Spartacus: Blood and Sand

'The Harpy of Corinth'

Chapter 6- Hippolyta (Rise of the Amazon)

(To all readers and reviewers of this story: thank you all for reading and reviewing my story. My character will most likely just be in the motion comic if her story were to be told, but if I am not sure what actress I would have to play her on the show. If you readers have any ideas let me know in the review section. If you are wondering what her helmet will look like, I recommend readers and reviewers to look up the Fabri Armorum Murmillo Gladiator Helmet.)

I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword. That is the oath of the gladiator, and words of certain death to those deemed unfit to fight. All death is certain. The forms are numerous. My time has come after months of training at the sting of Doctore's whip, "I have done everything in my power to beat you, to break you, and yet here you still stand? You have exceeded far beyond my expectations, Kadri," Oenamaus said though I have grown used to him shouting at me.

I have grown accustomed to the traditions surrounding the Romans. Before the day of the games, the Lanistas of Capua would display their finest gladiators for the people to see. I was among the chosen as was Crixus, Spartacus, and Barca. It seemed to come as a surprise to the people gathered at the House of Batiatus that there is a woman has reached the ranks of Batiatus's finest gladiators. It seemed that my being there made some women soften between the legs. The food is good, and the wine is bountiful.

I was handed my Cassis Crista which now had a crest of horsehair. My manica was changed from plate to scale armor on my left arm, and I was given a shoulder guard for my right shoulder. I was given a blue cloth that went from my left shoulder to my waist for cover. When the faceguard I have grown used to came down, I was ready. I have heard words spoken between Batiatus and Silonius about my opponents. I heard rumor spread that these ladies, The Pontic Sisters, were bodyguards to Mithridates himself.

"Remember, attack boldly to hasten victory, keep focus squarely on your opponents, keep your mind absent the crowd," Spartacus said with wise words, and my swords. In my time I have been fighting in the name of Batiatus, I have finally received a friendly gesture from Crixus. I looked at him in the eye. He tapped me lightly on the side of my helmet. I wonder if this is the Gallic way of wishing good fortune in the arena, or just his own way? He gave me a single nod, and I nodded back and turned to the iron gate.

"I would take those words to mind, Kadri," said Ashur, "I know of these two, I was in the market with Dominus when I heard talk that Silonius struck a bargain with Vettius to purchase them, they fight as one, and some say they share the same mind, heed my warning, they enjoy killing," it seems that even a serpent like Ashur can be useful. These bodyguards must have been spoils of war, as I once was. It seemed so long since Quintus Lentulus Batiatus claimed me among all the slave girls in the open market.

I came out of the gates at the sounding of the trumpets marking the beginning of the evenings women's battles, "The warrior before you all needs no introduction!" Batiatus said addressing the crowds of Romans, "from the hallowed lands of Greece, an Amazon befitting of Queen Penthisilea herself, she is known by her swords, by her grace, by her will, behold Kadri...Dimachaerus!" I raised to blades of my swords to the sky, and bellowed my loudest battle-cry to the cheers of the people that came to see me fight.

Unlike the other gladiators, I have kept the same helmet ever since I first stepped foot in the arena. I have grown used to my helmet, even with the limited vision it provides to my eyes. I looked to the opening gates as Silonius announced his offering to the games. Out of the darkness. There were two gladiatrices of the Thracian type. They looked exactly alike in appearance and weapons. They each carried a shield, and a sica, "WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE SALUTE YOU!" we said in unison to the hosts as it is custom.

I crossed my blades, and bowed to my opponents, "You are a fool to face us...like the others you will die," They said in perfect unison. I see that Ashur's words were not false. They do seem to share the same mind. They charged in a cross pattern and attacked me from both sides, and I parried their swords which began the march to the cheers of thousands of spectators. I had to watch my front, and my back against these two. They have strength in numbers, but their skill seemed to have me overmatched.

The Pontic Sisters are swift. When I parry one sword, the other would attack from behind, "You are outmatched...you stand no chance of victory," They said in unison as one of them bled me at my waist. I leaped off one of their shields, and came down on them with an attack but they evaded it by rolling away. I recalled from the feast the other night that their names were Kassandra and Mina. They had long, curly brown hair and brown eyes. They both wore no helmets, and wore plate armor manica on their arms.

I kicked Kassandra's shield with a bark of annoyance to them. I would sooner see them parted from their tongues before I part their heads from their necks. My two blades crossed with Kassandra's when Mina was coming from behind to strike me with her shield. I weaved to evade the shield, and turned to elbow and hit her with the pommel of one of my swords in the face to throw her off. Kassandra saw an opening, but I swiftly closed it, opening the guard of her sica and shield, and giving her a knee in the face.

I rolled off her back, and slashed at Kassandra's belly. One of my swords bled her, but the other hit only air. Kassandra fell on her back to the sands, and rolled away to pick up her sword and evade my leaping attack. She aimed a slash for my thighs. I lifted my leg up to evade the coming blade so it would hit my greave. Kassandra got back on her feet, and stood with her back touching Mina's. Their shields faced me, and their swords were in a high guard, "You bled us, Corinthian, now we are angry...you must die,"

"You fight a fool's battle...you will die...yes you will die," They said once again in perfect unison, and attacked me again. I do not know how much more I can take from these two inbred little shits. I will have to finish them off quickly before I sever off my own ears from my body. The crowds would cheer at the sight of blood or when a blow was struck. Their swords crossed in front of my chest, and I slashed their arms to free them from their blades, and struck them both in the face with the pommels of my swords.

I rolled back to evade a coming sword, and rolled forward to free it from her grasp. I took my chance, and stabbed her in the stomach. My blade went through her chest, and out the back, "It is about time you graced my ears with silence," I sand pulling out my sword, and stabbing both my blades into her eyes. Blood splashed onto my faceguard, and the spectators cheered as did my Dominus. Kassandra fell to her knees, then face first, stone dead on the sands, "well now...have you run out of words to say?" I asked,

"Bitch!" Mina barked, and attacked out of vengeance. I got inside the guard of her shield. With a spin and double elbow to her chest, I slashed her across the breasts and Mina fell to her knees on the sands. She was still alive, and on her knees facing my sword. I looked up at Batiatus with my sword at Mina's throat, and I heard the crowds chanting for her death. It was up to my Dominus to decide her fate. Batiatus's thumb went down, I took a deep breath and sliced off Mina's head with one cut of the sword.

Her blood sprayed like a fountain as she fell on the sands of the arena. The crowd chanted my name. I looked to the men of the ludus looking on at the battle that unfolded. I hold no feelings of love to him, but for the first time I saw Crixus smile at me. He seemed to approve of my performance. I crossed my swords, and bowed to Batiatus, and pointed one of my swords to the cheering crowds. The road to freedom for me is paved in the blood of the slain. For that is the way of the gladiator: blood, battle and glory.