The Chariots Slave (12 page)

way to the medicos’ tent. Simeon had not been present at
their meeting, and she wanted to check in on him. His health
had been on her mind many times over the last few days. She
had had a hard time relaxing in the salt bath as her mind often
dwelt on his injuries.

“Simeon?” she whispered as she pulled back the cloth
door.
The tent was musty and dark except for a single candle
burning on a wooden box next to the cot. Simeon turned from
his seat on the cot. He squinted his eyes as he focused on the
figure at the door.
“Sellah, is that you?” Traces of pain could still be heard in
the effort it took him to speak. But other than that he sounded
better.
“Yes. Can I come in?”
“Of course, please take a seat.” He patted the spot next to



him on the bed. “I didn’t expect to see you for a few more
days. My father said you would be staying at the baths.” His
eyes lit up as he looked her over.

“You were asking after me?” she teased as she offered him
a good natured grin.
“I uh, well, yes I guess I was.”
The honesty and awkwardness of Simeon’s response made
Sellah chuckle to herself. In sympathy to his embarrassment,
Sellah decided to change the topic of discussion.
“Turn, let me see your back.”
It took him a few moments to bring his back to her. Each
move he took was painfully slow. And when she saw his
back, she understood. While it was not as red or swollen as it
had been, most of the lashings were still open and they still
bled.
“Oh Simeon, I had hoped by now it would be better than
this.”
“It isn’t as bad as it looks. It only hurts now when I
move.” He was making an effort to be brave.
Sellah reached into her satchel and pulled out the things
Orla had given her, taking extra care to lay them out on the
bed next to him. She took one of the poultices, and dipped it
in the bowl of water at his bedside.
“This will feel good,” she said before she placed it on the
worst part of his back. He tensed at her touch, but within
seconds the healing poultice soothed him.
“I told you it would feel better!” She tied a long strip of
cloth around him to fasten the poultice in place. When she
was finished she picked up the small pouches of herbs and
handed them to him. “When you feel pain, chew on one of
these. They should help.”

It took him a moment to turn back around, but he did so
far quicker than the first time. He stared at Sellah, taking her
in. When he noticed the amulet pinned to her stola, he
reached out and stroked its glittering metal surface.

“Do you miss your sister?” Sellah asked as she watched
him become lost in a personal moment.
Her words brought him from his thoughts and he returned
his eyes to Sellah’s face, she couldn’t help but wonder what
he thought. His features usually held a softness about them,
yet this time they seemed to harden at some distant memory.
“Every day. I miss her every day,” he confessed as he held
her gaze.
Sellah didn’t say anything. She allowed silence to comfort
him. And truthfully she did not know what to say.
The door to the tent opened and Vettius walked in. It was a
welcome distraction for Sellah. “Sellah, I was hoping I would
find you here. When you are done, Thaddius has requested
your presence in his quarters.”
He smiled at Simeon and received an awkward look, then
turned and left.
“You are a lot like her Sellah,” Simeon said, returning to
thoughts of his sister. He reached up and brushed a stray hair
from her face. His work-hardened hand scratched her as it
lingered on her soft cheek.
Instantly, she felt the closeness of their bodies and
couldn’t help but worry about the dangers that could bring.
“Esther died protecting another servant. I was just a young
boy and I couldn’t help her.” He stumbled over his words,
and Sellah could tell that he was unable to explain in more
detail about what happened. The pain was still too deep.
“When I saw you stand up for Accalia at the auction, you



reminded me so much of her. It was as if her soul returned to
me, but in you. And I knew it was my chance, my chance to
stick up for my sister. Sellah, I cannot tell you how much it
meant to me to be able to do something. And then to see her
amulet on you, well, it feels right. I can think of no better
person for it.”

taking Sellah so long. Finally, he decided he would look for
her and on the way stop by Simeon to apologize for what had
happened. He knew this would not restore their relationship
completely, but it would be a start.

He left from the back of the villa to avoid any of the
women at the gate noticing him and causing a scene. There
had been enough of that over the last week. Word had gotten
out that he had not taken anyone to his bed in a while. Now
they fought to be the first to break his celibate fast.

The sun was setting and a cool breeze danced over the hill.
It was refreshing and helped clear his head so that he could
focus on what to say to Simeon. He rehearsed the words over
and over as he walked to the medicos’ tent.

Just as he was about to push open the flap and enter, he
thought he heard Simeon speak. Curious about who was with
him, Thaddius quietly opened the flap and peeked in. He was



taken aback when he saw Sellah and Simeon sitting so close
together.

The breeze from the door pushed some of Sellah’s hair
across her face. Thaddius thought for sure it gave his
presence away. When neither of them turned toward him, he
was puzzled.

“Your hair keeps falling in your face,” Simeon said as he
reached up to push it back.
Thaddius watched, waiting for Sellah to pull away. When
she didn’t move, anger threatened to override his resolve.
However, he remained at the door and watched undetected as
Simeon left his hand at the back of Sellah’s neck with his
fingers tangled in her hair.
Seeing them together made Thaddius ill. The apology he
had been rehearsing was no longer in his mind.
Simeon, leaned forward. Thaddius felt his breath catch in
his throat. Sellah stayed motionless

Interpreting her lack of movement as fear, Simeon reflexively
pulled her closer to him. Moments seemed to freeze in time
as the pair came ever closer to meeting lips. Electricity of
anticipation burned within Simeon’s chest.

Anger burned within Thaddius as he watched the scene
unfold. He could not stand seeing Simeon and Sellah kiss. If
they did, he knew he would do something he would regret. So
instead, he turned and he ran.



Blind rage fueled his steps, and they led him straight to
Acestes. “Get me four jugs of spiced wine and two of
honeyed. I want them in my room now!” he demanded as he
stormed on by.
Acestes watched him leave, not sure what had happened.
“Where are you headed?”
“I am going to the gate. I need a distraction!” Thaddius
yelled over his shoulder.
“The gate? But you have not had wine or whore for a
week.”
“Damn you, Acestes! Do you not remember your station
here?” Thaddius stopped midstride and turned around to
finish. “It is odd you forget as you constantly remind me of
my title. I am Dominus. Now ready my wine!”

“If you do not listen to me, I will leave!” He turned and
took a few teasing steps away from them.
“Stop it, let him speak!” one of the girls hissed to the
others.
He flashed them a toothy smile. They had taken his bait.
“Now listen,” he said as he turned back to the anxiously
silent girls. “Tonight, I will be in need of a distraction, a
really good distraction.”
“I can help!” one of the girls at the front cooed as she
twirled her loose hair in her fingers.
“Like hell you will. I am more to his taste!” another
interrupted.
Soon every girl began shouting pleas for Thaddius to
choose her. They were a ruthless bunch, and some even
fought the others, pulling at their hair and scratching their
faces. Thaddius threw his hands up in defeat and turned to
leave.



“He’s leaving!” someone cried.
The fighting and shouting slowly dwindled as the girls

stopped what they were doing to watch Thaddius leave.
“Please come back,” a familiar voice begged from the
gate.
He had had enough of their annoying ways, but he was
curious as to who spoke, and why she sounded vaguely
familiar. He took another step away, then suddenly turned
around.
“You, why do I recognize you?” he asked.
“I am Calista, my lord. You saved me from falling a few
days past.” She batted her eye lashes seductively as she
pushed her way forward.
Thaddius remembered the event. It was at the auction and
she had conveniently tripped into his arms with her bosom
practically exposed.
“You, a women of status and good breading, wait at the
gate among these women?”
“I came here to thank you again my Lord, but your guards
would not let me pass. I was about to leave when you came.”
The guard laughed under his breath at her statement and
Thaddius could only assume it was a lie. But he pretended
not to notice his response and turned back to the girl.
“And your friend? The one with you at the auction. Where
is she?” he asked.
“Guya, she is here.” Calista pointed over her shoulder to a
girl who stood behind her.
When Thaddius caught Guya’s eyes, she offered him a shy
smile. He couldn’t help but wonder why she was there; she
didn’t seem the type to wait at a gate like the others. Calista
must have dragged her along.

The other women were becoming restless. They did not
like the attention that Thaddius was giving Calista and Guya.
Noticing his mistake and not wanting a riot on his hands,
he stepped back to address the women. “You who wait at my
gates, listen to my offer. Over the next few weeks I will be
requiring all of your services. I will choose two to take with
me tonight. If you agree not to rush the guards at the gate, I
will have them take down your names and prepare an orderly
list.”
The guards next to Thaddius whispered their gratitude.
Every time Thaddius wanted them to bring in one of the girls,
they would have a huge protest on their hands. The women
left behind became an angry mob, and they took their
vengeance on the hapless guards. At least now the guards
could retain their dignity and maintain order.
When the women nodded in agreement to his proposal,
Thaddius ordered the guards to escort Guya and Calista to his
quarters. With a smile that consumed her face, Calista
elbowed her way to the gate opening followed by a timid yet
excited Guya.

She ignored the angry stares and venomous comments of
the women around her. They didn’t matter. Soon she would
have Thaddius to herself, well to herself and to Guya. The
thought of Guya coming along frustrated her. But if Thaddius
wanted to be pleasured by two women, then Calista would
make sure he would get that request. In fact, she planned to
make him forget about any of the women at the gate.