. His face was grim and Dean’s heart fell into his stomach. He bit down on the sorrow and waited for the other man to reach them.
“I come with news of your friend. It is grievous to say, he was killed. He fought well and killed several lions, but he was jumped from behind. Know that he died instantly and he did not suffer,” Sextus said.
“Where is his body?” Dean asked, his voice heavy with emotion.
“He was taken with the other men; they will be put into a mass grave. Forgive me for bringing you sad tidings.”
Thad, Marco and Dean stood silently, watching Sextus walk to the barracks.
“Marine Corps Private First-Class Greg Price, died valiantly on the battlefield in Rome. Oorah, Marine, go with God!” Thad bellowed at the top of his lungs as tears streamed down his face. This was followed by “Oohrah,” from Dean and Marco. Dean felt as though his heart had shattered into a million pieces and all he wanted to do was find Zaza and hold her. The men around the field looked at them and they knew that Greg had been their friend. It didn’t take long for word to spread about Greg and several of the other net men. Dean wanted to kill the emperor with every fiber of his being and he knew real hate for the first time in his young life.
Θ
Word had spread quickly and Zaza felt her heart drop. She knew that Dean loved Greg as a brother. She took in a deep breath and let it out in a shaky sigh. If what Dean had said was true about not being from this time, then it was a double tragedy. Greg should not be here and he shouldn’t have died. It made her brain hurt to think that her man wasn’t from this time. How could it be? Yet, everything in her being told her it was true.
These men acted very differently. Sometimes, Dean said the oddest things. The way he thought was odd. He told her of his time and it sounded wonderous. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like. He had been horrified about slaves, but it was normal here. She didn’t like being a slave, but it was her life. He fought against it, railed against it. He said men and women have control over their own life, for the most part.
He’ll need me, she thought and went looking for her man.
VII
Dean looked up to see Septimus walking back from the Colosseum. The man was bathed in blood and
