Lionslayer's Woman

by Nhys Glover

  ‘I wasn’t alone. These children were here. Are they more of your eyes and ears?’ She tried to smile and make light conversation to ease his concerns. It sounded hollow, even to her.

  ‘Yes, more of my eyes and ears, and now they’re our sanctuary. We’re lucky they were willing to aid us.’

  She watched several little faces nearby split with smiles of pride. Nexus always knew what to say to make people feel good about themselves. Even these children, who were the throwaways of society, were made to feel important by his kind and sensitive words.

  ‘Where are the others?’ she asked him.

  Nexus lost his warm smile and his face became stern with discomfort. ‘They’ve gone. We have to act fast. Although your sister is safe, we don’t know how long she will stay safe once Antoninus turns his attentions from you to her, so Cyra and Leonis took ship at dawn for Isthmia to collect her and take her to my patroness.’

  ‘Livianna Honoraria? But she’s in Britannia, isn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, and that’s where we’re heading as soon as possible. Appius has gone to Antiochia to tell your mother all is well and keep her safe in case more danger comes their way. It’s unlikely, but it was what Appius wanted to do. He took ship at dawn, as well.’

  Galeria tried to take in the sudden changes. It seemed she’d only had the people in her life back for a moment and then they were torn from her side again. At least she still had Nexus.

  ‘They wanted to say goodbye, but you were so deeply asleep we thought it better to leave you. Did we make a mistake?’

  She wiped the frown from her forehead and smiled. ‘No. It would only have meant tears, and there have been too many of them lately. As long as everyone is safe…’

  ‘They are. Even Galerianna. This is just a precaution. And you’ll see your sister in Britannia in just over a month if we’re lucky.’

  ‘Why are we going to Livianna Honoraria?’

  ‘The plots are too thick. We don’t have enough knowledge of the politics behind what’s happening. You’re safer under her protection.’

  Galeria nodded. ‘I’m sorry. All of this was my fault. I know sorry can’t make up for the mess I’ve made of everything. But that’s all I can offer…’

  ‘None of this is your fault!’ Nexus grabbed her arms and gave her a little shake. ‘You have to stop blaming yourself for everything that happens. You’re not Caesar. You didn’t send the Praetorians to kill your family or the Stoic’s in Antiochia. You aren’t Antoninus, who betrayed your father and kidnapped you and your sister so he could have you. You’re innocent, Galeria. The only crime you’ve committed was to care too much and to be too brave. I was the one who let you down. I should have seen that you were concerned for the Stoic. I should have warned him myself so you didn’t feel you had to do it.’

  Galeria couldn’t believe her ears. How could he say these things to her when everything had been because of her stubbornness? Yes, Caesar and Antoninus were worse than she was but still, things would never have gotten this bad if she hadn’t been so determined to have her own way.

  However, it was one less rod to her back to know Nexus didn’t blame her. His rod would have been the hardest to bear had he chosen to wield it against her.

  ‘You’re still not recovered from your ordeal. Eat and drink. Our little hostess provided for us well. While you do, I’ll explain what we do next.’

  Galeria did as she was bid, unwilling to cause more problems by asking unwanted questions. Nexus would tell her what she needed to know when he was ready.

  Having him recline beside her as the children began to prepare for bed was like a dream come true. She’d started to believe she’d never see him again. Now here he was. Warm, solid and competent – her protector – ready to take up her cause once more. How she would miss him when this was all over. Her heart ached at the thought.

  ‘I’ve just now been to see a contact of Sabinus’. He’s given me enough money to get us safely to Britannia and is clearing our path so that Antoninus won’t know where we’ve gone or how we left the city. He has a merchant vessel of his own leaving port tomorrow. We’ll be loaded onboard in crates. Once we’re at sea, we’ll be brought up on deck.’ He paused to make sure she was taking in the information.

  Did he expect her to reply? What was there to say? It was an audacious plan but it just might work. Being in a crate for an extended period wouldn’t be comfortable, but if it meant freedom, she’d do it and much more if it were asked of her.

  Rather than saying any of this, she simply nodded and smiled at him, hoping that would be enough.

  It seemed to be, because moments later he continued. ‘Cyra is a very resourceful young woman. She brought with her the documentation for a slave your father freed.’

  ‘Myschia? Oh, gods, I’d forgotten. She was to be married. Her lover must be devastated…’ she felt afresh the loss of that long ago night. Was it only a few short weeks ago? It felt like a lifetime had passed since then.

  ‘Yes, and because your documents are probably in Antoninus’ hands you need others. So you’re Myschia until we can work something else out.’

  ‘What are our chances, Nexus? I’m so tired of the cat-and-mouse game we seem to have been playing for so long. What are our chances of getting away from this safely? I need to know.’

  Nexus stroked the side of her face gently as he met her gaze. ‘Everything is finally going our way, moyo wangu. I believe it’s all plain sailing from here.’

  She nodded and leaned in to rest her head on his shoulder. It felt so firm beneath her. For a moment, she allowed herself the pleasure of breathing in his scent. No one smelled as good as this man, even sweaty as he was. It was a pity he couldn’t say the same for her. How long had it been since she’d bathed? A week? More. She had no sense of how long she’d been imprisoned.

  ‘How long was I gone?’ she asked tentatively.

  ‘Ten days. A few hours short of eleven, it felt like eleven years.’

  She moved back so she could look at him more closely. There were heavy bags under his eyes and his cheekbones were hollowed out. ‘You look so tired. Have you slept?’ She reached up to cup his cheek as he’d done to her. He closed his eyes and seemed to take pleasure from the contact.

  ‘I slept onboard the ship that brought us here, but not much before and none since. I’ll sleep a little today. In fact, if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to sleep beside you now. I’ll sleep more soundly knowing you’re close.’

  She tried not to let this request take on too much importance. Of course, he wanted her close. He was her protector. He couldn’t do that if she weren’t at his side. Even here in this hidden place, he wouldn’t be perfectly at ease if she were too far away to protect. It didn’t mean anything.

  ‘I’m still very tired myself. I think the drug they gave me has affected me. I’ll lie beside you and sleep a little more. The children seem to have all settled for the night.’

  ‘Yes. They’ve eaten the food I paid for and they’ll sleep soundly with a full stomach. It’s a rare occurrence for them.’

  ‘You know a lot about these kinds of children…’ It was half question and half statement.

  ‘When I ran away from my village I found myself on the streets of Alexandria eventually. I ran with the children there for a while before I found a pirate ship that would take me. I was a frightened child in a man’s body back then. But it didn’t take long to grow up.’

  ‘Was it awful, being a pirate?’

  ‘I… I didn’t like many things that happened on board that ship, but I was big and strong and so they left me alone. I learned to focus on the adventure of it and turn away from the horror. They taught me to fight, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. I was at sea for only a year before the Romans caught us. Then I was enslaved.’

  His voice had become slow and sleepy toward the end of this speech and she knew she had to let him rest. Keeping more of her questions to herself, she relaxed against him with her back spooned by his
big body. One of his muscular arms came around to cradle her. Even lying on the hard floor amongst filthy rags, it felt as luxurious as a noble’s bed, and though she didn’t really expect to sleep again, the comforting contact lulled her back into peaceful oblivion once more.

  The next thing she knew she was being shaken awake by Nexus. ‘Wake now, moyo wangu, we have to eat and then leave. It will be a long, uncomfortable night, but by morning we’ll be at sea leaving all this behind us.’

  Antoninus stomped about his suite furiously. It wasn’t enough that his spies hadn’t been able to find the renegades, but it now appeared as if those same renegades had found him… and Galeria. Now he was down one guard and his wife-to-be, and he had lost track of all of them for the first time since Isthmia. This wasn’t happening!

  His men had been scouring the area since they’d discovered the guard’s death late the night before. Now in the late afternoon, there was still no word on any of them. He’d even used some of the money his patron had given him to buy more spies, but there was no sign of the group anywhere.

  ‘They could have split up. We’ve been looking for a very defined group but they might have changed their appearance and split up.’ This was his patron’s most trusted man. His advice so far had seemed valuable, but now he was starting to wonder. If it was so good, how was it they’d lost everything? It was unlikely they’d split up now they’d finally found each other, surely. No, the man was not the wise counsel he was led to believe. He’d take charge now. It was up to him to find and destroy these renegades and get back Galeria.

  ‘Increase the network. I don’t care how much it costs. I want them found. They may head out of the city another way, not via the harbour. Set men on the other routes. I don’t believe they’ll separate.

  ‘I just wish I knew where they’d go. Not to Rhodos, that’d be too easy. Back to Isthmia for the child? Galeria certainly feels a strong bond to her. We’ll send word to my patron to take the child into his care and keep watch. The Legate’s troops number far more than we do and protecting an orphaned patrician will not compromise his position. I’ll send word immediately.’

  He didn’t notice the way his advisor had lifted his gaze to the ceiling and sighed. Even if he had, he would have considered the man’s opinion of him irrelevant. He had an Imperial mission to carry out. That made him important. His father would be proud of him when he found out what he’d been able to accomplish.

  29 June 82 CE, Isthmia, ACHAEA

  As Cyra and Leonis approached the Marcellius’ villa, they eyed their surroundings carefully. It was just after midday and the gong for the opening of the bathhouses had rung out across the sun-scorched city not long ago. Very little moved around them; it was the time of day when many drowsed sleepily in their seats and kept their activities restricted to necessity.

  That made it easier for them to spot danger, which was what they’d been doing since leaving the port. The place brought back bad memories for Leonis. He didn’t like to remember how afraid he’d been for his woman back then, and this time there was no surety that little Gali would be where they’d left her. If Antoninus had been astute enough to take the child before he went to Ephesus or sent word for her capture immediately after they rescued Galeria, they might come away empty-handed and this whole drama would start again.

  Leonis was bone weary of travelling. The idea of having to start searching for the child again started up a pain behind his eyes. All he wanted to do was find a quiet, safe place to be with his woman for a while. There had been precious little time for them to be alone in the week since they’d felt the blessing of the Goddess on their union, and he wanted to feel that connection again. It was more than lust that drove him. More than love. It was hard to put a name to what he felt.

  Shaking away the thought, he focused on the issue at hand. They approached the back of the villa unsure of their welcome. The sleepy cook came to the door when they knocked. Her eyes took them in immediately and she tensed.

  ‘What do you want?’ she demanded.

  Neither of them had been with Appius when he delivered the child into this family’s care, and they were nothing more than slaves, somewhat worse for wear after their long journey and primitive sleeping arrangements. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to a bathhouse. No wonder the woman eyed them suspiciously.

  ‘We’re slaves of Appius Galerius Donicus, come to collect his sister,’ Leonis said stiffly, rubbing a hand through his roman short hair. His beard and hair had gone so they were less noticeable in Ephesus, and in the three days since all that had grown back on his face was a fresh crop of itchy golden stubble.

  ‘That’ll be for the master to decide. Stay there and I’ll tell him you’re here.’

  At that moment, Asmina came into the kitchen and her eyes grew wide with surprise and delight. ‘Oh, you are back. Little mistress will be so happy to see you!’

  That seemed to be enough for Cook and she grudgingly let them into her kitchen.

  ‘The child is well? No problems?’ Cyra asked Asmina anxiously after the cook had left.

  ‘No, no. These people have been very kind to her. She’s made herself very much at home.’

  For the first time, Leonis relaxed. At least that fear could be released. Antoninus didn’t have the child. She was safe.

  ‘What will become of me,’ Asmina asked, ‘now that you have come for the child?’

  Leonis had been thinking this one through. The slave belonged to Antoninus, and as such, she could be considered a runaway if she strayed too far. Her task had to be to find her master now that she’d discharged her duty to the child. It was a shame, but her life would be forfeit if she tried to come with them.

  ‘You’ll need to go to the authorities here in Isthmia and explain that you’ve lost your master. They’ll know what to do. Enough time will have passed that your connection to the other slave’s death will have vanished.’

  ‘I don’t want to leave my little mistress,’ Asmina said, wringing her hands in distress.

  Cyra came to her side and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. It amazed him how much more physically demonstrative she’d become in the last weeks. All her barriers seemed to have gone and the affectionate woman beneath had been able to surface.

  ‘I know. But what choice is there? You’re a slave as we are. You belong to Antoninus. You have no say in it,’ Leonis said, trying to take some of the harshness out of his words by his gentle tone.

  The woman nodded and sniffed back her tears. ‘Where will you go?’

  Cyra began to tell her but he interrupted her. ‘It’s best we don’t tell you. If Antoninus thinks you know, he’ll force it out of you. We go where Antoninus can never find us.’

  Asmina nodded sadly and looked away. ‘I understand. The child’s safety is the most important thing. I am glad I have been of service to her for this short time.’

  Later that afternoon as the three of them set off for Corinthus, Gali was still crying. As it was late in the day, they were the only passengers on the coach that regularly conveyed travellers across the isthmus. As the coach threw them from side to side, Cyra wrapped the child in her arms and tried to comfort her.

  ‘I know you will miss Asmina, but soon you’ll have Galeria back. And you must be happy to know your Mater is safe.’

  The child nodded. ‘I am. But Asmina had been so good to me. I’m afraid what that awful man will do to her.’

  ‘He’ll sell her. She’ll probably go to another family with children she can care for as she did you.’

  ‘But she killed that bad man.’

  ‘Nobody knows that, Gali. Nobody ever will. You have to think about the good things now, not the bad. The worst is over. Try to remember that. We have you and your mother back safe and now we go to a new home. Leonis tells me it is very cool and wet where we’re going. I think I’ll like that. Won’t you?’

  Gali was distracted from her sadness by thoughts of their new ‘home’, although Leonis had no
idea if Livianna Honoraria would suggest they settle in Britannia. So much was still up in the air. Yes, they seemed to have outwitted Antoninus for the moment, but Caesar might still want the family dead, and now that edict would include Cyra.

  He didn’t voice his concerns with the child present. There was plenty of time for that when they reached Britannia, which was still many long miles away. He sighed heavily and tried to take Cyra’s advice. He had to think about the good things now not the bad. He had his woman and she loved him. They had the child and enough money to get to their destination. There was someone more knowledgeable than he who would then take charge. All he had to do was get these two females safely to Britannia, and then find a way to keep Cyra at his side for a lifetime. He wished it would be as easy as it sounded.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  30 June 82 CE, Samonion Pr, CRETE

  Vallius’ vessel had left them at the small port on the south side of the northeastern tip of Crete shortly after midday. Nexus had chosen a less traversed path back to Britannia via Crete and Carthago. If Antoninus’ men were sent after Galerianna, then going the regular route via Corinthos would put them in their enemy’s path. That was the last thing they needed.

  So this way they’d take longer to get to their destination but at least they could be fairly certain they wouldn’t be discovered, and part of him was glad of more time with Galeria. Once they reached Britannia, he’d probably lose her for good.

  ‘We’ll spend a few days here so you can recuperate. Then we’ll go on to Britannia,’ Nexus said, as they made their way out of the township after having their first bath in longer than either could remember.

  He’d also bought them fresh clothing and disposed of their old ones. No amount of washing would have removed the stench of the well-used crates they’d been forced to hide in to escape Ephesus from the fabric. It felt good just to be clean again. It lifted his spirits and he hoped it would lift Galeria’s, too.