Arena: First Sword (Part Three of the Roman Arena Series)

In the third novella of Simon Scarrow's Roman Arena series, gladiator Pavo and his mentor, Macro, confront danger at the imperial gladiator school in Capua, which is teetering on the edge of collapse due to a corrupt lanista. Pavo, a high-born warrior driven by vengeance for his father's murder, teams up with Macro, the newly appointed lanista, as they race against time to restore the school's legacy before the upcoming games in Rome. Their efforts are soon overshadowed by a violent uprising led by a notorious tribal warrior, forcing them into a fierce fight for survival.