Spartacus and Vero arrived just then. They glanced at Kirk's eyes, and Vero laughed. "Looks like you've been worked pretty hard. Last time, I missed two whole days of training." Kirk thought, You have no idea how hard I've been worked to keep that big-breasted, empty-headed beauty Illyria from getting you killed.
Spartacus gave him a knowing grin that any man would understand and clapped him on the shoulder. "Dochet told me the gladiatorial games at the Dionysia Festival are going to be unusual. We'll be facing the gladiator team of Andinus, the great wine merchant. Cress and I are competing for the chance to be the last one out."
Kirk raised an eyebrow. "Good luck. I hope you get to go last." In gladiatorial games, the lower-ranked fighters went first, and the higher-ranked ones came later. The last to enter was naturally the star fighter, the one with the highest status.
Dochet called everyone together. "I'll announce the order of appearance: 1. Gatrus... 13. Audi, 14. Kirk... 29. Spartacus, 30. Cress. The order may also be adjusted at short notice, depending on the situation. Be ready tonight. We leave early tomorrow morning."
Bartitas stood to the side and gave an inspiring speech. "I know many of you hate me. That's fine. I'm the son of a sailor, and my mother was a lowly slave. I was born in the Slums, and my origins are worse than many of yours. But Rome is a city full of opportunity and vitality! If you dare to fight for it, you can have everything! Glory! Fame! Wealth! Women! And most importantly, freedom! Fight for your dreams! Kill your enemies!"
The gladiators were stirred by Bartitas's rousing speech and roared, "Freedom! Women! Wealth! Glory!" like a band of outlaws about to descend from the