by Nhys Glover
When Cyra stilled her hand, she realised how rudely she was behaving. Heat flared up her neck and into her cheeks. What would they think of her acting like an animal?
‘Just take it slowly. If you haven’t been eating then your stomach won’t handle too much, too quickly. Sit down and relax, you’re safe. We won’t let anything else happen to you tonight.’
Galeria did as told and began to nibble at the day-old bread a little more slowly. Cyra was right, of course, eating too quickly after being empty for so long would make her stomach cramp or vomit up the food. There was probably too little of it to waste.
Once she’d eaten all the bread and drunk more water than she had for days, she felt suddenly very weary but she didn’t want to sleep. There had been too much sleeping in the last few days, and what if she awoke to find herself back in captivity? No, she’d fight sleep as long as she could.
Cyra sat beside her and curled her arm around her shoulder. This was not like Cyra. She wasn’t the cuddling type. The only person she’d ever seen her hug was Galerianna. That thought brought her up hard.
‘I have to go back!’ she cried, trying to scramble to her feet. A strong hand pressed her down again. Panicking she struggled against it. This was where the dream turned to nightmare. This was when she realised she was still imprisoned.
‘You can’t go back, Galeria. Why would you want to?’ It was Nexus. His voice was gentle and confused. It was his hand that pressed down on her shoulder. Relaxing, she let him keep her where she was. Panic receded like the tide even as her distress increased.
‘You don’t understand. Antoninus has my sister. If I don’t go back, he’ll hurt her. He might kill her.’
‘Antoninus hasn’t got your sister,’ Nexus said, his fingers stroking her shoulder now, comforting and warm. ‘Cyra, Appius and Leonis rescued her. She’s safe with a family in Isthmia, and your mother is safe, too. All is well.’
Galeria relaxed a little more and then found herself rubbing her cheek against Nexus’ big hand. He became very still but he didn’t remove his hand. Oh, how much she wanted to kiss that hand. It took everything she had to be satisfied with just rubbing her skin against his.
Everything was all right. She was safe. Her mother was safe. Galerianna was safe. The nightmare was over. Nexus was here. He was always going to save her. How could she have doubted him?
Before she realised what was happening, her head fell forward and she dropped into a deep, exhausted sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Nexus stood in the shadows watching Galeria as his body shook so hard his teeth almost chattered. The last thing he wanted was these people, who accepted him as their leader, to realise just how close to breaking point he was. Up until the moment he saw her, hand in hand with Cyra, he’d been holding it together. Then, the sight of her had shaken him to his foundations.
She was so fragile, so broken, led by the hand like a confused child. Her body was so thin he’d felt her bones as he’d carried her, and she’d weighed no more than a child did. That lovely hair of hers, which could look like dark, shining waves rolling over her shoulders, now looked like dull straw crushed under the hooves of a dozen horses. Those grey eyes were shadowed, as if she were empty inside.
Is this what I looked like? Had my eyes told that story of emptiness? Even now, as she hugged her family and friends, it was as if only a shadow of the person he had known was there. What had they done to his woman to break her so completely?
More than anything, he wanted to hold her in his arms again as he had when he brought her here, but there was no excuse for it now. Then, he could claim it was the need for speed that drove him. Now, there was no such necessity. Touching her was not his right.
Watching her devour day-old bread had made him heartsick. Starving. They’d starved her almost to death. What had made them do such a thing? Surely, her physical wellbeing added to her value? But they’d starved her and neglected her until she was barely alive. The gods only knew what else they’d done to her.
Thoughts of what Appius had feared came to mind. He tried to see evidence of sexual abuse, but it was hard to tell. She certainly didn’t cower, as many who had received such treatment would do. Maybe they hadn’t quite broken her spirit then after all.
When she announced that she had to go back he was at her side in an instant, pressing her back down, determined to never let her anywhere near that bastard again. He was confused. How could she want to go back? But then she explained it to him… to them all. Her sister had been used to keep her in line. Fears for Galerianna provided the manacles of her imprisonment. Of course, she didn’t know her sister had been rescued. She hadn’t even known her mother was safe until he told her.
When she rubbed her hollow cheek against his hand, he felt the tears prick his eyes. It took everything he had left to keep still and allow her to touch him that way. Like a beaten dog seeking a scrap of kindness. No one should have gotten away with making his woman feel like that.
He should have found her earlier! It was too long to be left in the hands of her uncaring enemies. Why hadn’t he taken action earlier? While she needed him, he’d been making his plans and counter-plans, trying to work out the best possible strategy; what she had needed wasn’t strategy, it was action!
When she fell into an exhausted sleep, he reluctantly drew back his hand. Cyra lowered her onto the filthy scraps of bedding that belonged to one of the children. His heart broke to realise that this was the best these street urchins could manage. At least it was a safe haven, if not a clean and comfortable one.
He turned to the little girl who was staring at Galeria with such compassion.
‘Can you get us all food? Yourself and the rest who will be here at dawn? If I give you money now?’ he asked her.
‘The inns are still open. I could get some of the lads to go with me and get something. I know a place that won’t ask questions.’ She held out her hand expectantly.
Nexus wanted to give her an aureii for all she’d done for them, but that was too much. That could get her killed. Instead, he settled for a few sesterces. Even those few coins made her eyes go round.
‘Go then. We all feast when you return.’
After the lass had skipped away, their little group sat in a circle deep in thought.
‘What now?’ Appius asked with emotions still volatile. He was scrubbing his fists through his short hair in much the same way Nexus did when he was disturbed. Was it his own trait or was he mirroring Nexus?
‘Now we wait to hear what the eyes and ears have to say at dawn. We may need to leave the city another way. The port will likely be closely watched, and if the roads are closed to us, then we wait it out. The children will provide for us indefinitely if we need it.
‘We can’t stay here! It’s a foul midden!’ Appius said with disgust.
‘You’re welcome to leave anytime,’ Cyra snapped irritably.
Appius made to say something but thought better of it. When he finally spoke, it was like a disgruntled child. ‘You forget who is master and who is slave, girl.’
‘Do you think that counts for anything here? Or any time in the last week? By the gods, Appius, did you learn nothing from your father?’
‘My father’s teaching got him killed! His high ideals are what got us all here. My life is in tatters because of what he taught me,’ he spat at her, his eyes blazing.
‘What got your father killed was an obsessed suitor of Galeria’s. If not for him, your family would be as it always was. Antoninus is responsible for everything that’s happened!’ Cyra raised her voice, but lowered it again when Leonis placed a calming hand on her arm.
‘Father gave him the ammunition!’
‘Your father never said a word against the emperor! I was there, I heard how Antoninus tried to put words in his mouth and Donicus wouldn’t let him. Your father was a good man and he is not responsible for the loss of your precious position. Or anything else.’
Appius stared at the firebr
and for a few silent seconds, then he shrugged his shoulders negligently and looked away.
‘I’m worried about Gali,’ Cyra said finally, looking away from Appius now that she was assured he had no further arguments to make.
‘She’s safe. We made sure of that,’ Leonis said, his voice soothing as he stroked her arm.
‘She was when we left, but we also thought Antoninus was long gone. Yet that turned out to be wrong. Somehow, he found out about the slavers having Galeria. What if he somehow found out where we left Gali? He would have wanted her so he had something to hold over Galeria, and that’s what he did. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have wanted to go back to him. What if…’
‘Don’t torture yourself, kitten. We saw no sign of the child. She isn’t with him here…’
‘I think Cyra has a point,’ Nexus said slowly. ‘Now that Antoninus has lost Galeria he’s going to want the child as leverage. If he doesn’t have her already, then he’ll try to get her back. I think we need to get to Isthmia as fast as we can to make sure Galerianna is safe.’
‘We can’t all go. They’re watching the harbours,’ Appius said.
‘I’m aware of that, and they’ll be looking for Galeria in particular. And I stand out…’ Nexus frowned as the plans played out in his mind. ‘You can go, Appius. Remove your toga and you could be any liberti doing business. Leonis, you and Cyra can go, too, if you disguise yourself. Leonis, at the moment, your hair and beard make you stand out. Romanize yourself and you’ll be less noticeable. Cyra, you need to create breasts and dress as a well-off liberti.’
‘But our documents reveal our identities,’ Cyra said, her eyes filled with anxiety as she looked backward and forward to the sleeping Galeria. It was clear she didn’t like the idea of being separated from her friend again so soon.
‘And only the Ship’s Master will be aware of those. This isn’t a matter for the military because Antoninus won’t want this public knowledge. Yes, guards were killed, but such things happen every day. However, Roman patricians aren’t kidnapped every day, and that’s what Antoninus is guilty of, twice over. Remember, Domitian wanted this kept quiet. No witnesses. No attracting attention. Whoever is funding Antoninus is doing so for the emperor and wants us dead because we’re aiding witnesses.’ Nexus fell silent as he tried to think through any holes in his argument.
‘So you think it’ll be a private team of spies watching the harbour for us? That does limit them. And if we look different… how will they pick us out of the hundreds of people on the docks at any one time?’ Leonis said, following through with the logistics.
‘And you need to go immediately if you’re to get to the child before Antoninus thinks to send someone after her. At this moment, we can assume his mind will be occupied with searching for Galeria here. Once he’s thwarted, then he’ll turn his attention back to his only piece left unplayed.’ Nexus tapped on his knee as the plan became clearer and more logical.
‘And the sooner we go the less time he has to gather more men for the search. He’s one short now,’ Leonis added.
‘I don’t want to leave Galeria. She’s barely holding on as it is.’ Cyra looked back at the other girl again with desperate eyes.
‘I’ll care for Galeria, I promise you. But the child needs you and Appius.’ Nexus included the youth for his pride’s sake, but also because he preferred to have him out from underfoot; Galeria didn’t need his doubts and fears in her condition. It was going to be hard enough bringing her back from the brink without his input.
He watched as Appius puffed up like a rooster. Yes, he’d succeeded there. Now only Cyra had to be convinced.
He looked at the girl who was staring up at Leonis, trying to decide what to do.
‘He’s right. We have to go,’ Leonis told her, stroking the side of her face tenderly. ‘Nexus will take care of Galeria.’ He then turned to Nexus as a thought crossed his mind. ‘Are we going back to the original plan? Take them to Amaseia?’
Nexus considered that option. It had been their plan when the Donicus family were not yet fugitives. Now things were very different. They needed the protection and input of his patroness. They needed Livianna Honoraria and her husband, the cousin of Caesar. If anyone would understand the political ramifications of all this, they would.
That meant crossing the whole empire again to get back to Britannia, which was not only dangerous, but also expensive. What choice did they have, however? And there was Papia in Antiochia; what should they do with her?
‘We all go to Britannia to Livianna Honoraria and Sabinus. They’ll know what to do, but Papia is a concern. I don’t like leaving her unprotected, even if she’s with family…’ he looked at Appius trying to decide where the youth would be the least trouble. If he went to Antiochia, he could assure his mother that everyone was safe and keep an eye out for threats. He was the head of the family now and his mother was his responsibility, as much as the child and Galeria were. There was no real reason why he should travel all the way to Britannia with them.
‘I’ll go to mother. She needs me,’ Appius said, sticking out his jaw as if preparing to do battle over his decision.
‘I think you’re right. Splitting up makes us more difficult and unpredictable to target. The child might need you if Antoninus’ men have her, but then, if that were the case, you two wouldn’t be enough to set her free. We have to work on the assumption he doesn’t have Galerianna. He might know where she is but she’s not in his control… yet.’
Appius seemed to warm to the idea, the longer he considered it. For the youth, it was his chance to be out of the shadow of the older, more experienced warriors. This was his chance to do something important.
‘How is your money?’ Nexus asked Leonis.
‘Low. Cyra, what have you got left?’
‘And Galeria will have lost her papers and jewels. We need to get her documentation,’ Nexus added thoughtfully.
Cyra reached into her pouch and pulled out the few jewels she still had and some other paperwork. ‘I don’t know why I thought to bring these but this is a document Donicus had drawn up for Myschia. She wanted to marry a local liberti and he was giving her her freedom so she could do it. She told me about it that very day. She was so excited. When I saw her there… dead… and I saw the papers. It felt so wrong that she’d never get to use them.’
‘Will they fit Galeria?’ Nexus asked, feeling his heart lift. This was more good news. They needed as much good news as they could get at this point.
The girl handed him the vellum so he could see for himself. ‘It will do. If I darken her skin and hair it will do.’ He pocketed the document and withdrew his pouch of coins. ‘This should be enough to get the three of you to Britannia. I’ll use Sabinus’ contact here in Ephesus to get more money and possibly some help to get out of the city undetected. I don’t know anything about this Vallius so I’ll have to feel my way.’
‘What if you can’t get money? How will you…’ Cyra began, panic making her voice rise.
‘I’m resourceful. If I’m anything, it’s resourceful. Don’t worry about Galeria. I’ll get her to Britannia and safety. You worry about the child. You need to leave on a suitable vessel at dawn. There’s a lot to do before then.’
At that moment, the little girl reappeared with a bag almost bigger than she was. The grin on her face was triumphant.
‘Just who we needed. I have more tasks for you, little one. Do you want to eat and drink before you get on with them?’ Nexus asked her gently.
The child eyed her prize hungrily, but then looked back at him resolutely. ‘I can wait. Just make sure them little buggars leave me some, all right?’
‘I’ll keep the biggest share for you, I promise. Now this is what we need…’
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
26 June 82 CE, Ephesus, ASIA
Galeria came awake to the sound of whispering voices and a child’s giggle. For a moment, she had no idea where she was. Then as her eyes adjusted to the lack of light and her body r
egistered the hard ground on which she lay, she thought she was back in her prison. With a gasp, she jerked upright and stared around her.
‘It’s all right, Mistress,’ a child’s voice said from behind her. ‘You’re safe with us. Your man has gone out but he’ll be back soon.’
Galeria looked around trying to identify the person who spoke to her. She saw a little girl with dark hair and a gap-toothed smile. That was familiar. Where had she seen her before? Then the memories flooded in and her heart started pounding even harder. Nexus had rescued her. All her friends had rescued her. Even Appius had been there, and they’d said Galerianna was safe. Not in Antoninus’ hands. Safe.
She relaxed back onto the pile of rags that covered the hard floor. Was this someone’s bed she had taken? Now that she was aware of her surroundings and remembered what happened, she knew that this was where children slept, a street urchin’s nursery. And there were many children in the room now moving quietly around, whispering and giggling like any child would who had something different happening in their lives. She was what was different.
‘Where are the others?’ she asked the girl.
‘Your friends have gone, but your man will explain it to you. He’ll be back… oh, there he is!’ Her little face lit up with adoration as the hulking form of the Nubian came into the room and began to meander between the bedding.
Galeria felt her heart lift at the sight of him, but she was also nervous. What would he say to her now that they were alone? Would he show his anger for what she’d brought down on them all? It was what she deserved. How could she have been so stupid?
‘You’re awake. I hoped to be back before you awoke. Were you frightened to find yourself alone?’ He sat down at her side and looked into her face, as if trying to read her feelings from her expression.
