The tramps and claps echoed in the room. Lucius, the son of Gnaeus Sempronius Brutticus was doing the daily fencing exercises with his new instructor. He attacked vigorously, a new thrust or slash came immediately after each parry. Minutes elapsed, he started to feel fatigue in his muscles, but Pharnabazos seemed to anticipate his every move, he has thrown them off effortlessly. Finally a quick motion with the wrist, and Lucius felt the wooden sword flying off from his grasp.

-Well, you see what happens if you do not concentrate. You forgot again lesson one: do not let your blade slip out of your hand. Whatever you do, the first thing is a strong grasp on the hilt.
-I did not forgot. Just you surprised me. Show me how you did that and it won't happen again.
-Not so fast. I will show you when you are ready for it. First you have to learn the basics of swordplay. Your previous instructors were dilettantes, taught some tricks but not the fundamentum.
-Then show it to me -intervened the libertinus Bofiatus Semproninus, a former gladiator.
-If you insist. Sit down, young master and watch my hand, I will show him.

With a sudden thrust, Bofiatus attacked without waiting for the instructor's sign to start. The result was unexpected, at least for Bofiatus. He had seen many opponents in the arena and even more in the training grounds. Some of those were better swordsmen than him, but no one was able to block his first attack with such stregth that he lost his blade.

-I see now -said Lucius. -You strike the blade from behind, where no one expects, turning the momentum of the attack to your advantage. But it's dangerous, you let the opponent behind your defense for a moment.
-Yes, that's why you will learn it only after you are ready. You have to recognize the moment when the move can be finished, before you start it. Otherwise you let the blade hit home, sooner than your own could be pulled back.

When the lesson finished and he remained alone in his cell, Pharnabazos thought over the event. The boy is amazing. Without proper training - one can hardly say that one month is enough to learn the basics of fencing and his previous masters did not teach him anything useful - he was able to understand a complex maneuvre at second sight. He even recognized the dangers of the usage. He has enough talent to be really good with the sword.
Moreover, he is eager to learn. He idolizes his father and wants to prove him. Gramachos mentions that they had to discuss step by step the battle at Elusio, reconstructed from the letters sent home, detail by detail.
It will be an illuminating adventure to teach the boy in the next 4 years. In the meantime Pharnabazos can also profit from the lessons of Gramachos where he accompanies Lucius, just like Gramachos attends the trainings. If Gnaeus Sempronius really keeps his promise - all say that the master is to be believed - then he can return home as a free man, with enough wealth to be able to seek revenge on the enemies who sent him to exile. And if anyone steps between him and the freedom, by attacking the boy or his mother, he will not hesitate to use the training sword. Noone can match him, not even the guards of the domus. However, it is hopeless to run. Even if he could easily escape, there is no possibility to reach Persia on the flee.