The Gladiator’s Master (25 page)

Oh, how he struggled inside, the need to agree warring with caution. Caelius seemed to sense Gaidres’s wavering and reached up to cup his face in his hands. “You know you belong by my side, Gaidres. You are a natural leader, others look to you for guidance, the children there worship you.”

Gaidres swallowed hard as he closed his eyes. “Caelius, the people here in your villa know the truth.”

“Why would they say anything?” Caelius gave him a gentle smile as Gaidres opened his eyes again. He brushed his thumb over the curve of Gaidres’s cheek. “They are loyal to me and you have won their hearts and respect this last week as well. You could have run, and most would not have blamed you, yet you did not. You found me, you brought me home and you’ve cared for them all these past days. Who would begrudge you this bit of happiness you have earned? Demos? He is your friend. You think Helene would say anything, knowing how much Faustus loves you? Or any of the others?”

For the first time, Gaidres felt a true glimmer of hope. Hope that perhaps Caelius’s dreams were not quite so farfetched as he’d believed. Even still, he hesitated. “No one would believe I am a Roman…”

“Would they not? Who was it that stormed into the heart of Rome herself in the guise of a Roman soldier to find me? People believe what they are told unless given reason not to. There would be no reason to doubt who we say you are with no one and nothing to say otherwise.”

By the gods, he was right. No one had looked askance at him. Even the other soldiers had believed he was who he appeared simply because he put on the right garments and behaved as if he belonged.

“It could not be that easy…” Could it?

“Why not? You have been a slave for far too long, it’s true, but in your heart no one has ever owned you. We both know that. Perhaps the tragedy of the arena collapse can, in some way, be turned for the good. We have this chance, Gaidres. Take it with me. Please.”

How could he argue? When Caelius’s eyes pleaded, when the idea of sharing a life with him, of watching Faustus growing to know him as the free man who loved his father and not a slave his father owned…it was so much more than he’d ever dared dream of since the day Kerses had been stolen from him and with him, his future. His hope.

“Perhaps I do need a dreamer, then. Not just any, though. You.”

Caelius’s breath caught and his lips began to curve in hope. “Does that mean you will agree?”

Gaidres chuckled, more than a little breathless himself. “I think it does.”

Caelius closed his eyes tight and leaned forward to wrap his arms around Gaidres’s neck. “Thank you, my love. We will thrive, Gaidres, you’ll see. When we’re in Caere where we belong, we’ll thrive and care for our own.”

Gaidres chuckled and turned his head to capture Caelius’s mouth. The other man sank into the kiss, lips parting in surrender and did not protest as Gaidres eased him back onto the bed. “I do love you so,” Caelius whispered as the kiss broke.

“And I you, Caelius.” Gaidres slid his hand through Caelius’s curls. “How could I not when you have given me so much of yourself.”

“When can we go? At the beginning of the next week?” Caelius asked, eager eyes searching Gaidres’s face.

Gaidres gave him a pointed look. “We can go when you stop having those moments of dizziness and when your face stops turning white whenever you move too fast. Which means if you want to leave sooner you must stay in bed now as the medicus advises.”

Caelius started to protest and then clamped his lips shut, eyes bright. “There will be many things to see to in the meantime. Perhaps I could attend to a few of the details from my bed.”

Gaidres had a feeling he wouldn’t be having any further issues keeping Caelius from trying to take on too much, now that the reward for not doing so was a quicker departure for Caere.

“Good. In the meantime, I will see to it that the
ludus
and the villa are prepared to be put on the market.”

Caelius shook his head. “Not the buildings. I want the place torn down. It is cursed and I have no wish to pass that curse on to anyone else.”

Gaidres hesitated. It seemed a waste, after all the work Caelius had done to repair and improve both the villa and the
ludus.
But in the end it was Caelius’s decision. “Very well. I will spread the word that we will be departing in a week’s time. The slaves will come with us, I assume?”

“Yes, everyone who wants to come.”

“Good. Now rest. I will bring Faustus when he awakes from his nap.” The babe became fussy when he did not get to spend the time he’d become used to with his father. It made his heart swell when the boy had the same reaction to missing him, as well.

Caelius reached out and caught Gaidres’s hand, squeezing it. “You will see, Gaidres. We will have it all.”

A tingle of foreboding ran down his spine. No one had it all. But he brushed it off and bent to press a kiss to Caelius’s smiling lips. “Dream hard enough for us both, Caelius.”

In the meantime, Gaidres had a lot of reality to deal with and with a parting smile he left the chamber, nodding to Hierocles who hovered outside. As he strode toward the
ludus
to see to having Demos moved to the villa, he let himself daydream just a bit. Having it all wasn’t necessary, as far as Gaidres was concerned. But they would have everything they needed to be happy.

That was enough.

Gaidres wasn’t sure what stirred him. He lay still for a moment, mind registering, even in his half-asleep state, the warm weight of Caelius against him, his lover’s cheek against his chest and the steady sound of his soft breath in the near-silence.

Near-silence.

It was at that instant that several things became clear in his conscious mind. They were not alone. Caelius was still sound asleep. They were not alone.

It took only a heartbeat, but still it was almost too late as Gaidres shoved Caelius from him and his hands came up as his eyes flew open. A sharp burn sliced across his forearm as his eyes focused and then discerned a form bending over the bed. Gaidres shouted a warning, fingers clamping on the hand coming down a second time, this time registering the blade in the intruder’s grip.

“Caelius! Run!” He rolled toward the side of the bed and the intruder, used his body as a weapon to knock the man aside and then stumbled to his feet just in time to take a hard shoulder to his stomach as the intruder charged.

Caelius scrambled from the bed as Gaidres doubled over, gasping for air. Hierocles straightened, raising a dagger. “Hierocles,” Caelius shouted. “What madness has taken you? Guards!”

Hierocles’s gaze flashed to Caelius, taking his eyes off Gaidres for a mere second, but that was enough to allow Gaidres an opening. He barreled into Hierocles, his hands locked around the man’s wrists as they struggled.

“You.” Hierocles glared his hatred at Gaidres. “Why won’t you die! I’m going to kill you, then I’m going to kill your foolish lover, the brat, Demos…everyone you’ve ever cared for,
Lion.
”

Gaidres snarled, slamming Hierocles back against the wall. His blood ran cold at the threat to Caelius and Faustus, bringing back the helplessness of the day Kerses died. Not this time, by the gods. This time he would not fail to protect those he loved.

He released one of Hierocles’s hands and slammed his fist into the man’s jaw. Before he could strike again the man clawed out at Gaidres’s eyes and drove his knee into Gaidres’s groin, sending him reeling back in pain.

“Coward!” He was almost as infuriated by the craven tactics as he was by everything else. Through the blur of stinging eyes and the nauseating throbbing between his thighs, Gaidres saw Hierocles scramble out of reach.

“Coward? It is
you
who is the coward! What lies did you tell when you made our master your whore? All to gain your freedom, advance your position, and crush the rest of us beneath your heel!” Hierocles’s voice was shrill and Gaidres thought he must be insane. “And now you will run off to Caere and pretend to be a
Roman?
While the rest of us slave away fetching your wine? I think not!”

Gaidres tensed as Caelius strode forward, brandishing Gaidres’s sword. By the gods, what was he doing with a sword? “Caelius! Stay back!”

Hierocles turned, waving the dagger toward Caelius, and Gaidres’s heart leaped into his throat.

“Yes, stay back. Do what you’re told like a good little whore, Dominus! Don’t worry, I will be coming for you when he is gone.” Hierocles scowled at them both, shifting his focus but never lingering long enough to give Gaidres a chance to charge him.

A cold, implacable fury filled Caelius like nothing he had ever known before. Hierocles was armed and armored, Gaidres was naked. His lover may be stronger and better skilled, but he was already bleeding. And now all the unanswered questions came together and made sense.

“You are the one who damaged Gaidres’s sword so that it would break in combat. You are the one who poisoned the food and wine that made Demos ill,” Caelius said in a deadly quiet voice.

“Yes!” Spittle bubbled at Hierocles’s lips, a feverish light in his eyes. “And yet Argon still lives. Worse than a rat, currying your favor and being named champion when all he’s done well is fuck you!”

“Who else should have been named?” Gaidres sneered and Caelius stared at him in shock. He’d never heard such a tone in Gaidres’s voice before. Was he seeking to infuriate the madman more? “You, who was worse than useless in the
ludus?
”

Hierocles shrieked in rage and rushed Gaidres, his attention all on the other man as he seemed to forget that Caelius existed at all. Again and again he lashed out at Gaidres who wove and dodged, the dagger coming closer with each strike. His heart in his throat, Caelius circled them trying to find an opening, anything. The sword was an unfamiliar weight in his hands. His father had insisted that he learn and Caelius had hated every minute of it, hated even more the short time he’d been sent to be a soldier. As a result he had not touched a sword in years. There was no way he could give Gaidres the weapon or strike out at Hierocles himself without endangering his lover.

Footsteps pounded down the corridor toward them and Caelius raised his voice. “See to my son.”

Once again, he circled as Hierocles charged at Gaidres, dagger raised. His lover twisted his body out of the way, crying out as the madman’s momentum carried him past Gaidres and straight toward Caelius. “No!”

Caelius raised the sword on sudden instinct, shock reverberating through him as Hierocles skewered himself upon the blade with a shriek of agony. Caelius felt ill as he looked into the dying man’s face. It had all happened so fast, yet there was a certain sense of chilly justice to the moment.

The dagger clattered from Hierocles’s hand and his eyes widened as he clutched at the blade buried in his chest. Caelius steeled himself. This was the same man who had just attacked Gaidres without provocation. Who had tried to kill him numerous times out of jealousy. Hierocles deserved to die.

“Do not mistake gentleness for weakness, or confuse mercy with the inability to take care of my own,” Caelius said, his voice steady though his insides trembled. The light left Hierocles’s eyes and the man’s knees sagged.

Gaidres rushed forward, one arm sliding around Caelius’s waist and pulling him away. As Caelius released the hilt of the sword, Hierocles crumpled and Gaidres gathered Caelius close, drawing him away to the other side of the room. Caelius shook, hands clenched into fists against Gaidres’s chest as he burrowed into Gaidres’s arms.

“Have you taken any hurt?”

Caelius’s arms slid around Gaidres’s neck until he was clinging. “I’m fine,” he whispered, voice muffled. He started shaking.

Gaidres guided him toward the bed and reached one hand out to grab Caelius’s robe, wrapping it around his shoulders without letting go of him. His mind spun. All this time, Hierocles had been plotting, making sly attempts to rid himself of Gaidres, as if with Gaidres gone he would have advanced? Marius or Rufus would have taken Gaidres’s place as champion, but in his madness and envy, Hierocles hadn’t seen that. How had no one noticed?

Guards rushed through the doorway and Gaidres gestured to Hierocles’s body and reached for his
subligar.
“Come, let them handle it.”

“I’m going to be ill.” Caelius breathed in the scent of Gaidres’s skin and tried to calm himself. Never again did he want to see Gaidres in such a position. Gaidres’s hand smoothed through his hair and down his back. He tried to ignore the sound of the body being dragged away.

“You wouldn’t be the first man who has done so.” Gaidres pulled back to search Caelius’s face. Gaidres’s eyes were shadowed with worry. “Speak your thoughts to me, Caelius.”

Caelius cupped Gaidres’s face in his hands, everything still in a whirl of fury and fear. “Do not ever draw the attention of a madman again. My heart died when you taunted him.”

Gaidres slipped his hand around the nape of Caelius’s neck and drew him closer, kissing him. “Agreed, as long as I never see another sword in your hands.”

“Agreed.” Caelius never even wanted to look at another blade. Gods, he wanted to be gone from this place. He was so sick of the stench of death. He drew in a deep breath until he felt steadier. He raised his head and looked at Aelia hovering in the doorway, her face white. “Bring the medicus. Gaidres needs tending.”

With trembling fingers, Caelius examined the cut on Gaidres’s arm. It would require stitchery, but at least it was a clean slice. “I don’t understand. How had his mind come to be so poisoned? You know the men better than I…surely Demos doesn’t feel the same rancor toward you?”

Gaidres shook his head, his expression firm. “No. I have no doubts about Demos and his friendship. I do not know how we could have been missed Hierocles’s spite. He hid it well it seems, but…no. Not Demos.”

Caelius couldn’t hide his relief, glancing up as the medicus hurried in and began to examine Gaidres’s arm. “If you are sure. I did not want to think it, but…”

“No. It is understandable. Here, sit.” Then Gaidres surged to his feet. “No, come with me.” He reached for Caelius’s hand.

“Faustus.” Caelius’s breath caught and they began for the door in a rush when Helene appeared, carrying his son.

Gaidres stepped forward, then his eyes fell on the stain on the floor where Hierocles had fallen and shook his head. “Helene, not in here. Caelius, go with her, I will let the medicus finish.”

Caelius looked at his lover, torn, then leaned to brush a kiss to Gaidres’s lips before leaving the room followed by the nurse. Thank the gods they were leaving in the morning. Hierocles must have seen this as his last chance. With so many of the household dead or gone, having been pensioned generously off if they’d chosen not to follow them to Caere, it’d been the best opportunity. Hierocles must have known he’d never succeed in Caere, where there were so many more people, soldiers, all to the death loyal to Caelius and, by association, Gaidres.

Caelius cradled Faustus in the atrium, rocking with him on a bench until Gaidres returned. His lover sat beside him, smiling when Faustus burbled happily at the sight of him.

“Are you well now?” One of his hands came to rest on Caelius’s back.

Caelius glanced at him, shaking his head. “I will not be until we leave this place. It will be dawn soon. Gaidres, please…can we not go now? This moment? I cannot be here any longer. There is too much death, too much hate and hurt here. It sickens me.”

“My gentle dreamer,” Gaidres said with such love in his eyes that Caelius’s heart ached. He touched his forehead to Caelius’s, reaching a finger down to Faustus who wiggled his hand free and grabbed it. “I agree, we’ll not stay a moment longer than necessary here.”

Caelius’s throat tightened and he closed his eyes, drawing in a breath. “Gratitude. I’ll not be able to sleep right until we are home.”

It seemed almost a crime to so hate a place that had given him the two people who were the center of his life. He’d met Gaidres here and Faustus had been born within these walls, but none of them had been happy here. Gaidres had been tormented and what peace he’d known had been far away from here. No, none of them would miss this place.

Demos came in, his face sick with apprehension. Caelius thought a guard’s uniform suited him far more than gladiator gear and he was grateful that Hierocles’s madness had not infected others in the
ludus.
“Dominus…Ar—Gaidres…I heard the uproar. Is it true?” His eyes fell to the bandage on Gaidres’s arm and his eyes flashed in anger.

“I’m not sure what you have heard, but Hierocles set upon us as we slept,” Gaidres replied.

“I wondered how he managed to land a blow on you.” Demos and Gaidres shared a quick look of camaraderie. Caelius was glad that his fear had been unfounded. Gaidres had a true friend and that made the thought of him being in that cell for all those months a little more bearable.

“Summon the rest of the guard, Demos, and rouse anyone else who has managed to stay asleep through all of this,” Gaidres ordered. “Dominus wants us all to go home where we belong.”

Caelius’s heart flipped over and he leaned in to brush his lips over Gaidres’s. “There aren’t words for how much I love you, Gaidres.”

“And I, you, Dominus.” Gaidres rose and reached to take Faustus from Caelius. “Come, we will return him to Helene for the time being and gather the last of your things before we leave. We should be ready to depart within the hour.”

Caelius nodded, following Gaidres down the hall to the nursery where Helene was already pulling together what was left of his son’s belongings.

Gaidres wanted to laugh with happiness as they entered the nursery. They were beginning their new life tonight. Right now. It was difficult to feel anything but joy.

“Helene, take Faustus. We’ve set a guard at the door, though I doubt there is anything more to fear. Nevertheless, remain here until one of us comes when it is time to go.” He wasn’t taking any chances. Not with his family.

That struck him hard and he glanced down at Faustus, who beamed up at him full of simple happiness just to be held by Gaidres. His family. He had long ago lost all hope of ever having one again.

Gaidres glanced over at Caelius and his lips curved, throat tight with emotion. “Thank you.”

Caelius responded with a small smile. “For what?”

That Caelius even had to ask said so much, mostly about how innate his kindness and love was. It never occurred to Caelius that he’d done anything to be thanked for, while Gaidres didn’t think he could ever thank him enough. Instead of answering, he bent and kissed Faustus’s cheek before handing him off and then reaching for Caelius’s hand.

“Come. Our home is waiting.”

Caelius beamed. “Then let’s not make it wait a moment longer.”