Eirianwen

Age: 23

Birthplace: Britannia

Fighting style: Gallia

History: Daughter of an exiled druid, Eirianwen grew to womanhood in the one of the most feared tribes in Britannia – the Silures.

Whilst most of the island went down to the might of Rome, the Silures continued to fight in the face of overwhelming odds, Eirianwen always in the thick of battle.

But nothing could stop the inexorable march of the legions and the Silures were eventually defeated by Sextus Julius Frontinus. Eirianwen's prowess was well known to the Romans and she was sold as a slave to the lanista Lucius Balbus – a specialist in female gladiatorial shows in Asia Minor.

Eirianwen's savage fighting style is tempered by her kind and spiritual nature.

It is she who first befriends the Spartan Lysandra and this friendship eventually grows to love.

But the relationship angers the gladiatrix prima, first sword and champion of the ludus - Sorina, the Dacian. Events are set into motion that will bring Eiranwen and Sorina – once so close – to the brink of combat.