The caravan had left before sunrise the next morning and didn't stop at all that day. The people either didn't eat or they ate some cold hard-bread as they walked or rode down the road to the wall. When the wall came into view they seemed to gather energy from the stones that made it stand so grand and tall. The pace quickened and everyone knew they would be safe once inside the huge gates. When the gates closed behind them, the knights led the wagon carrying Dag, Fulcinia and Bors into the stable yard outside the knight's quarters. Alecto had been riding on the seat with the driver most of the day and he jumped to the ground as soon as the wagon stopped.
Bishop Germanius ran over and tried to embrace Alecto but the young man kept backing up just out of his reach. When he realized everyone was watching, he turned around to face Arthur and the other knights. The look he met was enough to fluster the man used to being in control of every situation. "Come, come Arthur. Your discharge papers giving you free reign throughout the Roman Empire." He motioned to his guards who stepped forward and opened the box with the papers inside. Only Arthur advanced, but he didn't stop to even look at the papers. He stopped close enough that the Bishop could feel his breath on his face. "Bishop Germanius, friend of my father." Was all he said before he turned and walked away. As he walked away Lancelot walked over to the guard and took all of the papers and began to pass them out to the other knights. He gave Bors the papers that belonged to Dagonet but Bors wasn't in the mood.
"This doesn't make him a free man," he snarled. "He's already free, he's always been free." With that he threw the papers at the feet of the Bishop and stalked off to the back of the wagon to help unload Dag. Tristan and Gawain walked toward the Bishop and he backed away with terror in his eyes. They picked up Bors and Dag's papers and followed the others to the wagon. When Dag had been unloaded and carried toward his quarters, the others headed for the pub to celebrate their freedom.
Fulcinia followed the men carrying Dag into his quarters. She knew he was still not well, but he no longer needed a full-time nursemaid. She just wanted to see how he lived. She was sure his quarters would be tidy yet simply furnished without all the extra trappings that some men would require. It was no surprise when she entered his bedchamber to find only a single bed, a little larger than most, with a table next to it. The table held a bowl and pitcher to be used to wash his face upon rising in the morning. In one corner was a straight chair with a pair of trousers and woolen shirt draped across the back. The only other item to be seen was a huge axe resting on two pegs in the unadorned wall. Everything was clean without any dust to be seen even though he had not been in the room in several days.
Some would have thought he had someone clean it regularly when he was away. But Fulcinia doubted that was so. He was indeed a simple man, with simple needs. But there was nothing simple about the compassion she had seen in his every move or look toward Lucan and even herself. He was a man any woman could feel safe and secure with. A man who would never cause a woman pain out of a need to feel stronger or superior than she. A man she had thought her husband until after their wedding when his true nature had surfaced even on their wedding night.
Fulcinia remembered how upset and scared she was that night when he had proceeded to beat her even before he had tried to make love to her. He had told her he needed to set the rules so there would be no mistakes made out of ignorance. If she hadn't been more afraid of the punishment promised by God for women who forsake their husbands, she would surely have fled that night when he had finally passed out. But the church had taught her that there was no forgiveness for divorce and she believed it with all her heart. She was also sure she would suffer for the feeling of relief instead of sadness over his death. When she returned to Rome, she would have to confess that sin and do penance, for any deed thought was surely a deed done in the eyes of God.
When the sigh escaped her lips she quickly looked around to see if anyone had heard. No one was looking at her so she thought she was safe from scrutiny this time. Bors was telling Dag that he was going to find Vanora and his children and she realized that everyone else had already left the room. She walked over to the bed, touched his forehead, and looked at his bandages all the while preparing a speech about how thankful he had saved all their lives and how sorry she was for his injuries. When she finally got the courage to speak, she looked into his eyes and found him staring at her with a questioning gaze. She wrinkled her brow as if to ask what he wanted and he took her hand in his.
"I have watched you as we journeyed to the wall. You did not deserve the man you called your husband." He took a moment to gage her reaction and finally continued. "Your kindness and compassion to the people imprisoned speaks of your character and I just want you to know I admire you for what you have endured." When she opened her mouth to protest his words, he held up his hand, "no, let me finish." He hesitated a moment and then continued in a softer voice, "I do not pretend to know everything about your life as Marius' wife, but I have seen the bruises and I know you suffered for your kindnesses to the peasants he enslaved." He paused and when she didn't try to stop him, he finished with a simple statement. "You, too, are free now. If it were in my power I would grant you the happiness you deserve." When he had finished he drew her hand to his lips and gently kissed the top. With that, he closed his eyes and fell into a quiet and dreamless sleep.
Fulcinia sat on the side of Dag's bed for a few moments letting his words take away all the shame and guilt she had been feeling only moments before he spoke. Then she leaned over and gently kissed his forehead before she stood up and walked silently from the room. This man was beyond the reach of the evil that was slowly overtaking the world around them. She crossed herself and said a silent prayer that whatever happened in his life he would find the peace and love he so richly deserved.