Disclaimer: I don't Alias or any of the characters.

Summary: Story set in the days of gladiators. Jacous (Jack) is the noble prince of a fallen land forced to fight for the King's entertainment. While doing so he catches the eye of the lovely Princess Irina of the kingdom.

A/N: All kingdoms/royalty are completely fictional and came from my mind. If they are real that was not my intention.

-Jacous (Jack)

-Cadvorsus (Cuveee)

-The rest of the names are straight forward

The Clash of Shields

Fire, that's all that he felt as the lash cut through his back, burrowing a deeper gash into his already burning back. It felt as if the sun itself had leaked into his wound melding with his skin. But still he did not cry out.

"Tie him with the others. I tire of this game." The flowing crimson robes of Cadvorsus of Vuldia blended with the crimson marring the once white marble.

Jacous was dragged over to the line of men waiting to be taken off to the kingdom of Angusa. The men already tied together looked to him, the other princes laying before them, their throats slit but eyes wide in defiance. As the soldier moved to attach his rope to the waiting ropes he clamped his fist and threw a punch directly into the man's nose, the bone shoving into his brain. His arms wrapped around the neck of another and he twisted. Another charged at him sword drawn, he stepped sideways making the man cut the ropes binding his hands instead, then grabbed the sword from his fallen brother driving it up to the hilt in the soldier. He ducked but the spear wielded by Cadvorsus sliced into his arm before three other soldiers managed to get him tied to the others.

Cadvorsus stepped up and grasped his face.

"I shall enjoy seeing you die in the rings of Angusa." He shoved him away and they began to march away with their slaves.

The road to Angusa was worn from the feet of countless slaves before them.

"My prince, what are we to do."

"Stay strong men. We shall gain our freedom soon."

He watched the sun rise and set over the land that had been given to him by his father, a land to which he knew he would never return. Days later they reached the walls of Angusa, the stone fortress looming above their heads and blocking out the sun. They were lead into a vast courtyard covered in sand. Across from where they stood were a line of men their eyes vacant as they watched the new men being carried in. The ropes connecting them were cut but their wrist remained bound. Jacous looked about the small courtyard and the stage positioned above them. From a door entered several ladies in waiting following three women who he could only assume were the princesses. The eldest and the middle child had eyes like every royal Jacous had ever met, black and cold like the blood on their hands. The youngest was different, her brown hair was bright and flowed down her back, her eyes still bearing a bit of light. It would be extinguished soon.

"I have brought these men from the land of Vartus for your highnesses pleasure. Tell me which of these men please you so that I may dispose of the rest." Cadvorsus spoke more to the youngest than the others.

Jacous could feel the eyes of the eldest raking over them like a hawk deciding on its prey.

"He will do." Her finger extended to the man at the end of the line. He was a rather mousey boy, his sword had not shook against an enemy shield until the day of the invasion. He was led away by two of the men on the other side of the platform.

The middle child chose to take several of the new captives. Her eyes lit up when she thought of the hours to come.

Finally it was the youngest turn. Before she could speak her eldest sister interrupted her.

"This is my sister's first time picking a man for her chamber. Cadvorsus take her hand so that she may take a closer look."

A few moments later Cadvorsus led the youngest princess into the courtyard and stood by her sword drawn as she made her way down the line of men. Jacous watched her approach, she was tall and seemed stronger than the others, her eyes roaming over the men was not feral like her sister's had been. She stepped in front of him, her eyes looking over his body, but she wasn't checking for girth of dexterity but rather injury. Her eyes lingered on the festering cut on his arm before she met his eyes.

"Him."

"Your highness it may be best to pick another. He has not yet been broken like the others."

"Him." She turned on her heel leaving no room for argument.

Jacous was grasped by the remaining two men and carried through the archway that the other men had taken. From behind him he could hear the slide of swords leaving their sheaths.

"If you want your lives. Fight for them." Cadvorsus could be heard shouting.

He bowed his head listening to the men that he had fought with in battle die like animals. After weaving through a courtyard that was too beautiful for such a retched place he was lead into a vast bed chamber. There was a large pool for bathing in the middle of the room and a bed built for more than one hidden behind curtains of gold. His ropes were cut from his wrist and he was left alone. As soon as he heard the guards leave he sprinted for the balcony.

"You won't make it far with your arm." A soft voice said from behind him. He spun to see the youngest princess staring at him, a pot of what he could only assume was medicine in her hands.

She didn't look at him again but strode over to the pool and sat down as if waiting for him. He knew she was right. He walked over to the pool and sat down on the cold tile. She gently removed the bloodied bandage from his arm and pulled a small dagger from her belt.

"This will hurt." Her eyes connected with his searching for permission.

He didn't speak but bit his jaw as the thin knife sliced into his arm the pain that had been growing there for days subsiding slightly as the pus leaked from the wound. She dipped a rag into the pool and cleaned the wound her eyes focused on her task. After she was satisfied that it was clean she opened the pot of medicine and placed a generous amount on the cut before tying another bandage around it, and walking towards the door.

"Feel free to wash and rest. I shall return later." She strode through the door a billow of robes.

Once her footsteps could not be heard he peeled the tunic from his heated skin and slipped into the pool. The lukewarm water seeped into his skin as he began to wash away the dried blood and dirt from his body. His hand went to the golden medallion around his neck, marking him as a member of the nobility. He had hidden it beneath his robes, surprised that it had not been ripped from his neck. He ducked beneath the water, his mind drifting back to his men who had been slaughtered in their homes, the vacant eyes of his brother as he watched his wife being raped. He broke the surface of the water, wiping water from his face as he stepped from the pool. A servant handed him a clean loincloth and took his clothes away. She spun for the door giggling with the other servant waiting there. He slipped into the garment and stood looking around the room. He knew why he was here. He was to please the princess only to be thrown into the ring tomorrow to fight his brothers. He heard the swish of her cloak against the ground as she reentered the room. She turned her back to him as she dropped the cloak and stripped down to her undergarments. Despite his efforts his eyes traced over the contours of her tone body, it was a change from the usually thin and mousy figures of the ladies his father had tried to match him with. Her face reddened slightly unable to meet his eyes. He strode over to her his mouth next to her ear, then his hands wrapped around her throat, his eyes full of fire as she struggled against him. Her hands flew to his attempting to pry them away from her neck.

"Please." She managed to gasp.

"Why should I? You have taken everything away from me. I think it's time Angusa felt the pains of loss."