Gladiator Heart

by Alyssa Morgan

  She had to love him as she’d promised.

  Angus downed the rest of his ale and jumped to his feet. “I’ll go with you.”

  “No.” Tristan’s refusal was firm.

  “What?” Angus asked, confused. “Why not?”

  “You, my friend, must get out of the city before the legions return,” Tristan explained. “I’ll get Valeria, and we won’t be far behind you.”

  “You can’t do it alone.”

  “He won’t.” Vorenus stepped in, his hands on his hips. “I’ll help him rescue the girl.”

  Angus wondered if the drunken tavern owner wouldn’t be more of a hindrance than a help.

  “Don’t worry, my friend.” Tristan clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I can take care of myself. I don’t know where I’ll end up, but I want to know you’re back home bedding all the pretty young ladies and keeping the Romans out of our lands.”

  Angus liked the sound of that future. But he didn’t think he could enjoy his home without Tristan there. “I’ll wait in Gaul for you to catch up,” he said. “Then we’ll return home together.”

  Tristan extended his arm, and the two of them locked hands, giving a firm shake. “Brothers.”

  “Brothers,” Angus returned.

  He hated to leave Tristan, but with the legions returning, they couldn’t risk the chance of being captured. Angus prayed the Gods were listening, because he wanted to see his friend arrive in Gaul, with Valeria proudly at his side.

  Valeria wept until she’d shed every last one of her tears. She lay on the bed in the darkness, not having the energy to get up and light one of the oil lamps after night had fallen. Gaius had locked her in the room and would not allow her to see Lucia or Rufus. By now Tristan had received her message and believed she did not love him. He had to be far from Rome, and it killed her to think he’d spend the rest of his life hating her and thinking her a liar.

  Tristan.

  Her aching heart called out to her love. If only she could explain everything to him. Did he still have so little trust in her that he wouldn’t even think to question the message? The words hadn’t been her own. Gaius had recited what he wanted her to write, and she’d prayed the whole time that Tristan would see through the words and know they were false.

  She’d effectively sealed her fate by writing the damned message, but what choice did she have? She would not let Tristan die. She could live the rest of her life without him, knowing he was free, but to see him dead would be unbearable. She loved him more than life itself, and without him, she wouldn’t have the will to go on living.

  Why did the Gods want her to suffer?

  She heard the key turning in the lock and her door opened. Gaius stood in the doorway, watching her as she lay in bed. His features were muted by the darkness, but his green eyes glowed with an unholy light. She turned on her side and faced her back to him. Valeria feared Gaius, and didn’t want to show him any sign of weakness.

  “Your man was seen leaving the city,” he said. “We’re rid of the Pict scum.”

  Good. At least with Tristan safely away from Rome there was nothing Gaius could do to harm him.

  “I’ve sent my fastest men after him. They’ll kill him once they catch him.”

  She prayed they would never find him. Tristan belonged in the north with his people. He deserved a long, happy life.

  “We’re to be wed the day after tomorrow.”

  Valeria shoved her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming. Behind her, the bed dipped under his weight as Gaius sat down. He reached for her and turned her over on her back.

  “Will you welcome your husband into your arms?”

  “Not until we are wed.” And even then she’d refuse.

  “I was hoping to find you more agreeable.” He ran his hands roughly over her body, then clamped them over her breasts.

  “Take your hands off me.” Valeria struggled to get away.

  He gripped her shoulders and pinned her down on the bed. “I’ll do whatever I please.”

  “I’ll scream,” she threatened.

  She’d scream loud enough for the entire city to hear how much she despised Gaius.

  “There may be people around to hear you, but once we return to my home, you can scream all you like. No one will care. Least of all me.”

  She grated her teeth and told him, “Get out.”

  “Do not give me orders,” he fumed, his body tensing. “You are the one who will learn to obey.”

  Valeria held her breath as he hovered over her in the darkness. He tangled his hands in her hair and crushed his mouth down on hers, thrusting his tongue inside. She kicked and struggled. How long before Gaius erased the memory of Tristan’s touch?

  “I can be a loving man,” he whispered against her lips. “Let me show you.”

  “I’ve readied a room for you.” Lucia appeared in the doorway like a saving angel. “Shall I see you settled in for the night?”

  Gaius was reluctant to pull away from Valeria, but he did as he must. It wouldn’t do to have the city spreading rumors about his character. He’d been a gentleman for this long, he could wait two more days. He’d spend the time planning exactly what he was going to do with her once they were wed.

  Valeria took a deep, calming breath as Gaius left her room. He closed and locked the door behind him. Her only goal was to get out of there. He’d posted one of his men outside her door, but he had to open it some time. If she made a loud enough fuss, pretended some kind of injury, he would have to open the door to make sure she was all right. That’s when she’d escape.

  Let the Gods try and get in her way.

  “Would you hurry up?” Tristan paused mid-step to wait for Vorenus.

  Again.

  The man stopped to converse with almost every person they passed by on the way to Lucia’s villa. Especially the females. At this rate, they’d never reach the villa.

  “My good man,” Vorenus all but slurred his words as he stumbled over to Tristan and draped his arm around his shoulders. “When are you going to learn to slow down and appreciate life?”

  Tristan threw off his arm and increased his brisk pace. Bringing the tavern owner along had been a mistake. Did he take anything seriously?

  Vorenus sobered some and kept pace beside him. “What are you going to do once you get there? Storm in through the front door and rescue her?”

  “I don’t know.” Tristan would figure out a plan when he got there.

  “Turn here.” Vorenus steered him around a corner and down a narrow, darkened street.

  They stopped beside a high stone wall.

  Vorenus peered around the corner, then looked back to Tristan. “There’s one man posted at the servants’ entrance.”

  “Then we take him,” Tristan said.

  Vorenus flung the sides of his cape back over his shoulders and rested a hand on the hilt of the sword strapped to his waist. “Shall I go first?”

  “I’ll go.” Tristan drew his sword and took the lead, cautiously approaching the guard stationed at the door.

  “Who goes there?” The guard was nothing but a young man who scarcely had enough whiskers on his soft face to grow a beard.

  “Step aside, boy,” Tristan barked the order. “I do not wish to harm you.”

  The boy held up his sword with a shaking hand. “No one but Gaius Cato is allowed passage through this door.” His voice cracked on a high note, while his gaze strayed anxiously to Vorenus.

  Tristan swung his sword and gave the boy’s sword a mock blow, almost knocking it out of his unsteady hand.

  He gripped the hilt with both hands and took a wide stance. “Do you challenge me?”

  Tristan snorted a laugh. “I’d sooner challenge a doxy whore than the likes of you.”

  The boy’s expression turned serious. “If you don’t leave—”

  “I’m not leaving until I get what I’ve come for.”

  “I have orders—”

  “Are you willing to die for those orders
?” Tristan asked.

  It was an outcome the young man hadn’t considered. He opened his mouth, stumbling for something to say.

  “How many men are inside?” Tristan questioned him.

  “I can’t tell you.”

  Suddenly, Vorenus struck the boy’s head with the hilt of his sword. He collapsed to the ground in a heap of red cape and gold armor.

  Tristan looked at Vorenus, annoyed. “Why did you do that?”

  “I was getting tired of his simpering. He wasn’t going to be of any use to us.” Vorenus lifted the boy’s arms and started dragging him away from the door. “I’ll handle this. Go get your girl.”

  Tristan tried the door and found it unlocked. He opened the door slowly and peered into the kitchen. The room was empty. He hurried through the kitchen and down an empty hallway. There were no other guards in sight.

  He turned down another long hallway, and at the far end, there was a guard posted outside a closed door. He knew he would find Valeria on the other side of that door. He lowered his sword to his side and hugged the wall to keep to the shadows as he crept closer. Once he was upon the guard, he waited until the man turned his back to make a move. Tristan came from behind and locked his free arm around the guard’s neck to choke him, preventing him from getting any air or making any sound. After a minor struggle, the guard went limp and Tristan let him fall to the floor.

  He tried the door handle and found it locked. He quickly searched the guard for a key and didn’t find one.

  No matter. He’d break down the damn door.

  “Valeria!” he said through the door in a rough whisper. “Valeria! Are you in there?”

  A moment of silence passed before she answered, “Tristan?”

  “Are you harmed?” he asked, his impatience to have her safe in his arms growing by the second.

  “Tristan!” she exclaimed. “Oh, Tristan! Please get me out of here. Gaius locked me up and plans to force me to be his wife.”

  His rage exploded. No man would take Valeria from him.

  “Stand clear of the door,” he said.

  He hefted his leg and kicked the door until it broke away from the hinges and hung open. Valeria stood in the center of the dim room.

  He held out his free hand, gripping the hilt of his sword with the other. “Come, let’s go.”

  She wobbled over the fallen door and took his offered hand. “I didn’t want to send that message, but Gaius said he’d kill you if I didn’t. I prayed you would come for me.”

  He squeezed her hand as he led her down the hallway. “I will always come for you.”

  Tristan would never doubt her love for him again.

  Hand in hand they raced through the quiet villa, back towards the kitchens. Valeria sensed something was wrong. The quiet sounded too quiet, like the unsettling calm before a storm.

  “How did you get past the guards?” she asked.

  “They didn’t pose much of a challenge. We’ll leave through the servants’ entrance.”

  “Gaius could be anywhere.” She strained to search all the dark corners, expecting him to come at them any moment.

  “He’ll be too late,” Tristan said as they came into the kitchen.

  The door to the servants’ entrance stood wide open. There was no guard outside, and Gaius was nowhere in sight. Could their escape really be so easy? Relief washed over her as they moved closer and closer to freedom.

  “We’ll head straight for the tavern,” Tristan said, leading her to the open door.

  And then Gaius appeared, with a small army of men behind him, blocking their way.

  “No!” Valeria shrank back in fear.

  Gaius looked more than pleased to see Tristan. “I was wondering when we could expect you.”

  Valeria squeezed Tristan’s hand. A mixture of fear and anger knotted inside her, and she would not let Gaius have this victory. Not when they were so close to escaping. Tristan seemed to read her thoughts, for he squeezed her hand in return, then spun around to run out of the kitchen.

  Another group of armed guards blocked that exit.

  “Is there another way out of here?” Tristan asked.

  “No.” Valeria shook her head.

  They were trapped and outnumbered.

  Valeria pressed close to him, clinging to his arm. “What do we do?”

  “Pray for a miracle.”

  Gaius came to stand before them, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “There will be no escape.”

  “May the Gods strike you down!” Valeria flung the curse with all the venom she could muster. It wasn’t praying for a miracle, but she’d tried that before and it never worked.

  Gaius merely smiled. “Take him into custody,” he ordered the soldiers.

  “No!” Valeria screamed, clinging tighter to Tristan.

  The men surrounded them, swords drawn.

  “Stand back.” Tristan pushed her back and raised his sword.

  A battle broke out in the kitchen. Tristan against six men. And he was winning. They swung their swords, and Tristan ducked and parried, dodging around tables and stools.

  “Get him!” Gaius raged.

  The soldiers tried to get close, but they couldn’t catch Tristan. He moved with a skill and speed they weren’t accustomed to.

  Gaius came after Valeria. She ran, but didn’t get far before he grabbed her and pulled her back against him, bringing a dagger to her neck.

  “Stop, or I’ll kill her,” he shouted over the clamoring swords.

  Tristan froze, and the guards stopped their attack.

  “Drop your sword,” Gaius ordered.

  “No!” Valeria shook her head. “Don’t do it, Tristan.”

  Gaius dug the sharp blade into her throat. “I will kill her.”

  “You want her too badly,” Tristan said, panting to catch his breath from the fight.

  “Not as badly as you.”

  Tristan looked at Valeria, and his harsh expression softened. She saw the love burning in his eyes and knew he would do anything for her, even give his life for her.

  “No, no, no,” she pleaded.

  Tristan tossed his sword to the floor in a clanging rattle and glared at Gaius with detestation.

  “Seize him,” Gaius ordered.

  The guards fell upon Tristan and gathered his hands behind his back. Tristan didn’t struggle as they secured shackles around his wrists.

  “You’ll never win,” he said. “Not while she loves me.”

  Gaius flung Valeria away from him and marched up to Tristan. “I don’t need her to love me to win.” He smashed his fist into Tristan’s face.

  Tristan slumped forward, going limp and unconscious. The guards help him up by his arms.

  “Take him to the cells under the arena,” Gaius ordered. “The legions will return at dawn, and he’ll be put to death the following morning.”

  “No!” Valeria cried as the men dragged Tristan from the room.

  Gaius looked at her with an evil smile. “He’ll be executed the morning after next.”

  “Please, don’t do this.” She flew to her knees in front of Gaius, taking his hands in hers and holding them tightly. “Please free him. Please. I’ll do anything.”

  “How readily you give yourself for him.” He snatched his hands from her desperate grip. “I don’t want you this way. I want you to love me. In your heart, you must give him up.”

  Valeria searched his gaze for any flicker of hope. “Only if you free him.”

  “No!” Gaius saw through her ploy. “You’ll never belong to me while his heart still beats for you. He will die, and I will watch him die.”

  Gaius turned on his heel and swept out of the room, leaving her alone with the remaining guards.

  Valeria collapsed forward, catching herself with her hands on the stone floor. Hopeless despair constricted her chest. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Without Tristan in her world, she didn’t want to live.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  By the time the
morning sun shone bright and warm in the sky, a number of legions had reached the city. The Senate bent under the orders General Octavian carried from the Emperor. They were to conduct business as usual until he returned. The citizens were questioned and interrogated, persuaded to give up the names of known rebels who had taken part in the uprising. The people gave up surprisingly few names.

  Gaius had locked Valeria in her room, saying he would be gone all day making final preparations for Tristan’s execution and their wedding the following morning. She waited a short amount of time after he left before she picked the lock with the writing stylus from the desk and opened the door.

  “Did you need something, lady?” The guard posted outside blocked her way.

  She opened her mouth, not certain what excuse to give, when he was struck on the head from behind. His eyes rolled back in their sockets and his limp body crumpled to the ground. Rufus stood there, a proud smile on his face.

  “Rufus!” She almost broke into joyful tears as she ran into his open arms and hugged him tight. “Have you come to get me out? Will you help me get Tristan?”

  He patted his huge hand on her head. “I’m afraid Tristan is under heavy guard in the arena. It will be impossible to free him, but I can take you to see him. To say goodbye.”

  Now she did cry. She buried her face in Rufus’s chest, slobbering and sniveling all over the front of his wool tunic. “He can’t die.”

  In their cruelty, had the Gods intended for this to happen from the very beginning?

  “There’s nothing we can do.” Lucia came up beside her, and Valeria rushed into her arms next. “We can only pray for a miracle.”

  “I won’t,” Valeria argued insistently, shaking her head. “The Gods have made it clear they care nothing for my prayers.”

  “Then I shall pray for you.” Lucia bestowed a loving kiss on her forehead. “Go with Rufus, but hurry back. If Gaius should return and find you gone he’s likely to do something desperate.”

  Valeria hid beneath the hood of a dark, black cape, the dagger Rufus had given her hidden in its folds as he led her down the street towards the arena. She had visions of attacking the guards who held Tristan and killing them all, and laughed at the ridiculous idea. Who was she fooling?