A vein in Brennus' neck pulsed with rage. 'The fancy boys and Lentulus,' he sneered. All his other weapons lay on the far side of the room.
'Don't come any closer!' Titus' voice wavered although the Gaul was unarmed.
The three murmillones were inseparable. Titus and Curtius were brothers, thugs who had worked in the collegia for Clodius. They had been sold to the ludus after a rich matron had been raped by a mob that they were leading. There were still some crimes that the lictores, the magistrates, would not tolerate. Flavus was a short, unpleasant man whom the pair had been trained with. Thrown into a group combat in the arena soon after arriving, they'd found it useful to fight as a trio. Since that day, the murmillones had lived, trained and slept together, scarcely leaving each other's company. It had earned them a reputation of doing more than sharing beds.
'What are you doing with these scum?' He moved closer to Lentulus, the fourth intruder.
The Goth swallowed hard and stepped back, keeping his sword pointing towards Brennus.
The big Gaul smiled coldly. 'Leave now and I'll be nice. I won't even kill any of you.'
Unsure, Lentulus turned to Titus, the ringleader 'He's full of shit!' retorted the murmillo. 'Think of the woman. You can have her next.'
Lentulus glanced at the Nubian's naked body, his eyes full of lust. Curtius nodded in agreement and pushed a hand into Astoria's groin. He sniggered and stuck several fingers in his mouth.
'Tastes sweet, Lentulus.'
'Keep him over there, boys!' Flavus laughed too, an erection visible through his loincloth. 'It won't take long with this bitch.'
Lentulus was still gazing between Astoria's legs with fascination.
There was only a moment to act. Brennus darted forward, swinging a huge fist into the side of Lentulus' head. The Goth collapsed, sword dropping to the floor. Before Brennus had time to pick it up, Titus lunged forward. Desperately the Gaul dodged to one side, but the blade sliced a long, shallow cut on his chest.
As another thrust followed, Brennus caught the sharp iron in his left hand. Ignoring the pain, he gripped the gladius so tightly that Titus was unable to pull it away. With his right, the Gaul grabbed the murmillo by the windpipe and began to choke him.
Titus' eyes bulged with terror and he let go of the sword, trying frantically to break Brennus' powerful grip. His efforts were futile. Within moments the murmillo's face had gone puce, his tongue protruding from a desperate, gaping mouth. Brennus tightened the hold, grimacing as the cartilage made a cracking sound.
Curtius jumped up when he saw his brother struggling to breathe. 'Hold the girl!' he screamed at Flavus, launching himself across the room, weapon raised.
Half strangling Astoria, the evil-looking murmillo quickly obeyed.
Brennus dropped the limp figure to the floor, smoothly turning the sword hilt into his good hand. Blood dripped from the deep cut, but the naked Gaul was now in berserker mode. He moved closer, gladius at the ready.
'Four not enough to take me? Limp prick!'
'Bastard!' Distraught with grief, Curtius slashed madly at Brennus, who simply ducked under the blow.
He leaned forward, burying his blade deep in the murmillo's unprotected chest. The Gaul smiled as Curtius' momentum carried him further on to the sword.
The murmillo's eyes opened wide with shock as he died.
Placing a huge hand on Curtius' chest, Brennus shoved him backwards.
There was a sucking noise as the razor-sharp metal pulled free, allowing air to rush into the chest cavity. Curtius' body sagged on to the sandy floor, pouring blood.
'Your friend has dirtied my room.' Brennus' tone was almost mild as he stepped towards Flavus.
'Come any closer and I cut the bitch's throat.' Flavus' eyes darted around wildly, but the point of his dagger stayed fixed under Astoria's chin.
Brennus could see the murmillo wasn't lying. 'Let her go.'
'So you can kill me too?' Flavus pricked Astoria's skin with the tip. A fat red drop ran down velvet black skin. 'On your feet!'
Brennus let the murmillo walk slowly towards him, the girl held in front.
'You first,' Flavus shouted. 'Outside.'
The Gaul stepped backwards, taking care not to lose his footing on the bloody surface.
The darkened yard was full of curious gladiators, drawn by Astoria's screams and the sounds of combat. Their flickering oil lamps illuminated the scene.
Romulus was standing in deep shadows not far from the cell door. Unlike the others, he had an idea who had attacked the Nubian. For some time Lentulus had been training with the murmillones and bragging about raping Astoria. He had presumed it was just talk. Now it seemed the Goth really was bad news.
Romulus had seen Brennus many times since his arrival in the ludus but had never spoken to him. The big Gaul and Astoria both seemed friendly and they certainly did not inspire the kind of hatred that welled up when he thought of Lentulus. Fists clenched, he prayed they had not been killed.
Relief filled him as Brennus emerged stark naked, blood running from his wounds. He was followed by Flavus, holding Astoria by the throat.
'Help me kill the Gaul!' The murmillo peered into the darkness, hoping to see gladiators who would come to his aid. 'We can all have his whore!'
'The first one who comes near gets his throat cut,' Brennus said calmly.
Nobody moved. In the ludus' unwritten rules, grudges like this usually had to be settled by those involved.
His voice shaking, Flavus called out to two fighters. 'Figulus! Gallus! Fight with me!' The pair shifted from foot to foot, deeply tempted by the attractive Nubian. It had been months since they had been with a woman, but the sight of Brennus with a bloodied sword arrested further action.
Astoria sobbed quietly.
Romulus' heart pounded in his chest. Despite the noise, there was no sign of Memor yet. Should he get involved? It took only a moment to decide. The invitation to gang-rape the girl had filled him with disgust. Velvinna had never revealed the exact circumstances of their conception, but she had hinted at it. And the merchant had forced himself on her night after night. In Romulus' mind, rape was a crime of the worst order.
He tiptoed towards Flavus' unprotected back, gently easing the dagger from his belt. Nobody spotted him. Rage replaced the disgust as he stole within striking range. Flavus was like those who had raped his mother. An anonymous noble. Gemellus.
Dirty bastards. The murmillo was oblivious, still pleading with Figulus and Gallus to join him.
Romulus took a deep breath, knuckles whitening. He stepped in close, grabbing Flavus' left shoulder tightly and pushed the thin blade through his tunic to break the skin.
'Let the girl go!'
Flavus froze.
'Release her,' he hissed.
'Romulus?' The murmillo's voice was incredulous. 'This has nothing to do with you. Now piss off before this bitch gets herself killed.' He poked Astoria with his knife and she screamed.
Brennus took a step forward.
'Stay where you are!' roared Flavus.
Glowering, the Gaul moved back.
Blood pounded in Romulus' ears as he took in the dramatic sight of Brennus and the circle of gladiators. Every face was watching them. In front of Flavus, Astoria's shoulders shook with fear.
'I'll give you one more chance.'