Gemellus scanned it silently. The only noise was the bookkeeper's stylus scratching out figures behind him.
Romulus waited, knowing a beating would follow regardless of what Crassus had written.
Closing his eyes, Gemellus crumpled the note and dropped it to the floor. The rate of interest demanded by Crassus for an extension of his loans was completely extortionate. He did not need that hanging over his head as well.
Full of anger, the merchant beat Romulus harder than usual, but the boy took the punishment without a sound. The unexpected outing and the conversation with Pertinax had been well worth it.
Fabiola watched from behind a bush, biting her lips to avoid crying out at the sight. It would only have earned Romulus an even worse hiding. Her hatred of Gemellus grew day by day. Not only did he rape her mother every night, he regularly beat her brother black and blue. Only the fear of what would happen to her family prevented Fabiola from trying to kill their master.
It was two days before the bruises began to settle and an opportunity arose to confide in Juba. Every time Romulus went to talk to him, someone happened to be present.
Gemellus was ingratiating himself with every banker and moneylender he knew, trying to raise capital for a proposed business venture. Romulus suspected it was to do with Servilius' suggestion. But word must have spread about his huge debts, because visitors came and went, shaking their heads regretfully. The merchant's temper grew even worse. Household slaves crept about, trying not to be noticed. Eventually Gemellus could take no more and stormed off to the Lupanar, his favourite brothel. The bookkeeper was told he would be gone at least a day.
Hearing the master was gone, Romulus ran immediately to Juba, wooden sword in hand. The Nubian listened intently to the story, nodding approval when Spartacus was mentioned. His eyebrows rose with surprise to hear Pertinax had fought with the rebel Thracian.
'I would have joined Spartacus if I'd been old enough,' said Romulus fiercely. He had not been born until a year after the slave uprising ended.
Juba tapped his chest, signifying agreement.
'Show me more moves! I must learn to fight like a gladiator.'
The Nubian smiled and moved into the hallway. Ensuring Romulus was paying attention, Juba turned sideways to present less of a target, holding his sword out just above the waist, shield at chest level. He indicated that Romulus do the same. They stood side by side, repeating the same actions until Juba was happy.
'Shield up. Thrust. Step back,' the boy muttered. 'Shield up. Thrust.
Step back.'
Next Juba handed over the shield. Romulus slipped his left arm into the smooth leather grips, hefting the unfamiliar weight. The Nubian showed him how to protect chest and face, keeping his weapon ready for an opportunity to strike.
After a moment, they began to spar in slow motion, Juba taking care not to strike Romulus' wooden sword too hard with his own of iron. The knocking of blades echoed down the hall, and soon Fabiola arrived to watch.
'What if the master catches you?' Her face was a picture of concern. 'Stop it, Romulus. I'll tell Mother!'
'Go away! I'm learning to fight like Spartacus!'
His sister watched with a mixture of pride and fear. 'It's too dangerous. Please stop!'
Suddenly the idea of holding a real sword to Gemellus' neck came to him. Romulus redoubled the attack on Juba, who fell back, a wide grin splitting his ebony features.
It would be the last time he ever practised with the Nubian. When they had finished, Romulus returned to the family's small cell, bursting with excitement. Images of freeing all the household slaves and killing Gemellus now filled his mind. It terrified and exhilarated him.
Chores over, that night Velvinna listened to her son recount Pertinax' tale yet again.
'Be careful, Romulus,' she said, her voice full of pride. 'Nobody must see you with a sword, especially Servilius. Gemellus will not stand for it.'
'Don't worry, Mother.' Romulus' eyelids drooped with tiredness as Velvinna pulled the blanket over his shoulders. 'Nobody knows.'
Exhaustion brought him sleep at once, and dreams of being a soldier in Spartacus' army.
Romulus was rudely awoken the next morning when cold links of metal fastened around both wrists. Confused, he found they had been bound with a light chain. The boy sat up and gazed round the room, terror replacing the alarm. Fabiola and his mother were motionless in their beds, staring at Gemellus.
The merchant stood in the doorway, flanked by Ancus and Sossius, two burly kitchen slaves. Neither would meet Romulus' eye. Most of the household had known him since he was a baby.
'Try and use a sword under my roof? Little bastard!' Gemellus spat. 'Then stab me in my sleep, no doubt. I've been soft far too long. It's the gladiator school for you. Today.' A smile flickered across his lips. 'Learn how to fight there.'
Romulus knew instantly that his life as a common slave had come to an end.
'No, Master, please.' Velvinna threw herself at Gemellus' feet.
Fabiola sat bolt upright, her face stricken. This was just what she had feared.
'Get up, bitch.' Gemellus hauled Velvinna up by the hair. She cried out in pain, but the merchant backhanded her across the cheek and she fell back on to the cot, sobbing.
'Take him.' Gemellus gestured.
The end of the chain extended several feet beyond Romulus' wrists. With a powerful yank, Ancus pulled him out of bed and on to the floor.
Tears filled Fabiola's eyes.
'My son!' Velvinna screamed.
'Useless whore. You'll never see him again,' sneered Gemellus. 'I'll be back for his sister later.'
'Don't worry, Mother.' The words rang hollow, but Romulus did not know what else to say.
She wailed and cried even louder. Everyone knew what entering gladiator school meant.
'Let's go. I can't listen to this.' Gemellus turned and led his men out of the room.
'It wasn't me who told on you!' Fabiola's voice was frantic. 'Romulus!'
'Take care of Mother!'
As Romulus opened his mouth to shout again, Gemellus gestured at Sossius, who turned back and slammed the door shut.
More sounds of distress echoed down the hallway as he was marched off, clad only in his loincloth. Romulus knew Fabiola would not lie. They were far too close. One of the others must have seen Juba training him and informed to curry favour. Servilius?
Slaves had no choice in their lives; they could be bought and sold at will. But Romulus had never imagined leaving Gemellus' possession — he had known no other life. He was torn between fear and excitement at what was happening. While the prospect of becoming a fighter was thrilling, he would probably never see his family again. Romulus looked back one last time, Velvinna's sobs tearing at his heart, wishing his weapons practice with Juba had been quieter. But the man holding the chain was twice his size.
Stories were frequently told in the kitchen about famous gladiators who fought barbarians and wild beasts in the arena. Romulus had always enjoyed listening to the tales, but had never been inside a training school and seen the reality. For a moment, his heart began to race, full of romantic ideas about being one of the people 's heroes.
Sensing something, Gemellus cuffed him across the head. 'A boy like you will be dead inside a month.'
Romulus' heart sank. Of course. What chance would a thirteen-yearold have against professional gladiators?
'You'll need to prove yourself damn quick.'
They had reached the alcove by the front door. Romulus saw with alarm that the Nubian was not in the usual spot.
'Think I'd keep anyone who teaches others to fight?' Gemellus laughed. 'The brute 's on his way to the Campus Martius right now.'
He gaped at the merchant, confused.
'To be crucified.'
Romulus lunged at Gemellus, eyes full of murderous rage.