The Gladiator's Goddess (The Gladiators' Gifts) (7 page)

Four months later in the practice yard, Abedi still thought about Nardine every day. He pondered their future together as he jousted with other men. He had no way to communicate with Joseph; no way to even know if Nardine had made it to Joseph’s stall on the Via Appia.  The one thing he did know —the master had not located her yet. If that happened, the
lanista
would be sure to create a giant show before whipping Nardine, pregnant and all, and then selling her.  He would make sure everyone in the
ludus
knew of her fate, to discourage any further escape attempts.  Few managed to escape; the master’s minions caught most slaves within a day of them leaving the
ludus
.

The
lanista
had questioned Abedi about Nardine, but did not seem to be too concerned about him helping her or killing the guard. Abedi made sure to stay in the
lanista
’s good graces. The
doctore
, unhappy with Abedi’s last loss in the arena, kept insisting he wait to return to the arena. But the physician finally decided Abedi’s leg had healed sufficiently so he might fight. He still had a trace of a limp, but his leg moved much more easily now than it had before. He looked forward to another joust where he could finally claim a victory for this house. 

He also looked forward to leaving the
ludus
for good. Once he won a match, he would have enough coin to begin a life with Nardine. It might not be much of a life at first, especially with a new baby.  But after a short time in hiding with Joseph and his family, Abedi knew he would find a way to get away. Joseph would help him. Abedi’s attention turned back to the fight when his opponent nicked him in his neck. “You are not paying attention, old man,” the younger gladiator said. “Probably dreaming about some women you want to bed!”

Abedi smirked a
t the man, well aware of how accurate he’d been in his jest. He put down his practice sword and turned to leave the training yard when he saw the
lanista
coming toward him.

He gestured obeisance and waited, knowing the master would not single him out lightly.

“Abedi,” the
lanista
said. “I have come to inform you that you will be fighting in the next arena outing,” he said.

“I am aware of that,” said Abedi, wondering why
he reiterated information he already knew. 

“What I have to tell you about is whom you will be fighting. It is to be a house match. You will be fighting Hebides. To the death, this time, as is required by the rules. So you must prepare. The match takes place in three days time.”

“Does Hebides know of this?” Abedi asked.

“He does. He says he is looking forward to it,” the master said, in an ominous tone.  “For some reason, he seems to be angry with you. I was already suspicious when he tried to blame you in that slave girl’s escape. This gives me more reason to wonder. But whatever is between you two, use it to give the audience and the magistrate a good show.  There is nothing better than to see two gladiators who hate each other try to kill each other.”

The master turned and walked away, while Abedi searched the yard for Hebides. He found him, staring straight at him. Abedi then left the yard. Hebides will learn his lesson, Abedi thought.  Because Hebides would be the one to die. 

*****

Nardine grew very large. She did not know for certain when the baby would come, but it would be soon, sooner than she anticipated. She worked for Joseph’s wife, caring for their two young sons and washing laundry. She never made her way to the marketplace for fear of being identified. Joseph and his family lived in a relatively deserted neighborhood on the outskirts of Rome. She wondered if Abedi would be able to find her if he had to.

Nardine
carried a laundry basket back to Joseph’s first house when she experienced her first pain.  The pang shot through her with the force of a wild animal. She had always heard that women bearing their first child had a long labor, so she assumed the first pains didn’t hurt much. Joseph’s wife Myriah had said as much. Nardine felt as though the child had been halfway expelled from her body with this first pain. After recovering from her stumble, she hurried back to the house, where she found Myriah cooking. 

“It is time,” Nardine said, trying to
sound calm. “The baby is coming. I just experienced a hard pain on the way back here.”

“Let us take you to the room that has been prepared. I will send Elvin
us to the midwife’s house.” Elvinus, her youngest son, was about ten years of age.

Nardine reached the bed and lay down just as another strong pain gripped her. She cringed. This
would not be easy.  She wondered whether she would survive the birthing.  She also worried about Myriah and Joseph’s reaction when they realized she did not carry Abedi’s child. Right now, though, her body took over. The pains doubled in intensity once the midwife arrived. Nardine didn’t know if she could live through it, and said as much to the midwife.

“You will live through it, my girl. There are no signs anything is wrong, and your hips are wide enough to accommodate the child. The birth is actually moving faster than is usual, so it’s likely you may not have to suffer as long as most first-time mothers would.”

It seemed to Nardine her body had been cracked in half. But she breathed at regular intervals, and pushed when the midwife instructed, and after four hours, the baby’s head emerged from her insides. 

The midwife held her hands beneath Nardine, instructing her to give one large, final push. As she did, she heard a squall, and breathed a little easier.

“You have a daughter,” the midwife said, laying the baby on her chest. But Myriah, who oversaw the entire procedure, piped up to ruin the lovely moment.

“This is not Abedi’s child. This is the child of a white man.  You have deceived us, Nardine.”

“I never said Abedi was the father,” Nardine muttered, as the midwife cut the cord and cleaned up the afterbirth.

 
“But you knew Joseph and I thought that. How can we be sure you even know Abedi? This might be a trick to take advantage of our hospitality.”

Nardine’s brain fogged with confusion. She felt the joy of having a child of her own nestled on her chest, but Myriah’s strong reaction
rattled her. She supposed she had deceived them, in a way, but not intentionally. An empty place in her insides hollowed out. Myriah had been kind to her, as well as Joseph.

“I am sorry Myriah. I meant to tell you. It just never seemed to be the right time.”

“Not until after your baby was born, is that what you mean? We have been very good to you.  But we have heard nothing from Abedi. How are we to know you are truly his friend?”

“He is a gladiator,” said Nardine. “And he was injured. Seriously.  I warned you he might not arrive in time.”

“All very well and good, but my husband and I must confer about this. I will no longer have a stranger taking advantage of us. Not with a newborn baby to take care of.”

The midwife silently finished her ministrations and left the two women alone. Nardine
, exhausted by the birthing process, said nothing more to Myriah, not wanting to exacerbate the situation. 

“When Joseph comes home, you will hear our decision,” said Myriah. Then she left Nardine alone, the baby on her chest,
sucking at her breast.

Nardine
felt frightened but then she experienced a peace settle over her as she watched her daughter at her breast.  All would be well.

She would find Abedi, if she had to run away to do it.

*****

Abedi arose even earlier than usual on the day of the match with Hebides. First, he prayed to the goddess that his life would be spared and that he would find a way to help Nardine and her child. Then, he cleansed himself thoroughly with water drawn from the well the night before. He stored a white tunic in the bag in which he would carry his weapons once
he received them. Then he buckled on his gladiatorial costume.

His chest remained bare, with just a strap of leather covering his right shoulder and extending down to his left hip
. He would be nearly naked as he struggled with Hebides to the death today. He wanted to be prepared. He had conditioned his body for dozens of hours over the past several weeks, and his strength had increased. Only his weak left leg would hinder him. He had also conditioned his mind—as much as he could. If he fell today, no one would be there to take care of Nardine and her child. He simply hadn’t been strong enough to fight in a match until now. He must win it, and leave the
ludus
with his winnings. He doubted he would be able to buy his freedom. That meant he would have to escape. And escape he would, even if it meant killing another guard or two. He knew the goddess wanted Nardine and him to be together, and this might be the only way. 

As he paced around his cell, he wondered who the
lanista
planned to bet on — Hebides or him. Probably both of them.

A knock sounded at the cell door. He opened to reveal a slave boy who served the gladiators.  “The
doctore
wants to see you,” he said. Abedi left the cell and followed him out to a small room the
doctore
used.

Abedi walked
in and found him looking at a manuscript. “Close the door behind you,” he said, looking up. 

“Why am I here?” asked Abedi.
The
doctore
seldom summoned gladiators on the day of a match.

“There is a man here to see you. He says his name is Joseph, and that he once rowed with you on the galleys. What is he doing here?”

Abedi hoped his look of surprise would help convince the
doctore
of the truth of his statement. “I have no idea. I have not seen him in years.”

“Well, I agreed to let him see you, but only for a moment or two. He was most insistent. He said he had news to impart. And I want to hear it.”

Abedi swallowed. He had no doubt the news concerned Nardine. “I have no objection,
doctore
. I have no secrets, from you or anyone else at the
ludus
.”

The
doctore
led him the down the hallway to an anteroom where Joseph sat on a bench. Joseph stood up and embraced Abedi before the
doctore
broke them apart.

“There will be no whispers or exchange of gifts here. Be about your business.”

“Greetings,” said Joseph.

“Greetings,”
replied Abedi with a smile. “It has been years since we have seen each other and exchanged words. The
doctore
said you had news for me. Does it have to do with that dog I sent you?”

“Ah, yes, the dog.” Joseph stalled for a moment.  “The dog bore pups and then ran away. I treasured it
, but my wife did not like the dog, so there was nothing I could do.”

“I understand,” said Abedi. “I knew you would take as good care of it as you could while I was serving as a gladiator.  I will get it back, some way. Thank you for your help.”

The
doctore
jostled Abedi out of the room and back towards his cell. “Why would he come here to tell you the fate of a dog?” he asked Abedi. “It makes no sense.”

“I treasured that dog,” said Abedi. “It meant a great deal to me.” Then he
remained silent as the
doctore
pushed him in the direction of his cell.

*****

Nardine, covering herself with a veil, scurried through the amphitheater with thousands of other patrons who looked to find a seat before the gladiatorial matches began. She carried her infant with her, drawing a few curious stares from women who accompanied their men. Few children attended these events, and even fewer babies. But Nardine desperately wanted to see Abedi. Joseph gave her a small amount of coin every week, and she used it to purchase her admission to today’s matches after she ran away.  She knew Joseph’s wife Myriah wouldn’t put up with her much longer, so she decided to find Abedi herself. She didn’t know how she would do it, but she would find a way. She didn’t know if Abedi had healed enough to be able to fight today, but she hoped he would be. And that he would win his match.

She found a seat as close to the bottom of the amphitheater as she could. For once, the baby behaved well. Despite all the noise, baby Firi either slept or
looked around, seeming to search Nardine’s face for answers. “Don’t worry, little one,” Nardine cooed. “We will soon find you a father, if he survives his match today.”

Nardine
surveyed the first few matches with little interest. When a lion entered the arena, she watched as it devoured a gladiator trying to best the animal. But the next match caught her full attention: Hebides and Abedi entered from opposite sides of the arena and she listened as an announcer relayed the news that they would fight to the death.  Abedi had always faced death in the arena, but somehow today’s display drove it home.  Hebides strode around the arena, holding his sword up and waving with pomposity, while Abedi merely walked to the center of the arena, raising one arm briefly as the crowd cheered and waved.