by Nhys Glover
Gods, I missed that time as well. The innocence of it. The camaraderie of it. Now it was gone forever. When my pack-mates came home they would be heading for the arena. I might be too, if this escapade with Accalia counted as my trial. But it had been too easy. Not a trial at all. Therefore, I expected I might have to remain for another year and undergo it again next year.
If that happened, could I find ways to see Accalia? I wouldn’t mind being left behind if I got to see Accalia for another year. Unless she was married off in a hurry. But surely that wouldn’t happen now Camellia was gone. Her father would want to spend time with her, having come so close to losing her.
All these thoughts flitted through my head over and over again, making for a long silent journey and sleepless nights at Natalinus’ villa and the villa of family friends half way back to Fulginiae.
When I finally pulled the cisium up in front of the Master’s villa, I felt as washed out and empty as a bowl the boys in the barracks had licked clean of every morsel. There was nothing left but a numb lump of meat where my heart used to be.
I looked down at Accalia sitting on the seat behind me. She looked as sad and exhausted as I felt. Her big storm-cloud eyes were filled to overflowing with tears.
“Don’t!” I demanded harshly. “Don’t cry. I won’t be able to stand it if you cry.”
She nodded and stuck out her chin, drawing her courage and strength around her like a stola.
“These have been the best weeks of my life. I need you to know that,” she said softly.
I tried to grin. “So, you’ve decided not to hate me?”
She tried to grin too. “Why would I hate you? You did as I asked, stood strong when I tried to tempt you to do otherwise. I still have my virginity. That is all that will matter to my husband.”
“Whoever the lucky bastard ends up being,” I growled out.
She let her grin turn into a grimace. “Yes, well, he might not consider himself so lucky. I will not be an easy wife to have. I am too used to having my own way.”
That made me grin properly. “You do. I can attest to that.” I let just enough sexual heat infuse my words to make her blush.
But she smiled back. “You are an outrageous flirt!”
I wriggled my brows at her as the sounds from the villa drew our attention away from each other and back to the outside world.
Minerva was the first one out the door and down the stairs. I couldn’t believe the fat old chook could move so fast. But when Accalia flew into her arms, and both of them began crying up a storm, all I could do was shake my head and sigh.
Next came her father, thinner than he was when I last saw him, and older. Greyer. His usual ramrod straight shoulders were stooped a little. He grabbed up his daughter and clung to her as tightly as Accalia’s handmaiden had done only moments before.
“Daughter, you are home safe. Gods, it is good to see you,” said Corvus.
“Oh, Pater, it is so good to see you too!” Accalia cried, tears pouring down her cheeks.
For the first time, I was glad I hadn’t tried to convince her to run away with me. She loved her father too much. I didn’t understand that bond, as I didn’t feel that kind of closeness with my mother and I had never even met my father. But I did understand love. And Accalia loved this old man with all her heart.
I smiled at that thought. All her heart, the way she loved me and each member of my pack.
Should I go? Was my part in this adventure over now, and I was free to return to my own life? But where did I go? My old room in the barracks? No, my room there would have gone to the next group of thirteen-year-olds who had completed their first initiation. Gods, that felt like a hundred years ago.
“Asterius!” Corvus called. “Come down here, boy.”
One of the guards had stepped forward to take the horses, and so I did as I was bid.
Cautiously, I approached. I had no idea what to expect. I had just spent three weeks alone with this man’s precious daughter, and I had done things to her someone like me should never do. If he even suspected, I would be dead.
“I want to thank you,” Corvus said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Who knows what would have happened to my dear girl if not for you. I will always be in your debt. If you wish to be free, then I will make it so.”
This shocked me, and I fell back a little. When I pulled myself together, I found I was shaking my head. “Thank you, Master, but no. I only did what any member of my pack would have done, had they been sent to Brigetio in my place. Your daughter means the world to us. We would gladly give our lives for her.”
Corvus nodded, as if this was what he expected to hear. “So you will choose the arena at the end of autumn?”
I lifted my brows in surprise. “What about my initiation?”
Corvus groaned and squeezed Accalia to his side. “Do you not think you have passed your initiation and more, as far as I am concerned? Did you think I would make you redo it? What kind of ungrateful wretch do you take me for? Or maybe you do not think I value my daughter as much as you do? I must admit, it might appear that way after what happened with my... Camellia. For a short time there, I was under her spell and forgot everything that was important to me. But you reminded me of what I truly valued, Asterius. Nearly losing my girl brought me out of my lustful daze.”
I smiled politely, though my heart was still so heavy I could barely breathe.
“Until the rest of your year get back and you go to Rome to join the emperor’s gladiator school, I want you to be Ennia’s bodyguard. I have divorced Camellia and sent her and her daughters back where they came from, but I still fear the repercussions.
“It seems the envoy from Parthia was enraged to find Ennia gone. Took it as an insult to his prince. Therefore, I will feel more comfortable if I know you are directly watching over her while I am gone.
“Though I wish it were not the case, I must continue with my tour. I have already lost many weeks because of that woman I mistakenly married. But I can only go away again knowing Ennia is in safe hands. Will you take care of her until I return?”
My heart soared in my chest, but I schooled my face into stone. I nodded. “Of course. Your will is mine, Master. Always.”
I glanced at Accalia out of the corner of my eye. She was beaming happily at me, tears sparkling in her grey eyes. She looked more beautiful than I’d ever seen her.
For a little longer I would have my girl to watch over and protect. I would see her every day, see her smiles and share her secrets. Maybe there would be no sexual pleasure anymore, but that didn’t seem to matter to me as much as it once did.
Something had happened to me in the last weeks with Accalia. I had grown up a little. My cock no longer ruled my life. I had done the impossible. Put Accalia’s needs before mine and stayed strong for her. I had not given in to temptation, even in my weakest moments. By doing that I had shown myself to be the man she thought I was. The kind of man who might one day find a wife and stay faithful to her. Accalia had given me that belief in myself and my strength of character.
I turned to my girl and gave her a polite nod. “I will go and clean myself up and be back to guard your door shortly, Mistress.”
“I will have a meal made ready for you, Gladiator. I am glad you will be seeing to my protection,” she answered just as politely. But I saw the twinkle in her eye and the lightness that had been missing since she got her father’s missive. She had been as weighed down with grief as I had been.
I jumped back up into the cisium and gave the reins a sharp flick. With a light heart, I drove the carriage back down the hill to the stables.
Until the end of autumn I had Accalia. I would make sure I filled those months with memories I could live off for a lifetime.
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