Chapter 15

"Eat," Empress Pompeia gave a slight gesture of her hand as a group of servants suddenly knelt before him lifting a silver tray above their heads, offering him food. 

Artorius noticed that the Empress wasn't making a move for the food but the look in her eyes told him that she was not to be tested. Unsure of why he had been summoned to her private bedchamber at this time of evening he gathered up a slice of seeded bread that crumbled in his hand slightly. His mouth was salivating just thinking about the food at his disposal but he kept himself in check as he turned back to the Empress, who seemed impressed that he had obeyed her.

"You fought well in the arena today," Pompeia waved the servants away as she settled herself back into the cushions, working the sash around her waist loose until her silk robe parted to reveal a long slither of ivory flesh. Artorius kept his eyes averted as she kicked her bare leg out from under the robe and let out a deep sigh of longing.

"I am grateful to the emperor for holding the games." Artorius bowed his head.

"Urgh!" Pompeia rolled her eyes as she stretched her arm out behind her, the empty chalice in her hand dangling expectantly from her fingertips. A moment later a servant girl came running forward to refill it. The terror in the young girl's eyes showed Artorius exactly what Pompeia would do to her if she took too long. But every lord and lady beat their slaves. It was common practice, so Artorius did not press the matter.

"My brother," Pompeia groaned as she lifted the cup back to her rose lips, "is a dull old sod who does not know the difference between ruling over an empire and ruling over a herd of cattle."

Artorius did not respond. If such words left his mouth he would be strung up in the courtyard at dawn.

"You spoke of Krista," Artorius turned back to the topic at the forefront of his mind. Krista would not tell him and became aggravated when he asked so he became afraid of what deal Pompeia had enforced upon her for his freedom from the dungeons.

"Aah, Krista" Pompeia let her head fall back against the pillow, her white blonde hair fanning out behind her, "Glorious Krista!" Pompeia extended her arm into the air like someone cheering in the stands of the arena might do but Artorius could tell that the sound of Krista's name annoyed her, as if she was sick of hearing it. 

Artorius placed his bread to the side when Pompeia suddenly turned and pressed the length of her warm body against his. The water on her body soaked through the silk robe causing it to stick to her like a second skin. Artorius tried not to react whilst Pompeia remained there, her ice blue eyes searching Artorius's with a sudden clarity and determination he did not know she possessed after the ingestion of so much wine.

"You care for her," Pompeia sat up a little as she pressed her face closer, her eyes seeming to find something on his face which told her this. "Of course you do," She leant back against the furniture, her voice amused but also not surprised, "No man would take a public beating for someone they did not care about."

"I know-" Artorius caught his breath when Pompeia reached out her hand and started to lightly run her fingertips up his arm and across his bare chest.

"Hmm? What do you know?" Pompeia smirked as she enjoyed playing with him. Her chalice somehow found its way to the floor and she was now torturing him with both hands.

"I know she made a deal with you to get me out of the dungeon," Artorius said quickly, turning to look at Pompeia and clasped her exploring hand in his, "Whatever she has promised you, I'll do it. I implore you to release her from her debt."

Pompeia looked from where his fingers enclosed her wrists before slowly raising her eyes to meet his. Seeing the contempt in her eyes, Artorius released her fingers and Pompeia pushed herself off of him, "The business between me and the slave girl is of no concern to you."

Slave girl. Artorius's chest rumbled at hearing such words aimed at Krista but he did not know why since he had heard worse things.
"Apologies," Artorius whispered, bowing his head slightly. It was clear he had upset her and if he wished for her to release Krista then he knew he had to play to her level. He heard Pompeia let out a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing, before she turned back to face him and she was once again the alluring empress with no sign of anger from the previous question. Artorius was slightly unnerved by this quick change of character. 

"Leave us." Pompeia ordered her servants and a second later Artorius heard the pitter patter of bare feet hurrying from the room, when in truth he had forgotten they were present. 

"I have a task for you, gladiator" Pompeia stepped forward, spreading his legs and stepping between them, her robe swaying open, "and something tells me that you will perform it with great prowess and determination."

Artorius realised that he was not getting a choice as she slid her hand down his chest, towards the belt clasped around his waist. Artorius watched her hand with deliberation before he turned back to the Empress, knowing he could refuse her nothing or else it would be the rope. He had slept with other wealthy women in the past, his prowess as a gladiator had them queuing to pay his master for their share of him in their bed. They would lavish him with food and jewels and it was an arrangement every male gladiator had become accustomed to, but this was different. 

Pompeia was not just another wealthy woman, she was the Emperor's sister. Artorius knew that she did not want him for his body, or if she did it came second to her true goal of showing Krista how far her influence and power ranged. Artorius would have loved to be able to turn and walk away, to tell her that he could not, but he was still a slave and in no position to deny her. And even if he could, Krista would feel the repercussions of his refusal. 

"You are going to help me." Pompeia smiled as she released his body and removed her robe from her shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor and pool around her ankles.

Artorius dared to ask, "With what?" 

"Keeping Krista alive inside and outside of the arena," Pompeia moved her mane of hair until it was resting over her shoulder as she came to straddle his legs. 

"What interest is it to you that Krista survives?" Artorius asked, shifting away from her but he was trapped. 

"Tut tut," Pompeia shook her head softly, pressing a single finger to his lips, "Let's just say that she is a vital component to my plan at the moment. Would you wish to know another vital component of my plan?" Pompeia teased him with information as she moved closer, pushing him onto his back atop the cushions.

Artorius willed himself not to respond to her position on top of him but his body was not in league with his mind as he felt her warm damp skin against his loins. Pompeia pressed her hips into his and Artorius clenched his jaw as he felt his member strain against its confinements. Pompeia's lips parted slightly in a small gasp as she felt him against her groin.  

"I'll take that as a yes," She smirked, rotating her hips against him with more vigour. 

"The other vital component I mentioned," Pompeia reminded him. 

"Yes?" Artorius hissed as Pompeia seemed to be enjoying his torture far too much.

"Is you," Pompeia said, "Because if I think you're slacking in any part of this . . . transaction then Krista will pay for it."

"You just said Krista was vital to your plan," Artorius clamped his jaws together as pain waved up his back from where he was lying. 

"I said she was vital to my plan alive," Pompeia said as her long blond curls bounced against her pert little breasts, "I could  have her beaten to within an inch of her life but, alas, she would still be alive and still very able to aid me." 

Artorius resisted the deep urge to strike her. 

"Now," Pompeia leaned over his body, pressing her lips against his ear, "Show me how much you really care for Krista."

* * *

Short and stout with a shaved head, the woman must have weighed a good two hundred pounds as muscles quivered all over her body. Krista thought that she could pass for a man as she jutted her spear towards Krista's shoulder.Raising her shield, Krista hit off the offending spear as she spun and sent a kick into the woman's strong gut, making her stumble back a step.

Sweat was now forming a thin layer over Krista's skin, pooling in her eyebrows and in her palms it made her grip on her own spear loosen. Recovering from her small stumble backwards, the girl with the shaved head let out a firm grunt as she bashed off Krista's spear and made a swing for Krista's ankles.

Not moving fast enough, Krista's feet were swiped out from beneath her, sending her sprawling onto her back. Keeping the grip on her spear tight, Krista looked up at the blazing sky to see her feral adversary crouch above her, spear raised, ready to be sunk into her flesh. 

Pushing the long rectangular shield strapped to her arm up into the woman's face, Krista knocked her backwards with a great thunk. The crowds roared as Krista spun into action. Scrabbling to her feet, Krista hunched slightly at the waist as she tried to take in big gulps of air. She did not know how long they had been fighting but the sun was changing position in the sky and her limbs were growing heavy and Krista was quickly learning that it was hard to kill someone with a spear. There had been a lot of dodging and swipes but no direct shots.

"Let's end this." Krista muttered to herself for moral support as she straightened up. Making the first move, Krista shuffled forward, her legs bent for support, and lunged the spear towards the woman who was most likely from Gaulia.

But Krista's blow was easily deflected. The woman let out a yell of triumph as she managed to slip her spear beneath Krista's shield and against her thigh. Krista gave a short shout of pain as the spear-head tore through her skin. Reacting with violence and anger to the pain, Krista raised her opposite leg and booted the woman's wrist with the tip of her boot, sending her spear flying through the air and out of her hand.

Sensing that she was now in danger, the Gaul tried defensive tactics as she raised her shield to guard her head from Krista's expected blows. But it would do her no good as Krista's anger kept growing. This woman would not stand in her way to freedom and revenge and as Krista advanced, she retreated. 

Lowering her shield towards the ground, Krista arched it back up through the air, gaining momentum, and thrashed the bottom edge against the Gaul's jaw, sending her off balance.

Sensing the kill was near, Krista kept hitting her with her shield. Tiring her out, it wasn't long before the Gaul left her an opening. Krista spotted the woman's spear in the sand just before the Gaul broke away from her shield and lunged for the weapon. But Krista had no desire to prolong this battle any further.

With one last surge of energy, Krista turned the spear around in her hand until the tip was pointing down and pushed herself up into the air. A few feet off the ground, Krista saw her chance.

The Gaul was reaching for her lost spear, leaving the side of her neck exposed and Krista made her decision.

With the crowd's cheers flooding her ears, Krista drove her spear down through the soft flesh of the woman's neck, blood spurting out as Krista pushed it down deeper into the sand below.

The Gaul's outstretched arm went limp as her entire body gave a small convulsion before she died.

Landing by her side, Krista stared at the spear as it wobbled slightly. 

Unlatching the shield from her arm, Krista threw the thick rectangular plank into the sand before she turned and walked out of the arena, taking no satisfaction in killing a fellow gladriatrix for entertainment.

Krista waited until she was safely under the cover of the tunnels and out of peoples view before she stood beside a torch and inspected her leg.

The Gaul had gotten a good swipe in. The strike was nearly half-a-foot long and an inch wide as it ran diagonally across the side of her thigh.

A slow steady stream of blood flowed out of the wound.

Shaking her head in annoyance at herself, Krista tore one of the lappets off of her pteruges and wrapped the leather strap around her thigh.

Krista let out a low hiss as she fastened it tightly to stopper anymore bleeding.

*

Soon Krista was back in the baths at Ludus Magnus with Myra attending to her wounds.

Myra had started to follow Krista around until she could stand it no longer.

Myra, she was sure, would call them friends but Krista never had friends, even when she was younger, she preferred to train with Lazarus than play with people her own age.

Krista was ashamed that she was cruel to her brother in that way. Had she known he would be cut from her life so tragically she would have made more of an effort.

"Ow!" Krista growled when Myra pulled on the thread as she stitched up her leg.

"Remember to do it tightly," Krista tilted her head, trying to see what she was doing.

But Myra was becoming more confident and defied Krista, "No, the stitches need to be loose to allow the skin to heal. Trust me, my- my father was a healer."

Krista narrowed her eyes at Myra.

"I- I think," Myra added after a little deliberation, sadness tinging her voice from the memories.

Krista did not press the matter and if needed she could re-stitch it later herself.

She had tended to her own wounds under Commander Niclaus all the time.

"Tiberius was killed today," Myra struck up a new conversation as Krista lifted her head and noticed the meagre crowds that were left, "And Agamon."

Krista sighed, "They were good gladiators."

"Obviously not good enough," Lazarus chuckled behind her and Krista looked over her shoulder with a mixture of joy and anger.

"Hey!" Lazarus exclaimed when Krista sent a playful punch into his side, "What was that for?"

"Where have you been!?" Krista exclaimed as Lazarus made her shuffle up on the bench so he could sit beside her.

"A small mix up," Lazarus shrugged a shoulder, "I was put in Ludus Dacicus. What have you done to yourself now?" He eyed the wound on her thigh.

Krista let out a sigh of relief at knowing he was okay, there were small marks across his arms and chest but nothing life threatening.

"Some Gaul with a spear," Krista lifted a shoulder, brushing the topic off when she looked up and saw Artorius stood in the doorway to the baths.

His figure seemed larger than normal stood in the arched doorway, his face dark and brooding.

He looked terrifying.

Krista saw Lazarus give her a sideways glance, wondering what had happened, when Artorius saw her watching him.

Krista felt a sudden rush of hope that he would come over to her but ever since the night of the first games he would not speak to her.

And just like before, he turned and walked away, turning Krista's good mood sour.