“No wonder the Romans defeated you Celts when you cry like girls,” Livia sneered.
“They cheat – the Romans cheat!” I raged. “They hide in the woods and kill our warriors on holy ground!”
The noisy crowds stopped to look at me, a slave, standing on the dusty street, shouting at a noble girl. They probably wanted to see me executed for my cheek – the Romans love to watch a good execution.
I bit my lip to stop my ranting and breathed deeply. I walked on towards the large wooden stadium, the Circus Maximus.
“The Romans took us by surprise,” I told her, more quietly. “They would never have beaten us in open battle. It was Midwinter’s Day and we were going to the holy wood to make our sacrifice.”
“Ha!” Livia laughed bitterly. “Human sacrifices. Yes, I’ve heard your priests do that. We kill goats and lambs, and offer them to our gods. But you kill humans. That’s why you have to be defeated. The Romans are saving the world from barbarians like you.”
“But you kill people for fun!” I spat. “You have your games, where men and women are torn apart by lions and bears, where they’re made to fight to the death, just for sport. You’re evil … all of you Romans. Evil!”
I felt better for saying that. But a crowd was gathering close by. A group of men had made a circle around me. They had no weapons, but their huge fists and boots could easily crush me.
“What do we do with slaves that rebel?” a fat one burbled.
“Beat them till they’ve learned their lesson,” his friend hissed.
There was no escape – the crowd was packed too tightly. I was ready to die.
But then a soldier pushed his way through the mob and raised his sword. “That’s enough,” he snarled.
“We have Roman law to deal with this – you can’t defeat the barbarians by acting like barbarians.”
The men nodded, and began to move away. Only Livia stood there, red faced and furious. “What will you do to him?” she screeched.
“What we do with all rebel slaves,” the man shrugged. “Crucify him. Fasten him to a cross by the side of the road into Rome. Leave him to die slowly. Show the world what happens to animals like him.”
“Good,” Livia snorted and walked away.
“Thanks, officer,” I muttered.