Lady Sabina returned to her house, more than contended with the result that fruited out of that cursed match. Her smile showed clearly on her face as she laid down on the longue and sipped her favorite flower flavored drink. The maids and slaves of the house did not react or comment or eve ask about the trial outcome, since it was already the talk of the whole town within minutes of its end. None of them mourned or cried, as if Oscar had never been a part if this household, as if he had never helped them with their chores or never trained in the back garden of the house. It seemed as if he had never even existed, had never came weak and trembling with fear behind the mistress of the house a year ago.
Sabina was still in her blood colored dress, reflecting and embodying every detail of the battle and Oscar's struggling efforts that were quickly forgotten by everyone else who had attended the match.
Indeed, the duel between the two spear wielders who came from the same home and were rumored to be old friends was the talk of the town, but only a certain particular part of it. The never – ceasing amazing surprises that adorned the dual wielder's performance in every battle, no matter who his foe was. The savage artistry with which he fought and enchanted victory to lay on the tips of his twin spears. As for the other part of the battle, the one involving the blonde younger Celtic, it was forgotten, not spoken about, neither praised nor shamed.
All of his training, efforts, wishes and dreams despite the dark path they took, they stirred nothing and left no traces behind, like raindrops melting upon the snow blown by the dual wielder, like footprints washed away by the waves he crashed the other's shores with.
Oscar's hopes to create a name for himself, to be remembered like his master, to bloom with an everlasting fame and all the efforts and energy he put into that sole dream were a beautiful plumage for the little bird aspiring to fly too highly but they fledged as hastily as they fell and were torn apart, leaving him a denuded unwanted and unremembered bird. A bird that his song did not reach above the dust of the ground, where he remained nested in forgetfulness.
"My Lady seems happy with her slave's defeat."
A yielding sound whispered from the shadows of the room where Sabina was enjoying herself, and she nodded confirming her servant's speculation.
"Indeed. I expected nothing less of the lancer."
"I thought that it might disgust you to see him capable of slaying his own kin and disciple."
"That outcome was the only acceptable one, it was what it had to happened and he did not disappoint me."
The young man residing in the shadows raised his head in surprise, so Sabina went on:
"That boy was a criminal, he killed soldiers for no justified reason and had to be punished. Justice is a neutral force of this universe, it should never be tarnished by bonds or yearning. That is why it is the most truthful and powerful force to exist and the lancer carried on justice's wishes perfectly... Now I know he will not hesitate to do justice's bidding one more time."
The woman added swirling the glass in her hand, a smile still drawn on her pleased features.
Her eyes were acute and did not mistake the ores of men although her servant and herself, knew justice had nothing to do with duel outcome; only the instinct to win and not be defeated claimed this victory. Nevertheless, this fact did not bother her, as long as it served her purpose it was appropriate and just as savage as justice befalling the sinners had to be.
"Have I not satisfied my lady and her pure sense of justice with my participation in Caecilius fall down?"
The servant whispered, pain carving his shivering words as he had never seen his lady this satisfied and happy before, and it was not due to his bidding but thanks to another who was competing against him without his own knowledge. To this remark, Sabina's smile disappeared to the servant's lament, and she firmly explained.
"Caecilius had arrived into this city a dutiful reasonable man who could tell right from wrong, but then he fell like a doll into Germanous's tricky and provocative strings, becoming a marionette moved by silly competition and assertion of dominance, forgetting the true purpose he came to this province for and so he lost his relevance and fell into the fool role. His correspondence with those thugs was so immature and for personal reasons that tainted his once respected soul and their just mission to punish this sinful city thus, he had to be stopped and punished as well for his selfishness."
"No one can escape my Lady's justice…"
The servant commented, his head cast down unable to face the disdain that shone in the woman's eyes, the same disdain with which she ordered him to swap the
ambassador's letters with, and the same disdain she praised his accomplishments with.
"You are just an assassin from the shadows, unfit to step into the light, follow my commands and do not ask me questions or seek my praise. Keep this fact with you at all times."
***
A silence befitting a mournful day hovered over Sextus's house, although the lancer did not ask for it and continued to behave normally. He did not even lock himself in his room as he did before when he knew about his friend's crime and his desire to fight him in his trial. Although everyone acted carefully and warily of any sudden change in mood, none of the households residents witnessed such a change. Sextus suggested that Diarmuid retire for the rest of the game season to which the lancer replied.
"Why? Will you not be losing money if I did? Will not the audience seek your head?"
What scared Sextus most was not the answer that echoed his previous pleas, but the lack of sarcasm and the seriousness with which it was spoken. Was the lancer living in denial or was he too aware of what he had done that nothing mattered anymore? Both possibilities carried sadness and horror at the same time and Sextus did not argue or involve himself in the matter any further. Not until a few days later when a request from his admired knight grayed his head.
It was the same suggestion he had once refused and almost killed the arena's owner for thinking of it, now he was demanding it himself, with his own will and lips.
"Sextus, I have been here for more than a year. Do I not get my reward?"
"I already told you your freedom does not lay in my hands…"
"That's not what I am talking about…"
Sextus could not imagine any reward other than freedom that the lancer would think of or ask for, so he kept staring at the man until he understood with the few gestures and words the lancer explained his problem with.
A beautiful woman was chosen, Sextus tried carefully to pry into the lancer's thoughts and probe what little description he could get about the princess he had eloped with, but the stare of death he was met with made him resign his efforts to recreate the doomed romance. The woman was also a slave, kept for the sole purpose of venting the gladiator's anger and energy. She had a lovely dark hair and a fair face, with a luscious body that did not wear down by the repeated sex, as the lancer did not want to steal any woman's virginity leaving Sextus more in love with his favored knight who still held such nobleness, not forcing any woman who was not in love with him to abandon her most precious attribute to a mere stranger. However, upon seeing him, the woman fell instantly for him and did not protest or mind, even apologizing for not being a virgin but Diarmuid was not in the mood for talking despite the woman trials of building a bond with him; using her most seductive voice and vocabulary, suggesting various techniques and positions and even offering to listen to whatever he wished to say promising to keep the secrets till her death. But none of these offers interested the lancer, he was in for the action alone, satisfying the woman as he had satisfied himself. Despite his dim features and darkening eyes, he was still gentle and caring, not resorting to roughness or hurting the woman though he could if he had wanted to and would definitely not be blamed or questioned. It was an emotionless sex that still managed to bring both participants to an acceptable height. Not once during that night that seemed long and dreamy for the girl, yet fast and meaningless for the gladiator, did the latter think of the princess or what had become of her. He did not envision her reddish chestnuts lucks in the long black braids of the woman, nor did he seek to see his reflection in eyes of emerald green that did not pertain to the slave woman. Like his battles, he complied to his manly instincts but without inflicting any pain or damage or bringing art or talent into the room, still the woman was enamored by the teardrop mole beneath his eyes caressing it and kissing it at every chance she had. This alluring spot he was born with, that resembled a love spell bringing him many troubles, left the woman no different that Grainne who fell to its charm and allure firsthand. And despite hating it, the lancer did not stop the woman from doing whatever she wanted and kissing it as many times as she wished, realizing she deserved to live a happy night, at least for once where she reigned free over his body more than he reigned over hers. By the first beam of the dawn, he left without a word or a goodbye, asking Sextus to bring him another woman if he happened to ask for another time, so that tragedies would not repeat themselves once again in these foreign lands and Sextus silently nodded in obedience without understanding anything, feasting his eyes at the sweaty chest and ruffled hair, locking his gaze at the swollen lips and strong hands, imagining what pleasing talent they were without doubts bestowed with. Even the teardrop spot seemed to enticing and alluring to the old man, but he dared not reach his hand for it least it got shopped.
***
Germanous laid the abandoned renovation plans at the tables again, pushed by an unknown determination to carry them on, despite his recurrent swings of mood and changeable desires with every passing day. Everyone thought he had forgotten about these plans with the appearance of the "Justice Pallbearers" and the events that followed that, but it seemed that the kin's battle had recharged his will and gave him more resilience to stick to something that for once was well planned and clear. If the dual wielder could kill his own student, how come he could not carry on one simple dream worthy of eternalizing his name?
Fate favored him many times, whether through gifted coincidences or planned tricks, but the wind of reality never blew in the right direction allowing his ship to sail smoothly without tribulations..
Laurentius entered the hall, with his usual grim face, so the blond could not tell that something was wrong until he saw the same grim features on the soldier's face who was walking behind the counselor.
"A matter of most importance had taken place."
Everything was "of most importance" to Laurentius, so Germanous did not seem that interested or anticipating, till the soldier broke out the unfortunate news.
"Our southern borders have been attacked by barbaric tribes, we do not know where they have come from or for what reason they are attacking, but they caused considerable damage and our front there needs the help of our troops!"
Germanous immediately left the maps and plans he was holding and paid his full attention, terror reflected in his eyes at this untimely attack, another test that threatened his authority and position.
"They have preached through the walls, and are clearly aiming at invading us!"
The soldiers explained, and the governor exchanged quick glances with his counselor.
There was one choice; heading to a new battle and defending this city once again from an outside threat this time.