Chapter 16d

“I think Blacklock is referring to the types of jobs available to ex-gladiators.” Faust said quickly.

“I am.” Blacklock said flatly. “I'll explain. The last five so called positions that would accept someone from the Pit were kitchen cleaner, midden cleaner, lawn tender, fruit treader and grave digger. Before that it was arena sweeper, beast minder, corpse removal at the infirmary, waste removal at the parliament building and masseuse to a governmental personage. Any of those not involve dirt, dead things, or human excrement? The masseuse job involves all three.” Faust snorted a laugh and Sillix gave him a dirty look. “Sillix, I'm not proud or impressed at all those injuries on a twenty year old girl, I could weep from my soul at the thought of it, but she was brought here at a time when there was no choice but to train her, and train her to survive. Leo too. What I am proud and impressed with is their dignity, and I'm proud of myself for giving them that.”

“A very good example is sitting right here.” Ursus indicated herself. “I went from a useless accessory to a ambassadorial assistant on one giant leap. Kore's giant leap would be to the parliament wash-rooms on bowl emptying duty. It's a giant leap, but it's a backwards one.”

“So she's going to continue in the arena until she dies in the arena?” Sillix sighed. “I'm not here to judge and I'm not here to comment on governmental employment rules. I'm a physician and at this present moment I have the tragic situation of two siblings who aren't guaranteed their lives. I can advise both to avoid the situations that caused their health predicaments, nothing more.”

“Of course.” Blacklock nodded. “I don't think Leo will need much persuading to avoid damp jail-cells. I intend to tell Kore of your concerns, preferably in the presence of Leo. He'll badger her forever.”

“I must go and check on Leo.” Sillix stood up. “Physician Nomnia is my most respected trainee and he specialises in herbal healing, something that lung ailments respond very well to.”

Sillix let himself out.

“If Little Lady marry Captain Soldier then her not having to fight.” Jyp reasoned. “Her have no parents.” He said to Lord and Ambassador Astrella. “Jyp thinking you two is perfectest parents for Little Lady.”

“Er ... thank you Jyp.” Lily smiled in amusement and looked at her husband.

“You're a a perfect chaperone too, young fellow.” Herz told Jyp.

“Thanking you. Jyp goes to sleep on floor now.”

“Jyp, there's plenty of beds.” Lily offered.

“Jyp not have ever sleeped on bed. Jyp not getting on Little Lady's bed anyhoo, is not seemly.” He said knowingly and ambled off towards Kore's room.

“I should be getting back to Jasmine.” Ursus also stood up. “I left her moving all her belongings into the annex. She said she was going to fix it up.”

“As a ... what, exactly?” Herz asked warily.

“As an Ambassadorial office, don't worry, Lord Astrella.” Ursus laughed. “We have big plans for the place as an advisory centre for the people from all Quarters. Most of them can't afford legal advise from the government and I don't need their money seeing as Lady Blanche isn't charging me for the annex. She's just pleased it's being lived in to minimise damp damage.”

“What about Jasmine?” Lily asked. “She has to put food on her table Ursus. You don't need their money for your services, but she does.”

“It's completely up to her. She has no confidence as yet, naturally. She's never worked as anything else.” Ursus said sadly. “Any time she does anything with me regarding other matters aside from her usual job, I'll pay her from my own coffers. It's my guess that she'll put less and less importance on her existence in the brothel once the financial necessity isn't there.”

“She's a very bright girl is that one.” Faust contributed. “Some you can just tell don't belong there, like a fish out of water. She'll be a miss, though.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Er ... to those that are prone to the place ... umm ... so I believe.”

“Faust, open your mouth a bit further so you can put your other foot in it.” Lily laughed.

“I'd better shut up eh?” Faust laughed. “Come on Blacklock, we'll escort Deputy Vinter to her offices, then we'll go and give Nap something to clean up in his Tavern.”

“I'm already giving Dresk something to clean up in his, namely his back room. My house was burned down today.”

“What?!” Faust exclaimed.

“That's right!” Herz put in. “Damn my manners, I completely forgot Bonetti mentioning that! I'm so sorry Blacklock. If there's anything Ambassador Astrella and myse ...”

“Well of course there is!” Lily butted in. “Throw an inconvenience claim into the government because of the repairs on the other Villa then dish it out to Blacklock, off the books, as compensation. Insurance type thing.”

“I doubt the legality of that.” Herz frowned at his wife.

“And I doubt the legality of governmental revenue here just now. We'll see to it Blacklock.” Lily smiled at the bewildered trainer.

“Thank you ma'am, Sir.” He stammered. “The Tavern awaits us Faust.”

“A bit magnanimous of you there, Lily.” Herz observed when they were alone.

“Rubbish! The man's house catches fire at the same time as an assassination attempt on his champion? I'm a bit rusty on matters gladiatorial, but wouldn't he be the only one who could pull her out of a match?”

“You're right. In fact Bonetti mentioned that too when Ben demanded he stop the fight with the horse rider. I doubt I'll ever visit another arena as long as I live, after that. It was grotesquely orchestrated so that everyone, myself included, presumed the 'extras' to be an exhibition, otherwise the crowd would have objected quite forcefully. They loved her out there Lily, it was unbelievable. I've never seen such support and admiration for an arena champion in all my time as a spectator of the sport. She's a city-wide celebrity. I can fully understand why she'd flatly refuse to go and clean middens for a living.”

“She certainly seems to captured the affections of my men anyway.” Lily hugged her husband. “Father and son obviously have the same taste in women.”

“Odd you should say that, I told Ben she reminded me of you. Impulsive and rash and a temper from hell.” Herz smiled at Lily. “You'd have made a kick-arse gladiator.”