Livia with Aulus // Caris speaks to Patrocles<br/><br/>Livia entered blind to her waiting gladiator on the balcony outside, after speaking she closed the door and saw the hasty retreat of hands from the man's neck and as she walked slowly around him noted for the first time the damage he had suffered on the sands. There were possibly older scars too for soldiers did not go through life untarnished but it was to the fresh scars she looked at, seeing for the first time how he too seemed as exhausted as the elderly man.<br/><br/>Allowing him to relay his message she indicated a chaise before glancing about her. Confounded that this place had no staff or resources at her immediate disposal and what was keeping Caris with the water!<br/><br/><strong>"You are wounded and near the gates of Hades if you remain standing. You shall be of little use to me dead and I will not have Pompey charge me coin for the loss of one of his men."</strong><br/><br/>The news that Aulus had brought to her was good, most especially now since this Ludus was hers. Her gladiators needed a good fight, a decent arena and with the main prize to fight in Rome, all her gladiators knew that eventually their hard work paid off with their inevitable freedom, that they lived long enough to see it at least.<br/><br/><strong>"You have wounds that need tending, remove your armour so I can assess them."</strong><br/>Livia stood waiting and looking at him, not once averting her gaze she had seen plenty of naked men and none had yet caused her to blush but she would not see one now drip blood from wounds that could fester.<br/><br/>-----------------<br/><br/>Caris carried at last the urn of water back up through the house only to see Patrocles be ignored by the Domina, a smile came to her features before she glanced about her. Where was the girl he had been sent to view the Ludus with? She approached as he took position outside the door.<br/>"Stand aside gladiator, I am required inside even if you are not."