Chapter 10

A week later Agrippa and Maia were resting. The whole household were badly in need of sleep. Each got very little. Attia was up at first light to practice her swordplay. She never worked so hard. However she never had such a crisis in her life like this. Yes, she had to kill Giganticus then the barbarians recovering the eagles of the lost Legions. That was not personal. This was! Her Mother's and Marcus' lives were at stake and the next day they would be facing the starving lions. Nero did have his petty pleasures. No human in the world had a chance against a strong healthy big cat.

She had Agrippa smuggle a bow and her quiver of thirty arrows into the arena. He told the Germans in the Guard that Nero ordered his special men with seniority to be his escort this day. The Germans were happy to have the day off since they were sickened by the unarmed people being eaten by the lions and tigers. Attia planned not having to kill the cats. She had another strategy that if it worked, she would only have to slay one man.

Attia worked her way into the arena wearing a gray cloak with a hood over her white gown. It was slow going as the entrances were very narrow. A week of these so-called games where gladiators weren't given any assignments except to tie men, women, and children to crosses to be set on fire. Nero laughed at the site and the screams until they were dead. He made sure that they used special straw so they would not succumb to smoke but be burnt to death. Then the gladiators would spear them to make sure they were all lifeless. Only the night before hundreds were crucified and set on fire to light up the arena. Now today, she entered smelling the putrid odor of burnt flesh.

Agrippa had a guard in the front row holding a seat for her. Lucius had some bunting put by that portion of the wall so she wouldn't get injured getting to the ground of the arena. Attia had spent the morning sharpening her sword until it cut a leaf in mid-air.

She sat there patiently still with the hood over her head. She didn't want her hair to show because of being easily picked out of the crowd. She was on the 'wanted list' and tried to keep anyone of recognizing her.

Finally Nero made his appearance. The enormous roar of those in attendance showed that he was still popular. Following Nero was his wife Poppea, some dignitaries, and the Praetoriun Guard. It comprised of her husband, Agrippa, and men they trusted. In all there were twelve of them. All wearing their armor, helmets with the red feathers, and in purple wear underneath. Attia's heart beat rapidly as the time was about to bring the Christians out from underneath the caverns. They walked slowly toward the center resigning that they were about to die. She spotted Penelope in her red hair. It was not as flaming as before due to graying starting to show. Marcus was limping which meant he was hurting.

As they passed, Attia saw that Marcus had a nasty gash on one of his calves.

"You have been found guilty of bringing destruction to our city of Rome which we must rebuild once more," a spokesman for the Emperor stated. "Thus you are judged and will be put to death. If you are not killed by the big cats, you will be beheaded by our great gladiators."

Before he could say another word, Attia threw off the gray garment, grabbed onto the bunting and lowered herself to the ground. She drew her sword and marched directly to the Emperor's box. She pointed the sword toward him.

"Caesar, I have come to make a deal with you."

"Who are you?" Nero asked.

"I am Attia! Daughter of Penelope whom you have sentenced to death. These people are innocent of any crime. My deal is, you bring your best gladiator out to fight me. If I win, you will let these people go and give them back their freedom."

"And if you lose?"

"It won't make much of a difference, will it?" Attia sneered at him.

"No!" Nero shook his head. He pointed for four men with spears who escorted the people out for their executions. "Arrest her!" They started to move toward her.

"HALT!" Agrippa ordered. The men stopped and stared at the box.

"Are you disobeying my orders?" Nero turned his head to him.

"Do it!" Agrippa said sternly.

"What do you mean? I'll have the rest of these guards put you into chains."

"Do it!" Lucius followed, almost shouting.

"I will not stand for this," Nero stood up but Agrippa's strong hand grabbed his shoulder and slammed him back into his seat.

"You will do it, or you won't leave this box alive," Agrippa warned.

"You swore an oath to protect me!" Nero wasn't going to be coerced by one of his guards.

"We also swore the same oath to Caligula."

Nero swallowed with nervousness.

"Caesar," Attia called to him. "Let me fight your very best man. If I win, these people will go free. If I lose, you can feed my body to the vultures."

"Do it! Or by God I will not let you leave from here," Agrippa said through clenched teeth.

"You will pay for this," Nero got his nerve back. "BRING OUT THE AFRICAN!"

As they waited, Attia walked over and hugged her Mother. "Pray for me," she smiled. "By tonight we will be back home or in God's Kingdom."

"We will all pray for you, Sister," an older man said.

"Thank you," Attia hugged her Mother once more.

Just then the trumpets blared and out walked the huge muscular champion. He only had a sword. No shield, no helmet, no leather armor. He was clad in a white loin cloth. He saw his opponent and laughed. "I am to be a killer of women now?"

"If you can," Attia met his challenge. "I've seen you fight before but you have never seen me with a sword." She reached into her robe and pulled out her Wreath of Honor. She placed it on her head. Attia recalled that the African was left handed. She had trained herself for this. She wondered if he still had that weakness she observed so many years ago when she saw him use that trick movement then slash that man.

The African charged, Attia was barely able to avoid it. His sword was the same as hers but could not be any sharper than hers. The man stalked her slowly. He struck a blow but she managed to parry it. His strike was so strong she almost had the sword spring from her hand.

"Not too bad," the black man grinned. "I see that you have a little skill."

"A little means a lot," Attia said.

Again he struck, but she dodged it. She realized her quickness wasn't what it used to be but she was faster than the man. He had aged too. Lucius felt stinging tears fall from his eyes as he watched his wife in mortal combat. Expecting the worst but praying for the best. Agrippa had his hand on his sword. He was fearful of his little sister getting killed or badly injured.