#meliae aid

Agron looked ready to protest, but Nasir did not give him the chance. He turned on his heel and headed once more for the shadow of the ludus wall to await Diona’s arrival. 

When she stepped out with her minder in tow, Nasir easily fell in step beside her. The guard, the same one as the prior day, obviously didn’t care about Nasir’s presence. It wasn’t unusual for slaves to speak to one another when they were sent to the market. It was one of the luxuries of being a slave allowed past the house’s walls. 

“Did you find the name of the Germanic warrior housed within the ludus?” Nasir asked without fanfare.

She gave him a sharp look before rolling her eyes. “Yes, I did. Any threats you may have ready upon your tongue are not needed.”

Nasir tried not to take offense. She wasn’t wrong to think he would resort to them again should she prove unwilling, but he had not forgotten her words from the prior day. If he could obtain the information without equating himself to the Romans once more, he would certainly choose that path. “And?”

“Your dominus should know that mine is unlikely to sell him. He provides my dominus with ample entertainment even now, before setting foot upon the Colosseum sands. Batiatus’ desire to see him fight beside his brother would need to be great and reflected in the coin he’d propose.”

“So it is Duro.”

“Yes,” she admitted, though she seemed bitter to do so. Perhaps Diona believed Nasir or his dominus would take their frustrations at being unable to acquire Duro for relatively cheap out on her. 

Nasir couldn’t help glancing back in the direction of where Agron was hopefully waiting near the ludus. Agron would be overjoyed, though Nasir questioned what state they would find Duro in when they finally breached the walls. Would he be able to fight? Entertainment for a Roman, especially one of a standing such as Cossutius, could mean a great many things. 

“Gratitude, for the information you have provided. Duro, he still stands whole?” Nasir dared to ask. “My dominus would not be keen to pay for a damaged slave.”

“As far as word has reached my ears. A bit beaten, as all new recruits are, but there have been no whispers of injury or punishment exceeding what is to be expected. As I said, he is boisterous.” Diona shook her head as if recalling a specific incident. “I do warn you, your dominus may not find him as manageable once he is reunited with his brother. He spoke as if the man were a god when he was first brought to the ludus and was whipped for his insolence.”

It did sound as if Agron and Duro were cut from the same cloth. Nasir may be hard pressed to guide them to escape from Roman reach instead of burning a path to freedom. They had been lucky so far but the goddess would only favor them so far. Eventually she would abandon them and the brother and Nasir would stand little chance against an army. 

He nodded his thanks. “I shall inform my dominus of such before I make an approach on his behalf to yours so as to not waste time or words.”

Agron snorted, shaking his head sadly. “Duro’s mind is not one to lend itself to reason.”

Nasir squeezed Agron’s shoulder again. From the stories Agron had told of his brother, he could not disagree. Duro sounded impulsive and young, and frankly Nasir was surprised he had not fallen upon the battlefield prior to their capture. Perhaps it was cruel of him to think so, but many experienced warriors died at the hands of Romans. He was not a slight man either from Agron’s description, and so speed would not have been his given quality. “We shall see on the morrow if the man stands Duro. For now, it is best we rest. Either we must prepare an escape or a long journey to Capua, whatever the sun brings.”

Convincing Agron to wait for him to traverse Rome a second time was near impossible, but Nasir managed it. Or rather, he thought he had, until he was approaching the gates of the ludus and felt an intent presence behind him. Agron wasn’t quite quick enough to duck around a corner before Nasir saw him, and he abruptly stopped. After a quick scan of the pre-dawn crowd, Nasir hurried to where Agron lingered. 

“What madness has overtaken you?” Nasir demanded, keeping his voice low as to not attract unwanted attention. “You were to wait for my return, as agreed.”

“I would see if it stands Duro myself!” Agron snapped. His eyes shifted towards the ludus gates and Nasir shoved him back until they rounded the corner. It was only Agron’s own distraction which allowed it, much to Nasir’s frustration. He was so weak as a mortal. If he still was a meliae, he would have been able to trap Agron at their camp until his return.

Nasir reached out and grasped Agron by the shoulder. “Your brother was a warrior too. Take comfort that the Romans would not see such talent wasted once acquired if provided a choice. They would wish for him to entertain them upon the sands.”

He knew he spoke of a bitter type of hope. That Duro endured the harsh training of a gladiator at the hands of a ludus’ doctore just to be turned upon the sands in front of hundreds of jeering Romans to face man or beast for survival.

Still, Agron leaned into Nasir’s touch as he caressed his gladius. His voice was thick when he spoke and Nasir was struck by just how young Agron was compared to Nasir’s centuries. Duro would stand even younger. “He was capable enough upon a battlefield but overeager like a pup. I fear such traits are not well suited for a gladiator.” 

There was nothing for Nasir to say to him. Agron was likely correct in his assessment. The gladiators Nasir had seen survive years within a ludus were either incredibly gifted with their chosen weapon, or measured and patient nearly to a fault. Eagerness turned to rash decisions upon the sands and Nasir had seen plenty fall quickly to mediocre gladiators where otherwise they may have prevailed while attending the games with his dominus centuries prior.

To no surprise of Nasir, when he finally returned to Agron, the man was pacing around their encampment like one of the Coliseum's creatures in their cages. Nasir was slow in his approach towards the small campsite. Agron’s impatience and irritation could easily result in a sword swung without thought.

“Agron,” Nasir spoke as he stepped into the fire's light.

Immediately Agron turned to face him, his hand on the hilt of his gladius. He let his hand fall from the blade but his face remained stiff. “What caused delay? Do you have news of Duro?”

“I spoke with a slave auctioneer, and the slave of a ludus. There is a Germanic owned by the house, though I know not if it stands Duro. I must return with the sun to speak with the slave again.” Nasir’s words did little to soothe the agitation evident in Agron’s body. 

Agron seemed intent on turning Nasir around and being led directly back upon the path he’d taken from the ludus. “Why does it matter if it is Duro or not? Should we not free the gladiators? They would provide additional strength in our search for Duro.”

“And rain down Rome’s wrath upon us. We lose stealth, and for what? One gladiator might be able to slip unnoticed from Rome’s gaze. An entire ludus – should they join us in our search – would draw unwanted attention.” Nasir warned. “It stands unlikely many would survive the attempt to leave the house. Most likely, the guards would seal the gates and kill us all.”

The reality of the situation seemed to deflate Agron and he fell silent for a while. Nasir served himself some of their meager meal, made from foraged plants and a stolen hen, before he sat beside where Agron had dropped himself upon the ground. “The slave spoke of a boisterous Germanic. There stands hope that it is Duro.”

Diona’s expression turned thoughtful as they walked. “I do not spend much time with gladiators. My duties primarily serve the main house. There is a Germanic, though I do not know his name. He stands so loud his words are often heard upon the terrace.” 

Nasir couldn’t help thinking that the gladiator sounded much like Agron, but it was possible boisterousness was simply a trait ingrained in the Germanic tribes as a whole. “Might you inquire for my master? I could return with the sun if it would provide ample time.”

She shook her head. “There stands little reason why such information would be for my ears.”

Still, Nasir pressed. He remembered fragments of his time as a slave; his presence often dismissed or unseen even as he stood just a few steps from his dominus. Diona easily could gather the information if she wished.

“There are many ways such information could reach your ears, Diona. I would not wish to inform my dominus that a slave of the House of Cossutius proved discourteous.” 

Diona’s expression flickered, first irritation and then fear as the threat settled in her mind. Nasir did not know Cossutius might punish her, but from the man’s appearance, he did not look to be a kind dominus. If Nasir actually had been of the House of Batiatus and held his dominus’ ear, such a comment could see Diona to death or work in the mines. He knew the words were a gamble. They could just as easily turn Diona against him as entreat her into providing the information Nasir sought.

“Fine, tomorrow arrive with the sun.” Diona finally relented as they approached the house’s gate once more. Her bitterness was apparent in more than just her words, hardening her youthful face. “You have spent long in the servitude of Romans, have you not, Tiberius?”

The question struck Nasir as odd, but he saw no reason to deny her the truth. “Since I can remember.”

“That would figure. You certainly act as one.” 

The young woman watched Nasir closely, shifting her basket against her hip. “When were you bought by the House of Batiatus?”

“Only a few months past.” Diona’s eyes narrowed and Nasir hurried to assuage her concerns. “I was a gift from a dear friend of my new dominus, with whom I was body slave to since I was a child. My allegiance to Batiatus is beyond reproach.”

Nasir realized that his assurances only caused Diona more unease. She was not one of the slaves resigned with her place. She must not have been enslaved long, perhaps a handful of years. It explained why she was accompanied by the guard. Cossutius did not trust her with his coin or that she would not attempt to flee. There was still a defiance in her eye and Nasir feared he may have doomed his plans before making it through the house’s gates.

“My dominus sent me with a request of yours, though he does not know if Cossutius stands capable of fulfilling it. I would not wish to offend your dominus should what Batiatus desires be out of reach.”

They approached the first row of stalls at the market and Diona made her way to the fig merchant. She was quick to call her guard to her side and have him pay the merchant for the dried fruits, then continued on her way to another row of stalls where Nasir nearly gagged on the smell of turning fish. It had been far too long since he had walked markets and been assaulted by the smells he once encountered regularly. “What information does he seek?” 

“A Germanic warrior.”

Diona barked out a laugh that had both her guard and the fish merchant looking at her. “Does Batiatus not have enough to fill his ludus?” 

“He searches for one in particular.”

“Why?”

“He owns the Germanic’s brother. He wishes to pair the brothers together upon the sands. My dominus believes it shall bring better entertainment.” Nasir waited a beat while Diona called her guard to her side and paid the merchant for the fish. Again it was deposited in her basket and she moved on to a line of honeyed wine stalls. 

She was obviously searching for an emblem as she looked at the vases intently. Nasir was surprised by her question as she did not look from the task at hand. “I did not understand Batiatus to be sadistic. Would it not be kinder to leave the brothers parted?”

“He believes they shall fight harder should they be reunited.”

This time Nasir held his breath when Diona called for her guard to pay for and lift the small vase of wine. With it in hand, Diona began leading Nasir back towards the house of Cossutius. “Still, a cruel thought. Better parted and unknowing than to see one’s kin die upon the sands beside you, do you not think?”