When morning came, Flaminia reluctantly dressed up and shot one last look at her beloved gladiator, "Sun rises too soon", she murmured. Ashur smiled and slipped his arms around her waist, "There will be another night, my love", he said, giving her a long kiss, "And I will carry memory of this night with me until my last day". "So will I", she smiled back and for a moment, she lost herself in his dark eyes, so warm and deep and shining with intelligence, "And now, I must go and make sure that everything is ready for tonight".
He blinked, "Tonight? I can come back so soon?", he asked, puzzled and she chuckled. "Sadly, no, beloved: I have other business to attend to after Sun sets", she explained, "Someone needs to be shown their proper place". He grinned, "It enflames my heart to see such fire in your eyes". "It's the fire of vengeance". "I know. And I love it", he was about to kiss her again, when someone knocked on the door and Kerovas' voice came from outside.
"Flaminia, come on, breakfast is ready", the bodyguard called. She huffed, "Ah, fuck! Coming!", she called back, opening the door and shooting one last smile at Ashur, "May your day be as bright as this Sun, my love". The gladiator nodded, "And may revenge taste as sweet to you as your kisses taste to me, my goddess". Kerovas shook his head with a fond smile, "Enough you two, or you will get caught". "I know. Goodbye", the Syrian bowed his head and left.
"Goodbye", Flaminia answered, then she followed her bodyguard along the corridor, "So, brother, is everything ready?". "It is", he sighed, "I pray you know what you're doing, sister: if this plan fails, you will all be as good as dead". She snorted, "It cannot fail! I planned every detail with utmost care". They joined Batiatus and Lucretia for breakfast and the three Romans discussed the plan one more time, deciding that Ashur, Indus, Dagan and Crixus would not take part to it.
Quintus frowned, "Why not them, dearest?", he asked Flaminia. "Simply because two of them are my property and the other two have potential for greatness and it would be shame to risk them being damaged before they even got the chance to bring honor to your House", she answered with a shrug, though in truth she did not want to risk putting them in danger in case anything went wrong with the plan. "I see".
"And of course, Kerovas will stay here as well", she added and her bodyguard started. "What? But…". "You will stay here", she repeated softly, looking him straight in the eye, "I will not be in danger anyway and I will feel better knowing that you are here, watching over this house". He bit his lower lip, conflicted, but he knew well enough not to argue with her when she got like that, "As you wish", he reluctantly agreed and she smiled. "Good".
"You should stay here as well", Lucretia addressed her friend, frowning with worry, "I do not feel at ease knowing that you are putting both life and reputation at stake to…". "To avenge the death of someone we loved and who was too soon taken from us, in horrible way", the younger woman cut her off, "I know what I'm doing, Lucretia, do not let heart be seized by unnecessary worry". "If you are sure". "I am". Batiatus huffed, "I still fail to see why I should let Solonius claim ownership over all of Vettius' men", he muttered and Flaminia suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.
"Because", she said in a patient tone of voice, "This is sign of good will on your part towards good Solonius, to ensure you his lasting loyalty and to avoid rivalry between the two of you to get out of hand. Besides, Vettius' gladiators are worthless shit and they would be nothing more than burden to your ludus, being so ill-trained and ill-mannered. Nothing good could ever come to you from acquiring them, so it's best to let them be someone else's problem".
He was taken aback by her reasoning, then smiled at her with fondness and admiration, "Ah, Flaminia dear, you always think of everything". She smiled back, "I only have best interest of this House at heart, you know this, Quintus", she said and it was only a half-lie, since she truly cared for their wellbeing, even if she had her own agenda.
Naevia came from the door with a rolled up parchment in hand and addressed Flaminia, "A messenger brought this for you, domina". The Roman girl took the parchment and unrolled it, a small smile gracing her lips as she read, "It seems like Gods approve of our course of action, for they already send us reward". "What is it?", Batiatus asked, curious.
"If my guess is correct, parents will be back by tomorrow morning and senator Albinius will be with them: he wants to make preparations in his house here in Capua for me and the heir he expects me to produce", she answered, "This is great opportunity for your House: after seeing for himself the greatness of your titans in opening games of the new arena, it will be easy to convince him to patronize ludus".
His eyebrows shot up, "You think he would?". "I am sure he will", she replied with a dangerous glint in her eyes, "But let us not dwell too much on it now: we have more pressing matters to attend to". "Of course. I will send word to Oenomaus to get the gladiators ready when Sun sets".
oxoxoxoxoxo
Evening came and according to the plan, Solonius went to Tullius' shop looking worried and humble and told Tullius and Vettius that despite the deal that was struck with his father, Batiatus was making Gannicus leave Capua for good right then. The merchant didn't take it well, roaring with fury and toppling over a small table in his blind rage, then stood in the middle of the shop breathing heavily while his lackey sneered at Solonius. "News absent surprise: a snake by nature favours maneuvering upon its belly", Vettius commented spitefully.
"I will stand upright", the older lanista replied, "Like honorable man". "Where does he take Gannicus?", Tullius asked, a little calmer. "Batiatus sent me to secure means for his man to get out of the city. By morning, Gannicus will be on a ship sailing to place unknown, forever beyond your reach". "You aided Batiatus in this?". "I've known the man for many years", Solonius said, wringing his hands and looking at the ground, "I was…Conflicted".
"As am I", Tullius hissed, stepping forward and pushing the other man back, where one of his slaves grabbed hold of him, then he took a knife from the nearby shelf and pressed it against Solonius' cheek, "On whether to strip flesh from your fucking face!". "Wait! I came to aid you in this!". "After the fact!", Vettius snapped.
"There is still time, he meets trader at the edge of the city". Tullius mulled over it and calmed down fully, putting the knife back on the shelf, "Very well. You will lead us there. Gather the men!", he ordered to his slave, who let go of Solonius and left. "I cannot believe even Batiatus so thick to imagine concealing such an act!", Vettius spat. "He will spin story", Solonius explained, "Of Gannicus escaping, perhaps to follow Diona, another escaped slave".
"He thinks me the fool to accept tale?", Tullius frowned. "Batiatus knows you will summon him to meeting to discuss the matter", the lanista said, "He lays plan to see much coin in your men's hands and pay them to take your life while he stands before you". Vettius laughed, "A fucking cock on him!", he commented, a bit impressed despite himself and Tullius joined his laugh.
"Batiatus always thought of himself above those around him", Solonius said in a low and sad tone, "Even closest friend". "I shall prove his beliefs false and see fucking son join his father", Tullius assured him, his own tone poisonous.
oxoxoxoxoxo
Batiatus, Flaminia and Gannicus, along with Barca and Fulco, stood in the small courtyard where the meeting would take place, while Rhaskos and Gnaeus waited at the other end of it, concealed by the darkness. Here and there, shots of lightning broke the solid grey of the sky above their heads and the young woman smiled. "Jupiter shows us his blessing", she commented, pointing at another flash of white shooting among the clouds. After a minute, Tullius, Vettius and seven slaves armed with swords came from the only other entrance to the courtyard, a side alley leading to the main square.
Solonius came from the alley as well and gave his friends a subtle nod, though his face remained impassive. "I grow weary of these games, Batiatus", Tullius said with his usual slimy smile, completely unaware of the two gladiators waiting in the shadows behind him, "I would see them to bitter end". "As would I", Quintus replied and at that, Gnaeus and Rhaskos came forward and unsheathed their swords with dangerous grins, while Gannicus let his open chains fall to the ground.
Tullius slipped a dagger from a hidden pocket and moved to attack Batiatus, but his blade met another one, wielded by none other than Flamina, who smirked. "Wrong move, Tullius", she growled, then she pushed him back and slashed at his right calf, making him lose his balance and fall to his knees. She knocked him out with a kick to the face, then let out an enthusiastic shout and jumped into the fray to fight his men.
Barca was wounded by one of the enemies and Batiatus, pissed off at seeing that sad display from one of his best gladiators, moved behind the enemy and stabbed him in the back of the head, then kicked him repeatedly when he fell, "Fucking bastard!". The furious battle was quickly over, but while Tullius' slaves were killed, the merchant himself and Vettius were not. And in Tullius' case, a quick death would have been a better fate.
He was bound and dragged to the new arena, down in the foundations, where two more of Batiatus' gladiators, the hispanic Lydon and the greek Plenus, were busy removing the bricks from the wall to open a niche wide and high enough for a person to fit in. Flaminia tossed a bowl of cold water in Tullius' face to wake him up and as soon as his eyes opened, Quintus squatted in front of him. "So, here we are", the lanista said coldly.
The merchant smiled despite the crusted blood on his face, "A game well played, Batiatus", he said, trying to sit up, "Now, let us come to terms. Your man Gannicus obviously means a great deal to you, to press you to such extremes. I will see you well rewarded for him". "Offer more", Quintus said, his face impassive. "I will see your House take prominence in all the upcoming games!", Tullius offered, doing his best to smile friendly.
"More". "Speak desire and see it attended". "I desire to see you suffer as I have suffered to your fucking hands". "Your suffering has only begun, lanista!", Tullius spat, his friendly façade turning into a mask of outrage, "When it is discovered what you have done to me…", he was cut off by Flaminia's cruel chuckle. "You think word of this will spread outside this place, Tullius?", she said in a mocking tone, squatting by Quintus' side with a cheerful yet cruel smile, "Such fool, isn't he, Quintus?".
"Indeed, dearest", Batiatus nodded and turned back to his prey, "You will not be discovered, nor missed! Solonius will convince young Vettius to offer proper explanation for your disappearance", he explained, enjoying the sight of Tullius' eyes widening in horror. "Vettius?". The lanista stood, as did the woman by his side, "Oh, city will mourn! Soon your name will be spoken of less and less, until it is lost to history".
"I should have ended your life at the beginning of this", Tullius said, though his voice was slightly shaking now as he scrambled pitifully trying to stand, "The mistake was mine, having stayed hand in respect of your father".
That was his final mistake.
"Respect?", Quintus repeated, then gestured to Fulco, who carried a small satchel containing Titus' ashes and as soon as the bag was in his hands, the lanista took a handful of ashes out of it and showed it to Tullius, "Say it to the remains of the man himself", he growled, then bent and shoved the powder into the merchant's mouth, while Flaminia held their prey by the scruff of the neck, "You took him away from me with poisoned wine, taking his fucking life! Now tell him how much you respect him, you fucking shit!".
A violent push and Tullius fell on his back, coughing and sputtering, "Why…Should I strike against your father?", he panted, "He was an honorable Roman. A man who knew his place". Finally Quintus smiled and it was not a nice smile by any means, "As I know yours", he replied, pointing his dagger at the merchant. "There will be an accounting, Batiatus", Tullius managed to stand, albeit shakily, "For this and everything that follows. The Gods will see to it someday".
Quintus grabbed him by the collar, "But not this one!", he shot back, stabbing his prey and Flaminia immediately followed suit, as did the gladiators, one by one. After each one of them had had their turn, Rhaskos and Gnaeus took the weak but still alive Tullius up and shoved him into the small niche that had been made in the foundations, then proceeded to replace the bricks, from the bottom to the top.
When only one was left and Tullius' face was all that was still visible from the hole, Quintus stepped forward carrying the brick himself. "This arena was your life. Add to its foundations", he growled and as he pushed the brick back in place, his vengeful snarl and his blue eyes filled with hatred and rage were the last thing Tullius ever saw.