Nasir woke to the sound of a scream as the pending dawn lit the sky a pale shade of purple. He moved quickly to reach his sword and he heard people run by their tent toward the raised voice. He quickly pulled on his clothing and turned to follow the others to battle. As he moved back the flap of the tent he noticed that his love was not at his side.
He turned toward Agron, eyes adjusting to the poor light.
"Agron," Nasir said quietly, less there were Romans near, "I hear screams, take up sword."
Agron mumbled, teeth chattering. He pulled his arms around himself, as if seeking Nasir's body. Upon finding it absent he pulled the blanket higher above his shoulder. The giant seemed to fold in on himself, seeking warmth.
"Agron?" Nasir asked, commotion forgotten. He bent over his lover, hand coming to rest on Agron's cheek to wake him. Nasir was instantly horrified by the high fever that burned within him. "Agron?" Nasir said more urgently, pulling the blanket away, running his hand down Agron's chest, surprised to find a sheen of sweat on his overheated skin.
Agron moaned, his fist coming to rest on his head.
"What is wrong?" Nasir said quietly, realizing that the loud noise had hurt his lover.
"My head," Agron said.
"Your skin burns," Nasir told him, cupping his cheek, "I will find willow bark to calm the fever."
Agron had not dared open his eyes. The pain he felt was beyond compare. His entire body ached and shivered. Nasir told him his skin burned, yet it felt as if he swam in an icy river. Yet nothing compared to the raging pain behind his eyes. He dared not open them, knowing light would hurt. The thought of it turned his stomach.
"I will return soon," Nasir said, gently kissing Agron's fevered cheek and pulling back the flap of the tent.
Rebels hurried past. Nasir had momentarily forgotten the disturbance. Nasir gripped his sword and followed them, as they were heading in the direction of the camp's herbal supplies.
"What causes such alarm?" Spartacus' voice rang over the voices that were muttering and speaking in hushed and fearful tones.
"Libitus bleeds from his eyes and skin," one of the liberated German slaves said in a heavy accent, "His skin burns with fever."
"Nemetes has also fallen ill!" Lugo exclaimed.
"It is the fever Euradise spoke of," Naevia stated, standing by Crixus's side.
Spartacus turned to her, "Whom?"
"The woman who told us of the trap at ludus," Naevia said, "She warned us of fever that is spreading, bring death and making people bleed from the eyes."
"They brought the illness back with them," one of the girls screamed, covering her mouth and nose, moving further away from the tent that held the stricken rebels.
"Nasir?" Spartacus asked, turning to the Syrian, "how fares Agron?"
The look on Nasir's face told Spartacus what he needed to know.
Crixus gave Nasir a look of pity and turned to Spartacus and said in a quiet voice, "we must break camp and move away."
"We cannot abandon them," Naevia said.
"The illness will spread," Gannicus said, coming up alongside Spartacus, "the longer we stay in vicinity the more lives we risk."
Spartacus' face contemplated the facts. He understood that they must move quickly, but knew that this decision would weigh heavily on mind for a long time.
"We move further down river, but a few miles," Spartacus declared, "if the ill survive they will return to us. If more are the burn, they shall come here."
"Quarentine," Agron's voice said loudly, but he could not keep the tremor from it. All turned to look at the gladiator. His skin was ashen, dark circles under his eyes, and a fine coating of sweat covered his skin. "That is a wise decision."
Agron kept his distance from any of the men, attempting to stop the world from spinning around him. Nasir made to approach him, but Agron held up an arm to stop him.
"I will protect them and see the survivors seek you out," Agron said.
Spartacus nodded gratitude toward Agron, "We will see you well supplied. Break camp and be ready to move before sun fully breaks horizon."
The command set the crowds to motion, scattering away from the stricken to task.
"You must not take willow bark," Naevia said, before Crixus could pull her away, "Euradise was medicus, she warned that it would make you bleed."
"Lidius had taken it last night," Lugo said, "his head hurt."
Agron nodded slowly, "a pain I feel acutely."
Naevia allowed Crixus to lead her away. Agron was left weakly standing with only Spartacus and Nasir near. "Nasir," Agron said, "I would have water."
Nasir looked from Agron to Spartacus and back. He nodded and left to fetch drink for Agron.
"Take him with you," Agron said, "If the gods favor us he will not fall sick."
Spartacus smirked, "You ask for a feat that is far beyond slaying giants in arena. The hand of Zeus could not pull him from your side."
Agron's face twisted in despair, "he will die if he stays."
"You do not know that," Spartacus said.
"I would die if I was to leave," Nasir said, coming up alongside Agron, who was too weak to fight him. He handed him the cup, "My heart is here, and I cannot live absent it."
"Please," Agron begged, "do not make me the reason that you go to the afterlife."
Nasir smiled, reaching up to cup Agron's fevered cheek, "When we go to the afterlife it will be in glorious battle, defending our freedom. I am of the mind for us to do so together."
