Drusus released him with a shove, turning back to the trader. "I'll take him," he declared. "He might do well in the arena. And if not..." A cruel smile twisted his lips. "Well, the crowd will still love seeing a Talfen ripped apart."
"Dominus," I said, my voice low. "Are you sure about this? A Talfen in the ludus... it could be dangerous."
Drusus turned to me, his eyes narrowing. "Are you questioning my judgment, Marcus?"
I swallowed hard, knowing I was treading on dangerous ground.
"No, of course not. I'm just concerned about the safety of the other gladiators. The Talfen are known for their savagery."
"Exactly," Drusus said, a gleam in his eye. "That savagery will make for excellent entertainment in the arena."
I felt my unease growing. "But what if he turns that savagery on us? On the other slaves?"
Drusus waved a dismissive hand. "He'll be properly restrained when not in the arena. And if he causes any trouble..." He patted the whip at his belt meaningfully.
"Don't worry yourself about it, Marcus," he said, his tone patronizing. "You're a gladiator. Your job is to fight, not to think. Leave the decisions to those better equipped to make them."
I bristled at his words, but kept my face carefully neutral.
"Of course, Dominus," I said, forcing the words out. "I apologize for overstepping."
Drusus turned back to the slave trader, a look of grim satisfaction on his face. "We have a deal," he said, his voice firm. "I'll take the Talfen off your hands."
The trader's eyes gleamed with barely concealed greed. "Excellent choice, noble Drusus. You won't regret it."
As they began to discuss the specifics of the transaction, I found myself studying the Talfen more closely. His skin was black, but not black like mine. Mine was dark but still had an element of warmth underneath it. His was true black, like leather a tanner had dyed. It seemed unnatural to me, but then I had heard of humans to the south that had skin as pale as the moon, so I supposed it wasn’t that strange, and he was half human. Despite his alien features, there was something undeniably human in the way he held himself - proud, defiant, but with an undercurrent of fear he couldn't quite hide.
Drusus's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
"Marcus," he called, beckoning me over. "Listen carefully. I want you to oversee the Talfen's training."
I felt my stomach drop. "Me?" I asked, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.
Drusus nodded, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yes, you. You're one of my best fighters. If anyone can whip this beast into shape, it's you." He leaned in closer, hisvoice dropping to a whisper. "And if he proves too difficult... well, I trust you to handle that situation appropriately."
The implication was clear. If the Talfen couldn't be trained, it would be my responsibility to eliminate him. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. "I understand, Drusus."
"Good," Drusus said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Get him settled in the pens. His training begins tomorrow at dawn."
I frowned. “The pens, Dominus? Not the barracks?”
“As you said, Marcus, these creatures are known for their savagery. I won’t risk my other assets. He’ll sleep in the pens like the other animals.”
I nodded stiffly, hiding my discomfort. As much as I distrusted the Talfen, treating him like an animal felt wrong. But I knew better than to argue further with Drusus.
As Drusus turned away to finalize the purchase, I found myself face to face with the Talfen. His eyes met mine, a mixture of defiance and resignation in their depths. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come.
"Come on," I said. "Let's go."
I led the Talfen through the ludus, acutely aware of the stares and whispers that followed us. The other gladiators and slaves pressed themselves against the walls as we passed, their faces a mixture of fear and disgust.
The Talfen walked silently beside me, his chains clanking with each step. I found myself stealing glances at him, trying to reconcile the monster I'd always imagined with the being walking beside me.
As we reached the pens, I paused, turning to face him.
"Listen," I said, keeping my voice low. "I don't know what you are or where you came from. Here, we’re all nothing and no one. But that makes us equals. I can train you, help you survive in the ring, but I won’t tolerate… if you want to survive, you'll do as I say. Understand?"
The Talfen met my gaze, his strange eyes unreadable. After a long moment, he nodded once.
