Spartacus: House of Ashur

The House of Ashur would carve its own path

and fuck into oblivion all who stands in its way.

You have not earned position in this fuckin' house.

They will never welcome a woman

as one of their own.

She's not absent skill.

And when were you last upon the sands, old man?

Gabinius? He hosts the game of the Ludi Apollinares.

I see a man possessed of serpent-tongued wife.

Perhaps the House of Opiter

shall present surprising challenge.

You worry over him beyond reason.

Yet who worries over you?

Apedemak. God of war and conquest.

Then why work his image?

As a reminder what was lost.

She took the life of a brother,

yet you let her live.

She drew blood.

And any man who lays undesired hand upon her

shall feel my own at fucking throat.

You risked life of valued acquisition

by pressing grievance with fucking steel?!

And what of the life of Creticus?

Was it not a thing of equal worth?

No one would produce coin

to see shit walking upright upon the sands of the arena.

We do not overflow with men of skill

that the passing of one should be met with indifference.

Does voice sound fuckin' indifferent?

The man stood but crudely formed brick!

Achillia stands as fucking foundation.

Her entrance to the games of the Ludi Apollinares

will secure the ascent of this house

that you're always moaning on about!

You have swayed Gabinius to our cause?

Prize was within grasp when we broke meal,

until unfortunate turn of humors.

Your words have been known to carry such effect.

He pressed for honesty, you towering fuck,

and, when presented with such,

took offence and commanded me to fall from fuckin' sight.

So...we remain beggars,

knees upon ground, mouth open

to pleasure any cock that rises to favor.

You need concern yourself with the duties

I paid you for in coin,

most pressing of which

seeing Achillia ready to face the Brothers Ferox,

not taking actions absent authority.

I gauged the woman to be wild and untamed,

yet you did not heed warning.

I stand fucking Dominus.

And I fucking Doctore.

Upon the sands, my word is law.

You would place yourself above me?

I place my experience in such matters beyond any man.

Then why does Achillia yet draw breath

if you find her such an affront to delicate sensibilities?

Because she proved herself worthy,

at least of further consideration.

Ah...

You speak of worth and the proving of it.

I will set you upon task to mirror the same.

Hm. And what vaunted purpose moves my hand?

Whatever fucking purpose I require

towards satisfaction of loyalty.

We stand dishonored,

lacking Dominus with fucking cock to reclaim lost glory

from the days of Gannicus and Crixus.

True fuckin' champions.

Far eclipsing the shit Syrian!

Break words more wisely...

or see own questionable manhood parted from body

in unfortunate manner of Creticus.

His pet Nubian claims life of a brother

absent consequence, a jest to all who greeted him as friend.

A thing uncontested,

yet I bow to the will of our Dominus,

as all of us must.

For now.

Hmm.

Erato's words hold truth.

They could hold the world and still prove

of little use.

Does the honor of the house

not stand above all else?

It should.

Then our fucking Dominus has tainted it

by positioning woman towards the arena.

- - Attend!

I am set to task beyond these walls.

In my absence, Celadus shall stand Doctore until my return.

Gratitude.

It is a heavy honor.

The honor is mine to have old friend assume my place.

See the men to purpose.

Resume training.

Tarchon, Erato, take position

-and fall- -Brace!

Youthful fury pales against the master of fucking sword.

Aargh!

Inform me when such a master presents himself...

and I will serve same meal that fills fucking mouth.

Tarchon!

Had you faced an opponent of the slightest worth,

wild attack would have seen you upon the ground of the arena

with addled brain spilled from fucking head.

Retake position

and fall to proper form.

Doctore.

She fights as one yet burdened by chains.

Perhaps she is shackled by thing of more crushing weight.

Expand upon thought.

I noted a shadow within eye,

as of lingering specter.

When did you find yourself so close to her

to observe this?

I had occasion to break words when you ventured upon Appian--

You summoned her into the villa absent my presence?

No, Dominus. I went to the Nubian's cell,

accompanied by guards--

You are forbidden in the ludus.

It is unsafe for one so soft, even with presence of escort.

I am no mouse, nor shall cower as such.

Apologies, Dominus.

And did you divine the cause of this shadow

you fucking noted?

-No. -No.

Yet...

mood grew ever more somber

when eye fell upon scars marking the back of her hand.

Whatever weights soul may be tethered

to how she came by them.

Hold.

Return to your labors...

as we fall to our own.

I am to train with you?

I am to gauge first hand your progress.

Yes, Dominus.

Is this the style favored when you drew blood from Doctore?

That of murmillo?

No, Dominus.

Sword and torch, absent weight of fucking shield.

Akin to that of dimachaerus.

A style favored by Spartacus himself.

Sword.

Let us divine if you stand his equal in promise.

Am I to be punished if I draw blood?

Such a feat will be met with reward.

Begin.

Offerings to offend eye, and all...

- related senses. -

Fault lies with Cilician cutthroats

preying upon ships bearing goods of more earnest quality.

-Words well spoken. - An enduring bane

which must be handled with greatest urgency

by those imbued with the power to act.

I can assure you, my husband is maneuvering

toward such an end.

I shall pray to the gods the attempt is not mired

in pompous rhetoric, as often turns within the Senate.

An encumbrance thankfully not suffered by your husband,

who remains well-satisfied in the unrivalled monotony

of tax collection.

Horatia!

Clouds form upon horizon.

What unexpected joy to fall upon you.

Mwah. Mwah.

Had I known-

mwah, mwah- you were venturing about,

I would have gladly set aside more urgent concerns...

...and joined you.

A decision conjured upon the moment.

A thing too slight to mention.

Horatia, I must implore you to break words with Uvidus

to open new grain routes.

We were not so burdened by scarcity under watchful eye

of previous aedile,

a man much deserving of honored position.

My husband sits in esteemed counsel this very moment,

attempting to bring relief to the good citizens of Capua.

My husband was not informed of stated gathering.

Such meetings are confined to men of note.