Chapter Eight: "Spoils of War"

Author's note: So sorry it has been too long, I am going to get a few more chapters on here, maybe unbeta'ed if necessary at the moment. Thanks again for reading and please comment :)

Duro listened as several of the Vannas people made sounds of distress and anger at his outburst but he could not deny the concern he had for these people and the cause set down before the Gladiators. He could not imagine any of those who stood before him surviving in the arena or upon any field of battle. Greer has stated with abandon that his people were capable of great magic and mystical feats, Duro believed him because he was alive and unharmed because of Greer's ability as well as the healers they were introduced to.

Just as a laugh from Barca broke across field and people started shouting and cursing, Duro heard laughter from Zale and Zada, the dark haired warriors from Greer's company. He was strangely confused for but a moment before he shrugged and enjoyed Zada's smiling face and the sound of her loud and free laughter. The more Duro spent time in her company; he realized her humor was rife with impropriety, just like Agron. It made Duro miss his older brother with each breath but she also was a balm to that separation with her similar ways.

He could not truly determine how long they resided in this in between world already because he only slept because he wished it, not due to fatigue but much of that time had been spent in the 'twins' company, sparring with them in the previous day.

"You bring these men to teach us what we already know? And this is the treatment we receive for you saving their lives!" one dark-haired man shouted.

"Jupiter's cock, do you imagine you are prepared to win final contest in arena against one such as I or the great Beast of Carthage Barca, then step forward and prepare to eat the ground beneath your feet and taste blood upon lips," Duro shouted in return. He caught sight of Zada, crossing her arms over her chest and enjoyed the brewing fight with an amused gaze.

The man scoffed at Duro's words and stepped forward. Greer shook his head and spoke, "Michael, perhaps you should put a reign on that short temper of yours. You do not want to fight these guys."

"Yes I do," Michael, as he was called, returned quickly and his angry gaze stayed on Duro and he saw a flash in the man's brown eyes. It was as if they shifted to gold before returning to their dark tone. Duro shook it off as Barca tossed him a blade and another to the man in front of him. Michael laughed, "I have no need of such weapons."

Greer nodded when Duro looked over to the leader in shock, surely the younger man was desperate to meet his end despite the impossibility of such a thing here in this place. Then before his open eyes the man disappeared and in his place was a beast the size of a man, a wolf, only much grander in size and shape. Duro took single step back then turned to look at Greer for what he should do against such a beast that had only been a puny man seconds before.

Greer just smiled and waved Duro towards the beast before him.

"I give lesson to all, I know that Barca and Oenomaus have wondered why they are here and I imagine Duro has such thoughts as well. And my people cannot truly grasp what was lost on field of battle against ZarCorp and their weapons. Now against such power, to take the shape of a wolf what have you to fight?" Greer demanded.

Duro waved his sword and within seconds the wolf gripped the handle, bearing down on Duro's hand and he hissed at the pain. It stalled immediately, a gift of this strange world and Duro found himself suddenly unarmed and at the mercy of the beast.

Barca shouted, "Off of him!" Duro's warrior brother stepped forward, blade in hand and prepared to sink it into the fleshy stomach of the monster holding the German's arm in its wide maw.

"No need," Greer said in return as Duro waited, not tugging at his trapped hand and the sword still gripped within it. He could not move without rending flesh from bone. Then Greer nodded to another woman within the Vannas ranks, this one had pale hair and skin. She made him remember Glaber's wife who spent many hours with Lucretia within the ludus. She reached her hands out and pointed at the beast still gripping Duro's wrist and sword and the creature emitted a low whimper then released Duro quickly as it stumbled away and the wolf shifted and shimmered, as if staring into the heat of the day then Michael was kneeling on ground in front of Duro.

"What have you done?" Michael demanded, his voice fraught with pain and confusion. Duro held his arm close to chest, shocked to see the blood and damage but it did not continue to bleed, just stopped like all other wounds that occur in this place. Zada moved across the space quickly, followed by Claire who immediately held hand out to take Duro's wounded arm and the warmth suffused over the crimson stained flesh and the wound knit itself closed till there was nothing to show for the attack besides Duro's new found respect for people capable of shifting form.

"I have done what ZarCorp has done to us on the battlefield. He has found a way to nullify our power at will, not with the focused intent of Oni who shall help us practice and learn to live without our abilities but on such a grand scale that it killed our Queen! I know many of you were not there on the field and you do not know the extent of the damage that day created but now you know the danger and devastation we shall face. We need the gladiators as they only know to fight with strength and steel."

Michael stumbled away from Duro, away from Greer as he looked around in shock.

"Would you now care to fight?" Duro asked the monster-man.

Michael shook his head and returned to stand as he was before, among a crowd of shocked and terrified people. Duro knew that was for the benefit of all in attendance, to give them a taste of what Greer and others experienced when they were last faced against grand enemy. This was the might of Rome and Duro wished to see this new and different Rome fall just as he hoped to see the Roman shits who enslaved him to ground.

"How do you fare?" Zada asked Duro who was still gripping blade in mended hand and he looked to her with a quick smile upon lips.

"I stand ready to see proper contest, do you wish to spar and show these people what we attempt to teach them."

Zada grinned and they faced off against each other as Barca and Zale faced off as well. Oenomaus took up position to watch and be ready to step in and offer words of cruel wisdom. His words had taken on gentler tone in this new world but still spoke honestly for the good of his pupils. The Vannas people stayed to watch as Zada took on Duro and held her own for moments before she fell upon back, the raven haired temptress only laughed, flipped back upon feet before she was spinning in and away from Duro. The German observed that her fighting ability was such that it did not allow her smaller more delicate frame to keep her weak. Zada used her lithe figure to tire Duro in the fight before striking out and catching him at the back of the knees, forcing the gladiator to his knees for a moment before he stood once more.

"You gain much experience with bringing larger men to their knees, my beautiful warrior."

Zada threw head back and shared sharp laugh before she raced around him and throwing herself up on Duro's shoulders and used her momentum to throw them both off balance and Duro found himself eating dirt beneath feet with Zada sitting on his shoulders. Duro struggled and rose from the ground, shoving her off of him in the process.

"I concede this battle to your clever ways," Duro said with a hand to his heart before he turned to face off against Zale while Barca took over training with Zada. This way of training, switching off and continually sparring with one Vannas after another went on for a time before Greer mentioned he would need to prepare for another reaping of a gladiator and they all stalled to watch him go.

Duro was pleased at mention of another of his brothers in arms would join them shortly, it would help with the training of ones such as these Vannas who were constantly throwing the abilities they had into the sparring matches despite the unfair advantage as well as reason for the lesson in the first place.

Oni, the pale one, continued to stand nearby and every once in a while she would lock her gaze on one of the Vannas, they would gasp and struggle with the loss of power before each magical fighter was forced to depend on strength and steel alone. Duro wondered what it would feel like to have such important part of self to be easily removed from his person by another. No wonder they needed the Gladiators, reaching for their magic was the same as breathing and to do without would mean to suffocate without practice and repetition.

Duro was pleased to bring about aspect of repetition until brother Agron rejoined him here. He hoped it would be soon.

Greer walked away from the sparring, the cheering and training. This was the last of the gladiators taken before the final battle when Spartacus would pass into the afterlife, which Greer had been watching constantly to learn of the ways in which to deliver those who would die on the field of battle. "You seek Donar next?" Oenomaus questioned as he entered Greer's room without invitation. There was little need for such things in this world. Greer had barely returned to limbo when he returned to his challenge, leaving his people to work with Oenomaus, Barca and Duro.

"You do not train with the others?" Greer questioned and turned to see Johnny standing quietly at Oenomaus' back, waiting to get into the room.

"I seek to break words of the remaining fighters you intend to bring here," Oenomaus asked. Johnny sidled around the mountain of a man, his skin almost black in the darkened interior of this building.

"Who would you see brought here or not?" Greer questioned, assured that there was a purpose behind such questions.

"I would seek only knowledge of those who are fated to die, it saddens the heart to know that in the end their deaths meant so little," Oenomaus spoke gentle words while Johnny stepped off to the side so he may stand close to Greer in support.

"I would take the generals of Spartacus, those closest to him for their skill and also in respect of Spartacus' words to me. He wishes only to see those he cared for allowed to keep living even if that meant to take up new cause."

"You would not take Spartacus himself?" Oenomaus asked.

"I offered same chance to him, a chance to take Sura into his arms once more in this life and he wished only for peace. He wished to die after everything."

Oenomaus nodded sagely, "Spartacus wished only to see himself to peace and the afterlife. He will be most sadly missed but the generals of his army will see your people trained for combat once more."

"Crixus and Agron will be taken after Donor as well as their loves. They present a great opportunity for my people."

Oenomaus nodded, "I would break words as Doctore once more among them. I may not hold the respect Spartacus once held but I was also held in great esteem within the ludus."

"I have no doubt," Greer smiled.

Oenomaus looked to Johnny who still stood in silence at Greer's shoulder, "Your man stays silent?"

Greer nodded, "Just silent from lips, not so in mind believe me," Johnny snorted at Greer's words before he continued to speak, "He cannot carry words as most men do, but if you will allow him Johnny may communicate in your mind any needed words."

Oenomaus frowned, "What meaning do your words carry?"

Greer nodded to Johnny who turned and spoke sharing the words with Greer's mind as well, "Oenomaus, my name is Johnny and I am pleased to receive knowledge on field of battle from a man such as you."

Oenomaus' eyes widened in response but he did not react any other way, Greer couldn't help but be impressed by the man's restraint, "So you see, he is capable in a different way."

"Yes, I am pleased to greet you Johnny." Oenomaus turned back to Greer and broke words with the leader again, "I would observe while you remove Donar from certain death?" Oenomaus asked, without command but a certain level of need that Greer felt should be honored. This Doctore was once the trusted trainer and leader of many of the men and he found himself curious of how he came to be here.

"I just need to find Ella to come with and you can watch through the mirror. I shall return shortly," Greer spoke as he tapped the edge of the mirror to show a city filled with the dead of rebels and Romans alike. Greer had seen the scene more than once but Oenomaus stared at the scene before him for a moment.

Greer walked past the big man and left the other man to watch the mirror. Oenomaus was left with the diminutive man who was incapable of speech so he focused on the large view in front of him. He didn't know many of the people he could see in reflected surface. He found why he was watching after a pause, Donar was kept for tribute with the Romans and forced to watch his brothers' fall before him. Such a death was worst nightmare for those of the Gladiator brotherhood, where each man had no opportunity to fight back and seek out possibility of life.

Then Greer reappeared with one of those false bodies, this one made to look like Donar and Ella standing beside him. Oenomaus watched as Greer refocused on the mirror as well, one hand upon lifeless figure and the other on Ella's shoulder.

Oenomaus watched as Greer waited through the fight with the Roman. He didn't know the name of the man only that he stood against one of Oenomaus' men. Then Donar landed on his knees, guts attempting to spill to the ground through wound upon stomach. The man who fought against him turned to address the crowd. Donar's features were set in sadness and inevitability and Oenomaus knew what was coming. He knew Donar as a man, as a soldier, and he would take his life rather than allow Roman shit to end his life as a symbol of what is to come to the others he rebelled with.

"Let this man's death serve as harbinger for the fate that we shall inflict upon Spartacus himself!" the man spoke down to Donar, "Well fought, brother."

Oenomaus watched as Greer disappeared from sight and shifted gaze back to mirror to see nothing changing, he frowned in confusion as Donar spoke, "Swallow cock, you Roman shit."

Then he was forced to watch as Donar split neck and head with blade, robbing the Roman of show for power. He struggled to remain calm in the face of watching one of his brothers die when Greer reappeared with Donar held gently in grip between him and Ella.

Donar, clearly confused pushed away from Greer's grasping hands. Oenomaus stepped forward and placed staying grip on Donar's shoulder. "Calm yourself friend and hear words of opportunity."

Donar paused, gripping at wounds that paused in this strange place but the blood was already there smeared across skin. "Oenomaus? I saw your fall at Vesuvius," whispered the gladiator.

"And your death was ordained as well, now listen to words offered."

Oenomaus looked to Greer who spoke, "I would ask you in exchange for halting death to help my people become the fighters they must be to survive the impending destruction against enemy greater in size and capabilities."

"You would follow another into battle once more?" Donar asked Oenomaus.

"For worthy cause as I see this to be and promise of freedom with beloved wife and brothers," Oenomaus stated and Donar looked from him to Greer before he nodded. Ella moved forward to begin the mending process upon his skin. It was the first time Oenomaus had been allowed to see the process even as he looked to Greer.

"The mirror, there was no change as you took Donar from death."

Greer smiled stretching his face in a strange humor and pride, "That is always my purpose. I have been taught that if I am going to manipulate time then I must honor history. There is nothing more important than such. I would do anything to turn from my training in the saving of my mother and father but I would never give cause for her to lose faith."

"You honor beloved mother then," Oenomaus whispered. Then he turned to Donar and watched as skin stitched itself as if wound had never occurred. It was a miracle of power that these people held and it continued to baffle the mind that they would need gladiators to train them.

"You wonder again about your worth here even after the example I made with Michael and Duro?" Greer questioned.

"Do you have power to pull thoughts from mind?" Oenomaus demanded, not sure anymore what was possible in this unknown world. He is reminded of man turned beast earlier and watching Michael confused and in pain when he returned to human form.

"I see thoughts on your face and mind, I would show you a scene from my recent past to answer your concerns, before I came here to take those of you from Spartacus camp." With that Greer slipped his fingers along the mirror making it shimmer and take form. Oenomaus watched as open warfare appeared within sight, but it was unlike anything he'd ever seen. There were sparks of magic; some controlling the elements while others moved people without touching each other. There were no words to be spoken in description of this fight, for it took place on a different level from steel and fists. He looked at Greer to find the other man pressed against Johnny in comfort as Oenomaus watched the scene shift to a woman who could have only been Greer's beloved mother. There was a man as well, fighting at his mother's back. They weren't even trading blows with people though they carried blades and knives. Greer's mother moved like a gladiator only once again there were so many levels to this fight. It was not a fight he could ever comprehend from his limited understanding.

"Here it is," Greer whispered.

Watching Greer's mother, there was no way to miss the violent exhalation of breath in her. It was a movement that was seen in all the magical people around her. She fell on bended knee, hands grasping at throat and eyes shut tight in perceived pain. Oenomaus watched in despair as those who fought against them used advantage and started killing Greer's people. The mother was able to fight for a few scant minutes before she too was stabbed and she fell, screaming out to someone to be with her in the end.

Greer slipped his finger along the edge of the mirror to fade the pictures and release it once more back into the oblivion of time passed. "Now do you understand? Without magic, we are without hope. If we do not receive chance at powerless warfare then more will die needlessly against Zarcorp."

Oenomaus nodded, "And why does Zarcorp wish for your death?"

"Because we are different from them. They would see our power used for their will and the rest of us to death."

Oenomaus looked to Johnny who spoke in his mind once more and knew that kind of destruction. Romans, all his life had only been intrigued in how to command others who were not of Roman descent or capable of giving them something and he knew what must be done. He spoke, "My hands, your will."

Greer glared at him, shocking Oenomaus in his tightly controlled rage. "I am not your Dominus, your master. I am a leader to these people but I am not the king. I plead as a free man to another free man to see my people prepared to survive what is coming."

"I will see my men to purpose," Oenomaus stated and helped Donar to his feet and led the other man from the room, leaving Greer and his allies alone with that darkened reflective mirror where he would allow himself to replay the death of his mother to prove Oenomaus and his men's importance and why freedom and chance at second life was worth the struggle to take them from the flow of time.

Again Oenomaus had to agree that this was a cause most worthy to him.