Page 46 of Brother at Arms

Nero would confine Cassia to this sumptuous house, and I’d never see her again. Whether he would use Cassia as a scribe, a confidante, a bedmate, or a person to play his new music compositions for, I couldn’t say, but she’d be out of my life forever.

“I need her,” I blurted out.

The whip returned, though it only brushed my chin. “What did you say?”

“I need Cassia. To help me find out what happened. I can’t do it on my own.”

Every word was the truth. I could blunder about Rome shaking poison sellers and silk merchants until midsummer, but I would not get very far. These men had bodyguards, like Arsakes and his companions or the guard at Tatius’s office, who might slit my throat and dump my body in the river if I asked too many questions.

Cassia could learn things without leaving our apartment. She knew people all over the city, and she could read records that others had left, both recently and far into the past. She was also clever and thoughtful, funny and kind.

I did not want to live without her.

The room was completely silent, as though everyone held their breaths, waiting for Nero’s pronouncement.

The whip withdrew once more, and Nero took three paces away from me. He turned back, the boots pointed directly at my face.

“Very well, she may assist you in solving this puzzle,” Nero said. “Then we will do what is best for her.” He stepped forward once more. “When you do find this poisoner, if one exists, you will bring him to me and tell me all. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” I managed.

“We cannot have someone poisoning gladiators.” Nero’s tone turned petulant. “It will ruin the games.”

I croaked an agreement, though Cassia remained silent.

Nero threw down the whip in disgust. “Get up, Leonidas. Go. I don’t want to see you anymore.” He turned and marched out of the gallery, a contingent of Praetorians in his wake.

Before I could climb to my hands and knees, two of the remaining guards lifted me, one on either side. Once I had my feet beneath me, they let me go. I staggered, but I held out a hand to fend them off when they made to grab me again.

I straightened my tunic, feeling its pull on my bloody back. Cassia caught me when I swayed, draped my arm across her shoulders, and slipped her arm around my waist. The guards stood aside as she helped me limp from the room.

Faustinus did not reappear to guide us out of the domus and neither did the guards escort us, though I was certain some followed to make certain we left.

Cassia walked unerringly through the vast house, turning corners and heading through rooms I never remembered us traversing. Miraculously, we emerged into the main courtyard and headed for the gates.

Cassia could navigate the tunnels I’d discovered beneath the city, old maintenance passageways that had been sealed off in places, with as much ease. She’d competently found a way through them, showing me how to mark the way as we went.

Servius’s eyes widened when he saw me hobbling toward him, my tunic now bloodstained, but he opened the gate for us in silence. The other guards watched us go, stone-faced.

Cassia guided me down the hill, my feet heavy on the path. Before we reached the bottom, Servius caught up to us.

Without a word, he handed me his cloak. Cassia, with quiet thanks, placed the light woolen garment gently over my back to shield me from the eyes of Rome as we trudged the rest of the way home.

“Aeii!” I bellowed.

“Do hold still.”

I flinched as Cassia rubbed salve over my open wounds, her hands cool against my hot skin. She’d wiped away the blood that had mostly dried by the time we’d reached the apartment and proceeded to slather me with a paste that smelled of mint and other things I couldn’t identify.

“Did Marcianus teach you how to make that?” I asked.

“I read of it,” Cassia said. “But, yes, I have discussed it with Marcianus. He believes it will work to close wounds.”

“He believes?” I snarled. Now that the immediate danger had gone, I’d descended into fury. “He’s never tested it?”

“No. You are the first to try it.”

“The pair of you are always reassuring.”