Isadora knew that, but she was verging on telling himwhyshe wanted him to do well. She wanted him to impress her father so he would see that Cam was the warrior they’d been looking for.
But she stopped short. She’d only just found the man; she didn’t want to throw too much at him all at once. Today was their reunion, but tomorrow would bring another day.
There was time for him to impress her father.
Time enough to ensure that Niall Keith knew that Cam Netherton was exactly what they needed.
Isadora would make sure of it.
*
You will havea bout tonight.
Soon after Isadora had departed to return to her brothers, a man bearing stew and bread came to relay the message. Cam was told to remain in his tiny cottage in the warriors’ encampment until further notice, and once he was fed and rested, still more men came to usher him out of his cottage along with othernovicius.
They were all corralled into a holding chamber that was part of the arena, out of sight and off to the north. The chamber was massive, built partially into the side of a hill, with stone benches and big stone columns that held up the ceiling. There was an iron grate for a door, and small windows so they could see out into the holding yard beyond. That yard was connected to the larger arena floor and it was where some of the more advanced warriors practiced.
Torches had been lit by the dozens, lighting up the yard against the night that had descended. Since Cam really didn’tknow any of the othernoviciustrainees he was grouped with, he stood over by the window, watching more men coming into the yard, some of whom were heavily armored. He watched them curiously.
“Is this your first public combat?”
Cam turned to see a muscular man, about his age, wearing a long tunic, leather breeches, and shoes.
“Aye,” he said, returning his attention to the window. “I was only just told I was expected tae fight tonight.”
The man wandered up beside him, also looking out the window. He eyed some of the armored men, grunting.
“Tertiarius,” he muttered. “They are going to test us.”
Cam looked at him curiously. “What aretertiarius?”
The man met his gaze. “You do not know?”
“Nay.”
“How long have you been here?”
“I’ve counted out sixty-two days.”
“And what have you been told about this place?”
Cam shrugged. “Enough tae survive, I suppose. What else is there?”
The man smiled without humor. “What is your name, lad?”
“Cam.”
“Cam, I am Galan,” he said. “Galan de Lara. My family is from the Welsh Marches. And you?”
Cam lifted his shoulder. “Scotland,” he said. “I suppose ye couldna tell by my accent.”
Galan stared at him a moment, perhaps wondering if that was some kind of insult. Deciding that it was an attempt at humor, he grinned. “I suppose not.”
“I have been trying tae make myself sound like aSassenach. Is it working?”
“It is not.”
It was Cam’s turn to smile. Galan studied him a moment, perhaps a bit more closely. “I think I like you, Highlander,” he said. Then, he gestured out of the window. “Since this is your first time with thepublico certamine, I will explain how this will work.”
