Marius' Mules V: Hades' Gate by S.J.A. Turney Read Free Book Online Page B

professional boxer-like jabs to the man's stomach. Pompey's eyes widened as the big barbarian simply let go of his club and smashed his fists down onto the boxer's shoulders. Impressive beyond belief: those rabbit punches would have almost any man doubled over and winded.
    Instead, the giant had smashed down his hands with such force that he plainly crippled the boxer, tearing the cord that ran from neck to shoulder on both sides and smashing one shoulder to a pulp of bone fragments. The guard collapsed to the floor, screaming and writhing.
    Immediately, the two who had ducked were up again, knives out, sweeping them in arcs, keeping the big man at bay while the one who had snuck around behind him suddenly jumped on the giant's back, his arms locking around the neck, entangled fingers pressing up into the throat apple.
    There was a silent, motionless pause and Pompey nodded, watching as the big barbarian began to sink forwards with the pressure on his throat, but then the fight swung his way again. The giant had not been collapsing forward after all, but moving deliberately in a planned move to dislodge his strangler. As he lowered, he suddenly dropped forwards to his hands, the guard on his back flung over his head and against the half-built frontage like a rag doll.
    As the unconscious guard collapsed by the bricks and the barbarian sprang surprisingly lithely back to his feet, the remaining two men moved in, slashing with their knives.
    The giant raised his fists ready to deal with them but the point of a long sword appeared just beneath his chin, the tip pressing into his neck and drawing a trickle of blood.
    "Care to back down?" Artorius asked softly as he appeared around the big man's side, his hand gripping the sword's hilt in a professional manner. Pompey was impressed. He had never even seen Artorius leave his side, let alone get behind the big man.
    The barbarian seemed for a moment ready to fight on, but Artorius pushed the blade and brought forth a small rivulet of crimson.
    "I am very well trained with this, my friend. If you understand Latin, understand that you need to lower those fists and put the hands behind your back. I will not hesitate to push this blade right through your neck if you do not comply on the count of three. One!"
    The big man's hands jerked indecisively.
    "Two!"
    The fists dropped, the hands disappearing behind him.
    "Pelates? Goron? Bind his hands behind him."
    "What with, sir?"
    "Use one of your belts." Artorius glanced sideways at the hulking colossus who glowered at his captors. "On second thoughts, use both your belts. Then go find some rope just to make sure."
    Pompey stepped forwards, making sure to keep himself just out of the giant's reach.
    "You speak Latin, then."
    "I speak Roman words."
    "That's some very impressive brawling, barbarian. Had you chosen somewhere else for your fight, I might have cheered you on or placed a wager; but this is my house that you are busy demolishing, and that peeves me."
    "Piss off, small Roman."
    Pompey fought the rise of his anger once more. Artorius was busy gesturing at the big man's neck near where the sword point had drawn blood.
    "What?"
    "Dominus… there is a mark on his neck. 'LT'"
    "So?"
    "It’s the mark of the slave trader Lucius Tiburtinus. He's had so much trouble with theft and runaways he started branding his property even before sale. This is a slave!"
    Pompey smiled unpleasantly. "Then he will likely die a very unpleasant death for this show. Have him taken to the Tullianum and incarcerated until we can identify whose property he is. If the trader is in the city at the moment, it shouldn't be too difficult, and then the careless master can pay me for my walls."
    The big barbarian glowered at Pompey as Artorius and his two men manhandled him away from the scene and out into the street, heading for the forum and the infamous prison of the Tullianum.
    Pompey sighed. It had started as such a positive day, too. He frowned at the guard who