The dry wind blew sand about Antius's leather sandals as he stood in the rays of the blazing noon sun, gazing down at his slain opponent. The crowd erupted into shouts of glee as the slain warrior breathed his last...but Antius felt nothing about his victory. He glanced at his bloodied sword.

531. That is the number of men this blade has slain, he thought grimly.

Antius, at his master's signal, saluted to thee spectators, then strode out of the massive arena. Sii stood waiting for him in the armory and he acknowledged him with a slight nod. His friend clapped him on the shoulder.

"Almost broken the record for most kills, eh, Antius?" the Drenwyryn asked.

Antius nodded before pulling his helmet off and running a hand through his sweaty hair. "Yes. But that gives me no joy."

Sii smiled wryly and nodded, then helped his friend with removing his armor.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 04/18/09 09:46AM by Eberwolf.

Lock hung about in the corner weilding his blades skillfully in circular movements.

I can't live my whole life like this, even if he can...

"Why?" Lock said loudly to Antius

_____________

Antius shot a glance at Lock. "Because I know I could die just as easily as the men I kill."

Sii placed Antius's armor back on its respective rack and his white eyes flicked their gaze between Antius and Lock. He said in his smooth voice, "And you would be no better than the blood-lusting crowds if you took joy as they did."

"Don't you EVER compare me to those filthy horians!" He shouted at Sii as Roman guards rushed in because of the loud noise.

He spat on the floor as he stepped slowly into the shadows.

Don't you ever compare me to the horians Sii, or it will be your last words Lock thought.

_____________




Edited 2 times. Last edit at 04/18/09 01:02PM by Joraiem Andira.

Sii's eyebrows rose. "I'm SO scared," he murmured.

Antius shot his companion a cautioning glare before turning and walking into the hall which led to the gladiators' quarters.

Sii followed, striding confidently, his feet not even making a whisper against the floor.

Keeva glided down the hall to her room. It was very important that she walk and act like a lady, if she didn't want to get in trouble for "not appreciating the priveleged position she was in."

Her Master had just finished his morning bath, and she was going to go and set his hair.

Although, what kind of vain nation has the men doing their hair? she wondered.

Sweat dripped down the nape of her neck as a brute of a man pulled her roughly. Her eyes bore into his back as he pulled her further in line towards the auctioning stage. She saw other men and women from her village in front of her as the sun beat down as cruely as their tribe leader had been when he sent them here. The thought of the man she had respected and once sworn her life over to only strengthened her anger towards him. “I swore to fight for him, I swore to protect him with every bone in my body and he sold me, sold me to the Horians of all people” She scowled again before being tugged further forward yet. “If you would have listened last fall, you wouldn’t be in this situation” Deep in though she had not noticed she was next in line and before she could react she was pushed onto the stage where she stood staring wide eyed at the crowd. Her eyes narrowed as the auctioneer came to her side and was about to lift her arm. The brute who held her rope tried to warn the man but it was too late. She’d pushed her elbow into his gut and brought her leg around to kick him as best she could with the shackles. Somehow managing to stay up she managed to grab the auctioneer’s knife from his fallen body between her tied hands. The crowd gasped at the event of the moment before she looked over at the three men that stayed a weary distance from her. Eyes darting between them, she crouched down and went to cut her bound feet when the men lunged at her. She rolled expertly as the men went flying into the crowd. Finding the rope once again, she guided the knife along it to finally free her feet. Rolling to her knees now, the girl jumped to her feet before staring down the men who held strung arrows before her.
“Drop the knife girl” a voice demanded. Her eyes narrowed in on the voice before she glanced quickly between all the men. Suddenly her eyes softened, she dropped the knife and even took a couple steps away from it and looked to be cowering away. A man took this opportunity to go to retrieve the knife. Big mistake. She ran up and kicked him once in the face and another time to knock him down to the ground. She swiped the rope on her hands against the blade of his sword before releasing her hands. As her hand was about to reach the knife, she pulled from the ground by her hair before getting smacked across the face. She groaned before numerous men began to wrap her entire body in rope.

The same man walked over to her face and touched her chin gently. Snapping her teeth at him he chuckled before grabbing her chin roughly.
“You know you have sentenced yourself to death?” She pierced her eyes as she tried to buck against the rope that bit at her flesh. His other hand moved to her hair before he ran a finger through it “Such a waste too”.

The man moved away from her as the archers raised their arrows once more. She was facing the crowd when he announced “This woman has been condemned to death, if you wish not to bare the sight look away” he turned to her “Do you have any final words?”

Her face moved from facing him to the crowd. “I’d rather die free then lay to bed with any of your pig headed men” she spat on the ground “Go f*** your own wives for a change!” The arrows drew back further as the crowd burst into utter outrage.

Adriana looked in the polished brass vase at her reflexion and smiled, carefully adjusting her scarlet tunic so that it was most becoming. Then she left her room headed for hwer father's. She enetered without knocking. "Daddy?" She asked in a silky voice. The room was empty. Adriana frowned. "So much for that," she pouted. "I'll have to ask about the new sandals latter." She sighed, looking down at her feet. "And I did so want them now. Why is he never around when I want him?"

Ulric waited quietly while the physician changed the bandage on his arm. It wasn't a serious wound, but it was enough to keep him out of the arena for a week or so. When the physician had finished, he left and started for his quarters.

Keeva smiled slightly at Ulric as he walked past her, suddenly she turned around. "Your arm!"

(oh dear...corny...*blushes*)