Standard Disclaimer applies anything you don't recognize is most likely mine.
Sorry it has taken FOREVER, life just got in the way. Thanks for the reviews and keeping up with this story. If you leave a review I would love to leave a response, so if you have an account or an email, that'd be great.
Lochlynd: Thank you for the review! I just want to point out that Tavi has been in the past for more than 2 years, the initial thrill of time travel is gone because of how many people (aside from her adoptive father) treat her like a fluffy-headed idiot. I hope I can explain things a little better in this and future chapters.
Also, this long overdue chapter is dedicated to the memory of Andy Whitfield.
Spartacus walked through the villa from the bowels of the ludus with the guards at his back. The confidence in his stride seemingly bordered arrogance to everyone around him since the defeat of the Shadow of Death a fortnight ago. Dominus granted his petition for an audience much sooner than last and it was due to the victory and honor Spartacus had brought to the house. By all accounts he was well within his rights to some amount of arrogance, perhaps even more that what Crixus used to throw around. In truth none of that mattered, for soon Dominus would return Sura to his arms and that is all he cared about.
The sounds of clashing training swords and a mix of feminine and masculine grunts reached his ears from where his Dominus waited. Fighting his curiosity, Spartacus forced himself to keep pace with the slow-moving guard. Upon reaching the courtyard, the gladiator stopped short to see Doctore fighting the Roman girl from the balcony; true, they were using training swords, but her talent was undeniable. Just as the stirring in his cock was.
The girl moved as though born with a blade in hand, much like Sura was said to have been. The thought of his wife brought about guilt in his chest to even see this Roman cunt as desirable as Sura. He set his thoughts to the return of Sura to his arms and not the fantasy of the length of the girl's legs curled around his waist. His traitorous cock stirred again at the sight of the girl's smooth, tanned, long legs through the slits of her gown, and he worked to fight the rousing of his body to go to Dominus.
The man was strong and very, very good. It probably wasn't the best idea she ever had making the first strike, but good lord the man pissed her off with his "better than thou" ass-hat attitude, she had to do something. Too bad he was as brutal as he was smart. Doctore swung the training weapon in an arc above his head, expecting a strike from above, Tavi braced herself for the strike only to be swept into the air and soon on her back. She did not even have the luxury of assessing her hurts because Doctore did not stop for her to breathe a moment. The big man kept coming and Tavi immediately rolled her aching body away from his assault. The smack of the wood against the stone was a testament to how much he was not holding back.
Tavi considered throwing the training sword at the man the moment she managed to get up, but decided against said action as he (im)patiently waited for her. She rose gingerly rubbing her left sword arm and repositioned her grip. While she was not normally a lefty, it was a conscious reminder that she was not supposed to be as good as she truly was, not that she was anywhere near the talent of a gladiator. While she may have studied Wushu since before she could walk in reality, Octavia Baltus is supposed to be no better than a spoiled novice. He was brutal in his assault, yet not as smooth as her sword masters. Although he was probably holding back since she is a girl and all holy hell would be raised if Tavi were marred in any way. Yes, it really wasn't the best idea to attack first so furiously, but Tavi was sick and tired of every man (save Octavius) treating her like some weak and ditzy idiot; so a little exertion of her previous weapons training was a necessity.
Like Octavius told her, she mustn't show how much she already knew. Based on what Octavius told his cousins, Tavi's sword masters taught to fight off attackers long enough to get away and if necessary slit her own throat. They emphasized how any violation of her body would shame the family name (Tavi knew it wasn't true, but that was the lie he told) so that was why she must learn.
Tavi stepped lightly, trying to anticipate Doctore's next move, the flat of the "blade" against her forearm just as Quintus called for an ending of the training session. Although both she and Doctore were breathing with some difficulty, they remained composed. Tavi nodded to him in deference to his status as her teacher, he bowed to her in respect of her skill and status as a wealthy Roman.
"Well Doctore, what think you of your newest student?" Octavius clapped a pudgy hand upon her shoulder as a slave presented her with a gold cup of water. She traded the sword for the goblet and drank deeply.
"She has some skill, my lord. It will allow her time to run away." The trainer replied flatly.
"Excellent and I know under your tutelage she will improve greatly, eh Doctore?" Octavius beamed with a slap upon Tavi's shoulders almost making her choke, gaining her bearings she turned to glare at the fat man.
"Ah Spartacus. There you are." The attention of the room immediately shifted from Tavi to Capua's New Champion. And between a pair of guards happened to be a rather delicious specimen of man in boots and a …diaper (she didn't remember what it was called). Trying not to stare to hard at the one called Spartacus, Tavi emptied her goblet in attempt to cool the sudden heat of her body that had nothing to do with the weather.
"Dominus," Spartacus bowed his head to Quintus and awaited his master.
"Cousin, I go to the market to outfit Capua's newest champion. Will you accompany us?" Quintus grinned and place a hand on Tavi's father.
"The market? Oh, Father, may I attend as well?" Tavi asked, half desperate to get away from Lucretia and half intrigued by the Thracian.
Quintus' brow furrowed, "We go to the blacksmith Octavius it is not suitable for a girl…even one with some skill with a blade."
"Please Father," Tavi pleaded with Octavius, she pouted her lips and her eyes widened with a sweetness they both knew wasn't necessary for his agreement. But it was fine to pretend it was.
"Oh my precious lamb, of course," With a helpless grin to his cousin, he said, "She is a merchant's daughter."
"Gratitude Father!" She squealed, laying on the dramatics thick, and leapt into his arms. He held her tightly and kissed her brow before releasing her.
As Tavi turned to rush to their rooms, she hadn't realized the gladiator had moved, and slammed into his chest. Instinctively Spartacus gripped her to him to prevent her fall. "Eep!" She squeaked and grimaced at how pathetic she sounded. The simmering heat beneath her skin roared to an inferno at his touch. Her fingers itched to curl into the short hairs of his head, the flesh of her palms ached to caress his skin.
"My lady." His deep voice sent pleasurable tingles to her girly bits, "Are you well?"
"Um…yes." Reluctantly, but regally pulling away, Tavi cleared her throat, wet her suddenly dry lips and stepped further away. "Gratitude Champion." She closed her eyes at the trembled whisper that escaped her lips with the loss of his touch.
"Well, hurry along Octavia, your uncle's Champion has training to return to." Octavius spoke softly in Tavi's ear nudging her gently forward.
"Yes Father." She blushed and turned pulling Naevia behind her. Briefly she stopped at the door catching eyes with the fetching gladiator before running off again.
Rain poured from the skies once more and continued to drench the nearly drowned city. Although Tavi had a slave to hold an "umbrella" aloft, it didn't stop her gown from sucking up the puddles. She had tried holding up the train as it started getting wet, but gave up at the weight.
Normally the trip to the blacksmith was a fifteen minute or so trek past the gates and through the marketplace, however, with the Champion of Capua aka "Sexy Diaper Man" to Tavi, the citizens and slaves of the city waylaid their group.
Luckily, the guards kept the more rowdy persons at bay when they got too close. Octavius and Quintus seemed to revel and swell in the attention the champion brought them. When they finally reached the blacksmith's, Tavi felt like a drowned cat and was certain she looked worse. Sadly, there was no place near the bellows to dry her clothes that wasn't filthy.
As another of the Batiatus slaves tried to "dry" her hair, Tavi's eyes roamed the forge. There were quite a few impressive pieces of weaponry scattered about and her itchy fingers longed to hold and test them. But as the proper lady and novice she pretended to be, she could not. And so forced herself to be content with taking in the sights…lucky for her the sights just happened to improve.
"Octavia, my sweet, come witness this expert craftsmanship." Her 'father' beckoned her to where the handsome gladiator stood proud and erect in his new armor. Trying to maintain a ladylike composure without drooling over the man, Tavi stepped delicately to Octavius' side.
"It is very pretty, blacksmith," she stated impassively, though her eyes caught every exquisite detail. If Octavius had not taught her, she would not know that this piece was truly worth the huge sack of gold Quintus handed over. Her fingers delicately traced the design upon Spartacus' torso, but her eyes were locked onto his heated hazel gaze. The forge felt hotter and hotter the longer they stared.
"Pretty? Daughter?" Octavius' brow rose in question and the spell between the dark-haired girl and the slave was broken. Stepping back Tavi sent her 'father' and innocent smile.
"Ah cousin, she is but a girl, she would not know the quality of blades and armor." Quintus commented with a patronizing grin.
'Maybe not, but I'd sure like to know that quality of the gladiator's blade.' Tavi thought returning Quintus' smile.
Yes I know it's been a while. So sorry. Like I said, life got in the way. Please leave a review. I'd love to hear from you.