past my precisely moving arm. Aemil skimmed beside us and the other gladiators followed, the scent of their sweat-soaked bodies cloying the air.
Regulus suddenly rushed me, trying to duck under my reach. I let him think he had then caught him in a headlock, spinning him around and pulling him off his feet. I kicked his legs out from under him, and he had to let go of his sword to grab my arm, hoisting himself on it to keep from being strangled.
In an instant, I had him on his knees, my arm tight against his neck while he struggled for air. I jerked his head back and jammed my blade to the hollow of his throat.
I heard around me the tumult of the crowd, the chant of my name, and I again wanted to lean into the sound. I smelled blood, the hot sand, the metallic tang of the inside of my helmet. The small practice yard became an amphitheatre or the floor of the Circus Maximus, with all of Rome come to watch Leonidas the Spartan triumph.
“Practicum est!” Aemil yelled. A killing stroke. “Regulus is down. Leonidas is the victor.”
Regulus thrashed, trying to fight his way to his feet. I tightened my arm around his throat, cutting off his air. His exertions slowed, and a gurgle crossed his lips. Finally, his eyes rolled back in his head, and Regulus slumped to the ground.
I waited—he’d feigned unconsciousness before and then leapt up to strike at me the moment I’d let down my guard.
This time, Regulus was well and truly out. I loosened my arm from his neck, and he fell to the dirt in a sprawl of limbs.
I dragged in a breath. The arena drained away and became the practice yard lined with arched openings to the cells. The screaming crowd faded to the admiring shouts of the gladiators of the school.
Aemil pried the wooden sword out of my hand. I flexed my fingers, sinews cramped.
“You are the best, Leonidas.” Aemil clapped me on the shoulder. “None can touch you. Stay and help me train this rabble. I’ll pay you coin. I heard your benefactor is only so generous.”
“No.” I wanted nothing more to do with the ludus. This fight had been personal.
Aemil released me, eyeing me with confidence. “You’ll come back to me one day. Though you’d better go now. When Regulus comes to, he’s going to be furious. Your friendship is over, I think.”
I knew this. I also knew I’d hoped my camaraderie with Regulus would turn into the bond I’d shared with Xerxes. It never had, as much I’d pretended. Xerxes had been large-hearted, but Regulus loved himself above all else.
Without a word to Aemil, I resumed my tunic and boots. I made for the gate in time to see Lucia, who’d emerged wrapped in her cloak from Regulus’s cell, try to slip out of it.
I ran after her, the energy from the fight still with me. I caught up to her, seized her by the arm, and hauled her from the ludus and down the street.
I pulled Lucia all the way across the Campus Martius to the Vicus Longinus and so to our apartment and the waiting Cassia. Lucia fought me every step. She even appealed to passers-by, but most recognized me, and none wanted to interfere with Leonidas the freedman if he wanted to drag a woman home.
Cassia hurried in from the balcony as I towed Lucia inside. Lucia tried to grab the doorframe, but I pried her grip from it and slammed the door.
“What were you doing with Regulus?” My words came out a croak, barely discernible.
Cassia poured wine from an amphora, added water from a pitcher, and thrust the cup into my hand. I drank, the sour liquid burning my throat.
“He wouldn’t let me go,” Lucia said. Her cloak fell away to show her stolla torn at one shoulder, her arms goose-bumped with cold. “He didn’t want you to find me.”
“Why did you fight me then?” My voice was clearer but retained its harsh note.
“Because I can’t trust you any more than I can him.” Lucia’s words clogged with tears that filmed her dusty eyelashes.
“Why not? We sent you to safety. Why did you come back?”
“To warn you.” Lucia sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “But I don’t want you to know everything I’ve done.”
I restrained myself from shaking her. “Warn me about what? What have you done?”
“She poisoned Floriana,” Cassia said clearly and calmly. She stood with