Chapter 5d

“Fifty gold and your bones intact. Blacklock? My purse in yet?” Kore took a small pouch from Blacklock. “Don't look so shocked Ambassador. I've made more today with my two unscheduled fights than you do in a week.” Kore smiled and dropped fifty gold coins on the bunk next to Jyp. “His papers?” Knoss handed over Jyp's documents in an utter daze. What had just happened? He'd sold his gladiator to a gladiator? How? “Here you are Jyp, these are yours. Either keep them safe in your body-belt there or burn them.”

“You ... you ... he's ...” Knoss gaped at the papers in the Nellatian's hands as much as the Nellatian did.

“As free as you are Knoss. You might want to go away before he gets rid of his headache and decides he doesn't like you any more.” Kore smirked. Knoss actually ran out of the cell and up the tunnel. Kore, Shawn and Blacklock fell into fits of laughter.

“Little Lady have buyded Jyp?” Jyp looked from his papers to the three laughing gladiators in astonishment.

“Yep!” Kore smiled. “Then gave you your papers. You're a free man Jyp.”

“Ooo!” Jyp grinned broadly. “Is good! Jyp goes wherever Jyp liking now?” He asked.

“Indeed you can. As long as you take care not to hurt yourself, your seizures should be quite easy to manage.” Blacklock told him.

“Oh them's crap and rubbish.” Jyp waved his hand dismissively. “Jyp going where Jyp please now so Jyp go with Little Lady anyhoo.”

“Huh?” Kore stopped laughing. “Er ... I'm not going anywhere though Jyp. I don't travel around like the Knoss family do. I stay here all the time.” She explained.

“Is good. Jyp not wanting nothings to be as same as Knoss do. Jyp stay with Little Lady.” Jyp decided.

“Looks like you got yourself a bodyguard.” Blacklock grinned. “Leo will faint.”

“Leo! Shit! Look he'll be over at the Pit faster than lightning. I can't just ... just ... introduce Jyp to him all of a sudden.” Kore said in a panic. Leo would certainly faint, Blacklock was right. “Shawn will you take him somewhere for a few hours? Anywhere at all?”

“Training fields? He can help me erect the apparatus course.” Shawn offered.

“Yes!” Kore said in relief.

“How's about no?” Jyp said firmly. “Jyp staying with Little Lady, not with Shoon. Free man remembering?”

“Gah! Jyp I'm meeting my brother, you see, and we need to talk in private about something. Shawn is my best friend and he really does need a hand with putting up that apparatus.” Kore tried.

“Little Lady using apparatus?” Jyp asked.

“All the time! This is new apparatus and I can't wait to try it out.” Kore said eagerly.

“OK well and good.” Jyp nodded. “Shite head is gone soonly. Come along Shoon, Little Lady needing apparatus. Us gets it fixed, no worryings.” Jyp strode out of the cell, Shawn blinked at his back a few times before shrugging and following him.

“Umm, I don't think I thought that through properly.” Kore scowled.

“Gladiator and thought don't go in the same sentence Kore.” Blacklock reminded her. “I'll be here for an hour or two myself, if Leo happens to turn up here. Business with one of the overseers.” He explained vaguely. Kore nodded and collected her belongings together.