Maximus was determined to fight his way to freedom. He’d survived his attempted execution, and watched his family pay the price for it. And now, with Commodus getting more and more power hungry, and more tyrannical, it was only a matter of time before the Senate was dissolved, and Rome faced a whole new set of problems. It didn’t help that Commodus had tried to execute him in the first place, and certainly hadn’t stopped trying since he had discovered it had failed.

He ruffles his damp brown hair with a hand, his grey eyes cool and collected. He’d seen enough. Once the General of a very successful army, and now reserved just to a slave, a gladiator, he knew it was a matter of time. He was always at risk now.

Maximus knew the people needed to love him. To be loved, was to be protected, and that was more true now than ever. He let that stoic look settle across his features. He had to earn his freedom, he couldn’t die a slave.