They needed to get Cassia back—Petros had her inshackles. But how?
There had to be a way. There was always a way.
He crouched, one hand pressed to the earth.What do I do?The Father God would guide him. He’d always come through for Madoc.
“We can’t hurt Petros.” Madoc rose as Elias joined him in the empty courtyard. “He’s Divine. He’s surrounded by guards.”
“Oh, and he’s a senator, appointed by Geoxus,” Elias added, patting the dust off his arms.
“The only option is to pay off her indenture.” Which meant they needed money.Fast.And more than they could get at the quarry.
They needed to fight. They needed to win.
Madoc’s arms dropped to his sides as an idea flickered inside him.
Elias raked a hand through his hair. “Are we thinking the same thing?”
“I doubt it,” said Madoc.
“We rob the temple offering box,” Elias exclaimed, just as Madoc said, “We become gladiators.”
“What?” Elias frowned. “That wasn’t what I was thinking at all.”
Madoc lowered his voice. “Lucius Pompino’s trainer saw me fight at South Gate last night. He wants me to train. We could sign up, earn the money we need, and free Cassia.”
“Hold on—you got invited to train at Headless Hill?” Elias checked the volume of his voice, stepping closer. No one was outside, but that didn’t mean they weren’t watching and listening. “Sorry. I forgot to mention that Geoxus himself stopped me in the market the other day. He told me I could have all the olives I wanted. And that he likes me much better than you. I didn’t want to say anything because I thought it would hurt your feelings.”
“Great. Then you can ask the Father God to release Cassia.”
Getting physically close to Geoxus was impossible. He was a god, surrounded by advisers and guards and half the legion wherever hewent. But if Lucius really wanted to make Madoc a gladiator, he might be able to earn the money they needed to set Cassia free.
Of course, there was a good chance Lucius’s trainer would laugh him away for declining his initial offer, but Madoc couldn’t think of that now.
“I would,” Elias said. “But I wouldn’t want to steal your glory.” He frowned, then turned his eyes west, toward the Glykeria District, where Lucius Pompino’s training facility sat atop Headless Hill. “You really think this could work?”
Madoc blew out a tense breath. “We’ve beaten Petros’s best. Even just training, we’d make a hundred gold coins a week.”And stay alive.He’d seen fighters who’d trained with the sponsor around the city. Some of them had been wounded badly enough that they couldn’t continue at Headless Hill.
He’d worry about that later.
“You’re sure Lucius would let me stay with you?” Elias asked. “I don’t mean to piss on your delusions of grandeur, but you’re not exactly moving mountains on your own.”
He was right. Madoc wouldn’t have won a match without Elias using his power from afar.
“Lucius’s gladiators each have a servant to help them prepare before a fight,” Madoc said. “If anyone asks, you’re the only one I trust.”
Elias must have been nervous, because he didn’t object to being called a servant.
“Mother’s going to kill us,” he said instead.
“If the other gladiators don’t first.”
Elias nodded. He glanced back at the house. “Danon!” he shouted.When his brother’s head appeared in the hollowed door, he said, “Tell Mother we’re going to get Cassia back.”
Danon’s eyes widened.
They didn’t wait for a response. As quickly as they’d come, Madoc and Elias departed, racing out into the alley, to the streets that would lead to Headless Hill.
Four
