Peace, At Last

As he circled his opponent the sweat that had been beading on his forehead for the last five minutes slid down past his gracefully arched eyebrows, his pale icy blue eyes and on down his strong jawline, where his teeth clenched in pain. The sweat dripped off of his chin onto the loosely packed sand as he moved in reaction to a thrust from his adversary.

Moving swiftly, his black, oiled braids snapped as Maximum flowed to the side, brought his barely concealed blade up and forward and sliced his opposition’s throat.

As the body fell and he rose Maximum once again became aware of the voices of the large crowd, at this moment chanting his name.

Maximum sighed, sorry for doing what he’d needed to do in order to stay alive. The memory of his opponent’s last moments alive were burned into his mind, like so many before him.

Turning away from the crowds and towards the small gate set in the side of the large round ring, Maximum heard a different kind of yelling. His friends and fellow gladiators were yelling, not because he had killed his opponent, but because he had left the Pit, which had claimed so many of them before, alive once more.

Once inside the gate he stumbled and fell to his knees, no longer able to ignore the pain of the leg wound he had sustained in the Pit, the loss of blood knocking him unconscious.

As Maximum slowly regained consciousness he fought the urge to open his eyes, knowing he wasn’t in his room in the Gladiator Commons.

He lay there pretending to be asleep, listening for any clues as to where he was; he heard quiet voices slowly getting louder as they came closer to him.

"Dammit Retorix, don’t argue with me! I’m going to do this!"

"Please Augustus," Retorix, the First Minister, pleaded, "he’s only a boy. Spare him this anguish."

"He is of the age to be trained, and trained he shall be!" Augustus, Caesar of all Rome, said vehemently.

"His Mother just died! Give him time!"

"Stop!" Caesar commanded. "The boy must appear strong before the Empire’s enemies, lest they smell weakness and attack."

With the conversation ended, Augustus gestured to Retorix to open the door and he strode through.

Maximum waited a moment for Retorix to enter then he spoke without opening his eyes "Good day, Caesar, First Minister."

Retorix jumped. "By Romulus and Remus," he swore, startled.

Caesar barked a short laugh. "Well, I was told you’re the best."

Maximum opened his eyes and spoke again, not hesitating, knowing that The Caesar respected outspoken, honest people. "I thank you for the magnificent room and speedy healing, but even I, your most humble slave, know it is not out of concern for my being that brings The Caesar into my presence. What is it you require of me?"

Augustus raised an eyebrow. "To the point, I like that. I have an offer; not a command, but an exchange of equal value. If you consent to teach my eldest son the art of close range fighting, I shall give you your freedom and pay you for the time spent teaching my son."

Maximum eyed Augustus, showing none of the turbulent feelings within him; the hope, joy, fear, on his face. After an entire life of combat and slavery he didn’t know what to do, or say.

"Well," Caesar prompted, getting impatient. "What is it to be?"

Maximum spoke "I . . ." He took a deep breath, calmed himself down. "Yes, I will train your son."

Three days later, after he was fully healed, Maximum was introduced to Julius, Caesar’s son. Julius was a small, skinny boy, neither weak nor overly muscular either. He had penetrating golden eyes and the hooked nose so common in the Caesar Dynasty that made him look like a predatory eagle.

And as Maximum trained Julius, the days turned into weeks, the weeks into months and the months into years.

At the end of Julius’ last day of three year training Maximum sat down with his charge, now his friend, for a talk, the last one of many they’d had throughout the years.

"I’ll miss you Julius. You were a good student."

"I’ll miss you too." Julius sat beside his instructor, comfortable in his presence, watching the sun set. He turned to face Maximum. "What will you do when my Father grants you your freedom, where will you go?"