Morning came and Batiatus, Lucretia, Solonius, Flaminia and Gaia walked to the market as planned, with Kerovas, Oenomaus and Gannicus in tow. The blond Celt had been chosen to fight for the honor of Batiatus' house, but from the looks of him, it was obvious he had overindulged with wine the previous night: he kept on blinking owlishly and frowned and let out small annoyed grunts every time the sunlight hit his clear blue eyes.
Finally they reached the market square, where Tullius and Vettius were already waiting for them. "The fool at last shows himself", Vettius sneered as he saw them. "Batiatus", Tullius added with his usual slimy smile, "We had begun to fret on your arrival. But now I see arrival brought an unexpected gift. It's been too long, Gaia", he added as he noticed Gaia, who wore a very revealing scarlet dress and her trademark red wig. She lowered her eyes for a moment with studied fake modesty and shot him a sultry smile.
"And it grows longer still", Vettius snapped impatiently, pursing his lips. "Apologies for my delay", Batiatus said, "I had much difficulty in the choosing of a man. An imposing task, when each among my stable stands a titan!", he declared, raising his voice to make sure everyone in the market could hear him, "Perhaps, young Vettius should have taken more time with the choosing of his own", he added, nodding towards the opponent that would face Gannicus.
"Words fall from your mouth like shit from ass", the younger lanista spat, eliciting an amused chuckle from Batiatus, who looked quite pleased at seeing him so riled up by his words. "Let us not become mired in base exchange", Tullius said in a false placating tone, then shouted to the crowd, "We are gathered this glorious day to witness honorable contest between respected rivals. Clear space!". The people gathered in the square obediently moved aside, leaving room for Gannicus and his opponent to fight.
"The years have favored Tullius", Gaia said to Lucretia, giggling. "And his purse", the other woman added. At their side, Oenomaus looked on at the scene unfolding before his eyes with a resigned expression: he didn't approve of the fight taking place in the market, instead of the arena, but he knew it would help his dominus rising in status, so he kept silent.
"Gratitude to magistrate Sextus", Tullius said, gesturing to the magistrate standing a few feet behind him. Solonius clapped Batiatus on the shoulder with a satisfied smile, "Bid turns larger than expected! Your mad schemes may yet bear fruit", he whispered to his friend, who nodded. "Enough for both of us to feast upon", he agreed, as Tullius kept on shouting to the crowd, which exploded in an enthusiastic clapping.
"Batiatus! Present your man". The lanista smiled proudly as he took a step forward, "In honor of the magistrate, the esteemed Tullius and the good people of Capua, I give to you the fiercest man ever to take up arms in the arena! Slayer of beasts, conqueror of giants! Behold Gannicus, champion of the House of Batiatus!", he shouted, stepping aside as Gannicus stepped forward and twirled his twin swords with a roar.
"A fine choice", Tullius said, "Vettius, present your man". "I have no tongue for over-ripe embellishment", the younger man sneered, "Nor is it required. Otho, stand forth", he said and his gladiator stepped obediently forward, revealing himself to be a bulky brute with a Goblin-like face, equipped with a sword and a round shield.
Otho took a defensive position, "The day finally comes", he growled at Gannicus, still pissed off by the way the Celt had mocked him weeks before while he was waiting to fight in the arena. "And yours end", Gannicus replied, getting into position himself. "Gratitude, Batiatus and Vettius", Tullius said, "Now, let us challenge who stands the better house!".
Magistrate Sextus raised his arm, ready to give the sign for the fight to begin, but Vettius intervened. "Apologies, magistrate, it appears there is something missing. Where is your man's blindfold?", he asked Batiatus, smiling smugly. The older lanista frowned, then let out a disbelieving chuckle, "Blindfold? The fuck...?".
Vettius took a white cloth from one of his slaves, "That was your boast, was it not? That your gladiator could best any of my men, absent sight", he said and at that, Gannicus lowered his swords and shot his dominus what was an unmistakable 'WTF' look.
"You did voice such challenge", Tullius reminded Batiatus. "A simple figure of speech, not meant to be...", Batiatus shook his head, "Good Tullius...", he began, but Vettius cut him off. "If Batiatus does not wish to honor terms, he should remove himself. With tail between legs", he added with a mocking smile.
Those words riled Quintus up, but incensed Gannicus as well, to the point that he handed his swords to Oenomaus and accepted to fight blindfolded as requested by the insufferable little prat. "It all should not to be too difficult", the Celt said, while tying the cloth on his head, "I need only direct my blades towards the smell of shit".
When he was ready, he was given his swords back and got into position, under the worried eyes of his dominus. "Why do you allow this?", Lucretia whispered to her husband, who sighed. "The choice has been removed from my hands". "Fear not", Flaminia reassured them, "Gannicus is a titan of House of Batiatus. He will win, for he has the best training of the entire republic and bears Mars' blessing upon himself". "I trust your words, then", the lanista smiled, relieved.
The magistrate raised his arm and lowered it, "Begin!". At that, Otho charged forward and slashed, but Gannicus ducked under his blade and parried his next blows as easily as if he had been able to see them coming. Even with the disadvantage of the blindfold, the Celt matched his opponent blow for blow, then threw him to the ground, grabbed his right wrist and slammed it on the tiles repeatedly.
Otho managed to slip from under him and rolled the two of them over, then he began punching Gannicus in the face, but the other man wrapped his legs around his neck tightly, so Otho took him up and slammed him on the ground, knocking the wind out of the Celt, only to roll away and take his shield back up. He used it to hit Gannicus on the legs, toppling him over, then kicked him in the stomach and the face as he was trying to get up.
The Celt was far from defeated, though and he got up, threw his opponent on the ground and punched him in the face again and again and again. Otho once again freed himself, grabbed an iron nail from a nearby stall and used it to stake the other man in the neck, thankfully not deep enough to make serious damage.
Gannicus shouted in pain, but got up quickly despite it and when Otho made the fatal mistake of picking his sword up, the fight reached the end: the Celt dodged an incoming blow, then, when the blade remained stuck into the wood of the stall, he grabbed his opponent by the neck, slammed his head on the wood twice, forced him to kneel and pressed his neck on the blade until the throat was slashed open.
The crowd roared with approval and as Gannicus removed the blindfold, Batiatus walked forward and put an arm around his shoulders. "YES! Have you ever fucking seen the like?", he addressed the crowd, enthusiastic, "Perhaps, good Vettius should pit a man less weak than that against the mighty Gannicus!", he added.
"It would do him no good", Flaminia said, coming to stand by his side, "No man can stand a chance against the titans of the House of Batiatus!", she then shouted, giving Gannicus an approving smile and placing a hand on his shoulder for a moment, "Well done, champion".
The magistrate walked up to meet them, "An impressive display, Batiatus", he complimented the lanista, "One not soon forgotten". When he left, Tullius took his place, "Gannicus is truly a wonder", he said. "One deserving more prominent position in the games", Batiatus agreed. "A guess from my very thoughts. Join me at Vettius' shop after the market closes, we'll discuss your man then", he proposed, before leaving with his young underling.
The lanista beamed and slipped an arm around Flaminia's shoulders, "Heard that? Gods are answering!". "Be careful, Quintus: Tullius is not man to trust, he will stab you in the back first opportunity he gets, even more so now that Gannicus humiliated his brat in front of the magistrate". "You worry too much, dearest". "I worry because I care". "Ah, what did I do to be so blessed?", he smiled. "You're you. Nothing else is needed", she said, smiling back.
Gannicus waited until she was alone and sidled up to her, "Did you enjoy the fight?". "You were a sight to see indeed", she nodded, "Mars' blessing was clearly upon you and now, I'm sure He is looking upon you even more favorably". "I have no need for Gods, I only need my swords to win". "Bold words, champion", she chuckled, "But there may be some truth to them".
"Only some?", he repeated, joining her laugh. "Well, I don't want them to strike me down for blasphemy". "No God worth their salt could ever strike such a beautiful woman down", he purred, taking her hand, but she took a step back. "I already told you, I'm not...". "Interested, I know. I only hoped my display could have changed your mind".
"Nothing can change my mind". "Nothing, really?". She shrugged, "I'm stubborn". "So I see. Want me to bring some words to your recruit, then?". "Gratitude, but there is no need. I will manage to make my words reach him in a different way". "Oh?", he arched an eyebrow, "What is it?". "It's a secret". He made to speak again, but Batiatus sent him home with Oenomaus, so the Celt contented himself with giving her a mischievous wink as he was leaving.
When he was back in the ludus, the gladiators cheered at seeing him enter. "Only mad Gannicus could win contest fucking blindfolded!", Auctus exclaimed, bowing to his friend. Barca smirked, "Barca could do the same". "And I would kill you for being a fool", Auctus replied, grabbing the Beast of Chartage by the nape and kissing him hungrily.
"Auctus speaks true", Oenomaus said, clapping the blond Celt on the shoulder, "Facing Vettius' man absent sight was beyond foolish. The Gods must have taken pity on your addled brain". Gannicus chuckled, "Gods had nothing to do with it. Otho, he grunted like stuck pig before each attack. His squeals gave away his position", he added, making everyone laugh.
"Your victory lifts the heart", doctore said, clasping his forearm. "You'll not get rid of Gannicus so easily, brother", Gannicus replied, then he addressed the others, "Dominus rewards me with all the wine that I can drink and I will share it with my brothers!", he then shot a look at the hopeful recruits and added, "Those that bear the Mark". The four men were crestfallen. "One day", Crixus told his fellow recruits, trying to lift their spirits.
Then, one of the younger slaves, who had the task to keep the ludus clean, entered the room, "Doctore...". "What is it?". "There is a man outside the gates, he says he has gift for two recruits". "I will see him", the Numidian followed the younger slave to the gates, where he found Koveras, who carried a big basket covered by a white cloth.
"Ah, pleasure to see you again. What brings you here?". "I bring gift for Ashur and Indus", Kerovas answered, showing him the basket. "And this gift comes from where exactly?". "My domina sends it, so that they can celebrate Gannicus' victory", he said, "And I trust that you will make sure the gladiators will neither steal, nor soil it. My domina would be most displeased, should that happen".
"You have my word that nobody will touch a single thing from it without their consent", Oenomaus promised, opening the gate and taking the basket. "Gratitude. Oh and Flaminia wishes Ashur to have this", the younger man added, giving him a small sealed piece of parchment. "I will deliver it as well". "Again, my gratitude. Goodbye".
"Goodbye", doctore went back into the ludus and gave the basket to Indus, "This is for you and Ashur, from the woman who patronizes you". The Macedon blinked, then he took the cloth off of the basket and smiled widely, "This is for us, really? Great!", he exclaimed, seeing the small amphora of wine, the fresh fruit and the still steaming slices of roasted meat inside it.
Ashur beamed, "Most generous domina who patronizes Indus and myself sent a delicious gift to us and we will share it with our brothers!", he announced loudly, then his smile turned smug as he added, "Those that do not bear the Mark".
Dagan and Crixus cheered and the four of them sat in their usual corner to enjoy the feast, but Oenomaus cleared his throat and gestured for Ashur to follow him. "This is for you only, from Flaminia", the Numidian explained.
The recruit took the parchment eagerly, his pulse quickening with anticipation, "Gratitude, doctore". "You're welcome", Oenomaus replied, then rejoined the gladiators to celebrate with the wine Gannicus had been rewarded with. Ashur opened the seal and unrolled the parchment quickly. The message read: 'Today we celebrate Gannicus' victory, but soon the day will come when all Capua will celebrate yours. I have faith in you. With all my heart, Flaminia'.
He pressed it against his heart, a warm feeling spreading in his chest as he repeated the words in his mind. Soon, he thought, soon all Capua would know his name. One day, everyone will know the name Ashur as the name of the champion.