Page 48 of Defy the Highlander

“I would, but dunna fail me. If ye do, it’ll be the last time I do ye a favor.”

Brody nodded, understanding that he and Cam were at some kind of precipice. Brody’s pride had caused him to fail before and he knew it, so he wasn’t about to let it get in the way this time. He very much wanted to prove that he was capable of fighting for money and this was the exact opportunity he’d been looking for.

“I swear tae ye that I willna fail ye. Not this time.”

Cam believed him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was a full schedule at the Ludus Caledonia.

That’s what Lady Currie was told as soon as they arrived at the torch-lit venue. Hundreds of torches lined Caelian Hill, the warrior village to the south, and the Fields of Mars. As Lady Currie’s fine carriage rolled in, one of the guides at the Ludus Caledonia explained that there were four preliminary novicius bouts before the main events took place.

“Did you hear, Lilia?” Lady Currie said excitedly. “There will be many fights tonight. New men to see!”

If Lilia hadn’t known better, she’d swear that Lady Currie was drooling at the prospect. More than a month away from her favorite entertainment had the woman twitching with glee and all of the wine she’d imbibed from her personal flask on the ride from Hawkhill had her drunk.

It made for a loud and dramatic combination.

On this night, Lilia and Amy, Tynan’s mother, were the only maids permitted to accompany Lady Currie to the Ludus Caledonia for her triumphant return. She was wearing the exquisite Roman-style garment that Lilia had made for her, her hair done up in curls and braids that emulated the hairstyle from the Roman vase that Lilia had taken inspiration from for the garment. Amy had copied it down to the last curl.

The carriage pulled into an area north of the warrior’s village where other carriages and horses were parked, and there were men to help them disembark. Lady Currie exited first followed by Amy in a red dress that had been loaned to her by Lady Currie, and then Lilia in an amber silk that Lady Currie had given her last year. It was faded but still serviceable but, most importantly, it didn’t outshine Lady Currie.

That was critical.

There was great excitement in the air as the patrons flocked to the arena for a good seat. Lilia and Amy followed Lady Currie as she charged towards the Fields of Mars, determined to sit down in the very first row so she could observe the fighters close up. That was her usual position for the best view.

“Lilia,” Lady Currie said to her as they walked briskly towards the arena. “I am hungry, so find the men selling food and hot wine. I want some before the battles begin.”

That was Lilia’s usual job. She usually ran all over the place, looking for the food vendors, the men who sold hot wine, and hunted down the officials when Lady Currie found a warrior she wanted a closer look at. At the moment, Lady Currie was heading over to the staging area next to the arena that was in full view of the spectators.

It was where she would look over the stock.

As Lady Currie and Amy headed over to the staging area, Lilia went on the hunt for the food vendors, but she was also hunting for something else.

Brody.

Since their last conversation had been about the Ludus Caledonia, she found herself hoping that he was here. She wasn’t sure if she believed it, but there were great crowds and new recruits, so it was a very real possibility that he might be among them.

She hoped to find out.

Spectators were pressed up against the iron fence that lined the top of the staging area, which was several feet below. Lady Currie was at one corner of it, standing with an official from the Ludus Caledonia, who was pointing out the men to her below. Undoubtedly pointing out newcomers.

With Lady Currie occupied for the moment and so many people gathering around, Lilia dared to push through the crowd around the fence so she could peek down into the yard below.

It was full of men.

In fact, it was quite full of men preparing for the bouts. She pressed her face between the bars, searching for Brody’s familiar form. She didn’t see him right away, which discouraged her, but she told herself that simply because he wasn’t below didn’t mean he wasn’t at the Ludus Caledonia. It just meant he wasn’t fighting.

She had to hold firm to that thought.

Reluctantly, she pulled away from the iron fence and went on the hunt for the food vendors. The Ludus Caledonia was more crowded than usual, with great groups of men and even women moving about. There was a warrior’s village off to the southwest and she could see the small cottages, all lined up. Tendrils of smoke snaked into the air from the cooking fires.

It was possible that Brody was in the warrior village, but she knew it wouldn’t be safe for her to walk around and look for him. She didn’t want to be mistaken for a harlot.

Therefore, she headed to the area where the food vendors were. Tables were lined up and she found a vendor selling meatballs made from ground meat, ginger, and boiled in beef broth. They were then seared over an open flame and placed on a stick, and Lilia purchased two of those for Lady Currie. There were also little pork pies, some other kind of skewered meat that looked rather suspicious, and pies that were made from brains and eggs, which she avoided since Lady Currie wasn’t fond of organ meat.

With her bounty of meatballs and pork pies, she found the hot wine vendor and purchased a bladder of the stuff. With her hands full, she began to make her way back towards the Fields of Mars, but her trek was interrupted as some of the men from the warrior’s village were brought out to the arena.