Dixus faces Tyresius in the challenge bout while Carola faces her own battle with Edgelus with aid from a very unexpected source.
Terms:
tour de stade: a physical exercise in which a person runs up and down all the stairs in every section of a stadium.
Dis Pater: Roman god of the Underworld, guardian at the gate who carries a large hammer
Cyclops: one eyed man eating giant defeated by the hero Odysseus in the Greek epic through guile and clever stratagems.
After his line up presentation with the others hoping to gain admission to the Brotherhood this night, Dixus stood in the small barred cell he'd been put in to prepare for his bout, mentally rehearsing his strategies for defeating the larger more experienced opponent he faced today, Tyresius.
Both he and Aaronus had studied the Nubian's techniques and spoken with others who'd faced him in challenge. An extremely powerful man, he often acted as Dis Pater at the Arena, strong enough to give mortally wounded gladiators mercy with a single fatal blow to the head with a large hammer. He also had a long reach with those massively muscled arms and tree trunk legs that allowed him to stand his ground against almost any blow. It was like fighting a stone wall with a toothpick.
Dixus was the opposite, smaller, with a lean strong ripped musculature and an almost balletic fighting style, using his two swords, one short and one long, to strike quickly, spin and turn, staying out of his opponent's reach and then dancing back in to strike another slashing stabbing blow. He also had great stamina, one of his favorite training exercises running up and down the slopes of Vesuvius or the steps of the municipal Arena in a tour de stade when they were taken into Alexandria to train once a month. He could run for hours if necessary, barely winded, his heart and lungs some of the strongest the Medicus had ever seen.
Trying to keep up with him had been good for Aaronus, increasing his strength and stamina to at least twice what it had been when he arrived at the ludus, half dead off a ship from Thrace.
Today Aaronus would act as his second, in his corner to give water and quick medical aid if needed, but not to interfere in the match. Dixus would do the same for him when his time came, if he survived his own bout. Already two match-ups had been decided, one with the gladiator candidate victorious, the other with him defeated, but giving a good enough showing in surviving to return to training and have one more chance.
He heard footsteps coming down the corridor and drew himself up, putting on his game face and hefting his swords, but when the cell door swung open to his surprise it was Carola, dressed all in maiden white, who stood outside it with a concerned looking Aaronus behind her. Dixus set the swords down with a clatter, rushing to the doorway and opening his arms as she leapt into them, lifting her up in a tight embrace, burying his face in her neck.
Aaronus turned away discretely, remaining in the doorway, facing the two Custos who'd escorted them there. He gave them an impatient look, twirling his finger in a circle, asking them to give the lovers a last few minutes of privacy and with a grunt and a long suffering sigh they finally did so, forming an impassable wall in the corridor.
"Please, my love, I can't stand to see you hurt or worse, please say you'll give up this quest for the Brotherhood!" Carola pleaded tearfully in a soft voice meant for his ears alone.
Dixus stiffened. He knew this was coming. He loved her but without the arena he had nothing to offer her now. Not yet.
"We'll run—just leave this place and never look back." Carola said, holding the back of his head in her hand and pressing a kiss to his neck.
"With no coin? No prospects?" Dixus sighed, pulling her tighter against him, knowing soon he'd have to let her go, perhaps forever.
"I have my mother's jewelry—I could sell it for passage on a ship out of Pompeii." Carola argued, "We'll go somewhere that they'll never find us. One of the furthest provinces... Gaul or Britannia."
"We couldn't run far or fast enough... your father and your betrothed would send their Custos after us. There is no way out." Dixus told her, pressing a kiss to her temple and resting his chin there as he held her.
"You would have me bind myself to him?" she asked incredulously, drawing back from him to look up into his stormy eyes, "That cruel monster? After what he has done?"
"What has he done?" Dixus' heart went cold. He knew Edgelus to be a wealthy playboy, a drunk and a fool, but Carola spoke of him with real fear.
"He is a murderer of women, Darol." she said solemnly. "You cannot mean to let me—to let our child—live with such a man as that!"
"How do you come to know this?"
"I was in the second city, past the pomerium, giving out aid. He was at a brothel... with your brother... in the doorway... in the street a slave girl, dead." she told him, "They were negotiating a price for her after Edgelus killed her.
He knew men like Edgelus and Merlonius placed little value on the life of a slave, but to so casually take a life out in the open street? What kind of a man could do such a thing?
There was real fear in Carola's eyes as she stood in his arms, shaking like a leaf.
"What else aren't you telling me?" he asked, attuned to her every mood.
"She looked like me, Darol." she told him, her eyes filling, "The dead girl. She looked just like me."
Darolus reeled back.
"I would speak to my brother." he called to Aaronus anxiously, but his friend shook his head back and forth sadly.
"Doctore said you had time for one visitor only, my friend." Aaronus said, grimacing, "The Custos wait to escort niece of Dominus back to villa. You are called to contest."
They all watched as Tyresius marched past with his second, Ricardus, and Doctore, who gave Dixus a warning look.
"He is big as Cyclops!" Carola cried fearfully, her hands holding onto the bars of the cell to keep her knees from buckling beneath her.
"And I as nimble and clever as Odysseus," Dixus grinned, coming up behind her and putting his arms around her reassuringly, "Will you be brave for me and watch from villa balcony with Domina?" he asked, "I would see your loving face as I look to Dominus in salute."
"Of course," she said, turning to face him resolutely. "And will you wear this token?" She asked and pressed one of her silver floral fibulae into his hand; the gown she wore was off one shoulder so it only required one of the pair.
Dixus immediately attached it to the strip of embroidered cloth with his family insignia on his leather breastplate which lay over his heart.
Carola leaned in, placing her hand over it and they kissed.
"I'm sorry, she must go now." Aaronus insisted, coming into the cell and putting his hand on Dixus' shoulder.
"Blessings, my love." Carola said brokenly and let him go, walking quickly away, the two guards stepping in behind her.
"My turn," Aaronus grinned and pulling him close with a strong hand to his nape, kissed Dixus full on the mouth sweetly and lingeringly and then rested his forehead against his friend's, saying sarcastically, "Remember the first rule, my worthy catamite."
"I know." Dixus grinned back, shoving Aaronus away from him in good humor and bending to pick up his swords, "Don't die."
"If you did, I don't think she'd ever forgive you." Aaronus said in a half teasing/half serious tone.
Dixus nodded in ready agreement.
"Does she fuck better than me?" Aaronus asked in idle curiosity as they headed out of the cell and down the long corridor walking side by side.
"Her cock is bigger." Dixus said dryly, wincing a little at the pleasant soreness he could still feel from being stretched and fucked so well by his sweetling girl.
"Seriously?" Aaronus asked, and both eyebrows rose incredulously, bringing the other man to a halt with a hand on his arm.
"With some wicked advice and device from Domina's body slave, Tara." Dixus smiled, one side of his mouth quirking up in heated remembrance. "After I made love to her unto screaming pleasures, she made known she wished to do the same for me... and she did."
"You, my friend, are most fortunate of men." Aaronus said solemnly, starting forward again, shaking his head in awe.
"Let us see if fortune holds." Dixus replied and then they walked out onto the sands of the training yard where a small roped off raised platform had been set up in front of the main villa balcony as location for the bouts.
Tyresius was already standing beside the ring, calmly awaiting his opponent and for the sand to soak up the blood from the previous bout to be spread out evenly by two young boys, house slaves who usually worked in the stables.
Entering the ring, Dixus moved to stand next to Tyresius, exchanging a nod with him, and as one they turned to look up at the Lanista, Dominus Regulus of the Ludus Monroviatus.
"We who are about to die, salute you!" they shouted in unison and Tyresius knocked the shaft of his spear against his shield while Dixus banged his swords together.
He had just enough time to find Carola, seated next to Domina Deanna, holding her hand, a look of pride warring with fear on both their faces.
"Begin!" Regulus said.
Her heart in her throat, Carola knew for Darol's sake she had to stay and watch, but every second the two warriors battled was an eternity of fear for her. He was so brave and strong, so good and she loved him so much, why must this be happening?
Beside her, on her left Deanna squeezed her hand and gasped when Tyresius' spear grazed Dixus left shoulder as he feinted right, a long streak of red appearing there, blood flying from it.
Carola couldn't let herself cry out, terrified it would distract him at a vital moment, but she watched every move with her full attention, taken unaware when her hair was suddenly grabbed from behind in a painful hold, hot sour breath at her ear. Anyone looking at them would think he had just leaned close from the row of chairs behind her to comment on the bout.
"Did you enjoy spreading your legs for that cock suckling piece of shit, wife to be?" Edgelus whispered furiously, twisting her hair even more tightly, bringing tears to her eyes, but she held still, knowing he was trying to get her to react, to make Dixus look up and miss deflecting a fatal blow. Instead she dug her fingernails into her Aunt's palm, willing her to realize what was happening, but Deanna just assumed she was worried about Dixus and patted her hand reassuringly without taking her eyes from the match.
"You're mine, bought and paid for to do with what I will as my property. Your father sold you to me, not that landica licking dog." he hissed, biting her ear so hard he drew blood.
Carola bit the inside of her bottom lip to keep from screaming out from the pain.
"Come with me to my chambers now or watch him die on the spit of the Nubian's spear." he demanded, his low whisper guttural with lust, grabbing her upper arm in a bruising grip.
And then he was just... gone... his hold on her arm and hair released in an instant. She turned quickly and saw he was slumped in his chair, head lolling to the side as if in drunkenness. Sitting beside him was Merlonius, who was closing and turning a large jeweled ring around on his finger, but not before she saw the two pronged needle hidden inside in a compartment under the jewel. Darolus' brother winked at her as he handed her a cloth napkin, gesturing silently at her bleeding ear and then leaning back casually in his chair.
Carola stared at him in confusion until she heard the rest of the crowd gasp and rise to their feet in excitement. Holding the cloth to her ear she turned and saw that Tyresius was down on his knees, a sweat soaked and bleeding but victorious Dixus behind him with his swords crossed at the bigger man's throat, looking up at the Dominus.
"They both fought well, Dominus." Doctore gave her opinion. "Tyresius has ten victories in City arena to his name..."
"And Dixus neatly defeated him." Regulus agreed, "Both shall be spared to fight another day. Dixus has earned right to take the oath."
"Congratulations, Victor Darolus Marcus Dixus." Doctore called out and the crowd and other fighters all applauded and cheered.
"Both are spared." the Dominus declared and raised his closed fist held horizontally, the sign to all gladiators to sheathe their weapons. If he had instead extended his thumb to the side with the gesture, it would have meant cut the throat of the defeated man.
Dixus gratefully lowered his swords and gave Tyresius his arm to help him stand, both men looking exhausted, but then Dixus' eyes found Carola's as he touched her token at his breast and they gave each other a look of longing before he had to leave to return to the ludus barracks, Aaronus' arm around his shoulder for both bodily and moral support.
"An excellent contest." Regulus said, sounding pleased but thoughtful, exchanging an enigmatic look with his wife.
"A formidable pair." Carola's father agreed heartily, "Wouldn't you say so, Edgelus?" he inquired jovially, looking over at the other man across the aisle, noticing for the first time he was unresponsive. "Edgelus?" he said more loudly, making Deanna turn in her seat with concern.
"Is he in his cups, Merlonius?" Deanna asked.
"It could be this unremitting heat." Merlonius replied, leaning over his seating companion solicitously, "Overindulgence in the pleasures made for little sleep night previous." he waved his hand in front of his nose in distaste, "And over consumption of the bounty of the grape..." he clapped his hands at the two Custos standing guard in the doorway. "You two, help me take Edgelus to his chambers."
As they maneuvered the seemingly unconscious man out of his seat Deanna noticed the bloody cloth Carola was still holding to her ear.
"What? Are you also unwell, dear one?" she asked solicitously.
"No Aunt, in the excitement of the bout I caught my earring in my hair and hand; it tore my ear a little. It is nothing." she lied.
Deanna gathered her close for a hug.
"Your gladiator did well," the Domina whispered, "I am pleased for you both."
"Thank you." Carola sighed, pulling back out of the embrace. "Where is Tara, Aunt?" Carol asked, "I wish her to attend me; Minerva is too new to her tasks."
"Apologies, but must make do with girl, Carola." Deanna said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Tara is otherwise engaged tonight."
"So Uncle said..." Carola frowned, her brow wrinkling with concern.
"Then it must be so." Deanna said, standing up and tugging her gown down to drape correctly before moving to pour and offer the girl a glass of fruit juice. "Will you stay for the other bouts?"
"I... I don't..." Carol stammered, taking the juice, but looking over across the training grounds towards the barracks.
"You cannot go see him again so soon." Deanna cautioned softly. "Your Uncle is still very cross at you both for this afternoon." then she poured herself a glass, ignoring the aghast look of the slave girl whose job it was to do so. "Pish posh, my arms aren't broken, go fetch us some fresh figs if you must be doing something." she ordered the servitor and then sat back down, sipping the juice.
"Going to check on your betrothed?" her father asked when he noticed Carola was still standing. "I wouldn't have suspected so robust looking a man to have such a weak constitution." he sniffed.
"Yes, father, I am. I grow concerned—color of face was not good." Carola said, trying to infuse her voice with sincerity. What she really needed to do was find Merlonius and ask him what in the Hades he'd done! Why had he rescued her? How?
"Let us know if you need Medicus, daughter."
"Of course, father." she said demurely and set her glass of juice down after quickly draining the contents, her fears having parched her throat. She lifted her hand holding the cloth away from her ear to see if the bleeding had stopped and then pulled her hair down to cover what she knew were the sore and throbbing imprints of Edgelus' teeth.
"Ricardus, of Britannia, vs. Philipos of the Greeks!" Doctore said, announcing the next bout just as Carola left the balcony.
Her Custos guards fell into step behind her, but she stopped and turned to address them.
"I seek Merlonius to ask of news of Edgelus, do you know where he is?"
"We can take you to his quarters, niece of Dominus." the taller one nodded.
"Gratitude." she said, provoking two sets of raised eyebrows. She frowned at them, "What are your names?"
"Apologies, niece of Domina, but we are not really supposed to engage." the taller spoke as if to a child who didn't know the rules.
"If you are to dog my every step I would know your names." she said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I am Erikos" the shorter one said with a wry look at his partner, tipping his head towards the other man "and he is Tobin."
Carola quirked a smile at them, pleased with the tiny triumph.
"This way, please." Erikos said, extending his arm to indicate the direction she should go.
"Gratitude, Erikos." she chirped, heading off at a brisk walk.
The Custos rolled their eyes at each other and followed her.
Yay Merlonius stepping up and protecting his bro's woman! Though we can suspect he has his own reasons for taking out Edgelus as well...
Thanks for staying with me!