Rhesus Decimus, a young and influential senator in the parliament of Thrace, was known for his love of the gladiatorial games. He had made a considerable fortune from gambling with the lives of his gladiators and placing bets on their victories.
Decimus was a shrewd and calculating man, and his wealth grew with each successful wager. But the consequences of failure were dire for his gladiators. One such example was the fate of a gladiator named Gavros, who had fallen short of Decimus's bet in a brutal contest held in the grand arena of Rome.
Gavros had faced a formidable opponent, a legendary gladiator known as Titus the Slayer. The contest had been fierce, and the outcome had left Decimus seething with anger and disappointment. His reputation and wealth had suffered a blow, and Gavros p
