The Gladiator's Goddess (The Gladiators' Gifts) Read Online Free PDF Page B

my native land, in Africa. I have carried it with me since I was a boy. I have managed to hide it from all my masters. It is an image of the fertility goddess. And it is good luck for all who carry it, unless those who carry it have evil intentions. Then it is bad luck!”
    “What is it made of?” 
    “It is made of turquoise. Rub it for good luck.” Nardine rubbed the amulet with her forefinger and smiled up at Abedi.
    “Will it make me fertile?”
    “It will,” said Abedi. “These stones around it are called pink sapphires. The charm is ancient, and valuable. Hebides would be glad to take the necklace and sell it. I hate to part with it, and especially hate you having to part with it. But perhaps it will bring us good luck.”
    Abedi leaned down and kissed Nardine on the lips. Her warmth seemed to flow into his heart, and the rest of his body reacted to her presence as well. He wanted to take her, but he did not want to frighten her.
    “Now you must go,” Abedi said. “You should not be noticed by the mistress or anyone else.  Approach Hebides right away.  Tomorrow.”
    “All right, Abedi. If you are certain it is that important.  She hid the amulet in the folds of her tunic and hurried out of the practice field. Abedi watched her go, wondering if she would be successful in her attempt to bribe Hebides. He hoped it would work. The goddess had been lucky for him in the past, and he hoped that same luck would hold here.
    *****
    The next morning, Nardine pulled out the amulet and examined it before leaving her chamber. She had never seen anything like the exquisite charm, and wondered how much it would fetch in the marketplace. But she knew Abedi would never have given it to her without good reason. She must find a way to confront Hebides alone. Whatever had possessed her to confide in him escaped her now. 
    She managed to get away from the infirmary around the noon hour and scampered down the hallway toward the practice field entrance. Once there, she saw Hebides jousting with another gladiator. Abedi sat directly across from her, on the bench. He nodded almost imperceptibly in Hebides’ direction. Nardine waited until Hebides finished his fight and walked away from his opponent toward a cistern where he could draw water. He flung his long hair behind him and turned suddenly as Nardine approached him.
    “ What are you doing here?” he shouted. “Didn’t you get the message the other night? I want nothing more to do with you!”
    Nardine shivered, feeling the fear race up her spine. She must be strong enough to get the words out.
    “I know you don’t want me in your bed, Hebides. I am here to make you an offer.”
    “If it’s not in the bedroom, how could you possibly make me an offer? You are a slave. You have nothing.”
    “You are wrong. I have this.” She pulled the amulet from beneath her robes, holding it up but shielding it from the doctore’s view.  “It is precious. Made of sapphires and turquoise.”
    “Where did you get this? You must have stolen it from the mistress. I can report you for that as well.”
    Nardine blanched inside. She must find a way to appeal to Hebides’ greed.
    “If that were the case, I would sell it at the market, where I might get enough money —to buy my freedom. No, I am giving you this as a declaration of trust.”
    “What are you talking of, trust? How do I know you didn’t steal this from the mistress? If I am found with it, I could be beaten. Or sold. How can I trust you?”
    “You can trust me that I did not steal this pendant. And I can trust you that you will not tell my secret—what I told you that night about running away.”
    Nardine waited a long minute, watching as Hebides turned her proposition over in his mind.
    “All right,” he said. “I will take the pendant. But if it turns out this is stolen, you will suffer for it. If I have to come back from the dead to make you suffer, I will.”
    Nardine smiled. “There will be no need for