Copyright (c) 2014,   madvlad.  ALL Rights Reserved

Date of first publication in Mr Double's Palisade :
Wednesday, May 28, 2014

This story may be downloaded by Palisade members uniquely for their private use, and 
may not be distributed for profit or posted to newsgroups or other websites.  Mr Double 
may be contacted by emailing mrdouble@mrdouble.com.


A Palisade Author story from MrDouble's archive, 
Filename: thegladi.txt
http://www.mrdouble.com



story_codes: MMMM+/g(7-8), rape, cons

story_intro: When young Caelia's sheltered family life comes to an abrupt end in ancient Rome, the little girl begins an odyssey of rape and slavery and a fragile, desperate chance at hope.

story_language: English




The Gladiator's Girl

Written by madvlad


	Caelia was frightened by all of the angry men in her father's courtyard. Their countenances were rendered all the more menacing in the flickering light of torches that never fully erased the shadows from their features. While the household slaves had been herded away by a thin man with a beard, her father and brothers were bound and kneeling before a man the others called Sextus who read from a scroll, saying all kinds of horrible lies about her father. Although the spring evening was warm, a persistent chill wormed in the belly of the seven year-old girl.

	"Marcellus Lucius Culla," intoned Sextus. "These charges against you have been read. Do you have anything to say in the hope of any mercy?"

	"Mercy?" Marcellus spat. "From the likes of Laelius' dog?"

	Sextus' jaw clenched for a moment before he replied.

	"Master Laelius is a loyal citizen of Rome who only filed these charges out of concern for the empire."

	"No," Marcellus countered. "He's a greedy shit who files proscriptions to steal from those who accomplish what he never can. Him and his filthy ring of common thieves."

	"But this writ carries the seal of Vespasian," Sextus sneered. "Do you call the emperor a common thief?"

	"The Emperor lies deathly ill in the baths at Aquae Cutiliae. Either the seal is a forgery or it was used while he was in a delirium," Marcellus said. "And if I thought that opening my veins would have spared my family, I'd have done so already."

	"Your children will be spared if you simply tell us where you hid your fortune," Sextus announced in an oily voice. "Your death and the forfeiture of your riches will be penalty enough."

	"Like you did for Quintus Silva?" Marcellus asked, suddenly calm. 

	Sextus grew pale and tried to stammer a denial before Marcellus shushed him. 

	"No, Sextus. You and your master and his cohorts are not the nobles from Rome's better times. If I can extract one piece of vengeance is that Laelius will get little to show for his plot tonight as I've no coins here and I've already donated this house and its goods to the Temple of Jupiter. And while you must face him with an empty purse, my children and I will be joining their mother in the Elysian Fields."

	"To the Tiber with them," Sextus hissed angrily to his men. "And be quick with your knives before you dump them in the river. We don't need any more spectacles."

	After Marcellus and his teenaged sons were bundled off, several of the remaining men stood standing about uncomfortably.

	"What?" Sextus barked.

	"The girl," one of the men said. "What do we do with her? At her age, she's still a virgin and..."

	"Jupiter's brass balls," Sextus fumed, glancing at the terrified child. "Look, one of you has to do it - just a simple cut across the throat. If I have to, I'll pick one of you whoresons myself to do the job."

	"I can dispose of the girl," a low, quiet voice sounded.

	Sextus turned toward the sound of Sandals tapping on the flat stones of the courtyard. A man appeared - the same wraithlike figure with a closely trimmed, pointed beard. His skin was dark olive and his hooked beak of a nose resembled a weapon. Eyes as black as his hair shone in the torchlight.

	"Askar, you're back already?" Sextus asked. 

	Askar was a fugitivarius, a slave catcher originally from the empire's eastern borders with Armenia. Already in possession of three of Laelius' troublesome slaves who were doomed to the short brutal existence of the gladiatorial ring, Askar had been included with Sextus' gang in order to dispose of Marcellus' slaves at maximum profit in a very short time.

	"I sold them to an auctioneer I know," Sextus said. "I may not have gotten the best price, but on short notice I at least have a few bits of metal for you to give to Laelius."

	The slave catcher tossed a small purse to Sextus, who caught it in one hand and frowned at its lack of weight.

	"I can assure you that it is more than you could have done," Askar continued in a confident tone. "Considering that Marcellus had manumitted them all, they were no longer slaves. Of course, they were foolish enough to provide me with their papers to that effect. Only so many ashes in a hearth, now."

	Sextus grunted in acceptance. 

	"I imagine someone of your kind has no problems cutting the neck of a virgin, then?" the gang leader queried.

	"My kind?" Askar replied with a raised eyebrow. "You mean someone who isn't afraid to do what's necessary? No, I suppose I shouldn't kill a virgin but there is historical precedent on dealing with a matter like this. Do you recall the fate of Sejanus' daughter? She was no older than this girl."

	During the reign of Tiberius, Sejanus - captain of the Praetorian Guard had risen to even greater power and influence until he was exposed as the lover of the emperor's daughter-in-law. Together, the two had slowly poisoned Tiberius' son to death.

	Tiberius' justice was harsh and all of Sejanus' family was sentenced to death. Like Marcellus, Sejanus had a young daughter of only seven or eight. As ancient law prohibited the execution of a virgin, the girl was raped with a rope that would be used to strangle her was at ready around her neck.

	Sextus grew pale in the yellow light of the fires and turned away, nodding as he stared at a wall. None of the other men dared look Askar in the face as he approached Caelia and took her by the arm and led her back into the house. Before they left the illumination of the torches, Askar drank in the girl's light brown curls and her dark, frightened eyes. Already, his prick was hardening at the thought of relieving the child of her innocence.

	Not long after, Sextus and his men flinched as heard the child's shrill cries. They quickly exited the estate and no one was there to see the fugitivarius carrying the small, unmoving form from the house.

	"Do you understand I hold your life?" Askar hissed after he had brought Caelia back into the house. "Whatever misery you endure, at least you'll be drawing a breath - thanks to me."

	He threw Caelia to the floor, the girl stunned when the back of her head cracked against the hard surface. In her dazed state, she was aware of her dress being pulled up and the man rubbing a wet hand between her legs. It wasn't proper for someone to touch her there and she tried to close her legs. A slap across her face stopped her and she didn't resist when her limbs were pulled apart again. Something stiff pushed where the hand had been rubbing and then a ferocious pain inside restored her senses to painful clarity.

	Askar heaved his weight as he forced his way into the little girl, grunting with satisfaction as he ripped through her virgin membrane. Her screams were long and shrill as he fought against the tightness of her childish cunt, feeling the muscles in her channel give way to his cock. In response to the agony in her loins, Caelia's hands scrabbled at the floor, quickly rubbing her fingertips raw.

	Her hands weren't the only thing bloody, Askar noted with sadistic pleasure as he looked down to where his body was joined with the child's immature sex. Knowing he'd always be an outsider in Rome regardless of his wealth or valuable service, Askar took some measure of vengeance in taking this little patrician bitch. His cock thrust brutally into the tiny hairless cunt, coating the seven year-old's lily-skinned pussy with the remnants of her own virginity.

	She was a fierce little thing, steadily crying and beating her hands about the floor. Then she tried hitting Askar, her small hands landing ineffectual blows against his ribs while her legs flailed helplessly beneath him. The slave catcher was undeterred. In fact he was rather amused by her struggles as he pounded her tiny, blood-slick cuntlet without mercy.

	Caelia kept fighting, not understanding why she deserved such abuse and stunned that she could hurt in such a way. She thought for a moment that she might have stopped it when the man on top of her went still but then she felt the hot gush of something deep with her hurting place. She didn't understand what it meant, but she cried harder at this sudden new intrusion.

	Askar grinned at the mixture of pain and confusion on the child's face as her rapist's seed violated her tiny womb. He pulled his prick from her, watching as the torrent of fluids poured from her stretched opening. Taking Caelia by the hair, he pulled her to a sitting position so she could see the slime filth in her crotch. Then she went limp, her eyes rolling up as she fainted.

	Later, several people who roamed the nocturnal streets of Rome noticed the bearded man carrying the body of a little girl over his shoulder. The crimson streaks on her legs told the story of her grim fate and they let the man pass without comment.

	Askar's men were passing skins of wine around as they waited in an old warehouse that Laelius owned. They were careful not to be drunk as the three slaves in their charge were still a risk, even if chained. A coded series of knocks meant that their boss had returned and one of the men unlocked the door to let Askar in.

	"What's this?" the man asked as he closed the door.

	"A little amusement, Caius" Askar replied as he dumped Caelia to the floor. 

	The little girl moaned and blinked her eyes open, finding herself surrounded by unfamiliar men. Then she locked in on Askar, whimpering as she tried to crawl away.

	"Stretch her cunt, boys," Askar said. "She has to be ready for her new station in life."

	For a moment, Caelia thought that the other men would refuse to do such a horrible thing - especially since she was just a little girl. But they closed in on her, holding her down while they took turns pounding their cocks into her tender, seven year-old twat.

	While the third one was raping her, Caelia's voice finally gave out. All she could do was make hoarse coughing noises while one man after another defiled her, pummeling her tiny cunt with their hard meat and flooding her with hot semen. 

	At one point, Askar pulled her up by the hair until she was standing. 

	"Remember this?" he asked, holding his hard, stained cock in her face. "You never do forget your first one."

	Caelia learned a new humiliation as she was forced to suck her captor's cock. Her stomach turned when she realized she was tasting her own blood along with whatever else it was that the men spewed from their dicks. 

	Her fellatio did not spare her below the waist as another man grabbed her legs and pulled them up so she was horizontal. The next thrust into her pussy forced her mouth farther onto Askar's prick and made her gag. But there was no escape as the hours passed with the seven year-old enduring a series of men's cocks tearing into her pussy and down her throat and filling her with jism.

	Philetus frowned as he regarded the three chained men that Askar and his gang brought to the ludus - the gladiator school. Around him, gladiators - all of them slaves - were practicing with wooden weapons of all kinds - short swords, spears, tridents, axes, and barbarian long swords.

	"They don't look like much," the ludus manager sighed. "I don't think they'll last beyond one bout in the amphitheater. No need to waste much time on training them - I'll probably just use them against the beasts."

	"That's your call," Askar said. "They belong to Laelius just as much as this ludus does, so whatever their use, it will go to his coffers."

	Philetus grunted in assent and motioned for one of his men to strike the chained collars from the slaves.

	"Now listen up, you worthless bastards," he started. "I don't give a shit what kind of trouble you caused Laelius in the past, but it won't happen here. You see those men training over there? They're killers. They've killed before and won't hesitate to do the same to you if I tell them to. It's amazing what the reward of a better meal or a skin of wine or a bit of cunt will make them do.

	So you will be damned sure to listen and do as you're told. And maybe, just maybe, you'll live a little longer. You heard what I told Askar - there's a need for men to fight wild animals. The beast catchers have been successful of late and we've had quite a few full boats arrive from Egypt. If you watch and learn how to handle a weapon, you might just be able to last against them. Then you'll get a chance to work your way up to fighting men."

	One of Philetus' trainers led the troop to an area to begin their training with simple staffs - the only thing they would have to use in the arena against giant cats and other unknown creatures. After Philetus signed a chit confirming that he had received Laelius' property from Askar, the slave catcher motioned him aside.

	"I have another piece of merchandise for you," Askar said as one of his men pushed Caelia over.

	"She doesn't look like much, either," Philetus remarked.

	"She can do the common chores, I'm sure," Askar replied breezily. "And she's been trained to whore with her mouth and cunt."

	Philetus leaned down and yanked the hem of Caelia's tattered dress up. The child's thighs were bruised and stained and her bald little cunt was no better. 

	"Freshly trained, I see," Philetus noted with approval.

	He and Askar haggled before he dropped some coins in the fugitivarius' palm. After Askar left, Philetus watched the gladiators work and pulled Caelia's head to his crotch. The man's unwashed prick was unpleasant on her tongue, but Caelia had already tasted worse. The little girl pulled on the man's shaft with her lips and slid her tongue around him. It wasn't long until her gullet was working rapidly as she swallowed his load. 

	Philetus pushed her away when he was done, not even bothering to look down. 

	"Find one of the other wenches and do what she does," the man said. "It looks like a hot day already and the men will need water."

	Over the next few weeks, Caelia became used to the routine on the ludus. During the day, she helped the women clean the place and carry water to the gladiators and trainers. 

	On the first day, Priscus, one of the fighters, noticed the bloodstains on her legs and laughed as he slapped a calloused hand between her legs. The little girl struggled, but the gladiator easily held her in place with his one hand. Maneuvering a finger, he twisted it into her sore, semen-soaked pussy, making Caelia cry.

	"Still wet!" Priscus called out. "I think this little one would love to spend some time in the ring with us."

	Nearby, a German gladiator grinned and licked his lips, his long moustaches swaying as he did so. Caelia remembered seeing some of these fierce Germans before in the city. Although she had been with her father, the sheer size and the fierce features of the men had frightened her. 

	"Oho!" Priscus continued. "I think Varinax wants to play, too. Maybe we-"

	A blow to the shoulder from a club stopped Priscus.

	"You and Varinax can play with each other - when your work is done," a trainer barked. "If you can't keep your hands off the water girls, then you'll go without water."

	Priscus glowered briefly at the man. But the trainer, a free citizen who had spent twenty hard years in the legions and was not one to be trifled with.

	At night, the women were locked in an indoor dining area, sleeping on mats. A young woman named Drusilla took pity on Caelia and gently cleaned her that night before praying. Caelia was confused that the woman never invoked any of the familiar household gods and goddesses that she knew. When asked, Drusilla explained that she was a Christian. Caelia didn't know what that meant but learned later on that many followers of that strange religion had perished in the arenas even if they weren't gladiators, although that didn't happen as much at present.

	Usually one of the women was absent from the dining hall, haven been chosen to spend the night with Philetus. Caelia's time came after one week. While he wasn't as violent as Askar and his men had been, he was not gentle either. Caelia became one of his more frequent companions as he seemed to enjoy feeling her exceptionally tight young cuntlet grasping his prick and her smooth little body as she writhed beneath him. In the morning, Drusilla would clean her while murmuring prayers.

	The men were locked in cells with iron bars in front as if they were caged animals on display. The best gladiators had cells all to their own. There were three of these at the ludus - two of them being Priscus and Varinax. They enjoyed harassing and even terrorizing Caelia for a few seconds whenever they could get away with it. Although no body part was safe, Caelia's buttocks became their favorite target and she was often left with bruises there from their hard pinches. 

	The third gladiator of the best ranking was a man named Gallus. Although he had barely ever looked at her except when she was bringing him water, she had seen his overly large penis on plenty of occasions as modesty among the gladiators was as rare as freedom. The girl had also heard several women talk of Gallus and of the occasional times he had bedded them as a reward given to him by Philetus. They seemed to have enjoyed it, but the idea of having something that size stabbing into her had given Caelia more than one nightmare.

	One day, Philetus was feeling generous and rewarded ten gladiators, including his top three, with their choice of female companionship for several hours. Gallus immediately selected an amply endowed Nubian led her off to his cell. The woman could be heard groaning a short time later, but Caelia thought the noises were odd - as if the woman was actually enjoying it. 

	Drusilla had sent her to the kitchen to fetch some bread as a pretext from hiding her from Priscus and Varinax. But the two men entered the kitchen and quickly found their prey. Caelia's cries drew pitiful looks from the kitchen slaves, but they could not interfere as they were no match for either gladiator let alone them both together. 

	Caelia was quickly stripped and thrown face down onto a food preparation table. Laughing, Priscus poured some olive oil onto her ass. Smearing it between her cheeks, the man rubbed her sphincter before pushing in. Caelia screeched and kicked, but could do nothing to stop the finger from entering her and wriggling inside. 

	At last, the finger was gone. But Caelia groaned in misery as she felt the man's large hands pawing at her rump, pulling her buttocks apart. By now, the oft-raped child did not need to see what was happening to know the feel of a hardened cock pressing against her. Askar and his men and Philetus had never taken her back there but Priscus had told her in graphic detail what he would do to her when he had the chance. 

	With continuous heavy pressure instead of a series of sharp pushes, Priscus eased his way into the seven year-old's oiled bowels. Caelia's eyes bulged and she helplessly hammered the table with her fists as the slow, inexorable invasion of her virgin bottom progressed. Priscus was thoroughly enjoying himself as he felt the child's rectum gradually open and caress his cock.

	With each subsequent move in and out of Caelia's ass, Priscus swirled his hips, making his cock churn the little girl's guts and causing her more pain. Caelia's vision blurred with tears as she was buggered. Priscus' slowness was not out of kindness to the girl, but served only to prolong his time in her before he came inside her ravaged body.

	Varinax was next, muttering in his guttural tongue as he aimed his prick. He was a bit wider and drew fresh screams from Caelia as he forcibly expanded her tiny anus even farther. Opposite of Priscus, he preferred hard, violent strokes of his cock that helped him drive even deeper than Priscus had gone. He ruthlessly sodomized the sobbing child, going farther and farther, opening more of her bowels until she could feel his wiry pubic hair brushing her smooth little rump.

	The little girl's buttocks were spread wide around the invading prick and it seemed impossible that something so large could get in there, but it did as Caelia's screams attested. When he came, Varinax blew an amazingly large wad inside the child's tortured chute. Afterward, her asshole remained dilated for a while, slowing the spunk from both men to drain and coat the bald cleft mound of her pussy. Priscus jabbed her snatch with his finger, using the semen to lubricate her there for the next rape when one of the trainers came in and told the two gladiators to get out to the training area immediately.

	"Vespasian has died," Philetus announced. "So you horny bastards can put away your cocks and get your practice weapons in your hands instead. Vespasian's son, Titus, is the new emperor. In one week's time, games will commence honoring our new leader. That means many of you will get a chance to earn your keep. Not that many of you will be back, but I hope those of you who don't make it die in an entertaining way. After all, we have a reputation here. And for those who do well and survive - you'll get a full night with any cunt here you want. Now get to work!"

	As he walked away, Philetus stopped and looked around, in need for a nice blow job. 

	"Where's that little girl?" he asked.

	"She's in the kitchen," one of the other women answered. "Drusilla is attending to her."

	Philetus went to the kitchen and watched for a moment as Drusilla was applying salve to the weeping girl's bottom.

	"Did she get it in the cunt?" he asked bluntly.

	Drusilla's face colored slightly but she shook her head.

	"Good," Philetus announced. "Make sure she's ready for me tonight."

	The chosen gladiators left the afternoon before the first day of the games. All of the ludus' men would be performing and competing on the first day, so Philetus would know quickly how many men he would need to start looking for as replacements. 

	The mention of the date of the first day sparked an odd reaction from Caelia. When Drusilla asked her about it, Caelia whispered something, drawing a hug from the woman.

	On the evening after first day, Philetus returned with much fewer gladiators. Priscus was not among the survivors and Varinax was wearing a dirty bandage covering what had once been his left eye. Philetus could be heard telling the trainers that a one-eyed gladiator wouldn't last long in his next contest but he wouldn't be sad to be finally rid of the troublesome German.

	The remaining gladiators cheered when Gallus arrived. Apart from a few bruises and minor cuts, he looked perfectly healthy. Having won a good sum of money on him, Philetus graciously let Gallus be the first to choose his mate for the night. Several women cowered at the thought of his huge prick while a few, including the Nubian, made a show of moving to the front of the group.
Gallus eyed the women thoughtfully before making his decision. 

	"I'm in the mood for something extra tight, so I'll take that small one," he announced, pointing to Caelia.

	Philetus' good mood quickly evaporated. Although he could have prevented Gallus from taking the girl, he knew that breaking his word could have detrimental effects on the performance of his men, even if they were merely slaves. All the same, he issued a warning.

	"I paid good silver for that little cunt and she's no good to me if she gets ripped apart on that prick of yours. And you'll wish you had the money to pay me if that happens," he growled.

	"Well then," Gallus laughed. "She'd better bring plenty of oil to make her slippery."

	Drusilla rushed to the kitchen and returned with an amphora of olive oil. The woman nervously offered herself in Caelia's place, but Gallus wouldn't hear of it. Drusilla gave Caelia the oil and gave a quick prayer. A trembling Caelia went with Gallus and the two were locked into his cell.

	Apparently in no rush to get started, Gallus was content to relax and drink wine while Caelia sat on the floor, her heart pounding. The ludus was dark and quiet when Gallus announced he was ready and had Caelia undress. When she did as she was told, Gallus surveyed her nude body which may have been as featureless as a boy's except for the plumpness tucked between her thighs.

	"How old are you, girl?" Gallus asked.

	"Seven, no eight."

	"Are you sure?" Gallus teased.

	"Today is my birthday," Caelia replied softly. "I'm now eight."

	"Ah," Gallus said as he reached for the oil. "Then let's make it a memorable day for you. Come closer."

	Gallus' large, callused hands roamed over the girl's slim body, glazing her with a thin film of oil that made her appear shiny in the moonlight. Caelia thought that Gallus would take her first in the rear as Varinax and the unlamented Priscus had done, but Gallus was only interested in coating her buttocks and did not do near her orifice. He then coated the back and front of her torso before he leaned back and examined his work.

	"Yes, you should do," he said, nodding. "Now, quiet as a mouse - see if you can get through the bars."

	Caelia looked at him uncomprehendingly until he repeated his instructions. Turning sideways, she eased herself between two iron bars. It was a tight fit but might have been impossible if not for her oiled body. When she finally popped through, she stumbled momentarily before finding her footing. Gallus' arm stretched through the bars with her dress clutched in his hand. Caelia started to put her dress on when Gallus told her to stop.

	"Not just yet," he told her. "First, you need to go to the hut by the gate. The guard should be asleep by now as there was plenty of wine being passed around today. There is an iron ring with keys on it hanging from a hook. Be careful and get them. Wrap them in your dress to keep them from clanking and making noise."

	The naked girl did as she was told, feeling nervous and adventurous as she made her way to the hut. The guard was on the ground, sprawled halfway out of the doorway as he snored in his wine-aided slumber. Caelia found the keys - large, knobby things that did make a little noise before she could secure them in her dress. The guard never stirred and she made her way back without incident.

	After getting the keys from the girl, Gallus fumbled with them until he found the right one, fitting it into the blocky lock and freeing himself.

	"In you go," he gestured to Caelia. "Go to sleep and you can claim ignorance in the morning when I am gone."

	"Where are you going?"

	"I don't know," he answered. "Just some place far from here."

	"I don't want to stay here," she whispered.

	Gallus allowed himself some sympathy for the girl. Although he had been a slave all of his life, he had never had to endure what this girl had at such a tender age.

	"I'm sorry...Caelia, isn't it? But an escaped slave on the run with no gold to pay his way is not a suitable companion for a little girl. You would just slow me down and we would both be caught."

	Caelia was nearly to tears when she remembered something.

	"But I know where there is gold - lots of it. I know where Father had it buried."

	"What?"

	Caelia sadly recited her story of how Laelius had sworn statements of treason against her father so he could take their house and everything else. They couldn't leave as Laelius already had men watching the family's movements. On the chance that they could escape later, her father had sent gold out with various loyal servants - slaves whom he had freed - and told them where to bury it.

	"It was by a tomb on the north road from the city. I know it because there was a burnt tree that had been struck by lightning very near it."

	Gallus weighed his options. He was doubtful that he could find the place on his own - burnt tree or not and maybe helping the girl escape too would earn him a little more favor from the gods. Telling her to get dressed, Gallus disappeared into the store rooms, returning shortly with a new tunic with sleeves that covered his biceps, a dagger in his belt, and a sack of supplies. Caelia's dress stuck to her oiled skin, but she didn't mind as they made their way from the ludus.

	Through the night, they carefully moved through the city, avoiding the gangs of toughs that roamed the streets (Gallus could have outfought them, but he didn't want witnesses to his escape in case someone got away). They were by the northern wall of the city shortly before dawn and exited the gates when they opened after first light.

	After an hour's walk, Caelia pointed to a small mausoleum. Nearby was a tree with much of its branches blackened, although some of it strangely flourished. 

	"Is that someone from your family, then?" Gallus asked, looking at the tomb.

	"No, Father said it was Laelius' ancestor and this would be the last place he'd look for the gold."

	"Smart man. I can see some clumps of fresh dirt around it. But come, we'll hide within the tree line today and do our digging at night. I shouldn't be long before Philetus has searchers out for us."

	Gallus and Caelia stayed hidden in the shade, eating lightly from the provisions that Gallus had brought. On two occasions, they saw riders on horses galloping by on urgent business, but they had no way of knowing if that business involved them.

	Caelia was curious and then horrified when Gallus started working the tip of his dagger under the skin of his left bicep. It had to hurt, but Gallus made no sound aside from some heavy breathing as he peeled and arc of skin off from near his shoulder to just above the elbow. It was bleeding nastily but he neatly bound with wraps of narrow cloth from the sack.

	"I had to get rid of the brand," he explained.

	"You mean that funny mark you had on your arm?"

	"Right. All of the gladiators get a brand. It marks what you are. It will still be a little suspicious looking until it heals, but I should get a nasty scar that looks like it came from my time in the legion instead of hiding where I once had a brand."

	"You were in the army?"

	Gallus looked at her and winked.

	"I was now."

	After dark, the two ventured out to the tomb. Gallus cursed himself for not thinking of taking a shovel from the store room after Caelia had mentioned the buried gold and relied on his hands instead to remove the earth until he found a small wooden box. He whistled as he opened it, finding it filled with gold. A second box produced more gold and a fair amount of silver. In greedy haste, he started pawing the ground for a third box before he stopped to think.

	"There's more here than we can carry," he told Caelia. "We'll leave the rest. Remember this place well in case that tree does not survive. One day, after you've grown, you can return here and no one will recognize you."

	"Where do we go now?" Caelia asked as Gallus tamped the removed dirt back in place. 

	"We need to find a ship. Ostia is closest but too risky. "I think they'd expect us to go north if we were traveling on foot, so we'll go south. I know of a city with a good port where my previous master used to go."

	They travelled by night - risky as the roads were more prone to encounters by brigands and thieves - but Gallus liked their chances better at night than encountering a fugitivarius patrol by day. And he carried himself in such a way that warned would-be troublemakers at night that he was not going to be easy pickings. As they were approaching their destination, Gallus discussed another matter with his small traveling companion.

	"We'll need new names," he said.

	"But I like mine."

	"Yes. And there has undoubtedly been word here about a pair of escaped slaves named Gallus and Caelia."

	"Oh."

	"I shall be called Arcturus."

	"Why?"

	"There's a star by that name and I've always liked the sound of it. If I had ever won the wooden sword in the arena - that's what happens when a gladiator is set free - I was going to change my name to that. Now you need to pick one."

	"Which should I choose?"

	"Something that means a great deal to you."

	Caelia was quiet for a while longer before she spoke again.

	"I want to be called Drusilla."

	The city was a bustling place, affluent and with a great deal of natural beauty to accompany its pleasant climate. Gallus found a decent inn near the waterfront and got them one of the private rooms upstairs, but only after much haggling. They could have easily afforded more, but Gallus thought it wise not to advertise their wealth.

	After securing their room, they went back to the main room for some refreshment of bread and fruit. Gallus explained that since tomorrow was Vulcanalia, the festival honoring the god of the forge, they would be unlikely to find a ship leaving until the following day.

	Shortly afterward, they heard a commotion outside. Gallus was content to stay away, but things sounded like they were escalating and curiosity go the better of him. Exiting the building, he found a man with hair starting to gray scrabbling to pick up some scattered scrolls. Two younger men - likely servants or slaves - were assisting him. The younger men looked frightened but the older one looked rather cross. 

	Surrounding them were a half-dozen young men, perhaps in their late teens. They were dressed well aside from the wine stains on their tunics and Gallus pegged them as rich ne'er-do-wells who had started their Vulcanalia celebrating a bit early. One of them nudged a wood chest half-filled with scrolls with his foot, threatening to further spill the contents.

	"Enough!" the older man barked. "I have no quarrel with you as I am just a scholar. What possibly injury could I have done to you that warrants this abuse?"

	"See, that's the problem," one of the young men slurred. "You're a scholar and we hated our fucking teachers. So you're convenient."

	His friends murmured their agreement. Observing them, Gallus knew they were not just making threats but were spoiling for more trouble. He might have helped, but as he was trying to go unnoticed, he turned back toward the inn's door. Then he saw Caelia watching from the doorway, her eyes huge with horror as she stared at the scene.

	Gallus recalled how she had described being surrounded by the men in her family's courtyard. When she looked at him beseechingly, he stifled a curse and turned around again.

	"Excuse me, gentlemen," he called out cheerfully. "Looks like there's been a small accident. Let me help with that."

	As Gallus stooped to retrieve a scroll, one of the men grabbed his arm.

	"This is none of your business," the youth sneered. "So fuck off."

	Gallus straightened and laughed, clapping the young man's shoulder in a friendly way.

	"We're all happy men here," the gladiator said, patting the man's shoulder. "And it's a beautiful day. Why spoil it with a fight?"

	The young man tensed and Gallus easily anticipated his body language. Although quick, the youth was no match for the veteran of the arenas. Gallus clapped the other man's shoulder once more, but this time with more force and a different angle as he drove the edge of his hand into the junction of his opponent's shoulder and neck. 

	The man dropped like a sack of wheat. One of his companions stepped behind Gallus to attack, but the gladiator whirled and clapped a stopping hand to the top of his chest. Carefully, Gallus dug his fingers into the man's collarbone, providing leverage as he pushed his thumb into the man's neck just below his larynx.

	The man tried to step away, but Gallus' powerful fingers held him fast. The other four youths stood where they were, unsure of their actions now that they had a worthy opponent in their midst.

	"I think your friend needs to go home," Gallus said calmly, tilting his head to the prone youth on the ground. "Why don't the lot of you help him there?"

	Gallus released the man and he and the others got their friend upright, assisting him as they left. Only when Gallus' back was to them did they dare to cast him a few sullen looks.

	"Thank you, good sir," the older man said to Gallus as his servants collected the last of the scrolls. "We're staying at this inn. Would you join me for some wine?'

	"I just got started myself," Gallus replied. "We'll finish my pitcher as well."

	The servants followed them in and then disappeared as they went upstairs with the scrolls. The man sat down at the table with Gallus and Caelia.

	"My name is Kadmos," he said. "I run a small academy in Athens and was here on business to purchase a private collection for my library."

	"I'm Arcturus and this is my niece, Drusilla," Gallus replied.

	"I'm pleased to meet you," Caelia said to Kadmos.

	"What a charming young lady," Kadmos said with a smile. Then he turned back to Gallus.

	"Are you here for a ship?"

	"Possibly," Gallus replied. "I just got discharged from the Twenty-Eighth and am looking for something to do with my life."

	"Ah, I took you for a professional fighting man," Kadmos said, nodding. "But I also admired your restraint in not pummeling the whole lot of them. It shows good thinking behind your actions."

	There was some truth to that. It wasn't as if Gallus was averse to teaching all of the youths a lesson, but he did not want to draw any more attention to himself than he needed to. And the story of one man beating six others would attract attention.

	"Tell me," Kadmos continued. "Have you considered Athens as a destination? I think I could use someone like you at my academy."

	"I don't know much Greek," Gallus said, knowing what little he had learned from Greek slaves was not fit for polite company. "And I can't read, let alone teach."

	"Leave the teaching to me," Kadmos laughed. "But having someone like you around would keep any potential troublemakers away. And occasionally some of my students - young men from wealthy families - get a little too much wine in them and they need to be carefully put down. You've proven yourself in that regard. The pay will be fair if not elaborate, but you and your niece can stay at a cottage nearby at no cost, if that's any help."

	"I can read," Caelia chirped. 

	"You can?" Kadmos asked. "Greek?"

	"No," Caelia replied, deflated. "Latin."

	"That's a fine start, Lady Drusilla. We can include future tutoring as part of your uncle's compensation."

	Gallus was amused as it appeared he had been outflanked. After pretending to give Kadmos' offer further consideration, he agreed.

	"Excellent," Kadmos proclaimed. "We'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon."

	"During Vulcanalia?" Gallus asked. "I'm surprised you'd find sailors willing to leave the festival."

	"The captain and crew are Egyptian and have their own gods," replied Kadmos. "And as any festival that is supposed to honor the gods inevitably turns to an orgy in this city, it is best to leave before nightfall."

	They parted ways, agreeing to meet at the dock at noon the next day. None of them noticed the thin bearded man seated in the corner.

	"Thank you, Vulcan or Jupiter or whomever," Askar said to himself in the shadows.  

	Laelius was in his study, signing papers handed to him by his household steward, Gemellus, when Askar was shown in that evening.

	"I have found Gallus," the slave catcher informed his client.

	"You have him with you?" Laelius asked sharply.

	"No, I was alone and a direct approach with a skilled gladiator was not the best of ideas. I will need to get my men."

	"Caius is with his cousin who tends a vineyard on the mountain slope," Gemellus informed the others. "The others are likely with them and they are probably well into their cups by now to get a head start on Vulcanalia."

	"Gallus is leaving on a ship tomorrow," Askar fumed for a moment before his sly countenance returned. "But I know where he is going and we can follow the next day."

	"Take him alive," Laelius ordered. "I want him in chains back here before I make a very public example of him. "Gemellus will see to it that you have the funds for your passage."

	Askar left Laelius' villa with a small bag of money from Gemellus. The one he'd receive when he returned with Gallus would be much heavier.

	Askar hadn't told Laelius about Caelia as she was supposed to be dead. Although he doubted that Laelius would have minded seeing a rival's daughter raped and enslaved, Laelius would not have been pleased with Askar selling her behind his back without splitting the proceeds.

	No matter, Askar thought. The next time he met up with Caelia, he'd finish the job he was meant to do in the beginning. But not without having a little fun at her expense beforehand. He pictured her struggling for air as he held her throat while his cock was pumping her tight little cunt full of jism. 

	That night, Caelia shivered as Gallus got into the single bed they shared at the inn. It was not unusual for several people to share a bed while staying in a place like this and Gallus didn't understand her reaction at first.

	"Are we going to...um, that thing that hurts?" she asked in a small voice.

	Gallus chided himself for not understanding before. While they were on the road, they slept in hidden places with no chance for anything sexual. Now that they were alone in bed together...

	"No, I'm much too big for you," he chuckled. "I guess Philetus was right about one thing, at least. Oh, and it doesn't hurt if it's done right - there's several ladies at the ludus who can tell you that."

	Caelia remembered the Nubian woman and the loud noises she had made.

	"How can anyone like something like that?" she asked.

	Just thinking about sex had made Gallus horny and now he looked over at the girl in the dim light of a single candle. Although he preferred a woman with curves in all the right places, he was intrigued by the concept of teaching this little one about the good things.

	He lifted the hem of Caelia's dress. The girl was frightened but did not resist as he pulled it up. She even lifted her arms so he could completely remove the thing. As Gallus stroked her body, she could feel the immense strength in the hands that had killed countless others. But he was causing her no harm, teasing her small nipples and caressing her flat chest and belly before sliding over her smooth pubis and curling his fingers to gently but firmly capture her tiny, hairless twat.

	He kneaded the fleshy little lips, gradually increasing the pressure. Caelia leaned against his side, easing her legs open as she watched her molestation in silence. She was getting warmer down there and feeling extra hot whenever he squeezed the funny little nub of flesh at the top of her slit in just the right way. She began to feel sweaty and wondered if she was also sweating on the inside.

	Although he could feel her cunny moistening, Gallus took his time until Caelia was very wet. He slowly pushed a finger into her feeling the clench of her small entrance and wondering how she had stretched to take so many penises there. Caelia flinched when he first entered her, but he was slow and deliberate, slowing her body time to adjust as she was penetrated. Her passage was tight and slippery around his digit.

	With his middle finger, Gallus coupled with the eight year-old, discovering the pressure points in her sex that made her shudder with pleasure or arch her back. Thick, syrupy sounds accompanied his movements as her nectar coated her mound and his hand. Caelia never produced a sound from her mouth until she made a small cry as her pussy quivered with its first ever orgasm. When it passed, she looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

	Then she noticed the bulge beneath his tunic. Without saying a word, she lifted the hem and fumbled with his loin cloth until his huge member was in her hands. Watching his face, she lowered her mouth to the purplish head, engulfing it as she clamped with her lips and slathered it with her tongue. She pushed her head down a little further, taking a bit more of him before starting the bobbing motion that slid her little mouth along his hard flesh.

	She hoped he wouldn't try to push her further, making her choke as he forced his way into her throat. Instead, Gallus found her dripping snatch with his hand and reintroduced his finger into her. They never spoke a word as Caelia gave him oral pleasure while Gallus plowed the child's cunny with his thick finger.

	Gallus came in huge bursts inside the little girl's mouth. Her previous forced experiences had taught her to swallow everything and she did so gladly this time for the man who had taken her away from so much darkness. Sometime later she climaxed again, spilling a small amount of juice onto his hand before snuggling contentedly on his chest as the candle guttered out.

	They left on the ship without incident. Gallus had never been on open water before and felt slightly queasy. Annoyed at this weakness, he stood at the railing on the starboard side and was relieved to find that the stiff breeze lessened his discomfort.

	Caelia was unaffected by the motion and happily settled next to Kadmos as he sat on the deck as he began to teach her the Greek letters. The scholar struck Gallus as being a little uptight, but he and Caelia were getting along famously. At first, Gallus was a little jealous but it was quickly apparent that the relationship between the teacher and the girl was completely innocent.

	Looking beyond the stern, Gallus could see the lights of the city they were leaving begin to glow more brightly against the descending darkness. He would have enjoyed the celebrations tonight, but leaving his old life behind was worth the price.

	Askar walked with purpose in the cool morning air. Shopkeepers were finally setting their wares out, a little later and a little more slowly than usual after last night's Vulcanalia revelry. The slave catcher kept his breathing even as he climbed the mountain trail to the vineyard where he planned to find Caius and the others. They would  likely still be sleeping, but business was business and they would have to be moving in less than an hour if they were to catch the boat that Askar had booked.

	Something wasn't right. Askar felt dizzy for a moment before he realized the earth was vibrating beneath his feet. A loud blast as if from a thousand thunderclouds from above him made him stagger. He would have yelled but he suddenly had no air. 

	Struggling to take in the oxygen that would never come, the fugitivarius looked up toward the top of the mountain, his eyes widening in disbelief.

	On board the ship, they could hear the distant concussion from the north even though they had a night's worth of sailing miles behind them. Sailors hollered and pointed to where they could see a dark cloud rising - too far away to be of any danger to them, but still awesome in its dreadful spectacle. Kadmos, Gallus, and Caelia joined them at the stern of the ship.

	"What is it?" Caelia asked.

	It was Kadmos who answered.

	"Vulcan has a forge in Mount Vesuvius and I think he is most displeased at the recent debauchery done in his name. Now I fear the people of Pompeii must answer for their wickedness."




madvlad@mrdouble.com
http://www.mrdouble.bz/htm/authors/madvlad.htm






















This story is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.


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