<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/d/dc/Caris.jpg)</div>Caris watched the others leave for the balcony, the beautiful blonde servant leading them but she shuddered when she saw the male servant Galo stay behind and psyched herself up for the possibility that he might attempt to bully her into leaving with all of them. Her only hope lay in the fool of a gladiator that was their Ludus' champion, who had stupidly laughed aloud moments earlier for whatever reason she did not know. She wondered if he was losing his reason in the heat and wished he would. The male servant did indeed linger and glanced from one to the other before speaking to them. She lifted her chin just a fraction before she spoke.<br/><br/><strong>"My mistress has the power alone to order me, I am her personal servant. Not a member of this Ludus to be ordered about by its staff. I will stay where she left me, I will not have her find fault with my ability to obey her orders because another lesser than her deemed I should."</strong><br/>Caris looked away from him, inhaling deeply to steady her nerves from the speech she had given. She had good standing in their own Ludus and had not been treated like some common house slave in quite some time. Her eyes moved to Patrocles, wondering if he would go this time to the balcony or stay.<br/><br/>Livia thought all reason had fled her when he spoke of taking a cut just for the sole purpose of having her tend to his wounds. She opened her mouth to speak, her smile never far it seemed when she looked at him. In truth she felt like a heady young girl again in the first flush of youth and young love. It was simply ridiculous. Any words were halted on her lips however when she saw the slave move behind Manius, ready to charge him. Whatever emotion lit her features she knew it must have been fear for him and horror that the brute who had murdered already that day could do away with Manius so easily as well.<br/><br/>It was clear before long that she had nothing to fear however as Manius laid him low though he was struck upon his arm. Her insides knotted and though she feared for his very life there upon the sands that were baptized with blood and sweat, she knew she also felt a thrill of excitement course through her. The arena had always had this effect on her but none more so than watching the specimen of a man that Manius was, as he fought. Not wanting to distract him further she kept any quip at bay, knowing that her pulse raced vigorously now and all thoughts of keeping whatever lay between them at bay was soon forgotten. She desired him so intently, so much that all thought for his beloved wife in her chamber resting was forgot.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/36/Livia.jpg)</div>The swing of the mace made a distinct noise as it cut through the air, she slowly moved back allowing more space for the battle to commence. She watched as Manius beat him to a virtual pulp until he decapitated the man. The head flew through the air, spatters of blood flinging wildly as it did so and Livia reached up to her cheek to wipe splotches from it. Her dress had received another two but they were not vastly large and with her palla and stola to be returned to her later, both garments would cover it well. She glanced at the blood smudge on her finger tips, knowing that her face carried the faint smudge as well. Her gaze shifted to Manius who moved to the edge  of the cliff drop and held the body by its ankle. She waited for him to drop it but instead he moved and tossed it within a door.<br/><br/>Awed she watched him approach her, her heart thumping wildly. If she were his she would demand an audience with him that very second for he looked glorious, powerful, breathtaking. She wanted him with every breath within her. She returned his smile listening to him address those that watched before calling to the Medicus. All the while she stood there transfixed by him, knowing that in all her married life, as happy as it was, she had never been so enthralled by her husband. Her eyes widened as another man was slain, she knew not his indiscretion but would not question him on the matter. How he dealt with his subservients was his business and not hers. Moving silently to the end of the stairs they had come down, she waited there for him, sure that they would be returning to the upper quarters.<br/><br/>Manius however moved back to the center of the grounds and called to Matriana, she wondered that he would have to do any more for surely slaying the man responsible for her husbands murder was recompense enough. Clearly it was not for the bulbous woman demanded a high price indeed and startled by the woman's request Livia stared at Manius. For all his gladiators to fight surely was crazy, they could all get brutally hurt and some would actually die and for what? There was no purse to be won, no glory to be made simply the desire of a widow to appease her own desires and not the death of her husband, Livia was sure of this. Manius called out to someone on the balcony, she could not see who from this vantage point but her heart stilled, waiting for the choice that would be made.