Page 12 of Thawed Gladiator: Cassius (Awakened From the Ice #3)

Chapter Twelve

C assius

The story of my injury hangs in the air, heavy, almost suffocating. I struggle to picture the man they describe—cocky, defiant, foolhardy—with who I am now, this soft-spoken, cautious person I’ve become. The difference is jarring, like trying to fit together two pieces of a puzzle that don’t match.

Diana’s gaze flicks to me, filled with curiosity and… is that fear? I want to say I’m not that man anymore, but how can I reassure her when I don’t know who that man was—or who I am now?

Before I can dwell on it, Laura and Varro enter, their faces so deeply lined with worry that the noisy atmosphere instantly shifts to one of quiet tension.

“What’s wrong?” Thrax asks.

Laura takes a deep breath, her eyes scanning the room. “We’ve got a situation,” she says gravely. “You all need to hear this.”

With his arm around his woman, Varro steps forward, his usually calm manner replaced by worry. “We just had a visit from the mayor and some local politicians. They expressed… concerns about our presence here.”

“Concerns?” Rurik growls. “What kind of concerns?”

Laura sighs. “Some of the locals are afraid. They don’t understand what’s going on here, and in humans, as in many animals, fear often leads to hostility.”

“They also mentioned some minor statute violations,” Varro adds. “Nothing major, but…”

“But I assume they’re looking for reasons to force us out,” Quintus finishes, his voice bitter.

The room erupts in angry mutters. I remain silent, watching, thinking. This is the first real threat we’ve faced since arriving here. It’s one thing to battle our own demons and wake up in a different time. It’s another to face rejection from the very world we’re trying to fit into.

“Can’t we ask Dara Hobson for help?” Skye’s voice cuts through the noise. “I’m still on her payroll, though all I’m doing is upgrading our translation software on a daily basis. She has money and influence. Maybe she could make some calls?”

Laura nods thoughtfully. “That’s not a bad idea, Skye. We’ll certainly consider it.”

Diana leans closer to Skye and asks, “You work for Dara Hobson? The Dara Hobson? The third richest person in the world?” Her jaw is hanging open, eyes wide as though someone just told her horses can fly.

“She’s my boss and also a… patron of sorts. One of her companies, NextGenTech, is huge. I never even met her until I was ordered to work on the translation software.” She motions to her ear.

As the others discuss how to deal with this problem, a thought forms in my mind. “What if we did something for the community?” My voice is stronger than I expected. “To show them we’re not a threat, that we can contribute. That we intend no harm. That we belong here.”

All eyes turn to me, and for a moment, I wish I could sink into the floor. But I press on. “Since I’m Diana’s only client, she has time on her hands. What if we offered therapeutic riding for local troubled kids, right here at the sanctuary?” The image of the shackled boy at the clinic flashes in my mind, fueling my words.

“That’s… actually a great idea,” Laura says, looking surprised and impressed.

Varro nods in agreement. “It could help change perceptions. Show that we’re here to help, that we have no ill intentions.”

“Such a strategic idea. Maybe you were a politician back in ancient Rome,” Diana chimes in, her eyes shining with excitement. “I’d be happy to help set it up and train volunteers, if any of you are up for it.” She looks around the room, almost challenging my comrades to take her offer.

The room buzzes with discussion, the earlier tension easing as people latch onto this new possibility. I sit up taller, having a sense of purpose I haven’t felt since waking up in this strange new world.

“I’ll pursue this idea tomorrow,” Laura says, her mind clearly turning over the possibilities. She looks around the room, her gaze lingering on each of us as though trying to read our thoughts. Then, as if struck by a powerful thought, she tips her head and asks, “Cassius, you called this place a sanctuary. Is that what everyone’s calling it?”

“That’s what it feels like to us,” Thrax says. “A safe haven.”

Laura laughs, sounding relieved. “That’s what I’ve been calling it, but I didn’t realize you all felt it too.” She pauses, then grins. “You know what? We need a name that suits us. How about a naming contest?”

The suggestion is met with enthusiasm. Names are shouted out, debated, and discarded.

“Gladiator’s Rest!” Rurik bellows.

“Too morbid,” Quintus counters. “Sounds like a necropolis . How about New Colosseum?”

“Why? Was enough blood not spilled in the old one?” Draco goads.

Zakur, the Phoenician ship captain, offers, “Time’s Harbor?”

Sulla, speaking for the first time tonight, suggests quietly, “Fortuna’s Folly.”

The irony isn’t lost on anyone, considering it was the name of the ship that brought us here, as well as the goddess we all silently believe saved our lives.

Finally, Flavius, one of the younger gladiators, pipes up. “What about Secundo Casu ?” It means second chance in Latin.

A hush falls over the room as we consider it. It’s perfect—acknowledging our past while looking to the future.

“All in favor?” Laura asks.

A chorus of “Aye!” rings out.

As the excitement settles, a spark of hope flies through me. We may be men out of time, but perhaps we’ve found our place, our purpose, after all.