She stroked his cheek. “Your looks outgrow your wits, Simeon, but this is why I like you so much... We can’t do anything for Clavius anymore, but we can still save Marius... now, pack, and stop asking questions.”
She came back much later, carrying also a precious little item, and she changed quickly, Tabia and Simeon ready, her pots, herbs, and spices on the cart, along with their clothes and food. She climbed up, Simeon at the reins, Tabia in the back.
She turned to the faithful cook. “Tabia, your magic will be needed. I hope we won’t be too late.”
Tabia grinned, her teeth gleaming in the night. “Do not worry, domina, I am ready.”
Nobody paid any attention to the poor peasant woman and her son leaving Rome on their mule cart, their African slave in the back, singing her mournful songs from her homeland, grieving her master.
XVI
Theplanstoraidthe settlement had continued as the early fall chill settled in, the chief’s daughter helping them as best as she could, scared to the bone from Marius, that horrid night still vivid in her memory.
Unexpectedly, she also grew quite fond of Julius, the young centurion spending more time with her, as he had been put in charge of making sure that she was cared for. He also realized, not without shame, that his feelings for her had changed, and he was looking at her with fresh eyes.
Marius had noticed it, of course, and it warmed him. This gave him another way to force her to do what he wanted if she wavered.
His thirst for revenge overrode his reason, his broken heart hardening, not letting any of his softer emotions to the surface, and he grew cold, almost verging on cruelty. The soldiers feared him like the devil as he had become ruthless with the slightest misstep, his punishments harsh. Nobody could reason him, and a slow underlying terror had settled between the fort’s walls.
Reluctantly, Kyle and Clavius turned away from the river, the banks giving way to jagged rock cliffs, impossible to climb.
“We have to go and find a road.”
Clavius nodded, and they both knew this meant civilization, other humans. Clavius’ wound had healed, an impressive scar running down his face. He caressed it sometimes, softly laughing. “This is my retirement present...” He was still weak, though, and their progress was slower than expected.
Trudging through a thick forest, they arrived on a dirt road in the woods. Clavius sighed.“We have no choice but to follow it.” They could not hear the river anymore and it unnerved them. Still, they walked, looking off in the landscape, Clavius in his tunic and sandals, and Kyle in his impossibly short trousers which barely covered his ass.
After a while, they stumbled on a few men camping near the road, and the men looked at them, rising from near the fire. Clavius looked nervously at Kyle. There were five of them, probably some sort of merchants, all sturdy looking men, seemingly unarmed. They waved them over and Clavius stood facing them, making sure they saw his scar. One of the men came closer, a tall man with a rugged face, short, brown hair, brown eyes, a small smile on his lips. He looked in his forties, his hair greying at the temples, a huge hunting knife strapped to his thigh.
The leader probably, Clavius thought, and the man gestured towards his scar. “Wow! Impressive... you got it in a fight?”
“Yes, against some bandits.”
“Who are you?”
“I am but a humble merchant.”
“And the boy?”
Clavius didn’t like the man’s smile. “He’s my slave.”
The leader eyed them. “You have nothing?”
“No, those bandits took everything we had. We barely survived.”
“So... you could use some money, stuff?”
Clavius nodded, and Kyle’s eyes didn’t leave the leader, watching him carefully.
He grinned. “Ok, let’s make a deal. Your slave’s sweet ass for some money and clothes? You might need them, it’s getting cold.”
Clavius frowned, swallowing his anger. “I am not selling him to you.”
The men roared with laughter. Their leader grinned. “We don’t want to buy him... just fuck him.”
They laughed, and Clavius blanched, looking at Kyle who slowly nodded to him. His eyes grew wide, mouthing ‘no’ but Kyle spoke before he could change his mind. “Half up front, and half after, and you give the clothes to my dominus now.”
The leader grinned. “Mouthy, aren’t you?”
