<strong>~ Cingetorix arriving at the ludus ~</strong><br/><br/>The sound of hooves clacking noisily upon uneven rock and the monotonous droning of heavy wooden wheels coalesced with sounds of metal against metal, creaking leather and muted voices. The wagon rattled and shook steadily as it traveled along the rough road leading to a destination unknown. Cingetorix sat amidst strangers, slaves like he, their wrists and ankles chained and shackled together like convicted criminals. The heat from the noonday sun caused perspiration to bead on his forehead and collect at his brow. Sweat ran down his entire body in tenuous dirty rivulets as it mingled with the dirt, blood and grime on his hardened physique.<br/><br/>Across from him sat a woman unlike any he had ever seen, bound in the same manner as he. She was tall for a woman with a long, sable mane and creamy muscled flesh riddled with scars and layered with dust and sand. She was all but threadbare with only the skimpiest of loin cloths to cover her most intimate bits; it failed in covering her more than it succeeded.<br/><br/>He said nothing, that ever present scowl on his dirty face as he stole a glance to this one and that one, keen ears always alert and, absorbing his surroundings like a thirsty sponge. The driver of the wagon called out a stern command, giving a tug on the reigns and bringing them all to a jolting stop. Cingetorix squinted, struggling to raise his hands over his eyes. With the chains shackling hands and feet, it was a futile attempt to shield the sun’s bite from searching eyes still sensitive to the harsh light after such a length of time spent in relative darkness by comparison.<br/><br/>One of the guards gave a firm yank on the chains causing him to stumble forward and eliciting a hateful sneer in response which was mostly ignored aside from a few chuckles and smirks from the guards. Jumping down from the wagon, he followed behind the woman who had been sitting across from him. Inquisitive pools of soft chocolate quickly set to the task of scanning, searching, studying his surroundings. Shuffling feet shod with sandals carried him forward in file behind the woman slave. His attention was caught by some pompous upper class Romans on one of the upper balconies, casting indifferent glances and waving, gesturing hands in his general direction as if they were merely discussing cattle. He cursed them under his breath and swore a silent oath to himself and his departed loved ones lost to him at the hands of contemptuous Romans like those who looked on him even now.<br/>