From: daviderl31@yahoo.com   
      
                           Xena: Roman Gladiator   
      
                               Chapter Seventeen   
      
                   Back to the House of Batiatus   
      
                   [no sex, no violence]   
      
   The morning was cold and the hay for the horses was taken from that cart and   
   divided and put into the ones with gladiators and house slaves so they could   
   huddle down within the hay for some measure of warmth, and to sleep until   
   the sun rose to warm the day.   
      
   All but Xena. She was last in the cart and sat with her back against the   
   cage door, oblivious to the chill of the air. Over and over she thought of   
   different scenarios of why she was returning to the ludus of Batiatus. But   
   the only thing she could think of that was even remotely possible was that   
   an Oracle had foreseen her escape and had gotten word to Cicerius. Perhaps   
   that was why there were some of his guards riding along with them. (Of   
   course, Dominus did win a lot of money.) But if they knew she planned to   
   escape, and now realized how dangerous she could be, then why was she   
   wearing only the wrist manacles as the others were? Wouldn't there be   
   shackles around her ankles as well? And chains around her waist and neck,   
   and all locked together? Or wouldn't she have been thrown into a prison   
   cell, or into a dungeon?   
      
   When she saw Doctore had awakened she asked him.   
      
   "I am as surprised as you. I heard nothing of this. When Gabrielle was   
   allowed to spend the day and two nights with you I took it to mean it was   
   Dominus's reward for your victory, and when we left, you would remain in the   
   House of Cicerius." He shrugged his shoulders. "I have no explanation."   
      
   Like Xena, Gabrielle could not sleep. She was waiting for someone to wake   
   up. Someone had to have heard something. Dominus and Domina talked of   
   everything in front of them. Some body knew something. But even as the sun   
   rose higher in the sky, she knew it would still be a while before anyone   
   would be ready to talk to her – she could hear muted gasps and pants and   
   moans, and the cart rocked from more than the ruts in the road.   
      
   As Batiatus and Lucretia settled down in their carriage for the trip back to   
   Capua, she could tell he was still not happy returning with Xena, but she   
   remained silent. But when the quiet became too awkward, Batiatus said, "So   
   you and Serena have become close?"   
      
   "Yes, somewhat. She is pleasant enough to spend time with."   
      
   "And what of Otho's wife?"   
      
   "She is but a child, barely out of her teens. I suspect she is more of a sex   
   toy for him than a real wife. But she does know gossip. You should hear of   
   the intrigue that surrounds the Senators and their wives and concubines."   
      
   When he didn't answer, Lucretia pulled her woolen and linen blanket up to   
   her chin and snuggled into the pillows at her back, deciding to catch up on   
   her sleep. But just as she was almost asleep, Batiatus said, "It was brought   
   to my attention that you ordered one of the guards to take Gabrielle to   
   Xena, and that they spent two nights together."   
      
   "Yes."   
      
   "And there was a reason you opted to take it upon yourself to make such a   
   decision."   
      
   "I thought that was what you had in mind – they would be together during the   
   journey to Cicerius' and if she was the victor, her reward was to have   
   Gabrielle with her."   
      
   "I said nothing of the sort. I only intended for the second to be an   
   incentive for Xena to win."   
      
   "But you have provided whores for the gladiators when they were victorious.   
   I see no difference…."   
      
   "Why must you interject yourself into things that don't involve you? You are   
   to tend to the house and all things pertaining to that. The gladiators and   
   their welfare are my concern. And why is it that you suddenly seem so   
   interested in Xena's freedom?"   
      
   "Excuse me for trying to find some way to ease my husband's thoughts. I   
   should be damned for worrying about his well-being." With that, Lucretia   
   pulled the blanket up again and turned away from him.   
      
   Batiatus made a disgusted noise, then shouted to the driver, "You there! I   
   have no desire to be riding in this carriage after dark. Pick up the pace   
   unless you wish to feel the lash when we arrive."   
      
   x---x   
      
   By mid-day, when they stopped to eat, it was warm enough that the slaves and   
   gladiators were ordered  that both carts were to be emptied and the hay   
   returned to the cart for the horses. On one trip Xena and Gabrielle managed   
   to walk beside each other.   
      
   "Does you your trainer know why you are coming back with us?" Gabrielle   
   asked.   
      
   "He says no."   
      
   "Do you believe him?"   
      
   "Despite his loyalty to Dominus, I do believe him. He would have no reason   
   to lie. What about the house slaves – surely one of them heard something."   
      
   "That's what I thought, but all morning long they all have stayed under the   
   hay, 'getting acquainted,' or 'reacquainted,' if you know what I mean."   
      
   Xena nodded.   
      
   "But now that they are no longer hidden, I should be able to find out   
   something. If I do, I'll try to find a way to let you know."   
      
   After everyone was loaded back into the carts, Gabrielle sat next to Sateria   
   and said without preamble, "I know you know why Xena is coming back with   
   us."   
      
   "Why would think that?"   
      
   "Because, as Phaedra has often reminded me, Dominus and Domina talk in front   
   of us as if we are invisible. So I know you must have heard something.   
   Please, I have to know. Xena wants to know."   
      
   "I wasn't in the room when Cicerius and the other man came to see Dominus.   
   I'm not sure of his name – Oros, or Osiris, maybe? I was in the bed chamber   
   changing the sheets where Dominus had vomited during the night. He came in   
   very drunk. But Domina was standing near the door, listening, so I stayed by   
   the bed. But I did hear someone say that it wasn't Cicerius who was buying   
   Xena, but Oros, Otos, whoever. He said he knew who she was, and something   
   about Caesar taking her from him. Then Dominus got loud, and soon after that   
   they left and Domina went out to talk to Dominus. And that's all I know."   
      
   "Okay. That explains a lot. Thank you."   
      
   "Now," Gabrielle thought to herself, "I just need some way to let Xena know.   
   I wonder what will happen to her, to both of us, now?"   
      
   x---x   
      
   Despite his threat, it was after dark when they arrived at the ludus, but   
   Batiatus was tired from the journey and was just glad to be back.   
      
   "What of the men Cicerius sent with us? Shall I have them quartered with our   
   guards?" Lucretia asked as the slaves were unpacking their clothes under her   
   watchful eye.   
      
   "No. Give them food and drink the send them on their way."   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)