<strong>Matriana’s plan and the end of Manius and his Ludus</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd468/sybakrys/Amplus/article-1057070-050F37D70000044D-98_468x465.jpg)</div>Matriana had formulated her plan by now, after all the man would have nothing left when she had finished and thus would have no choice but to abide by her wishes. Whether his wife came with him or not was of little consequence. So the large woman waited; if he was going to play with the Romans this man would have to truly learn to ‘play’ the game.<br/><br/>Manius left a maid to prepare the body for burial while he, Canis and Galo went to see what Matriana could possibly want with him. He had a fight to witness and no more time for her games. Galo went in first followed by Manius and Canis waited by the door, once he had entered the room. The cough had become worse as he tried to show that he was angry and upset. “What!” Manius boomed, “My wife is dead and you summon me now? Do you have no heart?”<br/><br/>Matriana responded harshly “Do not dare to shout at me little man…” as she stared at him showing no fear. “My husband is dead, yet I am expected to continue, I suggest you do the same. Please sit we have much to arrange, I do not like to make business deals lightly and as I am leaving very soon I have an offer for you, and one that might mean profitable for you.”<br/><br/>Still fuming when she spoke, Manius soon calmed himself once she has stopped. “Of course you are right, it is not your fault as I feel responsible for all that has happened here and would do anything to see that the Ludus does not die. He then became intrigued by the offer of financial gain so he sat as instructed. She was right, she had lost today too. So he listened to what she had to say.<br/><br/>“You …” she gestured to more wine, this time it was wholesome, “Though rather barbaric, have shown me that you are prepared to follow orders, I like that in a man, it is important. Thus I am considering offering you a Ludus closer to Rome, and you may choose your staff. My children will be more involved than I.”<br/><br/>Manius had no clue as to what she was suggesting. He thought that she would be in her carriage by now or at least well on her way. Things were being packed as people came and went from the room. Why was she leaving so soon? Was the death of his wife connected? He smiled at her as he mind started to quieten. The more he listened to her the more he began to realise life for him her was over. She wanted him to leave. Impossible request. She must be made, this was his life. “I have to protest, do anything to me and this place, but I have to decline your offer.” He then stood and with his lungs filled to the max, he belted the words from his mouth “This is madness!”<br/><br/>Matriana responded to his outburst. “Madness indeed….your Ludus will die…do not dismiss my offer for I offer you something far better. If you think you can keep your mind.” She paused and drank a little more wine, “Would you like to be closer to Rome? I think you might. I will not mince words with you this is no game, leave with me and the slaves you wish and have a life or rot here."<br/><br/>She had a point, unfortunately. Manius hoped to rise to greatness here and for Rome to take notice, but what she offered would skip that stage so with his anger at the recent events subsiding a little, with every moment, he took pause and considered her offer.<br/><br/>Then he spoke, his mind all but made up, except for a few details. “I can not just up and leave, there is the new stock to consider and who shall I take with me? I see that you are giving me the hard choice about who should stay and who should go?” he paused for a moment “Thank you very much” he remarked sarcastically.<br/><br/>His thoughts then turned to the delightful Livia. This was taking him away from her side and then he had a thought. “I will have to speak with my good friend Livia about this. Perhaps she will take charge in my leave?”<br/><br/>In response, Matriana spoke again. “You make your choice, but I will be arranging to leave within the hour, I have a Ludus for you to have however you must choose your staff. I think you have much to learn but will in time do well in Rome.” She ate a little more food “With my help you may find your place.”<br/><br/>Of course she was leaving, but taking Manius and his staff with her. Outrageous. Right now he needed the support of a good woman. One of them was dead and the other unavailable. So he thought long and hard. The choice of course was already made for him. A successful life in Rome or ruin here? It was not a hard question to answer. So he sat down once again and responded. “It seems that you have beaten me as you clearly have the upper hand. You make it sound like I have a choice but the more I think on this the more I realise I do not. It seems that I have become your puppet in the game of sorts. In fact the more I reflect on this I am convinced of it. But as you have the power I will concede to the better man, so to speak. Well the more powerful on anyway.”<br/><br/>He then turned to Canis. “See to it that Nadia is brought to my side as I am sure that she will want to know that her services are no longer required at this Ludus, since her employer is now dead.” Canis responded quickly and was out of the door, like a shot.<br/><br/>This was so wonderful, Matriana thought, though none of her glee and joy was apparent on her cold face, “ahhhh yes the house slave, the head house slave she will make a useful member of our entourage on the journey. Now that she is no longer employed it would be a waste to have her back in the fields do you not think. Yes I shall take her too. I prefer an older slave; after all they are more sensible.”<br/><br/>Her solution to his problem seemed valid as Manius nodded upon the arrival of Nadia. It seemed that she was only in the second guest bedroom. She moved to Galo’s side and remained quite as Manius spoke. “Take her if you will. I must make you aware however that she has children and I am sure she would need them to go with her.” His stomach was beginning to feel better and as it did the realisation of what had happened to his wife began to wash over him as he practically gave his livelihood and trust to this confident and large woman.<br/><br/>Nadia stood next to Galo as she heard her fate. Nodded her head deferentially and then moved to Matriana. She felt a tug towards her long time friend think this might be the end of their relationship, but she had no choice her only thought was she hoped that the Dominus would take him. Her face was impassive. Matriana said there would be no problem if her children came, they could work on her estate. She was not so cruel and had children of her own. Slaves were nothing to her just tools to do as she wished.<br/><br/>With the loss of his wife and the need for Livia’s counsel washing over him, he stood and gestured to Galo. “Please make ready some previsions as we will be leaving soon after my wife and Bastian have been prepared for the journey to Rome, where they will be buried in full Rome fashion, if Matriana will agree. See to it that you manage the bodies with the help of the appropriate slaves and keep all this quiet as I do not wish to disturb the fighting on the sands which has to be concluded as I am sure Matriana will agree.”<br/><br/>Matriana of course agreed to the matter at hand, this man perhaps might do well elsewhere especially if she held the strings. Nadia looked to Galo and he got a passing smile. She knew there was much to prepare. Meanwhile the large woman ate figs and looked to Manius. “Before you leave I suggest you sell or give the rest of those dogs to that would be noble, unless of course there are any you might wish to keep.” Manius nodded to Matriana as she continued to supervise the packing and then began to concern it was time to take his leave and make his way back to the balcony to seek out Livia. As he walked to the door he watched Galo begin the preparations that he had instructed him to do.<br/><br/>Before heading out, Matriana yelled to him. She had changed her mind. She did that a lot. “Manius, send a slave to notify Livia of your departure and see to it that she returns to your side once Livia has been informed.” At those words Manius shrank inside. Not only had he lost his wife, but he would also be unable to say his farewell to Livia. So a slave was sent and before long she was walking down the corridor towards the balcony as Manius thought on who he would take. Maximus and Atticus being his most loyal of gladiators would come. The slave of course had been instructed to allow Livia to choose any in the Ludus. Turning the corner the slave walked fast to Livia’s side and began her message “I have grave news, Domina. Dominus has asked me to inform you that he has to leave for some time and would like it very much if you would take charge of the stock that remain either here or at your ludus. If you accept there will be no cost to you as he considers you a friend and would accept no coin. If you do not wish to accept his offer please feel free to sell the Ludus and the property within.” After inform her of the departure of Manius she then scuttled back to the guest room to inform Manius that his message had been given.