Dominus had spent most of his day standing on the balcony watching the men during their training. I had sent Irena to attend to him for the day giving me some much needed time away from the constant fawning over Dominus' new pet. Standing in the kitchen I was helping Camila as she was preparing their night meal.

"Jana, finally." I heard from behind me as I turned to see Naevia standing behind me.

"Naevia, should you not be trailing about Domina?" I asked her as she rolled her eyes making her way towards me. "She and Dominus requested to be left alone on the balcony. I believe it is just Irena and Aria." She sighed as she joined us in the preparing of food.

"It has been too long since we got to spend time together." I told her as she nodded, "I remember a time when we used to spend whole days together." She laughed.

I looked around and watched as Camila had now turned her back to us, "Then come with me, there is so much we have to catch up on." I told her.

"If Dominus was to see either of us not attending to our duties he would see us to the mines." She told me, "Remember that one slave? The Sardinian male he had purchased last year?"

I arched my brow at her, "I do, but he was different." I reminded her. "Surely they would not punish us for wanting to spend time with one another." I told her.

"Jana, we are slaves. If Dominus ever found out that Oenomaus was teaching you he would send you to the mines. It would look like rebellion, remember when Aria first came to the house and she spoke out of turn... had I not spoken for her…" She began to say as I just sighed.

"The mines, I know." She smiled at me as I just stood there, the mines. Fate worse than death, the things we had all heard about what happened at the mines was enough to stop us from stepping out of line. I was lucky enough to have Dominus' trust and confidence yet Naevia was right. "I suppose I will go prepare Dominus chambers for him. With the Vulcanalia coming up, he will want to know what he can purchase right away." I told her as Naevia smiled to me.

"I will see you before bed." She smiled again.

Naevia was the perfect slave; she never stepped out of line, never spoke out of turn never did anything wrong. I was becoming less and less able to be the slave I was supposed to be, I convinced Dominus to purchase slaves and two had already died, both before they could even prove themselves in the arena. They would have been better off in the mines in terms of the coin they were worth.

I slowly made my way to the chambers looking around me, the things that had happened in this villa. I would be so easy to escape from the villa right now, not that I was mad enough to even attempt such a thing. With the upcoming games the amount of guards within the city would be increasingly high. Not that I even had a clue as to where Gannicus had made his way too this house would become my tomb. "Jana. You are being summoned." A guard spoke to me taking me out of my thoughts. I had been standing exactly where Gannicus had taken me our first night together.

"Yes." I spoke as I followed the guard to the balcony where Dominus was standing his back to me, Domina lounging on the chair. "Dominus." I spoke as I bowed my head.

"Come here." He motioned for me to take a spot next to him. "What do you see down there?" He asked me.

"The gladiators, the sands the forged this houses names. Dominus." I told him.

He nodded looking over them, Varro sparring with Spartacus. Crixus returned to his proper state fighting alongside Gnaeus. Rhaskos and Barca, seemingly in attempt to kill one another in simple fight. "What do you not see." He asked me as I looked to him in confusion.

"Sorry, Dominus?" I questioned. "Well, what do you not see below? There is no wrong answer." He told me as I let out a deep breathe. Did he know, had someone heard Naevia and I speaking in the kitchen.

"A woman." I told him, curious to the meaning behind his question.

Dominus just laughed, turning to face me. Domina laughing too as she stood up to stand next to me. "Nor would you." He told me with a laugh, "Come with me, I have something of interest I would wish to discuss with you."

I nodded to him, "Dominus."

"Domina wishes to throw a party in honor of the Vulcanalia, I have yet to receive word of who will be attending yet we had heard that the Legatus' wife should make appearance. I have but a request to make of you." He told me as I looked at him nodding, "Dominus?"

"I request of you to follow my wifes movements, see to it that she stays on task to secure the Legatus wife." He told me, a request easily asked of Naevia. "Of course, Dominus. Why not ask Naevia?"

He let out an annoyed sigh, "Naevia is but loyal to my wife above all. She would see to the sharing of my request." He told me, "She values you yes above all others but, she is not best at keeping secrets." He told me as I nodded, yet if he only knew the secrets that Naevia was keeping.

"Twenty men. I pledge twenty men to fill the ranks of the Vulcanalia, my own coin to see each victor paid, what thanks do I get from the Magistrate? He fears he will be unable to attend our reception on the eve of the games to to 'pressing concerns'!" Dominus shouted back to his wife as he was taking a piss next to me as I held the letter from Magistrate Calavius. Domina had shouted back to him, yet I was unable to pay attention do to the fact I was trying not to get anything on my skin.

"I hear rumor he dines with Solonius instead." Dominus had told her, a rumor one of the slaves had heard when they were in market gathering food for the reception.

"Solonius?" She questioned, finally able to hear her above the unwanted distraction happening beside me. "You can move." Dominus told me as I nodded moving a short ways from him before following him back into the villa. "But he offers not one man for the Vulcanalia." She told him.

"Yet his tongue still manages to find his way to the Magistrate's asshole. Is that new?" Dominus asked her before turning to look at me as I nodded.

"For the reception, yes" She told him as Naevia stood there holding a mirror for Domina to look at herself. "The rising cost of this thing raises concern." Dominus scoffed out.

"It raises opportunity." She told him as I motioned for a slave to begin fanning Dominus as he laid of the couch. I took my place at the end of the couch looking forwards, "I question not its import. I question its scale. This drought has stretched our resources thin and now without the attendance of the Magistrate…" He pressed with annoyance.

"Darling, you must spend coins to receive coins. My husband taught me that." She told him as he looked past her to me before motioning me off to attend to other tasks.

I stood in the vestibule and before long Dominus came in, "Come, we are headed to the market." Heading below we walked through the back hallways before reaching the sands. "Open the gates. Have the guard ready." Dominus called out as we walked towards the exit, for the carriage

"A moment Dominus." Spartacus spoke as he made his way towards us. I moved slightly to the side to make way for him as I turned my head to see Varro sitting there shrugging his shoulders to the man's motives. I just arched my brow slightly before moving to face the two men standing beside me. "Ten paces." Dominus told him before looking to me, "Meet me at the carriage." He spoke as I just nodded. "Dominus."

Waiting at the carriage however I watched the two men speak, until Dominus finally climbed aboard. "What was that about?" I had asked him as he just scoffed. "The man yet still presses for information on his wife." He told me as the driver began to move the carriage.

"Is she not on that Syrian boat?" I asked him as he nodded, "Yes and of no coin at all, yet he has yet to show his worth in the arena." He told me as I nodded.

"Yet, you had made comment in the regard to not purchase her." I asked as he just smiled to me, "One Thracian is easy to deal with, he could bring in coin and favor. What would she bring this house? It surely will not be loyalty." He told me as the carriage drove off.

List in hand I walked below to the ludus looking to Ashur, "Old friend, long time." He told me as I just rolled my eyes. "I come bearing gifts this time, rather than a summons." I told him as he moved along the wall reaching me.

"None that will see me harm?" He asked me as I shrugged.

"Not that is ever guaranteed." I handed him a small scroll. "The order and who fights in the games." I told him, "Let me guess, Crixus and Barca to fight in the primus." He sighed leaning back against the wall his face contorting in pain.

"Gnaeus." I told him as he nodded, "You should see to the medicus for the pain, remember last time?" I told him.

He just waved me off, "The pain comes and goes, I fear I have yet to experience the worst of it."

I just smiled, "In this house anything is possible. So, another task from Dominus for you." I told him as he looked back up to me. "Will be your most favored yet."

"I am going to hate it." He remarked as I grinned.

"Tomorrow you are to have the men bathed and scented before they are to be brought up to the villa for the reception." I informed him as he groaned in disgust. "I have to? One of the whores upstairs cannot?" He asked me, well more pleaded.

"He just said; 'See to it that Ashur, has the men prepared and scented before the nights events.' So, bathed and scented. I will likely come to help you, gods know you need me to make sure Crixus does not see to it that head is removed from neck." I laughed as he smirked at me.

"Oh brave Jana, always here to protect me from the vicious Crixus. Did I tell you, he wishes for me to procure him a necklace." He told me as I just rolled my eyes. "I have talked to him about that in length. The man is a fool, to think his actions wise." I spoke looking away for but a moment.

"I will see to sending help, and will attend with you to the market in the coming day to procure the necklace. It would be nice to leave the villa for at least one day unattended guards."

"Dominus still does not know?" He asked me as I looked over to him, "Training? No...I was going to ask him in the coming days for formal lessons when the men are not training… for protection purposes of course." I told him as he laughed.

"Now who is the fool." He laughed at me as I playfully punched his arm, "Have fun telling the men where in the games they fight." I told him before returning up the stairs to see Naevia pacing about in the kitchen.

I made my way towards her and held her still by her shoulders, "What happened?" I asked her.

"Crixus." She told me as I let out a heavy sigh, "What did he do?"

Naevia looked around the room before letting out a deep breathe, "He bewilders me, Jana. I feel like you did when you fell for Gannicus. We catch each other's eyes, all the time… we have small talk when I am to bring him to Domina. He is so kind, like you said not the beast he acts when in the arena or in the training ring."

I smiled at her, "Then I am happy for you, should you be able to keep these feelings quieted from Domina." I told her. "I am not mad, I do not wish to be sent to the mines." She exclaimed in attempt to keep voice quieted.

"We both know I am the mad one of the two of us." I told her as she giggled softly, "I am going to ask Dominus to allow me to learn to fight."

Naevias' eyes widen, "Hiding it from him before was near insanity. Had he know Oenomaus was teaching you… you would both be seen to the mines. Now you want to risk life, up front?" She exclaimed hushed again.

"For his protection, we say what happened before. A slave killed, Dominus bearing grievous injury, with Tullius and Vettius… I would not see that so again." I told her with a smile, as she shook her head. "You are mad, like Gannicus was." She told me as I grinned, "You really think so?"

She laughed as we walked up to our room, "I very much do, might not be the worst thing either."

Dominus would not allow me to leave with Ashur for the market on the day of the reception leaving other slaves to attend to them below, and me to assist Naevia and the other slaves in preparing the villa, food and all. Naevia and I dressed in pale white and gold robes to show our position above other slaves. Word had got to us upon hearing that Gnaeus was no longer capable of fighting. Such a thing had truly upset Dominus.

Nobels from all over the city and beyond had arrived at the villa for the reception, the men were all standing around to be viewed by the guests as they made their way through the festivities on going throughout the rooms. I remained at Dominus side for the most part of the night, knowing once the Legatus wife was to arrive I was to trail her and Domina. For now we were touring Mercato around the villa.

"Crixus!" Quintus spoke as we walked towards the gladiator. "Let good Mercato have a closer look at your sword." He requested of him as I just stared up at the man whom was stirring my closest friend to sleepless nights.

Crixus would be perfect for Naevia should the word slave not hold meaning to either of them. He was strong and had a large amount of loyalty running through his blood. He would keep her safe, love her above all else. Yet we were held by the word, stepping out of line would see us all killed. I had yet to bring up learning under Oenomaus, so sneaking would no longer be a thing. Yet the thought of asking filled me with fear, being individual even when favored was almost always a thing that lead to the mines or death.

"I have been contemplating games in honor of my good friend…" The man said causing me to look away from Crixus and forget my thoughts of some unobtainable love between him and Naevia. "Ashur…" Dominus called over the Syrian causing me to bite my lip in a smirk.

"Good Mercato has set his mind to a day of games." He told the Syrian, who I had been teaching how to do my jobs in the last few days. Dominus thinking maybe having someone else to help me would do me some good. That or he was starting to consider selling me off, as German slaves were known for their high value.

"Let us see his order well filled… shall we?" He spoke to him before looking back to me, "Jana?" He told me as my eyes wandered the room seeing Domina with Ilithyia. "Yes, Dominus." I bowed my head slightly before making my way through the room towards Domina and the woman as they were admiring the many gladiators.

"Men and their ambitions." Domina spoke to the woman as I approached, "Domina." I lowered my head as she smiled at me, "Where do you find such exquisite slaves?" Ilithyia asked her as she played with some stray strands of my hair.

"Jana is from the Rhinelands, my husbands father took her in when she was a child. Her loyalty to my husband unwavering." Domina complimented me as I smiled, "Gratitude, Domina."

The woman just howled with a laughter, "Oh, just positively wonderful, all my slaves are from either Britannia or the Celtic lands." She moaned, "Nothing as exciting as the Rhinelands, is it as Barbaric as they say?" She asked me as I looked to Domina for permission to speak.

"More so." I lied a bit, from what I remember the lands were just starting to form as one, rather than small tribes throughout. However they were almost enraged monsters when engaged in battle, so the lie was not completely hollow.

"Exciting!" She cheered, "Does your husband yet have one as a gladiator?" She asked Domina as she shook her head and looking to me, "Dominus, is in the works of acquiring a few in his next batch." I told her as she grinned. "Marvelous." She chirped as Domina began to play with her own hair.

"That necklace. I adore it." Ilithyia spoke to Domina as I took my place at Naevias' side.

"Oh this?" Domina questioned as she let the young woman touch the jewels on her neck. "It's a trinket."

"It calls to mind a piece I had from Ramel one season. When emerald was still the fashion." The younger woman almost seemed to mock Domina. "I hear it's coming back around." Domina quickly whipped back with.

"Oh." She chirped unimpressed. "Perhaps I'll root mine out, then."

Dominus quickly began to speak, ending the awkward interaction in its place, "Friends, old and new!" He called out as everyone in the room minus any slaves or gladiators began to turn to face where he was standing.

"Gratitude for honoring the storied ludus of Batiatus with your presence this eve. Tomorrow's Vulcanalia promises many glories in the arena. Tonight… may I present you the finest gladiators in all the republic!" He boasted as Crixus walked from one side of the room to the center of it where a pool once was.

He raised his sword and pointed back towards where Oenomaus moved through the people as the parted like the sea, allowing him and all the gladiators to make their way through the crowd. Some of them holding a torch in the air, the eyes of all the Romans fiercely on each of them as they walked through the room. The crowd began to whisper and react to the marvel of the men as they entered. "Look!" Dominus spoke his hand motioning for the people to look at each of them.

"Touch!" He then spoke as they all began to take places in the room. "Feel the quality of the stock! Place orders for any of the men you covet!" He called out.

"Come! Don't be bashful, they won't bite!" Dominus invited each of them to approach the gladiators. "And if they do, a ten percent discount!" Dominus laughed as the men with the torches placed them around the room before taking their places.

The women almost immediately flocked to Spartacus, the Thracian who refused to die. I looked over to Naevia whose eyes were softly taking short glances over at Crixus. The girl was brave, I would have to give her that. I nudged her softly causing her cheeks to flush with red as she tried to look anywhere but the Gaul. The gaul which Ashur seemed to approach leading me to assume he got the necklace for Naevia after all. This whole thing would turn out to be a complete mess.

Domina led her new 'friend' about the room as they walked up to Crixus first above all others. The younger Roman woman seemingly excited about him as she seemed to grasp at her chest before remarking about how fine the man was. "None finer in all the republic." Domina boasted of him. "Such a man…" Ilithyia commented moving her hand to touch him, likely something that would upset Domina.

However the woman did not place her hand upon his skin and instead held her hand to her chest and eagerly commented about seeing him again in the arena. Followed by a remark of the like from Domina, Naevia and Crixus shared a soft moment. Her staring at his chest and giving him a once over before following Domina. I looked at him as he now held a smile on his lips, "Be good to her…"I told him as I gave him a smile too, causing him to grin a small bit as I too walked off to join the lot.

The women soon approached on Spartacus, Domina hating him because it was taking away from Crixus. Ilithyia hating him because her own husbands idiotic actions had placed him in trouble. Spartacus being alive, was insult to self inflicted injury. Which was also, sort of something the slaves of the house seemed to love. "The Thracian yet lives?" She asked Domina her voice filled with disgust.

"Is there nothing more of interest to see?" The young girl asked as she looked around the room, the small group now standing before Varro, something was about to tell me how this was likely not going to be an event that would end well.

"Well my husband will shortly announce his primus, and there's ample wine…" Domina explained as the woman stood there clearly annoyed explaining that she was tired.

"Domina." I spoke up, truly worried such a thing would see me in trouble later. Considering the woman's position and status that she was with. "Yes?" She questioned, "What about the other joys of the house. Surely the wife of the Legatus should see such a thing before she leaves." I told her as the woman was looking at me fairly intrigued. Domina however looked somewhat confused to my meaning, the words about to fall from my lips something I never thought I would ever find myself saying, least likely for this house.

"I would be more than honored to show her, should you allow it." I lowered my head, Ilithyia spun around to Domina more than excited at which the context I was speaking.

"What does she mean?"

"Jana is correct, there was one thing I think you might enjoy, it is of course of a much more physical nature. You." Domina called out to Varro as he looked over slowly.

"Come with me." She told him as the two woman walked ahead, his eyes on me with more questions than I would ever wish to answer.

He walked alongside me as we left the room in search of something more private. Another two slaves were already engaging in such activities. Aria and one of the house slaves, for other guests. However my offer would take her completely out of this next equation, I had wished I kept my mouth shut in this regard. Yet bedding Varro would not be completely awful, he was one of the more attractive men in this villa. He was no Gannicus, though I doubted highly any man here would ever match up to him in my eyes.

"Where is it they are taking us?" He asked me. "To a place you could not imagine being, doing something you could only dream of doing." I told him flatly.

"Riddles, woman. Tell me." He begged me as I stopped, slightly turning to him. "You are to fuck me for the amusement of the Romans." I slightly snapped as his expression changed from lost and confused to one of a slight joy.

"You made the suggestion…" He questioned as we continued to walk. "I did not, this has been going on in this house for the better part of three years. This will just be your first time being apart of it. Try to enjoy yourself." I commented to him as he just chuckled. "I cannot say I won't." He remarked as we entered a room draped with some of the houses more beautiful cloths and drapes.

More confident than I was when I was seventeen with Gannicus, I removed my robes the soft gold shimmering as it fell to the ground. Naevia quickly moving to grab it from the ground, I walked up and climbed into the elevated pillowed platform. Waiting for Varro as he too disrobed nervously moving to climb up with me. He looked down at him, his eyes exploring my body his hands soon to follow and yet there was guilt behind his eyes.

"Go on." Domina spoke as he left me laying on my back before pulling my closer to him letting him enter me much to my own discomfort. My body was slightly elevated my legs behind him as he began to press himself into me thrusting like and animal. I allowed myself to be sucked into this pleasure, I let myself enjoyed it. Mostly because I had been, he was groaning before moving me into a different position, with him behind me. Panting like and animal with soft occasional moans escaping my own lips.

Soon, I forced him to change into another position as I moved onto his lap while he was still on his knees. Allowing myself to be the one in charge and pleasuring him which seemed to be working as he held my hips with a lot of pressure, clenching my skin.

Ilithyia and Domina watched with Naevia behind them watching in awe, though she had seen this happen with other slaves plenty of times. This had been my first and likely only time to have done this since Gannicus had left the ludus. "I've never seen a gladiator fuck before…" The woman spoke from behind me. "Look at the way he rammed her, the way she rides him." She spoke her voice filled with unrequited joy. "They are as enraged animals."

"A gladiator's virtues extends well beyond the sands of the arena. As lovers, they are said to be ravenous beasts." Domina spoke as I could feel the woman near me. "You can touch." I heard Domina say as it was almost at that moment we both opened our eyes with confusion.

Ilithyia soon placed her hand on Varros chest feeling his skin as she looked to me groping my own breast with her other hand. "They say the Germans are also as ravenous as gladiators in terms of lovers as well." Domina spoke from behind me and yet I had never heard someone speak of such things about my people ever before this moment.

"They provide unimaginable pleasures." Domina said as the woman removed her hand from my chest, as he whispered something pulling me closer to him, his face between my breasts as I knew he had finished. He moved a small bit away from me placing me off of his legs and seated in front of him. Both of us completely winded and out of breath, Ilithyia however turned to Domina requesting and yet demanding we do it again.

"Can he do it again?" She questioned as Varros eyes lingered on mine, "Make him do it again!"

Domina then from behind us both, without a single care to how either of us would be able to perform such a thing twice she instructed us to proceed. Varro looking at me with worry as I rubbed his arm in an attempt to comfort the man. "Come." I whispered to him before turning around us becoming entangled in yet another strange position, continuing the act.

I was given a small cloth from Naevia before she left letting me clean myself off quickly before putting my robe on once again. I turned to see Varro standing behind me slowly putting his subligaria on, his eyes moving to me slowly. "I am sorry if I did no perform… or if I offended you." He offered me as I let out a sigh. "You did not, Aurelia. She is your wife?" I asked him as he nodded. "The reason for me being here." He informed me.

"Apologies then." I told him as I fixed my hair, turning to him. "None required… you are quite the woman...even she…" He stopped as I stood there facing him. "No need." I told him.

"We but do what we can to honor this house Varro. A thing you will quickly realise does not care if you have a wife, or opinion." I smiled to him, "Or desires of your own."

Varro moved closer to me, pushing a lose hair from my face. "What is it your desire?" He asked me. "To fight." I told him as he nodded, "You are the one Oenomaus is referring to then when he tells us he knows a woman who is more skilled than we are?" He asked me with a chuckle causing me to smirk.

"I would not say I am more skilled, I was hoping Dominus would aid in request to learn from Crixus. Should my tasks for the day be done, so that I am not risking my or Oenomaus life learning in secret." I told him.

"As you should, I think a woman skilled in the art of death would be unimaginably sexy." He told me as I smirked. "Something tells me I do not have to do anything to stirr you." I whispered to him as my eyes darted to his crotch which was already showing signs of stiffness "Now, let me take you back to the room." I told him leading him out of the room and back towards the men.

On the way we passed Dominus and Oenomaus who were talking about some sort of agreement they had made in regards to Rabanus and Crixus in the primus. Dominus quickly turned to me in confusion as I shook my head and ushered Varro to move along quickly.

He finally returned to his place next to Spartacus as the man looked to us both, "You were gone long." He commented as I just arched my brow. "Behave…" I commented before making my way back to Dominus who was looking at me with a small amount of anger.

"What happened?" He asked me, "Domina's guest was about to leave so I offered to, sleep with a gladiator to keep the woman entertained. She seems of a type for the desire of more baser views, I had forgotten Aria was already doing so in the back with another slave." I told him lowering my head. "Apologies, Dominus." I told him as he looked at me.

"It does not happen again, regardless of how grateful we are to your loyalty." He told me as I nodded. "Yes, Dominus."

"Who was it?" He asked me as I laughed softly, "Varro." I told him as he shook his head, "Of course it was." He told me with a laugh before turning around to greet the guests with me behind him next to Oenomaus.

"Good Citizens!" He called out to the room. "You've enjoyed my food, My wine, the aphrodisiac presence of my beautiful wife! Now marvel at the announcing of tomorrow's primus!" He said now standing next to Crixus.

"Crixus, the Champion of Capua, will stride across the sands and face…" He had begun to say as Spartacus the fool, knocked a man out of his way as he lunged at Crixus knocking him to the floor. I don't know what the man was thinking, this was not going to end in his favor. Sure he bested Crixus once before but that would never happen again absent training. Why had he not heeded my words?

As the two men fought on the ground I made my way quickly to Dominus whispering to him to change the primus to Crixus and Spartacus. The man wanted to prove himself, so he would. Yet the motion would not ever end in his favor. Dominus looked at me puzzled by the suggestion; "There will be no other way to recover from this moment should it not be the way in which you announce them in the primus. Gauls and Thracians hate each other, a match made in the heavens." I told him as he nodded.

"Spartacus!" Oenomaus shouted to the man motioning for either guards or Gladiators to separate the two men. Only for Ilithyia to shout out asking for them to be allowed to fight each other like wild animals. The looks on the faces of the guests suggested that they were rather enjoying the small fight between the two men that they had not noticed what fell from Crixus small amount of armour. "Enough!" Dominus shouted from in front of me.

Causing the group of men to start to pull the two men away from each other, with very little ease to the situation as it seemed they were almost forged together. "I will take your fucking heart!" Crixus spat out to the man enraged.

"Come and take it, coward!" Spartacus yelled back. "Shit." Dominus muttered to himself before laughing out really loudly.

"See their hatred, burning beyond control! This was merely a taste! Tomorrow they will settle this grudge in the arena! Crixus, the undefeated! Spartacus, the dog who defies death! A fight for the ages!" Dominus roared out to the people in the villa, I looked to my side to see Varro near me. "Your friend is a right idiot." I told him as he just nodded before making his way to Spartacus in order to remove him.

"Glory to Capua! Glory to Rome!" Dominus shouted out.

"You are a fool!" I shouted at Spartacus as he was made to follow me as I brought him back down to the ludus. "You, should you live will be sent to the mines or worse!" I growled at him as he just stood there.

"Why do you care so much? What would even be worse than hard labor?" He asked me. "Surely you have something better to waste your-" He began to say as I slapped him.

"If you die in battle what then for Sura?" I asked him.

As his eyes lowered, "Forgot about her did you? Dominus will want his full amount of coin back from you… the mines might not even afford him enough. You are lucky I am in position to impose other avenues." I told him as I walked away.

"What is it, you are hiding from Jana?" He asked me, where all my anger was coming from I couldn't even start to think of where it was coming from.

"I lost the one thing that mattered to me, by making a brash decision. You are doing the same thing." I told him with a deep breath, "Just remember the missio." I told him before angrily walking him towards his cage and heading back up stairs to my room. Fucking Thracians.

When I got up to Naevias' and my room I saw her standing over by the window causing me to make my way over to her. Placing my hand on her shoulder in attempt to comfort her as she turned around. "What am I supposed to do?" She asked me handing me the necklace that was likely given to her, but at what point I had no idea when he could have.

"You must give it back." I told her quickly as she looked at me hurt. "He might think I did not appreciate it."

I wiped the tear falling from her eye and sat her on the flood next to our beds. "Do not speak such things. He would be a fool to believe such a thing. If he does think so I will have words with him, give him a good talking down too." I smiled causing her to laugh softly.

"The games are tomorrow afternoon… is Dominus bringing you with him?" She asked me, "Domina has requested I watch, I am nervous after my encounter with Crixus." She admitted to me as I shook my head.

"No, I am to show Ashur how to properly balance the coin papers. Figure out the financing and such… After tonight Dominus felt some time away from being in the presence of Domina's new friend would be good for me, seeing as how Gaia handled things when I laid with Gannicus." I told her.

"You will be missed, I have never been to a game without you." She told me as I smiled to her. "You promise to tell me all about will you?" I smiled to her softly.