Spartacus: Blood and Sand
'The Lioness'
Chapter 3: 'Hydra'
It has been decreed by Batiatus that his gladiatrices would be excluded from final tests against the men. Instead, we are thrown to the sands of the arena. I looked up with Iva in our separate cells as the locks were undone, and we were led out with escort from the guard. To think that we had our freedom won only to surrender to the vices of the sand. We were halted as we were led to the iron gates. The crowds roared as our opponents took to the sand. It seems that Silonius has been finding himself better stock for the sands
The ground beneath my feet burns as if standing at the gates of the underworld. The sandals on my feet do nothing to shield me from the heat. Sweat stings my eyes as Zeus still sees it as reasonable to punish Capua with many more days without rain. The crowds of Romans in the stand cheer as another bout has ended as if the very magistrate were Zeus himself gathering a great storm on the sea. We gladiatrices are considered a special treat amid their insatiable bloodlust, and Ares would become drunk on such pleasures.
Behind the gates, two slaves boys were preparing us for combat. Our legs were strapped with iron greaves engraved in brass with the heads of lionesses at our knees. We wore cloth subligaculum with a cloth flap in front and back. I wear blue. Iva wears white. We were given a leather strophium. For extra covering, we were cloaked in furs going from the left shoulder to the right side of my lower waist. I am wearing a leopard pelt. Iva was given a lion pelt. As I was armored with iron manica, I reach over to touch Iva's cheek
"Do not worry for me," said Iva,
"Show those cunts no mercy," snarled Crixus,
"As none will be granted to us," replied Iva,
"You have made it this far, but your time has only just begun," I replied, the ink that tells the tale of a gladiator is made from blood. Batiatus was quiet, only giving a single nod to us. I was given a shield the Romans call a 'Cetratus', and my sword. Iva had both her arms in iron manica with a guard on her left shoulder, and was given two swords. It was time for the monster to be given an offering of flesh. I held my crested helmet by the face guard, and put it on for combat. Iva did the same for hers as we walked onto the sand
The magistrate Sextus orchestrated these games as Batiatus and his wife took their place in a booth, "O People of Capua, it is my honor and my pleasure to bring you a warrior returning to this hallowed arena, an Amazon worthy of the sacred blood of Queen Hippolyte, Kadri...the Harpy of Corinth!" I bellowed my battle cry as I raised my sword skyward whose blade will shed the blood of my opponent, and quench Ares's thirst, "joining her is the newest addition from the House of Batiatus, I give you, Iva the Lioness of Anatolia!"
"We who are about to die, salute you!" we all said in unison with raised weapons to the magistrate. I turned to face my opponents. I crossed the blade of my sword, touching it against my shield. I bowed to the gladiatrices of the House of Silonius as a show of respect. Iva did the same, crossing her swords at her chest, and bowing to them. They have varied weapons, and many kinds of armor. One is armed with an axe, two with sword and shield, and one with shield and spear. They would want the pleasure of killing a veteran
"Begin!" ordered Sextus, raising a fist
There was no time to choose my opponents as they attacked. My match would be against one with sword and shield, and one with a battle axe, a secutor. I can feel my heated breath against my face as I attacked, and defended myself. I weaved my head to evade the axe, and turned to strike the gladiatrix upside the head with my shield sending her down to the sands on her back. The crowd would cheer for such actions. She evaded my sword coming down for a killing strike, and got back on her feet with her weapon ready
As simple as it may seem, one should not kill quickly on the sands. We gladiatrices are the entertainment of the people. So we must entertain. I evaded a sword, and used my shield to flip the warrior over my back and down to the sand. Iva seemed to be having no difficulties. She got inside the guard of the one with spear, and used the pommel of her sword like a fist, striking the faceguard repeatedly. Her opponent fell to the sands, and rolled away to evade Iva's blade and picked back up her spear, ready to fight once more.
The one with the spear chose me. Even with my strength, my armor is heavy against my body. I evaded her spear thrust to my belly, and trapped the spear with my sword. I broke the head from the shaft with my shield. She spun around my shield, and had a sword ready. I was the swifter one, and slide my blade across her neck. The war god will be most pleased with this offering. So much I have missed these moments. Iva made her first kill, getting inside the guard of the axe warrior, stabbing her blades up into the skull.
"Well done," I said, my voice muffled by my faceguard.
That just left the two armed with sword and shield, "You taught me well," said Iva, through one of the small holes in her face guard, I could see her winking an eye to me. I could feel the sweat on her skin as her back touched mine. The last two attacked. Iva rolled over my back, and attacked the one behind me, and I attacked the one in front of her. Iva's long curled locks flow gracefully with her movements. With a twin cross slash, Iva slashed her opponent at the chest and between the breasts, felling her to her knees.
I struck my opponent at the back of her feet, and drove my sword into the cup of her shoulder. She howled in pain to the cheers of the crowd. She looked up at me, holding her wounded shoulder, "On your knees," I said to her, taking off my helmet. From my time as a trainee, I know the sound of a body getting up from the sand. Iva's opponent did the same, and she also removed her helmet. My opponent is beautiful. Her hair is the color of ripe wheat, and has brown eyes like me. She may have come from Gaul or Germania.
I looked at the defiant look in her eyes, the expression on her face. Her defiance is not toward me, but a readiness for death. I can hear Iva's words to her defeated opponent, "Face me...look into my eyes, and embrace death without dishonor," she said, we looked up at Batiatus with our blades at their necks. He grinned, and nodded in approval. The crowd chanted, wanting more blood for the spectacle. Sextus gave the thumbs down to our opponents. They must die. We made their death swift and clean with decapitations.
"Blood...battle...and glory," said Iva,
"That is our way," I replied, and we raised our blades in triumph for the House of Batiatus. From the iron bars, the men cheered as another sister has proven herself worthy of the brand. In a ceremony after battle, Iva was branded with the mark. She winced for but a slight moment. The one that was once an Ancillae has become a titaness among the titans as I am. She turned, and grinned warmly to me. Not an once of pain in her eyes or her expression. Only the finest are offered at the House of Batiatus. Only the finest.