That night, while the gladiators and recruits celebrated with food and drink and Lucretia and Gaia celebrated in their own way with opium and lesbian sex, Batiatus went to meet Tullius as planned, bringing only a young slave with him, more to carry the coin purse than for anything else: he didn't think he would need protection, after all.
Tullius greeted with his usual wide, slimy smile, "Good Batiatus! Word of Gannicus' victory has spread throughout the city. His name and yours fall from every mouth", he added, offering a golden chalice of wine to his guest, who accepted it gladly. "May they always find the taste pleasing", the lanista made a playful toast before drinking.
"Everyone clamors to see your man again. With the exception of poor Vettius: he's still recovering from the ordeal". "Unfortunate that he could not provide more worthy opponent. His stock is well known to be of inferior quality, as is the boy himself: the manner in which he tends the ludus…The child has no fucking talent for it".
Tullius was silent for a moment, his expression shifting slightly, "You surprise me, Batiatus. Your disposition towards business is much more…Aggressive than your father's". "We're of diverging temperament. And desires". "How does he fare in Sicilia?". "The climate is more agreeable to various conditions brought about by the passing of the years", Quintus answered casually, "How did the magistrate take to Gannicus' display?".
"Ignited by it. As was the crowd. He even brought subject of partaking of the man for the opening games of new arena". "Gannicus in the opening games?", he repeated, overwhelmed by surprise and happiness, "If you could aid in such a thing, I would forever be in your debt". Tullius shrugged, "Merely requires a word in the proper ear", he replied, "All that remains is to agree upon a price".
"Well, of course! I would be happy to see coin to your hand in exchange for assistance. What, uh, sum did you have in mind?", Batiatus asked reluctantly. The merchant laughed out loud, "You misunderstand, Batiatus! I do not offer a broker arrangement, I offer to purchase your man". At that, the lanista sobered and as he realized he had put himself into a corner, his nervousness grew by the second, "Purchase? But…Why would you want a gladiator? You're not a lanista".
"No, I am not. Yet, I have many vested interests in shipping, books and services, this shop…And young Vettius and his ludus", Tullius added, as Vettius came to stand right behind him with that smug obnoxious smirk he always wore. Also, one of Tullius' slaves moved forward, closer to Batiatus, way too close for his comfort.
"Look at the little fuck, now", the little prat sneered, "About to shit himself". "Still your tongue", Tullius reprimanded his underling, the addressed the older lanista, handing him a coin purse, "Two hundred denarii. A generous offer, in respect of your father".
Batiatus knew what he was about to say would only worsen his situation, but he would not back down all the same, "Apologies. I will not part with the man", he stated. Tullius' pretense of politeness slipped away like water on a window pane, "I allow you to purchase one of my slaves, yet, now you deny me the same opportunity?".
"Gannicus is not for sale", Quintus confirmed proudly: he would pay for it, he knew, but to the fuck with it: he was Quintus Lentulus Batiatus and he would not grovel in front of anyone!
"Everything is for sale, Batiatus", Tullius hissed, "The question is but price", he added, then he stepped back and one of his slaves slashed the throat of Batiatus' own slave open, while the others grabbed the lanista, threw a cloth bag on his head and dragged him in a secluded alley which opened directly on a view of the new arena still to be finished. There they proceeded to beat him bloody with some enthusiastic help from Vettius and when Tullius deemed it to be enough, he had the cloth bag removed from Batiatus' head.
"I make fair offer", the merchant said, "And you produce cock to piss on me. You know what that feels like, Batiatus?", he then took out his own sad manhood and illustrated the feeling by urinating on poor Batiatus' face, "Reconsider your answer, or be excluded from the games forever". After that, he and his lackeys went back to the shop, leaving the lanista half-dead on the ground in the chill of the night.
oxoxoxoxoxo
The very next morning, when Batiatus was brought back home by a slave and word of his injuries had reached Flamina's ears, she ran to his house with a big jar of healing balm and took it upon herself to nurse him back to health like a devoted little sister. He spent a week confined to bed, slipping in and out of consciousness and the evening of the eight day, he woke up and took advantage of a moment of solitude to slip out of it and put his clothes on.
As if on cue, Lucretia, Flaminia and Gaia came into the room and his wife quickly moved to his side. "Why are you from bed?", she asked him, worried, "The medicus gave instructions for you to rest!". He scoffed, "A week upon my back was his advice. Well heeded", he added, grunting in pain as the cloth brushed against the bruise on his side, "More and me and my cock will forget how to stand".
Flaminia chuckled at that, "Well, if he can snark, he is surely better", she commented, "Tullius will pay for this, Quintus. This I promise you". The matrona frowned, "Don't encourage him!", she berated her young friend, then turned to Diona and Naevia, "Bring some wine". Gaia grinned, "Well, I always follow the wine", she said, excusing herself. When she was well out of earshot, Batiatus huffed, "Has she not found some fool's bed to fall to yet, instead of drinking us dry?".
"She has been a great comfort", his wife replied, "Who do you think dried my tears, when my husband was returned to me bloodied and broken?". "I live", he said, then smiled warmly to Flaminia, "And I owe it to you too, dearest. You truly are a blessing to this house". "I only did what any true friend would have", she said, smiling back. He nodded, then took a small mirror from the table to look at his face and grimaced as he saw how badly the beating had reduced him.
"I will bring word to the magistrate about it", Lucretia promised. "Word? To what end?", he said. "Quintus?". "He's a puppet. What help can Sextus offer, when the man who grieved me holds his strings?". She knew where he was going and didn't like it, "Tullius has always been a favored son of Capua. I can't believe him capable of doing such a thing".
"I can", Flaminia shot back, "Favored son my ass, he's a piece of shit! Look at what he did to Quintus! Retribution is needed". "Do not speak like this", the matron begged, "We cannot afford to…". "Let me take care of it, friend", the younger woman smiled reassuringly, taking her hands in her own, "I will make sure that nothing can lead to you, or to me for that matter. I will find a way". "Sleep on it. It's all I ask". "As you wish. I will do nothing before the night has passed".
"And you will spend it here, I trust?", Batiatus said, "The hour is too late to let you leave on your own and our house is your house, you know this". "I am not alone, Kerovas is with me", she reminded him, "But I accept your hospitality with pleasure".
Before retiring for the night, they walked together to the room where the busts of the previous champions of House of Batiatus rested, to relish the thought that one day, Quintus' own men would join the champions of his father and grandfather, when Solonius was allowed into the room, bringing an amphora of fine wine.
Batiatus smiled happily at his old friend, "Ah, good Solonius! Welcome!". "Batiatus, it lifts the heart to see you on your feet again. And I have what is needed to celebrate". "There is little to celebrate", the dominus of the house sighed, "I'm excluded from the games. But gratitude for the gift, it's well received".
Solonius bit his lower lip guiltily, "I claim only its delivery", he admitted, "He's willing to see his bid for Gannicus doubled. If accepted, it will grant your men strong position in the upcoming games of the Vinalia". Batiatus narrowed his eyes, unable to believe his own ears, "This wine is from Tullius?!".
"I did not seek him out", the other man tried to defend himself, distancing himself slightly from Flaminia, who was glaring daggers at him. "But you bring his gift and his words", she accused him. "I just…", he turned to Batiatus, "He approached me in the market square, expressing regret that his business with you went to excess. He even paid for the wine that I selected for you. A gesture of good will".
Batiatus pursed his lips in rage and stepped closer to his old friend, pointing to the bruises marrying his face, "Do you see these marks upon me?". "I just…". "Do you FUCKING SEE them?!". "I see them". "That is man's true gesture, the only to be considered!", he shouted, slamming the amphora against the wall, where it shattered in a thousand pieces, "You counsel to suck the cock that pisses on me!".
"I merely counsel reason", Solonius replied, "As your father would". "And what, I wonder, does good Solonius receive for convincing me to spread cheeks and accept deeper ramming?". "I would get a position in the games", the other man confessed. "Ah. You are in a remarkable condition to suggest me reflection".
"Refuse Tullius' offer and I join you in exclusion from the arena". Flaminia frowned, "He threatened you too?". "With exacting clarity". "Then he will pay for this slight as well. I will leave you to think of something. See you in the morning, Quintus. Goodnight, good Solonius", she bowed and left, seething: that bastard would pay dearly for his gall, she swore to Mars. She would make sure of it.