Chapter Twelve
Brody had a sharp mind and a sharp sense of direction, and even though Luther had put a sack over his head to confuse him, he still had a fairly good idea of where he was.
He was able to get his bearings before leaving The Sticky Wick and even with the turns the horses took, he was still marginally oriented.
It had helped, of course, that Lilia had told him that the Ludus Caledonia had been in the hills south of Edinburgh, so when the horses finally came to a halt and Luther removed the sack on his head, he could indeed see that he was in the hills.
The sight was overwhelming.
An enormous castle stood before him, bathed in the colors of the setting sun as the sentinels on the walls lit torches against the coming night.
The fanged portcullis lifted and Cam grabbed him by the tunic, pulling him through the gatehouse and following Luther as they headed towards an oddly small keep given the size of the fortress.
Brody couldn’t help but feel intimidated.
“How long have ye been here, Cam?” he asked quietly.
Cam’s gaze was on the keep. “I’ve been a trainer for about a year,” he said. “But I was at The Cal before that for many months.”
“Ye said that ye came here so they could teach ye tae fight so ye could seek vengeance.”
“Aye.”
“Did ye?”
Cam looked at him, then. “Aye.”
“Then ye dunna regret yer decision tae come here?”
Cam shook his head. “Luther was right when he said that it could change yer life,” he said.
“It has changed mine. If ye let it, it’ll change yers.
But ye must be dedicated, Brody. The Cal must have all of ye, so if ye’re serious about committing yerself tae fight, then make sure ye can give everything. ”
They were nearing the door. “I remember the first time ye came tae The Sticky Wick,” Brody said. “Ye were dirty and beaten. I know that look because I have it, too. The look of a man with nothing at all. I’m sorry I dinna make a friend of ye. I suppose we both could have used one.”
Cam smiled faintly. “I dunna think I was ready for it,” he said. “A man must have a mindset for friendship just like anything else. Make sure yer mindset is learning and obedience from now on. The Cal willna accept anything less.”
With that, Luther shoved the door open and Cam pushed Brody in front of him, following Luther into the dim interior that smelled heavily of incense. It was dark inside with the only light coming from a window capturing the last strains of sunset and the blazing fire in the hearth.
A man with flowing silver hair and swathed in pristine white robes sat in a large chair in front of the hearth, glancing up when Luther and Cam entered. He noted his two men but he was particularly interested in the tall, well-built man between them.
He looked Brody over with intense silver eyes.
“Is this the one?” he asked.
Luther nodded. “This is Brody McKay, my lord.”
“Welsh?”
Both Luther and Cam looked at Brody, who realized he was meant to answer. He shook his head.
“Clan McKay, m’laird.”
“A Highlander.”
“Aye, m’laird.”
The man turned back to his hearth, sipping the red liquid from a crystal cup. In fact, everything about the room was luxurious, from the furs on the stone floor to the heavy tapestries that covered the walls.
This was a man with money.
“I find that Highlanders can be the fiercest fighters of all,” the man finally said. “But they tend to be single-minded. Intelligence is not their gift, although Cam has proven to be an exception to that rule. He’s from the Highlands, also.”
Brody looked at Cam, who nodded. Brody’s focus returned to the man in the fine robes. “I have a good mind, m’laird, and I use it,” he said. “I make a decision and I stand by it.”
“Why have you sought the Ludus Caledonia?”
“Because I want tae earn money tae buy my lady’s freedom.”
That seemed to bring the man’s interest and he stood up, setting his wine aside. “Who is this lady?”
Brody wasn’t honestly sure how much to tell him. Given that Lady Currie came to the Ludus Caledonia to buy lovers, this man probably knew her. He seemed to be the one in charge and Brody didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot, so he decided to keep Lady Currie to himself.
For now.
“She is the lady I wish tae marry, m’laird,” he said quietly. “She is working off her father’s debt and it is my intention tae pay it off and marry her.”
The man smiled, though it was without warmth or humor. “A noble enough goal, I suppose,” he said. “And you want to make the money here?”
Brody nodded. “I’ll fight until I drop, m’laird. I’m strong and I’m fearless. Where I come from, they used tae call me the Highland Protector.”
The man cocked a bushy, silver eyebrow. “Used to? They do not call you that any longer?”
“I’ve not seen them in a few years, so I have no way of knowing.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Tae seek money and opportunity, m’laird.”
The answer seemed to satisfy the man. He turned back to his wine.
“If Luther and Cam have brought you here, then I shall assume you are worthy of what we can provide you,” he said.
“My name is Clegg de Lave and all that you see belongs to me. I am the god, the master, the mother, and the father of everything at the Ludus Caledonia. Do you understand so far?”
“Aye, m’laird.”
He gestured to the men standing on either side of him. “And you have met your escorts.”
“They introduced themselves, m’laird.”
Cam spoke up. “The truth is that Brody and I know of each other, m’laird,” he said. “We were both patrons of The Sticky Wick at the same time, though we were not friends.”
Clegg nodded. “I see,” he said. “Have you told him of the Ludus Caledonia yet?”
Cam shook his head. “That is yer privilege, m’laird.”
Clegg went to pour himself more wine without offering it to anyone else.
“Luther and Cam are doctores, or trainers here at the Ludus Caledonia,” he said.
“I have modeled my guild after the ancient gladiatorial schools of Rome and it runs quite efficiently. We accept only the most dedicated men and expect strict obedience. Anything less and we shall reduce you in status to a servant and you can work off what you have cost me before you are sent on your way. Resistance to discipline results in severe punishment. Am I making myself clear?”
Brody nodded. “Aye, m’laird.”
Clegg sipped on his wine. “This castle is the heart of my complex, the Ludus Caledonia,” he said.
“That is the term for everything you see – the castle, the village, the arena. The arena is called the Fields of Mars and it is both our training facility and our entertainment field. Wealthy Lords pay a good deal of money to gamble on our fights.”
“Is that how I will earn money, m’laird?”
Clegg nodded. “In part,” he said. “When you are raised in rank from a novicius, or novice, to a tiro, which is a professional fighter, you are eligible to win purses. But know this; you are an investment to me. I will invest money into your training and your housing, and in return, you will swear fealty to me and you shall fight for me. The usual duration of your oath is seven years and I will expect you to hold to that oath. If you cannot wait that long, then you are free to leave now. I will not waste any further time on you.”
But Brody shook his head. “I was told of the seven years,” he said. “I was also told that I can bring my wife here tae live with me.”
“That is true.”
“Then I shall buy her freedom and she will come tae live with me while I serve ye,” he said.
“Mayhap it is strange for a man tae be driven by emotion tae something like this, but until I met Lilia, I was directionless. I had no hope. She has changed that. She has given me the will tae regain what I have lost.”
“What have you lost?”
“Myself.”
It was an unusual answer, one that had Clegg’s interest, but he didn’t press.
He simply lifted his hand. “Each man has his own motivation,” he said.
“I will not question it. But understand something else about the Ludus Caledonia; men come here to be trained so they may secure positions in big armies. Some of the lords who come to watch the bouts do so in order to find strong warriors for their ranks. If a lord is willing to buy out the remainder of your contract, then you shall serve a new master until such time as the contract is finished. Whether or not you wish to continue serving the man after that will be up to you, but you will swear fealty to him if the price is right. Do you understand?”
“I do, m’laird.”
“And you have no hesitation?”
“Nay, m’laird. But I have one more question, if ye please.”
“Ask.”
“Do ye sell the champions tae women for the right price? Tae service them, I mean. Is that part of the training, too?”
Clegg’s expression was almost one of amusement.
“The Ludus Caledonia follows the Roman customs in every way,” he said, lifting his hands.
“In ancient times, it was not considered unseemly for rich patronesses to pay for the services of champions. We continue that tradition. It is simply another way to make money.”
“Then ye sell men like…”
Clegg held up a finger, cutting him off.
“I do not sell men,” he said firmly. “A man has his own free will. If he chooses to accept the money of a patroness for sexual purposes, that is his choice. Some women pay extremely well. As much as the fight purses in some cases. But I do take half of the money. Why shouldn’t I?
Everything at The Cal is to make money, Brody. That is the heart of our existence.”
That clarified the situation for Brody and, in truth, it also brought him some relief. In the back of his mind, he thought of Lady Currie and other rich women who came to the Ludus Caledonia to satisfy their lusts and was concerned he’d be forced into something unseemly.
But it wasn’t the case.
He had to admit, however, that for a brief moment, he considered it.
It would be a way to make money faster to buy Lilia’s freedom.
But as soon as he entertained the thought, he cast it aside.
Though he hadn’t known Lilia intimately, there was no possibility he would be disloyal to her in that sense.
He was meant for her and her only, body and soul.
Not even if it meant buying her freedom sooner.
“Thank ye for being honest, m’laird,” he said.
“And you are satisfied?”
“I am.”
“Then let us delay no longer.”
Clegg returned to his table and produced a contract that had been carefully written on parchment.
When he handed the quill to Brody, he signed his name.
He stood there a moment, staring at the ink, feeling as if he’d just signed his life away.
Literally. As Clegg sanded the ink, Luther spoke to Brody.
“Now your education begins,” he said. “Put your right hand over your chest.”
He was making the motion, indicating for Brody to do the same. Once Brody put his hand over his chest, Luther spoke the fateful words.
“Repeat after me,” he said. “I faithfully swear to do all that is commanded of me, all that is required of me, and all that is asked of me.”
Brody’s memory for memorizing things had never been good, as the priests who taught him to read and write could profess. Still, he tried.
“I faithfully swear tae do all that is commanded of me, all that is required of me, and all that is asked of me,” he said.
“May I live to both fight and protect my brethren. May God smile upon me and grant me courage so that I may not fail myself or those around me.”
Brody wasn’t sure he could remember the words in order, but he tried. “May I live tae both fight and protect my brethren. May God smile upon me and grant me courage so that…”
“I may not fail myself or those around me.”
Relieved, he finished. “I may not fail myself or those around me.”
When Brody was finished, Clegg spoke softly. “Thus it is spoken,” he murmured. “Thus shall it be done. Now you are a novicius, Highland Protector. Let us see if you can live up to your name.”
“I will try, m’laird.”
Clegg’s gaze lingered on him. “Remember something, Brody.”
“M’laird?”
“The motto of the Ludus Caledonia is Hominibus Gloria – In men, there is honor. See that you keep it.”
“Aye, m’laird.”
The oath Brody had taken had been the Fionnadh Fuil, or the Blood Oath, of the Ludus Caledonia.
With that oath, he had become part of something that was far bigger and far more brutal than he could have ever imagined.
He’d only come to the place to earn money, but what would happen in the days and months to come would far exceed that hope.
It would define him.
The education for the Highland Protector had begun.