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The following weeks passed by quickly as Gannicus tirelessly worked to regain use of his hands and carve out a life he could be proud of and provide for his woman and growing child. At first he made quick progress in controlling and bending his fingers but he continued to struggle with any kind of grip. Though Agron tried his best to remain patient and understanding Gannicus could see in his eyes that the other man was loosing faith that he would be able to regain what he had lost. And that caused Gannicus to become angry and bitter. Why was it that Agron had been healed so quickly and easily while he had to put everything he had into merely making a fist? Sibyl did her best to console him by reminding him that Agron had been on a cross for barely an hour while he had hung for nearly four days. Still he couldn't shake the resentment and anguish. He often would sit among the flowers in the garden or walk beneath the trees in the orchard not far from the villa lost in his troubled thoughts. He thought about all those he had lost through the years, Onemeous, Melita, Crixus, and Spartacus, often wondering if they were truly happy in the afterlife and with the decisions they had made. He also felt guilty at the prospect that he had found happiness in being returned to Sibyl and the child they had created so close to their deaths. And his thoughts would always turn to his inability to gain position to provide a future for his family. He wouldn't spend his days an invalid sitting by the hearth while others attended him. He wasn't sure who he was trying to prove himself to more when he traveled into the town looking for employment his friends or himself but he was determined to find some way to be of use. First he tried shop keeping, he watched over stalls in the market place and cleaned shop floors and restocked shelves but it held not interest for him and holding and moving merchandise was taxing for his limited hand mobility. Next he tried the butcher. He knew his way around animal flesh due to hunting and skinning food while on campaign with Spartacus but it was hard smelly work and Sibyl made him bathe twice before allowing him into their bed that night. He went all over the town searching for the right fit and though the people were gracious and allowed him every opportunity nothing seemed to work. And so he sank deeper into depressed and foul moods until nearly everyone at the villa avoided him. Then one day while on his walk around the property of the villa he decided to walk along the river to the south of the orchard. It was a beautiful calming place and Gannicus felt lighter than he had in a while. As he walked further along he noticed an old man trying to pull a large sheep out of the mud along the bank where it had become stuck.

"Would you be in need of help old shepherd?" he asked

"It would be much appreciated from one as young and strong as you." the old man replied

Gannicus walked over to the sheep careful not to become stuck himself and looked for a way to pull it out. Knowing he could not grip to pull the creäture out he stooped and bent to place his arms under the stomach and with a quick intake of breath he heaved the sheep out of the mud and delivered it further up the embankment to more solid ground.

"Gratitude for your assistance Gannicus." the old man praised clasping him on the shoulder smiling

"You know of me?" he questioned surprised

"Everyone in this valley knows of you and your friend's and woman's part in the rebellion alongside the mighty Spartacus. We hold no love for the republic but being so near to its border we have had dealings with Romans in the past. The villa you now occupy belonged to a Roman prick and his horrid wife. Luckily once rebellion broke out they did not wish to return."

"I would not see harm come to any innocents for harboring us. As you said we are close to the border and Rome could be looking for us. Especially once they notice I am no longer where they left me." Gannicus insisted as they walked together downstream the old shepherd herding his sheep along the rocky shore

"As I said we hold no love for the republic and there is not one among those who dwell here who would not give life for one of our own. That is what you and the others have become."

"But I have just met you. And I hold no place of esteem in the town. I can not even find suitable employment to provide for woman and child."

'You must give it time and hold onto faith that the gods will provide." the old man replied

"You sound like Sibyl." Gannicus laughed hummorlessly shaking his head

"She is a good woman. Like my Vibia. You would do well to listen to her. I am called Norbana by the way."

"Nice to meet you. But I am not one to wait for my destiny to come to me. I have tried shopkeeping, butchery, masonry and many others without result."

'Give it time. Perhaps the answer will come without expectation."

"Perhaps I shall become shepherd as you." Gannicus laughed. His first true one in days

Norbana stopped and a thoughtful look passed over his face as he gazed at Gannicus "Well...maybe..." He mumbled as he looked over his flock and back to the other man "Perhaps you shall." he replied with finality as he continued walking

"What?" Gannicus scoffed, "I am no herder of sheep. I have been trained to battle and kill fierce warriors in arena not attend grazing animals."

"And what good does that training do you now huh? When Rome took away use of your hands by nailing them to cross? You would not need strong grip to tend sheep merely a firm hand and watchful eyes."

"You would trust me with your livelihood? What would but your son inherit if I should shoulder flock from you?"

"My wife and I had but one child. A daughter died many years ago. Drowned in this very river not far downstream when she was but 6 while playing with friends on hot summers day."

"I am sorry for your loss and my negligent tongue that reopened wound of grief."
"It is a loss that will never not be felt but we are comforted by the thought of being reunited in the next life. So will you accept my offer then? Will you learn to be a shepherd and care for my sheep?"

Gannicus weighed his options. It was crazy. Not to mention mad. For years he had fought and trained not only his body but his mind to do nothing but kill and survive. But he could see no other way of gaining a livelihood at the present. So the only answer he could give was, "Yes"

His training in shepherding started immediately. Norbana taught him which grazing places were the best to travel to, where the easiest paths to keep the flock together were located how to read weather patterns to determine how and where the sheep should be moved. Gannicus returned to the villa that night exhausted yet felt lighter and happier then he had for many days. When he announced his apprenticeship to the others they were surprised at his new vocation yet happy and supportive of his newfound joy at finding purpose. That night after making love to Sibyl he lay in the darkness eagerly awaiting daybreak that he would continue to learn and be of use once again.

A month later Gannicus was tending a portion of Norbana's flock on a hillside enjoying the sunshine. He had learned much and found he actually liked tending the sheep. He could move about as he liked and while watching them he could continue working on regaining use of his hands as well as exercise and train to keep himself in shape. Though so far no Roman had been seen he still worried that Crassis and Pompey might still have legions milling about searching for escaped rebel survivors. Agron and he had discussed his apprehensiveness and along with Laeta Nassir and Sibyl had created an escape plan and route should it ever be needed. Packs containing cloths food and other supplies were packed and ready to go at moments notice and they would be able to fly from danger. But as time went on his thoughts turned from Rome to the child he and Sibyl would soon see brought into the world. Agron and Nassir had completed the nursery and they all eagerly awaited the child's birth. And to him Sibyl had never been so beautiful the glow of pregnancy filling her with its light. Though her cravings and mood swings would sometimes tax him he would not trade a moment for anything in the world. As his thoughts returned to the present he noticed a dark shape moving on the outskirts of the flock and upon closer inspection his blood ran cold. A wolf was stalking his sheep. He quickly ran towards the beast yelling and swinging his staff trying to scare it away without a fight but it would not be detoured. As he came closer Gannicus could see it was an old lone wolf. Long in tooth and skin hanging from frail bones its eyes glazed with hunger. Gannicus said a prayer to the gods for protection as he engaged the creäture in combat. Though he had a sword at his back he did not draw it to dispatch the animal quickly. He could tell by the wolf's bearing he had once been a great alfa. A leader and provider for his pack. Yet age and younger stronger competitors had taken what he had fought for and earned. And do he parried and struck at the wolf both circling looking for a weakness in the other's defence when suddenly the wolf lunged but Gannicus was faster bringing his staff into contact with the old male's head and once the wolf hit the ground he would never again get up.

"Forgive me brother." He whispered running a hand over the wolf side. "It was you or me and I had more to live for."

"Gannicus! Gannicus!" Nassir called running down the hillside to him nearly out of breath

"What is it Nassir? Is Sibyl alright?" Fear slowly sinking in at his companion's look of panic

"No she is safe. For now. We have fucking problem. Romans have been spotted entering the valley."

"Crassis?! Pompy?!" Gannicus questioned. Eyes widening in alarm.

"Worse." Nassir replied. "Ceaser."

Gratitude if you would read and review