Morning came and after a quick breakfast, Flaminia left a message for her parents at home, asking them to meet her at the new arena and then walked out of the door, Kerovas and Nasir flanking her on each side as she hummed a merry tune under her breath. She felt better than ever, despite the fact that she had collected some bruises and shallow cuts the previous night, as she fought with Tullius' men, which was why she was now wearing a white dress with long sleeves to conceal the marks on her fair skin.
"You know, Flaminia, I think you are more excited about the games than even my brother is", Nasir joked and she chuckled. "Ah, that would not be surprise: this is greatest opportunity he could ever have to show to all the good people of Capua his fighting prowess. Today he will become god, legend even!", she exclaimed and her eyes shone with anticipation. Her bodyguard shot her a worried look, "You should not get so ahead of yourself, sister: what if he does not win?".
"He will, I know he will: Ashur has the blood of a champion, he cannot fail", the young woman's smile widened as she saw Quintus and Lucretia approaching, accompanied by Melitta, "Good morning, friends". "Good morning, dearest", Batiatus answered, smiling back, "Your smile is brighter than Sun itself today". "I cannot wait to see my gladiators on sands, they will obtain great victories, I am sure!".
He laughed at her enthusiasm, "It warms heart to see you in good spirits. What of your parents? Have they arrived yet?". "No, but they will meet us at the new arena, I left behind message for them". He frowned, "But that is not what custom would dictate…"."Fuck custom and fuck manners too, Ashur will become champion today and I will be damned if I lose the exact moment when it happens!", she shot back hotly, earning herself an alarmed look from Kerovas and Nasir.
Luckily for her, the lanista did not see her interest in the Syrian gladiator as a problem and chose to ignore the truth that lay behind her words, "Well, I can understand feelings: if your man becomes champion, it will bring great honor to your house". "And to ours as well", Lucretia added, "She is true owner, but he still fights for the House of Batiatus and this will earn us prominent position in all upcoming games". Flaminia nodded, "Exactly. This is great opportunity for all involved".
When they reached the new arena, they were led to the pulvinus, where only the most important people usually had the privilege to stay and Batiatus' eyes brightened with a mixture of happiness and pride at that achievement. "Ah, welcome!", magistrate Sextus greeted the new guests, "Come and take seat, the games will start soon". "Ah, I've never beheld such a sight!", Batiatus exclaimed, looking around himself. "The laurel crown of the Republic", Sextus agreed.
"Its majesty is evidence of greatness of those who enjoy it", Quinctilius Varus commented from where he was leaning on the railings at their left along with Cossutius. "It is a great honor to be invited by good Tullius", Lucretia lied and her husband grinned. "One I fear undeserved, yet he is a difficult man to turn from, uh?", he added. "Fact well known to all present", Cossutius agreed. "I'm surprised by his delay", the magistrate said, "The opening of the new arena was the only subject of his talk, yet now he stands late at his own celebration!".
At that moment, Vettius entered the pulvinus with Solonius in tow. "Apologies", the boy said, looking a little pale, "Tullius regrets he will be absent altogether". Cossutius frowned, "What could be cause of it?", he asked. "Pressing concerns have risen in Antioch", Vettius lied, "His departure was…Unexpected".
"The arena would not exist without Tullius", Lucretia commented, hiding her sadistic smile behind her fan, "We would not be standing here if it were not for his actions". "We should withhold the celebrations until his return", Batiatus proposed, knowing full well the truth. Sextus nodded, "Agreed. I shall address the crowd", he made to stand, but Vettius intervened. "Good Tullius said his instructions are to carry on with the games. This arena was a gift to his beloved city and he would not see misfortune stand in the way of giving it".
"I appreciate this offer, well received. Come, hold Tullius' place by my side". "Again, I must offer apology", Vettius' smile was forced as he bowed his head, "I made preparations to follow Tullius to Antioch". "And what of your ludus?", Batiatus asked, sharing a quick look with Solonius, who gave him a subtle nod. "I am retiring from the lowly call of the lanista", the boy's voice gained a spiteful edge, though he paled as he caught Flaminia's glare.
"What will become of your men?", Cossutius asked, curious. "Solonius and I have come to terms: I transferred deeds to all of my gladiators to him and under his honored banner they will fight this day". Quintus and Solonius once again shared a triumphant look, the plan had been a complete success.
The magistrate was impressed, "You made good deal, Solonius! Your ludus now stands above all others in number". "May Gods always show favor", the older lanista said, feigning humbleness. "I have to take my leave now", Vettius spoke up, trying hard to hide his fear as Solonius put a hand on his shoulder. "Come, I will see you out of here", he told the boy in a deceptively friendly tone.
When he came back, he, Quintus and Lucretia sat in the row behind that of the magistrate, but Flaminia refused to take a seat and instead decided to stand close to the front railings. "Apologies, magistrate, but my heart burns with desire to see games from as close as possible", she said with a sweet smile. "I fully understand feelings, beautiful Flaminia. And what of parents and husband, will they join us?". "As soon as they can", she assured him.
Before the beginning of the games, an execution would take place and among the escaped slaves about to be killed, she recognized Diona, one of Batiatus' house slaves. Cossutius recognized her too and turned to her owner, "Isn't she one of your own, Batiatus? The girl on the left. What was her name…". "Diona!", Melitta whispered, horrified and he laughed. "Diona, yes".
"Apologies, Batiatus", the magistrate said, "The girl was only added to the round this morning. If you wish her removed, you could deal with her personally". Quintus opened his mouth to refuse, then he met Flaminia's gaze and changed his mind, "I would appreciate it, magistrate. Girl will receive proper punishment at my own hands". "Very well", Sextus stood and gave orders to free Diona and have her brought back to Batiatus' house, then sat back down and the execution went on as if nothing had happened.
When the bodies were removed from the sands, trumpets blew and magistrate Sextus addressed the crowd. "The sands moisten with our first offerings of blood", he said, "But more is demanded on such a day. And you shall have it!". The crowd exploded in a deafening cheer at that, like the roar of a hungry wild beast craving for its meal.
"The Houses of Solonius and Batiatus will battle each other in deadly contest! No mercy shown, no quarter given! The victors all will face each…IN THE PRIMUS!", he shouted, making the crowd roar even louder than before. Flaminia's heart skipped a beat: her Ashur could reach the primus! That would make him a god to the eyes of all Capua, though in her eyes he already was the greatest of all gods.
After that announcement, it was time for the first match, which would see Crixus fight for the House of Batiatus: the Gaul had shaven his beard and cut his hair in a close-cropped hairstyle as per Lucretia's instructions, since she could not bear to mate with him as long as he resembled what she called 'a fucking animal'. The matron had started mating with him a week before, in the hopes of getting pregnant and finally being able to give her husband the much craved heir, but so far she had had no luck.
Crixus fought against a gladiator formerly of Vettius' stable, a burly man who was good, but unfortunately for him, not good enough to withstand the full force of the Gaul's thirst for glory: the man was impaled on Crixus' gladius like a boar about to be roasted and Batiatus let out a shout of triumph at that victory. He was still a little bitter that Barca's injuries from the previous night did not allow the famed Beast of Carthage to fight in the opening games, but as long as his other men triumphed on the sands, he was satisfied.
Flaminia didn't really care either way, but when the next match began, she leaned over the railings with a mixture of eagerness and worry, for it was Ashur's turn to step on the sands.
His opponent was tall and strong, but the Syrian was quicker, more agile and his veins were filled with fire at the thought that his beloved was watching him from the balcony: he pressed on his attack relentlessly, raining blow after blow with both his sword and his own shield on the other man's shield, until he finally managed to push it out of the way and seized the chance to slash at his opponent's throat, landing a clean cut that opened the neck from left to right and nearly chopped the head off.
"YES!", the young woman shouted with joy, leaning forward even more, to the point that she would have fallen if Kerovas hadn't been quick to catch her by the arm, "My Ashur is the best!". "Your Ashur?", her father's voice startled her, "What is meaning of it?". She whirled around to meet his eyes and panic gripped her as her mind raced for an answer, but Quintus spoke up to take her out of trouble. "She patronizes him and Indus, so that she can have gladiators fighting for honor of your house", he told Janus, "And it proved to be wise choice, for Syrian has showed great potential".
Senator Albinius entered the pulvinus and immediately moved towards his wife with an eager smile, "Ah, my wife, you are sight for sore eyes", he said, trying to kiss her, but she stepped away under the pretense to take a goblet of wine. "It gives me great joy to see you here, dear husband", she lied, "Here, have some wine: journey must have been long". "So it has", the old man agreed, accepting the goblet and taking a seat beside the magistrate, "So, you own two gladiators? I was not informed of it", he added, his voice gaining an edge.
"It was deal I made before marriage", the young woman explained, "I used my own coin for it and as you can see, it was coin well spent: Quintus' ludus turned simple untrained recruit into great gladiator", she added, gesturing towards the arena and turning just in time to catch Ashur's gaze before he re-entered the room where the gladiators waited for their turn.
He acknowledged her with a nod and despite the distance between them, he could easily recognize the smile full of love and pride that curved her lips and his heart swelled with happiness: the day was not over yet, but he had already achieved a great victory in the new arena and the woman he loved more than anything in the world had been there to witness his triumph.
As he stepped into the room and sat on a wooden bench to catch his breath and clean himself from the blood of his opponent, he shot a look at the dark blue ribbon tightly wrapped around his right forearm and smiled, silently thanking the Gods of his native land and the Roman Gods as well for granting him the gift of having her in his life.