Spartacus: Blood and Sand

'The Harpy of Corinth'

Chapter 10- Freedom (The Harpy's Last Battle)

As I was armored for battle, I was wondering if I could trust Batiatus to keep his word. I grabbed my helmet by the faceguard, and put it on for battle. I clinched the grip on the shield, and Crixus handed me my sword, "You will be missed, Harpy, make that bitch beg at your blade," Crixus said as words of motivation. The other gladiators wear different types of helmet. Mine still remains the same since my first battle. This is to be my last. The ground trembled beneath my feet as crowds cheered for blood and sport.

"The warrior before you needs no introduction, the first female champion ever in the House of Batiatus, her skill with a blade knows no rival, People of Pompeii it is my honor and my pleasure to bring you, Murmillo...Kadri...The Harpy of Corinth!" Batiatus praised. I raised my shield and my iron armored fist to Mount Olympus clutching the grip of my sword. I yelled my loudest battle-cry. I looked at my opponent. Her blond hair flowing out from the sides of her helmet, and armed with a gladius and a round shield.

I was now fighting to break the chains that bind me, and the one I love, "Begin!" Batiatus commanded as his fist went down. I lifted up my shield, and had my blade at the ready. We circled each other, and the Gaul made her move. She charged me, and leaped off the boss of my shield. She came down on me with a blade, and I rolled on the sand to evade it. I used my shield like a wall, and leaped over to kick Verenda in the faceguard with an iron greave. The Gaul growled, and saw blood dripping from her nose.

"Fucking bitch! I will have your head!" Verenda cursed, and attacked again. Our blades clashed, and the crowds cheered. I blocked her attacks with my shield, and attacked back when I found any openings on her. Verenda's blade had the intent to split my head open. I leaned my neck to bring down the brim of my helmet to block the slash. She then bled me as she got her blade in between the plates of my manica. I cringed in pain, "consider that a scratch, Horse's Ass, I shall be the harbinger of your death,"

I was not going to give in, not now and not ever. She roared, and attacked again out of rage. I admire her ferocity, like the old warriors of Brennus. I blocked my slashes and thrusts, and move my head to evade a slash from her shield. Her blade nicked my helmet, but her shield struck me, and threw me off balance. I kept my footing, and shook my head. I saw thoughts of Iva coming to light in the middle of the battle on the sands. I wanted to live my life with her at my side, away from the iron chains of slavery.

I know she is watching me. I should not look. I need keep my focus on my opponent. There is a prize at the end of this battle, and I intend to claim it. Verenda slashed at my ankle, and I cringed as she bled me. I dropped to my knee, but I would not give in to the Gaul. Instead, I kept fighting. I was on the offensive, slashing and using my skills with sword and scutum and hit her across the face with my shield. I knocked her down to the sands, and came down on her with sword. She rolled over to evade my blade.

I managed to remove her helmet by force. I could see her face covered in dried blood. For freedom and for Iva, I had to finish this fight. I had worn her out, that was not to see I was feeling lethargic. She attacked again, and I made my move. I evaded her sword, and knocked her to the ground by moving aside her sword with my shield, and kicking her in the chest. I slammed the edge of my scutum on her thigh, and I heard a bone break. Verenda cried in pain, and met the tip of my sword at her very neck.

I took off my helmet, and revealed myself to her. I looked up at Batiatus. He smiled down at me. The crowd seemed to approve of Verenda's performance in the arena. The crowds chanted for her to live, and Batiatus's thumb went up. I pulled back my blade, and offered Verenda a hand up, and a shoulder to rest on. I led her over to the medicus in Pompeii to tend to her wounds, and set her bones. By the steel of a sword, I had earned my freedom. The gates were opened, and Iva came running out onto the sands.

I held her in my arms, and spun her around. Crixus, Barca, and all my friends at the ludus cheered. Iva and I are no longer slaves. From this moment on we are free women. We kneeled before the Magistrate of Pompeii, "In the name of the Republic and the power vested in me, I present to you the rudius and the palm branch, from this day forward to your last days in this life, you two are now free from your bonds, you are now free," he proclaimed, he gestured for Iva and I to stand up. Batiatus smiled in approval.

"You have done well under my guidance, and with such a beautiful woman at your side now, I wish you good fortune now that you are free," said Batiatus, "I don't think there will ever be another warrior quite like you, Kadri," I bowed my head to the man that was my dominus. We returned back to the Ludus the next day. Mira dressed me in a light blue dress. I kept my bronze armbands to remember my time as a gladiatrix. Iva was presented to me in a crimson red dress. She was ready to leave with me.

The men of the Ludus gathered outside, and cheered as we made our leave of the Ludus. I gently held Iva's hand, and went up to Barca and Pietros, "You maybe a woman, Sister Kadri, but from the way you are with blade, you are a man in my eyes," Barca joked, I could not help but chuckle as well, "treat her well, Sister, I will split your ass in two if you fail to do so," I will never let a friend down, especially not one like Barca. He is like a brother to me, "be safe Sister Kadri, it is a very big world out there," He said.

I nodded to him, and made my leave, "Come now, Iva, let us be on our way," I said with calm and sweet words to my love. Iva smiled as we walked out of the gates together. I will miss this Ludus. These scars on my body pay testament to my life as a gladiatrix. Each one of them is a memory. Each one of them a reminder of pain and suffering, and of blood and victory. Now with Iva at my side as a free woman, I can look forward to times of peace. Such times where I will never have to hold a sword again.

As we walked the streets, I looked at Iva and smiled, "So...on what path do our lives go from here?" I asked looking at the sun over the mountains. I placed a hand on her shoulder. Iva rested her head on my shoulder. Her long curly hair was so soft and fluffy as it touched my exposed skin. I placed a kiss on her cheek. Iva lightly giggled. She turned me to face her, and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. My hands snaked down to her lower back. We shared our first kiss as free women outside the Ludus walls.

"At this moment? I would say the nearest inn," Iva replied in a sweet and soft tone of voice, soft like a spring breeze. I lightly chuckled, and walked with Iva to the inn near the entrance to the city. I now had to start thinking of plans for me and Iva. For now, those thoughts had to wait. I had used the coin I earned to pay the innkeeper for a room. I sat down at the bed, and saw Iva slowly approaching me, "Love is better when you are free," said Iva, and my life, my brand new life with sweet Iva, had just begun.