Slave Girl 2: Chapter 128 (Patreon)

As I lay on the cold ground the pain that had been numb and vague in the heat of combat intensifies and dials into focus. My chest, my side, my back, and especially my right shoulder throbbed from the damage I’d taken not just from the minotaur but from Toke before it. Hearing no cause for immediate action I allow myself a minute to breath and settle my jangled spirit. The cold drizzling rain spattering on my face I watch as the glowing specks of the forest nymphs return to the high boughs of the forest. I hear whispers, groans of agony, and the heart wrenching sobs of Collywaddle. The others had suffered as much as me. Some of them more so. Now was not the time to indulge in my own selfish need for respite.

My weary body protesting I will myself to my feet and look around at the carnage. On the platform was the body of Aristocles, his weeping slave knelt at his side. Not far away Rosa sat slumped, exhausted but unharmed, with Danae pressed tight to her flank. At her other side Cassie, down on one knee, spoke to her in soft tones as she rubbed her back. Near the East fire huddled Quique and Oeneus. Quique, pale and vacant eyed, nursed a great lump that had grown at his left temple as Oeneus still struggled for breath as he rubbed his chest where the beast had struck him with a mighty head butt. Across the clearing Julian lay moaning and clutching at the ribs that I knew were broken. At his side Gyasi, nose busted and blood dripping from his lips, does what he can to aid his wounded friend. And just now limping back into the edges of the fire’s light comes Lucas, his face set in a grimace of pain, with his shield arm hanging limply.

And finally, closest to me, lays Toke. His lifeless blue eyes stare unseeing toward the heavens. His bloody lips are parted as if to sing another chorus of his foreign song. His face at rest. A stern man, a hard man, a troubled man, a man broken by the cruelties of life was at last at peace.

I stare at him seeing not the bruises or gore but through all of that to the proud warrior I knew him to be. He had saved Rosa. He had saved my daughter. And in doing so he had saved us all. He had given up his life and his opportunity to strike back at his master and through that proxy raise a final rebellious fist to the unjust system that had kept him in bondage so that we could live. My gratitude to my fallen teacher comes over me like crashing wave. Over the past day I had convinced myself that he hated me for my Romanness and the privileges that I took for granted, yet in his final breath he had called me his legacy. Through his eyes he saw me as the mark he had left upon the world. I didn’t know anything about that, but did know that the mark he left on me would be indelible. Though I wanted to I shed no tears. That is not what he would have wanted.

Across from me Lucas approaches to stare down at our fallen mentor. At my shoulder appears Gyasi supporting a struggling Julian. Oeneus and Quique soon follow to join us around the body.

“He died as a warrior.” I say grimly. “On his feet until the end. A song on his lips and a fire in his belly. He saved us.”

“That wind.” Oeneus whispers breathlessly. “It blew against the storm.”

“I felt it too.” Gyasi says. “Cold as snow.”

“It carried his song to the halls of his god Odin.” I look toward the sky. “I pray that it reached his ears.”

“It did.” Lucas nods. “It did. He fought with honor. There is no higher prayer than that.”

“We…fought.” Quique says. “As he taught us. As brothers.”

“As brothers.” Growls Julian. He looks back toward the platform where Rosa, Cassie, and Colly mourned and recuperated. “We…protected the women.”

“We protected our people.” Lucas says, a pride growing in his heart. “And our land.”

“And each other. The gods tested our fellowship and we stood together.” Gyasi kicks at the inert copper hoof of the statue. “The gods can take you back now, beast!”

“If not for Miss Rosa…” Oeneus takes a labored breath. “…it would have been for nothing.”

A murmur runs through the men.

“Yes.” Lucas grumbles. “Miss Rosa.”

“Lucas.” I look across to him, holding his gaze in mine. “Surely you cannot believe she is the cause of this. Not after what just happened.”

“I am not sure what I believe, Quin.” He says the truth in his heart.

“Well, believe this.” I say. “If it is known that she has a magical gift, no matter how small, she will be put to death.” I look around at the others. “If even a whisper of what really happened here were to leave this clearing she would be executed without trial or delay.”

The men nod their understanding of the situation. “I think the events of this night have taken enough good lives.” Says Gyasi. “Why add another?”

“Miss Rosa’s secret is safe with us.” Quique says. To this there is agreement from all but Lucas.

“Lucas.” I say. “Rosa would not be the only one to feel the law’s hammer. Anyone who helped to harbor her secret would be charged.”

“But likely not executed. Especially if they were bewitched.”

“Lucas…”

“Slaves cannot wield magic, Quin.” He says. “You know this. It is forbidden. And an Amazon!?”

“It was forbidden for us to train, yet here we are.” I reply. “She is not our enemy. Her talent is a gift that she did not choose.”

“For gods sake, Lucas.” Oeneus grimaces through a cough. “It’s Miss Rosa.”

His gaze drifts to his sister. “I need to talk to Cassie.”

I sigh. He wasn’t going to give me what I wanted. No matter how much I pressed he wasn’t going to give me the promise I needed to hear. And there wasn’t a thing I could do about that. For the time being our fates would have to rest on the precarious balance between Lucas’ decency and friendship on one side and his instilled fears, patriotism and superstitions on the other.

“Very well.” I say.

“So…what happens now?” Says Oeneus.

Looking to Gyasi, who was bloodied but in the best shape of any of us, I pat his shoulder. “The death of Aristocles needs to be reported quickly. There will an investigation and the sooner this is reported the better. If you feel you can manage it, go to town and tell them what happened here.”

“Of course.” He says, then pauses. “What did happen here?”

“Tell them the truth.” I say. “A fight was arranged between a free Roman and a proud slave that would not be pacified. Blood was spilled and an ancient magic awakened. And then a group of simple farm hands fought the monster and won.”

Again a murmur and a round of nods goes around the gathering.

“The more we can stick to the truth, the better. But they do not need to know of our training.” I say.

“Or of Miss Rosa.”

“Especially of Miss Rosa.”

Kneeling down I close the icy blue eyes of Toke. Laying my hand across his forehead I say a prayer of swift journey for his departing soul. The others gather close to join me in a long moment of prayer and mourning. When we were done we stand again and step away to leave our mentor to rest.

“I will go to town.” Gyasi says. “I will tell them what happened.”

“Speak to an officer named Amphion if possible. He works at night and he is fair minded.”

“Amphion.” Gyasi says. “Got it.”

“Tell them we’ve got injured men. Stop by the temple yourself if you must.”

“Yes.”

“I will go too.” Quique steps forward. “We should not travel alone at night.”

I look to Lucas. “You should go and tell your family. Julian will need a bed and that arm looks like it could use some mending.”

“Granny’ll patch us up.” He nods. “But first, I must speak with my sister.”

“Do what you must.” To the others I say. “Go with him. Tend your injuries. I will wait here.” I hold my hand out. “None of us wanted what happened here tonight, but I would not have wanted any others to stand through it with me.” One hand slaps atop the next, Lucas reluctantly the last. For a long moment we look between each other and share in the bond we had built through toil, training and blood. “Gods keep you safe.”

We part and go our ways. Lucas turns and makes for his sister. The men stay as a group to wait for Lucas near the closest fire. And I turn to look to the platform where Rosa now had her arms around a grieving Collywaddle.

Chapter 129