A/N: I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this so far. Thank you all for the reviews, favourites and follows so far. I really enjoy some of the interaction in this one. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Chapter Three
Cassia was torn. Days had passed since they first arrived and she received little trouble for her presence. However, it came about that the milk she had ran dry, and if not replaced quickly the child would cry. Cassia could take the children in search of more, or leave them and search for it herself. It would be easier to leave them, but despite the promises she had received for their safety, she did not want them out of her sight. The health of the child was more important than her desires.
"Mira," she spoke softly, coming up to the woman. "I must beg a favour."
Mira looked up from her conversation with one of the older men. "What is it you ask?"
"That you would watch the children for the morning. There is something I must do." Mira stood up quickly, and Cassia saw clearly the suspicion in her gaze. "I am out of milk for Valeria. I only wish to escape to procure more."
"You must inform Spartacus. He will see it done."
"It needs to be done quickly, and the men are far too recognizable to be obtaining milk. I will be back before midday." Cassia felt her throat clench as she handed over Valeria. She knelt down to Janus and spoke softly. "Stay with Mira. I shall return." The small boy hugged her tightly that she had to pry him off. She gave a smile to Mira before nodding and leaving.
Obtaining the milk was a simple task, and she had ensured to visit places across the city to gain enough of it. She did not know how long they would remain. It took her longer than expected to make her return, but she had heard much.
She slipped in quietly to tunnels and searched for Mira, only to have her path blocked by Spartacus. She stepped back, only to hit another body. Turning, she found Varro behind her. Her entire body tensed. She stepped away, keeping both of them in her sight as her back pressed against a wall.
"What sense has left you? Why did you leave?" Spartacus demanded.
"Valeria needed milk," Cassia said, standing straight.
"Have you no regard for your well being?" Varro asked, looking at her incredulously. "You could have been killed."
"Or followed," Spartacus added.
"The child needed food. I went of my own accord, knowing such risks. I can move silently if I wish, and have done so for long. I took precaution that none followed or recognized me."
"What if they had?" Varro said. He took a step forward. "What if the romans had found you and used you as an example? Another slave dead."
"I am not a slave!" Cassia snarled. "Would you rather I let your child starve? I am the only one here who can safely claim freedom. All of Capua knows your faces! It was the only way."
"It was not," Spartacus said calmly. "You broke no decision with us and while I will allow you to choose your own fate, I would not have you condemn my men."
Cassia stared at him and nodded. "Apologies," she said to him. "It will not happen again."
"See that it doesn't." Spartacus looked at Varro and walked away, leaving her alone with him. She pushed past, in search for the children. Varro followed.
"What madness has struck you? That you would send yourself at cost of your life?"
Cassia spun to face him. "That of Aurelia's children. I would not expect one such as you to know the necessities of caring for them."
"I am their father!" he snapped. "You claim to care for them as such yet your actions place them in danger. You will not go again."
Anger flared up in Cassia and she stepped forward, glaring up at him. "Do not presume to order me! My choices are my own!" She paused, breathing deeply and suddenly becoming aware of the eyes on them. Crying sounded through the air and Cassia felt her heart clench at the sound. "Apologies," she ground out. "Your daughter hungers." She turned and left him standing there as she followed the sound.
Janus had run into her arms once he caught sight of her. Mira looked grateful at her arrival and handed Valeria over quickly.
"She has only just awoken. I cannot calm her."
"Gratitude," Cassia said. "For caring for them." Mira nodded at her in response and Cassia watched amused as she left them quickly. Turning her attention to Valeria and Janus, she knelt down to greet the boy. "Apologies," she said softly. "I meant to return earlier." Janus hugged her tightly. Cassia returned the affection before pulling away at Valeria's cries. "Come. Your sister demands to be fed."
After the child was quieted and her belly filled with milk, Cassia moved back towards the area where she knew the men were. She could see Varro still looking tense as he spoke to Agron. She could not see Spartacus, but she knew that he would need the knowledge of what she had heard. She looked down at Janus. "Go to your father." Janus shook his head at her. Cassia pursed her lips and once again she knelt down to him. "I must have words with Spartacus. I will not be far. Go to him." Janus watched her a moment before he left her slowly. She watched as he walked towards Varro.
Catching sight of him, Varro pushed himself off of the wall he leant on and knelt down. His gaze was astonished as Janus walked up to him. Janus offered his hand and when Varro went to take it, the boy snatched it back. At the sight of Varro's expression, Janus giggled. Varro grinned suddenly, and looked up at her. She nodded at him before moving away in search of Spartacus.
The man in question was found easily, talking to Crixus in the same room where he had questioned her before. They looked up at her appearance.
"Apologies," Cassia said. "I would have words regarding my visit to the city." Spartacus waved her to enter. Crixus made no move to leave and Cassia turned slightly to keep both them and the entrance in her sight. Valeria was awake but silent.
"Speak your words, though be warned my thoughts have not changed," Spartacus said.
"Nor mine. I wish to speak of the rumours I heard while I was there." Both of the men seemed to stand up straighter.
"And what rumours did your ears land upon?"
"The Praetor Glaber returns. There is panic in the streets and any who whisper your name are to be crucified." She paused for a second before continuing. "The bodies are left for all to see."
Crixus looked at Spartacus. "We need to move from here."
"No, this is opportunity presented. We can strike at him." Spartacus looked at Cassia and nodded. "Gratitude for your words." It was a dismissal if she ever heard one. She nodded and left, leaving them to decide their fate. She would prepare herself. If they were to engage with the Roman and fail, she would flee with the children, far away from the name of Spartacus.
The others had found out about the Praetor's arrival and the army that accompanied him. Cassia watched at those who were not former gladiators panicked. She did not know them well, having preferred to keep to herself, and she kept the children at her side as they argued.
One of the younger boy's voices raised the loudest. "You would see us all dead!"
Agron leaped forward in anger before he was held back by his brothers. Cassia pressed herself back, pulling the children further away from the crowd. Spartacus called out, breaking the argument.
"Enough!"
Cassia listened as he spoke. He spoke well, calming the crowd and as Cassia listened, Varro came up next to her.
"Your friend lifts hearts," she said.
"He has a way with words." Varro turned to face her. "He wishes to strike at Glaber. Should he fail, you must take the children."
Cassia looked up at him. He was unusually serious, staring down at her.
"Take them and flee, beyond the borders of Rome. See them safe."
Cassia nodded. "If danger presents itself, I will see them beyond the hands of Rome." Silence fell around the crowd, pulling Cassia's attention away. A man stood on the steps, and at the sight of him, Varro grinned.
"Oemeneus!" he looked down at her. "He was our Doctore and with us when we escaped. We thought him lost."
"Go to him," Cassia said. "We shall remain."
"Gratitude," Varro said. He reached down and rubbed Janus's hair before striding off.
"What...what of her?"
Cassia heard the whispers from where she sat. Valeria was awake and sitting up and Janus was sitting in front of his sister, hiding his face before showing it quickly. Valeria was giggling at the sight.
"She bears a mark."
"What know you of her?"
"Little. She stays with the children."
"How can we know that she will not bring them?"
"The Romans?"
"It is not likely."
"Are you certain? We had no news of them prior her arrival."
Cassia turned to see where the whispers were coming from. There was a small group of people, ones she did not know, glancing in her direction. "Perhaps," she said loud enough that they could hear. "The answers you would seek are best found in the one you would question." She watched as they stiffened and turned to her.
"And what say you?" One of the men demanded. She recognized his voice as the one willing to condemn her.
"That you are a fool. My reasons are my own, and I hold no love for them."
The man stood up, the others around him following. Cassia stood slowly, motioning for Janus to stay where he was as she adjusted Valeria in her arms.
"A fool? Says the roman bitch who arrives with armies on her tail. You arrive with children to sell your plight, but I am not moved. It is you who will lead to our deaths."
"Should the gods demand your life, it will be through cause of your own." Cassia said, and she watched as the anger grew on his face. He stepped forwards to her, attempting to intimidate her. "Do not look to others for your own fear".
"Fucking whore," he snarled. "It is you who should have fear. I would see you bleed – "
"You could try." Cassia shifted Valeria to her other arm, allowing her the freedom should she need to draw her blade.
The man stepped closer, before he was pulled back and thrown against a wall. Crixus stood there, his hand round the man's throat.
"Apologize."
The man scratched at the hand holding him, and Cassia could see the man's face turn red. "Perhaps if you released him, he would be able to speak," she said. Crixus looked at her and loosened his grip. The man inhaled sharply, dropping to the ground as he coughed.
"Apologies," he ground out, glaring at Cassia.
She stared at him for a second, before she turned away, going back to Janus who had been watching the exchange.
"Clear such thoughts from your mind," she heard Crixus's voice. "Else it will be you facing death."
Cassia sat down once again, but instead of resuming his game, Janus climbed into her lap, mindful of his sister's body. She hummed softly, stroking his hair as Crixus knelt next to her.
"He should not have said such things."
"He is welcome to his thoughts. I have heard worse."
"Because of these?" Crixus reached out to her face and Cassia felt herself flinch back before he could touch her. He receded his hand. "Apologies." She nodded in response. "What were their cause?"
She paused. Despite the passage of time, the memory was still fresh. She knew little of Crixus, and the others and she was uncertain how much she would tell. The knowledge that she was a slave was well known, but her scars were another tale. "I came across something that was not meant for me. These were the result."
He did not press further. "We may yet leave for south on the morrow. You are welcome to join us. Away from this wretched city."
"Gratitude," she said softly. "I will think on it." He nodded before standing and leaving her to her thoughts. She already knew her answer. The city was no longer safe, especially for her and the children. Varro's choice was his own, but she would leave with the children. She knew not yet if she would remain with the group after.
"Cassia?"
She looked up in surprise as Varro sat down in front of her. He reached for Janus and with a nudge from her, the boy went to his arms. "Varro," she greeted.
"Crixus came to me. He said that you were threatened." He was looking at her intently, waiting for her answer. His concern for his children grew each day and she could see glimpses of the man that Aurelia claimed was there.
"The situation was in hand. Crixus's actions were unneeded." He looked as if he did not believe her. "Should he have done further than threaten, I would see his blood spilt before he came to the children."
"Perhaps though, it would be safer if you were closer."
She narrowed her eyes. "I would remain where I am," she said.
"Even if one would try to murder you in your sleep?" he asked incredulously. "Gods help me, I would not have you face death with my children next to you!"
"Nor would you. You forget that Valeria wakes often. I sleep little and any who would try would find themselves surprised at the loss of their life."
"You are most stubborn. Remove the thought from your head and see reason!" He moved Janus to the side and the boy instantly came back to Cassia's arms.
"I will not be moved," she declared. He exhaled sharply before standing and walking away from her. It was only a few moments before he returned, his sword and some cloth with him. "What are you doing?"
He set the bundle of cloth and the sword down next to her. "If you will not be moved, than I shall move to you. I will see my children safe."
"Then further yourself from me and see that you are quiet," she said, waving him away. "I would not have you wake them in their slumber." He seemed to ignore her, looking over the children before he settled himself on the floor. Cassia turned her attention to the children and did the same.
[tbc]
