Volrath rolled forward under his sparring partner's wild swing, coming up behind him and swiftly knocking the man from his feet with a swift elbow to the back of his head. Slowly he looked about, watching the others continue to spar, the clash of their wooden training swords and shields filling the training grounds. Some of them still looked sluggish and weak, never quite following the instructions of Lucious Marius, a lesson they wouldn't live long to regret. Volrath grudgingly admitted that the man knew how to fight, and he respected the Roman cur for that. These fools did not live the life Volrath had, nor had the raw primal fury of a Norse berserker to make up for their lack of warrior skill. Odin would not turn his eye upon them like he had Volrath, and for this, he did not pity them. Better they die soon then waste the time of everyone in the House of Caelius.<br/><br/>Caelius was a fair man...for a Roman. He rewarded those who fought well and with honor...he gave to those who took what was there for the taking, a man such as Volrath. In truth...Volrath enjoyed the fighting...and the slaughtering most. The rewards heaped upon him for doing what he would now just gladly do anyways were an extra bonus, but not why he fought anymore. There were days even that Volrath wondered why he continued to fight...thought that maybe he should just end his long life of slavery in the arena someday. But then...the minute he picked up a sword and he smelt the tang of copper in the air as the blood was spilt...all such thoughts left him. He was<em>alive</em>again. Odin would take him to Valhalla's halls when he wanted him, but until then, the slaughter would continue until someone was found worthy to end his life.<br/><br/>Kicking dust at his training partner as he tried to rise to his feet, Volrath let his gaze float up to the balcony for a moment and rest upon Ovinus. Ovinus was a rare thing of beauty in his small world. A Roman bitch for sure...just like all the rest. Spoiled just like all the other Roman women...though Volrath often wondered if their was a difference between the men & women of Rome...they all seemed so weak and pampered, everything they had given to them. Despite himself, there were days he found himself lusting after the young supple flesh of the girl. Pushing such thoughts from his mind, he tore his gaze from her and went back to the task at hand...teaching the young Roman how a true Norse warrior fought.