Tertullia looked at him, her voice soft. “So what you’re saying is that he’s not safe there in your home?”
Marius nodded; his voice pained. “No, he’s not... not from my fucking father and my fucking imperial uncle... not to mention that cunt of a wife.”
Clavius frowned. “Watch your language, though?”
Tertullia reached over to take his hand. “Maybe he should be somewhere else then...”
Marius looked at her, his eyes widening. “Where?”
She looked into his eyes, stroking his hand. “Maybe he should be here, with us.”
Clavius sat up, alarmed, and Marius’ face fell. “What?!”
Tertullia smiled mildly. “Think about it, dear. Taking your slave from you would be a family matter for your imperial uncle, long live the emperor! But... he would not be interested in taking him from a modest centurion’s home... that would be an embarrassment, really...”
Clavius frowned. “Hey!”
She quieted him, all the while holding Marius’ hand, his face ash-white, her words racing in his head.
She smiled at him. “You could sell him to us and when the waves have quieted down, we’ll just sell him back to you. Easy-peasy...you know we’d take good care of him, and you could come and visit, away from prying eyes...” Clavius turned his finger around his temple, but she swatted him off, smiling.
Marius’ guts filled with ice. Yet, he knew, she was maybe right, the only sane person in this madness...but how... how to do this to Kyle? Would he understand? Would he forgive him, ever?
He rose, his face drawn, his voice soft. “No... I won’t sell him to you...” Clavius sighed but Marius turned to her, clinging to her warm, brown eyes and friendly smile as he pushed out the words. “I’ll gift him to you...”
Tertullia nodded, in tears, rising to clasp him in her arms, squeezing tight, and he sobbed, clutching at her.
XII
Mariusarrivedhomelateand Sixtus rushed to him in the atrium. “Dominus, at last! The baby... the baby is on the way.”
He stood, dumbstruck, his emotions raging, and he let the old man lead him upstairs to the dining hall, her cries filling the house. He stopped, unable to move. Kyle hurried to him, a cup of wine in his hand, and Marius downed it, flinging the cup to the floor, clutching at him, holding him in an iron embrace.
Kyle moaned. “You’re crushing me...”
Marius let him go, bracing at his shoulders. “When....”
“It started hours ago. The doctor is in there with Melissa and Thais. It should be over soon...”
They listened to her screams, and Marius paced the room, livid, his eyes darting to Kyle.I should tell him, but how now...
They waited for what seemed like hours, Kyle watching Marius exhaust himself, pale, pacing the large room back and forth.
He got up and walked to him, stopping him mid-stride. “Stop, please? Just come and sit down. You’ll need your strength.” Marius obeyed, in a daze, and sat holding his hands, squeezing them.
Kyle looked at him, worried. “You were gone a long time...”
“I was at Clavius’ house.”
He relaxed, a small smile on his face. “In that case, you were at least safe.”
Yes, safe... Marius looked at him. “What do you think of Clavius?”
Kyle shrugged. “He is a nice man, and he clearly likes you.”
“And his wife?”
Kyle smiled. “She helped me a lot when you were away. I think she has a kind soul and heart. She cares, you know?”
