IV
"Out now, all of you! And don't forget the she-wolf." The stocky legionnaire
called to the gladiators after assembling his squad of men in front of the
barracks. He tilted his head back and looked to see the day's weather. Already
the heat had risen, and the blue sky looked free of any clouds. He turned back
to the barred quarters. Gladiators pulled from the dark the Etruscan.
They all stood on the training ground. The Romans first garbed Rasenna in her
two-piece. The one wrapping her hips tied off the leather just above one hip,
angling the other side downward. The soldiers had brought a light rose tunic.
The sleeveless full-length robe fell from her shoulders to float over the
insteps of her feet.
The sand burned Rasenna. She allowed herself to be dressed, a mantle, the same
shade as the light tunic covered her hair. Manacles locked her wrists behind
her. She grunted as her elbows were tied close to each other. Looking down, she
saw her chest sticking forward.
"Bring her over here," said the veteran and pushed the veiled female down so
that she sat on a small bench. "This," he leered, "is for you."
Rasenna wearily looked up from her sitting position. The Roman's mailed fists
held a circular bunch of thorns.
"A crown, befitting a royal slave"
The crashing atop her head shifted her balance. She swayed as she sat. Another
pounding drove her off the bench entirely. Rasenna kneeled in the sand. Hot
drops of blood wet the mantle and splattered across her thrusting chest.
The veteran looked down at the kneeling Eturscan. Scarlet rivulets flowed from
the crown down the mantle and over the tunic. "Get her up, and let's get going.
We are due to be there soon."
"You have done well." Rasenna slowly raised her head. Before her stood the bulk
of the Nubian assistant at the school. Her reddened dark eyes met his as she
felt hands linking chains from her wrists to those behind her. "So far with the
rapes and all. But, there is much to follow."
Her eyes closed as she felt the Nubian lift up the bloody mantle and pass a
rough rope around her neck. She was to lead common slaves, as one just as
common, at the end of a rope leash.
The gladiatrix prepared herself for the walk through city streets to the
coliseum.
