AN: Thank you so much to my readers! I hope you continue to like my story and if you do, please let me know in the comments!
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The crack of Doctore's whip snapped Gannicus to attention, but Avalina didn't move. Knowing the whip would connect with flesh the next time, Gannicus gripped Avalina's arms and forced her from him. Confusion covered her features as she tried to keep her balance after his abrupt withdrawal, but Gannicus focused his attention on the man with the whip who was crossing the sands quickly. Gannicus realized that all activity in the ludus had come to a halt and that even Dominus had risen from his couch to watch the unfolding event. He cursed himself for showing such a weakness and knew he would have to correct the error before it could be used against him.
"What is the meaning of this, Gannicus?" Doctore bit the words out in a way that offered no suggestion of a question, but demanded an answer. "We knew each other before I was a gladiator Doctore. I was only surprised to see someone I knew from so long ago, before I had the honor of bringing glory to the house of Batiatus," Gannicus said the words and hoped both that Batiatus would believe them and that Avalina would see through them, but from the cautious glance to the side to see her face he could tell she was shocked. Gannicus steeled himself against her emotions. It would be better if she hated him here, then they could not be used against the other. The thought of her hating him made his stomach clench in revolt, but he easily controlled the reaction. Ten years of hiding who he truly was and what he felt made him a master of the facade he wore.
Doctore raised an eyebrow and looked to Batiatus while Gannicus held his breath. Batiatus seemed to consider for a moment then said, "Return to training Gannicus." He would have sighed would it not have given him away, but just as he was turning to pick up his training swords from the sands he heard, "And bring the girl upstairs. I would have words." Gannicus didn't stutter in his retrieval of his swords and to his credit he did not turn around to watch her walk away. Instead he continued to the shaded area of the ludus and returned to his warm up. Gannicus watched from the corner of his eye as Avalina followed Doctore under the ludus to the gate that would let her into the villa and worried about the conversation that was to follow.
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Avalina followed the man called Doctore to the gate that led into the villa and tried to understand what she had just witnessed. Gannicus had changed this much she understood as she herself had changed in the previous ten years, but his subservience to Rome and the people who held him captive troubled her deeply. There was no fight in him anymore. She could sense the lack of hatred he should feel towards these people, the hatred that still burned brightly in her breast. A pretty young girl opened the gate for Avalina as Doctore spoke, placing manacles back around her wrists and feet. "Follow Naevia. She will see you to the Dominus," and then he was gone, returning to the men still on the hot sand.
Avalina looked to the girl who waited inside the gate flanked by guards and followed her silently when motioned to do so. The walk through the villa was long and the sounds of the chains clanking and rattling echoed off the pristine walls making the divide between slave and master all the more clear. Avalina struggled with the new reality that was her life and longed to throw off the chains and fight her way to freedom. The desire was so strong in her that she did not realize when Naevia stopped in front of her and almost ran the girl over. As Naevia stumbled, Avalina reached out quickly and righted her before she could fall.
"You have the gift of fast reflexes," said a voice from the balcony doorway. Avalina saw the man to whom she had been given, enter the room and approach the large desk in the center. Guards were posted just inside the doorway where she had entered and Avalina resigned herself to answering, "No gift. Years of training." The man watched her then said, "Dominus. When you speak to me you will address me as Dominus." The words were spoken with authority and Avalina felt Naevia flinch in response. She let the girl go realizing she still held her arm and faced her new master fully. For a moment Avalina considered fighting then and there. She would loose of course, but maybe they would kill her and she could end this nightmare quickly. The man waited for her answer as she considered her options. A blade scraping its scabbard sounded behind her and she thought about Gannicus down below. She wanted answers before she greeted the afterlife she decided, "Apologies, Dominus."
The man nodded his head and the sword was sheathed. "Good. Now, I wish to know your relationship with my champion." Avalina paused, considering the fact that Gannicus was a champion gladiator. He had always been a better warrior than most which was why his supposed death had been a shock. To be a champion meant that not only was he winning fights, but he had to be a willing participant. The Gannicus she had known would have done as she had, attacked his captor and welcomed death. The man she had seen on the sand just now obeyed the commands of his master without question. Avalina struggled to reconcile to two different men and she answered, "We grew up in the same village. I have not seen him in ten years. We merely knew each other, Dominus"
For the moment she decided to follow Gannicus' lead and not put too much emphasis on their relationship. "You certainly looked to be more than acquaintances." Avalina thought about the statement before answering, "We were friends, Dominus. I thought he had died long ago. It was no more than shock to see him alive. After all this time, we are strangers." She felt the truth in the words she spoke and felt the sadness as well. Truly they were strangers now. Ten years had changed them both even if it was hard to accept. Batiatus seemed to consider this, watching her from where he stood with his hands braced on the desk. Finally, he nodded, "I expect you to train hard and do this ludus proud. We have not had a female gladiator as their popularity is fickle, but I see a real warrior in you. Fight well and you will be rewarded with coin and..." he paused and then chuckled to himself. "I was about to say cunt, but I doubt that appeals. Unless..." He paused again looking at her. Avalina shook her head, "No, Dominus." Batiatus shrugged and waved a dismissive hand,"Coin then to do with as you please. Are we in agreement?"
Knowing there was only one answer she replied, "Yes Dominus." Nodding, he motioned for Naevia who had stood in the corner waiting. "Return..." he stopped and looked at Avalina. "I never got your name." She replied, "Avalina, Dominus." He nodded, "Return Avalina to the ludus." Naevia bowed and motioned for Avalina to follow her. As they walked back Naevia spoke quietly, "It is not so bad here. Dominus and Domina are kind." As the gate to the training sands opened and a guard stepped forward to remove her chains, Avalina turned to the girl and smiled, "Thank you Naevia, but I have a feeling the training sands and the villa are quite different." Naevia blushed and ducked her head, "Of course." Avalina went to reach for her hand, but the guard struck it back, "You do not touch the house slaves." Avalina clenched her teeth and she rubbed her wrist as she fought the instinct to strike the man. "Thank you Naevia for the kind words nonetheless. I'm sure you are right," she ground out as she looked again to the girl. Naevia's eyes were wide as she stared at the guard and understood the difference between them quickly. Even though Avalina was a girl such as herself, she would not be afforded the same kindness. Avalina turned from the guard and faced out toward the sand, her wrist still smarting and saw Gannicus across from her. He was not looking at her so she dropped her wrist and held her head high as she walked out into the hot sun to find Rowan and Connor.
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Gannicus had moved slowly around the sand while Avalina had been gone. The two men she had been standing close to when she arrived stood against a wall watching everything, but he could tell they focused on him. He wondered at their relationship to Avalina and berated himself over the first fluttering of jealousy. It was an idiotic emotion to have here in the ludus. Nothing belonged to him, ever. His cell, the food he ate, the wine he drank, the women he fucked, his fighting skills, and even his life were not his own. They had not been for ten years and the few comforts he had could be taken from him in an instant. To let himself have any attachment was only inviting pain. Scoffing at his foolish thoughts, he saw Oenomaus approaching.
"You know the girl," Oenomaus stated bluntly. Gannicus lazily twirled a sword in front of him avoiding looking directly at his friend. Oenomaus struck the blade from his hand, "You are attached to her. How?" Gannicus gritted his teeth and retrieved the sword only to have Oenomaus strike it again and then his wrist as well. The blow did little more than stun, but Gannicus focused his attention on rubbing the spot. Oenomaus watched him closely and for a moment Gannicus longed to be able to confide in his truest friend so much so that he let his guard slip.
Oenomaus stiffened at the raw emotion in his friends' eyes. Gannicus had never shown any emotion that wasn't happy, carefree, and downright light-hearted. The only other emotion that the warrior showed was anger and aggression in training and fighting, so the misery that showed in his eyes let his friend know everything he needed to in just one gaze. Gannicus quickly shuttered the feelings, but Oenomaus knew, "You love her." Gannicus didn't outright deny it, but as he picked up the sword again he said, "I cannot." Oenomaus said nothing, but Gannicus could feel his eyes follow him as he walked to the barrel of water that was kept in the shade in a corner of the training grounds. He was just about to dip a cup when he noticed the gate to the villa open and Avalina appear in chains.
He knew that they were required of any gladiator who had not proven himself loyal, but seeing her shackled angered him on a deeper level. Gannicus got his drink, but surreptitiously kept his eye on Avalina. It took all his willpower not to attack the guard when he struck her and yet more still not to go to her as she walked out on the sand, but he refused to let his weakness be known. He placed the cup back and retrieved his practice swords even though the sun was setting with their evening meal being soon served. He called out to Barca and they began to spar. The man was good and even though Gannicus had to put forth some effort he still was only giving half his attention to the match. Movement where Avalina had been standing with the two men she arrived with caught his attention. One of the gladiators had approached and was trying to grab her. The two men standing beside her didn't move to help at all. Gannicus warred with himself about helping her and while he remained indecisive Barca struck him in the ribs. The blow knocked the air from him and brought him to his knees just as Avalina made her move.
She struck the gladiator, twice her size, in the face three times. The blows weren't meant to debilitate just stun and they worked admirably. Taking advantage of the big mans pause, she braced her hands on his shoulder and spun herself so that her legs wrapped around his neck then she flung herself backwards using her weight and momentum to make the man crash to the ground. The suddenness of the fall knocked the wind from the man and Gannicus watched as Avalina gripped the mans wrist and hugged it tight to her chest as she wrapped her legs around the base of his arm leveraging backwards once again.
Gannicus was shocked to hear the ear piercing scream from the man just before a loud crack split the air. Avalina let go quickly and rolled to her feet grabbing the practice sword the man had dropped in the sand. She was about to bring the heavy wooden blade down across the man's head when another crack split the air. This time, Doctore's whip connected with Avalina's wrist that held the sword above her head and despite the blood quickly running down her arm Gannicus could see the fire in her eyes at being denied the finishing blow. Once again, all activity in the ludus had come to a halt as everyone quickly changed their opinions of having a female gladiator in their midst.
Dominus leaned over the railing, this time with the Domina by his side. Both were smiling as he said, "Impressive, Avalina. You may yet prove your worth. Doctore see that man receives twenty lashes for his disobedience as soon as his arm is seen to by the surgeon. And five for our new gladiatrix for seriously injuring another gladiator." Gannicus quickly looked back at Avalina who still stood dripping blood from her raised arm over the moaning man beneath her and worried about the hatred he saw as she watched the Dominus and Domina walk away. If she didn't learn to conceal such raw emotion, five lashes would be the least of her punishment.