<span class="bbc_u"><strong>The Ludus study – Patrocles and Caris waiting for the return of their mistress.</strong></span><br/><br/>Now that he was alone in the study with only Caris he looked over at the girl.  She was pretty in an understated simplicity that would only be expected from a servant, but could not be denied.  She stood some ways off, with her back stiff and turned towards him.  He thought back over the years that he had been in the ludus and could think of nothing he had done to offend her or cause her deep seated dislike for him, and it troubled him.  He wished to know why she hated him so.  Seizing the moment as an opportunity presented to him to interact with her directly, with no prying ears to hear their conversation, he leaned casually back against the wall and thought to speak to her.<br/><br/>Patrocles was a soldier, a man of battle, but also of finesse, on the sands of the arena.  He knew the error of coming head long at an opponent only to find them waiting for you.  He knew the art of being unpredictable and working the edges of an opponent, waiting patiently for a strategic opportunity to strike.  Caris, however, should not be an opponent, or an enemy.  Whatever enmity had spawned between them was unknown to him, so he was off balance, yet, he saw the wisdom in this case of coming straight on… for in this, that alone would be unpredictable.<br/><br/>Caris.  Why do you hate me?  What have I ever done to offend you so grievously that makes you look upon me with such disdain?  Are we not both servants to the same mistress, tasked with her satisfaction above all things?  Why is it, when our goals are the same, that we should always be at odds?  I would have you tell me so that, if possible, I might make amends.<br/><br/>As he spoke, he watched her reaction to his words.  Upon the first word she stiffened even more, if that were possible, and bristled at the very sound of his voice.  She wheeled on him and looked at him directly, defiantly.  The look in her eyes was not necessarily one of hatred but definitely she was not happy to be addressed by him.<br/><br/>She looked as though she might answer him, but as she opened her mouth one of the ludus’ servants entered the room and got their attention.  She passed along the message that Domina wished them to join her on the balcony over looking the training yard with everyone else.  Hearing that Domina was requesting their presence on the balcony he instantly stiffened his posture and made ready to go.  Looking over at Caris he gave her a questioning look, and then turned to the servant girl.<br/><br/>Thank you for the escort.  We will gather Domina’s belongings and meet you in the hallway.  I would have you bear with us for one moment as we prepare.<br/><br/>He made sure to emphasize with his body language that the servant was to wait for them in the hallway, and to leave them alone to gather Domina’s personal belongings.<br/><br/>As the servant left the room, he glanced at Caris again while he made a show of straightening up the area he stood in, as if gathering items that would belong to Livia.<br/><br/>I would have your answer, even if it is brief, but we are now summoned to attend Domina.  So seek me, this night when we return to the ludus, or before if opportunity presents.<br/><br/>Turning quickly he strode confidently to the door and fell into step behind the servant girl, with Caris following behind him.  As they stepped onto the balcony he took stock of the thinning crowd and saw that at least half of the people who had left to come to the balcony, not long before, were now absent, and there were a number of gladiators below.  It looked suspiciously like those below were prepared for an actual match, not training, which struck Patrocles as terribly odd, with so few people to watch.  To a participant in the arena he knew that the battle would be about glory, but what glory could be found with no one to bear witness… and to what end.  The games were wildly popular and a source of huge revenues to the lanistae, but there was no paying crowd here.  Why would this be so?<br/><br/>Before he could begin to puzzle the answer to that question he saw Domina to the side of the balcony, and she seemed to struggle under the weight of a large man that Patrocles instantly recognized as the master of the house.  He broke to the side and moved quickly to their side, dropping his gaze as he arrived.  He knew that speaking with a certain air of confidence and familiarity was allowed to him as the ludus champion, but he wondered if here, in another ludus, in front of another lanista it may be bordering on insolence.  So keeping his tone low, his eyes down, and his face turned away he addressed Livia.<br/><br/>Domina… you summoned?<br/>