The role of a bodyguard for a merchant seemed rather boring to Aulus.  The majority of time he would watch Antonious as he completed transactions of various goods leaving him with a staring contest to occupy the time.  No matter how much he attempted to study the technique, the life of a merchant was rather complex for him.  He was not very good at understanding the values of certain commodities or trinkets of value.  All he understood in coin was how to divide a plunder of treasure from pirate vessels and how to spend it on gambling and certain foods and drinks. So long though as he got his coin from Antonious he could stare at the foreign technique as long as it took.  Along with that the garments he was given, it revealed his tattoo making it more visible to the patrons in the market districts, and even the nobles asking for personal audience with Antonious’ wares. Combined with the known fact that he sent a group of thieves of running gave both a humble yet intimidated aura about him.<br/><br/>Perhaps if there was anything he missed about being in the Legion was the constant state of alertness the job required.  Every day was never a waste; putting aside the marching and the fighting. At camp he would always find ways to occupy his body and mind.  Training through combat, mastering if not perfecting a style of combat that suited his needs, then training in an entirely new style of combat to allow more options.  One on one fights with fellow soldiers who would show what they have learned or taught themselves and apply in a way that leaves us with a lesson.  As our teachers drilled into our minds during Aulus’ first days as legionnaire, "Quel che non ammazza, ingrassa." Those words building the core of what made Aulus able to survive not just one but two campaigns involving two entirely different enemies.  Now though he could only appreciate the strenuous exercise of the trade route leading to the cliffside on approach to a so called….Ludus.<br/><br/>Having left the outskirts of Western side of Tarraconesis, he along with Antonious broke from the main trade route using a path heading to the southeast. This path was even steeper from the main route which certainly provided Aulus with his first trial of fire.  Aside from acting as bodyguard, he was also the mule of this trip.  Aulus carried with him a huge sack filled with goods carried in a large satchel held by a large rope.  Tied with that a small foldable table acting as a means to display the goods but only added more weight to the burden soldier.  Antonious was fortunate to having to carry only himself. Aulus would show no weakness, every step giving him much more drive to go even further as they continued their journey of attrition.   The only means to keeping the two men’s brains alive during this journey rested in their discussions.<br/><br/>“So let me see if I understand you, not only have you never heard or been near a ludus but you have yet to attend the games here in Tarraconesis or any roman province at that?”  The tone of Andonious was that of shock and dismay at the thought that a Roman citizen had never attended such places or events.  Aw how naive youth can be, like raising a cattle before the branding.  Aulus nodded to the old man’s question, completely oblivious to what was eventually to come, “The only game I have ever played were those on my days at sea.  My father told me of his times he went to the arena and about gladiators:  Men forged in fire, sweat, blood and rage to appease the crowd in an arena built for gods.  So I hear at least.”  At that time Antonious could really just laugh, not at what Aulus said, but rather a taste of what has yet to come for Aulus.  “I’m sure once you get there you will have a much better understanding about gladiators, and pending on how well we do with our sales, may indulge in what the ludus has to offer.”  Aulus remained oblivious of his employer’s last remarks, but until then there were more pressing matters like actually getting to the Ludus.<br/><br/>“I wonder if that messenger faired well getting there in this case.” Aulus referring to the difficult terrain to the Ludus which remained a challenge in overcoming.  While the majority of the road was traversable you had to be careful on foot especially when carrying a lot of weight.  Some parts of the road were dried to the point where rocks can become loose, and despite both of them wearing proper foot gear, it only took one misstep or one lousy rock to put a knife into Antonious’ appointments.  Not only that, but through observation alone the route was littered with several potential  ambush spots, and even he knew that he would be lucky to live through it. “I told the boy to wait till we arrived, so either way will run into him soon enough to figure out whether we will be granted an audience or not.”  Antonious didn’t seem like a man who took risks given his old age, but sometimes the merchant can surprise you when you least expect it.  “Jupiter help us.”<br/>