A/N: Much sorries for the people who read this about not writing for ages.
I misplaced my notebook, and therefore misplaced my chapters. ;) Without
further ado, I give you Chapter Four of Horses in the Wind.
Maximus woke up groggily. Getting dressed in his simple toga of servitude, he headed to the dining chamber.
"Master," he bowed, "The little girl tells me I am to start reading lesson today."
Flavius nodded, "and riding with her. Use Olivius' mount."
Maximus nodded, bowed again, and left the room. The slave walked for a while before his charges woke up. He left toward the stables, mind full of thought. Flavia bounced up to him.
"Hello Maximus!" she grinned. The little girl seemingly decided against the term "slave" as Oliv had. Maximus smiled and waved his hand in greetings.
"Good morning to you, young mistress. We start riding today." He brought Aurelius out and in front of Flavia.
"Maximus, Oliv told me about how you rode Aurelius... Would you show me?" The girl's eyes were filled with hope.
The quiet slave was hesitant. So much memory was already alive in him from the night before. Did he want to awaken more? 'What more?' He nodded and smiled, "Alright then."
He mounted up and started to walk out the horse's kinks. Soon he had expertly brought the animal to a canter. A slight breeze came about and rustled the horse's mane. Flavia watched in awe. Aurelius moved with perfect equine grace and Maximus rode with total control. Oblivious to all, the slave rode the beast up and down the paddock. As his body fell to the physical exertion of the task, he let his mind wandered. He thought of his little boy and wife waiting in the Elysium. They waved, smiling. He heard the war drum of the barbarian horde match the beat of Aurelius' hooves. Coming back to the present smoothly, Maximus wiped sweat from his brow and brought Aurelius in front of the stable. Glancing around, he spotted Flavius and his daughter. Bowing, he awaited the word of his master.
"Maximus, I saw you ride. You turned a learning mount into a fine beast. I commend you. I have also heard that the Ceasar Commodus –May he live forever- requires horse trainers. I am selling half your week to him. You will still live here, but for three days, provide service for the emperor," he looked at the secretive Maximus.
The slave's mind was working fast. He could roll the dice the right way and have his revenge, or he could roll them the wrong way and be caught. Then Flavia and Oliv could get hurt. He nodded slowly, deciding to chance it, "I am your slave, you do with my work what you will." He bowed again, and Flavius left. The little youth knew what ran through the slave's mind.
"Maximus, Ceasar Commodus will know who you are, won't he? If you train his horses, he'll have to see you. If you try for a disguise, Daddy will get suspicious."
The ex-general casted his mind around. He had no idea. Then he lit on something. It would clog his plan for revenge, but keep him and the children alive.
"I could stay low and perform my taks only just adequately enough. I'll only be noticed if I draw attention." He looked at Flavia's eyes, they were bright and clever. Her black braid had flyaway hair that floated in the breeze.
"...Young mistress, why do you think I'm special?" He knew his masquerade was over, but curiosity gnawed at him for once.
"Your story made me guess, and my tutor in history taught me about the Germanic tribes. The look different than us Romans. And you still have the hard look of a soldier. I asked Tutor about a man named Maximus Decimus Meridias. He was a general in the war, and died at the horde's hands. I'm not a fool, and you don't look dead."
"Where'd you learn to ask about Maximus Decimus Meridias?"
"I saw it somewhere, and you have the same first name."
Maximus winced. It was dangerous for the child to know so much. He changed the subject, "Where's Oliv?" he asked.
"Sick," she replied.
Nodding, he helped helped her onto Aurelius.
"Time to get to work."
Maximus woke up groggily. Getting dressed in his simple toga of servitude, he headed to the dining chamber.
"Master," he bowed, "The little girl tells me I am to start reading lesson today."
Flavius nodded, "and riding with her. Use Olivius' mount."
Maximus nodded, bowed again, and left the room. The slave walked for a while before his charges woke up. He left toward the stables, mind full of thought. Flavia bounced up to him.
"Hello Maximus!" she grinned. The little girl seemingly decided against the term "slave" as Oliv had. Maximus smiled and waved his hand in greetings.
"Good morning to you, young mistress. We start riding today." He brought Aurelius out and in front of Flavia.
"Maximus, Oliv told me about how you rode Aurelius... Would you show me?" The girl's eyes were filled with hope.
The quiet slave was hesitant. So much memory was already alive in him from the night before. Did he want to awaken more? 'What more?' He nodded and smiled, "Alright then."
He mounted up and started to walk out the horse's kinks. Soon he had expertly brought the animal to a canter. A slight breeze came about and rustled the horse's mane. Flavia watched in awe. Aurelius moved with perfect equine grace and Maximus rode with total control. Oblivious to all, the slave rode the beast up and down the paddock. As his body fell to the physical exertion of the task, he let his mind wandered. He thought of his little boy and wife waiting in the Elysium. They waved, smiling. He heard the war drum of the barbarian horde match the beat of Aurelius' hooves. Coming back to the present smoothly, Maximus wiped sweat from his brow and brought Aurelius in front of the stable. Glancing around, he spotted Flavius and his daughter. Bowing, he awaited the word of his master.
"Maximus, I saw you ride. You turned a learning mount into a fine beast. I commend you. I have also heard that the Ceasar Commodus –May he live forever- requires horse trainers. I am selling half your week to him. You will still live here, but for three days, provide service for the emperor," he looked at the secretive Maximus.
The slave's mind was working fast. He could roll the dice the right way and have his revenge, or he could roll them the wrong way and be caught. Then Flavia and Oliv could get hurt. He nodded slowly, deciding to chance it, "I am your slave, you do with my work what you will." He bowed again, and Flavius left. The little youth knew what ran through the slave's mind.
"Maximus, Ceasar Commodus will know who you are, won't he? If you train his horses, he'll have to see you. If you try for a disguise, Daddy will get suspicious."
The ex-general casted his mind around. He had no idea. Then he lit on something. It would clog his plan for revenge, but keep him and the children alive.
"I could stay low and perform my taks only just adequately enough. I'll only be noticed if I draw attention." He looked at Flavia's eyes, they were bright and clever. Her black braid had flyaway hair that floated in the breeze.
"...Young mistress, why do you think I'm special?" He knew his masquerade was over, but curiosity gnawed at him for once.
"Your story made me guess, and my tutor in history taught me about the Germanic tribes. The look different than us Romans. And you still have the hard look of a soldier. I asked Tutor about a man named Maximus Decimus Meridias. He was a general in the war, and died at the horde's hands. I'm not a fool, and you don't look dead."
"Where'd you learn to ask about Maximus Decimus Meridias?"
"I saw it somewhere, and you have the same first name."
Maximus winced. It was dangerous for the child to know so much. He changed the subject, "Where's Oliv?" he asked.
"Sick," she replied.
Nodding, he helped helped her onto Aurelius.
"Time to get to work."