Spartacus: Blood and Sand
'The Lioness'
Chapter 1: The Return to the Arena
A year has passed. I possess all the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus can grant me. I have made my home on the Island of Milos, away from the bloodshed of the arena. Still, I look upon the helmet near my bedside. A reminder of what I once was. I spend most of my days sitting by the beach. Still I find myself thinking about the arena. The friends I have made, and the love I have found that now stands beside me, Iva. The scars that are cut into my flesh have healed, but marks of the memories from each one still remain.
In the morning, Iva often goes for a swim. There is no one in the world that compares to her beauty. There are times I often wonder if my love is a nymph rather than a human. From her gracefulness as she swims to her elegant daring when she dives off the small cliff, I often still ponder that question. I would often join her in the sea after she dives. My hair has grown though I liken my appearance to that of a boy. Iva fluffed her ocean waves of brown curls as she smiled down at me, "Where now does your mind wonder, Kadri?"
"The arena still calls," I replied,
"Does it now? You seem to have grown accustomed to the fame and fortune," said Iva putting back on her dress. To her dress, I wear a man's tunic, belt and sandals. I lightly nodded to her, and grinned to tell her that she is correct in her statement, "I have put thought to such a thing as you rest at night, I see that helmet you once wore, and now I feel I can set mind toward purpose, if you would not be apposed to it, I would like to make my mark in the arena, you know of what I am, I know the way of the sword, Kadri,"
"I am not opposed to it, but I will see to it that you do not go alone," I replied gently caressing her cheek with the loving touch of the back of my hand. The next day is Market Day, and I see the Romans have left their legacy on this little island. Soldiers patrol the streets in pairs, and Roman buildings now stand in place of those built by my forefathers. There is also a amphitheater where the townsfolk go see a play. While Iva was purchasing meat from the butcher, I went over to ships at the port, "do any ships sail to Capua?"
"Capua? What business do you have there?" asked a sailor,
"One fitting of my profession," I replied,
The sailor nodded a single nod to me, "The next ship leaves tomorrow at first light," he said, and I went on my way back to the market where Iva had finished her errands. I relayed the message from the sailor I had spoken to. It is most helpful around the patrolling soldiers that Iva and I share similar traits from brown hair to brown eyes. Soldiers do not bother us as many would put to thought that Iva and I are sisters. After the evenings supper, I picked up my helmet and grinned seeing my reflection in the polished iron
I turned to Iva, and placed the helmet on her. It warms me to hear the giggles echoed behind the faceguard. She still stands upright even with the heavy helmet, "With training there will be polishing to your skills, but a fine gladiatrix you will be," I praised to her in my calm, sweet words as I took the helmet off her, and placed in a sack along with other belongings. I have taught her how to use a sword as I once did, and under my tutelage i wonder how that will manifest at the ludus? Only time will tell as we boarded the ship.
"Do you worry for my safety?" she asked,
"I would be lying if I disputed my own feelings," I said back,
"You have trained me well, you need not worry about my safety," Iva said, even with the confidence that lace her words and her smile to me, I still feel I should be there for her. She leaned against the side of the ship, looking out at the sea with me at my side. She lightly nudged my side with those blessed hips. I giggled lightly, and placed a gentle tap on her equally blessed ass. Iva leaned up, and kissed my cheek. After a day's voyage, we had arrived back to Capua. Memories seemed to return, especially at the Slave Market.
It is not a difficult task to find the ludus in Capua. One only has to turn focus toward their ears to hear the sounds of men, and the clatter of wooden weapons striking in the heat of the sun and training under the sting of the whip. Iva and I stood at the entrance. She turned to me, and I to her. We both nodded a single nod, and walked up to the guard at the gate, "Halt, and state business," ordered the guard armed with a spear, and resting his free hand on his shield. I lightly grinned and so did Iva, making the gate guard blush.
"We have come to speak with the lanista, our business is our own," said Iva,
"Very well, you both may pass," said the guard,
He had moved his spear aside, and led us into the ludus once again. Some things and places do not change as time passes, "Wait here," said the guard whom entered his study. I have no doubts in her strength. Those full and healthy curves really do mask her brawn. Even unclothed, she can climb the rocks to get to her favorite cliff near our home with ease. I placed my a hand around Iva's shoulder. She turned to me, and placed her head upon my shoulder, gracing my cheek with the soft touch of her soft curling locks of hair.
The guard came out, and gestured with a movement of the neck for Iva and I to come into the study of Batiatus, "A year has passed, and I never thought I would see you return to the sands," said my dominus, "it's common that gladiators return to the arena, and you return with Iva, tell me what business brings you lot to this most hallowed of ground?" he asked, Iva presented herself before the dominus. She had her hands in front, and fingers interlinked as she focused her brown eyes on the man whom was writing at his desk
"I seek that which I had found in the past," I replied,
"And I seek to be trained as a gladiatrix," said Iva,
"Kadri, relieve her of her clothes," he asked of me, I nodded and gently removed Iva's dress by the shoulders, and it fell to the floor like a cloud of morning mist. Batiatus stood up, and examined her. He nodded to himself in approval, "good, I see the same in Iva that I saw in you, Kadri, further polishing and honing of skill will be required of this one, as it was with you when you first arrived," Batiatus looked out his window at the gladiators training, "here, I shape men into gods, for there to be a pantheon, we need goddesses,"
"As I have done to Kadri in the past, I can make a gladiatrix of you yet," he said, and the training began under the sting of Doctore's whip. On the sacred grounds, I picked up wooden sword and shield while had two wooden swords in hand. She wore the same form of clothing I did as a trainee. There were some that seemed pleased to see me return to the ludus, Crixus seemed to be one of them. If it were not for him, I would not be the gladiatrix I became in the arena. Now it is my turn to show Iva what she can become.
(Read and review kindly)
