I returned to chambers just before midnight struck.
Guided discretely by servant silent through corridors darkened of palace.
Livia had finally fallen into sleep after hours of passion.
And rest I needed before day first at ludus.
Suite assigned was surprisingly luxurious for one of status formal.
Room main with bed comfortable.
Antechamber with couch and table low.
Even balcony private small overlooking gardens inner.
Space normally reserved for guest of status considerable.
Not gladiator.
More indication of influence of Livia.
After bath brief to remove traces physical of encounter with Livia, sat upon balcony.
Observing sky night over Rome.
Moon illuminated contours of city beyond walls palace.
Sight impressive even for one with memories of structures towering and lights countless.
While city slept, mind worked methodically.
Organizing priorities.
Planning moves next.
Ludus Cassius would present challenges significant tomorrow.
Environment new.
Rivals new.
Lanista potentially hostile.
Would need to show skill enough to impress.
But not so much as to arouse suspicion further.
Thoughts turned to training physical.
Methods Roman, while effective for purposes their, were limited by understanding.
They focused excessively on endurance raw and strength combat-specific.
Neglecting development muscular balanced.
Recovery proper.
Progression systematic.
From chest small containing belongings, I took bottle Servius had given before departure.
Examining liquid amber by light moon.
Supplement to speed recovery and increase density muscular.
Tool valuable to implement methods advanced in environment this limited.
Grasping parchment piece and charcoal from table nearby, began sketching program training adapted to limitations of era.
Without equipment advanced, would need to be creative.
Bags sand for resistance variable.
Bars improvised for exercises lifting.
Techniques contraction to activate groups muscular specific.
Program developed divided training into cycles three-day:
Day one: strength upper body and core.
Day two: strength lower body and explosiveness.
Day three: endurance and recovery active.
Cycle this, alternated with training ludus conventional, would provide development physical superior significantly than any gladiator contemporary could achieve.
Advantage would be subtle at first.
But cumulative over time.
Especially with aid of supplement Servius.
More important than program physical, however, was plan strategic broader.
Rome required navigation careful of spheres multiple of influence.
Senator with authority formal.
Livia with favor personal.
Lanista Tacitus and hierarchy ludus.
And eventually, contacts clandestine Tribune had promised to establish.
Each sphere offered both opportunities and traps potential.
Challenge would be to balance properly.
Extracting advantages from each without compromising position in others.
Comment of Senator about techniques combat non-Roman remained in mind.
Reminder that would need to be more cautious with displays public of skill.
Marcus Cassius was clearly more observant and analytical than most.
Potentially dangerous if started to probe deeply into origins.
As arranged considerations these mentally, eyes caught movement in garden below.
Figure male moving silently among shadows.
From movements disciplined and posture vigilant, appeared to be guard or agent security.
But not wearing uniform standard of guards household.
Security extra?
Or perhaps surveillance specific?
Interesting that was positioned with view clear of chambers.
Variable another to consider, I reflected, filing observation for analysis later.
Light first of dawn was already beginning to appear on horizon.
Day would come soon.
Bringing with it test first real in environment new.
Ludus Cassius, from what had gathered in conversations, would be significantly more challenging than establishment provincial had left behind.
I gathered notes training.
Carefully stowing among belongings.
Lay down finally.
Allowing self hours few of rest before challenges of day next.
As sleep approached, mentally reviewed layers multiple of plan developing.
Every interaction, every relationship was piece in game complex that was only beginning.
Livia desired as lover and symbol of status rebellious.
Senator saw as investment and object of curiosity intriguing.
Ludus would receive as intruder privileged to be tested and possibly broken.
Each perspective offered levers different of manipulation.
Paths different to influence growing.
Challenge real would be to orchestrate dynamics divergent these toward goal unified.
Power genuine.
And eventually, freedom true.
With thought that, finally allowed self to sleep.
Body relaxing as mind continued processing possibilities even in dreams.
Sleep came quickly to body exhausted but did not bring rest expected.
Instead of darkness peaceful of sleep dreamless, mind plunged into images vivid, fragmented.
Memories that seemed to belong simultaneously to me and person another.
At first, was in forest frozen.
Air so cold that breath every burned lungs.
Snow fell heavily.
Reducing sight to meters few.
I ran, carrying man wounded on shoulders while figures shadowy pursued.
Weight was crushing.
Muscles screamed in protest.
But something inside knew that stopping would mean death for both.
"Davay! Bystree!" shouted voice rough in tongue northern. Come! Faster!
Scene changed abruptly.
Now submerged in water icy.
Feet and hands bound.
Instinct to panic fought against training as lungs began to burn from lack of breath.
Hand strong held under surface.
While voice clinical timed:
"Dve minuty... dve s polovinoy... tri..." Two moments... two and half... three...
Was not exercise swimming.
Was test endurance mental.
Designed to break men normal.
Forces northern did not accept men normal.
Water cold turned into heat stifling.
Room dark, lit only by glow red of embers.
Faces partially visible stared as questions were fired in succession quick:
"Name?"
"Unit?"
"Mission?"
"Contacts?"
Answers were always same: "Nyet."
With refusal every came pain excruciating.
Lightning.
Burns.
Deprivation sensory followed by stimuli extreme.
Training resistance interrogation was merciless because enemies real would be.
"Learn to love pain," instructed trainer with face marked. "She will be companion only constant."
Scene changed again.
Room sterile.
Men in robes white.
Syringe filled with liquid amber.
Similar to what Servius had given.
But different.
More potent.
More dangerous.
"This is Program Zvezda," explained man with eyes cold. "Selected you were because body showed tolerance exceptional to compounds initial. Phase this will determine if qualify to continue."
Needle plunged into arm.
Fire liquid ran through veins.
Vision darkened, then sharpened until detail every of room became painfully clear.
Heart beat so hard seemed would explode.
And then came pain.
Not localized, but total.
Cell every in body screamed in agony as compound reshaped from inside out.
"Only three out of ten survive phase this," said man in robe white, watching clinically. "Congratulations, you are one of lucky ones. Or maybe not."
Images dissipated like smoke.
Giving way to memory older.
Not of soldier forces special, but of body original now inhabited.
Villa Roman modest but kept well.
Man elderly in chair elaborate.
Watching with contempt evident.
"Blood mine you may have, but name mine will never have," said man old, voice laden with bitterness. "Son of slave is no son true. When die, expect no inheritance. Not coin copper, nor piece of land."
Young Lucius—thinner, less marked by life—kept eyes down.
Face carefully neutral as humiliation burned inside.
"Should thank generosity for allowing to be educated as man free," old man continued. "Many in place would have been sold at birth."
"Yes, dominus," replied young Lucius.
Submission outward masking fury controlled within.
"Grateful am for... mercy."
Old man smiled.
Satisfied with resignation apparent.
Did not see gleam calculating in eyes youth.
First glimpse of determination cold that would one day define man would become.
"Always remember place," said old man, turning attention to scroll. "Some are born to command, others to serve. Gods determined role when planted in womb of slave Thracian that."
Words echoed.
Warping and amplifying.
Dream began to fragment.
Realities distinct colliding.
Training brutal of forces northern.
Humiliation of bastard Roman young.
Present uncertain of gladiator rising.
All identities vying for dominance within mind single.
I awoke with start violent.
Body soaked in sweat cold.
Breath came in gasps rapid shallow.
Heart pounding against ribs.
For moment disorienting, did not know where was or even who was.
Gradually, reality present reasserted itself.
Chambers luxurious of palace Cassius. In Rome.
Position new as gladiator favored by Livia.
Sat on edge of bed.
Running hands over face as fragments last of dream dissipated.
Was not time first had experienced memories intertwined these.
But never had been so vivid, so coherent.
Memories of body original were becoming clearer.
Blending with those of warrior elite transplanted through time.
Through windows balcony, rays first of sunlight morning tinged sky Rome with orange and gold.
Day had come.
Rising, walked to balcony and watched city waking.
Wagons began moving through streets below.
Servants and slaves began duties daily.
Merchants prepared for day another of business.
Life went on.
Indifferent to mysteries and conflicts inner of man single.
Memories dream, though disturbing, brought clarity renewed.
Both soldier forces special and bastard Roman young shared truth fundamental:
In world unjust, power was protection only true.
And in worlds both, separated by time countless, those born without power needed to create it by means any necessary.
As prepared for day first at ludus Cassius, felt resolve renewed.
Training brutal of forces northern had forged warrior able to endure challenge physical any.
Life as son bastard despised had taught patience and manipulation social.
Experiences both now converged.
Providing tools unique to navigate labyrinth dangerous of power that was Rome.
Servant appeared at door.
Indicating respectfully was time to depart for ludus.
I nodded.
Ready to face whatever day new might bring.