Nobela ni Ayo Atanda

In the dimly lit confines of the gladiatorial barracks, camaraderie and whispers of alliance echoed. Alcides, having emerged triumphant in the arena, found himself at the epicenter of newfound respect among the gladiators. Dracius, the stern enforcer of Rhesus' will, maintained order, but it was Alcides who became the heart and soul of the camaraderie that permeated the barracks.Word spread like wildfire about Alcides' prowess and his defiance in the face of the Naemean lions. Gladiators who once saw him as an ordinary companion now regarded him as a symbol of resistance against the oppressive forces that dictated their lives. His scars became a testament to his strength, a badge of honor that garnered admiration.Late into the night, the gladiators gathered in clusters, exchanging stories and sharing laughter. Alcides, not merely a fellow fighter but a beacon of hope, stood at the center of one such group. The flickering torchlight cast shadows on the rugged faces of these warriors

Released from their chains, the Naemean lions entered the arena like primal specters, their muscles rippling beneath golden fur. The crowd's anticipation hung thick in the air, the atmosphere pregnant with a blend of excitement and morbid curiosity.Alcides, stripped of his gladiatorial regalia, stood alone with a single sword as his defense. The lions, hungry and drooling, eyed him with a predatory hunger that sent shivers through the onlookers. The arena, once echoing with cheers for the champion of the house of Decimus, now simmered with a volatile blend of skepticism and bloodlust.As the first lion lunged at Alcides with a thunderous roar, the condemned gladiator's instincts kicked in. He evaded the massive paw with a nimble sidestep, the crowd erupting in a mix of gasps and applause. Yet, there was no respite as the second lion seized the opportunity to attack, relentless in its pursuit.Alcides found himself on the dusty ground, grappling with the primal forces of nature. The l

The senators' chamber buzzed with heated whispers after Alcides was led away. Fabius, fuming with rage, paced back and forth, occasionally casting disdainful glances toward Rhesus. "This insolence cannot go unpunished, Rhesus! A gladiator suppressing a Thracian senator?" he spat, his voice laced with venom.Rhesus, attempting to maintain an air of authority, addressed the agitated senators. "Let us not be hasty in our decisions. We need a measured response, not one fueled by anger."Fabius interrupted, "Measured response? Rhesus, that beast just challenged our authority! You, as the head of this house, should be outraged!"Others chimed in, expressing various degrees of displeasure and advocating for severe punishment. The atmosphere became increasingly tense.In an effort to defuse the situation, Rhesus declared, "I will convene a council to deliberate on the appropriate course of action. Fabius, I understand your anger, but we must maintain order."Fabius, dissatisfied with the resp

In the dimly lit chamber adorned with the sigils of power, Fabius stood at the head of a table surrounded by a handful of trusted senators. The air was heavy with secrecy, and every hushed word carried the weight of rebellion."Brothers," Fabius began, his eyes scanning the faces that bore the marks of both concern and determination. "We stand at the precipice of an Athenian dominion that threatens our very existence. We cannot idly watch as our heritage is trampled upon."A senator with a greying beard, known for his strategic acumen, voiced his skepticism. "Fabius, you propose we defy the Athenian Kingdom openly? Such a move invites destruction upon us."Fabius nodded solemnly, acknowledging the gravity of their endeavor. "Yes, but it's a risk we must take if we are to preserve the sovereignty of Thrace. Rhesus may not fully endorse our cause, but we can sway him. We have influential allies within his inner circle."The senator with the greying beard leaned forward, his voice a mere

In the vast expanse of the grand arena in Pratas, Alcides felt dwarfed by the sheer size and magnitude of the space around him. The cheers and chants from the spectators echoed like distant thunder, creating an overwhelming sensation for the young gladiator who was accustomed to the confined space of the House of Decimus.Facing the notorious Gaius Pratas, known as the "beast of Pratas," Alcides sensed the gravity of the challenge ahead. Pratas, a seasoned and ruthless gladiator, exuded confidence with every step. The crowd's thunderous cheers for their favorite champion added to the pressure mounting on Alcides' shoulders.As the battle commenced, the clash of steel against steel reverberated through the arena. Alcides, wielding his sword with a mixture of fear and determination, struggled to find his footing in the expansive battleground. Pratas, on the other hand, moved with the precision of a predator, closing in on his younger adversary.The crowd, sensing the uneven matchup, int

Thrown into a dark, cold cell, Alcides found himself alone with the echoes of the senator's warning ringing in his ears. Bruised, battered, and bewildered, he sat in the dimness, contemplating the unexpected turn of events. The air in the cell was heavy with the stench of despair, and the cold, hard floor offered little comfort.As Alcides tried to make sense of the situation, his mind raced through the recent revelations about his true identity, the encounter with Bojan, the mysterious disappearance of the beggar, and now the harsh punishment inflicted upon him by those he believed were his parents. The events unfolded like a twisted tale, and he grappled with the harsh reality that his life had become.Hours passed in solitude, but time seemed to stretch endlessly in the confines of the cell. Alcides replayed the senator's words, trying to decipher the motives behind the calculated punishment. The sense of betrayal lingered, not just from the senator but also from the house of Decim

The animosity Salim had borne for the inspector of Vegas county took a full expression as the cunning mogul launched into emotional rhetorics, condemning the police's effort and coming up with a conspiracy theory about the security activities of Miriam and her force in the Vegas county.''I will make sure none of you is spared if that monster out there comes for me. None of you will be spared. None of you!''Miriam paused for a bit and took a keen listen to Salim's grievances. Salim might not particularly be one of her favorites but the political big shot had the right to air his pains and grievances. And, of course, she quite understood his position in this matter.''Rest assured you're in safe hands, Prince Abdullahi,'' replied Miriam, making effort to calm the tension. ''The security forces of the Vegas county shall be consolidated henceforth as we join forces with the national police force.''Salim seemed pacified by Miriam's calm words, although not completely convinced by the pe

The panel commenced shortly with the senior officers having all hands on deck. They were all seated across the round-table, poised to have a showdown. Miriam braced up for the moment looking to make a case for herself against Salim and to defend her jurisdiction as much as she could. It was her city; she presided over it. For her, the serial killer's identity was unknown and an investigatory process was in the works to unravel the mystery. But, for Salim, he was cocksure about the killer's identity as much as the identity of the one who sent a death threat to him. Much to Miriam's discontent, he was quite confident that Jack Banning was behind the bloodfest in the city.Exchange of pleasantries and side talk was still ongoing amongst the seating officers before Williams waded in with his baritone voice to address the congregation in a bid to open the floor.''Comrades and colleagues, we have converged here on this platform in the sole interest of the state and for the dignity of our p

Miriam was driven down in the early hours of the morning to the famous Glass House in the city centre. The Glass House was known as the Criminal Investigation Department's complex for official meets and forums. The CID-owned complex was renowned for playing host to numerous executive conferences, national police chief's council on investigatory matters and PACT meetings with the public and surrounding environments. The Glass House was the quite the towering complex which couldn't be missed for anything amidst the busy city.Miriam alighted from a glossy black armoured police cruiser to the salute of officers who had expected her arrival. Unlike the previous day, she looked smarter in her silky, lustrous khaki jacket well tucked into a fitted pair of matching khaki trousers. The right and left sides of her jacket had colourful ribbons while the epaulettes on both shoulders carried three stars, each on either side indicating her rank in the force. The conspicuous chevrons on either side

The duo huddled together for warmth in the cosy sofa. Miriam was quite tipsy from the shots of whisky and cigarettes as she curled up in Ben's arms. She felt a rage of emotional turbulence brewing within her while she struggled to free herself from the impact of the day's mix of events. Slowly, she removed herself from Ben's arms and staggered to her feet--still feeling the impact of alcohol. Ben followed suit hoping to steady her as she made to move away from the sofa. He grabbed her hips from behind and pressed his body against hers.''You sure need some rest now,'' Ben whispered in her ear as he felt the heat of the warmth between them.Miriam turned round. She couldn't help herself as she buried a deep kiss on Ben's lips. She felt her emotional turbulence gradually calm down as she sustained the kiss much longer. A new lease of breath seemed to have come upon her; she seemed to have found the therapy she had craved. She wrapped her arms around Ben's neck and committed her body to

Miriam drove back to her apartment located in the outlying district of the city centre. She arrived home late in the night on the wrong side of 10. In this moment, she was propelled to the comfort of her home in a bid to brood over the events of the day; to brace up for the panel and a possible controversial showdown with Salim and the chief of police in few hours. Taking on Salim's questions and his claim of a death threat from Jack was no bone to contend with. She knew quite well how to outwit the dubious mogul and beat his rhetorics hands down in a bid to convince the chief of police. But first, she must catch some rest--or more like a respite--but the news of Jack Banning hitting the town wouldn't let her have a breather. She was destabilised and Ill at ease.Jack was a good man and easily the best father Miriam had come to know since she was a child. However, his long service on his job as a secret service agent and his numerous adventures in the course of unravelling political e

Miriam strode out of the ward in a hurry with Donovan striding alongside to catch up with her while the two cops who had come with Miriam tailed the duo as they headed down the corridor which now buzzed with a handful of medical personnel bustling back and forth amidst the latest murder.''This is getting out of hand, detective. We must put a stop to this,'' Miriam said impatiently as she wouldn't halt a bit in her track. ''Natasha's murder does not make it look any better.''''I swear I did every bit to protect the Natasha--with my life,'' Donovan cut in, in defence. ''She was our best chance to have a hint about the killer. Don't you think this is some sort of psychopath running wild out there?''''Now, listen up, Donny,'' Miriam stopped dead in track, forcing Donovan and the two cops to halt in their steps. She turned sharply to face Donovan squarely. ''Right now, we have a problem.''''Problem? What problem?'' Donny asked concerned.''Salim has filed in a claim of death threat wit