He took a deep breath. Lea did brave things every day. If he could do one brave, terrifying thing for the chance of seeing her…
Yes. He was going to do it. Scale the walls, go to her, attempt to explain and hope she forgave him.
Kallias took a step toward the door.
A knock sounded.
Kallias tensed. It must be someone else seeking his care. Hopefully, it would be quick, and then he’d be on his way.
He opened the door to see a petite young woman, swathed in a cloak with a wicker basket over her arm. She definitely wasn’t one of the palace staff, but she also looked familiar…
“Hello, Kallias,” she said brightly. “I’m not sure we’ve been formally introduced. My name is Velia.”
Recognition hit him as she spoke; he’d seen her from afar at Lea’s ludus, often in the company of the ex-gladiator Ferox. But even as he realized who she was, her presence here scrambled his mind with questions. He beckoned her inside, then closed the door. “Did Lea send you? Did she get my note? How did you get in here? The guards—”
She proffered her basket. “I told them I had a delivery of herbs for the physician and they walked me right to your door.”
Kallias glanced at the greenery filling the basket. “Are those…carrot greens?”
Velia shrugged, setting her basket on the edge of his worktable. “They didn’t seem to know the difference. As for your note, I found it outside her room when we returned from the games. It must have arrived after we’d already left. I read it—sorry—and thought I had best come see you.”
“Did Lea read the note? Was she very angry? I couldn’t explain everything, but I promise you, I had no choice but to stay here.” In a few words, Kallias told Velia of the events that had forced him to remain here yesterday and miss the games today. The tale made her eyes widen.
“I was actually just about to attempt to climb the walls before you arrived,” he admitted.
“Really?” She cocked her head. “I have to confess that I didn’t give Lea your note. She wasn’t in any condition to read after what happened today.”
His stomach dropped, and he went rigid. “What—”
Velia held up a hand. “She’s all right. But she lost her match. She was wounded. A blow to the head.”
The thought of Lea, hurt—it stoppered his breath, froze every muscle in his body.
“She seems all right now,” Velia added. “Our physician said nothing was broken. She just needs to rest.”
“She’s awake?” he managed through the panic choking him. “Talking?” Some people who sustained blows to the head simply never woke up.
Velia nodded. “Not much, but that’s just Lea.”
“I have to see her.” Kallias grabbed his satchel and hurried between his shelves, hastily stuffing several things into the leather bag.
“I think I can help with that,” Velia said. “Or at least make it so you don’t break your ankle falling off a wall.” She dumped the carrot greens from her basket onto his table. “There was only one guard at the side entrance where I came in. I candistract him easily enough for a few moments. You can slip out behind him.”
“I couldn’t ask you to risk yourself—”
She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s for Lea. You have what you need?”
Kallias looped his satchel over his shoulder and nodded. He blew out his lamps, then left the room with her.
They crossed through the hallways until they reached the turn which led to the exit. Velia paused. “Give me a few moments. I’ll draw him away from the door.”
“Are you sure about this? If I’m caught, you’ll be implicated.” His heart pounded. Suddenly, this scheme seemed infinitely more dangerous than his prior plan of climbing the walls.
“Trust me, medicus, when it comes to distracting men, I know what I’m doing.” Velia gave him a saucy smile, then disappeared down the corridor, balancing her now-empty basket against her hip.
Kallias remained out of view of the doorway, but he could still hear Velia’s voice as she engaged the guard in conversation, chattering so fast he bet the man could barely keep up.
“Do you have to stand out here all night? It must be very boring with no one to keep you company. And, oh, just look at all that armor. It must feelsonice to take it off at the end of the day.” She giggled. “Especially that sword, so big and heavy. Do you get the chance to use it often?”
