Half an hour later the carriage arrived at the villa. Persis Albitane and Norwin were waiting for them at the front gate. Bane, Rage and Telors stepped down from the carriage. Brakus leaned over.
‘An interesting day,’ said the golden-haired gladiator. Telors grinned and shook his hand. ‘I’ll see you both, I hope, at my birthday celebrations.’ Gesturing the driver to move on Brakus settled back in his seat and the carriage trundled away.
‘Good man,’ said Telors to Bane. ‘I’m glad you didn’t have to fight him.’
Bane said nothing, and walked towards the villa. Persis tried to speak to him, but Bane eased past, and went upstairs to his room, where he stood at the window, staring out over the bay.
Rage found him there some minutes later. ‘It was not for nothing,’ said Rage quietly. ‘Had you not been in Stone, she would have died. You have tortured yourself for two years because you did not have the strength to save her. Yet now you have.’
Bane turned from the window. ‘She thanked you, my friend. And she was right. I saved her by default, because the emperor offered me a second wish. Had Voltan killed you I would have fought him, and she would have died. My need for vengeance would have killed her, and I would never have known.’
‘It didn’t happen, though,’ Rage pointed out. ‘You are a man, Bane, and a man makes choices, and lives with the consequences. I heard what she said to you about different paths. Yes, all gladiators can be criticized for those we have killed in the name of glory, or sport, or the pursuit of fame and riches. But the men we fought were also pursuing those goals, and stepped before us willingly. There was no malice on either side. You did not ask Voltan to change your life by attacking those you loved. His was the evil. Your actions since would be understood by every hero who ever walked the earth.’ Rage sighed, then sat down on the bed. ‘You know, I have listened to the preachings of the Cultists, and I like a lot of what they say. Indeed, I even believe in that greater power they speak of. There is no room in my heart for hatred, and – as they preach – I will offer the open hand of friendship to all those I meet. But if men broke into my house and offered harm to Cara or the servants I would cut them down without a moment’s remorse. And had I been you, back in Accia, I would have crossed the world to find the man who brought death to those I loved. Now throw that weight from your shoulders, man! The girl is alive. We are all alive.’
‘I thank the gods for that,’ said Bane. ‘With all my heart.’ He looked at Rage. ‘I will never forget what you did for me. It will live in my heart for ever.’
‘You are not angry, then, that your vengeance was denied?’
‘Angry? Oh, Rage, I could not be further from anger. When I watched you both I knew what you had been trying so hard to tell me. He – and you – are a different breed. I have never seen such focus, such power. I would have died out there. I know that with certainty. I could never be that good.’
‘That’s not true,’ said Rage. ‘You are what. . . nineteen? You have yet to reach the peak of your strength and power. In five or six years you will be faster and deadlier than both of us.’ He laughed suddenly. ‘All those young gladiators out there should rejoice that Bane is no longer one of them. Have you given thought to what you will do now? There are many merchant ventures into which you could put the riches you have made. You can become fat and lazy.’
‘I’m going home, my friend,’ said Bane. ‘The emperor has given me two days to leave Stone.’
‘So much for the gratitude of rulers, eh?’ muttered Rage.
Bane shrugged. ‘He is a cold man, and I should have expected no less. I’ll return to Caer Druagh. I need to see the mountains, and to feel the grass under my feet. Why not come with me, show me how to run a farm?’