“Your turn, old man!” the other spat. He was angry, rabid for all his humiliation. Gaius waved him on.
Old man?
When he came at Gaius, it was with a pankrationist’s stance and attack to the leg.
The kick caught Gaius hard on the thigh, but he managed to duck beneath the closed-fisted swing to his ear, and then get behind the youth to wrap his arm like a vice about his neck.
“Yeah!” cheered some of the veterans from the sideline.
Gaius squeezed and spoke to the lad. “You’re too angry. Not enough focus for fighting. Street brawls are sloppy.”
The young man tried to swing at Gaius’ head, but the angle was not right. When his body began to go limp, Gaius let him fall. He did not see the blade that was coming from behind in the hand of the nosey one.
“Centurion!” a voice called out, prec
