THREE GLADIATORS
Written By Lady Cat
Chapter II
General Seutonius was called back to head the army of Rome. They
sailed to
Gaul (France) and in three months they were in Rome.
The boys were awestruck. Never had they seen so many people in one
place.
They could smell the odor of fresh baked bread as they walked behind
his
chariot. They stopped in front of a huge building, which seemed to be
held
up by six columns. They watched him go up the steps and disappear.
About
an hour later he came out and they continued through the streets til
they
reached a huge villa on the edge of the city.
The villa had a huge wall in front with an iron gate in the middle.
They
saw several people come out and welcome him home. They heard him talk
and
point to them. One of the servants showed the boys where to go. They
were
led to a separate building that was behind the main villa, being told
this
was where they would sleep and that to be always ready when the master
asked for them.
Having traveled for several months, the boys were dirty from the dust,
having to walk behind the general's horse. They were told to bathe and
change and to come to the house for further instructions. He added it
was
wise not to take too long.
They entered through the cooking area, which in size alone could hold
an
entire house. All they did was stare at the surroundings as they
walked to
the seating area. The general was sitting in a high-back chair. A
women
was beside him. The boys were apprehesive about entering.
"Come in. Don't be afraid. I won't bite?" He said with a smile.
The boys entered. The women looked at them. She seemed to have a
friendly
face. When she spoke, it was with a firm but soft voice.
"What are your names?"
At first they didn't say anything. It wasn't because they were afraid.
They felt it was best not to say anything. Etain looked into the
woman's
eyes and felt he could trust her.
"My name is Etain. This is Culwch and Maponos."
"My name is Dadina," she said.
"For the time being, you will be doing chores here at the villa.
Later,
you will be going to a training school to learn to be gladiators and
fight
for me," he said.
At that moment, the boys saw a young girl rush in and throw her arms
around
the general's neck. She turns and notices them standing there. She
looks
at each of them, but looks at Maponos the longest. Maponos was tall
for
his age, so she had to look up at him.
Maponos looked back at her. She wasn't but a couple of years younger
than
him. She had long dark hair, and a strange eye color, like the shafts
of
ripened wheat his father used to grow. She was not tiny, but she
wasn't
large either. She smiled at him, which took him by surprise.
"Who are they father?"
"These are some young boys I picked up on my journey to Briton, Diana.
They will be doing chores here."
"How long will they be here?"
"Not long. Now go to your room. Isn't it time for your lessons?"
"Yes, father."
She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left.
"Now go get something to eat. You'll not have to do anything today,
but be
ready in the morning."
The boys left. The general and his wife talked about them.
"They didn't say much," Dadina said.
"I didn't expect them to. Seeing your parents killed in front of you
doesn't help any."
"The tallest one looked like he could be a real fighter. So will the
other
two."
"I'm counting on that. My last group of gladiators didn't fare so
well."
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