<strong>Aulus/Antonious transferring from the Study to the Balcony</strong><br/>Strange how it was having to move from location to location. First at the outer courtyard, then the study, and now the balcony; Aulus could only assume this was required at a Ludus in order to meet the master of this estate.  It didn’t trouble him; rather it gave him a very unique opportunity.  Aulus had never been near estate of such magnitude.  Granted the war allowed him the opportunity to see the work of barbarians from the East, yet in all its splendor and glory, he hoped to one day visit an estate that was of Roman design, leaving him a sense of self gratitude to his devotion to the Republic.  With him now honorably discharged it was all he had to honor since his parents had now passed.   Needless to say for all he had done for the Republic a reward such as an invitation to a Ludus was quite pleasing to him by observation alone.  For the first time in a long while he could actually smile so naturally.<br/><br/>The smile came into play as the young soldier had assisted in helping his guardian from the study to the balcony via the Outdoor Corridor.  Having to assist carrying his mildly intoxicated guardian it forced him to slow his pace leaving him partially behind the rest of the guests, which was more than enough distance for one to keep an eye on the young man.  Having to drag Antonious, Aulus couldn’t help but seem to wonder if this was perhaps like having a brother…<em>errrr to old for a brother</em>….perhaps an uncle figure, if so it was certainly going to be a long road and day ahead of him.  Aulus could only pray to Jupiter……<em>By Jupiter’s grace, don’t let me get in trouble, especially because of Antonious</em>…and hope that the old merchant didn’t overdo tonight.  With so much going on, and not to mention his duty to address the master of this estate Pompey’s wishes, the last thing he wanted to have to deal with was apologizing for his lack of controlling his guardian.<br/><br/>But as much as he worried about his guardian, a thought had occurred with Aulus that required him to ask Antonious a small favor despite his buzzed stated.  Continuing to help assist Antonious he turned his head to face the old man eye to eye, “Antonious I need you to hold onto something for now.   I fear it may be confiscated, but so long as you have it you could say it is one of your wares.” Such an odd request must have sobered Antonious instantly, for he no longer needed Aulus to help him to the balcony. His posture was nearly perfect, almost making Aulus believe that his guardian was a noble in disguise as a merchant.  Whatever the case Antonious was ready to hold on whatever it his bodyguard wished for him to hold.  Aulus had carried what seemed to be a large wide object wrapped in cloth.  It was tied by series of leather threads holding the cloth that masked the object tight, followed by a series of threads that kept the object tied to his satchel belt.<br/><br/>Aulus first had to have Antonious first hold his goblet of water.  Since he wasn’t sure whether or not the servants had brought water with them he rationed the one goblet he had poured for him at the study.  Using both of his now free hands he untied the strings connecting the masked object from his belt letting it drop in his other free hand.  The object was small enough to fit in Aulus hand, despite its wide length.  With the object in hand he handed traded it for the goblet of water in Antonious’ hand.  With the swap complete Antonious could hold onto whatever this object was, and Aulus could breathe a sigh of relief knowing a valuable possession of his is in good hands.  Not only that but given the weather it was nice that Aulus didn’t have to drag Antonious for too long, which was convenient since they were already so close to the balcony.  Now what were they in store for next?<br/><br/>Finally at the balcony the two were quick to move to the railing to see what exactly could be seen from here.  For Antonious it was simple, but for Aulus it was amazing, from the balcony he could see the whole of the training ground which left in awe in such splendor.  His father had told him that at gladiator games to be able to see such a fine view of the game was always moving, with each swing of the sword and splash of blood.  When he finally looked down at the training sands he took note of a few souls, thinking that perhaps they had become lost.   One of the souls had turned to look up at him and most likely the other guests, along with the slaves/gladiators behind him.  The soul was a man, proud, strong, rugged, leaving Aulus only to assume that he was a gladiator perhaps?  The man’s dialogue however would set Aulus straight as to who he really was.<br/><br/>“This is how we deal with murders at this house. I hope you will enjoy the spectacle as I dispose of this thing that has brought disgrace to MY Ludus.”<br/><br/>It was now clear that the man was the Dominus and thus the master of the estate.  Strange why he would be found down in the sands of the training ground then with his guests, but it seemed he had come prepared to entertain his guests.  He mentioned spectacles which lead Aulus’ eyes to notice the two women near the cliff’s edge.  He had remembered being there and recalled the nauseating sight from looking over the edge.  A fate these two women would not share for they were shoved right off the cliff left to plummet to their demise.  Aulus flinched for but a second, but painful it remained.  It reminded him much of the times he had seen soldiers thrown off a cliff for desertion.  There was no mercy to cowards and deserters in the Legion, a principal that Aulus held to strongly despite many hardships.<br/><br/>Following the death of the two women, Aulus returned his attention to the Dominus who now wielded a giant mace.  A very crafty if not heavy weapon, even Aulus could not lift a weapon like that with one hand.  With Manius able to lift it with one hand, Aulus could instantly conclude that he was indeed far stronger in strength then the roman soldier could be even in his prime.  What he didn’t notice quickly enough was that another man was out on the sand with weapon in hand charging the Dominus.  Even from this distance, Aulus could see the horrible approach and technique the slave took to attack the Dominus, the Dominus on the other hand was more than prepared for him, it really only took one swing to send the slave faltering back as the mace crushed against his chest, followed with a deathblow to the head/neck region finishing the match with a stomp to the head shattering the skull.<em>So this is how Gladiators fought</em>…..Aulus could finally realize the sense of thrill and entertainment that erupts from these games, in a way you could say this was Aulus’ first exposure to a gladiator match.  Seeing the weapon coated in blood and membrane, he could sense his heart pounding faster, as if his curse from Mars had begun to arouse from its slumber, however brief that is was.<br/><br/>“Are you not entertained?”<br/><br/>Well certainly any Roman would be entertained by such games, and even though Aulus was Roman to say that he enjoyed it would not be entirely accurate.  The match itself was interesting to watch but watching the females being thrown off the cliff left him nauseous.  Nevertheless as a sign of respect to the Dominus he offered him a respectful nod and applause to his match.  He was after all only a soldier of a former lower class, honor dictate that he show his respect to the master of the estate.  Following his applause he would come to pause as another body would appear dead by the hands of Dominus. Perhaps it was another slave receiving punishment for attempting to run away, which in truth he could not confirm. Regardless Aulus could only pay attention to the blood that soaked these sands, reminding him of what he had done and what he was capable of.  His heart beat even harsher, despite his lack of showing it, leaving him to only drink from the goblet of water to make the guests think it was the heat that was getting to him.<br/><br/>“Now all powerful Matriana, what would you have me do?”<br/><br/>Turning his head it seemed that the Dominus had directed his question to a woman whom was of heavier complexion.  Her proposal seemed somewhat harsh, had there already been enough blood for the evening?  It didn’t seem fair, but as a guest he had no right to question her desires, and if the Dominus offered such a power to the woman then there was nothing Aulus could do.   She showed some mercy however by allowing the Dominus to choose whom the executioner shall be.<br/><br/>“Ryann move so I can see you.”<br/><br/><em>Ryann, who was that?</em>Before long his sky blue eyes would be preyed on by the eyes of the female gladiator from earlier.  Strong, beautiful, full of resolve and rage, her gaze had never left that neck of his and now she would be carrying the fate of the stock of this Ludus, leaving Aulus only curious as to who she would choose to carry the sword and who shall not.<br/><br/><br/>