Three: The Big Match

The crowds were excited, there was a sound of delight coming from them as the gladiators were getting their pep talk down below the arena surface. Everyone was preparing for the biggest battle that everyone could hope for and the lions were settling down with eager expressions upon their faces. The food was brought out for the crowd along with the drink, the free items always made sure there were enough people gathering to fill the seats and it meant the governor who'd paid for the games today was able to gain the adoration of the crowd and of visiting dignitaries.

There were several reasons to be excited and that was more so than just the fight, especially because it was another chance for the intended pair to be around one another....

Uncle Livius and his son Postumus were later to the show than usual, but as the games would not start until noon when the local falcon governor was seated with his family and the member of the imperial family he was to entertain, Livius had a moment to speak with his son. Though they might generally arrive when the crowd was busy on a litter so that they could pass through with ease, Livius had decided to hold back and walk beside his son as slowly as was possible. With his son looking so corpulent lately yet handsome with his great dark mane, Livius was eager to try and encourage the boy to think about developing muscles and he knew it.

"Hortensia is aware it's a marriage of convenience father, I know what it's all for considering your half-sister wants to make sure she's fully attached to the family so she can't be forgotten when you die but... do we really have to at least produce a child together? I don't think I'm up to the job..." Postumus grimaced, it was obvious that he was grasping his portly form as he walked down the busy public road beside his father, their guards surrounding them to ensure they were safe. Livius was a neighbouring governor after-all and when his family were sending a gladiator of such quality as Rabidus, he had to be present. It was also a good match up as he would be going against the tiger that had insulted their family so long ago.

"I know you think it's a difficult thing to ask of you my son, but I will not leave you to do it alone. Hortensia is amiable and understands too, so I will assist you both in this matter. I have experience." Livius stated, the great lion big and muscular with dark ends to his great mane but a startling blonde top part that made it obvious he had been in battle but was more the politician. Postumus turned to look at his father in disbelief as he looked down at him for a moment. "Are you alright?"

"Hortensia is enamoured with you, father. Do you think... do you think I could get you to do the job of getting her pregnant for me... I'll marry her and all but... she is someone I've played with since we were children. I really don't want to... you know..." Postumus stated, looking up at his father with pleading eyes as Livius gave a soft snort of amusement. He then patted his son's shoulder gently and questioned softly what was making him think like that. Of course, there was always someone that would not be interested in Hortensia, but there were also some that were not into the thought of having sex, but Postumus was blushing as he was asked. "Well... I do think Hortensia is good looking... but I'm much more fond of the slave girl that comes with her. I know she's a dog but... she's got a lovely face and... she knows how to use her tongue well..."

"You've practiced with her? I take it Hortensia was making sure you knew what to do when the time came?" Livius chuckled softly, he'd not thought his son to be so cunning and yet Postumus gulped heavily. Livius almost laughed, one of the reasons Hortensia was amiable to it all was because she could control Postumus well and she had a sick sense of interest in watching him enjoy things, whether it was food or sex... it was something he quite agreed to.

"Yes, Hortensia is keen that I should know... what I need to know." Postumus stated, but he was blushing keenly from ear to ear, his head tilting slightly to the side in anxiety. But Livius was amused, Hortensia's maid would join her in the household, he'd make sure of that just to ensure the son was happy and gently, he pressed his paw around his son's shoulders, pulling him in with a smile and then speaking into his ear so affectionately that his son felt so happy to have this father.

"Have no fear, if you cannot due the job then I'll do it for you." Livius smiled thoughtfully and then steered himself away from his son, reading the rather relieved look upon his son's face. Livius was pleased, that his son was not questioning the matter at all, especially because since the death of his mother due to the various ailments of the day, Livius had not even taken on a mistress or gone to the whorehouses to enjoy himself. In fact, Livius had been very eager to show that he was dedicated to his work and his son's education as well as the care of his sister's family and it had then been his sister had asked him about Hortensia.

Livius had accepted without question, but by the time they youngsters had grown and Hortensia was showing off the beautiful looks she would have in adulthood, the more Livius had been intrigued. He could not help it, there was no blood between himself and the girl's mother in truth, Livius had known his stepmother had been with many other men even during the early days of her marriage to his father. He'd even been paid by the female once to keep it quiet about him and the falcon that would later be Livius' patron and the one to train him as an administrator. So in that moment, when it had clicked in his head that he was not really Hortensia's uncle... he'd found himself taking her aside and seducing her.

He'd not done anything untoward, he could not risk his reputation, but he'd always had Postumus nearby enough to bring them together so that it would seem he was preparing them for marriage. But in truth he was showering Hortensia with compliments, asking how she wanted the household to be prepared for her, asking what she was doing and what she liked. He'd been courting her as if she were his future wife and it would be this meeting today that Livius would reveal the news to Hortensia of what he would give her and what he expected of her... something she was desperate for and there was no harm to it at all because Postumus was already comfortable with his father being the lover of his future wife!

The pair stepped into the arena and up to the boxes and the seats of the household, Livius made a point not to sit with Hortensia but move Postumus to her side. Once there, Hortensia gave him a loving expression, but Livius then strolled over to the front beside Domitius who was looking curiously grim. It was exciting, Livius had never seen his nephew looking so grim in so long and it usually meant that the opponent for Rabidus was someone dangerous. That meant this should be an excellent fight and clearly, the governor to have paid for it had paid the most he possibly could to ensure he had the fearsome leopard. But as Livius sat down he noticed his sister looking concerned and stretching her hand towards Domitius as if to soothe him and so Livius thought to speak.

"Well nephew... what brute have they thought to bring in to face out leopard? Someone exciting?" Livius stated with a jolly grin upon his face as Domitius straightened up and looked to him firmly. Their eyes met, they were practically friends more than relatives and Livius had been the one to help Domitius heal after his injury, so he would understand the situation. Domitius grimaced and mentioned that the opponent had been changed at the last minute and then Livius was encouraged to look to the other side of the arena at the owners of the other gladiator and he hissed. "The Caspian was bought in... is it a death match?"

"Part of me hopes so, I want that bastard to die and I would be pleased if Rabidus was the one to do it..." Domitius growled viciously, but it was clear that he was starting to tremble slightly. Fear was upon his face, a certain peakiness that told his uncle that even as a grown male, the fear of seeing that tiger might make him collapse. Livius lifted a paw up, rubbing at the lion's impressive mane to startle him back to his senses with a grunt of frustration before Domitius looked back at Livius in confusion with a grunt.

"You didn't answer my question... is it supposed to be one? They generally are but I do know some are pulled together just to have the practice for show when they're at this height of popularity." Livius grunted; he knew damn well their leopard was the best fighter around, but the Caspian was one of the richest gladiators around and though he was yet to earn his freedom as his price was incredibly high due to his value, would he put himself at risk? Indeed... Livius' mind was spinning as he thought it over and just how unlikely this was to be a death match for the Caspian when he was worth so much money, the cost of losing the fight and requesting his life was less than losing such a prize. Livius gave a grimace as he looked across the stands to the opposing trainers and Domitius gave a growl.

"The Quintus family have said they'll leave it for the governor's birthday gift... in other words, they don't think Rabidus will win. I can't deny the fact I'm scared he might lose, but he is much better than anyone could expect..." Domitius stated with a low growl and eyes narrowing towards the group of steers opposite that were wearing the most expensive clothes going. Domitius almost wanted to vomit, he could not believe that Quintus the Elder, had even painted gold onto their hooves! Were he in any other job in life, he might have had a problem in being seen as too ostentatious, but amongst the gladiator trainers it was not completely unusual!

"Ridiculous creatures... but ah, let's all rise for the governor." Livius snorted, the great bird was being led in with his extravagant wife and everyone stood up. They were all waiting patiently, standing on ceremony as they were escorted to the box and everyone had to cheer for them being there. Most were just cheering because it meant free food and drink, so everyone settled down as soon as they did then stared out towards the centre of the arena. They watched the sand as the doors were opened gently and the two felines marched out steadily in their massive helmets with the opulent feathering upon the top of these great hunks of metal.

They were silent, their bodies clearly of different sizes and yet both carried the large shield and the swords without any issue on the matter. It made Livius gave an immediate his of frustration, he knew damn well that Rabidus was not a Murmillo and yet, turning around to look at Domitius the male was silent. The cage-like visor on the face of each being was enough to keep the Caspian from being so clear to Domitius and he was thankful for it. The last thing he wanted to see was his beloved friend being slaughtered by that smirking, cut-lipped tiger!

"Murmillo! Murmillo! By the gods Domitius, he's not trained in that and neither's the tiger... what on earth is this?" Livius hissed into the younger lion's face with his ears pinned back to his head. The males were stepping forward to the box, saluting the governor and awaiting the order to begin. But the older lion was looking back and forth between the pair to Domitius... this was not a suitable fight for either of them and certainly dangerous! There was no way either of these gladiators would feel comfortable and the lion was fuming. "How... how could you have agreed to this? I complained about it before but..."

"I was not the one to arrange it... I'm afraid to say that those bastards we're hosting these games for wanted it! They wanted to know exactly what it would be like to see two warriors proficient in a different form come together and battle. I'm hopeful it will be enough of a travesty that none of them will have to die! Maybe just lose a tail!" Domitius spat, but it was then that the governor stood up and held his hand out, ready to permit the battle to begin. The crowd stood up, ready to listen and applaud as the hand dropped and then the crowd roared in excitement as Domitius groaned. He and his family were looking scared... looking towards Rabidus and just hoping it would be fine.

The two fighters sized each other up, they growled and then began to pace around in circles, their shields lifted and their swords risen. The big tiger swung his sword up against the shield, growling and sneering towards the leopard as he paced around carefully. Their eyes met and Rabidus could see the horrible sparkle of familiarity within the tiger's eyes to say he remembered him. The tiger then flicked his eyes to where Domitius sat and then he looked at the leopard with a powerful intake of breath that puffed out his chest as he chuckled happily.

"You're the one that threw the chamber pot in my face, old Valens' son..." The Caspian purred as he swung the sword forward, feeling the air between them and judging the distance. It was enough for Rabidus to know that this tiger was trying to psyche him out by mentioning the way he'd come to rescue his poor friend. He was still scarred by the scream for help that Domitius had given out, but it did not matter when Rabidus could clearly read the feet and the motion of the tiger's tail... he knew this tiger could bear the weight but that his age was affecting his balance. He was not going to be willing to swing his blade too far forward and Rabidus had thankfully trained with this heavy stuff to try and increase his strength and understand the work range played when using a triton.

"That's right... I remember what your face looked like covered in shit." Rabidus made his voice a little lighter, youthful to really annoy the tiger into thinking he was a less professional fighter and he had to grin as the tiger lunged at him. The tiger's feet were not balanced, Rabidus bounced back, whipping his long tail for balance and swinging the shield up. That heavy clang made the cloud gasp in awe as the tiger threw in two heavy hits before Rabidus put his weight behind the shield and pushed forward. The tiger was able to swing his shield into it, both of them barging but moving around the curved form of the body-length shield to avoid each other getting withing slicing difference.

The tiger was trying to put weight into it, but Rabidus was watching his feet in the sand and pulling back, swinging his sword to the side and knowing it would only clang against the other sword. The worst thing either could do would be to drop their swords because then it would be the crowd laughing and jeering at them for being idiots...but the shields could be thrown if needed. Rabidus knew that he needed to keep dodging and making swipes, the shield needing to cover his chest and shoulder and belly, his feet were too fast for a low swing and it was not encouraged because the crowd did not enjoy it. But the Caspian was growling as he barged forward with his shield, ramming into Rabidus to get the leopard to drop his sword!

The tiger's strength was more than the leopard's and Rabidus knew he would not be able to hold up against this, fearing to be pinned down into the sand and be at the mercy of the governor. He had no choice as his feet skidded in the painful sand and he barged forward. It released the pressure against his arm for a moment enough to unloop himself from the shield and launch backwards. With his springy muscles and canny leopard senses, his tail swung as he landed calmly, crouching and holding onto his sword, still wearing his helmet and ready to fight more. The tiger growled as the crowd cheered at the leopard's cunning, but the tiger straightened up, breathing out and puffing his chest out as he cast his shield into the sand and then strolled forward.

His arm was visibly throbbing, clearly the barge from Rabidus' shield had hurt him and the tiger had been putting too much strength into it. He was an old male after all, too old for this sport as he almost staggered over towards the young leopard and grabbed his helmet. He tossed it at the younger cat and Rabidus just ignored it, taking off his own and then snarling viciously towards the tiger. Though the tiger gave a growl of fury, opening his mouth and showing off his vicious teeth, the leopard gave the most vicious hissing shriek of fury that made him look all the more violent as Rabidus then lunged forward and held the sword in front of him as if to plunge it into the tiger's stomach.

The tiger moved to dodge, turning about but Rabidus flicked the sword outwards, slashing the shoulder of the tiger. A line of crimson slid along his rich amber coloured fur and just between two dark stripes. The blood dribbled and the tiger gave a hiss of pain, but he spun around and swung his sword like he was swinging a club! Rabidus could feel it and threw himself to the ground, rolling right over himself with a swear but keeping hold of his blade. Sand scattered about him as he stood up and turned to face the tiger who was charging right at him with fury. The tiger's ears down as he roared and ran right at the leopard.

The leopard swung the sword up whilst still down on one knee, managing to take the blow from the tiger although he almost fell right back down into the ground. But the tiger was holding the sword in both hands and his balance was off, though he was powerful, Rabidus was able to slide downwards and kick out with his leg. He knocked the tiger backwards, then he leapt upwards, turning his sword in his paws so the butt crashed into the side of the tiger's face. There was a little spurt of blood from the brow, but the sudden, stunning blow was enough to take the old heavyweight down.

The Caspian fell right onto his back, almost ready to get up until he felt the blade at his throat and that was it... the fight was over and Rabidus was victorious. But all eyes turned towards the governor to await his response as Domitius almost launched up from his seat, heart in his throat at the chance to kill that bastard!