<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/d/dc/Caris.jpg)</div><br/><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Caris</span> - on the balcony </em><br/><br/>The view of the sands was perfect from where she stood, her gaze moved over the various men below that were preparing to fight. Only once did her gaze shift to her mistress and Patrocles before returning it to the grounds. The unarmed gladiator looked almost possessed in his determination to succeed as he deflected one swipe of the gladius after another and it was as he did so that Caris's attention moved along the other gladiators in place awaiting their own turn on the sand. Below was a gladiator that seemed to shimmer, as if his body had flecks of gold imbued into his flesh. His hair seemed tinged with red but she could not be sure with the late sun dancing on it. He was magnificent and for some time she forgot all about the game and watched him intently instead. It was only the victory that tore her gaze and the arrival of a slave. She shifted her position unable to help listening to what was being said.<br/><br/>The Domina of the Ludus was dead? Caris blinked astonished but said nothing, what was she to say besides it not being her place either. Her gaze moved to Patrocles before looking to her own Domina to see how she took the rest of the news and it was obvious she was astounded. The suddenness of this turn around was shocking but these nobles led their lives as if they were gods at play and Caris chose to simply do as her mistress bid as she always did and nothing more. The look that Domina Metalla bestowed on both her champion and her personal slave did not go unnoticed and Caris hoped she had at least given with a simple look an indication of her loyalty always to her. She watched fascinated as the Domina sat again to watch the games, this time taking her gladiators hand as she did so. Caris looked up at the annoyance that was Patrocles and contained the urge to roll her eyes but turned instead to the sands. What were they to do now? Simply stay and watch the games unfold? The Dominus of the Ludus was leaving, how would Livia explain to the gladiators below that they had been abandoned and that she was now their Domina. The woman had her work cut out for her, that much was certain.