Lionslayer's Woman

by Nhys Glover

  He turned on his heel and started striding off toward the western sector of the city. His mind was churning furiously and he wouldn’t have even known if Leonis was still with him, his focus was so tightly pinpointed on the puzzle. Why had they separated mother and child? And why take one to the south and one to the north? It made no sense. Maybe if they questioned Galeria they might have a better idea what Antoninus was up to.

  It took little time to find their way back to the tavern they’d stayed in the night before. The girls were sitting quietly waiting, but jumped to their feet as soon as they entered the room. He noticed they had cleaned themselves up somehow and changed their clothes. It was good to see Galeria without blood on her.

  He glanced down at his own crumpled tunic. It was filthy and stained with his blood from the nick Cyra had given him last night. Had he become so used to being filthy that he no longer noticed what he looked like? He’d always taken pride in his appearance. Not that he cared about what others considered his good looks, but keeping his body neat and clean, his hair roman short, his teeth polished, were all part of how he respected himself. Over the months since he’d found out Niobe was dead he’d lost all that.

  ‘Well?’ Galeria asked, her hands wringing tight in front of her.

  Had he noticed how lovely her eyes were before? They were blue-tinged grey, like the early morning sky, and surrounded by a circle of indigo. He shook his head to snap himself out of his strange preoccupation with her eyes.

  ‘The Praetorians left last night with your mother heading for Seleukeia Pieria in Syria. She was definitely alive and conscious. Antoninus has taken your sister to Ephesus and left a message for you to go there for her.’

  Galeria sat down on the pallet in a defeated heap. He could see by the way her eyes were darting from side to side that she was thinking frantically. Cyra dropped to her side and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

  ‘Why has he taken her to Ephesus?’ Galeria asked, mystified.

  ‘Before we can start to understand that, I think you need to tell us all you know of this man.’ He sat down on the pallet across from her. Leonis dropped onto his own, sprawling out as if he didn’t have a care in the world. It was image only. Nexus could tell by the tightness of his jaw muscles that he was anything but relaxed. Why was he putting on this performance, and for whom?

  ‘He’s a creepy fat patrician who’s been after Galeria for about a year,’ Cyra supplied.

  ‘His father is Proconsul of Asia, residing in Ephesus. Antoninus came to my father to study Stoic philosophy last year. He isn’t very bright and likes to think he’s a philosopher but he isn’t. He’s just a rich man with no talent for the military, the land or the law, so he’s settled on philosophy as his career,’ Galeria said slowly.

  ‘Remember how last year your father said he was always trying to put words into his mouth? Always trying to get him to criticise the emperor?’ Cyra said to Galeria. ‘Do you think it was him who got your father on Domitian’s list?’

  Galeria frowned. ‘Surely not. What would he have to gain from something like that? Pater was his tutor. With him gone, who would teach him?’

  ‘Your father refused to let him marry you. Think how many times he asked and was refused. Maybe he thought that if your father was out of the way you might have to marry him?’

  ‘But I’d never do that, knowing that he was responsible for my father’s death!’

  ‘Maybe he didn’t expect him to be killed. Maybe he thought the Praetorians would take him back to Rome for a trial. You and your mother would then turn to him for his help…’ Cyra continued excitedly.

  ‘He was with the Praetorians and he did take your sister,’ interjected Leonis.

  ‘He may have thought you’d marry him to get him to drop his charges if it were his charges that led to your father’s name being placed on the list,’ Nexus said thoughtfully. ‘Obviously, he expected you to be there last night. When you weren’t, he might have chosen a new plan – blackmail you into marrying him to get your sister back.’

  ‘But what about Mater?’

  ‘That I don’t understand. What was his attitude toward her?’ Nexus asked, running his fingers absently through his short-cropped hair. At least they didn’t come away with straw in them this time, he thought absently.

  ‘He was always very respectful toward mother. She liked him and thought I should marry him. I don’t know how many times she said he was a good catch.’

  ‘So if the Praetorians were killing everyone, might he have stepped in to save her?’

  ‘I don’t know. If he organised the whole thing I have no idea what he’s capable of.’

  ‘Let’s say he did. Let’s say he tried to come up with a way she could be silenced without being killed…’

  ‘She’s a patrician! If she tells what happened, people will listen. She’s no slave to be ignored.’

  ‘But what if she were?’ Nexus leaned forward, meshing his gaze with Galeria’s. He could see her turning over the ideas as he was doing. For all her misery, her mind was still sharp; what an intellect she must have when she is not overwrought.

  ‘A citizen of Rome can’t be sold into slavery unless they commit a crime or sell themselves because of debt. That never happens to patricians like mother.’

  ‘They can’t be sold as slaves in the Roman Empire!’

  ‘That’s what I said.’

  ‘No, Galeria, what he’s getting at is that slavery exists outside the empire. If she was taken out of the empire…’

  ‘How could that happen? The empire encompasses almost the whole world!’

  ‘No, it doesn’t. Your vision is limited by your Roman perspective. There is much more to the world than what your people have conquered,’ Nexus said patiently, disappointed that she was less knowledgeable than he thought.

  ‘Osrhoene Kingdom would be the closest,’ Cyra said, frowning as she thought. ‘Farther south to Syria, it isn’t far east to Osrhoene territory. They’re independent, but largely under Parthian and Armenian control, and therefore outside the Roman Empire. There’s been a lot of unrest in that area since before I came down from the mountains of my home, but I’m sure it still remains out of Roman hands. My last master was a high-ranking supporter of Pacorus II, who took the Parthian Empire from his nephew Vologases II, so I had some understanding of the politics of the area. If I were trying to get someone out of the Roman Empire, that’s the way I’d go from here.’

  ‘So the first step might be Seleukeia Pieria?’ Galeria said, suddenly seeing where they were headed with all this.

  ‘I’d say so,’ Cyra said reluctantly. The girl didn’t seem to like the way this line of thought was taking them. ‘Antiochia is the main city on the trade route to the east. It’s not far from that sea port.’

  ‘Then we have to choose between either going after your mother or your sister first,’ Leonis said, obviously forgetting that he was a slave and not part of the decision-making process.

  ‘Leaving Galerianna with Antoninus would be my first choice but he’s drugging her to keep her quiet. That worries me. Too much and she’s dead.’ Nexus hadn’t wanted to share that piece of information with the girls but it seemed a crucial factor in their deliberations.

  ‘Drugging her? Oh, my poor little Gali!’ Cyra wailed, putting her hands over her mouth to keep in the noise.

  ‘Mother would never forgive us if we went after her and something happened to Galerianna,’ Galeria said, obviously distressed by having to decide between one or the other.

  ‘And what do we do with Gali once we have her? It’s not as if we can take her with us while we go after your mother. And what about your brother Appius? Isn’t he expected home in a few weeks? He could go…’ Cyra bit hard on her closed fist in distress as she realised the uselessness of factoring the brother into the plan.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Nexus saw Leonis moving toward the Parthian. Then he seemed to think better of it and changed his movements to look like he was jus
t getting comfortable.

  What was this? Did the Dacian actually have feelings for the girl? He didn’t hit him as the type to take women seriously. Warriors like him preferred to fight rather than make themselves vulnerable by loving too strongly.

  ‘The longer we wait, the farther Mater is taken away from us. We can’t wait for Appius. Once she’s sold into slavery, there’s no way to get her back.’ Galeria scrunched her eyes up tight, obviously fighting back tears.

  ‘We could do both,’ Nexus said slowly, not sure he liked the idea his mind had thrown out. But what other choice was there? The urge to save the mother was growing into an obsession for him, and yet he knew the child’s life was in danger every time they dosed her with their drugs. She had to be rescued quickly. There was only one way they could do both.

  The three other faces turned to him as one, confused, and yet expectant.

  ‘We split up. Leonis can go with Cyra, and you, Galeria, can come with me. I’d suggest you girls go together for the shorter journey but this Antoninus seems unpredictable. If he gets you in his sights,’ he looked at Galeria meaningfully, ‘I’m not sure he wouldn’t do your sister real harm to get you to acquiesce. And two women travelling alone is just too dangerous anyway.’

  ‘I’m not leaving Galeria!’ Cyra said angrily.

  But her mistress had finally torn her gaze from his and was staring down at her entwined fingers. They all seemed to hold their breath as they waited to hear her thoughts.

  ‘Where would Cyra and Leonis take Galerianna when they get her?’

  ‘Galeria!’ Cyra’s voice was high with disapproval and frustration.

  ‘No don’t, Cyra. Nexus is right. Mother will be lost forever if we don’t go after her straight away. Galerianna is risking death the more often that slug doses her with potions. I can’t risk losing either of them.’

  ‘You know of the Pontus region?’ Nexus asked Leonis. The Dacian nodded his head.

  ‘I lived in Amaseia for five years,’ Cyra said grudgingly.

  ‘That’s not far from the Sabinus estate.’ Nexus looked at the Dacian.

  ‘I could get them both there.’

  ‘It’s not far from your homeland.’

  ‘No, and if you’re asking if I’ll make a break for it once I have them there safely, I can’t promise you I won’t, but I will get them there safely.’

  Nexus stared for a moment into the very blue eyes of the warrior. He was being honest. It would have to be enough. If he became a runaway slave, it was on his own head.

  ‘Shouldn’t I be the one to go into Parthia?’ Cyra asked reluctantly.

  ‘Your heart belongs to my little sister, I know that. It should be you who rescues her.’

  ‘And I don’t want Galeria anywhere near Antoninus,’ Nexus said.

  Galeria raised her eyebrow at him. ‘You don’t want?’

  Nexus felt flustered by his own words. What did he mean? It wasn’t his place to want or not want anything for her.

  ‘Then it’s decided. Is there enough money for both journeys?’ Galeria said, letting him off the hook.

  Cyra pulled out a large pouch of coins and another of jewels. ‘I think there’ll be sufficient.’

  ‘And Livianna gave me plenty and a letter of introduction so I can get more if I need it.’

  ‘Then we have a plan. When can we leave?’ Galeria asked.

  ‘As soon as we can find ships to take us to our destinations. A visit to the forum is obviously our next step. The gong has gone for the baths. Would you girls care to clean up properly? I see no reason for you to hide away now that the Praetorians are gone.’

  ‘Have you notified someone about… about… Pater? Galeria stammered.

  ‘Yes. It will be several days before the ritual can be arranged. We’ll be long gone by then. Your father would understand.’

  ‘I know he would. It’s just the idea of him lying out there… with the flies…’ she gave a shudder of dismay. Nexus wanted to touch her, to offer comfort, but he was on the opposite side of the room. He left it to little Cyra to do and she did it well. Resting her head on her mistress’ shoulder, she patted her arm.

  ‘Come on, let’s go…’ Nexus climbed to his feet and offered Galeria his hand. It gave him an odd little thrill when she took it so easily.

  Once again, he ignored the sensation and focused on the job.

  CHAPTER TEN

  While the girls went to the baths, Decaneus and Nexus went to the old agora just off the forum in the centre of town to see what ships were leaving for their destinations soon. It took them only half an hour to determine, as they’d expected, that there’d be no other ships to either destination leaving that day. The Reshep, a Syrian merchant vessel on its way home from Isthmia was expected in that evening. The Yamm, a smaller merchant ship from Carthago was also due in at dusk. It was heading north to Ephesus. They’d need to go to the docks at sunset to arrange their passage with the ships’ masters.

  Then, between them, they bought up what supplies they thought they’d need for their journeys and returned to their room in the tavern. By that time, the girls were back and Decaneus and Nexus were able to go to the baths themselves.

  Decaneus had never been as grateful for anything as he was for the feel of the hot waters being sloshed over his filthy body. Since the night before when they’d entered that house of death, his flesh had felt tainted by it. Such a sensation was not new to him. He’d often felt that way after a particularly bloody skirmish. This time it was far worse; the senselessness of the destruction hit him the most. A whole household of innocent people wiped out in minutes for no discernible reason. Oh, yes, there was the ‘list’, but that had only one name on it. Why kill everyone connected to that one name? The Romans were bloodthirsty, but even they didn’t kill their own upper classes so callously.

  They’d bought fresh tunics from the markets and Nexus had his wound looked at while they bathed. It hadn’t been deep. Luckily, he’d seen what the wildcat planned and had been quick enough to stop her before she drove the sword too deep into the Nubian’s side. The blade had slid off Nexus’ ribs, leaving no more than a gash.

  Nexus should have seen to the wound earlier than this. Such wounds could turn bad so easily and poison the whole body. Nexus would have known that, yet he didn’t seem to care.

  Now the medici tutted over the wound and said that he was lucky it hadn’t putrefied. The old man cleaned the gash and applied a poultice to remove the bad humours. He wanted to bleed Nexus, but the Nubian refused such treatment.

  Decaneus took the time to have his hair trimmed, although he refused to follow the roman way. His own traditions demanded his hair be kept at collar length and his beard closely cropped around his face. Livianna had made him follow Roman fashion in the early days, but she’d grown weary of his stubborn insistence on keeping his facial hair and had finally let him grow it as he saw fit. She’d laughingly said he looked more handsome with a beard than without. It was one of the times he had wondered whether she planned to take him to her bed, but nothing had come of it and he’d been left to keep his hair as he wanted.

  Nexus didn’t seem to have facial hair and he kept the frizzy lengths on his head cropped short in the roman way. It suited the shape of his head. He noted the man took time to clean his teeth with an abrasive powder he bought at the market, rubbing it into his teeth with his finger and spitting the residue out onto the ground. He used a split twig to clean between his teeth just as Decaneus did.

  By the time they made their way back to the women, the sun was low in the sky. It wouldn’t be long before the ships from all over the empire would be docking. They ate a simple meal at the tavern downstairs and, keeping their valuables close, made their way to the docks on sunset. The women knew their way around far better than Decaneus and Nexus did, and they reached their destination in much shorter time than it had taken them earlier in the day.

  The stench was the first thing that hit Decaneus as they moved along the dock looki
ng for their ships. He saw Cyra stiffen and Galeria shudder. He turned to look in the direction they did. Not far away, several roughly hewn, wide-girthed vessels were disgorging human cargo. He could smell their odour. Human filth was the top note of that stench. The bottom note was terror and despair. He knew it well from his time beneath the amphitheatre, when he’d seen other criminals crammed en masse into tiny cells, awaiting their violent deaths.

  Cyra obviously recognised it, too, and he wondered what hell she’d lived through as a slave getting to this island. Had she been one of these broken people, dragging their chains along the wooden dock, knowing their destination was a slave market block?

  How he came to be beside her he didn’t know, but he let his fingers slide up her bare arm, a touch of comfort and understanding. She looked up at him in surprise and then gratitude. It was enough.

  They hurried past the ships and their cargo and found their own vessels. In short time he’d arranged their passage, while Nexus had done the same for himself and Galeria on the Reshep. Then they walked slowly back to their room.

  The girls walked together, keeping close and talking softly of unimportant things. He could tell they were worried about separating.

  Even now, he wasn’t sure how he felt about travelling alone with the little wildcat; she was so unpredictable. Yes, he’d worked out that she had a keen and intelligent mind, but her emotions often over-rode her logic. This made her unstable. She was just as likely to ignore his orders and rush in to the rescue without considering the possible outcomes.

  The child was obviously important to Cyra, as important as she was to her sister. How was that possible? A slave shouldn’t care deeply for a master, and yet he saw the devotion in Cyra’s eyes when she looked at her mistress and friend. What was there about Galeria and her family that had instilled such loyalty and affection?

  His mother had been a freeborn concubine of the king. In their home, there had been slaves aplenty, and though they obediently did his bidding, he never had the sense that any of them cared overmuch for him. Not that he cared back then. He was the master; they were merely slaves – cattle really. Why should he care what they thought or felt?