"Jana! Jana! Wake up you have over slept! Dominus is already preparing to leave for the market." I heard Naevia's soft voice fill my ears.
"Oh no..." I said pulling myself out of bed and rushing to gather my clothes to be ready in time. "I cannot believe I over slept... Dominus will be furious!"
I looked over at Naevia whom had a cheeky grin on her lips, "I didn't over sleep did I?" I asked her as she started to giggle. "No, but at least now you will have time to bathe and eat before you leave. Wouldn't want Gannicus to think you are unprepared for his game." She teased me as I rolled my eyes.
"You jest, it is not nice." I told her as she smiled to me, "I think it's sweet actually. That you find some sort of beauty, comfort in a beast, I had always thought Melitta was so lucky to have been gifted to Oenomaus, he is really such a kind man." She told me as I smiled.
"She is lucky. Not all men are beasts Naevia... you and Diona would have gotten along really well with my three older brothers, well maybe they where all such jokers. Never took anything with a serious tone."
"Much like Gannicus." She teased again, "You never talk about you life before the Villa..." she reminded me.
"It is of a time long since past, a time I will never experience again, with a family that no longer exists. The you and the other slaves are my family now." I told her as she smile softly.
"To which I am ever grateful for, you and Diona have always been as sisters to me." She told me with a grin, "However, bath and food... we must hurry, I can already hear Melitta—"
"Girls hurry up, Dominus will not want to be late for the market!" We heard Melitta call to us causing us both to laugh. "It is almost like she can hear through walls." I joked as we both made our way to the baths to clean up before we ate.
><><><><><><><><
I sat in the cart much like I had the night previous when Gannicus and I left the arena to return back to the Villa. My beige tunic lined with black trim, I wanted to stand out as little as humanely possible to Tullius and his man Vettius. I wanted no more part in their games to publicly humiliate any member of the house of Batiatus.
"I like the white and light blue on you much better. Brings out your eyes, you seem so keen on hiding behind your mop of brown hair." Gannicus' teased me as he entered the cart.
"Charming." I threw back at him.
"At last! The girl defends herself." He smirked at me before letting out a sigh, "Are you nervous?" I asked him as he looked over towards me.
"Nervous? Not at all, if I were to die today I would have preferred it to be in the arena. However today is not the day I die, you will no be a witness to my death Jana." He told me as I shook my head.
"Do you treat everything as a joke or just your life?" I asked him as he roared with laughter. "Just this match, it is no doubt a joke on it's own." He grinned to me as I again shook my head.
"Are you scared for me Jana? Worried I will die today?" He asked me.
"I am worried of your death as I would worry of any of the Ludus' men's deaths." I lied; I was worried he would fall today in the market place. Yet here he was treating it as if it where just a game or training practice. I felt most of the men in and around Capua took things far more lightly than they perhaps should.
"Where is good Vettius?" Dominus groaned loudly as he looked about the meeting place once we had finally arrived. "Is he among you?" He called out to the large crowd that had begun to gather.
"Or did he come to sense, and remain within the warm safety of his bed?" He asked as I turned to look to Melitta, she just averted her eyes to the ground telling me to keep quiet and allow the man his moment.
Solonius had joined us standing ahead with two of his own slaves as he walked along side Dominus and his own two body slaves. Gannicus was behind them walking with Ulpius, Domina and her Guest Gaia behind them with Melitta, Gaia's body slave and myself closely following the ladies of the house.
"Ah, there he stands!" Dominus shouted through the crowd of people, as they seemed to move apart making space in the center of the market. I allowed myself to look up for but a moment noticing Vettius' eyes upon me. My lower standing tunic clearly not doing the job I had most hoped for it to do. "Ignore the man." I heard Gannicus speak as he had moved in front of me to take his place directly behind Dominus.
"Fresh and young as a newborn calf!" Dominus seemed to continue his jests of Tullius' man. "The fool at least shows himself." Vettius spoke as the men and their own barrage of slaves began to make their way towards Dominus.
Tullius put his arm before Vettius stopping him from moving any further forwards. "Batiatus." He greeted him, "We had begun to fret on your arrival. We where worried maybe young Jana here changed her mind on letting you foolishly lose one of your men." He spoke slowly looking to me.
"Although now I see you arrive with unexpected gift...It has been too long, Gaia." Tullius mused towards Domina's houseguest, I was grateful at least one of their attentions was elsewhere than to me. I did not wish to be marred in this plot than I had already been. "And grows longer still."
"Apologies for my delay, I had much difficulty in the choosing of a man. An imposing task when each among my stable stands a titan!" Dominus roared loudly gaining some praise from the growing crowd.
"Perhaps good Vettius should have taken more time with the choosing of his own."
"Words fall from your mouth, as sh-t from a-s." Vettius spat back at Dominus, causing a slight smirk to play on my lips. The way these men spoke to each other was almost comedic, boasting and praising men to fight a battle that never even really need take place. Now I was starting to see why Gannicus looked to this fight as such a joke.
"Let us not become mired in base exchange." Tullius reminded the two Lanistas' "We are gathered this glorious day to witness honorable contest between respected rivals. Clear space!" Tullius had demanded the crowded market.
Domina and her guest Gaia had begun to move closer to one another sparking a soft conversation as I looked over to Melitta. "This isn't normal is it?" I asked her softly.
"No, and Dominus' father would be most outraged would he be here... fights are strictly forbade outside the walls of the arena." She reminded me.
"Dominus hopes to gain Tullius' favor in the coming games by making a show of Gannicus today. Gannicus could become gravely injured should anything go wrong, this space is far to confined for any fight he is prepared for." She continued.
The thought of how small the market place's location really was, it was fairly cramped. With one wrong move a civilian could be killed, the notice scared me even more than the thought of the Ludus' losing Gannicus just to settle a rivalry that should just be met on the sands of the arena.
"Gratitude to Magistrate Sextus for allowing such thrilling event in the streets of the great city of Capua!" Tullius roared to the crowd as they all began to cheer in praise of Magistrate. I looked over to Melitta again, "Melitta do you think Tullius is planning something?"
She moved me away from the Domina and the other slave a short bit before looking around; "I do know Tullius and Vettius have ill favored feelings towards the Dominus. I have heard him speak about it on many of days... he is likely using Titus' care towards you as a tactic to distract Dominus. Likely to have Dominus make a fool of himself in public." She explained.
"Dominus knows I did not wish that favor on myself... I hope." I explained feeling the hair on my back raise.
"I am sure Dominus knows your loyalty is to the house, he knows you would never betray him. I am sure he knows Tullius is using a cowards tactic." She smiled softly at me, attempting to bring me comfort.
"This is not honorable to the house." I mumbled as Melitta just nodded agreeing with me.
"Batiatus." Tullius said causing Melitta and I to once again move closer to the Domina and Gaia. "Present your man."
I felt my eyes wonder towards Gannicus as he stood there next to Ulpius preparing for the fight to come as the Dominus made his way into the newly cleared market. Dominus was preparing to marvel the crowd with the tale of his man; ""In honor of the Magistrate, esteemed Tullius, and the good people of Capua... I give to you the most fearsome Celt ever to take up arms in the arena! Slayer of beasts!" He had continued as Gannicus was now facing me, he winked at me causing me to roll his eyes.
"Another jest, this is your life..." I said to him softly.
"I will make you a deal then." He said to me as I arched my brow ready to protest him. "I win this, you must agree to spare words with me back at the Villa and break bread." He told me as I rolled my eyes.
"Gannicus your life is no gamble for food with me." I told him sternly.
"Than you will have no issue agreeing?" He smirked, "I agree, if you promise to take this seriously." I pleaded with him.
"I promise." He smirked again before making his way towards Dominus, as he had just presented his name to the crowd, which had in turn erupted into a fit of screams. "Does he always gamble as if this were a game?" I asked Melitta who just laughed softly.
"He is rarely of a serious note, but he has seemed to taken a shine to you Jana... be careful." She warned me. "He is just being annoying" I commented to her as Vettius quickly introduced his own man to the market.
"I will not disagree with you there." She smiled as Tullius continued to speak, forcing our attentions forward.
"Gratitude to Batiatus and Vettius. Now, let us judge who stands the better house!" The man shouted to the crowd, everyone had begun to cheer as the Magistrate raised his hand to begin the fight when Vettius motioned to stop him.
"Apologies, Magistrate." Causing him to lower his arm stopping the beginning of the fight, hushing the crowds' cheers. "There appears to be something missing. Where is your man's blindfold?" Vettius asked Dominus.
Gannicus turned to look at me as I looked towards him with utter fear in my eyes; I had completely forgotten Dominus' boast the other day was in fact that his best could fight Vettius' best... blindfolded. "Blindfold?" Dominus said with a stout laugh. "What the f—k..."
"That was your boast, was it not?" The man continued as one of Vettius' men handed the slender Lanista as he held the cloth in his hand with another one of his sh-t eating grins etched onto his lips. He was acting so triumphant already and the fight had not even yet begun.
"That your gladiator could best any of my men absent sight?" He continued as he now stood beside his own Gladiator in the cleared space.
"You did voice such challenge." Tullius smirked staring at Dominus before looking towards me as if almost to say, 'You heard it too, just tell the rest of the market place.' To turn on my Dominus would almost certainly result in my death.
"A simple figure of speech not meant to be—good Tullius..." Dominus began to protest.
"If Batiatus does not with to honor terms, he should remove himself. With tail between legs." Vettius again began to speak. I turned to Melitta; "They knew he would pick Gannicus, if ever offered simple fight didn't they?" I asked her.
"Dominus does put more pride and stock into him than another other man in his pen." She mentioned, "I can only hope Gannicus has some sort of daft plan in his head to win this." She added.
"Me too..." I uttered under my breath. Everyone's eyes seemed to fall upon Gannicus waiting for him to make comment on the situation; after all it was his life that was being gambled. I could only imagine the thoughts rushing through his mind, as mine where enough to cause me to feel dizzy. Dominus had reached far beyond position this time and had put not only Gannicus' life at stake but the well being of the entire Villa.
"Doctore." Gannicus said as he had finally turned around handing both his swords to Ulpius. "Come... the task should not be that difficult." He then said as he motioned for the blindfold to be handed to him. "What an idiot." I muttered as Melitta nudged me, "He's brave, but he is an idiot." I told her as I heard her laugh slightly as she tried to keep her composure.
"I need only direct my blades towards the smell of shit." Gannicus explained as he put the blindfold over his eyes and tied it behind his head tightly as to not have it fall off during the fight. I felt Melitta's hand take mine tightly; Gannicus was a light long friend to her I couldn't imagine watching any of his fights let alone this one being fairly easy.
"You are going to allow this, Quintus?" I heard Domina ask from in front of me. "The choice has been removed from my hands." Was the only thing I heard before the Magistrate announced the start of the fight.
My eyes much like in the previous days game at the arena where glued to Gannicus, this time not just because of some childish crush I had on the man. However because of the fear that was gripping my entire body seeing that he was blindfolded against a man in the middle of an open market place.
Gannicus managed to dodge the first swing just in time falling to his knees and moving out of the way. Before thrusting his swords towards the man as each thrust was blocked by sword or shield. Otho went to swing his shield towards Gannicus' head when instead he was pulled to the ground in one harsh yank.
The two men where on the ground Otho on his stomach with Gannicus sitting on his back as they where struggling for the closest weapon. Gannicus managed to throw not only his swords but also Otho's swords from the 'ring' rendering them to use their fists as weapons. Gannicus was now on his back trying to defend his face as Otho had began to punch him, much to the excitement of Vettius.
Gannicus seemed to be able to out maneuver the Gladiator as he held his arm still pushing his leg up next to Otho's head wrapping both legs around his neck. In an attempt to choke him out, I could hear the mans gags from where I was standing, moving slightly to get a better look between Domina and Gaia.
However events would soon turn from favor as Otho stood up pulling Gannicus with him, meriting a loud roar from his lips before he dropped him hard on his back. I felt myself jolt from hearing him hit the stones, most of the blindfold was now soaked him blood and I could tell Gannicus was probably disoriented from his head hitting the stones.
I stood there and watch idly as Otho began to toss Gannicus around like he was nothing but air, hitting him with his shield throwing him to the ground. I felt my eyes wonder towards Tullius to see what could possibly be going on in this mans head. He seemed so pleased by the outcome of this fight, like watching Dominus fail like this was a game. Like our lives where just toys to him which in all honesty was true.
Otho was moving about the 'ring' boasting and roaring to the crowd gaining their favor. I looked away for but a moment only to return to Gannicus being kicked directly in the face. This was just like a drunken street fight, except this was for the sport and amusement of Tullius and Vettius to watch Dominus squirm. "Nobel attempt." I heard Solonius say, to what Dominus responded with I was unsure of.
I watched as the man cut Gannicus with a sword he'd pulled from the crowd, he continued thrash around at him wildly with his sword trying to get another cut on him. Gannicus managed to get the upper hand pulling the man to the ground again throwing punches into his face. Much like Otho had done earlier in the fight to him, the crowd was in frenzy for more blood. Savages.
Otho managed to get up pushing Gannicus to the wall before throwing punches into his face, his head hitting the wall repeatedly. I was amazed that he was still standing at all, Otho threw him to the ground again trying to choke the life out of him when he grabbed hold of a nail thrusting it into Gannicus' shoulder blade causing him to scream out in pain. The same time I yelped out in fear, I felt Melitta's hand hold mine a second time in an attempt to comfort me again.
Otho and Gannicus separated for but a few moments when the brute picked up his sword advancing at Gannicus again ready to deal him out another blow. Gannicus seemed to just be laying in wait for the man, he moved out of the way in time for Otho to get his sword stuck in the small wooden bench behind him. They stood up again fighting for control over the fight; Gannicus throwing the man face first into the small bench repeatedly.
He than forced Otho's neck towards the sword before pushing his neck against it kill him slowly. The crowed loved it, they cheered for more. I felt as if I was going to be sick watching, waiting for the spectacle to be over with. Gannicus finished the man off and stood sword in hand, blindfold still attached to his face. Melitta's breathing finally slowed down as she looked to me, "I am at a loss of words."
"What an idiot." Was all I could muster out of my lips, which had caused Melitta to smile at me before chuckling softly. I followed Domina as she made her way along side Gaia and Dominus to reach Gannicus. "Have you ever f—king see the like?" He asked as a bloodied Gannicus took off his blindfold finally.
I watched as his eyes fell to me, giving me another cocky smirk before roaring to the cheers of the crowd. Ulpius turned to me nudging me; "Do tell me you agree this is most dishonorable." I just nodded; "At least the fool lives." I told him as he grunted, "When we get back to the Ludus, take him to see the Medicus." Ulpius asked me as I nodded to him, before looking back to Gannicus shaking my head.
"I believe this means, you owe him a meal shared?" I heard Domina say as she smiled to me. "You heard? My apologies Domina I had thought it—" She cut me off, "A girl your age only gets to experience such wonders so often. A guard will be posted by the door, he is not to lay hand on you." She told me reminding me of her vow to keep me chaste.
><><><><><><><><
Gannicus sat there as the Medicus was tending to his wounds; "Dominus has offered me much wine, and I believe the deal that was struck was you where to join me for a meal?" He mentioned to me as I sat there awkwardly.
"Are you ever of a serious note Gannicus? You could have died..." I began to say as he motioned for the Medicus to leave us.
"Yet I still live, does me dying really worry you that much?" He asked me; "Strike the thought from mind, Jana. You are but stuck with me a while longer." He grinned