***
Euric stood in the barracks, eyeing his gladiators as he gave them the speech he had been practicing all day, "Men, I have called you here together today for one reason," he paused. "There are those of you here that cry 'freedom.' Now, we may dispute the semantics of the word but the truth is, there are a great many of you that want out of the arena and out of your contracts. Well," his eyes fell on Juko who stood nearby, "I have an opportunity to present to you that may give you your chance."
Euric continued as they gave him their full attention, "Things in the Empire are not going well. As some of you may have heard, there have been riots in the Ala District. Now, I cannot predict the future but I fear a great change is about to descend upon Odalia and I admit that what I'm about to tell you, well, I have my own interest at heart. And that interest is, of course, staying alive but I will need all of you in order to do it and in return, I will free you from your contracts."
Juko scowled, "I am not here to fight for your Empire. I am here-"
"Revenge, yes, Juko, I know. I’ve taken that into account and it is a major part of our plan. In fact, I wish you to remain here while Felix and Castor take the others out to the practice arena to give them their roles, should they accept them." He nodded.
Felix barked, "Recruits, regroup on the dust, full attire."
The men streamed out of the barracks quickly, equal parts excited and apprehensive about what the future held.
When it was just Juko and the lanista remaining he asked Euric, "So now you will tell me the full story of my brother's death. That's why you've sent everyone away."
"Yes," Euric agreed reluctantly, sitting down upon the edge of one the nearby beds. "I will now tell you the full story of the night of your brother's attempted escape." He took a deep breath before continuing, "That afternoon, I gave Suna my Rudus and, by all accounts, simply placing it in his hands should've been enough to render him a freeman in the eyes of the law but," he shook his head, "I was naive, again."
"I am surprised."
"Are you?" he laughed slightly. "I am a mere showman-"
"You are a huckster."
Euric bowed his head with a small smile, "I cannot dispute that but... I am not malicious and I always hope for good things. That must count for something?"
"Continue on, lanista."
He sighed again, "That night, your brother and his new wife tried to make their way out of the city but they were stopped at the gates. He did exactly as he should and showed the guard the Rudus, which should've allowed him safe passage but, for some reason, everything went wrong. One of the guards recognized Lady Catherine and from what I understand, they immediately seized Suna. I do believe they thought he was trying to kidnap her at first and in the midst of all the chaos, he shouted at her to flee. She took one of the guard's mounts was able to get away, despite her... quite bulbous state. She must've been a remarkable horsewoman to do that but," he shook his head, "either way she managed to escape. For all I know, she may even still be alive as I've heard rumors that she fled to a witch woman's hut on the Western Coast."
"And Suna?"
Euric's face was downcast, "They took him into custody right then and there and threw him into a prison cell. I will spare you the details of the hours of torture that followed afterwards but the next day, they returned him here, throwing him out onto the floor of the Amphitheater."
Juko bristled, "And you did nothing?"
"What could I do, Juko? Die alongside him? What would that have accomplished?"
Juko was slow to answer as the rage within him burned greatly, "We are very different men, Euric."
"I agree. I am... hardly a man at all, some would say, but that is who I am. I am not a hero. I achieved my freedman status through cunning and theatrics. That's what I am and I don't deny it. Would you deny your true nature?"
The N’bari remained silent.
Euric continued, "As he lay bleeding upon the dust, the Decanus and his ten set upon him. Suna fought bravely and had he not been tortured before hand, I think he would've killed them all. He certainly caused his fair share of casualties! I watched the whole thing unfold, under threat of my own life of course, from the Emperor's seat... and the last blow came from the Decanus himself."
Juko stared ahead, his stomach beginning to turn, "What was the final blow?"
"Stabbed through the heart." Euric turned his face away from Juko as the memories returned to him. His voice was low and quiet as he continued the tale, "When they were sure that he was... gone, they left the Amphitheater. I," he cleared his throat as the emotions began to overwhelm him, "took his body from the dust and carried it into the catacombs of the Two-Brothers Temple from our connection beneath the arena. The High Priestess, who had only married them the week before, helped me clean and prepare his body."
"Is his body still there?"
He turned back to Juko nodded, "Yes, preserved in the Lycanian way."
The N'bari fighter's face was awashed in emotions as he silently stood in the middle of the barracks, slightly swaying.
Euric stood alongside him and placed his hand upon the young man's shoulder, "You want your revenge, son, then it is the Decanus from which it should be taken; the Decanus was the one that killed your brother."
Juko grit his teeth as he spoke, "Then I will take his life and when I am done I will take my brother's body back to my father."
Euric nodded in agreement, then added, "I know that you owe us nothing Juko, son of Mutebe, but... will you stand beside us in the coming days, if it means that you will have your revenge?" Euric held out his arm to him.
Juko grasped it, firmly, "Yes, I will stand with you, lanista."
A Sword Of Wrath, Book I: Blood And Dust Page 20