Ancient Rome

Zane sighed. He sat in the dingy cages infested by rats and smelled like human fesses due probably to no areas to "go" except your own sleeping area where many other war captives had to sleep as well. Zane spat as one of the guards passed his cage. The guard uttered something in roman. Something Zane didn't understand. He was then struck in the head with a stone. he looked at the guard as the roman swine began to laugh. "You disgust me." Zane said in a hushed tone so only the other captives could hear him. He eyed the Guard. "I hope i get to kill you." Zane said to himself.

A man garbed in robes walked by. he was a fat man. He looked rich and spoiled. Probably a politic or something. He saw the man point at him. "You may get the chance. I want that one." Zane was confused. was he to be executed? Oh what did he care all his loved ones were dead. The Guard opened the cage and gave the fat man a set of keys. The large man then handed the guard a sack of what looked like coins. Zane spat again he was to be a slave. The guard this time punched in the face. Zane did nothing. He knew the guard would get what was coming to him. The rich man took zane by his cuffs and walked him through the streets, then into a large home. a nice home. one of a noble even.

Letonius

Letonius was a fairly frail seeming man, old and hunching forth if just the slightest bit. He was a wealthy Roman, given a life of luxury and little work. He was brilliant, however. He had an eye for great stock. His liver spotted, balding head had white hair in patches around the base of his skull. His penetrating green eyes were constantly at work, making calculations. He wore a silky toga and his finest leather sandals. Guards stood near, ready to die for this man. He had always been fairly kind, and extremely rewarding to those who benefitted him. Those calculating eyes..You didn't want to see hatred in their depths, you could be crucified or without your cock the next day.

He stood feet away from the ledge of the cliff that bordered this facility, this "school" for warriors. He had long since ordered his newest batch of gladiators be transported. Waiting in the training yard he was preparing a speech. The trainer was a large Thracian man that had long since won his freedom. He was wearing sandals, a garb and a loincloth. Dirty and scarred. He went by the name, Dentupes. Was feared among anyone that had seen him utterly destroy an opponent. A whip hung loosely from his right hand, coiled around the fingers. He waited patiently, ready to disallow them comfort and solice.

Letonius paced slowly, a bright and anxious smile spread across his lined, old face. His ears perked and he nearly jumped with excitement waving his hands at the guards. Who began the process of opening the large wooden gate for the carriage. It's rackety wheels could be heard coming down the cobblestone path to the school. They were set in the rolling green hills of Italy, far from any massive towns or villages. He had assisted the emperor in paying for the roads this far out. The man loved to flaunt his wealth. He looked forward to this, growing wealthy on the pain and misery of these men.

The carriage arrived and a guard went to the door, pulling it open and grabbing the leading prisoner by the arm, pulling at him and ordering them out. The slaves bustled out, mumbling. Some looked broken and given in while others looked strong and defiant, Letonius ordered them in a line before him on the ledge of the cliff, and the guards went about carrying out the orders. Chains bound the slaves at their wrists and ankles, they all were dirty and unkempt. Letonius smiled, this was always an exciting part.

Zane cringed as one of the other servant lady's cleansed his wounds with a sort of potent alcohol. it stung like a dagger being twisted in the wound, but after the sensation was gone, it felt much less painful then before. Zane struggled to understand her speech, sh spoke the tongue of the roman's. She would say a couple commands in Greek every once in a while but other than that she may as well be a mute to him. Zane Thanked her before she left the room. He was left laying on the soft cloth of the bed like piece of furniture. It was alien to him. Everything was.

Zane watched as the door edged open ever so gently and his "master" walked in. He was glad he spoke Greek else Zane would have been useless. "Now that you have rested and been tended to, time for school." The man said. "And I am your new master, Prometheus." Prometheus said in a gentle fatherly tone. Zane liked him. He was even going to school. Maybe he was leaving his old life behind and starting anew in Rome. Zane was then cuffed though. He was not happy. he looked at Prometheus. "It is for your safety child." He said before a burly guard walked in and took him by the cuffs.

Zane was lead through the city until they reached the edge of the concentration of buildings Zane could see the sea from here. It reminded him of home. He was put into the back of a horse lead carriage by the guard. He was happy to see other Greeks. They sat in silence as the cart drove down a cobble stone road. Zane was surprised to see a large building. It had pillars and was crafted amazingly. It looked Greek, but he could tell that it was not an ordinary school. He heard the clash of steel on bronze and shouts and the odd scream or cry of pain. The large doors began to open as the drove through. Zane saw a man with a whip, he looked like a seasoned warrior. Zane wouldn't try to resist anything. What he needed was to get in his master's good books.

Orci was shackeled with the line of other slaves. The Romans were speaking in their common tongue. When he was still free his tribe freed a few Pict slaves that learned Latin and had taught it to them. They were speaking of different aspects of the slaves. As the guard proded a few of the slave to check muscles, some slaves flinched. Most likely fresh meat. One slave became angry and attempted to strike the observer, only to have been whipped by a guard.

It came to Orci. He did not flinch nor react to the prodding. When they asked him to do something such as lift an arm or to breath in he obeyed. He knew how it went down. The point of this whole thing was to make sure he was good stock for the games. To be bought by a wealthy owner could possibly be a good bet of actually winning. If he won that meant freedom. Freedom meant he could go home.

Zane watched as various slave were being examined. He didn't understand anything so he just said what his master told him to say. "Non loquor linguam tuam." he said. His master told him it was something like "I can't speak like you" The guard nodded and began to examine him. Zane let the guard do whatever he wanted to him. He was being poked and prodded. He then saw the guard lift his arm and flex, he then pointed at him. "do." He said in Greek. Zane obeyed, the guard the examined his arms. He then made Zane do a couple stretches that were common for getting loose before a wrestling match. Probably to check how flexible he was. Zane could do man=y of them with ease but some of the more advanced ones with some difficulty but nothing he couldn't handle.

Zane was then sent with a group of other slaves to a room. There were various teachers, each were garbed as guards. some type of armour, a gladius, and a whip. Zane knew it was best to stay passive and not do anything that he was not instructed to do. as the main teacher it seemed spoke in the roman tongue, the others translated in other languages finally coming to Greek second last out of the five. "You have been selected to be Retiarii. We have fought an won our freedom, we will be teaching you the ways of the Retiarii." The man said. Zane's jaw dropped. He was to be a gladiator. he would be fine at it. but he couldn't stand killing for no reason. especially someones entertainment.

After finishing the investigation, Letonius smiled gleefully, another day another drachma! He sent them in to be washed up and fed, tomorrow. They would be faced with great challenge and scrutiny of their skills and capabilities.

The prisoners would be led to their cells where they would be fed and prostitutes would be arranged. Letonius would provide them great drink and pleasures of the flesh. He sat in a chair in his large room, it would be done in gold satin and a few stone statues of various Gods. He would eat grapes talking with his trainer. Preparing him for the exciting first day. Detnupes would stnad silently his face grim and his scars speaking volumes about his very characters, he'd patiently await the end of Letoniuses less than elaborate plans for what they should accomplish and where the prisoners would stand, he would seem to have high hopes for two slaves in particular.

"Did you see the large Greek, they say he's unmatched in the group with a harpoon and net," He'd seem to grow more excited with the thought, "I can hear the flow aureus now!" He'd nearly hop out of his chair with joy. The aging man was a pleasent sight. Detnupes enjoyed seeing him this way, it was better him be gay than rueful.

He'd wait patiently, knowing it was only a catch as he found breath.

"And the pict from the western isles! He's feared among the rest of the group, they call him savage." He would slow and his eyes would narrow and he would raise a hand to his chin as if in thought for a moment. "A perfect ploy in the games." He'd become instantly giddy once more. His eyes would gleam with greed and satisfaction.

"And of tomorrow?" Detnupes, a man of few words would mutter looking the small old man in the face, content and prepared to carry out thy bidding.

"Tonight I show them how well it is to be at my dining table. Tomorrow I show them how horrific it is to be beaten at the snap of my fingers." He'd nod, as if making up his mind. This year would be his year, no doubt. He would expand his compound and increase his wealth a great deal.

Zane enjoyed his teachings. They showed him the Weapons of his class. a Trident and a net. Zane flashed back to a necklace he gave his youngest daughter of a trident, he then zoomed into reality. He cried inside but kept a gate between his feelings and his face, it would show weakness, and weakness was brought out of warriors by beatings and savage punishments. Zane's class was concluded within and hour. He was surprised how well kept the slaves were. they were fed fairly well, not greatly but very well for a slave, bountys of beef and pig, lamb, Shanks of turkey, large tankards of wine. Everything needed for a good time.

Zane disliked the idea of the prostitutes though. Every time he looked at one he saw the face of his wife, or daughter Avellea. He was sickened. later into the night many gladiators were drunken, wenches on their arms, prostitutes in their beds. Zane laid in his cell, it was like a room, he shared with another. it was separated by a thin wall for privacy. the cells were just for what Zane was assuming so some unhappy gladiators didn't escape. Zane was happy, as long as he was fed and not treated too badly he could survive.

Zane laid in his bed, it wasn't of the finest make, but it was still comfortable enough to sleep on. Zane cocked his head towards his cell door as it screeched open and a wench was sent in. A prostitute to be more precise. She looked at him. He at her. "Don't bother. I rather not contract a sickness." Zane said. he was telling the truth, he saw his daughters face as he looked at her, he wouldn't bed a woman against her will. She looked at him and laughed a little. "You think i have sickness's?" She said. Zane laughed himself. He took his pillow of okay make and rolled onto the floor. "Take the bed." He told her, he saw her begin to open her mouth to protest but he pointed at the bed. "Sleep." He said.