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She drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Twenty
They arrived at Lagentium two days later. Felix’s fame had reached the small town, which should surprise him. Word of his arrival would quickly spread around the empire, and that too had its advantages and disadvantages. The guards weren’t going to let him walk around armed. He left his weapon, along with Rufus’s at the gatehouse, but carried his Rudius.
One of the Decurions, an elected councillor who controlled the town, rushed from his grand house to greet them, inviting them to stay in the mansion, which was usually reserved for visiting government officials. Felix expected he would have to regale the Decurions with tales of the arena as payment. Nowadays he found being a storyteller tedious. If he had tales to tell, he’d rather share them with his children… if he ever had any.
The first priority was locating Ceadda. Hurrying alongside him on the cobbled streets, Bethan grasped her shawl under her chin. Since the night of the punishment, she’d been more restless than usual. At first, when they left the stone pen, he thought she was confused by what he and Rufus had done to her. He also suspected her bottom was somewhat sore. She’d blushed crimson when he’d enquired whether she needed anything to soothe her. She’d promised him she wasn’t suffering any aftereffects, then sat next to Rufus on wagon and not complained once. After Rufus chivvied his horse into a trot, she’d looped her arm through his and rested her head on his arm. So she wasn’t upset or confused. She simply was anxious about her brother, which was understandable.
He admired her more and more. When he was a gladiator he considered meekness a form of weakness. A gladiator never showed fear and those that did invariably suffered the worst consequences, often resulting in them losing the crowds’ support and given the signal for death. With Bethan, her vulnerabilities were different and nothing to do with fear. She possessed a strong spirit and a willingness to venture into the unknown to discover her true nature.
Once they were back at his farm, he would help her explore them further. And, if she agreed he would give her what she coveted for herself: freedom. The quest for freedom always came at a cost or a promise. He’d promised to deliver a message from the emperor and he had done so without complaint. What promise could Bethan make for him and Rufus? He desired her more than ever, and if her freedom needed any incentive, the answer lay in their hearts, and not in the practices of a distant empire. For now, he drove those thoughts from his mind. Rufus took Bethan’s hand and held it as they walked. They were more like friends than lovers. Felix was pleased. He couldn’t offer her that kind of relationship, but if Rufus could, then it removed the burden from his shoulders. There were other things he could do for her, like buy her brother. The coins clinked in his purse.
They walked to the forum and located an official who represented the various traders who acquired slaves to send to Rome. The grizzly man scratched his scabby chin.
“Ceadda of the Carvetii?” He pulled a face.
“His eyes are blue and brown. One of each,” Bethan explained.
The official’s face lit up. “Aye. I remember. Black hair. Short.”
She nodded in agreement.
“He’s supposed to go to the galleys,” Felix said.
The man picked at his teeth and shrugged. “He was.”
“Was?” exclaimed Bethan.
“Aye. Too short to reach the oars.”
Felix leaned over the irritating man. “So where is he?”
“Sold. He’ll make a good house servant.”
Felix clenched his fist. “To whom?” he said impatiently.
The man snorted and scratched his groin. “A tall man…” The lines in his forehead wrinkled.
Felix grabbed the man by his collar and hauled him off his feet. “A name, imbecile!”
“I don’t remember!” He kicked his feet against Felix’s knees.
“Please,” implored Bethan. She pulled her arm away from Rufus. “Please help us.”
Felix dropped him. “You must have written his name.”
“Yes, yes. But the tablet of recent sales is with the Decurion. He calculates the taxes.”
Felix growled in frustration. Bethan slumped against Rufus’s shoulder and he comforted her with a few gentle pats.
“All is not lost,” Rufus said. “He isn’t going to the galleys.”
Felix turned on his heel. He would have to spin many tales to the Decurion in order to obtain the information they needed.
Chapter Twenty-One
She paced the floor from window to door and back countless times while waiting for them to return. Wringing her hands together, she impatiently listened for any sounds of approach
