Read Wolf’s Empire: Gladiator for Free Online Page A

committee.”
    â€œWhat did they say?”
    â€œThat the rules are the rules. If your team leader scratches you, there’s nothing they can do. They’re making a big fuss over the fact that you haven’t killed anyone in the arena.”
    â€œAnd you don’t disagree. You know I’m up to this, Marcus. I can kill.”
    â€œYou can’t know a thing like that in advance. A moment’s hesitation can cost you your life or that of your teammate. I told you not to show mercy in the ring and now look where it’s got you.”
    â€œThis is my father’s doing, nothing more.”
    â€œYes, but you’ve given him leverage by sparing your opponents. I could talk to Cossus Calpurnius Blaesus, but even if he agrees to let you join the Black Ravens, the committee would still vote against it. Your father has Spurius Viridius Silo in his pocket, and he’s in charge of selection.”
    Silo Viridius had made an art out of creating difficulty where there was none. He was part of the old guard who saw the sport as theirs and theirs alone and constantly lectured the younger players. Gladiators must be cautious, careful. You’ve never fought to the death, you don’t know the meaning of this game. The fact that I was young and a woman didn’t work in my favor. “Silo hates me,” I said.
    â€œThat he does.”
    How could Marcus give up this easily, after all the work he’d done to help me qualify? “If the committee won’t listen, then I’m getting on the Calpurnian team,” I said. “I’m better than three-quarters of their fighters as it stands. The Sertorians are fielding players from allied houses to fill their missing slots, so why not the Calpurnians? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
    â€œThe rounds have already been drawn up,” Marcus said.
    â€œThere must be something I can do,” I said, forcing down the panic rising in my chest. “You sent a man to the compound, sent me all those messages. You wouldn’t have risked Father’s ire if there wasn’t a chance.”
    Marcus shrugged again. “Perhaps Fate will weigh in on your side, perhaps not. Be calm, walk with me awhile, and let’s see what unfolds.”
    Patience was the last thing I was interested in exercising, but Marcus had his way of doing things, and I’d learned from hard experience not to press him too soon. He led me down the underground tunnel that connected the gym to the most ancient and revered gladiatorial arena in the galaxy.
    â€œWho’s fighting now? Anyone interesting?” I asked.
    â€œThe emperor’s cousin from Mars is in a bestiarii match. Only for show, of course, since the Numerians aren’t fielding a team this year. He wants to go up against the barbarian Sauromatae, the same as his hero Lurco Giganticus.”
    The beast-hunting matches lacked the prestige of the gladiatorial arena—I never liked them.
    â€œThe emperor’s cousin? Bucco Numerius?” I said.
    â€œThat’s him. Authentic gear down to the last clasp.”
    â€œThey’ll eat him alive,” I said.
    â€œHa, you’re not wrong, except he’s only going up against one lizard man and fully shielded at that. I’m sure the emperor will be squirming in his seat. His cousin’s an embarrassment. Not worth his salt.”
    For Marcus, that was the worst insult he could give, reserved for undisciplined amateurs, the hopefuls who were not willing to make the sacrifices required to be the best.
    We emerged into the bright lights of the arena. The stands were packed to bursting, the roar of the crowd deafening, like storm waves crashing against a seawall, matched only by the blaring musical accompaniment that lent a sound track to the arena drama—trumpets, horns powered by the strong lungs of row after row of Taurii trumpeters. There was even an organic pipe organ in a specially