A Lover's Sword

By W.M. Kirkland

Fabius never wanted to be a gladiator, but the priesthood--his true calling--wouldn’t accept him. When a flash of white light takes his partner Dursus from the arena, leaving him alone to face Brutus’ wrath, Fabius is certain this is the end. The gods have exacted their payment--by sending him through time?

Max studied the legend of the five gladiators who disappeared without a trace. He never imagined the final one would arrive on his doorstep. For a professor of Roman history, Fabius’ arrival is like a dream come true. For the man, his body is an exquisite marvel and one in which he can take hours of pleasure. The sword he’d been studying may have belonged to a gladiator. Now, it belongs to his lover and the legend has come full circle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charmed Chicken Media
• Release date: Dec 17, 2017

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A Lover’s Sword

W.M. Kirkland

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

A Lover’s Sword

Copyright © W.M. Kirkland, 2017

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cover Art © 2017

Cover art by Unscramblet Author Solutions

Book formatting by Unscramblet Author Solutions (http://www.unscramblet.com)

Electronic Publication Date: December 2017

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.

The horror unfolding before him kept Fabius rooted to the spot. Brutus’ war cry echoed in the arena, the flash of his blade as it bit into Dursus’ leg. A spurt of blood, his fellow gladiator’s cry of pain, and then the white light filled the arena. By Jupiter’s cock, what sorcery was this? The light flashed, and in its wake, Dursus and his sword, broken by the force of Brutus’ blows, were gone.

The crowd booed, furious at being cheated from witnessing a glorious gladiator death. Brutus turned to him, sword upraised. Janus if you ever meant to take me, do so now. He held his breath, shield high to ward off the blow. With his friend, and sometime lover gone, the rest of his cohort vanished into thin air, to stay here meant death. The crowd wanted blood. With Dursus gone, it would be his. If I am allowed to see my friends then it will not be for naught. Perhaps the light was Viduus, come to take his soul away to the underworld and give it to Dis Pater. He did not know. He was just a gladiator for the priests would not have him.

Light swirled around him. A loud boom like a clap of thunder filled his ears—Brutus’ sword against his shield?—and sent him slamming to the