True Freedom

by Carol Ashby

  He pointed at the main entrance to the market where several wagons were parked with some children playing around them. A girl of about eleven stood in one of the wagons, watching a cluster of little children play. But she was also looking around at what was going on nearby. “There’s one worth asking.”

  They made their way over, and Africanus walked up to the wagon. “My daughter only watches her little brother. You watch them all?”

  “Some, but mostly my brother and sister.” She pointed at a little girl about three and two boys about four and six. “And that one on the days his father brings his cart to market.”

  “My son runs a lot. My daughter says he can be hard to keep track of.”

  That drew her smile. “They mostly stay where I tell them.”

  “That lets you watch everything else here, I bet.”

  She grinned and nodded.

  “What’s your name? I’m Africanus.”

  “Dercina.”

  “Maybe you can help me, Dercina. I’ve been looking for two people for a long time. A red-haired man in a red tunic with a limp and a rich girl in a green tunic. Did you see them three, maybe four weeks ago? They were looking for a wagon ride.”

  Her brow wrinkled; then she shook her head. “No, but I’m only here until the wagons start arriving. Then we go home.” She pointed to a boy of about twelve who stood closer to the main road. “Sorex helps direct where the wagons can park, and he’s here when they leave. He might have seen them.”

  A shy smile appeared. “He watches everything. He always waves back at me.”

  Africanus reached into his purse and pulled out four quadrans. “Thank you for helping me.”

  As he dropped them into her hand, her face lit up, and she pointed at a fruit stall. “I’ll get a pomegranate for our lunch. Thank you!”

  Africanus returned to Aulus and Marcus. As he walked past, he raised an eyebrow at Aulus. “Truth is free, but a gift for sharing it is always welcome.”

  As he sauntered toward the boy, Aulus and Marcus followed ten feet behind.

  “Sorex?” A friendly smile warmed Africanus’s voice.

  The boy’s eyebrows dipped. “Who’s asking?”

  “Africanus.” He pointed at the girl. His wave received one in return. “Dercina said you might be able to help me.”

  The boy’s face relaxed. “What do you want?”

  “I’m looking for a pretty rich girl in a green tunic and a red-haired man in a red tunic. He had a limp. They were probably in a wagon with someone you usually see alone. It could be as long as twenty-six days ago, but it could be more recent, too.”

  Sorex’s brow furrowed. “That’s a long time ago and a lot of wagons since then.”

  Africanus tipped his head toward the girl. “I know, but Dercina said you see everything. I’m hoping you saw them.”

  Sorex rubbed his lip. “It’s a long time but…maybe I saw something. There’s a man who brings a wagon of produce and chickens twice a week. He usually unloads over there and leaves. Around the time you’re asking about, he went farther.” He pointed at a street leaving the far end of the market. “He was alone when he drove up that street.”

  It was one street over from the one they’d searched…the one the shoemaker was on.

  “Then he came back down that street.” He pointed at the one they’d just searched.

  “He didn’t have a rich lady with him or a man in red. But when he drove out, a pretty girl in a plain tunic sat in the back. There was a man with his head in her lap, but his tunic was plain. The driver said something about a good meal waiting for them at home.”

  “The man in the back, was his hair red?”

  “Maybe. The torches didn’t light him well. His hair wasn’t dark like mine. It might have been reddish.”

  “Did she look frightened?”

  “No, only serious. She was watching the man in her lap and playing with his hair.”

  Africanus’s mouth curved into a smile. “When will the driver of that wagon come again?”

  “Tomorrow, probably. Or the next day.”

  “If I come back, can you point him out to me?”

  “Yes. He usually comes about dusk and stays about a quarter hour.”

  Africanus pulled a dupondius from his purse. “With my thanks. I’ll be back.”

  Sorex’s grin was even bigger than Dercina’s as he fingered the coin. “I’ll be here.”

  Africanus strode past Aulus and Marcus without speaking, and they hurried to catch up.

  Marcus reached him first. “Brutus could rent you out as an inquisitor. You can get anyone to tell you anything.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “Even without scaring the truth out of them.”

  “He already does.” Africanus shrugged. “And I try not to scare people. But that’s easier with children. They only see a big man, not a gladiator.” He glanced at Aulus. “We’ll return tomorrow before dusk with horses. Your sister might be with you tomorrow night.”

  As they headed back to the ludus, Aulus’s gaze rested on Africanus. Like the children, it was the man, not the gladiator, that he saw.

  Chapter 57: Almost in Sight

  Farmer’s Market, Day 47

  Africanus leaned against the wall of a bakery, watching Sorex. Yesterday the man they were hunting hadn’t come. But the boy had said it might be two days, and they were ready.

  The aroma of yeasty wheat and barley breads, some laced with herbs, wrapped around him. A steady stream of locals came to pick up the loaves they’d left to be baked in the community oven. Too often, one stopped to talk so they could brag about meeting the famous Nubian who had retired undefeated from the sand. Normally, he didn’t mind, but today he wanted to blend in, a difficult task at best for a man as tall and muscled and dark as he was.

  Perhaps he should have brought Rufus or Fortis or even one of the kitchen slaves to watch for Sorex’s signal. He glanced toward the side street, where Aulus and Marcus waited with the horses. At least he didn’t look as out of place as the two senatorial sons who drew even more stares and whispered comments than he did. He’d convinced Aulus to trade his purple-striped tunic for a plain one at the ludus, but not Marcus.

  A wave snapped his attention back on the boy. A gray-haired man had just driven past, and Sorex raised his hand high before pointing down at him. Africanus raised one hand in response and tipped his head. The boy waved once more, then turned away.

  Africanus would find Sorex later to give him some coins for his help.

  He glanced at his companions in the hunt, but he didn’t signal them. If they approached the wagon man too soon, he might change his destination to protect the fugitives. He’d talked about feeding them, so he wasn’t giving a ride to strangers. Best to follow at a distance until they knew where he lived. But Marcus would never have the patience for that. He’d want to corner the man in the market and force him to talk.

  The corner of Africanus’s mouth curved. Marcus had yet to learn that the battle didn’t always go to the one who went for the quick kill. It was better to let the steady loss of blood weaken the strong and slow down the swift. The man who waited usually finished the fight with a sword still in his hand.

  The gray-haired man had unloaded his vegetables and was moving the last of the chickens from his crates to the vendor’s. Africanus drew one last deep breath of the bakery’s aroma, then strode toward the boys and the waiting horses.

  One hour, maybe two, and Aulus’s hunt could be over. But even if it wasn’t, their quarry was almost in sight, and it wouldn’t be long.

  Hill overlooking Gaius’s farm

  Aulus reined back his horse and moved off the crest of the hill. The wagon had pulled into a farmyard three hundred feet ahead of them. Africanus had signaled a retreat, and even though Marcus jerked his head to demand they go forward, Aulus followed the wiser lead.

  They tied the horses to a tree just below the crest. Bent over, Africanus led them to lie o
n the ground where they could see but not be seen.

  It was almost dark, where shapes and movement are clear, but all colors fade to shades of gray. The wagon stopped by a corral. As the wagon man jumped down, the door of the house opened. A second man came out and limped over to the mules. He unhitched one and led it to the corral. As he took off its harness, the wagon man unharnessed the other. The mules were turned into the corral, and the second man closed the gate. Then the wagon man rested his hand on the limping man’s shoulder, and they walked into the house together.

  Marcus rolled off his stomach and sat up. “We found them. Let’s go get Julia.”

  Africanus held up his hand. “We might have found them. We’ll come back in the morning when we can see everything going on around us when we ask for her. I’ll speak first. She might run when she hears your voices. It’s too easy for someone to sneak away in the dark.”

  He rose and swept the dirt and bits of grass off his tunic. “I’ve ridden the main road many times with Master Brutus. There’s an inn where we can stable the horses while we eat. Then I’ll come back and stand guard in that grove we passed just before we got here.

  “I saw no horses, so if they leave, it will be in the wagon.” Africanus untied his horse and mounted. “You can go home if you wish and return early tomorrow. Or you can stay at the inn that’s next to the taberna.”

  Aulus looked at Marcus, who nodded. “We’ll stay.”

  As they retraced their path, Aulus looked back. The sister who’d always been his friend had been hiding for a month. Did she know what he’d done? Was she too afraid of him to come home? When they found her tomorrow and he begged her forgiveness, would that friendship ever be restored? Or would the love she once had for him be forever replaced by hate?

  Publius’s taberna

  It was late when the two young men, one in purple stripes, entered the taberna with their bodyguard.

  Publius met them at the door. “Welcome.” His hand swept toward a table in the rear with two chairs. “Follow me, and we’ll get your dinner started.”

  As the senatorial son and the other young man seated themselves, the bodyguard pulled a third chair from the adjacent table and sat down with them.

  “Three glasses of wine, cut two to one with water.” The deep voice of the large man left no doubt he was in charge.

  Publius smiled at all three. “Right away. We have an excellent stew and fresh bread for dinner tonight.”

  “That sounds good, and make the servings large.” The young man in white placed the order.

  When Publius returned with the drinks on a tray, they were in deep conversation.

  “Her bearer must have been hurt much worse than the shoemaker said if he’s still limping that badly after a month.” The man with purple stripes took a sip and nodded his approval.

  Publius got a washcloth from behind the counter and returned to clean two tables away from theirs.

  “Sorex said she had his head cradled in her lap when they left the market. He thought the slave was sleeping, but maybe he’d passed out. Any of our slaves would know not to take that liberty if he was conscious.” The man in white ran his fingers through his hair.

  “The blood in the atrium might have been his.” The bodyguard took a sip. “Even bleeding badly, a man can run a long way if it matters enough. Protecting her must have been important to him. We’ll find out tomorrow when we go back for her.”

  Publius’s stomach flipped. Limping man, heavy blood loss, protecting her…it was Leander and Calantha they were after.

  He stepped into the kitchen. “Lucillia.” With a flick of his fingers, he summoned her from her talk with their baker.

  “What is it?”

  He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Three men out there are looking for Leander and Calantha.”

  Her hand flew up to cover her mouth. “Which?”

  “The three at the back table.”

  She leaned to glance out the door. “They need to know tonight. I’ll keep an eye on these three. You go now to warn them.”

  He kissed her on the cheek before heading out the door to the stable. He’d never taken a night ride before, but the moon was out, and his mule was surefooted. God would be with him as he rode to warn his friends.

  Gauis’s farm

  The pounding would have been enough to wake Leander, but Publius calling his name snapped him to attention. He swung his legs out of bed and hurried to the door.

  Gaius came out of the hall behind him and they stood together as Leander swung the door open for Publius to enter.

  “Leander, you need to leave right now. There are three men at my taberna who will be here in the morning looking for you and Calantha. They know you’ve been protecting her, and they’re coming after her. One said you were his slave and her litter bearer.”

  “Her brother has found us.” Leander ran his fingers through his hair. He looked down, then at Publius. “It’s true. Her brother and his friend tried to kidnap her for ransom and then sell her, and I stopped them. We’ve been waiting for her father to return before I took her home. He’s supposed to be back in two days. I was going to wait two more weeks to be sure he made it. But if they’ve found us, I need to return her as soon as he might be there.”

  Gaius wrapped his arm around Leander’s shoulders. “I’ll take you day after tomorrow. But we can’t have you here in the morning when they come. You’ll go right now to Sextus’s house.”

  Publius nodded. “Have you ever been there before?”

  Leander shook his head.

  “Then I’ll go with you to make sure you get there all right. Lucillia is keeping an eye on them until I get back.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “There’s not a woman alive who’s better at listening than my Lucillia. Nothing they say will get past her ears.”

  Marcella stood in the hallway. “And I’ll take the wagon first thing to tell Calantha she should stay with Petronia until you come get her for the trip to Rome. They’ll never think to look for her there.”

  She scooped his cloak off the end of his bed and draped it around his shoulders. “Here. She’d want you to wear this so you won’t get cold.”

  “I shouldn’t stay away too long, in case they ask for me.” Publius opened the door. “Let’s go.”

  Marcella hugged Leander, and Gaius slapped his back. “We’ll convince them you aren’t here. They’ll give up, and then you can come back for your last night with us.”

  Leander nodded, but he knew that wasn’t true. Anyone who would hunt them for a month and find them when no one except Servilia even knew they were with Gaius wasn’t going to give up. She didn’t know the way to Gaius’s farm, and she would never have told anyone, even if she did.

  There were too many eyes in Rome, and some must have seen Gaius rescue them. But it didn’t matter who or how. The hunters had found them, and now his only hope to keep her safe was to get her back to her father before her brother came.

  A few steps and Leander and Publius were out of the half-circle of light coming from the doorway. The moon’s silver glow was enough to see where to put their feet as they walked through the vineyard, leading Publius’s mule.

  But Leander’s mind wasn’t on his own escape. Tiberius Secundus should be back from Sicilia in two days. If they could keep Calantha hidden from her brother until then, he could take her to her father. Then she should be safe.

  His thigh felt tight, so he still limped. But it no longer hurt much when he was helping Gaius. Walking any distance was another matter. It was less than a mile to Sextus’s house, but by the time they were half way there, his leg ached.

  So did his heart. After so many years, he had family again. Now he faced the pain of goodbyes.

  At least he wasn’t cold. He drew the cloak she’d made him closer. The faintest scent of roses lingered. Her hands must have had rose oil on them when they took it from the loom and finished the edges. He inhaled the trace she’d left behind
.

  The joy in her eyes as she’d wrapped it around his shoulders. Her laughter when he couldn’t find the words to thank her. They’d brightened that night like a full moon shining. But what can a man say when the woman he loves is as far out of reach as the stars in the night sky? When she’s spent hours and days making him something just for him? When her looks and her smiles invite him to dream of a future, even though no future could ever be possible?

  She’d told him he’d know what to say when she gave him the tunic. But it was only half done, and she’d never finish it now.

  Lingering traces and half-finished plans, but they were still memories to cherish.

  Two more days, and his life as Leander would be over. He’d be a slave in her father’s house once more. He’d hoped for two more weeks as a man among friends, living free, hearing her laughter, seeing her smiles that were meant for him.

  But the last month had only been play-acting, and the time to stop pretending had come.

  Chapter 58: The Limping Man

  Day 48

  Gaius’s farm

  Pale pink clouds floated in a mostly gray sky as Gaius hitched the mules. Marcella, wrapped in her cloak, hurried toward him.

  “I won’t be gone long. As soon as I tell Calantha you two will come for her tomorrow afternoon, I’ll come back.”

  He helped her into the wagon. “Stay a while and hold that new baby. I can handle any visitors.”

  Leaves rustled behind them, and they turned to see Sextus walk out from among the grapevines. He was limping.

  Marcella gasped. “What happened? Is Leander all right?”

  He grinned. “He’s fine. I never knew a man with more women to worry about him.” He slapped his thigh. “The men who are coming expect to find a limping man. Here I am.”

  “If I didn’t need to leave right now, I’d come down and hug you.”

  Gaius handed her the reins. “Go, and God be with you.”