<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><em>Antonius Valerianus Iustinianus ~ In hell...admiring the nice tapestries...</em></span></div><br/><div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/ad/Antonius.jpg)</div><br/>The villa was richly adorned in colorful tapestries depicting various gods and goddess or battles and even a ceremonial urn.<em>At least it looks nice...</em>he grinned to himself in thought.<br/><br/>“What are you smiling about, slave?”  One of his escorts growled at him.<br/><br/>“Why be upset?  I now know how my life will end...”  he said in return.  His voice was a deep warm timbre that held a slightly somber tone to it.  There was a sense of calm in the certainty of his life ending in combat.<em>Perhaps I will see the Elysian Fields after all...</em>Slaves walked about doing the daily chores but they all stayed clear of the newest arrival as he was brought out to the training yards.<br/><br/>Hearing the sounds of combat, even if it was mock, his eyes lit up slightly.  He'd always found some joy in combat; joy in the simplicity of the act itself.  He'd always been very skilled at killing people often being praised for his efficiency at dealing with his opponent.<br/><br/>The hortus was filled with large and small men fighting with wooden swords and shields striking each other to learn the art of fighting.<em>Toy swords...killers and nothing more...no professionalism in them</em>, he thought to himself as the pair of men pushed him forward.<br/><br/>Finally in the open his eyes scanned the surroundings.  On the balcony he could see who he only assumed was his<em>owner</em>sitting next to a rather striking woman and a younger man.  Off a ways from the trio he saw a beautiful young girl watching and talking with the rest.  The man on his left leaned over to the other and whispered, “Rufinus...you do the introduction this time...the Domius likes you better...”<br/><br/>“Cyprianus...you simpering coward, fine...”  Clearing his throat the man and called up to the balcony, “Dominus Caelius, we bring you you're first new slave for the day!”