The next day dawned bright and wild with energy. Thousands upon thousands surged toward the great colosseum—like the uncountable sands of the seashore, the crowd pressed in from all sides, an ocean of excitement and noise.
People jostled for space, straining against the guards at the gate. Only those who bore special gold-etched coins, gifts from the Ashbourne estate, were granted early entry. They passed through under the envious stares of the rest, who waited impatiently as the sun climbed the sky.
By the time the sun blazed at its zenith—its golden light casting long shadows upon the arena—the colosseum roared with life.
Over two thousand seats, carved from stone and wood, were filled to capacity. Voices melded into a living wall of sound: eager chatter, shouted bets, and the laughter of nobles mingling with the awe of common folk.
