In contrast, Episode 6 may seem a little more subdued. The action is limited to the ludus because Achillia is near death from the injuries she received in the Primus. The sole swordplay takes place during nonlethal training to decide which member of Ashur's house will serve as interim champion in her place.
As is well known, Doctore found love in Opiter. Korris is sent to beg Opiter to lend him his medicine man when Ashur, terrified of Achillia's possible fate, throws his medicus from a cliff when he tells him that the infected hand will have to be removed.
Opiter intends to depart from Capua. He admits to Korris that he was involved in setting up Cossutia and Viridia to be assaulted by Caesar's "Cilician" pirates, which Korris and Ashur valiantly protected. He is now concerned that he could be killed. In addition to sending a medicus who speaks in fast-paced Greek that Ashur cannot comprehend, he also sends Korrisback, who is even more irritated than normal over all the plotting that has been taking place behind his back.
Cornelia continues to live there, exploiting Ashur's hospitality. When Korris suggests a tournament to decide which gladiator will win till Achillia heals, she steals three of them to compete in a more private competition for the ladies' benefit while she sleeps with his slaves in his bath. Naturally, though, she has a plan of her own.
Cornelia is attempting to coerce Cossutia into giving Viridia to Quintus Thermus, a Caesar ally. This is currently somewhat of a secret; Messia hears about it but is still too resentful of Hilara to tell anyone. However, when she sets up a meeting with Gabinius so Ashur can pitch the idea to him, she gives him a little favour. However, Ashur is very interested in Viridia, and it appears that this interest is reciprocated because he has shown her that life is more than "pretty and empty things," which she believes herself to be on some level. He has also elevated Achillia, a woman, to the status of renowned arena champion.
Ashur is rather forthright about this and his disloyalty to Caesar when he visits Gabinius, and Gabinius gladly consents to put an end to the plan. However, the most recent development in the Korris and Opiter drama strengthens Ashur's negotiating position somewhat, since the former has chosen to accept the latter's offer to flee with him. However, Opiter must make the agreement more agreeable because Ashur is prone to violent outbursts when he is irritated. Optier will give Korris his villa, his ludus, and all of its gladiators if Ashur consents to free him from his servitude.
He can't help but smugly boast about how much Opiter's possessions will improve his own position when he encounters Proculus in the market. In order to make room for Korris to go, Celadus wins the tournament and becomes the interim champion, but Ashur gives the title to Tarchon, whom he defeated in the final. He only wants Korris to stay with him so they can pray for Achillia's survival, which is a rather obvious sign of how desperate Ashur has grown given how sharply he doesn't believe. She awakens from her nightmares of past brutality, so at least this works. However, she is likely to remain out of commission for some time to come.
The Brothers Ferox, obviously at Proculus's command, break into Opiter's villa in the middle of the night, murder his servants, and finally chop him to pieces, undermining the otherwise cheerful ending. Ashur is in considerably worse shape than before, and Korris's romantic future has been destroyed. If only he had refrained from speaking.
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