A while later the two men ducked out of their tent, laughing about nothing in particular, just happy to be together, alive, and set upon a path. Waiting for them in the bright light of mid-day were Laeda and Sibyl, as well as a handful of refugees. Laeda had hardened over the past few months. Her skin was tanned, scarred, and taught, nothing like the soft, milky flesh she used to pamper with rose water. Her face had become more angular, losing the gentle, warm roundness and replacing it with a harshness that reflected the woman she had become. The Roman aristocrat had died long ago, her body and very soul changing and adapting to the pressures placed upon her. The bubbled scar on her forearm, that once signified her fall from Rome into the waiting arms of the rebels, now stood as a point of pride, as the beginning of her re-birth. Through the burn of Heracleo's rod, Laeda was thrust upon a path that would set her ablaze, giving her purpose and meaning. And now, that blaze was set further to purpose, eager to set fire to Rome under the command of Agron. Her body was practically vibrating with eagerness as she strode toward Agron, the remains of her tattered dress, the final symbol of her Roman days, clinging tightly to her hips and chest, showing more skin than they covered. "Agron, best fighters have been gathered so plans forged last night can be discussed once more before being shared with the rest of the people."
The smile faded quickly from Agron's face. He reached out, placing his hand upon the small of Laeda's back, gently guiding her further away from the group of fighters, those that he now recognized as the same that were identified the night before. "Laeda, we no longer seek to rekindle rebellion. Instead, we seek to travel East, across the Rhine, to my homeland, to establish village and see these people, all of them, to long free lives. Dream of Rome ablaze was never held by Spartacus. His vision was that of a shadowed whisper of freedom given full voice in warm light of day. I intend to honor his legacy."
"How can you intend to let Rome stand? They killed your brother, they slaughtered thousands of our own, they set you upon the cross and yet you would simply walk away with tail between legs? Where is the warrior who once made the very gods themselves quake with fear?" Laeda's voice was hushed but pointed. She would not have dared to speak so brashly a year ago and yet now her voice was thick with venom. She needed Rome to experience the same pain she felt, she needed them all to feel what it was like to lose everything.
Agron grimaced at the mention of Duro but stood silently, giving Laeda her moment of speech. His eyes narrowed as she finished speaking, but he fought the urge to grab her arms and shake reason to her. He took a deep breath through gritted teeth and then spoke slowly and deliberately. "Rome will fall one day, but no time soon. A dream of Rome, crumbling in our clenched fists is nothing more than a jest born from Morphius and Hypnos. I have suffered more than most here under the shadow of Rome, but I willingly lay down arms to live the remainder of my days in freedom, beyond the grasp of Crassus and Caesar and the rest of those Roman shits. We will travel East of the Rhine. Those that do not care to join are free to fend for themselves alone. I will speak with your warriors about this and I am sure they, too, will find sense in plan. Dawn tomorrow, we begin our journey." Agron, satisfied with his performance began to walk away, toward Nasir who had engaged Sibyl and the fighters in conversation, leaving Laeda standing alone, shaking with anger. He turned toward her as we walked, continuing backward slowly as he cast his arms out wide as if welcoming a hug from the air, but his eyes and voice conveyed a completely different intention. "And Laeda," he called out to her, cocking his head to the side. Despite the calm of his voice as he spoke, the bitterness buried in Agron's words was not easy to miss, "you will never mention Duro again."
As Agron neared, Nasir threaded his arm behind his back, drawing the larger man into him. "What words were exchanged?"
"Laeda would have us turn toward Rome to satisfy thirst for revenge. She sought fit to use memory of beloved brother to further her cause. I do not hold lasting anger toward the woman but would have her from fucking site for a time. Come, let us turn attentions toward company of fighters. Do you hold knowledge of their names?" As Agron spoke, the tension he had been holding slowly left his body, his face losing the harsh grimace and returning to a jovial smile, his shoulders falling slightly. Nasir still wondered in awe at the changes his lover underwent in such short periods of time.
"I do. Come let introductions be made and plans divulged." The two men returned to the group, both noticing that all eyes were focused on them, and that all stood in silence, waiting to hear from their leaders. "Agron, this" Nasir gestured softly toward the old man in the group "is Amelius. He hails from Greece originally, and served in their armies. He was captured and sold, fought as a gladiator in his youth and was eventually sold to a medicus where he learned the craft." The Greek gave a slight bow, employing only his neck, allowing Agron to see the large section of bare scalp that had been partially hidden by the man's stark white locks. When the man raised his head, Agron was struck by just how vividly green Amelius's eyes looked, especially given his age. Agron supposed, however, that this could be due to the dark olive tan of the man's skin.
"This," Nasir stated, gesturing toward two young boys "is Elianus and Fabius". Both were bare chested, showing sparse patches of thin hair that had only began to grow in the past year. Neither boy had hair on his face, and even their legs seemed to only have recently sprouted hair. Despite their youth, Agron could not help but notice that the two boys both had imposing frames. Each was as tall as Agron and had wide shoulders, though their muscles had yet to truly catch up to their structure, Agron could tell that, given enough time, these two boys would be destructive beasts, and probably very attractive, if he was being honest with himself. "Gratitude for meeting with us, Agron, sir. It is truly an honor to fight at the side of such a legend." Fabius, likely the younger one, spoke rapidly his excitement almost palpable. Elianus simply looked over at his counterpart, who might have been his brother, with exasperation. "Gratitude for your and your brother's service." Agron said, smiling widely, fond memories of Duro filling his head. "Oh, apologies, Agron, sir, but Elianus is not my brother, well not by blood. Our mothers were sisters, both body slaves under the same dominus. We were raised and nursed together, burdened with the collar of slavery since our birth." Elianus nudged Fabius, at which point the first boy stopped speaking, and blushed, looking incredibly embarrassed. Agron suspected that these boys were, indeed, brothers, at least through their Roman shit of a father, they looked too similar to be merely cousins. Agron simply nodded, smiling again, and winking knowingly at Elianus.
"And you are already familiar with Severina, and her son, young Libertus" Nasir practically cooed over the baby nestled in the woman's arms. Agron's heart warmed to see his lover so excited about a child. They obviously could not have children of their own, but they had spoken of perhaps caring for those orphaned by the war as their own. Agron had once brought up the possibility of laying with a woman, perhaps Sibyl or Laeda, to have a child. Nasir had not rejected the idea, but was not entirely fond of it either. As Agron's attention returned to the blonde woman who had managed to give birth in the middle of a war and survive along with her child only to become one of the best fighters in their camp, he noticed that she had tears in her eyes.
"Speak mind. Why do tears glisten upon cheeks?" Agron's voice, normally gruff, even when he is trying to be gentle, managed to sound soft and compassionate. Perhaps, he quickly thought, it was little Libertus that softened him beyond what he had thought possible.
"Apologies, it is nothing. I just" Severina paused, wiping the tears from her cheeks with one hand while pressing Libertus against her breast with the other. "I simply have no desire to lead charge against Rome. Libertus will die if he is orphaned. If you called us here to ask for assistance in restarting war, I cannot." At this, Severina began to openly weep, shocking even herself. "Heart aches at thought of Spartacus and all those we have lost, dying in vain, but I cannot follow their path. I have to protect Libertus, and I cannot do that in coming days of war. I will not lose my baby to Rome, even if it is in the name of freedom."
"Gratitude for your honesty, and apologies for tears shed unnecessarily. We do not march upon Rome." At this, Agron could feel the nature of their gathering change. Fabius and Elianus straightened up, tensing what muscles they had. Sibyl audibly gasped, and Nasir beamed. Only the Greek, Amelius, remained unmoved, as if Agron had stated something as obvious and mundane as the fact that the sun rises and sets daily. "Instead, we head East, across the Rhine to my homelands. I may yet have family that could aid in creation of village beyond grasp of fucking Rome."
"But what of the Roman conquests and persistent attacks toward the North?" This question came from Elianus. "Apologies, sir." Elianus bit his lip, looking disappointed in himself for his outburst and loss of self-control. Agron clapped a large hand on the boy's shoulder, so forcibly that the boy's knees buckled slightly.
"No need for apologies, or for such formalities. You raise fair point. We shall travel as far East and North as possible, until reports of Roman expeditions are far behind us." Agron tousled the boy's hair before returning his hand to Nasir's back. "Do plans find welcome home in present company?"
"By the gods, yes." Sibyl nodded vigorously, looking incredibly relieved. Severina nodded fervently, tears continuing to fall, though the pain had left her face. Both of the boys nodded, but said nothing. Only the Greek remained silent. "What are your thoughts Amelius?"
"The shadow of Rome is vast. We will never truly be able to outrun its grasp. But, I find logic in this plan, given that alternative is almost certain death for all. You can count on my support."
"Gratitude. We look to you four, in addition to ourselves, Sibyl and Laeda, to spread word of plan. We leave tomorrow at dawn. Tell any who do not desire to make the journey that they are welcome to remain behind, and will be given provision to help them upon their own path." Nasir spoke firmly but with a softness that could always enchant Agron, or anyone for that matter. He was ready for the next phase of his life, for true freedom, for a life with Agron.