As the Sun set, a pyre was built on the sands of the ludus, right on the edge of the cliff and Quintus stood with his back to it, wearing a simple-cut black tunic and equally black sandals. At his left, feigning sadness for the old goat but feeling honest sympathy for her friend's pain, was Flaminia, who was dressed in black like him. At his right was Oenomaus, looking quite sad at the loss of his first dominus. All of the gladiators were lined up in a semicircle, facing the two Romans and their doctore.
On the balcony, wearing a long black dress, stood Lucretia and with her were Kerovas, Melitta, Solonius and the guests who had come to pay their last respects to the old lanista, all likewise clothed in black and a heavy silence weighted on them all.
"We have known the agony of heart wrenched yet beating from chest", Quintus began his speech, "And yet, here we stand. The House of Batiatus is no stranger to misfortune, to the cruel whims of the Gods and of base men who would position themselves as such and yet, here we stand!", he repeated, his voice rising with anger, then he composed himself and went on in a calmer tone, "This House is built on top of unshakable foundations of honor and respect and no man of these qualities is more evident than Titus Lentulus Batiatus.
I will honor the memory of my father by seeing the House of Batiatus elevated beyond the imagery of my ancestors! And I will need all of you to see it done", he addressed the gladiators, "Men of heart with purpose and desire! Let previous decisions fall aside: none of you will be sent to the mines, regardless of standing", he added.
A couple of gladiators let out a silent sigh of relief at that. "Sun has set a new era. Let us celebrate the name of Titus Lentulus Batiatus with drink and the clash of swords, to carry my father to the afterlife!", Quintus shouted and Oenomaus made his whip snap on the sand and gave the order. "Take position!".
"Spill blood upon the sands, but live, to one day die with honor and glory in the arena", the dominus said, as six gladiators took their place on the sand in pairs, swords and shields at the ready. The chosen fighters were Crixus fighting Gannicus, Ashur fighting Gnaeus and Dagan fighting Barca. Doctore handed the torch to light the pyre to Quintus, who took it and clasped the other man's forearm in a gesture of friendship and gratitude, before igniting the wood. "Begin!", Oenomaus said and the battle began.
oxoxoxoxoxo
"This is all that remains", Quintus murmured sadly, touching a stack of parchments left by his father on his desk, "When the smoke clears and the embers die…Some measure of a man's life", he sighed as he took up one piece of parchment in particular, the contract to sell Gannicus to Tullius, "This was my father's last act: a bill of sale to transfer your ownership", he told Gannicus, who stood in front of the desk.
The Celt said nothing, but he wished to leave the House of Batiatus for good, as his love for Melitta was becoming too strong to ignore and so was his guilt at having such feelings for his best friend's wife, unreturned as they were. "To honor my father's wishes, I should hand you to man most hated. Doing so would see me losing finest man of this House. Refusing would see me removed from games. Cock in ass from both directions", the lanista said, clearly pissed off.
"I have solution to this problem", Flaminia spoke up, entering the study with a sweet smile, "Tullius deprived you of father, he wishes to deprive you of champion as well and he even had the gall to send Vettius to shit on your pain. I say retribution is well deserved for his crimes". Both men looked at her with wide eyes: Quintus was intrigued, while Gannicus was a little scared, as for the first time since he'd met her, he sensed something dark and dangerous behind that flawless beauty.
"Tullius is forever surrounded, not only by his own men, but by good citizens who would quickly come to aid…", Batiatus began and she let out a soft yet cold chuckle that sent chills up their spines. "Oh, Quintus, such minor details are not enough to stop me. I already have plan to make Tullius pay and to ensure that Vettius will not bother us ever again". The lanista bit his lower lip, "Share it, then, that I may better understand".
"The deal would see Gannicus sent to Vettius' ludus in Nola, as Tullius wants and I say we must use this to our advantage, to lure him into trap. Gannicus, we will need your help in this matter", she looked the Celt straight in the eye and the gladiator swallowed nervously, "Can we count on you, champion?". He nodded, "Yes domina".
"Good. Now come, we will need Solonius to assist as well", she said, turning on her heels and following the corridor, until she found Lucretia and Solonius sharing a cup of water, "Ah, good Solonius, here you are! I need your help in important matter". The man nodded, "Of course, I will gladly assist".
"I have plan to see Tullius pay for deaths and pain he caused to this House". He froze, "You're speaking madness!". Quintus frowned, "And what would good Solonius do in my position? Turn blind eye to murder of his father?". "I would be certain to strike appropriate target! What if Tullius had no hand in this?", he shot back.
"His gift of wine was tainted with death!", Lucretia said quickly. "But was it by Tullius' hand, or another? What if Vettius was the cause of this? His hatred for you is well known". Batiatus nodded, "You're right", he agreed, before adding, "Vettius must not be left out, retribution must be taken against all of those who have slighted this House!". Solonius shook his head in despair, "But…".
Thankfully, Flaminia intervened, "Only Tullius and Vettius must be our targets: they are the only ones truly guilty for pain you are suffering", she addressed Quintus, "Think: Tullius is doing this because he wants Gannicus' ownership to pass to his lackey! The two of them are our only true enemies, the ones we must get rid of", she said, her voice warm and mesmerizing, "Without them to hinder us, the House of Batiatus will rise to the fucking Heavens!".
He mulled over it and at length, he nodded, a slow smile curving his lips, "Yes. Yes, dearest, you speak truth", he suddenly hugged her and kissed her cheek, "You are greatest blessing that Gods could bestow upon this House. Tell us of plan and see us set to task". "With pleasure", the young woman smiled back and began illustrating them her scheme, while Solonius sighed and shook his head.
But even if he considered it madness and was basically against all of it, he promised them his help, because despite everything, he would not let his best friend down.
oxoxoxoxoxo
Ashur was walking to his cell to sleep, when Oenomaus called him. "Ashur, you are summoned". "I am? Why?", the Syrian asked, surprised. "All that matters is that you are. Now go". "Yes, doctore", he obediently followed the Numidian out of the ludus and then was led by Melitta into the house, to a specific bedroom. The house slave left and he knocked hesitantly on the door. "Come in".
He entered and smiled as he saw Flaminia walking up to him, "You required my presence, domina?", he asked jokingly. "Yes, I did", she smiled back and locked the door, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with burning passion, "You cannot imagine how much I have longed for your touch these last days, my love!".
"I think I can", he purred, opening the clasps of her dress and moving his mouth to her generous breasts as soon as she was naked, "Every waking moment I long for you, every night I dream of you. I live for you, my goddess". "As do I for you. Oh, Ashur…", she breathed his name as her hands moved to unfold his loincloth and then teased his most intimate parts and he let out a low throaty growl of pleasure that sent a warm shiver running through her.
They made love long into the night, losing themselves in each other, forgetting the world and its worries: only the two of them mattered in those precious, perfect moments.
Much, much later, they lay on the bed, snuggled together and basking in each other's warmth and scent. "You will fight in the opening games of the new arena, my love", she told him, stroking his cheek, "It is your opportunity to became champion at last". He smiled and kissed her palm, "You did this for me?". "There is nothing I would not do for you", she said, smiling back.
"Flaminia, I…I have favor to ask of you". "Of course, you need but to speak words". "Dagan and Indus were…Used during orgy. If you could keep them safe from such…". "Humiliation?", she completed the sentence and he nodded. "Yes". "I will do all I can to avoid them being abused again", she promised, "Quintus will not deny such small favor to me". "Gratitude".
"My pleasure, beloved", she sobered, "Ashur, I know you are friends with Crixus, but when you will both be on sands together, do not trust him. You may be brothers in the ludus, but I know what I saw in his eyes: he will do everything to become champion, even if it means turning against his own brothers. Do not trust him, I beg you", she repeated and he was taken aback by the worry in her dark eyes. "The only one I trust with my life is you, my goddess", Ashur told her sincerely, "I will not lower guard around anyone on the sands, not even Dagan and Indus".
She relaxed at that, "Good. Gratitude". "My pleasure", he echoed her, winking and she chuckled, "I must go back to ludus…". "No, you can stay. It's only for this one time, but I ensured that you will be allowed to stay until morning. We can spend the night together". His heart skipped a beat with joy and he held her more tightly to his chest, locking his lips with hers in a sweet, tender kiss, "I love you". "I love you too".