An Unknown Man

" Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies. "

Jane Austen

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I was Italian, a man born into the later years during the time of the Renaissance, and yet here I stood amidst others inside a Roman colosseum, filled with Roman people. I had not known how such a thing came to be and I have come to realize the things I had missed. Art here had not been commonplace but rather replaced by statues instead. It is a form of art I could appreciate, as it took just as much effort.

The English man in that office spoke of the Emperor being Julius Caesar. A person I knew quite well due to my studies on history, his statue in Rome having always intrigued me unlike the many other ones scattered around.

So having been sent to Rome, during the rule of Caesar couldn't make me more happy. I now just had to find a way to enter his good graces and become a courtier and move up the ranks to become a spymaster. I had kept myself hidden from many of the people that were around me, my outfit covering myself from head to toe. It however still showed I possessed wealth. Wealth I had gained from my gladiator, the best in Rome. 

To hear how he was planning to fight a large lizard had brought worry to me, but also gave me an opportunity. To enter the ranks of his emperor, and ascend into a position of wealth. Don't get me wrong, money was what I had wished for. But serving the emperor directly would be a dream come true.

However, the news of my best gladiator fighting this unworldly beast put a seed of doubt into my head. Although I have faith in Leontinus for he had brought many down before him, beast and man alike. This is a different kind of monster, it's almost as if god wishes for my Gladiator to struggle before the Empress Consort. To Mock Him, maybe mock me as well. However, I have done no wrong to anger God. It may be in his plan for Leontinus to fail.

Staring ahead of me, I saw Leontinus suiting up in his usual gear. No sign of fear was present in his eyes, he was fearless and showed immense confidence in his success. Biting my nails, I took a seat just opposite him. He still had twenty minutes before he needed to exit for battle, it may truly be the last time I see him. A man that I had come to know and love like a brother, it did not matter that I was his master. I had given him as much freedom as possible, he could go out and fuck whoever he wished. He had earned the coin to do the very least.

Leontinus turned his head up towards me, " Oh, it's you, Donato. Come to wish me luck? " He wrapped the leather around his hands which would allow him a better grip on his trident. His nonchalant look tells me that he did not know of the beast he would be fighting.

Releasing a sigh I gave him a small smile, " Yeah, something like that. " My head still down as I was overwhelmed, I was meant to show no emotion and yet here I am on the verge of tears for a slave. 

A chuckle reached my ears causing me to raise my head, " What are you so worried for? It's only four Barbary Lions. " The man shrugged his shoulders, "It's no issue for me. So why worry? " 

" You won't be facing the Lions anymore, that's the issue. " I took the mask off my face and rolled the black linen off my face, "It's a lizard. ten feet tall and as vicious as a hyena. " A frown on my face as I kept my head low.

" Damn, who changed my fight! WAS IT THAT BASTARD! " A loud bang hit the table as he stood up, " Do you know how it fights, at least? " He fell back into his seat, his palm over his face.

Looking up towards him, I shook my head before staring off into his trident. " It will most likely try to pull you towards it if it's as smart as my reports. " 

" What will we do if I win? " a sigh left his mouth when he asked me, " Will we be given pardon again? " 

" No, you will be given a favor most likely. " I looked towards him my scheming smirk rising to which he raised an eyebrow at before nodding, " You will ask to serve Caesar personally as well as including me. She should grant this request if you demonstrate skill and offer something. " I told him to which he stood up and nodded.

Placing the helmet over his head, he left for the gate into the pits. I could only pray for his safe return, he could either bring immense glory or grief. I turned and left, I could not watch my 'brother' be chewed to bits by a creature. It was not in my nature, I did not mind my new family getting slaughtered but Leontinus had gone through struggles with me. 

Rising from the bottom all the way to the top had proven to be quite a task, he had quite a few close encounters with death himself. He had shown support in my journey and I showed support in his, he had helped us with sponsors as well. 

Selling his sweat to the patricians proved to be quite a worthwhile investment, having gained us around forty denarius aureus. A good amount of money for it had helped with equipment and training gear. We had spent four gold on his armor alone, quite a cheap sum for we had known a blacksmith. A man by the name of Donatello, another Italian who had learned his trade in the Holy Roman Empire. 

Walking through these halls, I could hear the shouting and cheering of the people at the entrance of Leontinus. Biting my fingers, I continued to stroll through staring at the many statues of the old Roman warriors. They were quite beautiful, I do not doubt they were created by masterful artisans. 

The Colosseum was large and could fill the current Roman population as well as its army and some Athenians. I remained unsure of the Athenian obedience, they were schemers through and through. This means they were playing the long game most likely, waiting for Rome to show weakness. Then they would pounce, taking their opportunity and splitting from us.

It was a game that had long been used since the beginning of kingdoms, after all, men had ambition. And with that ambition, they can become dangerous. I stared at myself in a mirror that lined the walls, I am that man. 

I had used every trick in the book to gain our rise in power, for what? It would end here with the man I called my brother getting mauled at the hands of a beast, oh I wished I could watch but his death would only scar me and damage me further.

The people had been cheering for some time now, their silence immediately being picked up by my ears. A saddened expression appeared on my face, this had only meant something bad occurred. I stared at the ceiling of the Colosseum, I offered a small prayer before continuing my walk.

The colosseum entered a cheer once more, a shock to my ears. There were not meant to be any more games for a few more minutes, " LEONTINUS! LEONTINUS! " I had heard a man shout through the walls and it had brought a smile to me.

He had won, now he just needed to enact our plan to make us one step closer to our goal. Eradicating the false Romans, ' The Valyrians, the people Arrian and Livy wrote about. ' It had been common text here as well as something told to me by the English man. As much as I disliked them, I couldn't help but believe him.

Pulling my black cloth over my mouth once more, I continued my stroll. It wouldn't be long before I needed to meet with Leontinus about his success and what would need to be done next. He would officially be free from me, on paper that is. 

In our bond, he still held as much loyalty to me as he did to the Emperor. A bond no one could break due to his overwhelming charisma, a charisma that had made the people come to love him and celebrate each of his birthdays. The Emperor was simply the most charismatic man to exist, his words came out as if they were the law.

A date that everyone had written down on their calendars. As I continued trekking the halls, a resounding footstep of guards could be heard coming from the other direction. ' Could it be the Empress? No, most likely a patrol. '

As I rounded the corner, I had seen them. Praetorian Guards, armed to the teeth with their weapons surround a woman. ' Empress Consort Irene. An Athenian Snake. ' I stared as I continued my walk, her eyes lingering on me for a mere second as I bumped past her clumsily. 

Keeping my pace, a grin plastered on my hidden face. I entered another area of the Colosseum, an area where Leontinus would be resting from all the wounds he would have endured due to his battle with the creature.

Looking around, I saw him. His chest was bloodied but still firm, his helmet marked with scratches, and his trident as if it had just been chewed. What had happened for him to be in such a state, I would never know. For I had been too weak to witness the battle, a weakness we both shared when it had come to each other.

We worried too much, a quite deadly hubris. " So you've come, brother. " He looked at me, his eyes no longer on his helmet. 

" Speak to me, has our plan succeeded? " I looked towards him taking the mask off my face. He returned a nod before turning his attention back to the gates.

" Yes, we have been allowed to serve Caesar. " He somberly spoke, " Although, I guess I'll miss this theatre sorely. " His eyes showed a hint of sadness as a tear dropped as he looked around the walls.

" Indeed, this colosseum has truly been good to us. " I nodded to his words as I moved to sit next to him, " When will our duties begin? " 

" I told her that you will meet her. " He turned to me, " At the senate when the sun falls. " my face dropped as I heard that, it was far too early. It wouldn't allow me time to prepare.

" I see, very well. " I stood up from my seat, " You are to come along, I do not want a Roman dagger in my back. " He nodded as I spoke standing up from his seat and fastened his gauntlets.

" Let us return home, Leontinus. " I placed my arm around his shoulders as we started moving to the exit of the room.

' Will I truly fit in with the wolves of Rome, or will their fangs sink in before mine? ' I pondered in my head as we wandered the halls, it would take a few minutes just to leave this place with how large it had been.

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What do you think on Donato? I've tried to show he is ambitious, but not overly ambitious.