A the guard led Evelyn to the stables where they both mounted a horse, then started along the city streets to another part of Llangefn. Along the way there were several other riders or carriages most looking like pretentious nobles or knights in title only. They wore fancy clothing but the few that carried arms or pieces of armor were decorative at best, making them appear like noble warriors, while anyone trained in using and maintaining such equipment could spot the difference. There were of course the city watch she encountered before, with decent equipment and uniforms, but in a city with such high walls, where money and favors controlled things, they kept their weapons sheathed for most of the time she suspected. They might have had something on Gandrav, or they could have been corrupt as well, trying to unseat him from his influential position. Probably only they knew.<br/>Even a cathedral they passed  was nothing like the one where Evelyn was trained. There was money behind it, distinctive and expensive architecture and art, but it was all but abandoned now, standing tall and lonely against the gloomy sky.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://allwallps.com/bin/01/41/66a.jpg)</div>Finally they arrived at the gates of a closed off estate near the edge of the city. The building was surrounded by tall stone walls with spikes on top to prevent break ins or escapes. After they were identified, the gates opened and they were granted access. The building inside was almost ring like, with an inner courtyard and behind it was a smaller stone building, almost nondescript, with a sand-covered yard between the two, several feet lower than ground level with steps of wooden stairs leading down. Here several rough looking men clad only in loincloths and straps of leather, with perhaps the occasional armor piece on a shoulder or a helm were sparring with blunted weapons. Nearly all of them had slave markings and a few faces Evelyn could recall from the arena, none of whom she talked with or fought though. About twenty were working through sweat and dirt, overseen by a man with a burned face with a whip on his belt.<br/>"Doctore, Master sends his regards and Lady Evelyn to consult your knowledge of gladiatorial combat." the guard greeted the burned man who nodded while checking Evelyn out in silence. His look was different though from Frisko, from Gandrav, from the sorry lot that wanted to humiliate her in the arena. He was not looking at her like a woman, but as a warrior. He was assessing her ability based on what he could perceive of her before they even greeted another.<br/>"She can speak for herself I'm sure. Thank you, but leave us now. You can tell Master you did your job." the man addressed as Doctore said dismissively, his voice hoarse.<br/>"Should you need me I will be at the residence. Let me know if you are ready to leave Lady Evelyn." the guard said and bowed his head, disappearing into the main building.<br/><br/>Once he was gone, Doctore finally spoke.<br/><br/>"I saw you fight in the last game. Quite good, but from what I can tell not the battlefield you're used to. That getup tells the same story. We fight for glory and and entertainment, it's about skill and tactics, strength and cunning. No use for those for example." he said, pointing at the paladin's armor.<br/>"So you want to know about what we do? Are you participating in more games? You know what happened to the last woman sent here by Master? She didn't have the fancy escort or the choice to leave."<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/spartacus/images/9/9b/Old_doctore.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121028210724)</div>For a moment Evelyn's eyes hazed and she could almost see the ghostly image of the female gladiator from the arena, dressed in rags, bruised, holding a practice weapon and staring down the trained fighters in the sand, outmatched. The moment passed and she was in the present again. There was some disturbance among the fighters and Doctore took his whip, cracking it, the sound like thunder when lightning struck, the men reacting accordingly and ceasing their argument. Their trainer barked at them to continue their work then returned his attention to Evelyn.<br/><br/>"I can tell you all about gladiators and the different arenas they fight in. But if you came here to train, if you intend to be a gladiator for Master Gandrav, you'll need to look and act the part. Lose the functional armor for one, being impervious to attacks is hardly entertaining for the audience. Best dress minimal and provocative, show the muscles you have. They want to see the moves executed perfectly, they want to see the blood, and well... in your case I guess they'll want to see more as well. A smart gladiatrix might use that to her advantage."<br/><br/>He paused for a moment, wondering if he got carried away, not even knowing her motives here. Still he had that look, and he recognized the warrior in her. He was going to the conclusion that in one form or another she was going to fight.<br/><br/>"So am I wrong, you just here with questions? I'll tell you everything I know but first I'd like to hear what you think you know of gladiators and the games."