A rough shaking of his shoulder brought him awake. Monomachus sat up and instinctively dashed away the offending hand. Used to the pampering of servants, a glaring brute reminded him, if he needed any reminding, his former life had gone, replaced by a new regime of meagre food and tough, physical training. For the better part of a week he had been subjected to daily runs, lifting of weights, stretching, flexing, sweating. Weapon training, boxing, grappling. His body screamed, every joint and muscle locked in agony. After the first day, he truly believed he would die. This morning, however, proved the first time he could stand without his thighs buckling beneath him.
The manservant glowered. A squat, grizzled beast, more bear than human, grinned, revealing a fine set of broken, blackened t
