Beneath the cloak of night, Spartacus lead the way over the wall, cutting soldiers down as silently as possible. Ashia was pressed between Tychos and Fortis, two gauls who'd taken to her. It was with them that she shared her meals and stories around the fire, and at times beds, only when Rhaskos was not present to do so. Her friendship with the man was not diminished, it lifted his spirits to know she was protected. The Gauls had accepted her as their own and she had unconsciously adopted their bold and impulsive nature as they traveled. Their leader, whom they considered the true leader, was ever remote, as she was on her arrival. He and Rhaskos had entered the villa. Screams and cries came from within and she and the others rose to enter.

Roman guards battled the fugitives all over the small courtyard. Blood ran like rivers across the stone. Ashia spotted Liscus beheading a man, while another rose up behind him. She instinctively attacked, slashing his stomach, face and chest before she'd even processed her action. Another guard took his place and she barely managed to counter a strike to her shoulder before lashing out and slicing open his neck. By now, most of the enemies were dead and the fugitives had overtaken the villa. Three. She thought. I have killed three.

The fugitives gathered the slaves into the courtyard. "Strike fear and quiet concern." The voice of Spartacus carried through the air. "Our quarrel is not with you. It's with those that would place themselves your master..." he gestured with a bloody sword at the roman corpses that littered the ground. "a title that bears no meaning to us, nor to you now, should you wish it so. You are presented choice as we once were: to submit forever to roman cruelty or take up arms and join us in freedom." The dominus of the villa was brought before him and forced to his knees by Rabanus and Liscus.

"And who are you to present such fucking offer?" He asked with an arrogant smirk.

"I am Spartacus."

Ashia smiled as the smirk fell from his lips and terror entered his eyes. The other slaves were gasping and whispering amongst themselves as they fully saw the man before them.

"Still your fucking tongues!" The roman snarled. The slaves went quiet at once.

"Are you the dominus of this house?" Crixus asked.

"I am."

"Then we should have words."

The bodies of the dead were discarded and tossed aside while the fugitives ransacked the villa, a laughing Rhaskos at the head. Food and wine was found and the former slaves quickly made use of it.

Ashia stood with Mira, watching the spectacle in silence, though she had smile upon lips as she witnessed her newfound friends rejoice. She spotted Rhaskos hulking over a pretty blonde and she and Mira went to intervene.

"Your beauty stirs my cock." he said.

"A rise too slight for eyes to notice." Mira said.

Rhaskos smirked, nodding to Ashia as Fortis pushed him away. He immediately went to climb upon table and share drink with Tychos.

"That one smells of shit." Chadara said.

"Indeed." Ashia murmured.

"From where does he hail?"

"Gallia." Mira answered.

"Gauls, they fuck absent regard of pleasing a woman."

"A skill lacking in most men." Mira looked at Ashia. "But not all." Ashia's eyebrows knotted. Confusion clearly etched on her face.

"And what of Spartacus? How does he stand?"

"Above the rest... in all regard."

"Apologies. I did not know he was yours."

"I do not claim him in such terms, nor would he be so ensnared."

"He offers you protection in return for affection."

"We have no such arrangement."

"Is it love then?" There was a pause and Ashia turned to look at Mira whose gaze was fixed upon the man she loved. All knew of the fate of Spartacus' wife. How she'd fallen to the romans moments before being reunited with him. She clung to life long enough to die in his arms, taking part of his heart with her. A part that Ashia could see that Mira desired. "Of course. The hope of love to come. A danger in its own right."

"I need an accounting of all food and supplies. Find Vitus and see it done." Mira commanded. Chadara nodded and departed.

"Lift heart." Ashia said, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. Mira covered it with her own. "Tonight, you are free of burdens, of hopes, losses. Seek peace for tonight, and let the weight crash upon shoulders once more at dawn." She smiled and removed her hand, only to suddenly be picked up by Acer.

"Blood rains down from an angry sky!" He sang. "My cock rages on. My cock rages on."

She laughed as he placed her on solid ground once more and accepted mug from Liscus. "To the afterlife for every fucking roman!" Ashia could only laugh at the Gauls' antics as they drank and sang. At one point, Rhaskos climbed upon the table and stripped naked to thrust his hips and cock as he sang. Crixus came to pull him off and see his cock covered. But even he had to smile.

The night found Ashia alone, outside of the villa, walking the grounds in escape from celebration. A desire for peace saw her sitting upon the ground among the trees, cleaning and sharpening blade as per Rhaskos' instruction. The fucking gaul had disappeared with Chadara, no doubt to fuck. Tychos and Fortis were still busy drinking. Liscus and Acer were sparring and their leader was convening with Spartacus and Agron, leaving her free to do as she desired.

He had followed her, she did not notice. Engrossed in her task, she noticed nothing. Not even the small animal sneaking upon her back. He waited for her reaction. She turned and stood, weapon raised to kill, but when the dog revealed itself, she laughed and stabbed the ground with the sword, leaving it implanted there and coaxed the animal into her arms. It licked her fingers and neck as she cuddled the beast to her chest.

A light in the distance caught his attention. Torches. He revealed himself. "Ashia!" It was the first time her name had fallen from his lips and it sent electric fire burning through his body. She looked up. "Torches, in the distance."

"Fuck the gods." She cursed, sheathing her sword and wrapping the pup in her cloak. She nodded to him and the pair ran back to the villa.

Ashia quickly carried the pup to her room and tied him up, placing food and water within reach before rejoining the others as Crixus gave news. A new plan was reached by Spartacus. They would use Tiberius, the wild little dog to create illusion that nothing was amiss. She would hide next to Crixus.

As Tiberius spoke to the men, Ashia could only be aware of the incredible beast next to her. His heavy breath upon neck, his weight upon door. His presence was nearly overwhelming. Images of his hands upon her body racked her mind, sent shivers through her body.

"He betrays us!" The husky whisper shook thoughts from mind as the fugitives attacked. She launched herself off the steps of the villa and onto one of the scouts, stabbing him repeatedly even before they'd hit the ground. She rolled to reduce impact and sliced another through stomach, showering herself in his blood. She turned and rammed her sword into the back of another. Three more fell before her, but one slipped through her defense. The blade gashed open the back of her shoulder and she collapsed to a knee and turned to parry a killing blow. She saw Crixus run toward her, but it was the sword of Acer that cut down her assailant, flying through the air as though it had wings to firmly implant itself in the man's chest. She collapsed to the dust moments later.

The feeling of heaviness upon chest awoke Ashia as the first lights of dawn reached slumbering eyes. The scent of animal reached her nose and her eyes opened to Rhaskos in her bed.

"Rhaskos, you disgusting fuck!" She shoved him hard, until he rolled over and hit the floor. "You smell like a fucking animal!"

"She awakens with fire upon tongue!" the man cried leaping back to his feet. "It is good to see you faring well."

"What happened?"

"You fought like a madwoman! One of those fucks cut open your shoulder but Acer cut open his chest. You faded then. We brought you here to heal, and so you have done. Little else has occurred in your absence. Soon, we shall move toward new villa, before we are discovered and our plans revealed to the roman cunts."

"News lifts heart."

"I shall retrieve Acer, he wished to share words once you awoke."

The long haired gaul arrived moments later. "It is relief that you are well, my little she-wolf."

"For me as well. Rhaskos said you wished to speak." She sat up, wincing as she moved her shoulder.

"Only to hear voice and know health. "

"When will we leave?"

"Soon. We gather supplies for journey for now." He sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand, absently playing with her fingers. "I feared your passing."

"You thought those simple fucks would send me to the afterlife?" Ashia laughed. "I will need more instruction. Perhaps in fighting without sword will improve skill with."

"It shall be done." said the man, though it appeared he had more to say.

"What words weigh upon tongue? Voice them and see desires received." She looked at him critically.

"My desire is you."