Was there a faint of a smile? Perhaps something like that curled on the lips of the icy young woman.
The governor raised his thump up.
She had left the stadium prior to anyone else. While the rest of the audience remained at the arena hailing the governor and the criminal alike, she preferred to head back to her own house before the crowds began scrambling off the exits. She had witnessed what was useful to her, she needed to witness no more; cruel power, destructive strength, and a lustful desire for life and death.
"That man is the man who will make my wish come true."
And once again, that man did not disappoint her expectations; slaughtering that massive lion and allowing her to witness again that power and desire that pleased her taste.
"I hope you will turn to your duties more seriously."
This little piece of advice summarized the whole intent of that short meeting with the governor.
Satisfied with herself, the blonde lady left the arena along her wish and the man to grant it there. Despite the fact she was the governor's cousin on his mother side, she walked home riding no carriage or palanquin and accompanied by no guards or servants. Strangely, the graceful beauty she possessed drew no man's attention on the streets, and the expensive subtle dress and jewelries she wore enticed no robbers for the authority she possessed radiated around her like an impenetrable shield.
No one loved to approach the ice, the freezing coldness it contained was not wished for.
The most beautiful and important woman in that Roman province, she interested no one regarding marriage proposals, and people only associated with her when it came to some transactions and official business that couldn't be approved and completed without her involvement, due to her bloodline and the position her late father had acquired.
Upon arriving home, she was greeted by a single servant who took her veil and sash while another prepared a drink. The mansion, huge as it was, had merely five to six servants attending to the sole lady. She believed rank was not manifested by trivial luxury; her position was valid and the power she possessed over certain things was absolute. In the same sense, she did not have to befriend people, appealing to her when needed was definite and she didn't have to work for it. This was another one of her absolute facts and their simplicity were the only beautiful thing about this world to her.
***
In the evening, one of the maids announced the presence of a guest who frequently paid visits.
"I hope today's match had pleased you?"
"I know it had pleased you, Sextus."
Sextus nodded, his happiness was undoubted. In one match he had collected a sum equal to that of five ones plus an increased popularity. Now people from other provinces had heard of him and his games, and soon they will start coming but these profits were all related to the single gladiator who accomplished them.
"And you, Lady Sabina?"
"It was fine, fine…"
The woman shrugged as the arena's owner repeated his question. Sextus couldn't tell her true impression as her tone remained the same.
"Just fine?"
The man said disappointed by the answer, as he helped himself to a drink as he kept asking, trying to ignite excitement in that indifferent façade.
"The death of that lion was something, if you require more praise from me."
"I am talking about the Celtic's performance, his style, his moves… you know!"
Sextus explained knowing what she liked about the lion's death was the animal being dead and not the manner by which he had died.
"He was great! He bewitched everyone back there!"
Sextus kept nagging in an attempt to push the woman to praise his warrior.
"Are you asking me to call savagery splendid? That Celtic surely knows how to disguise cruelty with art."
"And is this not to your liking?"
Sextus started playing along with her game of words, not willing to give up.
"He still needs a little time. Are you satisfied now, Sextus?"
The woman replied tiredly, her answer failing to bring the expected pleasure Sextus was aiming to entice out of the woman.
"He still needs more time? I don't get this!"
"More battles, to get more practicality."
"This is not right!"
Sextus exclaimed, he was so proud of his warrior he could not accept such insult.
"He was magnificent today! He brought the monster that killed thousand gladiators to the ground, dead and humiliated, only using two spears!"
"This is true."
Faced by the woman's uninterested yet patient expression, the owner felt words starting to fail him but he was determined on getting to his point. Seeing quibble won't get him further from his dilemma, he decided to jump directly to the point.
"He has been fighting for almost a year now, and he managed to win every fight professionally and today I believed he had reached the top with his performance… however, you know what these men fight for…"
The woman waited patiently until words caved in Sextus' throat , but she understood what he referring to.
"Won't you consider…"
"Not yet."
The woman shook her head concluding the issue but Sextus still insisted:
"But I fear if he isn't given freedom after all his work he might start slacking in his performance on purpose and destroy my reputation with his!"
The woman crossed her arms listening to the arena's owner plea. Obviously her guest worries and fears were not seen in the same light.
"If he knows he will gain nothing from fighting, then he won't fight! I know how he thinks!"
"Then he doesn't aspire to greatness of the arena?"
Sextus stopped talking feeling slightly humiliated by the use of his own raved dreams against him in a mocking way but the man did not intend on giving up at this point. He had promised his warrior to consider the matter of freeing him and though promises mattered little to him, he just found himself troubled over the Celtic. He was a man who acknowledges a man's potential and believes in reward, and while using the first to his advantage, he felt obliged to offer the second especially after the last battle,, though it would not be in his interest at all, but he had to try, at least so he could sleep soundly at night. Unlike any other gladiator he had trained and presented before, something about that Celtic was unique. Maybe knowing the fact that he was a renowned knight before being captured added more glamour to his appeal as a warrior, and shed drops of light on a sought unreachable shadow that never parted with Sextus' imagination.
"Do not fret Sextus, he does."
The woman answered her own question after a period of silence. Unfolding her arms and leaving her chair, she went on:
"And so do you."
Sextus didn't comment.
"Don't be a fool Sextus, don't trouble yourself over nothing. You won't free him because he fights really good and this is to your benefit, financially and personally."
The blonde glanced at her guest who remained silent like a chided child.
"Indeed, if he were to mess up and lose you will lose as well but since he is a man of war, he will never accept defeat, his desire for victory is an unconscious one. Unlike what he might seem, he is satisfied with his personal glory as a reward. So, no fear Sextus!"
The woman turned at the arena's owner. While securing his fears, she arose his guilt and troubled his conscious.
If he were to free him, he'd lose his most popular warrior and the audience with it.
If he were to let him go, he would lose the image he longed for.
They say people are attracted to what they lack, and it was very true in Sextus's case.
After the guest had left with a broken promise, the blonde woman relaxed on her coach. Miserable poor Sextus, living in fantasies just like that red - eyed governor.
Those who live in dreams die in nightmares.
And she had just the perfect tool for this, a no less dreamer man.