Chapter Eleven: A Snake Within Their Midst

Finding Laeta, Roman widow of the city's chief magistrate, had been a lot easier than Brion anticipated. There were no more than one out of every ten Roman citizens of Sinuessa still living, and they were gathered in very few places throughout the city. Gossip moved fast among ex-slaves and rebels when something unique was happening. Many people were surprised that Spartacus had released such an important Roman to wander freely among others. They were not surprised, however, at the noblewoman's efforts to comfort the remaining survivors, all of whom had no freedoms at all. They were barely fed and given no real shelter from weather or the stares of their captors. They were not even given the dignity of relieving themselves in private, but forced to use buckets placed along walls of the forums they were kept in. Brion convinced a reluctant Justinus that he should not be the one to seek Laeta out to question her about her intentions regarding him. Brion's fear was that she would resent seeing him walking around unfettered and helping the rebels, while so many of her fellow Romans suffered such torturous conditions.

Brion found Laeta on her knees in the central forum, feeding scraps of bread to a hungry woman, heavy with child. The poor wretch could barely lift her arms with the heavy fetters around her wrists. Brion felt no satisfaction in the woman's misery, but he was not here to help any Roman, other than Justinus. He approached Laeta from behind, waiting for her to rise to her feet. When she did, he tapped her shoulder to get her attention. She swung around, and the instant Brion looked into her eyes, he saw recognition there. He experienced the same feeling Justinus mentioned when he first spotted the woman. A brief burst of fear clutched at his throat, but he forced himself to remain calm. Laeta spoke before he could form his first thought.

"Apologies, but your name does not spring to mind. I confess, it was not you I expected would seek words with me. It is one called Justinus that I thought to see."

"Brion, Mistress. I am called Brion. I am here in the name of Justinus."

"Ahh, yes. Memory serves me well. I recall the fond looks you shared with the young man during our evening meals. No other eyes appeared to notice, but I tend to view such things with pleasure. Affection is rarely witnessed in these times we live in."

Brion was almost speechless. He had no clue that anyone had paid attention to the glances he shared with Justinus while he attended Cassius during the meals at the estate. They both believed they had been extremely discreet. Knowing this, he was surprised they had not been caught earlier than they were.

"I see fear in your eyes... Brion. Why do you fear? You are a free man now... you and your young man."

Brion was about to protest, but was silenced by Laeta's raised hand.

"Fret not. I also observed young Justinus with his father. He was no more free than you, under that man's domination. I take it, from sight of Justinus freely accompanying a rebel, that he is not known to be Roman?"

"You speak truly. The very night rebels invaded the city, our relationship became known by father to Justinus, and my Dominus. We were imprisoned, along with slave to Justinus... his only crime, being present at discovery. When rebels broke into our cell, they assumed we bore brand of slave from injuries inflicted on us both."

"And what of the third man, slave to Justinus?"

"The whip sent him to the afterlife. Justinus placed his collar around his neck as proof of position. The deed saved his life. Now his life rests within your hands."

"And that is why you sought me out... to know the leaning of my mind."

It was not a question, but rather a statement of fact. Brion nodded his head.

"I care not for my own safety, Madam. I care only for his. I beseech you, do not expose our lie!"

Laeta looked Brion squarely in the face. She straightened her shoulders and stood with dignity, as if she were no longer enslaved herself, but still the wife of the most powerful man in the city.

"There has been enough bloodshed in our fair city. The gods weep for it. I will not add more to stain the streets. Nor do I seek to extinguish flames of love, when hate now rules the day. You may go to your 'friend' and reassure him. My voice shall not give him cause for alarm."

Brion's relief was written all over his face. He laid his hand gently on her shoulder.

"Gratitude! And may your gods protect you from further harm. If ever you have need of favor returned, call on me. It shall be given with joyful heart."

Laeta acknowledged Brion's promise, and the two parted ways. Brion knew that Laeta still held power over their future, but he felt she could be trusted. He knew that it was easy to paint all Romans with the same brush, yet not all wore their colors the same. In the decade he had lived among the Romans, he had witnessed more than one act of kindness to counter the cruelties. Brion hurried away to find Justinus, to give him the welcome news.

Justinus stood close by Nasir as he collected weapons from refugees at the gate to the city. The bargain with Heracleo, the Cilician pirate, was sealed two days earlier. The following day, Spartacus, Agron, Crixus, Gannicus, and a dozen of their best men took leave of the city to meet upon the shores of the sea, where Heracleo's ships lay at anchor. They brought the price bargained for the food supplies. The transaction did not go well. It was not the pirates, however, who gave concern. The two groups had unexpected company in the form of a small unit of Roman soldiers, led by a young man barely old enough to shave. The rebels and pirates were attacked from the opposite side of the shoreline. The day was saved by a volley of fireballs launched from the bows of the Cilician ships, which decimated half the soldiers, while forcing the other half to flee for their lives. There were losses on all three sides. Happily for Nasir, Agron was not among them. The pirates returned to their ships, with instructions to sail into the city docks in order to continue the trade in relative safety.

Later that night, the rebels tried to fathom why such a small force would make an attempt under such unfavorable conditions. They were not aware that the attack was ordered by the son of Crassus, supreme Commander over the advancing army, given the task of eradicating the rebels from the face of the earth. Nor did they know that Crassus would make his son pay dearly for disobeying his orders to scout only, and not engage the enemy. But at this moment, it was of no concern to Spartacus. His concerns were for the growing number of runaway slaves pushed forward by the advancing Roman army, and seeking refuge within the safety of the walled city. Despite the arguments by his Generals against letting in more refugees, Spartacus ordered the gate left open, as long as those entering could prove they were former slaves, and willing to hand over any weapons they carried. Agron and Nasir were among those given the job of scrutinizing those attempting to enter. Justinus helped Nasir, needing something to distract himself while waiting to hear from Brion, on how his conversation with Laeta fared.

While questioning one woman seeking refuge, Agron heard of the progress of the men under Crassus's leadership. The numbers were far larger than any the rebels had been forced to face before, and they were now only a half day's march away. Agron hurried to Spartacus's side to share this new information. Just as Agron finished repeating the woman's story, a cry erupted near the entrance to the gate. Someone shouted, 'Fucking Romans', and women screamed. Nasir instinctively jumped onto the large pedestal, where the winch and rope used to raise and lower the gate was set up. He released the lock holding the gate open to prevent anyone else from entering. It was obviously too late to keep out the few Romans who had tried to enter in disguise. Knowing who to fight was easy as they drew their hidden swords. Spartacus rushed to the fight, while the others were forced back by the panicking crowd. Spartacus easily dispatched two of the men who came after him, but there was a third. When he turned to confront the one remaining, he saw that the man had already been defeated. A blond stranger straddled the interloper's body and was stabbing him repeatedly. When Spartacus thanked the man for his help, he smiled and expressed pleasure in killing one's enemy.

Spartacus, learning long ago of the deceptive nature of Romans, had a natural suspicion of what he did not know as fact. His appreciation did not preclude him from demanding proof from the brave fighter that he actually was a former slave. The man willingly showed a deep wound on his thigh where he claimed his slave brand once rested. The nasty cut on his flesh was real, although it was not a brand he had removed. The man, unbeknownst to the rebels was none other than one of Rome's greatest fighters, Julius Caesar. He had been sent, by Crassus, to infiltrate the city for the purpose of gathering information and fomenting discord among the rebels. Without knowing it, Spartacus had just allowed a venomous snake to enter the bosom of the rebel forces. It would prove the undoing of everyone's security for the foreseeable future, and the beginning of the end of the rebellion. But it would not happen overnight. First would come a betrayal from another source that should have been recognized far more clearly than the scruffy Roman in disguise.

While Spartacus held counsel with his Generals, Nasir returned to his favorite task... the training of those who had few skills in the art of warfare. Nasir took pride in his ability to teach the lessons he'd learned so well from Spartacus himself, as well as from his lover, Agron. Justinus was one of those Nasir enjoyed teaching most. The young man was just beginning to handle his sword with slightly more skill, although he still had much to learn. It did not take Nasir long to see that Justinus was distracted during his training this time. He dropped his guard repeatedly. Nasir was about to suggest Justinus take a break, when he heard Brion calling out to his friend. Justinus apologized when he lost his concentration for the third time as he turned towards Brion's voice. Nasir excused his friend, telling him to return once he was able to give his lessons more diligent attention. Justinus expressed his gratitude, set his practice sword aside, and joined Brion. The couple walked off, Brion's arm draped around Justinus's shoulder. They didn't stop until they were out of earshot of all others. Wasting no time, Justinus came right to the point.

"Break words, and tell of meeting with Laeta," he begged Brion.

Brion pulled his lover close, their foreheads touching.

"Ease mind, Justinus. The woman is that rare thing among Romans... a lady of honor. She gives promise of discretion. She has no desire to be cause of more bloodshed."

"You lay trust on her word?"

"I do. We are absent choice, but to trust."

Justinus still had doubts, but he knew Brion was right. They had no choice but to trust that Laeta would not expose their lies. Justinus had been mulling over an idea. The fact that they had no one to trust enough to confide in had been bothering him since the beginning. As his friendship with Nasir grew, Justinus saw a side to his friend that was not full of hatred for all Romans. He observed Nasir's distaste for the cruel way their Roman prisoners were treated by many of the rebels. It was a major difference between Nasir and his lover, Agron, although the couple did not let it create a rift between them. Because of Nasir's attitude, and their developing friendship, Justinus felt it might be safe to confess their secret to the Syrian and petition his support... but only in the case of exposure. They could beg his discretion otherwise. Justinus felt that now was not the time to ask Brion's opinion on his thoughts, but he would do so very soon. If Brion did not agree, Justinus would say nothing to Nasir. He knew Brion's life would be at risk just as much as his own, simply for harboring a Roman.

"You speak wisely, Brion, as is always your way. I have need of that wisdom with further thoughts, but now is not the time. We will break words on these other matters in private tonight."

Brion gave Justinus a questioning look. He could see that his news had only given his lover a small amount of relief. It was obvious that he had much more on his mind, but Brion would not press for further discourse. He knew that Justinus would come to him when he was ready. The couple kissed, and returned to those tasks they were expected to perform for the day. Justinus returned to the training ground, where Nasir was in the process of chastising one young man who seemed terrified of the wooden sword he held. Brion returned to the stores of grain, to help log what little they had received from the pirates so that the amounts could be parceled out fairly for one and all. The remainder of the day progressed routinely and without further incidents, but there were dangers in their midst that went unrecognized all the while. One of those threats would affect only two men. One threat would imperil all.

It had been a little more than a fortnight, and the air in the hidden room inside the house occupied by Spartacus had become almost unbearable to breathe. Ennuis, the previous owner of the house, had obviously planned well for the need of such a room, but not for such a lengthy period of time. The two men who shared the discomfort of this hiding place were almost at the end of their rope, when they accidentally stumbled on another secret known by Ennuis, but not revealed to them by the murdered slave. Ennuis had been wise enough to know that he would need to keep tabs on the outside world while hiding away inside his residence, as well as provide a means for some fresh air. It was Cassius who discovered a square piece of mortar low to the ground that could be removed from the inside. The trunk of a fig tree blocked the view of the men inside, but also kept people on the outside from noticing that there was a hole in the wall. With the block pulled out, Cassius and Craigh were now able to get a small amount of fresh air inside their confined space. They were also able to keep better tabs on how long they had been caged up in their self-inflicted prison by telling night from day. Most beneficial was that they also overheard enough conversations on occasion to know that the rebels were still in charge of the city. Most unfortunate for them, despite the singular benefit of the removable mortar, was that they were rapidly running out of drinking water and food. Whether they liked their chances of taking a risk or not, one of them was going to have to leave the hidden room and venture out, and it would have to be within a day or two. It did not appear that the Roman army was going to come to their rescue any time soon.

What neither of the men knew was that their chance of rescue was much better than they hoped for. Julius Caesar, Roman spy sent by Crassus, had been hard at work, in a matter of days, inciting discord among the rebels. He recognized the differences between the disposition of Spartacus and his Generals towards their Roman prisoners, and capitalized on it. He even went so far as to murder a Roman woman to prove his loyalty to the rebel cause. This action would prove valuable, by giving him the chance to be heard when inciting others to disobey the orders given by Spartacus. However, without knowing about Caesar's nefarious presence, Cassius and Craigh knew they were forced to go in search of supplies, in case their confinement continued on. They had no idea what waited for them outside the walled room, but it didn't matter. Death by starvation and thirst was no more attractive than death by the sword. So far the gods showed them favor. With luck, they would continue to do so.

To be continued...