Spartacus: Blood and Sand
'The Harpy of Corinth'
Chapter 9- Dominus
Many have fallen to my blade, brave souls whose names I forget but their faces I will not. So many foes I have conquered, and vanquished. No road constructed by man or god goes on forever. I have yet to find where this path will lead me whether it be to a tomb or freedom. Time has passed and I have many victories to my name scratched into the walls of my cell. I am now the Women's Champion of Capua, the Undefeated Corinthian. It makes me wonder how someone like Crixus can hold such a great mantle.
I have been informed by word of Ashur that I am to fight in the upcoming games being held in Pompeii. I know not of who my opponent is, or who will be accompanying me for the journey. That was until Batiatus visited me, "Kadri, a word?" He asked, and the guard let him into my cell. He sighed, and sat down on my cot, "I know not if the magistrate was putting mind toward his cock in his decision, but he has requested that you fight in the games in Pompeii, it seems gladiatrices are gaining more notoriety,"
"But what I do know is he intends to have you fight some of the finest from the local ludus before you fight in the primus," Batiatus stated, "the city's arena has been open for some time now, and I have yet to have my finest take to it's hallowed sands," I stood silent in the face of my dominus, "it has also come to my attention from word of my bookkeeper that you fancy a girl, Iva is her name yes?" I felt my heart tighten at the fact he knew. Ashur that fucking serpent, "ah! Alas I hold no ill will toward your union,"
"On one condition," I replied collectedly, he stood up from my cot and looked at me with a look of slight disapproval. He did not seem to take my few words lightly. In his hand at his side, he clutched a knife that resembled the same knife that I used to carve the wooden alter figure in my cell. I am his property, and an expensive one at that. I earn more coin in a single fight on the sands of the arena than a Roman legionary earns with a full years service in the army. Yet here I stand in chains before my dominus.
"Condition? You kneel naked before me, yet you refuse to suck my cock? Ah! speak...," I could feel the cold steel of his blade on my cheek, but he did not cut me, "before I carve some meat off your fucking ass," he threatened me with quiet words. I was not moved my his threats. I have heard worse insults from the Roman Army. In the nights following this moment, I have thought about my life. How I came to this world, and how I now intend to leave it. I intend to earn my freedom in combat with Iva at my side.
"I heard words spoken from Ashur that I may earn my freedom on the sands of the arena in Pompeii, if that is so, then I intend to purchase the freedom of Iva as well," I explained to him, Batiatus smirked a smile at my intentions, and sat back down on my cot. In the times I have fought on the sands in Capua, I have proven my worth and my sword to my dominus. He nodded in agreement after taking a moment to put thought to my words. I wonder if he has other motives that were influenced by my explanation?
"Then to your intentions, I will strike fair deal with you, the primus will feature a Gaul by the name of Verenda, she has never fallen in battle, make the Gaul surrender at your blade and you will earn your freedom and the freedom of Iva," He replied, to his words I did not know who I should put trust in. He sat up from my cot, and went toward the door of my cell. He looked at me, and smiled, "don't look at me in such a light, Kadri, for I am a businessman, not a beast," Batiatus left my cell, and I laid down to rest.
The upcoming games in Pompeii were only three days away. I trained among the men in the yard. Still Crixus trains me in the ways of the Murmillo while Oenamaus trained me as a dimachaerus. Still I train at the palus while the others leave to rest. I am the last to receive my meal in the evening. I thought about the words Dominus said to me that morning. I felt like I was being ground beneath his heel. The door to freedom has been opened, but so easily they can be closed if I do not fulfill the Dominus's wishes.
I was loaded into an ox cart with Crixus, Spartacus, and Oenamaus. Domina Lucretia attended with her husband with her slaves Mira, Naevia, Chadara, and Iva. The road was long. Our armor and weapons were carried in the other cart. A day's travel later, we arrived in Pompeii overlooking Mount Vesuvius, "Out..move," said Ashur unlocking and opening the cart. Batiatus boasts having the finest gladiators in the republic. I suppose he wants to stand by his words, and let us fight in the arena in the name of his house.
"Well this must be the legacy of the magistrate of Pompeii, fattened by wealth and title, and builds on extravagance to compensate for his lack of cock," Batiatus boasted as my eyes too saw the arena for which I was to fight in tomorrow. It is said to be one of the largest arenas in the republic. My focus was turned elsewhere when I was pushed in the back by a guard's hand, and led into the arena. There were cells filled with animals ranging from lions to elephants, and near to them were the cells for the gladiators.
We were led to our cells under the arena, and Oenamaus, Doctore, came to pay me a visit, "Never in my lifetime would I have thought that a woman would be bestowed with the title of Champion of Capua. You stand now at the threshold of freedom, do not let it go to waste," He said unto me and reached into my cell to touch my shoulder, "you have proven me wrong on many occasions, I did everything I could to break you, we all did," I looked to see Crixus chuckling, "you are the one sister among many brothers,"
That evening, we were bathed and prepared and led out of our cells to the villa of the Magistrate. Everything a mortal heart can desire was present in his villa, beautiful women, music, dance and the finest food and wine. Batiatus presented us as three of his finest gladiators to fight in the games. The magistrate came up to us, and examined me first, "My what a lot you have presented for us this evening, Batiatus, Crixus the Undefeated Gaul, Spartacus the Champion of Capua, and Kadri, the Harpy of Corinth,"
"I shall want to see the claws that have lead many fools to the afterlife, present me with your sword," He requested, and I obliged by order of Batiatus as he handed me a sword. As swift as Zeus's lightning bolt, I unsheathed the blade and presented it to him with my hand on the ivory grip and the blade in the palm of the other, "even among your men, she is well-trained, your reputation for producing the finest is well-deserved, gratitude to you, Batiatus," the magistrate continued on the finest of the local ludus.
The domina was enjoying the luxuries provided by the magistrate with Iva and the other servants seeing to her needs, "She seems to have lasted longer than I would have expected, your Corinthian is now the Women's Champion of Capua," said Lucretia, what a lazy cunt she is, yet I would keep my thoughts to myself as I smiled and bowed my head to her out of respect to the domina, "hmm...her body has it's share of scars from battle, yet her face remains uncut and her hips still smooth and wide," Lucretia added.
"Such things come when mind is set to proper training," Batiatus replied to his wife. The men of the party would pass by me, but I pay them no mind. One touched my ass, but I held restraint toward him and offered him a smile instead of a fist buried in his face. I was well-rested for the games. The beast hunts were to start in the morning, the executions at noon, and the gladiator fights in the midday. Swords and weapons were sharpened on grindstones. Before the fights, there was a precession around the arena.
I was fitting on my greaves and armor. My iron plate-armor manica protected my left side had a plate that gave my breast protection. I look to see Iva carrying my sword, shield and helmet. A strong woman she is, "I have blessed your sword and shield, Kadri," She said and I gripped the scutum's handle with my right hand, and took my sword. She placed a kiss on my helmet, and a second one on my lips. She looked into my eyes, "For our freedom," she said quietly but sincerely. This is where our story may end.