<div class="floatright">(http://www.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/39358397-39358402-large.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>Domina Livia Metalla</strong> <em>arriving at rival Ludus with Patrocles Aktianos</em></span></span><br/><br/>Another blistering day of white heat rained down upon the heads of those who traversed from place to place, the city was a wash with traders, merchants and consumers. Livia did not usually leave the house without at least two of her guards in tow and her personal slave, as well as those that carried her sedan chair. but today because of her destination, she purposefully left her guards behind and issued the order to prepare Patrocles in suitable garb to act as her guard. He was a formidable sight always and of late he had begun to set her pulse racing. The heated journey would be doubly so knowing that her champion in so many ways was close at hand. Her true purpose for bringing him was merely to gloat at the other Ludus; it was not a past time that she had ever indulged in and she usually abhorred those who bragged or boasted but it was all part of the process she had been assured by her Doctore. All part of the game that was played out between the owners before the actual arena battles, a sort of foreplay of minds and wit. The journey today was of singular consequence Manius Sertorius Atellus had procured a new gladiator in a bet, a gladiator she had viewed with intent to purchase. Her keen eye had discovered this specimen and her doctore had approved her choice, only to have the warrior snapped from beneath her very hands with gratitude to the folly of man and their desire to barter. Livia intended to set matters right. There was no need for her to argue her cause, no coin had been exchanged merely an ego bruised. She would relay her ambition to vest a gladiator of her Ludus against this latest prize to the Ludus Tarraconensis with the design of the victor procuring both gladiators.<br/><br/>As they approached the formidable dwelling on the outskirts of the city she smiled, once upon a time her beloved husband would have been the guest about to lay such a wager at the door of Manius, today he would have to voice his dealings with her. Pale eyes remained trained on her sculpted nails, poised with the dignity of her station she stayed seated in her sedan chair as her personal servant declared her presence with a tug on the gong by the outer gates. A flicker of a smile graced her full lips, it had been some time since she had seen either Manius or Valeria and she found herself looking forward to the reunion.<br/><br/>The smell of the Ludus was familiar to her and even now from the outer gates she could inhale its sweat, blood and sand.  As she sat she fixed her toga, adjusting the clasp to her mint green stola, the  palla she wore adorned with tasteful trinkets that testified to her wealth and station. Caris (http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/naevia.jpg) stood alongside of her Domina's sedan,  ready to serve, to do as she was bid. This was her first time in another Ludus, it had taken considerable time to become accustomed to the ways of her Domina's home but with the gentle attention and firm care of her mistress, she had made the leap from sullen slave girl to the Domina's personal slave in record time. Her dark eyes followed every instance in the room as they awaited the Domina and Dominus of Tarraconensis. Not a word would be spoken by her or the guards, they would obey without question and would meet Livia's needs without fault, yet she could not quell the depth of apprehension that this place caused within her.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>