Chapter 629: Freedom
Laz had just been escorted back to the cell block for the gladiators when another group of guards arrived for him, leaving the overseers in confusion. As it was, Laz had to act like he was already beaten to the point of being unable to stand, therefore meaning that the guards who brought him back had to drag him, a very unpleasant experience the first time. Once he was thrown in to the floor, some of the nicer guys Laz had saved in the past brought him over to his cot and laid him down, allowing him to finally rest a bit as he wondered if he could finally get some sleep his body needed. As he was drifting off, he suddenly woke after hearing his name called. Opening his eyes, he heard one of the overseers start to converse with the new group of guards who arrived, lead by a middle aged woman whose armor seemed quite a bit more exquisite that the rest of them. For a moment, he considered not giving a fuck, turning over and acting like he had passed out when he felt a firm grip on his shoulder from Jacob.
"I’m not sure if you can hear me or not boy, but you need to get up as if your life depended on it. Even if you’re dying you need to hear the words of the Empresses head guard or it could mean your life," Jacob said, shaking Laz so much he felt like the bed might crumble beneath him.
"Alright. Alright. I got it," Laz said, guiding himself to sit up but in such a way that it seemed like he was in a lot of pain and barely able to do so.
As it was, the overseer, a man with still a hint of compassion left, was trying to distract the Empresses guards for long enough to see if someone could awaken Laz. He knew the price of being unable to hear what the guard had to say and didn’t want the young man who had just returned alive from whatever torture he had endured to be killed so uselessly. At least the man should be given a final chance.
Luckily, Jacob was in time and had helped Laz to his feet just before he had to retreat back to avoid punishment.
As Laz stood there, swaying on his feet, the light haired woman approached and asked,
"Are you Laz?"
"Yes Mam!"
"A message from her royal highness herself, the Empress Hera," she said before pulling out a wrapped scroll. After a long moment of exaggerated unwrapping, she spoke,
"For the sake of the Empresses health and recovery, a strong sacrifice must be made. As such, the current strongest warrior of the stadium is ordered to present himself to the Empress for such duty. Henceforth, with his sacrifice made, the outside known as Laz shall be forever remembered as a citizen of the Empire and granted his freedom post hence. As per all rules regarding the freedom of a slave, they shall be observed and a week’s long celebration shall commence at once. We shall leave the overseer to take care of arrangements for any pending tasks that need to be observed within the stadium and shall check up upon their completion after the week of celebration has ended. That is all," the woman said, handing the scroll off to one of the others to carefully reroll and deliver to the overseer as the appointment he is being charged with.
The overseer, not having expected this, began to panic a little as he didn’t know of any of Laz’s affairs since the man had just arrived here not too long ago and he had never considered that he would have to make citizen plans so soon for him. He quickly signaled two of his helpers who rushed off to look into it, including to see which of the female slaves he would be given as a result based on his previous actions.
After listening to everything, Laz knew it wasn’t going to be killed by the Empress and decided it was just better to keep playing his part.
"I hear... and ob....." Laz began to say before he went still and fell backwards, landing hard on the ground and ’passing out.’
’Like I’ve ever obeyed anyone...’ Laz thought as he hit hard, tucking his head slightly up to that it wouldn’t strike first.
The woman in the expensive armor looked shocked for just a moment before understanding over took her.
"At least he stayed upright for the entire reading. You two, bring him back with us but try to not dirty him up too much. He will need to be cleaned for this and you’ll just be giving more work to the chamber maidens if get’s too much more dirty," The woman sighed before turning away.
As the group of guards for the Empress were all women, it took three of them to carry Laz with them, leaving the gladiators and their overseers in shocked silence. Based on the words of the guard, Laz was being offered as a sacrifice to the Empress’ health, something that didn’t make any since. They weren’t a nation of backwards radicals and something like human sacrifice had never been seen inside the boarders of the Empire for as long as it had existed, so this particular turn of events didn’t seem to make any sense whatever.
Either way, it wasn’t up to them to do anything about it.
"Alright. It’s a loss to us all, but there is nothing more to be done. Get back to your training as from tomorrow on, we shall have the week’s worth of a standard freedom celebration. You two go to the women’s quarter and fine out which girls he’s shared a bed with. Have the report sent up and isolate those women to prevent any accidents. Once we hear back... sigh.... at least we will know for sure," the overseer said, issuing his commands.
Once the guards had made their way over to the women’s block, they informed the female guards there of the orders and gave them the insignia of the overseer, prompting them to get to work quickly. Luckily for them, the list of Laz’s conquests only included one woman.
"Rain. Report!" A large, gruff woman in her late forties called out, summoning the young woman to the door.
"Congratulations. It seems one of your companions has been issued his freedom, allowing you to gain yours as well as long as he chooses you. Of course seeing as how you’re the only one he’s allowed to serve him, I don’t suppose it will be a hard choice. Either way, I’ll take you to the hold cell where you will have a chance to clean up and prepare yourself. Although I don’t know how long it will take, you will be able to stay there until the official ruling has been set. Just remember, when you get out of here... treasure it and don’t get yourself into any trouble. Congratulations of becoming a citizen of the Empire," the middle aged woman exclaim, honestly happy every time one of these poor girls gained their freedom.
"I... I..." Rain said, confused. She had only been in service of one young man since she had just arrived not long before him. As such, she knew it was impossible for it to be the man she was thinking of since there was no chance he had obtained his rights this quickly.
"Just go," the woman said with a smile on her face.
...
Laz had just ’regained’ himself before he was dragged into a massive bath room where he was met by two stone faced women who stripped what little clothing he had and directed him to clean himself up in the running water before climbing into the massive bath tub. As soon as he was in, the two woman went to work, scrubbing every inch of his body. They had been imperial bathers for a long time, known for their skills and not their bodies. Even so, the women almost felt themselves losing control at the young man and his massive package as they went about with their task. They had bathed many men and women in their lifetimes, gaining extensive knowledge about things like soap, cleanliness and even products to firm the skin, remove blemishes and other such problems that most people ignore.
The only comment they had after having served Laz though was that his body was perfect.
After the bath, rinse down and oil rub, Laz was dressed in some fine silks, given a shave and had his hair cut and styled.
Brought before a mirror, the older women were flabbergasted a the change of the young man. He wasn’t very dirty before, thanks to Aphrodite’s accommodations, but he had to keep up his normal hair appearance and what not for when he returned to the cages. So this was truly the first time he had been given such treatment after having arrived here. Even if the clothes were ordinary wear for those in the palace and nothing even special enough for a son of the Emperor to wear, it still looked like a regal gown once placed on Laz.
Dark greys and midnight blacks accented an otherwise white robe, with a few chains of silver keeping it together. Other than that, there were just some simple boots for his feet, new, but not of any extraordinary quality.
"This way please," the women said, pointing him to a massive door that was being guarded by two more female guards. As Laz strode up to the doors, the young guards couldn’t help but go wide eyed by his appearance as confusion entered their faces.
’He’s suppose to be a gladiator, right?’
’Are all slaves this handsome once cleaned and dress?"
One of the older women cleared their throats, causing the guards to snap back to attention.
They opened the door before escorting Laz inside, causing him to be shocked silent for the first time in a long time.
Right before him was the Empress’ bedchamber and within it were gathered not only the Empress herself, but also every daughter of hers that he had made a goddess out of in the last several days.
"You’ve come, hmmm?" Hera asked, a wicked smile on her face.
