She made no protest as he led her to a marble bench near a torch in the garden and gently pushed her down on it. Her bloodied fingers fumbled against his as she reached up to hold the rag. He knelt in front of her, cradling her jaw in his fingertips, running his thumbs over the bridge of her nose, her cheekbones. She winced at his touch. But nothing broken.
“What possessed you to fight the dominus?”
Her eyes lowered to his. “He gave me no choice.”
Anger swept over him in a rush. Where had the so-calledguardsbeen? “What do you mean,no choice?”
The guard returned with the dripping rag and Felix snatched it from him with a glare. He’d never been one to fight, but this... this made him want to tear the man limb from limb. What had he been doing inthere anyway? Guilt smote in the next breath. Perhaps he might have prevented this had he been inside watching the fight rather than pacing the garden. He gently wiped blood from her face.
“Amazon.”
A shaking voice called her name. Felix turned, blocking Adel with his body as soft footsteps padded up the path behind them. Torchlight fell over a woman in white who cast a glance over one shoulder toward the doorway before hurrying forward, reaching out toward them. Adel nudged him aside and watched the woman approach, blood still seeping from her nose.
“Forgive him,” the domina murmured, pressing several gold coins into Adel’s palm. “That was... not right.”
“You would offer coin for my pardon?” Adel pushed her hand away. “I do not want it, lady.”
The woman shook her head and closed Adel’s fingers around the coins. “Accept my gift. My... apologies. Please.”
“You should keep it.” Adel’s voice rose in a tone Felix had never heard from her before. Urgency. Compassion. Fear. “You must get away from here—”
“And go where?” The domina’s face folded into a sad smile as she gave Adel’s hands a gentle shake. “At least here I am cared for.”
Adel sucked in a breath to respond but the woman didn’t wait for her to speak. Only gave one last trembling smile and fled back inside. Adel sighed.
“Rinse this.” Felix slapped the bloodied rag at the guard again as the armorer and other guards stepped outside.
“We’ve got everything,” one volunteered. “We’re ready to leave if you are.”
Adel pushed Felix away and stood on unsteady legs, all the while brushing aside his attempts to help. “I’m ready.”
The march back to the ludus was a silent one. Injustice lit his blood. For Adel. For the bruised domina. For all those made to fight and cower to satiate and inflate the ego and bloodlust of others.
By the time they reached the ludus, starlight blanketed the city and a sheen of sweat clung to Felix’s skin. From anger or the exercise, he could hardly tell. Their escorts drifted off to their quarters once inside the gate, leaving Adel in Felix’s care. Felix nabbed a lantern from the guard on duty and led the way to the clinic.
“I am fine. I am only tired,” Adel protested as he opened the door and gestured her in ahead of him.
“And I need to do my job.” His voice came sharper than he’d intended. “I’ll be quick, and you can go.” Felix closed the door behind them and crossed to the operating table, flinging his bag on top of it. He lit several lamps with the lantern next, and spread them about the room, warming it with golden light.
“I thought you said you would hurry,” Adel grumbled, slouching against the table and crossing her arms over her chest.
“I need to see what I’m doing.” Felix tucked jars of olive oil and medicinal wine into the crook of one arm. He glanced over his shoulder. “Why did you fight the dominus?”
“I already told you.”
“You said you had no choice.”
“He attacked me. I had to defend myself.” She touched the edge of her swollen lip.
Felix dumped the clutter of supplies on the operating table. “Where were your guards?”
She shrugged.
“Why did the domina pay you?”
“Are you a questioner now?” She held out her hands. “Which finger will you break first?”
He gripped her hands and tugged them down, lowering his voice. “I won’t force you to answer anything you don’t want to. Only, Jovan will ask me why your face looks like this.” He pressed a rag to the mouth of a bottle and shook it, wetting the cloth before swiping it across her swollen cheek.
