A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, favourites and follows so far. I am so glad you're enjoying this. I hope you like this next chapter. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
The Road To Ruin (we started at the end)
Chapter Four
The sewers were silent in the early morning and Cassia sat against the wall feeding Valeria. There was a peace, it seemed, that fell before any had awoken and in the chaos of the past days, Cassia was grateful for the respite.
Movement caught her eye. Cassia looked up from where she was smiling at the babe to see Spartacus leaving his makeshift room. She watched him carefully. He looked around quickly and caught her eye. He nodded to her and as she nodded back, he turned and left. She did not see him return.
The others awoke slowly, and Cassia took the opportunity of Varro sleeping by Janus to obtain food. He was awake by the time she returned and she threw the bread she had obtained at him.
"Gratitude," he said slowly, rubbing his eyes and yawning. She nodded in reply. She remained standing, stretching out her legs. Janus still slept while Valeria was awake and bound to her chest. Varro watched as Cassia ate a small amount before setting the rest aside. "You will need your strength."
"I have enough," she said. She looked around the small area she had claimed. They had not brought much, so preparing to leave would require little effort. It was the journey that would be most tiring. Cassia sat down on the floor, back in the same position she had started in. "Are you to go with Crixus?" His decision would affect her own choices due to the children.
"It would seem as the right choice, but I swore I would stand by Spartacus and he has yet to make his choice."
"He may have already," Cassia said. "He left in the morn and has not yet returned."
Varro sat up quickly. "You speak true?" Cassia nodded. He stood up quickly and gathered his sword. "Prepare yourself. We may yet need to flee upon return!"
Cassia watched as Varro strode off, calling out the names of Crixus and Agron. Mira came out of the same room that Spartacus had left earlier. Amidst the commotion, Janus awoke. Cassia turned her attention from the men gathering and set to ensure Janus was fed. She would take his words to heart and see them ready.
The men returned covered in blood. Cassia stood as they entered and Spartacus called for attention.
"Make haste! We go south!"
There was a great flurry of movement as people started panicking and attempting to gather their things. Janus stood at Cassia's side and she watched as Varro clasped arms with Spartacus before making his way towards her.
"We must make ready!" He said, grabbing at the bundle of cloth that still lay where he left it. "Quickly!" He motioned for her to move.
"The children and I have been prepared since morning," Cassia said. He looked up and stared at her in surprise.
"You took my words to heart?" he asked.
"I have been prepared to depart at any moment. It was not your words that swayed me." He sighed before reaching for Janus. Cassia stepped in front of him and at the anger in his face, she spoke quickly. "You will need use of your arms. I will carry them."
"You will tire quickly," he argued.
"It has not happened, nor will it. I would rather your arms be used for the sword if we are followed."
"Then let us be free of this place." He motioned for her to follow him, and with Valeria strapped to her breast and Janus at her side, she did so. He led her to Spartacus.
"We leave presently," Spartacus said as they entered.
"And go where?" Varro asked. Cassia pushed her and Janus back, away from the door.
"South."
"And what then?"
"We liberate as many slaves as we see fit on the way."
Cassia waited, unsure of her presence. She had followed Varro at the thought that they would leave. She had not thought that he would break words, nor argue. Janus tugged at her skirt, motioning to be carried. "Hold," she said softly. "I shall carry you soon enough." The boy buried his face in her stola. Cassia had already covered his hair and set her veil over her own. She carefully freed it from his grasp so that he did not pull it off of her.
"How do you fare?"
Cassia looked up to see Mira standing in front of her. She nodded. "Well."
"We must make haste," Mira said. "If you need assistance with the children, you need but ask."
"Gratitude," Cassia said. She had no intention of releasing them from her sight. Mira nodded at her and moved away towards Spartacus.
"Come," Varro said next to her. "We leave."
Cassia was gaining far more looks than usual. It was likely due to the fact that she had Janus on her back and Valeria at her front. Others had offered to help but she brushed away their assistance. She would not see them parted from her.
"You will tire."
Cassia looked at Mira next to her. The truth was, Cassia already tired but she would see it through. "Not with the will as one such as I." Mira smiled.
"Perhaps not," Mira agreed.
They walked alongside one another in silence. Janus had fallen asleep and Valeria would need to eat soon. Cassia adjusted her hold on the boy's legs. He had loosened his grip on her neck in his slumber, but not yet enough to cause him to fall. She had bent over slightly in response.
"What house did you serve," Mira asked suddenly. "When you were a slave." Cassia frowned at her, and Mira continued quickly. "I only ask in effort to know you better. I feel that you and I are the same in many ways and it would be good to have a friend along the journey." Cassia did not claim friendship easily. The last who had tried and succeeded had fallen into the afterlife and left her with her children. She did not regret it though. Perhaps she could use a friend. One that yet lived.
"I served the house of Veridius."
"Veridius?" Mira looked at her. "I have heard about the house. Tales of a thief come in the night...the guards were warned by a slave..." Mira paused and looked at Cassia surprised. "That is how you obtained your scars."
Cassia was not surprised that the knowledge of the thief was known in the higher circles of the nobles, nor that Mira knew of it. She herself knew well that slaves were seldom acknowledged and heard much. The woman was quick though to put the mystery together. Cassia nodded. "They were my reward for the task," she acknowledged.
"And the reason for your freedom." Mira did not state the obvious, that Cassia had clearly been freed because she had become disfigured in her warning. "Apologies," the taller woman said. "I did not mean insult."
"I took none from it," Cassia said softly. "You spoke only the truth."
"And yet I would not break the foundations of such a friendship as this promises." Mira smiled at her and Cassia felt her panic at the thought of Mira knowing her settle. "You remain a mystery to all those who would not ask."
"Then it is as it should be. Let them whisper. I have no regrets."
"Nor would I. It is opportunity well taken."
"It did not seem that way at first," Cassia said wryly. "The merits soon outweighed the misfortune." Cassia smiled at Mira and the woman laughed.
"You are in high spirits." The women looked up to see Spartacus approach.
"As one should be," Mira responded. "When abandoning the city that would see us captive."
Spartacus nodded in assent and looked at Cassia. "How fare you and the children?"
"Well," she replied. She would not have him think any different. He stared at her as if he knew her thoughts, but she merely returned his gaze with her own.
"There is a villa ahead. We move to take it. I would have you remain until summoned."
Cassia nodded and watched as Spartacus looked at Mira, as if ensuring that she would remain with them.
"Go," Mira said. "We will heed your call." He nodded at them both before leaving.
Cassia shifted before tapping her hand on the leg of the boy on her back. "Janus?"
Mira stepped forward. "He has fallen to slumber. May I assist?" The woman waited as Cassia decided.
Cassia stared at Mira for a moment before nodding. The woman had proved herself trustworthy the last time Cassia left them in her care and she was close enough to keep an eye on the children. Mira stepped forward, sliding the boy off of Cassia's back and settling him down on the ground. Cassia sat down next to him, stroking the boy's hair as he curled closer to her. Mira sat across from her.
It was silent between them for which Cassia was grateful. She freed Valeria from the binds at her chest. The child was awake but quiet, a trait that had served all of them well since her birth. Cassia reached for the goat's milk that hung at her side. Shifting the child, Cassia unclasped the skin and offered it. Valeria took it quickly.
"The men move."
Cassia looked up at Mira's words. The men could be seen storming the villa in the distance. She thought she saw a glimpse of blond curls signalling the father that had not come to wish his children well before leaving for the attack. Cassia turned her attention back to the babe in her lap. It was of no concern to her. The children were not disturbed by him then.
Screams began to fill the air. Cassia hummed, covering the sounds from the children.
"You sing well," Mira spoke.
"The journey has filled your ears with dust," Cassia replied. "I am not favoured by Apollo."
"More so than I," Mira said with a smile. "I have never learned."
"Nor I. It became necessity when faced with children." She paused for a moment before continuing softly. "Aurelia was blessed with such skill. She was destined to be a mother."
"You cared deeply for her."
Cassia nodded. "She was a dear friend, and the first in my freedom." There was no other way to describe it. How could she explain that Aurelia's friendship steadied her, that assisting and caring for her friend gave her more purpose than she realized she was missing. Stopping and welcoming Aurelia into her home had been the first real choice Cassia had ever made for herself and someone else. It had given hope to her, and it sometimes felt as if that hope had been carried to the afterlife with Aurelia herself.
"I take my leave," Mira said suddenly. She looked regretful for speaking. "I must see upon the others." Cassia nodded and watched as Mira stood and walked away towards some of the others. She turned her attention back to the children and remained waiting.
It took Varro longer than expected to find Cassia and his children.
The carnage of their arrival lay across the village and Varro shoved aside the regret he felt at the deaths of the romans in search of his children. He found them presently in a small area next to the main villa. Cassia was kneeling next to a goat, the babe on her back. Janus stood next to her, watching her carefully.
His son. The boy had grown exponentially since he had laid his eyes upon him at Aurelia's side.
He had fled from him when they reunited, hiding behind the woman Aurelia had praised. She fought him at every turn and yet presented him with opportunity to know his children. A contradiction...he could not understand her. His children loved her, and it was clear that she cared deeply for them and for Aurelia as well, yet she continuously looked upon him with contempt. If he was to know his children and gain their affection, returning to the position of honoured father, he would need her help.
"I find you well," he called out, moving from his position towards them.
Cassia looked up at him quickly, eyes narrowing for a moment before her features settled into a neutral expression. Janus ran to him and Varro's heart lifted as he held his son, lifting him to the air before settling him in his arms.
"I see the gods have not yet deemed to claim you," she greeted. He held his tongue in reply. He had wanted her assistance, not her wrath.
"They yet grant you with my presence," he said with a grin. He saw her nearly roll her eyes before she turned away from him.
"So it seems." She glanced over at him. "For what purpose do you stand hence?"
"To see to the care of you and the children. What is it that you are doing?"
"Milking a goat for your child," she replied. "If you wish to make yourself of some use, come forward and learn as your son was."
He moved forward to kneel next to her. He knew nothing of goats, but the milk will go to his daughter and it is for her sake that he would learn. His children will need it.
He held his son who curled up against his chest as he kneeled at her side and watched Cassia. The woman was focused on her task, ignoring his presence next to her. Her face was scrunched up slightly in concentration. Her scars stood out with some prominence on her face, but they could not hide the straight slope of her nose or the fire that was usually in her eyes. She was so unlike Aurelia that he could hardly picture them friends. Aurelia was soft and delicate, so willing to look up at him and flush at his attentions. This woman was not. She was hard and unyielding, always ready to fight or flee. The only thing they seemed to have in common were the children. Not for the first time he wondered what had occurred in his absence.
"If you do not need instruction, cease your staring and put yourself to use. Milk the other," Cassia's voice cut through his thoughts like a knife.
"As you command," he said dryly. He moved to stand, only as he did so, Janus squirmed in his grasp. "I fear your demands cannot be met," he said softly to Cassia, looking down at the boy. Janus looked as if he was falling to sleep in his arms for the first time since they had been reunited.
Cassia looked up at him, confusion marring her features until her gaze settled on the boy. He looked up in time to see her features soften and he saw her smile slightly as she looked at Janus.
"Remain settled then," she said. "Take the comfort now. I fear we will not have peace for long."
He looked at her as she turned back to the goat. "Your thoughts are troubled. Give them words and see them broken upon the wind."
"No more troubled than uncertain future. Where are the children and I to sleep?"
He let her divert the conversation. He would not argue with her as his children slept against them. "In the villa. There is a bed for you and the children and room enough on the floor."
"For what purpose?" she asked, looking at him.
"I swore I would not be moved from their side. I will see you all safe."
She did not look impressed. She finally stood, brushing off her stola and checking the ties on the cloth that bound Valeria to her. "Your concern is noted but unneeded. Come, show me to this bed. I have enough milk for now."
He tried not to take meaning from her words, especially when she stared at him expectantly. He rose to his feet, aware suddenly at how small she seemed compared to him. Smaller than Aurelia. He shook his head clear of the thought. "Come," he said, before leading the way back into the villa. Cassia followed silently at his side and if he moved closer as they walked past the newly recruited, she gave no mention of it.
[tbc]
