The Gladiator's Goddess (The Gladiators' Gifts) (2 page)

“Are you to be my nurse, Nardine?” he asked. “I have never known such a beautiful nurse before.”

The first thing Nardine noticed about his face was his eyes. An indefinable shade of brown, they looked autumn leaves. “How do you know my name?” she asked. “I have never seen you before.”

“I have been here, watching you. I was injured in the last match. But I first noticed you at the
ludus
a month or so ago. I am a recent arrival from another
ludus
, one of your master’s rivals. One of the other gladiators told me your name. I am called Abedi. It is my tribal name.”

Nardine paused for a moment, studying him.
Strong and handsome, with a pointed noise and a jutting chin, Abedi’s pronounced cheekbones gave him character. His eyes drilled into her with intensity unmatched by any of the other gladiators she’d conversed with.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Abedi.” She smiled. “I am sure you will be healing soon, although that injury to your leg does look serious.”
She uncovered the ugly gash. Traces of blood showed on Abedi’s swollen lower calf.

“I still can’t walk, but I will be on my feet
soon and in the arena after that.”

She suddenly remembered Abedi as the gladiator whose life had been spared at the last match because he had battled a long time against a much larger opponent. 
“Well, you are optimistic, and that always speeds healing,” said Nardine, putting the bandage back in place and wondering if he’d ever be able to fight again.

“I would like to make better acquaintance, as you call it,” said Abedi. “And I will request you after my next victory in the ring.”

“When that time comes, we will indeed make better acquaintance.” Nardine smiled and dismissed him. It might be a long time before he won a victory in the arena. By that time he might have changed his mind. She regretted that he was injured, however, as he might have been the one to help her escape.  Still, his eyes stayed with Nardine. She wondered for a moment what he saw when he looked at her that way. His mysterious gaze sent a small shock wave through her, as though the earth crumbled beneath her toes.

Chapter Three

A few weeks later Nardine decided to take matters into her own hands and approach a gladiator to befriend him. Entanglements not approved by the master or his wife were strictly forbidden. Still, Nardine knew of some slaves who managed to couple without the
lanista
or Cornelia finding out about it. Nardine did not want to sleep with gladiators in order to get help, but maybe she wouldn’t have to. Maybe some of them would want to escape, too, and wouldn’t mind bringing a woman along. After all, they could pose as a couple after escaping, which might lessen suspicion. 

She decided to approach a gladiator named
Justinus, who had won countless victories in the arena. Justinus had dark blonde hair like her own, and a moody temperament. After watching the gladiators leaving the practice field each day, Nardine noticed that Justinus sat on a rock outcropping by the edge of the field each day for a few moments, sunning himself.  This day, she watched as the other gladiators joked with him and then left him alone, as he ran his fingers back through his damp hair and lifted his face to the sky. Nardine would make her plea quickly, since she would be punished if the master discovered here speaking with him.

“
Justinus,” she said as she walked up to him. “I see you won your match in the arena. It was a great victory.”

“All my victories are great victories. I still have my life, do I not?” he asked. “What do you want, wench?”

            Nardine didn’t know how to overcome his surliness. “I want to leave here.”

“Don’t we all? Don’t we all have better places to go than this hell hole? But why are you telling me this? Don’t you know you could be beaten for bothering me? And maybe even put to death for speaking of a possible escape?”

“I thought you and I could run away together.” Even as she spoke the words, Nardine realized how desperate she sounded.

“Run away together? As lovers do? You stupid wench. I have a male lover, Septo, among the gladiators. You know him, as he travels past the kitchens as often as I do.”

Nardine might have suspected that Septo had a male lover, but not Justinus. “I thought we could pose as a couple on the outside and allay suspicion.”

“If I ever escape, there will be nothing secret about it. Either I will be killed in the process, or I will live in legend, as Spartacus did.”

Nardine didn’t mention it, but Spartacus, who had died more than one hundred years before, hadn’t lived very long at all. He launched a bloody and widespread slave rebellion, which the Romans ultimately quashed.

“And I won’t be taking any bloody woman with me! Better that you stay here and remain in the kitchens.”

“I am sorry to have bothered you,” said Nardine. “You looked like someone who might want out of here. I would appreciate if you tell no one of my request.”

“I won’t tell the master, anyway. I can give you that gift. But mind your own business from now
on, and don’t interfere with me.” He stood up and shook his long hair out. “I’m getting something to eat.”

As he walked away, Nardine stole out of sight. She didn’t want to be spotted with a gladiator and be punished.  She would have to find another way.

*****

Nardine humbled herself before Cornelia, kneeling and pressing her head to the mistress’s hand
in a hallway of the
ludus
.

“Come, come,” said Cornelia. “What is your request? You don’t behave like this very often, Nardine. It must be something important.”

“It is,” said Nardine. “I have been thinking about all you said to me. It is true that I thought of running away. The death of Gaius made me pine for him. And for my freedom. I have only now come to my senses and realized what I have to do to get over him. I must have another gladiator. I want you to give me to another gladiator after next week’s match.”

“That is an unusual request, especially from you, Nardine. We have not utilized you much as a courtesan. There are other slaves who are much more experienced than
you. Plus, as I told you before, you seem to be bad luck for the gladiators you do bed. I will have to have to ask the augur to decide it.”

“Thank you
, mistress,” said Nardine. “That is all I can ask for.”  Nardine had hoped Cornelia would agree immediately. Now, the decision would be determined by how a flock of birds flying in the sky looked to the augur. Discouraged and disappointed, Nardine looked to the future with only a small hope. If she could just get close to another gladiator, she knew she could convince him to help her escape.

Chapter Four

Abedi stretched as he arose from his pallet. Today would be another long day on the practice field, a place he still could not perform because of his leg. Fortunately, he could walk again. A slow process, he could feel his strength returning to his limbs. The physician told him this would happen, and that it meant healing had begun. But his newfound strength made him restless.

He
possessed an active mind. He could look over the hill beyond the practice field and see the city in motion.  If he looked in the opposite direction, into the fields on the other side of the
ludus
, he could imagine his native African delta stretching for miles in the other direction.

O
ther distractions existed, too, including those of the female variety.  As Abedi washed his face with water from a pail by his bed, he remembered Nardine’s sweet smile and shapely body. He had seen her rare smile often enough to know a beautiful woman lurked beneath the troubled expression she often wore. He understood her sadness as a slave. He counted himself fortunate to be a gladiator and to be able to have some direct control over his own destiny. But it had come only after years of rowing a galley. He hated the water and would prefer to walk on the sands of the arena, even if they were drenched with blood. 

Abedi had seen Nardine talking with
Justinus the other day.  He knew that Justinus liked men, so he did not suspect a romance between the two. He did want to learn more about Nardine, and find out what allowed her to face each day. She entranced him. So Abedi planned to confront Justinus that afternoon. Enough time had passed He would not look too anxious when he asked about Nardine.  Abedi had been with many women in Africa and more than a few since then. He knew if he could find out a few clues about Nardine’s personality, he could attract her. But scarce opportunities existed to converse with her. Later that day, he sat down next to Justinus, who rested after a mock match. “That parry was superb, Justinus,” Abedi said.

“So tell me. What do you want? You’re usually not so free with your compliments.”

Justinus’ directness bothered Abedi, who liked to worm his way around a problem. “Well, I thought you could give me some advice.”

“Some advice? About my parry? I can demonstrate it again for you if you like.”

“No,” said Abedi. “I am looking for some advice about women.”

“Women? What would I know about women? Ah, you are talking about that slave who was bothering me the other day. Nardine, is that her name? She is a pesky creature.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Abedi.

“Well, if you must know, I might as well tell you. You’re not one to spread gossip. She is planning to run away and she asked for my help.”

This stopped Abedi. She might face death if caught, or at the very least a severe beating.  “Why would she want to run away?”

“Who knows? She doesn’t like the mistress? She was carrying on with Gaius before he was killed, I believe. Maybe that has something to do with it.”

Abedi had known about Gaius, too. He had approached Nardine in the infirmary only after Gaius died. “Maybe,” said Abedi. “Maybe she just wants a taste of freedom.”

Abedi could understand that. He spent years chained in the bottom of a ship, and it created a constant yearning to run and keep running until he found a place he could live free. He kept his desire in check by exercise and
by battling in the arena. That had to suffice for now.

“So, Abedi. Are you thinking about running away with her?”
Justinus clapped him on the back. “She’s trouble, that one. Mark my words. Better to stay away from her and her damned blonde hair.” 

“Did she speak of anything else?” asked Abedi.

“She told me she thought she and I could pose as a couple if we made it to freedom. And she asked me not to tell anyone of her plans.”

“I am glad you told me,” said Abedi. “I am not planning to run away. But I am planning to have that girl.”

*****

The following day, Nardine worked in the infirmary. Abedi
hobbled around on his cane and bothered her as she fulfilled all the duties the physician gave her.

She couldn’t say why, but something about Abedi put her on guard. She had to
admit his chest was broad and his legs like trees. Except something more than that attracted her. Perhaps his steely dark gaze drew her to him. His eyes looked like limpid pools full of tan leaves.

He
treated her like a queen. His gaze caused a tingling in her, one that began low in her belly and spread throughout her midsection and her breasts. She could barely believe her attraction to Abedi so soon after Gaius’ death. 

“My beautiful tranquil little flower,” said Abedi. “Where are you going on this fine morning?”

“I’m staying here all day, Abedi. You’ll have your fill of me before the day is through. The physician said it’s time to put the cane down.” Nardine suspected he stayed in the infirmary specifically to follow her around.

“Can you help me?” asked Abedi, laying his cane by a pallet. “I need your support.” He smiled at her.

“Abedi! You don’t need support from me, a big strong gladiator like you! I should be leaning on you for support!”  She smiled, allowing him to put his arm around her shoulders, and they hobbled down the corridor together.

Abedi pushed her into a tiny
alcove and up against a wall. “My beautiful goddess. At last we are alone.” He smiled again, and Nardine couldn’t help noticing his eyes, lit up by the light from a small window. She should have pushed him away, but for some reason, she didn’t.

“Abedi. We’re not alone. There are other patients just down the hall…”

Abedi silenced her with a long, expansive kiss that radiated throughout Nardine’s body. No one had ever kissed her like this before. She vaguely wondered why she felt so comfortable. If one of the other gladiators had tried this she would have screamed and pushed him away. Yet this kiss went on. Abedi explored her mouth with his tongue and then drew away.

“
My lily flower. You taste as good as you look. I was not wrong.” Those dark eyes flashed, and another smile spread slowly across his face.

Nardine gently extricated herself. “Abedi, we
can’t be seen like this. I would be severely punished by the mistress.”

“But my dear, you won’t be punished after I win my next match and request you in my bed.” 

Nardine shied away at that. “You have to win first. And in order to win, you have to be able to walk. Let us return to the infirmary. As they walked slowly down the hall, Nardine remembered how the kiss made her feel—as though the stars in the sky raced around and around as she ran beneath them. The dizziness hadn’t left her, even now. No, she wouldn’t forget Abedi.