Page 35 of Dominion
“Now, we see if you took to my lessons,” Cervantes said, then gestured for Boris to join them.
The hulking beast of a gladiator walked into the middle of the circle and smiled at Mateo. “I take it easy on you if you promise to fuck me.”
“Shameful, Boris,” Cervantes said.
“I’ll spare his life, then, better?” Boris asked, looking at Cervantes, who shook his head.
“I’ll spare your life if you stop asking,” Mateo said.
Cervantes laughed and gestured for both men to face the ludus where their dominus was standing on the balcony, watching them. “Pay your respects to your dominus.”
All of the gladiators faced Rama and chanted his name in a thunderous chorus. Mateo had joined them, though he did not respect the man who’d continued to keep him oppressed. Rama smiled as he listened to his slaves give him the glorious praise. He raised his hand, silencing them.
“Tonight, we will see if you were worth the rubios I paid for you, slave. If you survive tonight’s test, but fail, I will sell you to the first brothel who would have you,” Rama told Mateo.
Mateo bowed his head. “I will not fail, dominus.” If he wasn’t already motivated to win, the threat of being sold into a brothel added extra incentive.
“Let us see,” Rama said, then nodded for Cervantes to continue.
“Weapons,” Cervantes announced, and two slaves ran over to both men, handing them their swords.
Boris took hold of the hilt to his massive broadsword. Mateo was used to seeing the brute wield it and he understood what Titus said when he mentioned Boris’ weakness, one that he was surely going to exploit. Looking at them, one would think that their match was a bit one-sided, as Boris’ big sword looked far deadlier than Mateo’s twin blades, but each gladiator had been trained to be able to stand their ground with their individual weapons. It was not supposed to matter if one opponent had a sword and a blade while the other had only a rapier or sai. It didn’t matter if one was taller or more muscular than the other. Or male verses a female gladiator. Each were considered evenly matched if they had been trained properly.
Mateo gripped the handles of his two swords and faced Boris. His heart was racing a mile a minute, as he knew this was a moment of truth. If he didn’t succeed, he’d rather die by Boris’ blade than live to see his body be sold. Every lesson he’d been taught filled his thoughts because he didn’t want to make one mistake that could seal his fate for the worse.
Boris was watching Mateo with a mixture of lust and revenge, perhaps he’d use his blade to punish Mateo for all the times he’d rejected him. If the boy did manage to survive, he was planning on taking what he wanted from Mateo. If he was to be sold to a brothel, it would make him an even lesser slave than he was and even Titus couldn’t protect him. The thought made Boris smile.
Cervantes stepped away as two slaves poured oil in a circle around the two men. Another gladiator handed Cervantes a lit torch. “The rules are simple. Two men enter, and the one who falls through the fire loses. If one kills the other, you also win.” He lit the oil, igniting a ring of fire around Mateo and Boris. “Let the test begin!”
All of the other gladiators stepped back a little as the flames grew and crackled. Mateo and Boris sized each other up as they circled one another, waiting for the moment to attack. Mateo’s palms were sweaty, but the leather binding them helped him keep his grip steady on his blades. Their eyes settled on one another and Mateo winked, which sent Boris into a rage.
The monstrous gladiator charged at him, swinging his sword that was almost as tall as he was. It took every bit of Boris’ massive muscles to wield the thing and Mateo, being smaller and lighter on his feet, dodged the first swing with ease. Boris followed up his attack with an overhead swing, which Mateo blocked by bringing both of his blades together to form an X. Pushing up, he forced Boris to step back.
“You gonna get this cock,” Boris threatened as he grabbed his crotch with his free hand, wiggling it at Mateo.
Mateo didn’t bother to feed into the taunt, refusing to become distracted by trivial things. This was his second match to the death he’d had, and this time, Eloy wouldn’t be there to save him. He had to rely on his own wits and skills.
Again, the two clashed swords, and Mateo had to struggle harder when Boris pressed on his blade, attempting to slice Mateo in two. Both men grunted, their chests heaving as they battled. Already, the match had gone on longer than most had expected.
Mateo kicked Boris in his face, knocking the gladiator back long enough for him to take his offensive stance back. His shoulder bled a little where Boris’ blade had made contact. It was time for Mateo to switch up his style from defensive to offensive and throw Boris off his game. Where Boris had raw strength and body mass, Mateo had speed and agility.
Mateo focused on Boris’ weakness and attacked at his left side, blocking the gladiator’s blade with his, while using his short sword to slice Boris on his side. Several gladiators cheered Mateo on, happy to see that he’d made such a blow, Titus being among them. Again, Boris swung his blade and Mateo ducked, lest he lose his head. Seeing that Boris had left his chest open, Mateo turned into him, slicing his blade across Boris’ pec, leaving a deep gash.
“Arg!” Boris groaned as he stumbled back, gripping his now bleeding wound. He glared at Mateo with even more rage, and Mateo hoped to use that anger to his advantage.
“I see now why you did not go to the last two Games,” Mateo teased, tossing a few insults of his own to get Boris even more enraged.
“You cunt!” Boris yelled, then charged at Mateo.
Keeping on his toes, Mateo bounced back as Boris rushed at him. He made sure to steer clear of the flames that licked at them, as he didn’t want to lose by falling out of the ring. He dodged and sliced Boris across his back, and the gladiator cried out, but countered with an elbow to Mateo’s temple, knocking him dizzy. Mateo fell back, his body hitting the sands with a hard thud. Boris was on him, seeking to take advantage of the blow he’d given. Mateo rolled out of the way of Boris’ blade as it sliced through the air.
Quickly, Mateo climbed to his feet, shaking the cobwebs of disorientation free. His head was throbbing and it was a bit harder for him to concentrate, but he forced himself to stay focused. Again, Boris came at him, sword swinging. Mateo leaped low, slicing Boris’ left leg to the bone.
“Ahhhh, fuck!” Boris yelled as he collapsed to one knee, his other leg bleeding out as a puddle of blood formed beneath him.
Mateo couldn’t believe his good fortune at having brought down the giant on such a risky maneuver. That one weakness Boris had on his left was paying off. He climbed to his feet, attacking Boris hard. The huge gladiator blocked several of Mateo’s offensive thrusts, but couldn’t defend against them all, and had been sliced and cut several times by one sword or the other as Mateo worked his dual sword techniques.
Boris swung his huge sword wildly and Mateo dodged his attacks by jumping back or to the left. When he saw his opening, he lunged forward, his blade making its mark through Boris’ throat. The crowd hushed as blood bubbled up from Boris’ mouth. Mateo’s mouth dropped open as his eyes bulged, shocked by his first victory, and one against a seasoned gladiator. He pulled his blade free and more blood gushed from the wound and began flowing down Boris’ hairy chest.
